CD of the Week – Mess of Blues by Jeff Healey

I just had a first listen to the late Jeff Healey’s final CD, Mess of Blues. I really wanted to like this one but sadly it comes very close to being a real mess.

This was Healey’s first Blues/Rock record in several years (he had learned to play the trumpet and immersed himself in Jazz). And since this is a CD of cover songs (and not particularly good ones at that), you’d be forgiven if you thought the record company rushed this out to capitalize on the news of Healey’s untimely death. Fortunately that is not the case. This CD was planned by Healey as his return to the music that first brought him to public attention. But I almost wish we could blame the record company for rushing it out.

Not that there are some good points. There are. Healey’s guitar playing is as sharp as it ever was, there’s not a trumpet to be heard and his voice sounds strong and clear for a guy who had just undergone major lung surgery.

But most of the song performances are only competent at best. A few are somewhat reminiscent of Healey’s best known work but others fall noticeably short: I just don’t see a need for “Jambalaya” to be recorded again. Especially not this way. ”The Weight” and “Shake Rattle and Roll” also sound particularly uninspired to me.

On the plus side, “Sittin’ On Top of The World” is as good as any recent version I’ve heard. It is easily the best performance on the CD.

As a reintroduction to the type of music that made Healey famous, this record would have served fairly well. After all, Healey’s best known song was a cover. But Mess of Blues doesn’t do nearly as well as an end to a phenomenal career.

If you’re a huge Healey fan, you have to get this. But if you’re not familiar with his music (and it pains me to say this) get one of his compilations or his 1988 debut, See the Light instead.