One of the original masters of Southern soul-blues from the 1960s, when the genre was at its height of popularity, is Mighty Sam McClain. He continued the vocalist legacy of Otis Clay, James Carr, Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke, and Otis Redding.
It was not until McClain was fifty years old that he recorded his first studio album under his own name. This was facilitated by his Boston-based drummer Lorne Entress, who connected McClain with the California-based Audioquest label. Give It Up to Love (1992), Keep on Moving (1995), Sledgehammer Soul and Down Home Blues (1996), McClain's last album nominated for a W.C. Handy Award, are among his Audioquest releases. The critics gave them all glowing reviews, and he was in charge of the music publication rights for the first time in his life. All three albums featured a full horn section in the majority of the songs, and McClain's deep, powerful vocals—often in songs he wrote himself—rode atop this.
"Mighty Sam McClain - Sledgehammer Soul & Down Home Blues" album is a captivating journey through soul and blues, McClain skillfully merges deep blues and soul influences, traversing various styles and moods seamlessly. This album boasts a flawless, all-analog recording, From soulful ballads to gritty blues anthems, "Sledgehammer Soul & Down Home Blues" offers a diverse collection of tracks that showcase McClain's talent and passion for music.
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