Guitar Junior - The Crawl

Review by okkert pretorius

The Crawl by Guitar Junior: A Swampy Blues Odyssey That Crawls Right Into Your Soul Let’s cut to the chase—Guitar Junior’s The Crawl is one of those albums that feels like it was cooked up in a smoky Louisiana juke joint, served with a side of grit and soul. Released in 1984 (yeah, I know, retro vibes for days), this record straddles genres like a blues-rock cowboy riding two horses at once. You’ve got your Louisiana Blues, some swampy grooves, Rhythm & Blues swagger, and even hints of Chicago’s electric punch. It’s not just an album; it’s an experience. Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that stuck with me harder than gum on a hot sidewalk. First up, “Roll Roll Roll.” This tune kicks off like someone flipped a switch in your brain—you’re instantly hooked. The rhythm? Infectious. The guitars? Smokin’. And when you throw in Little Brother Griffin’s tight drumming and Willie Chason holding down the bassline, it’s like they built a time machine disguised as a song. Every note screams authenticity—like Guitar Junior and his crew were channeling spirits from another era. If you don’t tap your foot or hum along to this one, check your pulse because something’s wrong. Then there’s “Broken Hearted Rollin’ Tears,” which hits different. Like, real-life heartbreak different. The saxophones wail like they’ve been through it all, and Guitar Junior’s vocals? Man, he sounds like he’s lived every word of this track. There’s a rawness here—a vulnerability—that makes you wanna grab a whiskey and sit in the dark for a bit. Danny George and Leroy James on sax bring layers of emotion, while Katie Webster sneaks in some organ magic on other tracks, adding texture without stealing the spotlight. This isn’t just music—it’s therapy. One thing that stands out is how smooth yet unpolished everything feels. Nobody’s trying too hard to impress; they just play what comes naturally. Barbara Lynn & Sisters add harmony vocals on a couple of tracks, giving the whole thing a churchy vibe. And props to The Raven Design Group for the cover art—it’s simple but packs a punch, kinda like the album itself. What really gets me, though, is how universal this record feels despite its roots being so deeply tied to regional sounds. Whether you’re spinning it in Poland, Spain, or somewhere down under in Australia, The Crawl connects. Maybe it’s because we all understand love, loss, and crawling back after life knocks us down. Or maybe it’s just really damn good music. So yeah, if you’re into blues that doesn’t try too hard but still knocks you sideways, pick this up. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself humming “Roll Roll Roll” for days. Oh, and here’s a random thought to leave you with: why do people always say “let the music speak for itself”? Music never shuts up—it’s screaming stories, emotions, and secrets loud and clear. The Crawl? It’s yelling straight into your soul. Listen close.

Artist: Guitar Junior
Album: The Crawl

Blues

1984

Rating: 4.5

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Filename: guitar-junior-the-crawl.zip

MP3 size: 130 mb
FLAC size: 1177.5 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Tell Me Baby
Please
Pick Up On Your Way Down
Knocks Me Out Fine, Fine, Fine
I Got It Made (When I Marry Shirley Mae)
Family Rules (Angel Child)
Love Me, Love Me
BrokenHearted Rollin' Tears
Now You Know
Roll Roll Roll
Love Me, Love, Mary Ann
Family Rules
Broken Hearted Rollin' Tears
The Crawl
I Got It Made When I Marry Shirley Mae	02:04
OO Wee Baby
Roll, Roll, Roll
Broken Hearted Rollin' Tears	02:34
Pick Me Up on Your Way Down	02:28
Knocks Me Out Fine Fine Fine
Love Me, Love Me, Mary Ann
Roll, Roll, Roll (alt take)
I Got It Made
Oo Wee Baby
Love Me, Love Me Mary Ann

Video

Guitar Jr - I got it made (when I marry Shirley Mae)

Guitar Jr - Now you know

Guitar Junior - Love Me, Love, Mary Ann

Guitar Junior - Family Rules ( Angel Child)

Guitar Junior - The Crawl ( HQ)

Images

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Catalog Numbers

CRB 1068
CD BM 1
30100BM1
B.P. 044

Labels

Charly R&B
Zafiro
Charly R&B, Altaya
Charly Records

Listen online

online anhören
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
lytte på nettet
lyssna på nätet
ouvir online
écouter en ligne
online luisteren
escuchar en línea

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Compilation
CD
Reissue
Album

Companies

Role	Company
Licensed From	Charly Records International APS
Distributed By	Serdisco
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Charly Holdings Inc.
Copyright (c)	Charly Records Ltd.

Credits

Role	Credit
Backing Vocals	Barbara Lynn & Sisters (tracks: 9, 10)
Bass	Unknown Artist (tracks: 13, 14), Willie Chason (tracks: 1 to 10)
Design	The Raven Design Group
Drums	Little Brother Griffin (tracks: 1 to 10), Unknown Artist (tracks: 13, 14)
Guitar	Clarence Garlow (tracks: 1 to 8)
Liner Notes	Ray Topping
Organ	Katie Webster (tracks: 12)
Piano	Boogie Joe Joseph (tracks: 1 to 10), Unknown Artist (tracks: 13, 14)
Saxophone	Danny George (tracks: 3 to 10), Leroy James (tracks: 3 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone	Unknown Artist (tracks: 13, 14)
Vocals	Guitar Jr.

Notes

A Charly R&B release from Charly Records LImited
Original Goldband recordings
Made in the EEC
Recorded Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1957/8 (tracks 1 to 8), 1958 (tracks 9, 10), and 1959 (tracks 11 to 14)

Barcodes

Barcode: 8233315532
Depósito Legal: M. 13545-92
Barcode: 082333155329
Rights Society: SPA
Barcode (Text): 0 82333 15532 9

About Guitar Junior

Guitar Jr. was a pseudonym used by (born December 18, 1933, Dubuisson, Louisiana, USA - died April 1, 2017, Chicago, Illinois, USA) an American blues singer and guitarist. Embarking on a solo career, he adopted the moniker of Guitar Jr. In 1960, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he learned that was already using that name, so he adopted the alternative stage name, . Father of and .

Real Name

Lee Baker
Jr.

Name Vars

G. Junior
Guitar \
Guitar J.R.
Guitar Jr
Guitar Junior
Guitar, Jr.
Junior

Aliases

Lonnie Brooks
Lee Baker, Jr.

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: The album *The Crawl* by Guitar Junior, released in 1984, is like a musical time capsule of blues styles. It blends Louisiana Blues, Swamp Blues, and even Modern Electric Chicago Blues. What’s wild is that it features Barbara Lynn & the Sisters on backing vocals for a couple of tracks—these ladies were known for their soulful harmonies. And get this: the same song, "Roll, Roll, Roll," appears multiple times in slightly different versions, showing how blues artists love to tweak and reimagine their work. Oh, and it’s not just a UK thing—it made its way to Poland, Spain, Australia, and beyond, proving that blues knows no borders.

Comments

barcalover1818

2025-03-13

Grym!

rbriksza

2025-03-13

Vale Lonnie Brooks (Lee Baker Jr)

rfalcon07c50a5246

2025-03-13

@9thWardBluezBox Thank you! Well, you beat us all with most things with your collection of uploads! ;-) Goldband was a cool label, with many blues gems.. Cheers mate.

gugleservicesnepal

2025-03-13

@9thWardBluezBox Thank you kindly mate. I am with you, the greatest thing about this is that people who didn't have a clue this music existed get to know about it. I find new stuff all the time myself. Your uploads have helped me look for 45's I didn't know of before I found it on your page. Keep up the great work! :-)

fernandapizzani

2025-03-12

Was he Guitar Junior? or was Luther Johnson? and what version is this?
I put out a weekly Blues podcast - blueshighwayus61.com/podcast-2 - and I feature this song, but now I am not sure who is doing it???