Friday, July 8, 2016

Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers: New Chicago Blues

For many years, Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers were nothing more to me than a catchy name and a thumbnail album cover photo on the inner sleeves of some Atlantic LPs. Recently I got a chance to pick up Wheeler’s New Chicago Blues album at a bargain price and took the plunge. While I was waiting for it to arrive, I did some homework on the band and didn’t come up with much. They put out two albums from the 1969 and 1970 on Atlantic, then New Chicago Blues in 1972 (the Enforcers aren’t mentioned on the cover but several of them are present), and one more in1980.  Neither Wheeler nor the Enforcers have Wikipedia entries (in this day and age!). Aside from a thread on Organissimo, which includes a discography, there are a couple of online soul jazz/funk blog reviews, and that’s about it. All I can say is that based on the liner notes (by Wheeler) these guys were a Chicago band influenced by Gene Ammons, Eddie Harris, and the whole Chi-town music scene of the day.

It’s too bad, really, because New Chicago Blues provides a fine assortment of blues (Oblighetto, featuring Buddy Guy and Junior Wells), 70s soul (How Could I Let You Get Away), a fine Wheeler ballad performance (Don’t Go to Strangers), something with a Latin tinge (Kuumba) and some solid soul jazz (New Chicago Blues and Miss Gee). In addition to lots of Wheeler tenor, other band members featured include Sonny Burke and Kenny Price on organ, Frank Gordon and Sonny Covington on trumpet, and Billy James and others on drums and percussion. My guess is that Gordon solos on New Chicago Blues and Covington on the other tracks, but the liner notes don’t supply solo credits. I’m also guessing that it’s Sonny Burke who’s so strong on Miss Gee. If anyone has more info on these matters, let me know.


Here’s the title tune enjoy!


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