# CD review: John Clifton – In The Middle Of Nowhere 2019: Video, CD covers

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/07/08/cd-review-john-clifton-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-2019-video-cd-covers/
- Published: 2019-07-08T20:45:50+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Harp player/vocalist has been a fixture in the Central California music scene 
since the late ‘80s, and shows why with this collection of straight-ahead Chicago-
and West Coast-style blues and R&B that’s both powerful and cliché-free.**

Based out of Fresno, where he and brother Bill built their reputation with The MoFo
Party Band, Clifton is a veteran road dog whose travels have regularly crisscrossed
the U.S. in addition to playing festivals as far away as France, Belgium, Poland
and New Zealand.

A State Of California honoree for his contribution to the arts, Clifton’s toured
in support of Big Bill Morganfield and was a contributor to Morganfield’s highly
reviewed _Blood Stains On The Wall_ CD. He’s also a producer whose work with former
International Blues Challenge finalists The Boogie Boys won album of the year honors
in the Polish Blues Awards.

This is Clifton’s third release on the Rip Cat imprint, a follow-up to the 2018 
release, _Nightlife_, which spent six months in the Roots Record Report Top 25 charts.
This disc follows the same formula, mixing originals with obscure covers. Backed
by Rip Cat owner Scott Abeyta on guitar, Jake Finney on bass and Edward Fritz on
percussion, the lineup also includes Bartek Szopinski, a 10-time honoree in the 
Polish Blues Awards, on keyboards with guest appearances by guitarist Roger Perry
and John Shafer on tambourine.

“I’m Leaving You Baby” opens the action atop a hard, uptempo shuffle and provides
Clifton with plenty of space for a tasty, extended diatonic solo before he launches
in on the title tune, “In The Middle Of Nowhere,” the first original in the set.
It swings from the jump as John describes himself as a “poor country boy…livin’ 
in a place that’s a big disgrace” and yearning for a change of scene.

Jimmy Rogers’ 1956 Chess release, “If It Ain’t Me Baby,” gets an uptempo redo before
Clifton shifts gears for a little West Coast swing with the easy/greasy instrumental,“
Cool Spot In Hell,” a six-minute number that features extended solos from Abeyta
and Szopinski, but will delight any harp enthusiast, too.

“Poor Boy,” a minor classic by Howlin’ Wolf, and “Keep It Clean,” a tune first recorded
by Charley Jordan in 1930, are up next before three consecutive originals. “Junkie
Woman Blues” comes across with a ‘30s acoustic feel before “Four Years Ago” fires
out of the gate with a Chicago feel as Clifton describes the angry departure of 
his woman after learning of a past transgression.

Next up, “Ain’t Spending No More Money” is fresh, but feels as if it could have 
been part of Sonny Boy Williamson II’s catalog as it delivers a message to a lady
who’s constantly demanding the singer buy her something new. The disc concludes 
with refreshingly updated covers of Junior Wells’ “So Tired I Could Cry” and Merle
Haggard’s uptempo “Honky Tonk Night Time Man.”

Available through Amazon, Bear Family or direct through the artist’s website (address
above), _In The Middle Of Nowhere_ is a keeper for anyone who loves their blues 
fresh, but deeply steeped with an old-time feel. Strongly recommended.

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