Broke and Hungry
by Brian BeattyNothing on this set rivals his best '60s-era recordings for the Delmark label (those can be found on The Legend of Sleepy John Estes), but this album is still worthwhile. Estes is joined by the most sympathetic accompanists he would ever know: Hammie Nixon on harmonica and Yank Rachell on mandolin and second guitar. Michael Bloomfield, then a fiery young guitarist just appearing on the Chicago scene, joins in on a few tunes, too. But not even his presence can rouse the somnolent Estes.