EDDIE C. CAMPBELL

Spider Eating Preacher

Delmark

By Mark Baier

The sound of Eddie C. Campbell’s guitar is unmistakable. Drenched in reverb, the notes are stinging and its rhythm is soothing; it’s a sound soaked in the wisdom of the ages. Campbell’s purple Jazzmaster guitar has been his favorite consort for over 40 years, and his connection with the instrument is obvious and a joy to behold. To be sure, Eddie C. Campbell is a wise man of the Blues, his gospels are the 12 bar form, his choir, the trusty purple Fender. His new release for Delmark, Spider Eating Preacher, represents the emotionally deepest, most satisfying recording of his long and storied career.

            Born of humble itinerant roots in Mississippi, Campbell landed in Chicago at a young age experiencing firsthand the feral power of the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. A quick study, as young as age 12, Campbell was sharing the stage with the great Waters himself and soon had established himself as a top flight purveyor of Chicago's finest export. Over the years, Campbell worked the South and West Side clubs with a who’s who of Chicago luminaries including Magic Sam, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Elmore James, Luther Allison and many, many others. Eddie C. Campbell embodies all these great men and then some.  At 72 years old, he has a gravitas and bearing that a younger man can only dream of. His message is simple yet consequential. With a few shakes of the strings, Campbell commands attention, with his lyrical and elegant story telling, he looks into the soul of man.  To whit:

“I have a soup bone

And I’m hungry

I’m gunna put this soup bone down

And try me some collard greens”

In lesser hands, the lyric would be comical; with Eddie selling the song “Soup Bone,” it’s timeless and poignant.

The tracks on Spider Eating Preacher are for the most part straight blues, with traditional instrumentation. The production is sparse, yet it’s effective and hypnotic. Campbell and company eschew the frills and trappings of modern recordings, keeping the flavor economical and ambient. It’s hard to imagine Eddie doing it any other way; the spirit of Chicago’s historic West Side permeates every track.

The first track, “I Do,” is a playful shuffle with a penetrating pocket. Campbell wastes no time demonstrating his effortless guitar style, heavily adorned with reverb and dripping in emotion. His rascally call and response on “I Do” alone is worth the price of admission! The title track “Spider Eating Preacher,” is a bit obtuse lyrically, telling the tale of a web of blindness and a preacher’s salvation. When there are spiders all around, webs a plenty, and they’re the Devil in disguise, a spider eating preacher is a good friend indeed! Standout tracks include “I Don’t Understand This Woman” with its driving beat and message of marital mystery and “Boomerang,” a toe tappin’ shuffle with some sneaky riffs. Also of note is the instrumental “Brownout,” a minor key workout with its soul infected, tempestuous guitar lines. The Purple Jazzmaster takes no prisoners!

Campbell’s wife Barbara is featured on bass (called “thump bass”) on many of the cuts and his godson Lurrie Bell plays second guitar, and contributes vocals and harmonica on a few songs.

It cannot be overstated how much the uncomplicated instrumentation and arrangements are a thing of beauty. The sonic landscape is both lush and austere at the same time. This is one of those recordings you can listen to over and over. Producer Dick Shurman’s familiarity with the material is integral to the success of this recording. The sound and impact of the material found on Spider Eating Preacher might sound simple, but its textures and moods are deep and significant.

Eddie C. Campbell is a storyteller and guitarist of the first order, and Spider Eating Preacher is as enjoyable and honest a blues recording as you’ll find anywhere. It represents the genre without sounding derivative or moldy and is alluring enough to sway nascent listeners into becoming blues travelers for life. To be sure, hidden within the simple strains found on Spider Eating Preacher is a wisdom of the ages, delivered with weight and confidence by the man with the purple guitar, Eddie C. Campbell.

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