Whoopin' - Sonny Terry (1LP Vinyl)

Whoopin' by Sonny Terry.

Few instruments capture the raw, vocal expressiveness of the blues quite like the harmonica in the hands of Sonny Terry, and "Whoopin'" gathers ten tracks that put that command front and center. From the opening statement of "I Got My Eyes On You" to the closing "Roll Me Baby," this is a record built on the whoops, cries, and hollers that made Terry one of the most immediately recognizable voices in the idiom.

The A-side alone reads like a showcase of everything that made his style so distinctive. "Sonny's Whoopin' The Doop" leans into the vocalized harmonica technique that gave the album its name, while "Burnt Child" and "Whoee Whoee" carry that same wild, conversational energy. "Crow Jane" rounds out the first half, a nod to a well traveled blues theme delivered with the kind of intensity that keeps the tradition alive.

Flip it over and the momentum carries straight through. "So Tough With Me" and "Whoo Wee Baby" keep the swagger going, "I Think I Got The Blues" digs into the emotional core of the form, and the closing pair of "Ya, Ya" and "Roll Me Baby" send the set off with rhythmic drive. It is a well sequenced listen, front to back, with each side earning its place.

Pressed on 180gm vinyl, this edition delivers the weight and stability that collectors and everyday listeners alike tend to appreciate. The heavier disc sits solidly on the platter and offers the kind of playback presence that suits music this immediate and physical.

A note on provenance for the detail minded: this pressing is identical in its 180gm form to an earlier Italian release that appeared as part of the "Blues in vinile" series. Importantly, this is not part of that series. It does not include the 8-page booklet that accompanied those editions, arriving instead in a standard sleeve with no inserts. What you get is the music itself, cleanly presented, without the additional collectible packaging of the series version.

For anyone drawn to the deep well of country and Piedmont blues, or simply to the singular sound of a harmonica pushed to its limits, "Whoopin'" is an essential document. It is Sonny Terry doing what he did best, captured across ten tracks that never let up, and this 180gm edition makes a fine addition to any shelf at

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. I Got My Eyes On You
A2. Sonny's Whoopin' The Doop
A3. Burnt Child
A4. Whoee Whoee
A5. Crow Jane
B1. So Tough With Me
B2. Whoo Wee Baby
B3. I Think I Got The Blues
B4. Ya, Ya
B5. Roll Me Baby

Notes:
This release has an identical 180gm pressing to an earlier Italian pressing that was part of the "Blues in vinile" series however this is NOT part if the series & does NOT come with the 8-page booklet that was part of that series. This version comes with a standard sleeve & no inserts.

Artist: Sonny Terry

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Alligator Records

Catalog Number: AL 4734

Release Year: 2023

Country: Import

Condition: Sealed (New)