Elvin Bishop: Raisin’ Hell Revue

Plenty of fair singin’ and good playin’ on this largely disappointing affair. If the vocals are occasionally lackadaisical and sometimes even lackluster the lead guitar playing––courtesy mainly of Bishop with some help from Bob Welsh, John Németh, and Kid Andersen––is often topnotch. A wholly unnecessary reading of Bishop’s big hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” sounds like a cruise ship band performing the classic rather than Bishop and band performing the track on a cruise ship. (The record was recorded on the Rhythm & Blues Cruise.) The thin production undermines what could have been bold and triumphant and makes you wish that the band had opted for the studio instead.