John Heidt Vintage Guitar:
"Man, I love Ernie Hawkins. This is the third disc I've heard by him,
and each one impresses more and more. There are very few individuals who play this stuff and make it real. This "stuff," by the way, is acoustic
country blues. And Hawkins is, plan and simple, a master.
His original title cut is a perfect example. Six-string work that
calls to mind an entire orchestra, blues as dark as night, and a husky vocal are all featured. His version of Freddy King's "Hideaway" is a tour de
force. Like me, you're probably used to hearing this as an electric tune.
Well, trust me, nothing is lost in the translation. It's an electric classic
turned into an acoustic classic, instantly. Incredible stuff. The other nice thing about his playing is the originality. A lot of guys who play this stuff treat it a little too sacredly. Not Ernie. Check out "I Need Some Pettin". Great changes played in a really original fashion. Not your average country blues. He really captures the melancholy of the classic "Dehlia" by his mentor, Rev. Gary Davis. And, any record that has a version of "Step It Up and Go" on it that sounds this good is alright in my book. I'm tellin' ya, Ernie Hawkins is the real deal. If you have any interest in traditional country blues, you owe it to yourself to check out
his stuff.

Mean Little Poodle - Order

1. Lightnin's Hideaway (Freddy King arr. E. Hawkins)
2. Chump Man Blues (Blind Blake arr. E. Hawkins)
3. Mean Little Poodle (E. Hawkins, Say Mo' Music ASCAP)
4. I Need Some Pettin' (Robert King, Ted Fio Rito, Gus Kahn, Gus Kahn Music
Co. ASCAP, arr. Ernie Hawkins)
5. The Soul of a Man (Blind Willie Johnson arr. E. Hawkins)
6. Step It Up and Go (Blind Boy Fuller arr. E. Hawkins)
7. Voodoo Soup (E. Hawkins, Say Mo' Music ASCAP)
8. Dehlia (Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie McTell, arr. E. Hawkins)
9. Railroad Blues (Trad. / arr. E. Hawkins)
10. Weeping Willow (Blind Boy Fuller, arr. E. Hawkins)
11. Fast Fox Trot/Buck Dance (Rev. Gary Davis, arr. E. Hawkins)