Daddy, When Is Mama Comin Home?

This album was recorded in 1989 in Chicago with top session players including Aron Burton on bass and the Chicago Fire Horns, plus John Primer on a couple tracks. Critics blamed the label for messing with Big Jack’s Delta sound, but Jack wanted horns so he could have the drive behind him, like the bands of B.B. King, Albert King and Little Milton. The songs are all Big Jack’s originals on a wide array of topics, including the economy, the AIDS crisis, domestic violence, perils of raising a large family, blues in China, and male/female relationships, with Jack’s swaggering vocals and slashing guitar in full force.

“Besides Johnson’s swaggering leads and rippling guitar, there’s a torrid horn section of top Chicago players. On two songs, Frank Frost takes a turn on synthesizer, adding a contemporary flavor. But no one should mistake this for a pop or rock session; it’s hard-edged, undiluted Delta blues.” — Memphis Commercial appeal

Related Albums

Live In Chicago

The World Don’t Owe Me Nothing

Company Coming

Tough Luck

1. Thirteen Chillun 4:35
2. I’m A Big Boy Now 3:25
3. Oh Darling 4:59
4. Doodley Squat 5:44
5. Crawdad Hole 6:11
6. Chinese Blues 5:16
7. Daddy, When Is Mama Comin’ Home?
8. I Slapped My Wife In The Face 4:46
9. Northwest Airlines Blues 3:52
10. Goin Back To Mississippi 5:51
11. Mr. U.S.A.I.D.S. 4:49
12. United States Got Us In A Bad Shape 5:47

© P Earwig Music Company, Inc. 1989
All songs written and arranged by Big Jack Johnson

Producers: Michael Robert Frank and Jack Johnson
co-producer on horn arrangements – Bill McFarland

Musicians: Jack Johnson – lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Musicians on all tracks except Goin Back to Mississippi and Mr. U.S. AiDS
Aron Burton – bass guitar
Larry Burton – rhythm guitar
Vince Willis – electronic keyboard, acoustic piano, keyboard special effects
Earl Howell – drums
The Chicago Fire Horns: Elmer Brown – trumpet, Hank Ford – tenor saxophone, Bill McFarland – trombone
Horn arrangements and band leadership by Bill McFarland
Recorded September 16 and 17, 1989 at Seagrape Studio tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9,12
Blaise Barton and Mike Konopka, engineers, Tom Haban, 2nd engineer

Musicians on Goin Back to Mississippi and Mr. U.S. AIDS
Jack Johnson – lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals
John Primer – second guitar, tracks 10, 11 (overdub)
Frank Frost – synthesizer, tracks 10, 11
Sam Carr – drums, tracks 10, 11
tracks 10, 11 recorded February 19, 1988 Ken Patnaude – engineer, Prince Recording Studios, New York, New York
Overdubs on tracks 10,11 recorded by Paul Smith and David Trumpfio, Acme Audio and Recording, Chicago, Illinois

Mixed at Seagrape Studios and Acme Audio and Recording, Chicago, Illinois by Paul Smith.
CD mastering at Acme Audio and Recording, by Paul Smith.

Photography: Patricia Johnson
Design: Terran Doehrer – Earth Star Graphics, Evanston, Illinois