The 1992 album Teasin’ You is among the best of Snooks Eaglin’s late-career recordings. At the time, Eaglin was still a big draw in New Orleans clubs, and the track listing here reflects his standard setlist. He slips from boogie-woogie into slow-burning blues and then back into classic Crescent City rave-ups, and yet he never sounds forced or inauthentic. The essence of his style is simplicity. His guitar and vocals operate under the same premise: play the way you feel, and don’t fake it. Vocally, Eaglin is never better than on “My Love Is Strong”: one of those classically bittersweet New Orleans slow dances in which the singer’s declaration of devotion is so clear and true that you can’t help but believe him. As far as his guitar work is concerned, the best track might be “Sleepwalk,” a cover of Santo & Johnny’s eerie 1958 instrumental hit. The song captures the sting-and-kiss style that was Eaglin’s stock in trade.
More By Snooks Eaglin
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