Payin' for My Sins (1999)

About this title: For his second recording, the young Champion proves to be a decent, basic harmonica player, he's not featured on every cut. He wrote or co-wrote 9 of the 13 tracks. His voice is rough, more a shouter and screamer than a trained singer, sandpaper over silk, with imprecise phrasings. But as you go through the entire program it kinda grows on you, and he gets credit for doing a wide range of authentic, traditional and soulful blues, with occasional accompanying horns and back-up singers. At his best, Champion plays and sings, like on the Sonny Boy Williamson rocker "Don't Start Me To Talkin'" or ... read more

Tracks:

1. I'm Smilin' Again [Champion/Walker]
2. You Got Some Explaining to Do [Champion/Walker]
3. Good as New [Walker]
4. She's Some Kind of Wonderful [Crash]
5. My Rooster Is King [Champion]
6. Goin' Down Slow [Oden/Champion]
7. Payin' for My Sins [Champion/Cole]
8. Troubled Mind [Champion]
9. Let Me Be [Champion/Walker]
10. Roberta [Champion]
11. Don't Start Me to Talkin' [Williamson]
12. Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City [Price/Walsh/Price]
13. Dreamin' [Champion]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.