Dig Deep: Freddie Robinson – Off The Cuff – Enterprise (1973)

Freddie Robinson – Off The Cuff
Freddie Robinson – Smoking
Freddie Robinson – River’s Invitation

First came into contact with this super fine album by guitarist Freddie Robinson at Groove Merchant many moons ago. Recently tracked it down again thanks to Records LA. “Off The Cuff” is one of my favorite all time songs, maybe because it could so easily be a theme song for me, especially much of my approach as a DJ. Though the beat is mid-tempo, it has this seriously laid back vibe that all comes from those gorgeous guitar lines from Robinson. If it had just been an instrumental it would have been cool enough, but then when Robinson sings in his sly southern drawl, “Everything I do, I do it off the cuff y’all…Heh!” It moves into legendary status, at least in my book.

For those that don’t know Robinson had quite a stellar career, even if it never led to major success or stardom. He began as a straight blues guy, even backing up Howlin’ Wolf on some classic sides before striking out as a soulful and bluesy jazz guitarist in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this period of time Robinson was also apart of maybe the most soulful incarnation of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. It’s likely that his work on Mayall’s albums led to his ability to record his two albums on the Enterprise label (the other, 1971’s At The Drive In, is also highly recommended if you dig this sound, especially “It’s The Real Thing”).

Instrumentally he mines somewhat similar territory as Phil Upchurch, though Robinson’s sound for me has an earthier, more soulful feel. That sound is on display on one of the few instrumentals on this album, “Smoking.”   Most of the record is more in the blues-funk vein, a lot of it very sample worthy including “Medicine Man,” and his cover of Percy Mayfield’s “River’s Invitation.”  All in all, a record worth tracking down, even though you don’t see too many copies of it around.

Cheers,

Michael