For those unaware, What’s The Word? is the second of the four studio albums recorded by The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Jimmie Vaughan on guitar with Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Keith Ferguson on bass and Mike Buck or Fran Christina on drums.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds were formed in 1974, but these days singer Kim Wilson is the only constant member through the band’s entire history. Their 1986 album Tuff Enuff sold over a million copies and spawned two minor hit singles: the title track and Wrap It Up.

The 12” blue vinyl edition mastered from the original tapes does not include the three CD bonus tracks available on this disc.

1. Runnin’ Shoes
2. You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine
3. Low-Down Woman
4. Extra Jimmies
5. Sugar Coated Love
6. Last Call For Alcohol
7. The Crawl
8. Jumpin’ Bad
9. Learn To Treat Me Right
10. I’m A Good Man (If You Give Me A Chance)
11. Dirty Work
12. That’s Enough Of That Stuff
13. Band intro by C-Boy
14. Bad Boy
15. Scratch My Back
16. Los Fabulosos Thunderbirds*

When a band plays the blues as well as these guys did, it’s hard to find the right words to describe their achievement. Suffice to say, Jimmie Vaughan is the master of understatement on guitar; Kim Wilson’s voice is rich and soulful, and his harp playing is incendiary.

In the pocket barely begins to describe Keith Fergusen’s bass playing and both Mike Buck and Fran Christina (who each play on about half the tunes) lay down a backbeat that is impossible to resist.

All the early T-birds albums are worth owning, but this one is definitely a lot of people’s favorite, for its sheer consistency if nothing else. Runnin’ Shoes is their take on an old blues standard called Meet Me At The Bottom which highlights Kim’s perfect control of his voice. Low Down Woman, a straightforward mid-tempo blues, has some of his most amusing lyrics incorporated too.

Extra Jimmies and Jumpin’ Bad display the prodigious talents of Vaughan and Wilson, respectively (not to mention the fluid bass of Fergusen), and The Crawl should be on every jukebox in the country!

Official Purchase Link

www.fabulousthunderbirds.com