What You See Is What You Get is an album by the American musician Lil' Ed Williams, released in 1992.[2][3] He is credited with his band, the Blues Imperials.[4] Williams supported the album with a North American tour.[5] Following the tour, Williams temporarily broke up the band to concentrate on solo work.[6]

Production

The album was coproduced by Bruce Iglauer.[7] Williams wrote 12 of the album's 14 tracks; he employed a pinky slide on many of the songs.[8][9] What You See Is What You Get includes a cover of his uncle J. B. Hutto's "Please Help".[10][8] "Upset Man" was written by the band's bass player, James "Pookie" Young.[11] Eddie McKinley joined the band on saxophone.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
Chicago Tribune	[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[6]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide	[15]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[12]

The Chicago Tribune called much of Williams's music "one-dimensional contemporary blues," but acknowledged that McKinley "mercifully brightens the shuffle-heavy grooves."[14] The St. Petersburg Times opined that "the band can really dig into a stomping groove, accented by Ed's slide guitar, greasy as a just-lubricated truck axle."[16]

The Washington Post concluded that the Imperials "sound like every other baby-boomer, blues 'n' boogie bar band in the land."[10] The Los Angeles Times opined that "the Imperials are something of a detriment to Williams' purity, lacking the personality and sense of tradition that Williams so easily possesses."[17] The Houston Chronicle determined that Williams "has a seriousness of purpose that, combined with his intuitive understanding and exuberant attack, make this one of the most listenable 'classic' blues albums of recent years."[18]

AllMusic deemed the album "hard-driving good-time electric blues."[13]

Track listing

References