Mississippi MacDonald — “Oli Mac Presents Slim Pickin’ — APM Records
Oliver MacDonald. “Mississippi” MacDonald. Oli Mac.
Take your pick. Those names are all combined in one fine London bluesman, who dredges his music from the timeless mists of the blues; whose gritty vocals and eloquent guitar insist that you’re sitting in a smoky Chicago blues club or a Mississippi juke joint.
His recent electric albums have been electrifying, and his acoustic efforts have won him Acoustic Artist of the Year UK Blues Awards in 2024 and 2025.
His latest, “Oli Mac Presents Slim Pickin’,” is an acoustic gem that follows last year’s unplugged “Call Me Mississippi.” This latest set features ten songs, old and new, with Mac on vocals, guitar and piano; producer Phil Dearing on second guitar and keys, and Brent Cundall on bass.
The tough-enough flavor of the opener, “Trouble Doing the Right Thing,” sets
the mood for what’s to come, followed by “Slim Pickin’,” a typically slyly worded Mac original: “I spend all my time talkin’ to you / my head in my hands at the things that you do / ahhh good lord, slim pickins, ain’t that the truth…”
A pair of originals follows, “My Bad Attitude” and “I’m Sorry,” both thoughtful and melodious, with “Sorry” a gentle musical apology with lyrical guitar work.
The blues return with fingerpicking delight in a delicious version of Blind Willie McTell’s classic “Statesboro Blues.” Mac’s own “Got to Get to Walkin’” follows, a soulful blues rich with imagery and emotion. Then his gritty vocal wail highlights “Goin’ Down Slow,” the blues standard by St. Louis Jimmy Oden. Gospel rises up to shout amidst the blues in Mac’s powerfully slow-rocking version of “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” the Sister Rosetta Tharpe masterpiece.
The original “Sad Songs” is another gently sung ballad mourning lost love: “If I can’t hold your hand, I can’t live without you…” That song, paired with the lyrical closer, Keb’ Mo’s “You Can Love Yourself,” show off the maturity of Mac’s songwriting and vocal talents.
Oliver MacDonald. “Mississippi” MacDonald. Oli Mac — whatever name you choose — is a singer-songwriter-musician to be reckoned with in the future of the blues, and beyond.
“Slim Pickin'” is a gorgeously created album that showcases Mac’s versatility and authenticity, testifying to his ability to absorb the emotional essence of the blues, make it his own, and keep on keepin’ on.
I couldn’t find a video of music from this album, but here’s an acoustic performance from the 2025 UK Blues Awards:
Tracklist:
1.Trouble Doing The Right Thing (acoustic) (3:51)
(Zachary Logan . BMI)
2.Slim Pickin’ (acoustic) (3:26)
(Oliver MacDonald . Glovebox Songs/Kassner Associated Publishers)
3.My Bad Attitude (acoustic) (3:24)
(Oliver MacDonald . Glovebox Songs/Kassner Associated Publishers)
4.I’m Sorry (acoustic) (2:52)
(Oliver MacDonald . Glovebox Songs/Kassner Associated Publishers)
5.Statesboro Blues (acoustic) (3:24)
(Blind Willie McTell . Peer Music (UK ltd) )
6.Got To Get To Walkin’ (acoustic) (4:18)
(Oliver MacDonald . Glovebox Songs/Kassner Associated Publishers)
7.Goin’ Down Slow (acoustic) (4:06)
(James Oden . Universal Music)
8.Strange Things Happening Every Day (acoustic) (5:10)
(Sister Rosetta Tharpe . EMI Harmonies Ltd)
9.Sad Songs (acoustic) (2:57)
(Oliver MacDonald . Glovebox Songs/Kassner Associated Publishers)
10.You Can Love Yourself (acoustic) (2:31)
(Kevin Moore . BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd)
Blues Roadhouse 