What makes Too Wet to Plow by Johnny Shines notable?

Too Wet to Plow is significant for its role in preserving traditional blues while appealing to a contemporary audience, receiving positive critical acclaim upon release. The album contributed to Shines' recognition during the blues revival era of the late 1970s, helping to influence subsequent generations of blues musicians. When Johnny Shines released Too Wet to Plow in 1977, he was in a phase of revival after years of relative obscurity. This album marked his return to recording after a decade, highlighting his deep roots in blues while also demonstrating the evolution of his sound since the 1940s when he first emerged as an influential figure alongside Robert Johnson.

How many songs are on Too Wet to Plow?

Too Wet to Plow has 12 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Too Wet to Plow

Johnny Shines · 1977

47 min · 12 tracks · blues

A raw yet soulful exploration of blues traditions, blending heartfelt storytelling with vibrant guitar work and rhythmic intensity.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Too Wet to Plow — The title track embodies the album’s themes of struggle and resilience, showcasing Shines’ emotive vocal delivery and intricate guitar work that captures the essence of classic blues.
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Moanin' the Blues — This track stands out with its poignant lyrics and soulful melody, reflecting Shines' ability to convey deep emotional narratives through music.
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Trouble's All I See — With its haunting mood and reflective lyrics, this song encapsulates the blues tradition of storytelling, revealing Shines’ mastery in connecting personal experience with universal themes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid blues composition and performance, though it lacks strong cohesion in sequencing.

What we noticed

Several tracks feature call-and-response vocal patterns, typical of traditional blues, enhancing the storytelling aspect.
The album includes both upbeat and slower songs, but maintains a consistent raw sound across all tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Trouble's All I See

The verses shift from personal reflections on hardship to broader social commentary, intertwining individual pain with collective struggles.

This structural choice enhances the song's depth by linking personal experience to wider societal issues, amplifying its emotional impact.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Too Wet to Plow 4:21
2 Travelling Back Home 3:53
3 Hot Tamale 3:08
4 Moanin' the Blues 4:44
5 Red Sun 4:41
6 Winding Mind 2:38
7 You Better Turn Around 4:28
8 The Wind Is Blowin' 3:35
9 Trouble's All I See 5:16
10 30 Days in Jail 3:43
11 Pay Day Woman 5:05
12 Epilog 2:16

What to play next

Go back to

Chicago Blues Festival 1972

1973

Full Johnny Shines discography Artists like Johnny Shines

blues

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata