11. July 2025
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Media Review

Bad Temper Joe – The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Bad Temper Joe - The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue

Bad Temper Joe - The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue
4.7

Rating

 4.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Lovely new versions of blues classics
  • Great vocal and instrumental skills

I have featured major releases by the German blues artist Bad Temper Joe three times already. In my fourth review, I travel with him to traditional blues songs of the 1920s to 1950s – that’s the key theme of his 2025 album. On 20th June 2025, he released The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue. Here are my thoughts about it.

 

Bad Temper Joe – About The Artist

Bad Temper Joe is a blues artist from Bielefeld. He is typically trying to hide his private life away from the media. Since 2014, he is having solo releases, starting with his debut record Sometimes a Sinner. Overall, he has released eight studio albums so far. This includes Glitter & Blues (2022) and One Can Wreck It All (2021), which I both featured on Flyctory.om. You can also read a review of his latest EP At The Villa (2024) in here.

 

Bad Temper Joe – The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue – Track by Track

The ten track album lasts 47 minutes.

1. Down The Dirt Road Blues

Bad Temper Joe starts with a Charley Patton classic. His characteristic voice, the lovely guitar skills moves the original almost a decade into the future. Nonetheless – and due to the skills of the artist, the song does not feel outdated and spreads its fascination also in the 2020’s. This turns Down The Dirt Road Blues into a lovely opener.

2. Poor Black Mattie

Poor Black Mattie has been originally released by Robert Lee Burnside in the later 1960’s, as far as I could research. The single release of The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue feels more rocking, more present. The intense blues groove is striking.

3. Freight Train

Freight Train is one of the oldest songs of the album. It is assumed that Elizabeth Cotten wrote it between 1906 and 1912, inspired by the sound of passing trains at her home in North Carolina. In their very early years, The Beatles are assumed to have performed this song as well. Bad Temper Joe’s version is calm and intensively spreads the thoughtful and somehow also melancholic vibes. Love it.

Freight train, freight train, run so fastFreight train, freight train, run so fastPlease don’t tell what train I’m onThey won’t know what route I’m going

4. Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do

After that listen, the energetic and stimulating Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do feels like a huge contrast. It is 1959 release by Jimmy Reed. Reed is named to be one of the most influential blues artists ever – and even this cover version is illustrating it. You easily get into the song and enjoy its vibes, despite it has been written more than 65 years ago. A great song put into a great new version.

5. Spoonful

Spoonful is the next song on Bad Temper Joe’s 2025 album. It has originally been recorded and released in 1960 by Howlin’ Wolf. In fact it is written by Willie Dixon. I especially like the playful instrumental performance by the German artist. However, in the later part of this more than five minute song, Bad Temper Joe also impresses on the microphone.

6. Since I’ve Laid My Burden Down

Some really epic songs are still ahead of the listener. The more, this short, less than three minute, might feel welcome to some of you. The song also known as Glory, Glory feels familiar and is a very melodic listen. The initial recordings have been in the 1920’s. The most important recordings are likely by Mississippi John Hurt (1966), The Byrds (1971) and Ike & Tina Turner (1974). I really enjoy listening to this Bad Temper Joe version.

7. Come On In My Kitchen

The German artist can show all his musical talent in the seventh one. His version Robert Johnson song is about eight minutes long and has a lot of space for vocal and instrumental variations. There are so many things to explore in that song, I am simply a fascinated listener.

8. Big River

Johnny Cash released this song as a country track in 1957. The The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue version is a four minute listen and makes it feel as it has always been a blues track. One of the core tracks of the album to me – and a four minute proof of musical excellence.

9. Goodnight, Irene

The five minute folk standard original has first been recorded by Huddie Lead Belly Ledbetter in 1933. Later, The Weavers turned it into a chart leader. The song about troubled love with (you guess it) Irene is one of the most emotional moments of this album. The 2025 version feels very intense and touching. I absolutely love this one.

10. If Tears Were Diamonds

Bad Temper Joe recorded this song a few times already. Not that surprisingly, as it is an original, which is closing his 2025 album. On his latest album, it is a 8:25 minute track and thus its epic finale.

 

Bad Temper Joe – The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Bad Temper Joe – The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue – My View

The Acoustic Blues Guitar Revue is an impressing new album by Bad Temper Joe. I especially like that he really creates own version of the song, sometimes by rearranging them. Apart from some songs where he has been joined by a harmonica player, it is just him, his guitar, his thoughts and the original song. I absolutely enjoyed listening to these ten songs.

Favorite Song: Freight Train

 

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