Elmore is one of the essentials.  You can't get past him if you're going to play electric blues, even if you don't play slide.  For instance, that Chuck Berry lick that we all know and love, is Elmore, with a slight variation.  James took Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom," simplified the guitar playing, which was necessary, if you were going to perform with a full backing band, and found that essential lick, that was so essential, you can't play the music without eventually quoting it.  It's like trying to play Johnny B Good without paying homage to Chuck Berry. 

You've got to pay the toll if you're going to cross that bridge.  

But Elmore was a helluva singer, too.  Add these things together, the effortless groove, the buzzsaw guitar, the razor blade vocal, and you've got a one-of-a-kind bluesman. 

It doesn't get better.  Different, maybe.  But not better.   

​Mark Magula