The harmonica's not an especially prepossessing object, but in the skilled hands of Sonny Boy Williamson it was an incredibly expressive and versatile instrument. Though the material on One Way Out is mostly pretty obscure, that's no reason to avoid this collection; 15 killer tracks, packed full of Williamson's great harp lines and dry, witty vocals, are nothing to sneer at. Things kick off with the classic "Born Blind," featuring some great interplay between Williamson's harmonica and Otis Spann's piano; Williamson jams equally well with guitarists Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers on "Work with Me." The list of great solos here would include virtually the entire album, but special standouts are on "You Killing Me," "Don't Lose Your Eye," "I Wonder Why," and "I Know What Love Is All About." Also keep an ear open for "Like Wolf," a slower song that stretches its musical tension almost to the breaking point. Williamson's backing musicians are an all-star cast; along with Spann, Waters, and Rogers, there's Robert Lockwood Jr., Willie Dixon, and others. --Genevieve Williams