It’s quite amazing that Clarence Samuels, the first man to record for Leonard Chess in 1947, wouldn’t have his own CD—contemporary or reissue—on the market until 2000.

Like a superstitious bride, House of Blues, contains something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue. The upbeat title track is something new and is a quite witty, somewhat of a up-to-date sequel to Louis Jordan’s “Saturday Night Fish Fry.”

It actually makes the House of Blues sound like a fun destination. “Putt Putt,” “P. D. Q.” and “Big Fat Mama” are also fine uptempo blues that Samuel’s sells with humorous lyrics and a playful vocals delivery. The six contemporary tracks would have benefited with the addition of a few horns, but since Samuels footed most of the costs for this CD with his Social Security check, it was done on a shoe string budget.

Four tracks were borrowed and are over 40 years old, including the familiar classic “Chicken Hearted Woman,” and the outrageous “She Walk, She Walk,” which Professor Longhair appropriated as “She Walks Right In.” Ironically, Samuels earliest recordings, “Lollypop Mama” and “Boogie Woogie Blues,” close out the set. Samuels, who now calls New Orleans home, proves he’s still got pep and a lot to offer.

With more appropriate traditional accompaniment, and a few more good songs, Samuels could cut a killer CD. Until then, this will suffice.