1. Intro
  2. Talk To Me Mama
  3. Stranded In St. Louis
  4. Loving Man
  5. Extension 309
  6. Gonna Make Some Changes
  7. Loan Me Train Fare
  8. Heads Up
  9. Thinking And Drinking
  10. Going To Chicago
  11. Keep Your Hands Off Her

BOB STROGER – bass/vocals
JAMES WHEELER – guitar/vocals
BILLY FLYNN – guitar/vocals
KEN SAYDAK – piano/vocals
RON SORIN – harmonica
MARTY BINDER – drums

1998 folgten Bob Stroger und seine Allstar-Combo einer Einladung des Lucerne Blues Festivals in die Schweiz. Diese ersten Aufnahmen unter eigenem Namen entstanden Casino am Vierwaldtstätter See.

Bob Stroger, ein wahrer Gentleman und liebenswürdiger, väterlicher Typ wird hier begleitet von einer erstklassigen Musikerriege. Die Allstars bestehen aus dem Ken Saydak Trio (Ken war damals ein gefragter Chicagoer Session-Keyboarder mit zwei CDs auf 'Delmark') mit Ron Sorin (Harmonica) und Marty Binder (Schlagzeug).
Kaum einer in Chicago spielt die Gitarre derart melodisch und gefühlvoll wie James Wheeler, und Billy Flynn gilt als einer der feinfühligsten Blues-(Slide-)gitarristen schlechthin, ein absoluter Favorit von u.a. Kim Wilson.

Zusammen produzieren diese Herren auf unglaublich lässige und sympathische Art Chicago Blues der feinen Sorte, mit Tiefgang und Humor, mit viel Swing und Groove.
Ein Leckerbissen!!

Volume 1 of “In The House” series showcases Bob not only in great form when it comes to singing and playing, but also in good spirits. (…) Anyway, Bob's band is also fantastic with James Wheeler being a very good guitarist with a lot of taste in his playing. There are not many guys out there playing this kind of blues in such a real way so Bob Stroger's Lucerne band is something to savor. (…) Not only the music is absolute high class (…) but the sound quality, production values and packing also set high standards. I love this kind of live production, real concert played from the first song to the last one, no silence or fading. If there is something as good as being there in Lucerne, sitting in a first row and listening to the blues, this is it, “In The House”. This series is as essential as “The Bluesville Years” classic blues series releases some years ago by the Prestige/Fantasy label. A must have for all serious blues fans.

Radio Brawo
2008-05
Przemek Draheim

A fine celebration of traditional Windy City fare, made contemporary by the exemplary playing of all involved. (…) hit with a groove that won't shake loose and brings to conclusion an outing that must have brought a great deal of stisfaction to the veteran bass player.

Juke Blues
June 2003 #53
Bill Moodie

In The House sounds like it was recorded in a Chicago blues bar instead of half a world away at the Casino Luzern. (…) There's 11 prime Chicago blues cuts on “In the House”.

COSMIK DEBRIS MAGAZINE
June 2003
Eric Steiner

Das Ensemble-Spiel ist traumwandlerisch tight und die Instrumentalisten sind allererste Sahne. (…) exzellente Chicago-Blues-CD, die Liebhaber des Genres beigeisteren dürfte.

German Blues Circle Info
02/2003
Klaus Kilian

Begleitet vom Trio um den Pianisten Ken Saydak sowie den beiden Gitarristen Billy Flynn und James Wheeler liefert uns Stroger auf überaus sympathische, charmante Art ein nahezu “cooles” Werk:
hier groovt's und swingt's, dass es eine wahre Freude ist. Wunderschön zu hören, wie sich die einzelnen Solisten die Bälle zuwerfen, zusammen gehalten von den majestätischen Bassfiguren des Bob Stroger.

good-music.ch
Herbst 2002
Rene Maeder

A rock solid set of classic Chicago blues featuring great ensemble playing but with everyone getting a chance to strut their stuff. There's not a weak track in the bunch but favorites include the chugging “Talk To Me Mama”, the low-down “Stranded In St. Louis”, the driving “Thinking And Drinking” with Saydak taking the vocals and playing some rollicking piano while James Wheeler lays down some wicked guitar and a fine take on Jimmy Rushing's classic “Going To Chicago.”

Bad Dog Blues Webzine
Januar 2003
Jeff Harris