Editorial Review

Few blues artists covered as much territory as did Muddy Waters, and it's more than evident if you put this collection and Read more

Reviews (10)

MUDDY Was CLEARLY King!
In moving to Chicago from the Mississippi Delta region in 1943, MUDDY WATERS (McKinley Morganfield) essentially remolded the musical language known as The Blues.Playing now in nightclubs, the acoustic rural sound gave way to a booming urban beat.As a writer once cleverly quipped : by plugging in his guitar, Muddy Waters invented electricity.
You gotta have it!
If the first part of this series gives you the transition from delta slide acoustic to electric blues versions of the same thing, and some of the most graphic and personal recordings of the blues ever done, besides standards no cultured person can be without, this CD is a record of the birth and perfection of the electric blues band, and a classic version of that band with some of the greatest soloists of the blues working for Muddy.I don't play in blues bands. In fact, the most band music I play is in old timey string bands, but still this record speaks to me about the meaning of a tight band, the way great soloists can work with a great master, and the way a great creator created what we now call the Chicago Blues (which was actually the third or fourth wave of Chicago based blues). Great overview of Muddy's late-50s-mid-60s material
A must-have companion volume to "His Best: 1947-1955", this CD brings together almost all of Muddy Waters' finest songs from 1956-64, including superb electric blues classics like "Forty Days And Forty Nights", "Got My Mojo Working", "The Same Thing", and the swinging, swaggering "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love".
Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Revival    4. Blues Traditional    5. Chicago Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Electric Blues    8. Electric Chicago Blues    9. Pop    10. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (1)

Vintage Drug songs gotta love em'!
Low down dirty R&B, Blues and Jazz songs about illegal substances. This comp shows musicians way before the sixties were singing about their favorite candy. "Save the Roach for me" is a great song sang to comical effect with a rollicking piano, then you got Louis Jordan with "Junco Partner" a song with a calypso flavor, and the great Cab Calloway doing the drug dealer songer called "Man from Harlem. This comp is a must for people who collect strange old music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Country Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Folk & Traditional    6. Jazz Blues    7. Jazz Traditional Collections    8. Jive    9. Jump Blues    10. Pop   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Delta Blues    4. Electric Delta Blues    5. Pop   

Reviews (2)

so glad I get it
I`ve heard recordings from early 30`s and newer recording from 60`s. But this one is the best. Really... Perfect. I guess. Those few tracks on piano... You have to listen it yourself.
One Of His Best
Clear, crisp modern recordings of the spooky, mysterious style of Blues Skip James developed early last century. His guitar playing is perfect. His high haunting voice floats and then holds and makes the hair on the back ofyour neck crawl. His piano playing is unpredictable yet concise. His uniquestyle, which recorded earlier in his life (1930) sounded almost archaic(positively so), now sounds strangely modern due to the increased fidelityof the magnetic tape used for the recording. An unusual and originaltalent, Skip James was one of the best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Country Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Jazz Music    6. Piano Blues    7. Pop    8. Prewar Country Blues   

Reviews (4)

Skip James - Spooky Blues
I think I first heard the name Skip James associated with John Martyn's "I'd Rather Be the Devil".Then I saw that he'd penned an old Cream hit "I'm so Glad".I finally got around to picking up some of Skip's stuff. Man, this is something else.Nevermind Robert Johnson's Hellhound...Me thinks the Hellhound actually caught up with Skip James.The guitar playing is superb and that voice...downright spooky at times!
Nice overview of Skip James' rediscovery period
Shout Factory continues its excellent "Heroes of the Blues" series with one of the most haunting voices in music - that of Bentonia, Mississippi's Skip James. The collection concentrates mainly on his reimergence in the mid-1960s, with the exception of the two opening tracks taken from his 1931 Paramount recording session. The bulk of the release is made up of recordings James made for Biograph in 1964, which were recorded just shortly after his rediscovery earlier that year. Equally impressive and distinctive on piano as he was on guitar, the set also highlights his unique piano style as demonstrated on "22-20 Blues" and "How Long Blues." Although not listed, those looking for a recording of his most popular piece, "The Devil Got My Woman," can find a stirring six-minute 1964 version on track 6, listed mistakenly as "How Long Blues," (which actually appears as track 5 but titled "61 Highway.") With an interest in Skip James at an all-time high thanks in part to James' high-profile inclusion in the Martin Scorsese PBS blues series, and to a lesser extent, the strong role his music played in the 2001 film "Ghost World," this set happily brings some of his fine postwar recordings to a whole new generation just discovering his genius.

error on the printed playlist on the back cover
Beautifully cleaned up tracks. On the copy I got the back cover doesn't list "Devil Got My Woman" . Instead a different track 5 called "61 Highway".Luckly the actual cd does have the playlist listed here with "Devil got My woman". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Pop    7. Prewar Country Blues   

Reviews (4)

Take care of the baby.
This is a fine collection of blues songs played on the slide guitar.It features legends like Charlie Patton, Blind Boy Fuller, Leadbelly and Robert Johnson.These guys naturally turn in good performances, but a suprising highlight is a unique version of "Swing Low, Chariot" by the obscure Sister O.M. Terrell.Fans of old time blues will really enjoy this CD.

Amazing
If you want to go back to the purest roots of guitar music, this cd is definitely for you. There are several tracks on this record that would alone warrant the purchase (e.g. Sylvester Weaver's Guitar Rag in the 1927 version), and there are several tracks that are almost painfully intense. In addition, the booklet provides interesting background information on the history of bottleneck guitar playing. A must, if you ask me.

Some of the greatest recordings ever.
Even without the Slide Guitar moniker, these recordings stand as some of the best performances of the 20th century.A most have for all music lovers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20's    2. 30's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Acoustic Chicago Blues    5. Acoustic Texas Blues    6. Blues    7. Blues Gospel    8. Blues Music    9. Blues Traditional Collections    10. Country Blues    11. Delta Blues    12. East Coast Blues    13. Field Recordings    14. Folk Revival    15. Piedmont Blues    16. Pop    17. Prewar Blues    18. Prewar Country Blues    19. Prewar Gospel Blues    20. Slide Guitar Blues   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (3)

Hard-hitting Americana, not smoothie country-pop
There are no two ways around it, this is an excellent collection of performances by one of the true mountain masters, Hobart Smith. First off, if for no other reason, get this disc for his rendition of Cuckoo Bird. This continues to be the single most intense banjo playing ever applied to this excellent tune. Hobart's playing is full of fire and drive and will certainly shake you up. An absolutely incredible piece for comparing/contrasting with other excellent versions such as those on the Black Banjo Songsters Of North Carolina & Virginia cd, Clarence Ashley's Greenback Dollar disc, etc... Yippee - a classic
Hobart Smith was a wonderful musician. This is a great collection.

Finally, the recordings of this true master are available!
If you consider yourself even a passing fan of old-timey, Appalachian, blues, or bluegrass music, do not pass this one up.Hobart Smith was a distinctive and unsurpassed banjo player and fiddle player, a fine piano and guitar player, and had a much more accessable singing voice than many of the old-time banjo players.Dock Boggs, Roscoe Holcomb, etc. were fine musicians, but their voices were acquired tastes, so if you are looking for old-time music with a much more accessable voice, Hobart Smith should be right up your alley.Don't try to pigeon-hole him with Dock and Roscoe, though.Stylistically, Smith ran the gamut of American folk music through to his death in 1965, drawing equally from white and black traditions.Whatever he played, though, he played with soul and energy.As an added bonus, the liner notes are fantastic, providing information about the man, his styles of playing, and the songs themselves.Read more

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Folk    2. Ballads    3. Field Recordings    4. Folk & Traditional    5. Folk Collections    6. Old-Timey    7. Pop    8. Traditional Folk   

Reviews (5)

Blast From the Past: Great Blues from HoneyBoy
This dynamite CD is actually a reissue of the vinyl LP put out in 1979 by Folkways in NYC.I brought HoneyBoy Edwards to New York several times in the 1970s.Verna Gillis of Soundscape picked him up & waxed this solo session for Folkways (Moe Asch).The virtue of a simple, clean "back porch" recording came from her no-frills production: She put HoneyBoy in front of a couple of good mikes and this is the result!The late Bob Palmer wrote the notes.The original cover was a photo taken by "yours truly" of HoneyBoy playing at the "Foghat Tribute to the Blues" concert, but this reissue has replaced it with new "art."Judging from the samples, the sound transfer is fine! This is the FIRST HoneyBoy set to buy.Then find his 1940s session, '50s singles and the LP on Wolf (Austria) and you will have all that I recall existed when I decided to find him and bring him to NYC in 1976.

FU***** AMAZING
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL DELTA BLUES FROM A MAN WHO IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MUSICAL GOD. BUY THIS ALBUM AS SOON AS YOU CAN, GRAB A TALL BOY, AND SIT OUTSIDE ON A NICE SUMMER NIGHT AND BLAST SOME HONEYBOY EDWARDS. IT WILL SOON BE AN AMAZING NIGHT TO REMEMBER. ALSO RECOMENDED- GWAR (PRE SCHOOL PROSTITUTE)

The Real Deal of Delta Blues
The first thing you'll notice is the quality of the recording. What a tremendous job the Smithsonian Institution has done in capturing the emotion of Dave 'HoneyBoy' Edwards. This master of the Delta Blues is the real-deal, schooled with Robert Johnson, at times shadowed by his image, living testimony to the origins of country blues. Take a listen to the 'Dust My Broom / Sweet Home Chicago' medley and you'll be sure to purchase this CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Delta Blues    5. Pop   

Editorial Review

This is a treasure trove--for the Muddy Waters fan, for the blues historian, for the country-blues enthusiast. Alan Lomax, searching for Robert Johnson (recently deceased), came through and recorded a young McKinley Morganfield. The rest is history. Early versions of future classics can be found on these field recordings from 1941-42, and the guitar and voice that would have unimaginable influence on blues and rock & roll. There's no Chicago yet in these often-scratchy recordings, but if you listen, you can hear where it came from. --Read more

Reviews (7)

Indispensable Early Work of a Blues Genius
This is where the legend of the one and only, tremendous Muddy Waters starts. Few people have ever impacted any artform as much as Muddy has American music. Though he is accompanied on some songs, Muddy is also solo on many and performs some future classics w/ just an acoustic and his powerful voice. When Muddy heard the playback after "Country Blues" he knew that he had what it took to be a blues professional... possibly the greatest that there ever was. If you've never heard Muddy play acoustic, you are in for a shock; I believe my jaw dropped to the floor when I heard the amazing, full-bodied, vibrant sound that he got out of just a guitar and his voice on songs such as the first cut and "I Be's Troubled" (later recorded as "I Can't Be Satisfied." This is indispensable and essential listening, not just some study in the roots of American music.

Muddy's Delta Blues
Most Blues fans have heard a lot of chicago blues. Most fans have a lot of Muddy Waters chicago blues. But not alot of Muddy Waters fans would have heard Muddy sing the delta blues. This CD is very intersting because it shows Muddy playing the first blues he ever heard, The Delta Blues. Much like the sounds of Son House, Robert Johnson and Skip JAmes this cd is all acoustic blues. It is great to be able to hear a very young Muddy sing delta blues because once he went to Chicago he abandoned the delta sound and went electric. Muddy does several Robert Johnson songs on this cd quite well, and there are some interesting interviews with Muddy explaining what life was like in the delta and why he made songs out of his experiences. For those who like the old delta blues this cd is a must have, on no other cd do we hear Muddy singing blues like these.

Muddy's Real Real Folk Blues
When Muddy Waters made the first recordings here, he was 26 or 27 and had not been playing regularly.He didnt own a guitar and had to borrow Alan Lomax's Martin. You see here your basic Delta and Mississippi blues in full blossom, by a man who was a great player if he could sound like this when he wasn't in practice. People look at Mississippi blues with a distorted mind thinking of it only through the stream of Robert Johnson, when the music and the tradition was much broader.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Chicago Blues    7. Country Blues    8. Delta Blues    9. Electric Blues    10. Electric Chicago Blues    11. Pop    12. Slide Guitar Blues   

Editorial Review

This inappropriately titled album is actually a concert recording from a performance at Oberlin College in 1965. Regardless, Hurt's rich, gentle voice and relaxed, flowing guitar lines could soothe the stormiest Monday. Among the hymns and traditional songs heard here are "I Shall Not Be Moved," "Nearer My God to Thee," "Since I've Laid This Burden Down," and "You Are My Sunshine." Complementing those are Hurt folk/blues staples, notably "Monday Morning Blues," "Coffee Blues," and "C.C. Rider." The blues patriarch's warmth and geniality come through here with such emotional intimacy that you can't help being deeply moved. Read more

Reviews (9)

Great album, but...
It's a live album recorded at Oberlin College in 1965 in front of an audience and not what most people think of as a "Best of".Someone mentioned this below, but I thought it was worth pointing out again.The audience is very, very quiet (except when they are overly amused by a few subtle lyrical slip ups - if they didn't laugh you really wouldn't notice too much in my opinion... sorta annoying).

Very very good
Transcends blues to be just a fun, sad, uplifting, great cd.Recommended for anyone.

it may not be his best, but:�
This disc is a fine place to dive into the wonderfully gentle blues of this wonderfully gentle man.There was nothing flashy about John Hurt, and maybe for that reason his music may stick to your ribs for a long, long time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Country Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Field Recordings    9. Pop    10. Prewar Blues    11. Songwriter   

Editorial Review

James "Super Chikan" Johnson has blossomed from an oddity, a quirky songwriter and struggling singer-guitarist who claims to talk with chickens, to a juke-blues wizard in four years and three albums. On Read more

Reviews (2)

Blues with a smile
On this release for Rooster (arguably the best blues record label operating) James "Super Chikan" Johnson and the Fighting Cocks release that infectious feelingthey deliver live. There is a long history of comic blues (mainly "blue" blues, as in Bo Carter of "Bannana in Your Fruitbasket" fame) but Chikan brings us into the postmodern era as only he could. The humor he is known for is generally subtle, sometimes outrageous, but always effective. Every cut contains what could only be explained as a sly grin from Chikan. The title cut is the best example of that "live" feeling, an 8 1/2 minute jam that is the standout on the album. If you're lucky enough to see him live, this album will remind you of the great time you had; if you haven't, this is a great approximation. Throughout the album Chikan and the Cocks unleash that funky blues boogie that no one does better. If you're one of those people that find the contemporary blues scene derivative, you owe it to yourself to pick up this album and see how wrong people can be. This album is as fresh as it gets, and Chikan is a true and priceless original. "Shoot That Thang" has all of the qualities of the legendary Chuck Berry: Boogie music at its loosest and best; inventive and well-written lyrics; and one hell of a lot of personality. Don't miss this.

Super Chikan
Well, I'm a sucker for the Blues. When I found this, the artist's name and the title appealed to my wackier side. And after listening to the samples, I had to get it. Now that I have it, and have listened to it a few times, I have to say that it's fun, a bit different. I like that the artist draws from his own life experiences when writing his songs. Not always true Blues, but I'm liking it. Overall, a good addition to my music library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Electric Delta Blues    4. Modern Delta Blues    5. Pop   

Reviews (2)

Great compilation
Perfect compilation for anyone interested in 20s-30s rural blues. Every song is perfect.

Terrific Delta/Traditional Blues mix!
This albumn is one of the best compilations of Delta/Traditional/Country Blues I've ever listened to. It's easy to listen to from beginning to end. The albumn flows well, reaching back into the "old-timey" Blues with musicians like Charley Patton, Geechie Wiley & Elvie Thomas, Blind Joe Williams and others. From Mississippi John Hurt's soft playing and soothing singing to Robert Belfour's painful moans and rythmic plucking, this albumn is a trip back to jook joints, front porches, and planting fields. Definitely worth looking into for the buff and the beginner, alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Blues Collections    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Revival    7. Country Blues    8. Delta Blues    9. Electric Delta Blues    10. Prewar Blues    11. Prewar Country Blues    12. Prewar Gospel Blues    13. Slide Guitar Blues   

Editorial Review

If you had to choose just one Sacred Harp disc to own, this would be it. Volume 10 in the Southern Journey series may have more fuguing selections, but this is the best overall for its startling, briskly recorded stereo sound--no mean feat for a field recording from 1959! In addition to songs like "Cussetta," the always great "Weeping Mary," and "Montgomery," there are snippets of testimonials and confessions placed throughout. So you get to hear Harp singer Joyce Smith declare, "A lot of times a preacher will get up and preach and it don't seem like it has any effect on anybody. But you let a band of God's children get together and get to singing--people's gonna feel it." Read more

Reviews (4)

overwhelming hymnody
After hearing a few sacred harp tunes on the anthology of American folk music, I knew I had to hear more and purchased southern journey volume 10.While that disc flabbergasted me with its fantastic sound and large number of fuging tunes, I purchased more sacred harp discs and must say that I prefer volume 9.There seems to be more variation between the songs included, and it just feels like the singers really hit their stride in most of these songs.While I think both discs are extremely worthwhile, there's just something about volume 9 that makes it a bit more rewarding.I am not a Christian or a very religious person, but this music has enough conviction to imbueanyone with some sort of religious appreciation.This disc allows for a moving experience of joy and glory by proxy, and you know by listening to it that these people put their all into the performance.

A little too authentic for me
Everything that was written in the other reviews is essentially correct; the songs are great and passionately sung.However, being a newcomer to Sacred Harp music, and having heard only the clean and crisp sound of the Cold Mountain soundtrack songs, I was hoping for higher quality sound on this disc.I can't say I wasn't warned by the other reviewers, but I didn't realize how distracting the sour notes and poor sound balance would be for me.If you are looking for an authentic sound, this is the cd for you; if you think you might be distracted by the imperfections, look elsewhere.

Manages to articulate something ineffable and wonderous!
I happened upon this disc after becoming re-acquainted with shape note singing via the recently released "Cold Mountain" soundtrack. Wow. There is something thrilling, something visceral and yet greater than oneself, that is provoked upon listening to this wonderful and strange music. This is definitely not the Boston Camerata, so please don't buy it hoping to hear something glossy, high-church and perfectly executed. This is simply rousing, foot-stopping spiritual music sung by real god-fearing folk. Something in this music evoked a certain Proustian nostalgia in this Appalachian woman, reminding me of attending church with my elderly aunt at the tiny Baptist church in Cyrus, West Virginia as a small child--a church so small that the minister was a circuit preacher who rotated between several congregations. That congregation had something of the enthusiasm rendered on this disc-- I listened with tears streaming down my face. I highly reccommend this recording to anyone interested in musical ethnography, or in simply hearing the word of God sung with full-out enthusiasm and joy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. Field Recordings    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Folk Collections    5. Folksongs    6. Gospel    7. Gospel/Christian Music    8. Pop    9. Southern Gospel    10. Traditional Folk    11. Work Songs   

Reviews (6)

Listen & Learn, Son House is for RealAre You?
Son House taught Robert Johnson the slide blues. Son House taught Muddy Waters. When Son House started performing at Blues festivals again in the mid 1960s, some of Muddy's younger band members would start to go off for a smoke or whatever when the old man came on stage. Muddy wouldn't let them. Muddy Waters would tell all his band members to be quiet and pay attention when the man played because even compared with Muddy, this was the real deal. Great Music
I was introduced to Son House through npr's series on the blues.In fact that series has inspired me to check out several new artists, but Son House has to be the most versatile and interesting. Good overview, but not the best possible track selection
Like the "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues" volume dedicated to Son House, this CD includes songs from House's entire career. That's a big plus, and this is great music, but I would still recommend the "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues" album, which has a stronger track list.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Pop    7. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (2)

Fat Possum Primer
Outstanding sampler from Nortern Mississippi Hill Country Blues label Fat Possum. Much prefer this sampler to the first one. This has that gritty country blues feel with many songs feeling like they were recorded in a leaky basement(and many were). Standouts are the two RL Burnside tracks: "Goin down South" is a staple of his music and the version included of "Walkin Blues" is top notch. The previously unreleased "I Feel Good Again" by Junior Kimbrough and Charlie Feathers is worth more than the low 4.99 price to buy this. The Asie Payton tracks are both stunners and Paul Wine Jones and Super Chikan add some diversity in style with there numbers.

good stuff, lousy title (it's dirt cheap, too)
Actually, this is the same old blues...; the "purists" who run the label either don't know it or won't admit it.This sort of purist nonsense is as old as the music but whenever another generation comes along there's another spasm of it.As for the selections, this is really fine music, as varied as you could possibly want.Even some greasy old soul that somebody probably smokes cigars to while they're swilling beer (just to mention a couple seemingly proscribed activities mentioned in the liner notes).But this label records stuff Alligator never did, right?Way wrong; Hound Dog Taylor was as funky as any of this.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues Music    4. Delta Blues    5. Electric Country Blues    6. Electric Delta Blues    7. Juke Joint Blues    8. Modern Delta Blues    9. Modern Electric Blues    10. Pop   

Reviews (4)

breath-taking...
I first heard sacred harp singers on the anthology of american folk music (harry smith).I could not believe my ears when I heard such raw passion and purity pouring from my speakers!I had to hear more of this strange music, and discovered this collection.This music could never be passively listened to, and may therefore be unnerving to some.This is only due to the fact that it is unbelievably moving.It will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight on end.That everybody's voice is used so raw and naturally only adds to the beauty of each harmony.Though some of the songs may seem straight-forward at first listen, there is a remarkable depth created when the voices ebb and flow in their cohesion.Simply sublime!

***Supernal***
This and Volume 9 are superior representatives of the transformative power of four-part harmony.No matter the quality of the individual voices, the combined effect is out-of-this-world.The selections are great; not a boring track in the lot.Get your voice in tune for the Great Re-Awakening!

It's Sacred Harp, so of course it's wonderful
This is a wonderful recording from the 1959 United Sacred Harp Convention, made by the legendary Alan Lomax.It's a piece of American history.Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. Field Recordings    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Folk Collections    5. Folksongs    6. Gospel    7. Gospel/Christian Music    8. Italian Folk    9. Pop    10. Southern Gospel    11. Traditional Folk    12. Work Songs   

Reviews (4)

Best available quality, a must own cd!!
If you want to learn the true roots of Rock n roll, this cd is it!! Patton was a true master of the blues, and his influence changed music forever.Yazoo has done the best job at restoring his music. Do not by any other labels for early blues; Yazoo only deals with the best quality 78 rmp records that exsist.

the best sound!
let me echo an earlier review: Yazoo has completely re-mastered these timeless songs from the best available 78's; I have never heard Patton sound so three-dimensional, the remastering bringing more of a living presence to the songs than ever before. I hear things I didn't hear before, the spoken asides jump out, little touches I hadn't noticed... I've listened to Charlie Patton for well over 30 years and have never heard him sound so good. It really is astounding what Yazoo has done. Kudos to Yazoo! Their approach to the remastering this time really paid off. This is the best sounding Patton there is.

A very fine single-disc overview
If you're not up for one of the numerous Charlie Patton box sets, this is a really excellent alternative.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Leader    7. Pop    8. Prewar Blues    9. Prewar Country Blues    10. Prewar Gospel Blues    11. Slide Guitar Blues   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (3)

Disappointing
After reading the other reviews, I was really looking forward to this collection. I am very disappointed. The sound quality is terrible. These are very old recordings and have not been treated well. Even with the restoration mastery of JSP, at least 50% of the tracks on this collection are painful to listen to.

Much More than I Expected
Of all these JSP box-sets I own, none has been a bigger surprise to me than this one. I bought this one as a curiosity but it is much more. Going by the tracklist there were a handful of people I knew, but most were new to me. If this exact same box had been released by another label and was more along the lines of $40 to $60 I would have never purchased it. Knowing JSPs reputation for quality transfers and low prices I just decided to go for it, hoping along the way that there would at least be 2 discs worth of stuff I enjoyed. "At least" certainly came true!
5 stars - and a nobel prize
Wow! JSP certainly deserves some sort of award for making this historic collection available.If you're reading this, I assume you already know about the Paramount label, which recorded some of the greatest "race" (as they were called at the time) records ever.Superstars on Paramount included Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Patton, and Blind Blake.The set collects many of the lesser known artists who recorded sides for the label.Someone more expert than me would have to verify this, but I imagine that some of these sides are being issued on CD for the first time ever.What's amazing is the consistency of quality and the originality and charisma of even the most obscure artists here.The variety makes this one of the most entertaining box sets I own.This is old-time blues of every kind: barrelhouse, delta, hokum, jazzy, gutbucket, you name it.I know it's saying a lot, but this belongs on your shelf not far from the immortal "Anthology of American Folk Muisc," and unlike that set you won't have to take out a loan to make the purchase.I have a very minor complaint that the notes jump from factoid to factoid and are somewhat confusedly written: a more well-written, thorough, and sequential history of the label and some of these artists would have been appreciated.But JSP did a great job with the music, and that's what counts. Superb! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Country    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Pop    7. Prewar Blues    8. Prewar Country Blues    9. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

The harmonica's not exactly an imposing instrument; who would guess that a pocket- sized hunk of metal could be capable of so much expression? Volume 16 of Rhino's Read more

Reviews (3)

Another fine sampler
You've heard that saying about a hundred monkeys clattering away at a hundred typewiters for a hundred years...I don't know excactly how it goes in English. Anyway, it seems that an ape called Jo Jo ended up writing a review rather than the collected works of William Shakespeare.
thrash punk at its worst
I thought sublime was good, but this cd proved me wrong. Instead if hard core reggae rock, i was disapointed to hear stupid, painful, harmonicas. I mean it REALLY SUCKED. I mean by the time it was over, i had put at least 5 pairs of ear plugs on.

A Must for hamonicists and harmonophiles
This power-packed CD is a must for both players and lovers of the harmonica, particularly of the blues-harp variety.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues-Rock    6. Chicago Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Chicago Blues    10. Electric Harmonica Blues    11. Electric Memphis Blues    12. Harmonica Blues    13. Modern Electric Blues    14. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    15. Pop    16. Prewar Country Blues    17. R&B    18. Rock & Roll   

Reviews (4)

Fine collection of Calabrian folk songs
An ethnomusicologist is one who preserves music in its purest form - that is to go out into the "field" and preserve on tape forever folk songs that were sung by generations of Italians that were hundreds of years old (songs that present-day Italians *almost* lost forever due to their wanting to become Americanized - a "culture" and a country that's been around for a little over two hundred years).
A glimpse of the past
As another reviewer stated, this is not a polished professional recording. Rather, it is a documentary of a tradition that is rapidly being lost in its homeland. These are real people, and at times they are hard to listen to. However, for lack of a better phrase, it grows on you, especially if you have Calabrese ancestry. Many of the melodies & singing styles reminded me very much of the "Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices", as there is definitely the same exotic quality.

Ethnomusicology Adventure
This isn't the typical "world music" collection. It is a selction of recordings by ethnomusicologist (did you know there WAS such a job?) Alan Lomax from 1954-55, documenting the music of small Italian villages, musical forms that have vanished forever.