Editorial Review

No musician ever applied a gentler touch to songs of murder, sex, andsalvation than MississippiJohn Hurt. The country bluesman enjoyed a career revival through the folkfestival boom of the early 1960s, and his influence continues to ripple, as thisvaried and vital tribute attests. Produced byPeter Case (who teamswith Dave Alvin on"Monday Morning Blues"), the album's renewal of classic Hurt extends from thedeadpan double entendres of "Candy Man" delivered bySteve Earle and sonJustin to Taj Mahal'strademark lilt on "My Creole Belle" to a surprisingly straightforward "Stagolee"by Beck. Amid a roster ofluminaries ranging from fingerpicking acolytesChris Smither andBill Morrissey toBen Harper,John Hiatt,Lucinda Williams, andGillian Welch, the mostradically disarming interpretation comes fromVictoria Williams. Herbreathless "Since I've Laid My Burden Down" sounds like a preschooler on helium,yet somehow taps into the subconscious of the song. Read more

Reviews (17)

The rare great tribute album
Tribute albums can get pretty dire, but this disc is a great exception.Credit goes to musicologist/producer Peter Case for assembling a fantastic group of performers whose takes on these songs effectively bridge and transcend the categories of blues, pop, and folk music, just as Mississippi John Hurt's originals did.
Incredible bargain for under $3
As I write this, new copies of this wonderful album are available for less than $3 (through recommended Amazon sellers - check the 'new and used' link).That, my friends, is an exceptional bargain!I paid about $20 (including postage and handling) for this album around 18 months ago and considered it great value for money at the time, since every track (even the much maligned Victoria Williams cover of 'Since I Laid My Burden Down') is at least listenable, if not a veritable aural treat. tepid tap water
A lot of tribute albums trade on the popularity and fame of the "tributee" and fall into the mixed-bag when it comes to quality.This is truly no exception.There are some decent covers that are pleasant enough to listen to in the same way that luke-warm tap water might quench your thirst, but come on...you're interested in John Hurt, listen to his albums.The best song on here doesn't even touch his level of spontaneous genius.I mean its not even in the same room.Hurt himself has an otherworldly, almost angelic quality.Hurt didn't know theory.Hurt picked out a $200 guitar when they told him he could have any one in the place.These are just a bunch of halfway decent, semi-gifted, "folkies" who have wood shedded long enough that their chops aren't half bad.If this was all you heard, you'd dismiss the man himself in a heartbeat like "so what, these are simple, almost childish folk songs...no big deal".Get his Last Sessions album first, and then this if you still want to.Life is too short to listen to mediocre music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country    3. Alternative Country-Rock    4. Alternative Folk    5. Americana    6. Blues    7. Blues Music    8. Blues Traditional Collections    9. Blues-Rock    10. College Rock    11. Contemporary Blues    12. Contemporary Folk    13. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    14. Folk-Blues    15. Folk-Rock    16. Modern Acoustic Blues    17. Neo-Traditional Folk    18. New Wave    19. Pop    20. Singer/Songwriter   

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".
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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   

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

Reviews (1)

An Extraordinary Collection of Robert Johnson Influences
This CD is meant as a companion piece to the book "Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues" written by Elijah Wald.
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Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Traditional    5. Piedmont Blues    6. Pop    7. Prewar Blues    8. V/A Compilations   

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   

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Gospel    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Country Blues    7. Harmonica Blues    8. Holiday    9. Piano Blues    10. Pop    11. Prewar Blues    12. Prewar Country Blues    13. Prewar Gospel Blues    14. Slide Guitar Blues    15. Vaudeville Blues    16. Xmas Vocal Collections   

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (7)

A good starter
This is great, but it's still not all the McTell you need. To really have everything, you'll need his later recordings, titled 'Atlanta Twelve-String,' 'Pig'n'Whistie Red' and 'Last Session.' Of these three, the last one is for completists only, but the first two are not only stunning, but stunning in more modern sound quality. His voice had matured and lowered quite a bit before these more modern recordings were made, but (except for the last session where he was not only aging but drunk as well) it sounds very strong and vibrant.
All the Mctell you need
This is the only Blind Willie McTell box set you need. This four disc set gives great representaion of his work. Im not a huge fan of the female accompaniment, but its not terrible, its just not up to par with lets say Bessie Smith. His guitar work is incredible, and the drity quality should be well appreciated because of the age of the recordings. McTell has a voice that greatly captures the sound of the old time blues, the delta blues style, not the Chicago style. Also proved to be a great influence to modern blues musicians.

Nobody sings the Blues like Blind Willie Mc Tett
A wonderful resource for those interested in The Blues. Willie sang and played both slide and 12 string guitar and whether he performed novelty numbers, gospel or the blues, he was brilliant.
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Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Traditional    5. Country Blues    6. East Coast Blues    7. Piedmont Blues    8. Pop    9. Prewar Country Blues   

Features

• Soundtrack
• Import

Reviews (2)

wonderful and engaging
A collection of music in the vein of the "O Brother" and "Down From The Mountain" albums - but these are original artists or vintage recordings. Includes two very different versions each of "O Death" and "I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow."

original/vintage versions of songs from the soundtrack
Here are many of the songs from the "O Brother Where Art Thou" and "Down from the Mountain" CDs, performed either by the original artists or in vintage renditions, as well as other great songs in the "roots and blues" vein.An interesting and enjoyable comparison/companion to the soundtrack albums. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Appalachian Folk    3. Bluegrass-Gospel    4. Blues Music    5. Country Blues    6. Country Collections    7. Field Recordings    8. Folksongs    9. Old-Timey    10. Pop    11. Prewar Country Blues    12. Soundtracks & Film Scores    13. Traditional Bluegrass    14. Traditional Country    15. Traditional Folk   

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   

Editorial Review

Robert Nighthawk's slide guitar was revered by the likes of Muddy Waters and B.B. King. It's easy to hear why on this raw, lively, and relaxed recording of Nighthawk and a few of his cronies, including harmonica ace Carey Bell, playing outdoors at Chicago's famed Maxwell Street Market. It's the kind of setting Nighthawk loved (for more of the music recorded there, also check out the three-CD set Read more

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

Nighthawk: Master of the Slide
Robert Nighthawk is a true master of slide guitar. His slide playing is low-down, dark, emotive, and causes me to make all kinds of strange facial expressions. Nighthawk had a relaxed singing voice and a decent variety of blues lyrics, though his real strength was his killer guitar playing. However, the song "Mama, Talk To Your Daughter" keeps me from giving this album 5 stars. The singer, who is probably not J.B. Lenoir, doesn't have the greatest voice and sometimes forgets to sing directly into the microphone. The song is also very repetitive, and is better when it's kept to three minutes or so in length, like Lenoir or John Lee Hooker's versions of it. Don't get me wrong; this is an awesome album, and one of the top three greatest live blues albums of all-time. The thirteen minute interview is very enjoyable and revealing. Nighthawk seems like a quiet, reserved, humble man, and it's a shame that some of the slide playing he demonstrates in the interview didn't provoke him to disregard the interview altogether and play entire songs! One can definitely see where Muddy Waters' solo on his live version of "Streamline Woman" came from; Muddy borrowed it from Nighthawk. As another reviewer said, if you are interested in the California, studio-produced, obnoxious, crappy music that is an indication of the downfall of Western Civilization, avoid this album because you won't like it.If you are interested in authentic electric blues, forget about Vaughan, Clapton and Johnny Winter for now, and get to the heart of electric blues- Robert Nighthawk, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf.

Real Blues the Way It Was Meant to Be Played
Ashlee Simpson fans would not appreciate this CD.This is real blues played live in a relaxed setting.
One of the all-time classic blues records
Robert Lee McCullum, called "Nighthawk" after his song "Prowling Nighthawk", was one of the major innovators of electric blues. He was a stylish and extremely versatile slide guitarist, and the man behind blues classics such as "Anna Lee" and the definitive reading of "Sweet Black Angel" (a song which is usually associated with B.B. King, who re-named it "Sweet Little Angel").
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Subjects:  1. Acoustic Chicago Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Chicago Blues    5. Electric Blues    6. Electric Chicago Blues    7. Pop    8. Slide Guitar Blues   

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   

Reviews (12)

The more you listen, the more you hear
I am appreciating this CD more every time I listen to it.

I have nothing but pure admiration for "T-Bone..."
The late "T-Bone" Walker, a pioneering mastre of the electric blues guitar and a close friend of my Uncle "Pee Wee" Crayton another "axe-handler" during the immediate postwar era, whom was certainly unremitting influence by "Bone." However, avoiding comparisons, Uncle "Pee Wee" brought enough "heat" on his own and daring innovation to his playing to avoid being labeled as a mere "T-Bone" copy "kat."
Simply wonderfull
Lets not mince words. Hunt this down and buy it now. It is a must have. Sound quality is top notch. Turn down the lights and this will transport you to an old smokey blues joint. T-bone at his best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Electric Blues    5. Electric Texas Blues    6. Pop    7. Texas 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   

Reviews (3)

Texas Sharecropper
This is THE DEFINITIVE acoustic Texas blues album. It was recorded in 1960 by Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz in the Navasota, Texas home of Mance Lipscomb.The raw, clear production on this album perfectly captures the emotive and rhythmic qualities of the Songster's "Texas dead-thumb" style and laid-back, yet powerful vocals.It is evident that Strachwitz was able to put Lipscomb at ease during the sessions, resulting in a natural, flowing quality that contrasts well with the heavy downbeat rhythm of the guitar. He effortlessly transitions through various blues, rags, and ballads.Lipscomb was a fairly prolific writer in terms of blues musicians. You will notice his original couplets spread throughout the album, including within the traditional songs.This album is an absolute MUST HAVE for every acoustic blues fan.

the real deal
If you like Mississippi John Hurt and Reverend Gary Davis, do NOT pass this one by. Lipscomb is a great singer and fingerpicker in the "songster" tradition. He is bluesier than Hurt (his straight blues have a heavy dose of Lightnin' Hopkins in them) but every bit as warm and tuneful. I bought this three months ago and it's still in heavy rotation.

An National Treasure
If you're searching for blues as a collector, don't miss this.Mance and his music is a national treasure.Listen to this and then listen to some of today's "blues" masters like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn,etc. and then you'll know where they got their mojo from. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Texas Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Revival    4. Country Blues    5. Pop    6. Songster    7. Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues    8. Texas Blues   

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   

Reviews (1)

Rare, obscure gem
This is some of the most gentle, beautiful spiritual music I have ever heard.The first track of his I'd ever heard was "What are they doing in Heaven today?"- I was floored.... I feel like I'm floating off to meet my maker when I hear this stuff...
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Subjects:  1. Black Gospel    2. Blues    3. Dulcimer    4. Gospel    5. Pop    6. Prewar Country Blues    7. Prewar Gospel Blues    8. Southern Gospel    9. Traditional Gospel    10. Vocals    11. Zither   

Features

• Live

Reviews (4)

At Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill was an upscale blues joint in San Francisco, and Sonny and Brownie played it just 6 months after it opened, this CD being the results of that engagement. And it's a beauty. Often on record dates with these two giants, Brownie takes most of the vocals, with Sonny singing 2 or 3 songs; on this one, Sonny sings just as much as Brownie. (Early in their career Brownie once told Sonny that if he wanted half the money he was going to have to sing, not just play harmonica.) Sonny is an old-time blues singer, preferring older forms, traditional verses, all done in his raspy, unrefined voice. Brownie is smoother in voice and likes to experiment a bit with the blues form. For example, BORN TO LIVE, sung by Brownie, is 32-bars long, with a bridge, though it's drenched with blues feeling. WORRY, WORRY, WORRY also is slightly different, and includes a "whomp" at the end of each phrase. Sonny sings JUST ABOUT CRAZY, which sounds very much like a work song, while I FEEL ALRIGHT NOW is a secular spiritual. Both men are in excellent form here. Blues fans should find a lot to love on this CD.

****1/2 - a great live date
This December, 1961 recording captures Sonny and Brownie at the famous Sugar Hill nightclub in San Francisco.
An overlooked classic?
This live album captures a pair of legends at their best.Sonny and Terry fueded through their long careers but perhaps those very emotions fueled their amazing energy on these tracks.If you in any sense consider yourself a fan of the blues, you *must* own this album.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Traditional    5. Country Blues    6. Folk-Blues    7. Piedmont Blues    8. Pop   

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   

Editorial Review

Few blues partnerships were ever as successful and satisfying as the union of Sonny Terry's down-home harmonica work and Brownie McGhee's polished guitar lines. This generous, 18-tune live session catches the late acoustic blues brothers in their physical prime and at their musical best, rolling through an energetic set of conversational blues with casual virtuosity and seemingly telepathic interplay. Terry, a stone-cold traditionalist, contributes a raw-boned, backwoods feel with his heavily textured singing and harp solos while the modern McGhee's smooth vocals and clean picking provide a perfectly compatible counterpoint and complement. Either artist could carry the show by himself, but when the divergent styles musically intertwine they create a wonderful blues synthesis unlike any other the blues has known. The dynamic duo jumps right in with a reconfigured rendition of "Sittin' on Top of the World" and doesn't let up until the end. With Terry whooping and hollering between harp breaks and McGhee opening songs with comic asides the session is an unusually personable one. It's all undeniably authentic and eminently enjoyable, as well as positive blues proof that on very rare and fortunate occasions the whole is much greater than just the sum of the two parts. --Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (3)

One of the best Terry/McGhee-albums
A fine companion to the classic "Sonny & Brownie At Sugar Hill", this is a great buy for those who treasure Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee's brand of no-nonsense porch-style get-down blues.
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee/Backwater Blues
This Backwater Blues CD is excellent.Not a bad song on it.These two were truly masters of this style of Blues.My favorite song on this CD is Louise, but I feel this is truly one of the best examples of their work.

From a man who loves the blues:
Friends, you cannot find old-school blues better than Backwater Blues.Sonny & Brownie's strained partnership has produced many excellent recordings, of which I believe this is the best.This album is the way the blues were meant to be played: just the simple, old-style tunes; just two men, two microphones, a guitar, and a harmonica.No fancy electronics, no prettyboy singers, just ol' Backwater Blues.If that's the way you like your blues, then get this album, sit back on a hot summer day, and play it all the way through! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Country Blues    5. Folk-Blues    6. Piedmont Blues    7. Pop