Editorial Review

When folk revivalists all of a sudden became fascinated with country-blues performers of the early 20th century, no one had to go into the sticks to find Reverend Gary Davis. Though he'd stopped recording, Davis was an active street singer and preacher in Harlem throughout the 1940s. In the 1950s, folklorists, fans, and followers began to seek him out to hear him play, record him, and learn from him. Stefan Grossman, now a respected guitarist in his own right, was one of his longtime students, and he's compiled this wonderful three-disc box set, complete with detailed song notes and an essay that explores Davis's pre-New York days. Disc 1 features rare recordings made by Columbia University student John Gibbons in 1958 and 1959, and it focuses mostly on Davis's instrumental prowess: a thoroughly matchless fingerpicking guitar style that fused bits of jazz, blues, and ragtime into a highly personal technique. In addition to the many instrumentals on the first disc, there are some of Davis's most spellbinding vocal performances, especially "Crucifixion" (which blends singing and preaching) and "Don't Know Where to Go." Disc 2 includes home recordings from the mid-1960s, while the final disc of live recordings shows off his stage charisma and command. Read more

Features

• Box set
• Limited Edition
• Live

Reviews (6)

A Rich and Rewarding Box Set
Rev. Gary Davis is a giant of acoustic blues & gospel who is enjoying renewed interest. This impressive box set contains superior sound compared to the Riverside albums. Listening to the mostly live versions of classic Davis songs on this set yields rich rewards. Given to improvisation on many songs, he varies his picking and sometimes changes the verse order or the words in the verses. For example, the album Gospel, Blues and Street Songs on the Riverside Records label has a studio version (1956) of Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning that has Davis beginning the song with a verse, followed by the Chorus. By the time Davis plays it live at Columbia University sometime around '59 he is starting the song with the Chorus. Furthermorethe verse that began, "Sister, don't stop praying . . . " is now, "Father, don't stop praying . . . " He also adds a new verse. The song Whistlin' Blues is noted by Grossman as the only song in all of Davis' recorded repertoire in an altered tuning (low to high - DADF#AB). The set contains songs that are not available anywhere else.
Unexpected,terrific music.Too marvelous for words!!!
Blind Gary Davis,best known as Reverend Gary Davis,since he bacame a preacher,1933,may be the most terrific,outstanding guitar player of the blues and gospel history with Blind Blake.His ragtime style,combined with this particular South Carolina touch,makes him one of the most gifted and impressive musicians of all times.Born in Laurens County,South Carolina,April 30,1896,he lived enough to be rediscovered in the early sixties,while he was a street singer in Harlem;he lived until 1972,and died May 5,one week after his 76th birthday,on his way to a concert date.THis three CD set,full of treasures,is issued by Stefan Grossman,who was a pupil of the Reverend.These are unissued recordings: CD 1 was recorded at the Columbia University,1958-1959;CD 2 was recorded at home,1964-1966;and CD 3 comes from concert dates,1962-1966.Of course,it includes some amazing music;Gary Davis was really alone in his field,that way of playing and singing sacred songs with this Carolina touch;his incredible,extremely difficult picking style (surely the most difficult one with Blind Blake's) ,with many ragtime touches,is a real delight.And I don't speak of the guitar he's playing;I just hope I'll have the opportunity to play such an instrument once in my life. Must Have For Fan's And Students Of Reverend Gary Davis
As a former student of Brother Davis($5 a guitar lesson), I was thrilled to hear fresh material after all these years. Even the old familiar tunes have yet new variations. I can't wait to check some of them out on the guitar. This three CD set is really a fantastic addition to my Reverend Gary Davis collection. I wonder what else Stephan Grossman(Demons Producer) is sitting on???...Joel ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Arranger    3. Blues    4. Blues Gospel    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Traditional    7. Box Sets (Audio Only)    8. Country Blues    9. Folk-Blues    10. Piedmont Blues    11. Pop    12. Prewar Gospel Blues   

Editorial Review

Atlantic's short-lived Read more

Reviews (12)

Genius at Work
One could assume that Blind Willie Mctell had to have all the markings of a blues artist from the 20's who recorded on 78's, recorded under "psuedo names" for different label, was poor, uneducated, lonley, depressed, a faliure, and to top it of was blind. Well truth is, his recordings, as most race records, diden't sell well and he was blind. But he was educated and real and write music in braile. He was supposidly very confident with the real world despite being negro and blind. I wonder how he would have felt if he knew actually how good he was, maybe he did, I don't know. But only three records exsist of Mctell with decent sound quality (Atlanta 12 String, Pig Whistle, Last Session). Its to bad he diden't record more because he lived to 59. Either way his records from the 20's and 30's were actually recorded quite well. One listen through this and you realize that Blind Willie is one of the most influental bluesman ever. He influenced Robert Johnson, who in turn influenced every rock muscian for years. Bob Dylan, who wrote a famous song about Mctell, copied Mctell nearly as much as Woody Gunthrie on "The Freewhilin Bob Dylan". Allman Brothers covered "Statesboro Blues". Jack White from the White Stripes at times sounds just like him, in fact, Jack White can't even get close to Mctell, but does try (they have covered his songs). These are only a few examples, but rather than listen to the decendents, listen to the real thing. He was a great singer, and guitar player, not to mention his diversity of styles. Of any of the old blues genius's have a fault, it is that some of them have little diversity. Not Mctell, here you have happy dancy tunes, dirge's, gospel, blues, ect...

The Greatest of Blind Willie
I bought this originally for the gospel cuts, which I fell in love with, but soon I started to listen to the blues closer, and everything has given me inspiration at the church house.

Listen to the roots of rock
I started llike everyone...Led Zep, Clapton, Rolling Stones,etc. Then i started to get complicated with jazz and prog rock. 20 years passed. When i got to free jazz and avant garde music i felt like i had reached a peak in musical investigation. Now i have come full circle to the beginning...and what a joy it is! Charlie Patton, Skip james, Muddy Waters, Blind Jefferson, Beefheart, Howilin Wolf, Robert Johnson, John Hurt, Leroy Carr, Son House and others are all worth checking out. But Blind Willie Mctell can really hit the soft spot in your soul if you are a real music lover. This and his early stuff are guranteed to send shivers up your spine. Music that seems simple in appearance...but, if you are willing to open up, you will be amazed at the richness of emotions this music can transmit.And this is a joy specially because of thegood sound and choice of songs. Highly recommended to all those who love music and blues influenced music. ... Read more

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

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Band, Decent Collection
The Mississippi Sheiks are the missing link, so to speak, between what we now know as Delta Blues and traditional rural black stringband music. Their songs have been recorded by everyone from the Camp Creek Boys to Bob Wills to the Grateful Dead (Stop and Listen Blues is the predecessor to Smokestack Lightnin').
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Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Traditional    4. Country Blues    5. Pop    6. Prewar Country Blues    7. String Bands   

Reviews (3)

Some of the best field recordings I have ever heard!
These were field recordings made by Alan Lomax in 1941 and 1942 for the Library of Congress of Son House.The setting was extemporaneous and you can tell this is true in two of the songs(Walking Blues, Shetland Pony Blues) when you hear a locomotive in the background, as they were recorded in a local general store (Klack's) in Cormorant, MS.Son House was one of the earliest blues players, and some might argue (as I would), that he was also the most influential, playing with Charlie Patton and Robert Johnson before Robert Johnson went off on his own to make his own famous recordings.These recordings, outside of the Paramount sides recorded in 1930, are the only true "original" recordings we have of Son House in his prime......his 60's recordings are basically these 20 years later.And as a sidenote, it should be noted that Son House stopped playing after some of his contemporaries started dying (Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson), and he thought he would be next!So he put his guitar down after these 1942 recordings and did not play again until he was rediscovered in the 60's living in New York state.
Listen and Learn.Son House is for Real!
Even if he hadn't influenced anyone, even if historically he was a 19 year old kid from Shirley, Long Island, even if this recording at just been waxed last night, this is good, essential blues listening, you won't want to stop listening, you wont stop seeing the scenes of the blues that the songs make, you won't stop swaying at the power and swing of his guitar playing and singing. On here, my song is Preachin the Blues. I know you will have yours. Powerful Field Recordings from the Forties
Eddie James "Son" House was born in 1902, and began his recording career in 1930 with the help of Charlie Patton.He would not record again until 1941 and 1942, when Alan Lomax made these field recordings for the Library of Congress. On the first five tracks (recorded in August 1941), House is assisted by his old partner guitarist Willie Brown, along with Fiddlin' Joe Martin and Leroy Williams. These tracks were recorded in a country store right next to the railroad tracks--and if you listen closely, your hear the steam locomotive on "Walking Blues" and "Shetland Pony Blues."The remaining tracks are from the following summer. On these, House performs solo. House is a powerful singer and his guitar playing was an influence on Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.Any serious blues collection should have some Son House in it, and while his Sixties work during the folk revival may have been better recorded, these tracks contain a raw power that can't be denied.RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Traditional    5. Country Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Pop    8. Slide Guitar Blues   

Editorial Review

This is more than just another excellently researched, heavily-annotated, and well-recorded Smithsonian Folkways disc of archival old-time sound. Like recordings of fife and drum music, this collection documents a rich African American musical tradition that was all but lost by the 1970s. The textbooks tell us that the banjo was brought to America by enslaved Africans, but the majority of musicians who've recorded with that instrument are white.While many of these modal, story-based folk songs will be familiar--"Coo Coo," "John Henry," "Shortnin' Bread"--there's an edge to these versions that's firmly rooted in the blues. Read more

Reviews (8)

Well Worth Your Time and Money
Not for the faint of heart or the common folk music revivalist, this stuff is the real deal. You won't find anything like it anywhere ever again. Both the book and CD are excellent.

Great Historical Document
This CD is a great historical document showcasing, as the title says, black banjo songsters of Nth Carolina and Virginia namely John Snipes, Dink Roberts, Joe and Odelle Thompson and some others. Then why only 3 stars? Well as I said it's a great historical document but I found the recording quality and sound can at times be a little difficult to sit through. Don't get me wrong there are some great tracks here including Old Blue by Dink Roberts, Jaybird March by Etta Baker and Shortnin' Bread by Lewis Hairston to name a few. I would have liked to hear more of Etta Baker even though she is 'primarily' a guitar player. I bought this CD not long after getting into old time banjo (I play old time banjo myself) back in 1998. I already had the 'North Carolina Banjo Collection' (see my review), which is superior in my opinion, because it showcases more artists and styles, and I later bought 'Kentucky Old Time Banjo' (see my review) which I like best out of all three CD's.

A torch that is being passed on, Black BanjoOld & NEW
The pickers and players on these recordings are not only preserving the history of the African American origins of the Banjo, of the African American origins of both frailing/clawhammer/knocking/rapping or whatever you want to call down picking, as well as Carolina two finger pikcing. Moreover, by issuing these recordings Scott Oddell and Cece Conway, helped these pickers to light the torch to pass the flame on. From all over the country and beyond, Black banjoists are reviving, extending and enriching what our elders here have done.
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Subjects:  1. 70's    2. 80's    3. 90's    4. Appalachian Folk    5. Banjo    6. Bluegrass    7. Country Blues    8. Field Recordings    9. Folk & Traditional    10. Folk Collections    11. Old-Timey    12. Piedmont Blues    13. Pop    14. Prewar Country Blues    15. Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues    16. String Bands    17. Traditional Bluegrass    18. Traditional Country    19. Traditional Folk   

Features

• Import

Reviews (1)

Bootleg
This is a burnover from the "Columbia" (Sony) set. "Definitive", a shell outfit last heard of in Iberia, uses consumer audio technology to burn over CD's assembled by other companies after the recordings have passed out of international copyright protection. The CD's are then serially-produced in a boiler room operation. Documentation (in the case of this Robert Johnson set quite good) is discarded; there are different copyright laws and time limitations for printed matter, so customers who have mistakenly purchased "Definitive" products will receive only short middle-school style essays, frequently full of errors, inserted in the packaging.
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Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Traditional    3. Delta Blues    4. Jazz    5. Pop    6. Prewar Blues    7. Prewar Country Blues    8. Slide Guitar Blues    9. United States of America   

Reviews (3)

Henry Townsend - 1909-2006
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 28 (AP) -- Henry Townsend, who ran away to St. Louis when he was 9 and stayed for a long career as a blues guitarist, died on Sunday. He was 96.
The last of the great pre-war blues artists
Henry Townsend was born October 27,1909,in Shelby,MS.Now,almost 93 years later,he lives in St Louis,and occasionnaly plays.He's the last of the pre-war blues player now,since Frank Edwards's death,on March 22,2002,aged 93.I often heard stories about Henry,narrated by my friend,Tom Cat Blake,an outstanding 38 years old guitar player and singer,who lived for some years in France,near Besan?on,then went back to Florida.By the way,if you're living near Saratosa,and have the opportunity to listen to Tom Cat,don't miss him,because he is,I believe,one of the greatest "new talents" in blues.He learned to play guitar with Henry Townsend (he went to StLouis to meet him a couple of weeks ago),and played and recorded with,among others,the great harp player,Rock Bottom,who sadly died a few months ago,and also the amazing Roy Bookbinder. Gorgeous traditional St. Louis blues from a pre-war master
St. Louis blues legend Henry Townsend cut his first sides in 1929 and is still going strong; "Mule" is a remarkable set...great piano and guitar and inimitable Townsend vocals.This is what I call "cognacblues"...kick back in the late night with the lights off and sip onsomething good.The blues doesn't get any sweeter than this. ... Read more

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

Reviews (9)

Wolf's Last and One of His Best
This is an often overlooked and underrated album by Howlin' Wolf.This was his last album and he is actually in good voice and plays some great harmonica.What I like about this album is the content.Newer songs like 'Coon on the Moon' and 'Watergates Blues' stand out for me.It's not just a rehash of his hits.A major issue with the album is the harpsichord, which can be found on a number of tracks.Too much of this happended in the early 70's and it really dates the album.This would not be the first place I start to discover the great Howlin' Wolf, but would be a nice addition to round out a collection.

Wolf's last
Everyone one knows how great Howlin' Wolf had been in the previous two decades, but how did he sound in 1973 on his final album, at the age of 63, in poor health and with less than three years to live? The contents of The Back Door Wolf, recorded on August 14th and 17th 1973, seem ignored on all the compilations by which most of us now know his work.
His Best!
A more detailed review will be on the eventual way but for now...I feel I must get in my two cents...
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Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Chicago Blues    5. Electric Blues    6. Electric Chicago Blues    7. Pop   

Reviews (2)

Music from the heart
I've played this CD over and over and still love every minute of it.The music is so varied, so beautiful.I now want to get other albums recorded by Alan Lomax, a genius for recognizing and recording great music.Highlyrecommended for anyone who loves uncommercial melodies and pure voices.

Recognize the jazz, hiphop, rockabilly, and blues roots
Truth be told this disc is not for everyone and I hope that this description will help those interested in hearing the ancestors of many major music forms find a good listen.Alan Lomax made an attempt to recordthe provincial musical styles in their home and on the participants ownterms.What you get are real individuals singing and playing instrumentsfor reasons that no longer exist today; to pass the day at work, to passalong local stories and traditions, to pass the time in jail, to provideexpression for small communities, and to praise their gods where the livedand breathed.There was not a dollar to be made for any performance onthis disc, and though we pay to hear it now, it had an effect on themusicians and singers.This music is not polished but it is a fantastic cdbased on its content and not its production value.You won't hear musiclike this often in your life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Appalachian Folk    4. Ballads    5. Black Gospel    6. Country Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Field Recordings    9. Folk & Traditional    10. Folk Collections    11. Folksongs    12. Old-Timey    13. Pop    14. Prewar Country Blues    15. Traditional Gospel   

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Complete Blind Blake - what more do you need?!?!?!
If you don't already know Blind Blake was guitarist nonpareil of the 20th century, then hear this! Apart from his usually great singing, always great humour, firsts like earliest recorded vocal/guitar/harp solo, his fine piano on one track, and talent to adapt his guitar accompaniment for whatever singer, pianist, jass clarinet, banjar, or bones :o) player he was with - IT'S THE GREAT GUITAR!!!
Unbelievable Blues Music for an Even More Unbelievable Value
Blind Blake...the most mysterious of all prewar bluesmen, owner of perhaps the most dexterous, confounding and hard-to-replicate technique of any blues guitar player in history.Not only did he posess flawless, incredible fingerpicking, he dynamicism of his musicis also surprising, with many original instrumentation to be found here, like kazoo, slide banjo (courtesy of Gus Cannon), clarinet, slide whistle, xylophone, rattlebones, piano, washboard, and guest vocalists, male and female.His rhythm is impeccable and you will often hear him slip into double time variants in unexpected places, sometimes just half measures ("Steel Mill Blues"), making his assured music the perfect antidote to people who believe pre-war blues is simplistic, primitive music.
"Oh I knowed I had somethin'!"
Blind Blake had it. Whatever it is that makes some people...more. Blind Blake had it. Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Country Blues    5. Guitar    6. Pop    7. Prewar Country Blues    8. Vocals   

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

Reviews (3)

good cd
if you want a far superior version of "When the Levee Breaks," listen to Led Zeppelin's masterpiece-and no it's not a cover, just lyrically similar

Essential Blues, fun blues, teaching blues. Minnie's Blues
Minnie seems to be overlooked today.Yet, she was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1930s and 1940s.Her style and vigor and the excellence of both her singing, her guitar playing, and the lyrics of her songs, set her apart and above other blues singers.
Memphis Minnie Rocks!
"Queen of the blues?," you may ask.After you check out this CD, you'll understand why.There were many outstanding female blues vocalists of the first half of the 20th Century, but Minnie not only sang, she was also an accomplished guitarist and wrote many of her songs.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Acoustic Chicago Blues    3. Acoustic Memphis Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Traditional    7. Classic Female Blues    8. Pop    9. Prewar Country Blues   

Editorial Review

If you're going to throw a party, invite this CD first. Way back when jugs were added to juke and barrelhouse performances in 1910 or so and American dance music really got down for good, these dazzling new trance rhythms smashed Western culture's sound barrier at the previously unheard-of speed of 78 rpm. From Louisville to Memphis to Birmingham to Cincinnati, these popular party bands mixed fine musicianship with clever songwriting and an unblushing sense of burlesque. Whether it's the raw wailing of young Ashley Thompson with Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers' "Big Railroad Blues" or the jazz-inflected wizardry of Earl McDonald and Clifford Hayes on the Dixieland Jug Blowers' "Banjoreno" or the Memphis Jug Band's raucous ribaldry on "Cocaine Habit Blues" and "Ruckus Juice and Chittlins," this first of two inspired volumes of jug-band classics blows out the lights, stops time in its tracks, and Read more

Subjects:  1. 20's    2. 30's    3. Acoustic Memphis Blues    4. Blues Music    5. Folk & Traditional    6. Jazz Collections    7. Jug Band    8. Pop    9. Prewar Country Blues   

Editorial Review

Rice Miller, "Sonny Boy II", began his association with Chess Records in 1955, when he was already at least 45 years old. His exuberant yet dynamic and intricate playing brought the harmonica from the Delta to Chicago, influencing every harp blower since. He developed his rough and wild, hard-swinging, juke-joint style during extensive travels throughout the South. These 45 potent Chess recordings are more refined and urbanized than his earlier Trumpet work, but still capture the excitement of those early sides. Included are remakes of Trumpet classics such as "Eyesight to the Blind" (re-titled "Born Blind") as well as classic gems including "One Way Out" and "Bring It On Home." Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (7)

THE " REAL BLUES"....!!
THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BLUES SINGERS..STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO BB KING AND RAY CHARLES..IT DONT GET ANY BETTER..AND NOW I FINALLY SEE WHERE THE YOUNG BRITISH GROUPS LIKE THE ROLLING STONES AND ETC. FROM THE 60'S COPIED THEIR STYLE...AND WITH THE HARMONIC SOUND TOO...GO TO THE ROOTS FOR THE TRUE SOUND CAUSE NOTHING ELSE CAN COMPARE!!!

One of the best collections by one of the best blues singers
This is a superb collection.
Raw Blues At Its Finest
Though I had heard many of his songs performed by others, I did not know the name Sonny Boy Williamson until I heard a John Mayall song about him thirtysome years ago. Recently, my dormant interest in the Delta blues was rekindled, so I decided to try and find out just what this Sonny Boy was about. Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Box Sets (Audio Only)    5. Chicago Blues    6. Electric Chicago Blues    7. Electric Delta Blues    8. Electric Harmonica Blues    9. Harmonica Blues    10. Pop   

Reviews (2)

Folk blues
Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry recorded a handful of albums for the Folkways label in the 1950's, out of which was collected an excellent CD compilation called The Folkways Years. This complete album was made in November 1957 and is typical of what they were doing at this time. By typical I don't mean average, but very good. The material tends toward folk blues - older styles, traditional verses, etc. JOHN HENRY gets yet another treatment and OLD JABO, a minstrel tune, also appears. Sonny sings a tribute to Huddie Ledbetter ("Leadbelly") in BEST OF FRIENDS,a tune he also recorded on the Bluesville label. Although nothing here really jumps out and bangs you on the head in ecstasy, everything is done professionally and consistently well. Brownie's smooth, sophisticated vocals are always a delight.

#1
I have at least 15 different Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee CD's, maybe more.This one is my favorite hands down.Brownie McGhee sounds so good doing the backup vocals on a lot of tracks, and Sonny has never sounded better singing in my opinion.Most of the songs Sonny sings on other albums, I don't care for that much.I actually prefer to hear Brownie and not Sonny.But this one is just outstanding.All these songs feel so good to listen to.I think this is the CD that the two of them were at there absolute BEST.Overall I rank this one in my Top 10 Blues CD's that I own.And I own well over 100 of different artists A-Z. ... 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   

Editorial Review

In 1961 jazz-backed blues seemed slack, almost nonexistent. Bebop, hard bop, tenor sax & organ combos, and the avant-garde were more relevant in the jazz world. And blues was veering toward an electrified, altogether different realm. So when Chris Albertson brought Alberta Hunter, Victoria Spivey, and Lucille Hegamin to the acclaimed Rudy Van Gelder's studio to capture songs from the era when jazz and blues melded together, the result could've easily sounded thinly nostalgic. But with a backing band that included pianist Willie "the Lion" Smith (on Hegamin's four tunes) and trombonist J.C. Higginbotham and clarinetist Buster Bailey (on the four tracks from both Hunter and Spivey), this session came out topnotch. It's redolent of an earlier era (specifically the early 1920s, when the three singers got their starts), but each of the tracks is potent with a deep, slow swing accentuating the peerless vocals. Spivey's grainy voice is impassioned and powerful, in the same way that Hunter's is unmistakable in its slight waver, carrying her sometimes near-spoken lines to the stars (especially as she delivers jewels like this: "I don't like those hepster lovers / They've got larceny in their eyes / They got a handful of gimme / And a mouthful of much obliged"). The acoustics are as sharp as any of Van Gelder's sessions, and the music is majestic. Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful
Every time I listen this album,I feel like a proud father who have to choose which one is his favourite daughter.As the big fan of 1920's classic female blues,I find this album simply irressistible.Since the biggest and the most talented names (Ma Rainey,Bessie Smith)were dead until 1940's,Chris Albertson (author of Bessie Smith biography) saved music of survived contemporaries Victoria Spivey,Alberta Hunter and Lucille Hegamin for new generations of music lovers.All three of them,in my opinion,sound better and more enthusiastic then in their younger days,althought true to be told,only Spivey would fitt in the blues category,while Hegamin and Albert represent old-time vaudeville tradition.Wonder why Sippie Wallace and Ida Cox (still recording at the time of this album) were not invited... While Spivey and specially Hunter recorded long afterwards,this was the last time we heard from wonderful,clear-voiced Hegamin who was obviously enjoying herself on these recordings.She sounded like enthusiastic school girl trapped in a body of older woman!My only regret is that,althought this album was recorded in one day,the chance to hear these three voices singing together was missed,we only hear each of them separatedly.

On my top ten list...
Alberta Hunter, Victoria Spiver, and Lucille Hegiman all blues veterens from the 20's sound wondeful, torchy and playful accomanied by top jazz players.Excellent LP.Recommended especailly to jazz vocal fans.

authentic AH
Liked it better on vinyl, but I'll buy it on CD to play in my car ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Classic Female Blues    5. Pop    6. Standards   

Reviews (3)

Early Blues Roots
As well as being the dominant singer-songwriter in popular culture of the twentieth century, Bob Dylan was also a student of the indigenous music of that century - country, country blues, folk ballads, traditional songs, Americana generally. Many of these styles were reflected in Love And Theft, his synthesis of American music history, but he also regularly performed and recorded the originals as well, notably on his first few albums, and later, during his writer's block, on Good As I've Been To You and World Gone Wrong.
Eh...
I'm taking one star off, because the concept is lame - using Dylan's name as bait for a collection of old blues music.But the CD itself is a good listen.

Music That Inspired Dylan
Here they are, voices from the past.These are the songs and artists who inspired Dylan.Many of the songs, or pieces of them, are found in Dylans' early albums and the two early 90's albums, "Good As I've Been To You" and " World Gone Wrong."The collection of 20 songs runs the full range of human emotions; love found and lost, hearts broken, desperate plea for another chance at love, jealousy and rage; all the elements that make the blues what they are, raw emotion put to the tune of a guitar.These recordings are very old.On some you can hear the distinctive hiss and crackle of vinyl. There are 14 musicians on this CD.I especially enjoyed hearing Blind Willie McTell and Leadbelly. This is the music that touched Dylan.He, in turn, touched the rest of us.This is a great collection for both Dylan and blues enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Collections    4. Blues Music    5. Country Blues    6. Field Recordings    7. Pop    8. Prewar Blues    9. Prewar Country Blues    10. Prewar Gospel Blues   

Reviews (1)

A generous selection of classic blues.
Featuring in the history of North American music, and flourishing between the two world wars was the Negroid song known as the "blues".Its origin is usuallyattributed to W C Handy.A "blues" song has its own tonality, harmony, duple time and other requisite features, and its singer usually laments, with little restriction on bawdy detail, the absence or loss of a lover.Ma Rainey was an early and influential exponent,and also a friend and teacher of Bessie Smith (1895-1937).We, in our turn, may lament the fact that Bessie Smith's life was short, tempestuous and tragic, but we can be grateful for at least two things.Firstly, she received the advantage of superb technical quality recording during the years 1925 to 1933.Secondly, she attracted or was accorded some of the best jazz musicians of her day to participate in her recordings - Charlie Green trombone, Fletcher Henderson, piano, Eddie Lang, guitar, Jack Teagarden trombone, etc.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Classic Female Blues    5. Classic Jazz    6. Pop