1 comments about Curley Weaver: 1933-1935.

1. Excellent Piedmont Blues This CD is amazing.

2 comments about The Country Blues Roots of Eric Clapton.

1. ...ok, so it says Country Blues -- but the title might suggest to some that these are the only roots of EC's work. It would be good to see a similar that included other major influencessuch as Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, etc.



2. If you've ever heard Eric Clapton referred to as 'slowhand' and wondered why this allbum will give you your answer. A master of blues guitar, Clapton has had many experiences and influences which affect his style. While it couldn't possibly be all-encompassing, this album does a great job of enveloping his history of influences. Love Clapton? Love Blues? New to Clapton? New to Blues? If you answer yes to any or all of these, then click this album home.

No comments about Chicago Blues Harmonicas.

3 comments about Louie Bluie: Film Soundtrack Featuring Howard Armstrong.

1. Wow! The music is great, upbeat and fun. I will enjoy listening again and again and sharing this type of awesome sound with my children.



2. being one of my favorite films of all times, i do not tire watching the film again and again or listening to the soundtrack over and over. "louie bluie" gives us a glimpse into the life of howard armstrong. however, this is not a selfish portrait. howard shares his rich life (circa 1984) with members of his extended musical family. we get to hear the music of ted bogan, ikey "banjo" robinson, james "yank" rachel,tom armstrong, sister in law elsie loweroy (w/mary shepard), and pick up musicians willie sievers and bob coxe.
   what is perhaps my greatest attraction towards this glimpse are the lusty stories and anecdotes from "the boys". on the soundtrack, we get to hear dialogue from the film (as introductions before a tune). you feel like you are in their presence. A FAIR FORWARNING: when the music gets cooking, watch out... you never know what will be around the corner... but by the time the last chords of "darktown strutters ball" drop on you, your jaw will drop to the floor. added bonus tracks include a rare recording of the tennessee chocolate drops (featuring carl martin, bogan, and armstrong), plus some rare recordings from james "yank" rachel that feature sleepy john estes.. a generous few songs recorded in the twenties and thirties (nineteen-hundreds that is).
   your life will be enriched by the experience of both the film and soundtrack. (see my review of martin, bogan, and armstrong's "that old gang of mine")



3. Documentary filmmaker Terry Zwigoff (director of "Crumb" and "Ghost World") has a major sweet-tooth for the blues, and this awesome little album sure fills the bill. These are wonderfully informal, scraggly performances, quite compelling due to the absolute lack of layered, alienating studio production: this is back-porch picking and singing at its finest. Also, there's some super-raunchy material on here, complete with plenty of coarse swearing and low-down, dirty language... A refreshingly real album.

No comments about Johnny Shines & Robert Lockwood.

2 comments about Legend Live.

1. The last I saw Lockwood live was sometime around 1985,(18 years before this cd was recorded), and it's clear here that he's been back to the woodshed; playing even better than when he was a youngster of seventy!



2. This cd highlights what Robert did when he began. He played by himself. Robert is probably one of the only people that can play and entice an audience with his 12 string guitar by himself.It is amazing that he is 89 years old and can travel the world playing on his twelve string and with his band. The cd is very relaxing and enjoyable. It is a show of what can be done on a 12 string guitar. The tune Exactly like you was meant for that.

   Buy this cd, and hopefully you will hear what the true Legend is all about.

1 comments about That's Why We're Marching: World War II and the American Folksong Movement.

1. This collection offers a unusual insight into the attitudes and arts of the American left and trade union movement just before and during WWII. Especially interesting are the few songs recorded prior to the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union which reflect the left opposition to the draft, which would change as the nature of the war changed. These are, however, some of the weakest songs musically on the CD.

   Some my favorites are "Freedom Road" by Josh White, "Reuben James" and "Sally Don't You Grieve" by Woody Guthrie, and "Citizen CIO" by Tome Glazer and Josh White. The story by Jim Longhi of his efforts with Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston to effect some racial justice while serving in the Merchant Marine Liberty ships most inspiring.

1 comments about Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Robert Johnson.

1. An excellent collection of songs at a reasonable price for those looking to get a taste of some of the earliest blues out there from the works of Robert Johnson.
   
   Robert Johnson only recorded 41 songs over a two summer timeframe, and of those 41, 29 are duplicates of songs already recorded by him. So while some may say it is wise to just go out and buy the box set of Robert Johnson, I would argue that this CD makes sense for those who are uncertain whether they will like early delta blues. This CD contains 14 out of the 29 songs ever recorded by Robert Johnson. I love it, but must admit I am perplexed as to why 2 additional Robert Johnson songs recorded by other blues artists were included. Quite honestly, I would have rather have had more Robert Johnson material to listen to. But for the price, I don't think I can complain. Not the best of the Martin Scorcese series, but certainly a laudable effort.
   
   A note however. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 not because of the music, but simply because one can buy his complete recordings (41 song, 2-CD set) for not much more.

2 comments about World Library Of Folk & Primitive Music, Vol. 2: Ireland.

1. This is Irish music BEFORE all the Riverdance hype came about, this is Irish music in its realest and rawest from. Hearing performers sing and speak native Gaelic is a real treat, and the songs are a real challenge to listen to. This is NOT pub music by any means, but rather true music with real stories behind it. The only thing I would have liked to see on this album is more diversity: most of the songs were recorded in Co. Cork or Co. Donegahy, however I can't complain since my family are Corkers themselves... If you like this album I would STRONGLY recommend Alan Lomax's Primitive Music album from Spain as there are stark similarities between the two types of music (ever hear the thoery that the Celts were originally from Spain?... Wink.)



2. Fantastic traditional unaccompanied singing from Johnny McDonagh, Colm Keane and Sean Jeaic McDonagh. Johnny McDonagh's version of "Morrissey and the Russian Sailor" is the finest "come all ye" I have ever heard recorded and Colm Keane singing "Soldier, Soldier" is amazing.

1 comments about Sweet Home Chicago: The JOB Sessions 1950's.

1. I owned this album on vinyl when it briefly appeared in the UK around 1980. I remembered that I had enjoyed it very much - but would it stand the test of the intervening 20+ years? The answer is a resounding YES! It's not all that it seems to be, because the Robert Jr.Lockwood tracks are the man operating as part of a loose assembly of accompanyment from the likes of Sunnyland Slim on piano and Alfred Wallace on drums, as well as other instrumentation that appears on individual tracks. Indeed Lockwood only gets to undertake the vocals on tracks 1 to 4 and 11 & 12, but his fluid guitar contributions are everywhere.Favourites are "Sunnyland Special" (Luandrew on vocals on this one) and "Sweet Woman from Maine", where Lockwoods vocals are added to by alto sax from Alex Atkins. However the real bonus for me are the Johnny Shines tracks, probably the 'best' vocal performances from him on record.Tracks 13 to 16 have backing from a three piece of second guitar (Moody Jones) bass and drums."Fishtail" is my favourite ( a raunchy Cadillac metaphor) but they're all excellent. On tracks 17 to 22 he's accompanied by Big Walter Horton. "Evening Sun" is electric, but the two versions of "Gonna Call an Angel"(there are actually 4 takes) is a great indication of what Shines was aiming for (and achieved).It's an expensive buy, but the Johnny Shines tracks would make it worth the price on their own, and the Lockwood tracks make it an indispensible purchase. Highly recommended