CD-Charts Position 181
Average Rating:

California Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry

Release Date July 09, 1990
There's some discrepancy over the correct recording dates for these two Fantasy albums included on this CD. Some sources say only the SONNY TERRY AND BROWNIE MCGHEE sides (#1-14) were recorded in 1957, the other album being recorded in 1961. Whatever the case may be, these are excellent performances. Sonny's singing is rougher and more old-fashioned than Brownie's. I GOT FOOLED is a terrific piece and THINKIN' AND WORRYIN' has an unusual form: 4-bar verses piled up one after the other - different and captivating. Sonny and Brownie sing duets on a handful of tunes. The second album is a bit more folky than the first, with the oft-recorded JOHN HENRY included as well as a version of TAKE THIS HAMMER. Both albums are excellent and will give much ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 182
Average Rating:

Zion Crossroads

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Corey Harris

Release Date July 24, 2007
I've been an on-again-off-again fan of Corey Harris for the last 10 years. I liked his previous work, but I thought he was sort of plateauing in terms of musical development. But with this release, I stand corrected!

'Zion Crossroads' is Corey's first attempt at reggae and it's really good. Good new reggae is really hard to find today, especially the more traditional-sounding stuff. This isn't that horrible dancehall or reggaeton; it's just good old-fashioned reggae that is hard to dislike.

I didn't think Corey would be this daring in his musical genre shiftings, but I'm certainly glad he did it. I love the addition of the reggae musicians to Corey's usual sparse instrumentation.

Corey easily passes ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 183
Average Rating:

The Complete Folkways Recordings

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Lonnie Johnson

Release Date July 13, 1992
Although some hardcore Blues fans may complain about songs like "Old Rocking Chair" and "My Mother's Eyes" being on this album, the fact is that Lonnie Johnson sounded phenomenal when he crooned. This just isn't the Lonnie album for the guitar nerd; that's all. The interview at the end of the disc about his entire family being musicians is fascinating. Also, despite people often listing his birth year as 1899, he was really born in 1889, according to more modern scholarship.

CD-Charts Position 184
Average Rating:

Collection: Hard Again / I'm Ready / King Bee

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Muddy Waters

Release Date April 05, 2005
Back in the late 70's Johnnie Winters pulled Muddy Waters out of semi-retirement to record three great CD's on the Blue Sky label. When back in the studio Muddy noted that it made him feel so good that it made him 'Hard Again', hence the title for the first and best CD of the series. All are recordings using a live to tape method, which suites the blues and in particular Muddy extremely well. The backing band is excellent, sound quality is outstanding and Muddy is top of form. Each CD has a slightly different feel and each in the set gets a little weaker then the previous. This is relatively speaking given that Hard Again is easily one Muddy's best albums and one of the top ten blues CD's ever made - seriously good stuff. If you can only afford ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 185
Average Rating:

Last Session

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Blind Willie McTell

Release Date February 17, 1992
Blind Willie McTell was in his prime best on this last session recording from 1956 and could'nt have been more laid back telling stories to these classic songs as your right there in the tavern with him,listening to his fine singing and extraordinary twelve string guitar playing while you're slugging down gin,and as you're listening maybe Willie does stumble a word or two,who cares,after all,Willie McTell is a legend of the blues as you can hear on this OBC cd song after song,Blind Willie McTell went out with a loud bang,the songs speak for themselves.

CD-Charts Position 186
Average Rating:

Ragtime Blues Guitar (1927-1930)

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date March 24, 1994
these recordings were made between 1927-1930, and feature "ragtime" blues guitar. The only performers I ever heard of before were Blind Blake and Bill Monroe (all of his recorded work is included here). But there are other performers here, too: Tartar and Gay, Bayless Rose, Chicken Wilson and Skeeter Hinton, about which virtually nothing is known. Also includes the only known recordings of Willie Walker. This is a great CD for any blues, guitar, or music enthusiast. A piece of history.

CD-Charts Position 187
Average Rating:

Complete Recorded Works (1927-1931)

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Sam Collins

Release Date January 10, 1996
these recordings were made between 1927-1930, and feature "ragtime" blues guitar. The only performers I ever heard of before were Blind Blake and Bill Monroe (all of his recorded work is included here). But there are other performers here, too: Tartar and Gay, Bayless Rose, Chicken Wilson and Skeeter Hinton, about which virtually nothing is known. Also includes the only known recordings of Willie Walker. This is a great CD for any blues, guitar, or music enthusiast. A piece of history.

CD-Charts Position 188
Average Rating:

I Heard It on NPR: Shake These Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 14, 2003
There are some great surprises on this compilation. Some of the tracks are classic blues tunes but are not played by the same old artists you hear doing them every time. My favorite cut is a fine rendition of "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" by Alvin Youngblood Hart. There's lots of great archieval stuff on here but some sweet tunes by newer artists as well.

CD-Charts Position 189
Average Rating:

Pig 'n Whistle Red

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Blind Willie McTell

Release Date July 15, 2003
The 1950 sessions of Blind Willie McTell rank as one of the most important if sadly neglected recording sessions in the history of acoustic blues. Born in Thompson Georgia sometime around the turn of the century, Blind Willie McTell recorded numerous sides for various labels until 1937, when he dropped out of sight. Fortunately recognized for his immense talent, if not for his commercial viability (he never had a single hit, even by modest early blues standards) he returned to the studio in 1950 with his singing partner, Curley Weaver, after being sought out by producer Fred Mendolson of Regal records. Armed only with their 12-string guitars, they recorded an amazing 20 tracks in styles ranging from pop, gospel, traditional blues, ragtime, bottleneck and hokum. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 190
Average Rating:

Slim's Shout

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Sunnyland Slim

Release Date September 16, 1993
I'm not sure why the other reviewer gave this album five stars, as it is not the best of Sunnyland's work. The stand-out tracks are "The Devil Is A Busy Man", "Harlem Can't Be Heaven" and "Decoration Day". Tracks like "Sunnyland Special", a remake of one of his famous tunes, are just sort of there, and don't make much of a statement. I recommend Blues fans seek out Roosevelt Sykes, as he's probably the greatest pianist in Blues, and also has an excellent voice and gift for lyrics.