CD-Charts Position 51
Average Rating:

The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Skip James

Release Date September 15, 1994
The 1931 recordings of Skip James are simply among the strangest and most chilling music in recorded history. I first heard some of them as a teenager in the 1980s, after I had already listened to James' younger contemporary Robert Johnson; Johnson's music is equally spooked in terms of lyrical content, but his music at any rate always has a solid rhythmic pulse. James' music was less celebrated (perhaps because, unlike Johnson, he had lived long enough to be rediscovered in the 1960s), but in retrospect it was far more scary. Less earthy and worldly than Johnson's, it seems to float in the air, an eerie keening sound emphasised by James' unorthodox approach to rhythm and blurry falsetto voice. (Johnson, by contrast, could sound positively ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 52
Average Rating:

Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Son House

Release Date June 30, 1992
If you buy one Son House, and I repeat if, then let it be this 1965 double disc session. I wont go over board here with dripping detail as to why you should own this album but if you acquire only one Son House album from his renewal period in the 60's let it be dis a one.....

CD-Charts Position 53
Average Rating:

Shoulder to Shoulder

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: John Cephas, Phil Wiggins

Release Date June 27, 2006
For nearly 30 years, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins have been a premier combination. They are skilled in performing Piedmont Blues. This melodic and acoustic brand of blues came from the tidewater region of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. It was popularized by Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, and more recently Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Cephas, a former carpenter, wrote six new originals for the album. There are also a half-dozen cover songs from the likes of Sleepy John Estes, Blind Boy Fuller, Skip James, and Sonny Boy Williamson. On them, it is daunting how the venerable duo transports you to the past while not allowing you to become trapped.

These thoroughly enjoyable 51-minutes are all about the songs, not ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 54
Average Rating:

His Best: 1947 to 1955

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

Release Date March 25, 1997
There may be slightly (and I do mean slightly) better produced Muddy Waters CDs, but this stands out as my favorite. It has an intimate, yet at the same time outstanding, archival feel. Without R+B musicians like Muddy Waters its hard to imagine the evolution of mainstream Rock.

This CD has got to be in any music anthology, and certainly in any R&B collection.

It is a cultural treasure.

Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Muddy Waters
At Newport
Let's Roll
Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday
The Ultimate Collection
The Essential Bessie Smith
The Definitive Soul Collection

CD-Charts Position 55
Average Rating:

Roamin' and Ramblin'

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: David Honeyboy Edwards

Release Date February 19, 2008
There may be slightly (and I do mean slightly) better produced Muddy Waters CDs, but this stands out as my favorite. It has an intimate, yet at the same time outstanding, archival feel. Without R+B musicians like Muddy Waters its hard to imagine the evolution of mainstream Rock.

This CD has got to be in any music anthology, and certainly in any R&B collection.

It is a cultural treasure.

Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Muddy Waters
At Newport
Let's Roll
Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday
The Ultimate Collection
The Essential Bessie Smith
The Definitive Soul Collection

CD-Charts Position 56
Average Rating:

The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music

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

Release Date September 11, 2001
I was assigned this CD and Book collection for a class at my university. I must say that I am throughly impressed at all the historiacl information and woderful songs that were chosen. This is an indept look at Black music from Africa to present.

CD-Charts Position 57
Average Rating:

Heroes of the Blues - The Very Best of Reverend Gary Davis

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Rev. Gary Davis

Release Date August 26, 2003
The Reverend Gary Davis is one of the exemplars of the blues. Many of his songs have been picked up by other artists and groups. For instance, the Grateful Dead took his rendition of Samson and Delilah and made it one of their concert favorites. There are also many other blues and gospel songs to enjoy listening to. He sure plays the banjo and guitar with aplomb that preceded other great guitar players of the rock & roll and country traditions.

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: R.L. Burnside

Release Date October 24, 2000
I discovered RL Burnside thanks to Sirius Radio. I have purchased 2 of his CD's and have been pleasantly surprised with both. Great music.I plan to buy all or at least most of his CD's in the near future.

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

D.C. Blues: Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Mississippi John Hurt

Release Date August 16, 2005
I love this album. Mississippi John Hurt has such a soothing voices. This is a must for any blues fan, or anyone who likes to listen to music for that matter.

Being from Arkansas near where the blues originated, I have been able to attend many blues festivals and hear many artists. Mississippi John Hurt ranks on the top of great blues musicians.

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

Blues Singer

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Buddy Guy

Release Date June 03, 2003
First of all, let it be said that Buddy Guy is an electric Blues guitarist, and not a pre-War "Country Blues" artist. His guitar playing on the Skip James track really shows that Buddy was simply clowning around at these sessions and is also very limited on an acoustic guitar. The subtleties and nuances that Skip James provided us with in the song, on both the 1931 recording and on later versions, is totally missing from the Buddy Guy version. Johnny Shines, who is one of the greatest Bluesmen of the second half of the 20th century, has a song on this album that is covered by Buddy Guy, according to the liner notes from this album. The only problem is that the Buddy Guy track doesn't resemble the Shines version in any way. The music and lyrics are totally different. ... Read More: