Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Full title: Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways. Personnel: Henry Townsend, Lonnie Johnson, Brownie McGhee (vocals, guitar); Sonny Terry (vocals, harmonica); Memphis Slim (vocals, piano); Edith North Johnson, Lester Chambers (vocals); Tommy Bankhead, Willie Chambers (guitar); Leadbelly (12-string guitar); Blind John Davis, Champion Jack Dupree (piano); Gene Moore , Brian Keenan (drums); Coyall McMahan (maracas). Editor: Carla Borden. Photographers: Marion Post Wolcott; Russ Lee. Arranger: Rev. Gary Davis. Starting in the 1940s, Folkways made significant blues recordings, particularly of important artists who might not have had the easiest time getting or keeping contracts with more commercial labels, but still had something to say artistically. This 26-track compilation assembles material recorded between the 1940s and 1990s that showed up on various Folkways releases. Unfortunately, the liner notes don't name the exact dates of all the recordings, but certainly the substantial majority of them predate 1970. These recordings were targeted toward a somewhat scholarly folk revival audience, and some might find them a little folky and gentle. Electric instruments barely appear at all (with the notable exception of the early Chambers Brothers cut "Oh Baby, You Don't Have to Go"), and there's little that's as rough as the average prewar Delta blues track. Yet overall, it's a good compilation of many major and minor mid-20th century blues performers and styles. The bigger names include Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (whose "Old Jabo," with drums, almost verges on Bo Diddley-styled rock & roll), Reverend Gary Davis (represented by a 1957 version of his famous "Candy Man"), Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon (performing together), Lightnin' Hopkins, Leadbelly, Roosevelt Sykes, Son House, Champion Jack Dupree, Elizabeth Cotten, Lonnie Johnson, and Josh White. While acoustic guitar blues (including a field recording of K.C. Douglas' "Mercury Blues," later covered by Steve Miller) gets a fair amount of airtime, so do boogie piano, a cappella singing (Vera Hall), and some actual Delta blues (Son House, from a 1942 field recording). ~ Richie Unterberger

Living Blues (6/03, p.106) - "...On a song-by-song basis this is a rich journey through tradition....There's plenty here to goad even jaded veterans into either revisiting long-forgotten favorites or exploring yet-unblazed trails..."

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