Crucial Acoustic Blues

Performer: Various Artists
Producer: Bruce Iglauer; Bob DePugh; Bruce Iglauer; Bob DePugh
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Photographer: Paul Natkin. This selection of acoustic blues from Chicago's Alligator Records features many rare recordings from such blues legends as Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, heard here together in an intimate 1991 performance of "High Heel Sneakers," the big-voiced Koko Taylor accompanied by the guitarist Keb Mo' on "The Man Next Door," and the Carolina musician Sonny Terry, joined here by Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon on the Winter-produced country blues "So Tough With Me." Alligator Records shows a different side of its house-rocking face on this 13-cut collection of acoustic blues. While Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Bukka White don't appear here, other performers -- some of whom one normally associates with overdriven electricity -- are. Buddy Guy is present, as is Stevie Ray Vaughan. Koko Taylor's "The Man Next Door" is here and it's one of her greatest performances on record. In addition, Johnny Winter, who was no stranger to a National Steel string bottleneck earlier in his career, returns to give it another go, and the true roots doctor Corey Harris is here with "God Don't Ever Change," and Carey and Lurrie Bell with "Stop Running Around." Guy's "Hi Heel Sneakers" is terrific as is Winter's "Evil on My Mind." But it's those that are normally associated with the acoustic blues like Harris, Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women, Cephas & Wiggins, John Jackson and the legendary Sonny Terry who come off best, bringing the true rhythm and mystery with them into their songs. This is a hip collection that will make the feet shuffle and the backbone slip. And it's sold for a song, so why not? ~ Thom Jurek

Living Blues (p.60) - "With CRUCIAL ACOUSTIC BLUES, the strongest of the three albums, we're treated to a satisfying romp through some of Alligator's coolest unplugged numbers."

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