First Recordings [Bonus Tracks]

Performer: R.L. Burnside
Engineer: George Mitchell
Producer: Matthew Johnson; Bruce Watson
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Recorded in 1968. Includes liner notes by Matthew Johnson. This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: R.L. Burnside (vocals, guitar). Liner Note Authors: R.L. Burnside; Matthew Johnson. Arranger: R.L. Burnside. At the time these tracks were cut, 1967 and 1968, R.L. Burnside was working on a plantation in Coldwater, MS, cutting silage. Folklorist George Mitchell was on a mission to record unknown blues singers down South. Mitchell heard about Burnside and paid him a visit, asking if he could record him. That night Mitchell returned to Burnside's place with a case of beer and some whiskey. Ten months later, Burnside had his first release. While these 14 tracks didn't jump start Burnside's career, they are stark, organic, and timeless, just Burnside and his acoustic guitar running down mainly traditional material that he arranged. This is an absolute treasure for Burnside aficionados and casual blues listeners alike. ~ Al Campbell At the time these tracks were cut, 1967 and 1968, R.L. Burnside was working on a plantation in Coldwater, MS, cutting silage. Folklorist George Mitchell was on a mission to record unknown blues singers down South. Mitchell heard about Burnside and paid him a visit, asking if he could record him. That night Mitchell returned to Burnside's place with a case of beer and some whiskey. Ten months later, Burnside had his first release. While these 14 tracks didn't jump start Burnside's career, they are stark, organic, and timeless, just Burnside and his acoustic guitar running down mainly traditional material that he arranged. This is an absolute treasure for Burnside aficionados and casual blues listeners alike. [In 2004, this album was released in SACD format with two bonus tracks: a live version of "Come On In" from 1998 and a remix of "Rollin' and Tumblin'."] ~ Al Campbell

Living Blues (9/03, pp.94-5) - "...The real treasures here are the seldom-heard opening lament 'Just Like a Bird Without a Feather' and the closing weeper 'Sat Down on My Bed and Cried'..."

A disciple of revered blues legend Mississippi Fred McDowell, R.L. Burnside recorded sporadically throughout the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. However, it wasn't until his tenure with the Fat Possum label in the '90s and 2000s that Burnside achieved true legend status. Playing a highly rhythmic, down-and-dirty brand of hill country blues, Burnside was embraced by not only the blues establishment, but also a legion of young rockers raised on punk. He was even backed by indie-rock howlers the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion on '96's A ASS POCKET OF WHISKEY. Burnside passed away in 2005 at the age of 78.

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