SPECIALS
I think my karma’s improving, inasmuch as 24 blues records have found their way into my house this month. What a treat. Atlantic, Polydor and Fantasy are all out with monster blues reissue series — well, mostly blues, with a few fringe benefits and one folkie.
SPECIALS
RECORDS
by Michael Goodwin
Blues Aplenty From Atlantic, Fantasy & Polydor
I think my karma’s improving, inasmuch as 24 blues records have found their way into my house this month. What a treat.
Atlantic, Polydor and Fantasy are all out with monster blues reissue series — well, mostly blues, with a few fringe benefits and one folkie. I set up a star system to establish a minimal frame of reference: * for poor; ** for background music; *** for gettin’ there; **** for de blues; ***** for Howlin’ Wolf’s rocking chair album and/or Blind Willie McTell’s The Early Years. Having done so, I’m gonna note only four and five star records as such, letting the others find their own level.
In roughly ascending order:
Memphis Slim: Raining the Blues (Fantasy 24705): Slim plays highly sophisticated, bluesy piano, coupled with a slick vocal style. This is a pleasant two-record set (originally issued on Prestige as Just Blues and No Strain), but it leaves me completely unmoved and uninvolved, (born: 1915, Memphis)