(Rock, Folk/Country) CD

(Rock, Folk/Country) CD

A great overview of the Incredible String Band – early material from the group's first three albums on Elektra, all pulled together in a double-length set that's a perfect introduction to their genius! The core talents here are Mike Heron and Robin Williamson – the founders of the group, and architects of most of the songs – tunes that use a fair bit of the acoustic instrumentation that you'd guess from their name, in an compelling inversion of older Brit folk modes – that same balance between modern and ancient that you'd hear from a few of their hippest contemporaries. The whole thing's great – and we really love to lose ourselves in the music. Titles include "Air", "Job's Tears", "October Song", "Everything's Fine Right Now", "Koeeoaddi Death", "A Very Cellular Song", "Maya", "This Moment", "Way Back In The 1960s", "Painting Box", "Log Cabin Home In The Sky", and "Cousin Caterpillar". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Music from John Snipes, Dink Roberts, Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson, Etta Baker & Cora Philips, John Jackson, Homer Walker, Irvin Cook & Leonard Bowles, 'Big Sweet' Lewis Hairston, John Tyree, Rufus Kasey and more. CD

A fabulous look at a new wave of music that hit the American scene at the end of the 60s – sophisticated songs with a deep sense of narrative that went way beyond the usual – first sprung by the world of country music, but with an influence that went on to touch all other styles too! This set goes right to the core – and brings together cuts from the hippest songwriters of the period, delivered in versions that may well be the best to ever make it on records – including a few tunes that will really come as a surprise if you think you know the artists from their hits! As you'd guess from the title, the world here is very similar to that in "Ode To Billie Joe" – a world that's also given great illumination by the detailed notes within. Titles include "Endless Miles Of Highway" by Jerry Reed, "If Only She Had Stayed" by Chris Gantry, "July 12, 1939" by Charlie Rich, "What Am I Doing In LA" by Nat Stuckey, "The House Song" by Lee Hazlewood, "Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do" by John Hartford, "Widow Wimberley" by Tony Joe White, "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Drivin Nails In The Walls" by Waylon Jennings, "Four Shades Of Love" by Henson Cargill, "The Back Side Of Dallas" by Jeanne C Riley, "Way Before The Time Of Towns" by Hoyt Axton, "Down From Dover" by Dolly Parton, "Fabulous Body & Smile" by Sir Robert Charles Griggs, and "Why Can't I Come Home" by Ed Bruce. LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of rural blues and folksy modes, presented here with little in the way of information – which then maybe makes the whole thing a completely delightful musical discovery – as if you've found a whole stack of vintage 78rpm singles with the labels rubbed off, and have to drop the needle on them to really open up the grooves! Most numbers feature vocals and acoustic guitar, and little other instrumentation – and the recording quality is nice and crisp, which is further intensified by the way the record plays at 45rpm – creating some of the urgency of spinning an old 78! Titles include "Florida Bound" by Edward Thompson, "Every Day Of The Week Blues" by Pink Anderson & Simmie Dooley, "Lost Lover Blues" by Lulu Jackson, "Losin Out Blues" by Robert Wilkins, "Just A Spoonful" by Charley Jordan, "Delia" by Willie McTell, "Old Time Blues" by Carl Martin, and "Evil Devil Woman Blues" by Joe McCoy. (Blues, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album