Wonderful live work from RL Burnside – done in that instantly-timeless style that he brought to recordings right from the start – maybe even more so here, as the acoustics are fantastic, and really capture the spirit of the man and his guitar! As most folks know, Burnside was a bit late to the rural blues game – but because of that fact, he's also been a key bridge between the past and the present – especially with recordings like this, which bristle with a sort of honest, back to basics vibe. Titles include "Short Haired Woman", "Sweet Black Angel", "If You Don't Want Me Baby", "Long Distance Call", "Walkin Blues", "Death Bells Ringing", and "When My First Wife Left Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Sleepy John Estes was rediscovered in 1962, and made a key journey to Europe a few years later – captured here with a lean sound that's maybe even more haunting than some of his famous early records! The set just features Estes on guitar and vocals, with Hammie Nixon on harmonica and jug – and the sound of Nixon's harmonica is completely fantastic – very eerie and spooky, as if the wind is howling through the backdrop behind Estes while he performs – furthering the edge of the whole thing with a really wonderful sound! A tremendous example of 60s rural blues revival work at its best – on titles that include "Airplane Blues", "Who's Been Tellin You", "Denmark Blues", "I'm A Tearing Little Daddy", "Drop Down Mama", "Easin Back To Tennessee", and "Needmore Blues". CD features two bonus tracks – "Blues For JFK", and an alternate of "I'm A Tearing Little Daddy" CD

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A rare gem from T Bone Walker – one of the few hip sides he cut in Europe at the end of the 60s – and very different than his more traditional work! The set was put together by Robin Hemmingway – who also handled the hip Hal Singer record from the same time – and the players here include Bernard Estardy on organ, Michel Sardaby on piano, and Manu Dibango on saxophone – all of whom make for a groove that's far more than traditional blues. Sure, the record's plenty bluesy – but it's also got a funky groove on many numbers – really cooking along in a way that's even cooler than most funky American blues. And given that Walker's guitar style was a key influence on most funky guitar players in jazz, his own work here is a really great fit for the setting! Titles include "Vacation", "Long Lost Lover", "Woman You Must Be Crazy", "I Wonder Why", "Poontang", "Reconsider", "Sail On Little Girl", and "When I Grow Up". LP, Vinyl record album