Customer Reviews

1963 Isn't 1962

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The difference a year makes. Bukka White hadn't released a record in over twenty years, and then the Blues revival hit. Bob Dylan had recorded one of his songs. A new generation had discovered early Blues and the south was being combed for living links. Bluesmen were coming out of retirement and Bukka White went on tour.

Recorded live in California in 1963, Bukka sounds confident, seasoned and in full comand of his abilities. Though at times one wonders if Bukka doesn't have doubts about his brand new young audience, it doesn't hinder his performance either way; if anything he sounds bemused and pleased.

Worthy of mention here is the live version of Alberdeen Blues. He accentuates his crying, wistful vocal with a hammer run of notes on the neck of the guitar while he slaps the body of the instrument with his other hand for resonation. The effect is striking and mesmerizing. Hours after I've listened to this CD that part of the song keeps sneaking up on me and haunting me. I have trouble getting rid of it. This isn't a bad thing.

Though, as a whole, this CD isn't as impressive as his earlier music collected on The Complete Bukka White (what could be?), this certainly is a nice place to go along the way to further explore this unique artist.

I'm a huge fan of the acknowledged greats - Wolf, Muddy, John Lee. But "1963 Isn't 1962" is one of the all-time best blues efforts I've ever heard. Mind-boggling, relentless National steel guitar wizardry combined with Booker's awesome gravelly voice (much better than his earlier recordings) equals Delta heaven. Buy it and be thankful for those who came before.