California Blues

Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 9, 1990)
• Original Release Date: July 13, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fantasy
• ASIN: B000000XFD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,498 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Folk Blues, February 3, 2001

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: California Blues (Audio CD)

This is actually a repackaging of two earlier Fantasy albums (Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, tracks 1-14, and Blues and Shouts, tracks 15-26), both originally recorded in March, 1957. [They actually recorded 38 tracks at that session. The other twelve songs, all spirituals, were released as Just a Closer Walk With Thee.] There are no session musicians used here, just Terry on harmonica and McGhee on guitar; both provide vocals. They sometimes sing solo--it's McGhee's smooth vocal on tunes like "I Got Fooled" and "I Feel So Good," and Terry's rougher-edged voice on "California Blues" and "I Have Had My Fun"--but on many of the tracks they harmonize wonderfully, like on the McGhee-penned "Sportin' Life," which Baby Boomers will recognize as a song covered by the Lovin' Spoonful. They also harmonize on "John Henry," which was performed at the close of the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof that featured both Terry and McGhee in the cast from 1955-1958.

This is wonderful folk blues and though not as strong as the other Fantasy re-issue Midnight Special, it is still a welcome addition to any Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee collection. RECOMMENDED

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sonny and Brownie, September 21, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Blues (Audio CD)

There's some discrepancy over the correct recording dates for these two Fantasy albums included on this CD. Some sources say only the SONNY TERRY AND BROWNIE MCGHEE sides (#1-14) were recorded in 1957, the other album being recorded in 1961. Whatever the case may be, these are excellent performances. Sonny's singing is rougher and more old-fashioned than Brownie's. I GOT FOOLED is a terrific piece and THINKIN' AND WORRYIN' has an unusual form: 4-bar verses piled up one after the other - different and captivating. Sonny and Brownie sing duets on a handful of tunes. The second album is a bit more folky than the first, with the oft-recorded JOHN HENRY included as well as a version of TAKE THIS HAMMER. Both albums are excellent and will give much enjoyment.