East Coast Piedmont Style

Blind Boy Fuller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027DE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,428 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Rollicking 1935-39 sides from one of the leading guitarists in the prewar Piedmont style. Some tracks feature Blind Gary Davis on second guitar and Bull City Red on clattering washboard, others are solo, and 1939's "I'm a Stranger Here" finds the young Sonny Terry on harp. All twenty songs possess an engaging sense of swing. (B.D.) -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Piedmont style, May 2, 2007

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: East Coast Piedmont Style (Audio CD)

Piedmont style is an East coast tradition; think of its borders as Richmond, Virgina, the Atlantic Ocean, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Appalachian mountains. It often has a distinct ragtime piano sound and some scat singing. An "official" definition from http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1844107 "Piedmont-style blues is characterized by a unique finger-picking guitar style which mimics the ragtime piano. The bass line rhythm is played with the thumb while melody and harmonies are defined by two or three fingers. The sound therefore is more rhythmically complex and especially melodic than the Delta Blues". Several of my favorite blues artists fall into this category - Reverend Gary Davis, Brownie McGhee, Blind Willie McTell, Sonny Terry, Cephas and Wiggins. Blind Boy Fuller fits nicely into this august group.

In this collection he ranges from the rollicking "Rag, Mama, Rag" to the simpler, bluesy "I'm Climbin' on Top of the Hill". More than many recordings, the ties to other musicians pique my interest - Rev. Gary Davis playing 2nd guitar on "Rag, Mama, Rag" and "Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind". Or compare "Log Cabin Blues" to Blind Willie McTell's "Come On Around to My House." Or listen to the subtle complexity of Bull City Red's washboard on "Sweet HOney Hole." Or compare "Walking My Troubles Away" with "Walking My Blues Away" by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

This collection is worth adding to your collection for two reasons: 1. Blind Boy Fuller is a solid blues artist with a repetoire for dance hall or street (2) it provides the raw information for hearing the interconnections between various better-known Piedmont stylists and distinguishing them from the Delta or Chicago blues.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent good time vocals with rag & blues guitar!, March 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: East Coast Piedmont Style (Audio CD)

Blind Boy Fuller is one of the more urban blues palyers fro mthe period, yet he uses a lot of ragtime chords especially on the 1st two selections, bur especially on the opening number Rag Mama Rag, his voice is also more masculine then other blues palyers fro mthe period, he sound particularly strong on good time hokum tunes like Rattlesnakin' Daddy, this CD is essential for any comprehensive classis blues collection. Timeless music from one of the greats.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, June 20, 2008

By 

Paul Regan (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: East Coast Piedmont Style (Audio CD)

I have owned this CD for a few years now. It is totally brilliant and one of my all time favourites. Every aspiring blues guitarist should listen and learn from Blind Boy Fuller.