Down in the Alley

Alvin Youngblood Hart

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 9, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Memphis Int'l
• ASIN: B000068R2Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,611 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #16 in

  Music > Indie Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Time traveler Alvin Youngblood Hart's albums have darted from crusty Delta fingerpicking and hollering to Hendrixian hellfire to crunchy, primal rockin' blues, all with the ring of authority that comes from complete commitment to the music. This time, he's set the wayback machine to the early '30s, using guitars, mandolin, banjo, and a lot of heart to interpret tunes by Son House, Charley Patton, Skip James, Leadbelly, and others. Somehow, the dust of old Mississippi, the state where the Oakland-born musician now resides, seems to have gotten into his blood. Hart sounds like Parchman Farm's newest inmate as he wails and moans through "How Long Before I Can Change My Clothes," plucking notes from a National resonator guitar. Chiming out chords and quick runs on banjo, he makes Odetta's "Chilly Winds" seem like they're carrying the voices of lost ghosts, recounting their lives of misery under Jim Crow's wing. Hart tends to take many of these classics, like Patton's "Tom Rushen Blues" and Leadbelly's "Alberta," at slightly slower tempos, which gives him more time to squeeze gut emotions from his lightly graveled phrases and lets his pluck-and-drone playing work its hypnotic effect. Stark and impressive for the power Hart generates alone, this may be the acoustic blues album of the year. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description
On his fourth (Grammy Nominated) album (for his fourth label), the contemporary bluesman sounds inspired and refreshed as he accompanies himself on acoustic six-string guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Hart runs down fairly obscure tunes from Son House, Charley Patton, Leadbelly, Skip James, and Sleepy John Estes, infusing them with a jolt of energy while staying true to their original versions and invigorating them with inspired interpretations. Liner notes by Billy Gibbons, Robert Gordon & Dave Alvin. Dot. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank God he's back, July 19, 2002

By	Jonathan M. Winterburn (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a country blues album, this cd is superb. While I agree with the reviewer who noticed that it could have included a couple more songs, I don't think his gripe about the song selection is warranted. First, whether or not Carter's version of Alberta is better than Leadbelly's is a matter of taste and opinion. I personally prefer Leadbelly's. Next, while it could be said that Devil Got My Woman has been done many times before, I think Hart's unusual vocal rendition is reason enough to have it on the album. That said, I want to say that I haven't stopped listening to this damn thing since I got it. It opens with Judge Bouche, a Lewis classic which sounds phenomenal in Hart's hands and voice; great open E slide work. Next is How Long Before I Change My Clothes, a Bukka White number, which scared the hell out of me when I first heard Hart's version. Melodically, the song is similar to Bukka's, but Hart changes it up a bit, and that howl is unearthly; I have never heard anything like that on record. Deep Blue Sea is a great number on which Hart accompanies himself on banjo. I liked this song so much, I've started playing it myself;... Next comes what is called "Jinx Blues", and the notes indicate that Son House wrote this one. Now, while Son did write a beautiful piece called Jinx Blues, this ain't it; this is a version of Patton's Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues. Hart's guitar work on this is astounding, maybe even almost worthy of Patton himself, but let's not jump the gun. Next is a rollicking rendition of the Sheiks' Bootlegger's Blues. Then the aforementioned Alberta; was expecting the Carter version, but was pleasantly surprised to hear Leadbelly's instead; Hart is spot-on with this one. Estes' Broke and Hungry is next, on which a mandolin is used, and put to good use; people used to Willie Brown's version of this song will find new life in this rendition. Then we have Devil, about which I've aready said my piece. Then we have Chilly Winds, an Odetta number; Hart wields a banjo for this and makes the room windy enough to cry. Next is Patton's Tom Rushen Blues; great rendition, and I love Hart's use of the bottleneck on this one; he expands on Charlie's arrangemet, especially on the third line of each staza,making it his own and giving us the treat of hearing a great musician interpreting another great musician's work. Next is Please Baby, a piece I had never heard before this; I don't know who wrote it, but it's listed as traditional in the notes; it's a nice blues piece with some sweet dobro work. Lastly we have Motherless Child; this one has Hart's hallmark on it, from beginning to end, complete with unique vocals... In my opinion, [this album] is every bit as good as Big Mama's Door, and thank God he's come back.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, August 24, 2002

By	Scott R. Simpson (Springfield, il United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful CD. Alvin is back at what he does best. If you are an acoustic country blues fan. BUY THIS!! Easily the best acoustic blues album of 2002. Period. His version of Bukka White's "Change My Clothes" will blow you away with the wonderful cornfield holler falsetto. Damn!

2.0 out of 5 stars pass on this one, April 14, 2009

By	Max99 (Toronto) - See all my reviews

I can't comment on any other of his efforts but this one is not very good. In fact, it's somewhat hard on the ears. Much better choices in this genre are Guy Davis, Eric Bibb and Buddy Guy.