God Knows I Tried

Junior Kimbrough

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Possum
• ASIN: B000008UN0
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,677 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 1998
This CD has a considerable mix of music on it, which is understandable given that it's a posthumous release of tracks collected over five years of recording. Every track, however, showcases guitarist Kimbrough's distinctive style, which regional isolation made very different from any other; it's not Delta, and it's definitely not Chicago. Kimbrough was primarily a live performer, recording only in the last years of his life, and one gets the impression that this is music that should be heard live. Since Kimbrough has left us, however, his recordings will have to do. --Genevieve Williams

Amazon.com
This posthumous release from the Mississippi hill-country guitarist is a mixed bag, with recording dates ranging from 1992 to early 1997. For all that, it's a solid collection, an eight-track testimonial to Junior Kimbrough's distinctive sound. From the full, haunting sound of both guitar and vocals on the opening "You're Gonna Find Your Mistake," to the rhythmic subtlety of "How Do You Feel" that's very reminiscent of early country blues, to the steady groove of "I Cried Last Night," God Knows I Tried showcases Kimbrough's unusual style to good advantage. The isolation of Kimbrough and his Mississippi compatriots produced a sound quite unlike any other regional style; distinct from the Chicago style and even from Delta blues, what one hears here is music that's almost trance-inducing without becoming monotonous, music that seems tailored for live playing and hearkens to the days when that was mainly how one heard it. The variations in sound on this CD suggest that they weren't originally recorded with the intent of putting them all on the same album, but the quality of Kimbrough's performance more than overrides such minor quibbles. --Genevieve Williams

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country Down Home Blues, June 30, 2000

By	vernadean hamilton (inglewood, ca United States) - See all my reviews

this album can be placed with any country down home blues music .I have watch my mother-in-law laugh,dance,drink,and play bid-whisk all nite long to this kind of music. Being from northern louisiana she has shown me the best of the blues. Listening to "I CRIED LAST NITE" reminds me of her so much, the sound of the guitar along with the moaning and pleading of Junior is definitly what she loved and grew up on. She, is also gone now but her memory of good country down home blues, Will always live on in my soul. Due to songs produce by Junior Kimbrough , I name my last daugther Kimberly. God blessed this talented man, and he named the record just right "God Knows I Tried". This one belongs in the blues hall of fame.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delta Blues the Right Way, October 21, 2001

By	Dr. Charles Wagoner (Cleveland, Mississippi United States) - See all my reviews

I spent part of a night recently in a road house in the middle of the Mississippi Delta shooting pool, drinking beer, and listening to Junior Kimbrough's "God Knows I tried" CD. The mixture was sublime.

This disc is an eclectic posthumous collection of some of Junior's classic guitar work and his completely authentic blues vocals. Even though Junior Kimbrough was not OF the Delta (he was raised in the Northern Mississippi hills) he understood what the Delta Blues are.

The first track "You're Gonna Find Your Mistake" wails. The "All Night Long" instumental is proof positive that Junior was one of the most important blues guitarists of the 20th century.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection, July 9, 2004

By	N. Langston (Sarasota, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Okay, the main reason I got this was Because I had Heard the song "Tramp" before and loved it. So I figured I should just get the real thing. It is wonderfull My favorite song is "Tramp". But close Behind is the "All Night Long" (Instrumental). This track just proves that A song can still be extreamly complex, even if it is only made of one cord. The bass part on "All night Long"(instrumental) is great. Gary Burnside Manages to double Junior's guitar, Walk all over the over the neck of his bass, and still keep a solid groove going.