In His Prime

Furry Lewis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yazoo
• ASIN: B000000G7Q
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,775 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Memphis Blues
  • #91 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Traditional Blues

Track Listings

1. Good Looking Girl Blues

2. Falling Down Blues

3. I Will Turn Your Money Green

4. Mean Old Bedbug Blues

5. Furry's Blues

6. Mistreaten' Mamma

7. Cannonball Blues

8. Jellyroll

9. Why Don't You Come Home Blues

10. Kassie Jones Part 1

11. Kassie Jones Part 2

12. Everbody's Blues

13. Rock Island Blues

14. Judge Harsh Blues (Alternate Take)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Even before his rediscovery in 1959, Furry Lewis's lofty place in Memphis blues history had been secured on the strength of a mere 23 songs recorded between 1927 and 1930. Lewis's innovative guitar work and his pained vocals take center stage on these 14 recordings. Lewis shows terrific versatility on these sides: His incredible fingerpicking uses dramatic bass tones on "Jellyroll" and rolls banjo-style on "Mistreatin' Mamma." His high-pitched slide wails through "Why Don't You Come Home." Lyrically, he was capable of both great wit and dark imagery ("I believe I'll buy me a graveyard of my own/I'm gonna kill everybody that ever done wrong."). The Lewis staple "Kassie Jones (Parts 1 and 2)" is here, although his other classic, "John Henry," isn't. --Marc Greilsamer

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Walter "Furry" Lewis, the avuncular dean of the Memphis scene who enjoyed belated fame in the 1960s and 1970s, makes a solid case for consideration among the country blues corps d'elite with these fourteen tunes, all but one solo performances. Coddling his ardor, he pleases with musing vocals and versatile bottleneck and fingerpicking guitar work. As an interpreter of pre-blues folk material, his refashioning of the lyrics to the two-part folk ballad "Casey Jones" is particularly memorable. The unclean sound of the 78s detracts nothing from the music's value. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed!, December 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: In His Prime (Audio CD)

Furry Lewis was never better than he was on these early recordings. Lewis's Memphis sound was very different from the more familiar Delta sound of Robert Johnson and his followers, and his magnificent singing, guitar-playing, and songwriting will come as a revelation to blues fans who have somehow overlooked this blues giant. The sound-quality of these recordings far exceeds what might reasonably be expected of music recorded so long ago. Highly recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth hearing, January 11, 2007

By 

K. Lahti "musician" (central WV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In His Prime (Audio CD)

This was recommended to me by Steve James at a slide guitar workshop. Furry Lewis is very competent, witty and enjoyable, with a great touch on the slide guitar. Some of the songs are similar in structure - a bit of a "Furry Lewis formula". The lyrics very much reflect the time and culture, which interests me. All in all, very enjoyable and an important part of any real slide guitar discography.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An all time classic, February 18, 2005

By 

nadav haber (jerusalem Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In His Prime (Audio CD)

I just love to listen to this album again and again. The great Memphis bluesman is truly in his prime, playing blues and ballads, accompanying himself perfectly on guitar. Songs like Kassie Jones and John Henry never sounded better than they do here. The blues "I will turn your money green" and "Judge Harsh blues" should be recognized as all time classics and the cream of Memephis Blues. It should go without saying - if you love country blues - don't miss.