Customer Reviews

Big Mama'S Door

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know much about this guy, except that he's young, is rumored to have been in the coastguard at one point in his life, was involved in the PBS blues TV series somehow, and I believe owned some kind of music shop at one point or another where he sold guitars. Actually that's a lot of info. But it's not the kind of thing I'd expect when I put this record on. What I hear is the voice of a bluesman in his 40s or 50s, possibly older, recording in the 1950s or 60s, who has lived life to the fullest. That is the amazing thing about this record- a *debut* no less- that this young or young-ish guy was able to channel the feel of the blues traditions into the modern day and thoroughly convince me that he must be the ghost of some legendary bluesman of the past coming back to haunt my stereo.

There's not anything close to a weak track here. My favorite, one of my favorites of all-time, is "Things About Coming My Way." It's funny and true, hopeful yet not naive, remorseful but not bitter, simple and straightforward. But as I said, everything here is top-drawer material. There are definitely more famous blues discs out there, but as far as I am concerned, not many better ones at all. Buy it and let it teach you what the blues are meant to be.

What, first person to review this CD? I guess "TERRITORY" elicited more passionate reactions. Anyway, "Big Mama's Door" is the superior product of Mr. Hart's two phenomenal releases; simply because it is more cohesive, more of an actual album. "Territory" is my favorite, but it also has a few tracks I can't bear to listen to. This one has nary a clunker in the bunch, but it doesn't reach the off-beat, just-go-with-it heights of his sophomore offering. Who out there is Hart's equal is the acoustic/country tradition? I say no one. Long live Alvin Youngblood.

I haven't even heard the cd version, only the cassette, once. It immediately struck a nerve as something I'd long been searching for, a modern blues album that you could mistake for one from the twenties or thirties. Hart's virtuoisity recalls that of Son House or Robert Johnson. What really impressed me was the recording style. Recorded raw on 2 tracks instead of polishing the sound with lots of layering. Add it to your collection now!

I love Alvin Hart's music. This album is an introduction to his blues music, but he is really much more than a blues musician; he is a musician's musician. His 'Territory' album is a great example of his dynamic scope. It has Texas Swing, Calypso, Ska, Hard Rock, Blues and more. Yes, he caters to all these styles of music and he does it with great skill and conviction. Big Mama's Door shows a wide scope of Blues: delta blues, droning dobro, rag and more. I like his twelve string guitar work along with his cowboy inspired lyrics - reminescent of Lead Belly. Taj Mahal lends a hand with couple of the most inspiring songs from the album,'France Blues' and 'Things About Comin' My Way'. I can listen to this album over and over. A great collection of originals and a couple classic covers, 'Gallows Pole' and 'John Hardy'. Alvin is clearly the new bearer of the torch - from old timey delta blues to advant-garde progressive rock, he is player to keep an eye on,

No small wonder that Taj Mahal was recruited to pen a few introductory remarks to acolyte, Alvin's,'Big Mamma'. And more than this, he sits in on three tunes to further endorse the man who, for all intents and purposes on this gem, would appear to be his heir apparent. The mix of re-arranged Delta Blues and self-penned material, the multi-instrumental accomplishmnet and that inimitable afro-American vocalising, is everything that Taj has reverently worked over down the decades. Hart's songs sit seamlessly with the archival stuff. as,'Rest You Saddle' and,'If the Blues was Money' demonstarte.'Gallows pole' and McTell's,'Hillbilly Willie's Blues' are exemplary. An especial thrill for me is my favourite Ledbelly,'When I was a Cowboy Out on the Western Plain', as complete a snapshot of cinematic breadth as you'll hear condensed into a few minutes. This is a thrilling album. Blessed with such 'grasp of the idioms, tone, humour, irony, joy, and breadth' of tradition, to quote Taj, it will serve as a powerful foundation for a wide-eyed approach to re-invigorating music.

First of all, this is one of the most beautiful and outstanding collections of blues ever assembled. What AYH has is something that years of music lessons and years of practice cannot produce. His delivery and style has an almost supernatural quality, translating some mysterious and primal element of life that we blues fans seem to be fascinated with. His authenticity is in this regard is unmistakable. As far as the childish comments regarding white people playing blues music - give us all a break. I am personally good friends with a fella who played on this album, as well as on a couple of others. He also toured with AYH for four years, and, surprise, he's as white as Margaret Thatcher. Grow up kids.

Alvin Youngblood Hart is a man who has soaked up the essence of American Folk Music in its variety of forms. He has recorded its essence and recreated it for modern ears in Big Mama's Door. Although primarily drawing from the Mississippi Delta, country & western, Appalachian and modern psychedelic influences can be heard.

Hart is a gifted song writer, who has a feel for both lyrics and melody. I am particularly fond of the title song and Joe Friday.

Both his voice and guitar playing are pleasant to listen to. While the CD is excellent, Hart is also a dynamic performer and can best be appreciated live.

This is, quite honestly, the best Country Blues cd to be released in decades. We have to remember that Alvin wasn't born in Mississippi or Texas around the turn of the century. He's a young guy who was raised on Classic Rock, and here he is, writing original material that sounds like it could have come from "Hambone" Willie Newbern, King Solomon Hill, or Son House. This is truly a fantastic disc, and there's not a single song that one should avoid. Alvin Youngblood Hart is the greatest living Bluesman; even better than Corey Harris, Samuel James, Rory Block, and John Hammond, Jr. I only hope that he has a long and productive recording career. "Them Fair Weather Friends" and "Big Mama's Door" are originals, but one would never know that on first, second or even fifteenth listen. Alvin is the greatest living Bluesman out there, period. I was lucky enough to see him perform live with his band, opening for an aged and senile Bo Diddley, about two years ago. I was hoping he'd perform some solo, acoustic, Country Blues material, but he didn't. I still went home happy. Most importantly, Alvin's diction when he sings is beautiful. He doesn't sounds like a product of the modern age, and I don't mean that in a degrading way. He has an intangible tang to his pronunciation when he sings.

Alvin is a reasonably competent player and singer who gets a quite authentic old time blues sound here. There's better players and singers in the genre, but who cares, because Alvin's music stands on it's own merit and is definitely worthy of a listen. I've done some research, and Alvin did NOT say what the reviewer directly below seems to believe he said. Racist comments in reviews are not necessary.

The blues as a musical art form survives in the hands of a few great artists, and Mr Hart is one of those few. There are many good artists that work in the genre - very few great ones and he is one of the top artists. There may be better guitarists, and stronger vocalists, and lyricists, but the sum is greater than the parts in his case.