Customer Reviews

Mississippi Fred McDowell

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Real country Blues that moves crisply forward with a rhythm that is indistinguishable from the music itself. Tight, succinct guitar playing. Slide guitar playing. The treble rings sharp and clear against the hollow depth of wood. The vocal delivery, almost dry and terse, somehow couldn't express more. You sense this music is coming from a very rich place. This aint Chicago. This is real.

Fred McDowell is a legend in time. This CD is one of my greatest finds. The clarity and background sounds make you feel that your right there. Its hard to believe one man could make much music and rythm. This is as real and as raw as it gets. I have some of his other CD's and this one is the best and I highly recommened it if you want to be impressed.

Recorded in 1962 in his home in Como, Mississippi, these songs were never meant for public "consumption." Children playing can even be heard in the background. And that is precisely what makes this an absolute must for blues purists. He just turned on an old reel-to-reel and laid down some of the best blues ever recorded. The honesty, rawness and cutting intensity of his acoustic slide work has simply never been surpassed. It is the genuine article: pure, undiluted, painful, longing, blues. As a side note, he learned slide from his uncle who made his slide from grinding and filing a bone from a steak, hence, Fred called his blues, "steak bone blues." If you love, I mean LOVE the blues, you must have this. If not, you'll never know how good blues can get.

I have a pile of early hill country blues recordings, and this is one of my faves! This is the real thing, complete with foot stomps on the floorboards, hoots and claps from the family in the living room, and Fred at his undiscovered best. I cannot say enough about the depth and passion in this music, except that it does not grow old and reveals and comminicates again and again. This is my favorite Fred McDowell recording; here is a glimpse of history most of us would never know, except indirectly.

I love old Delta blues, but sometimes the poor sound quality of the early recordings puts me off. I just want to hear good music, not go on some sort of anthropological expedition, you know what I mean? This set of recordings, like the other reviewers say, was done with more modern equipment in the early 1960s, not the '30s or '40s. And, although they were made in Fred's house, and were certainly mono, the quality is pleasantly high, especially the guitar. They remind of the "house" recordings of blues mandolinist Yank Rachell: clear with a real sense of immediacy.

This disk is relatively inexpensive, and more than worth the money. If you enjoy Delta blues, soulful singing, and slide guitar, just buy it and enjoy.

The songs on this CD were recorded in Fred McDowell's living room in Como, Mississippi two years prior to his "discovery" at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. It's surprising that this recording was made by two college kids (and not intended for release by a label) and manages to sound so good. The clarity is that of a studio recording; this doesn't sound like a "field recording" by any means. Apparently Fred performed for hours during this recording for a room full of friends and neighbors, who are occasionally noticeable in the background but overall don't take away from the performance. The songs here are great too: an hour of Mississippi Fred McDowell and his acoustic slide guitar ripping through classics like "Highway 61", "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", and a rousing "Shake 'Em On Down". If you like country blues or enjoy Delta blues players, you can't go wrong with this one.

The blues is more than a musical genre; it is (was) for many people, what they were born into. As much as I enjoy modern artists, with modern instruments, using modern techniques; I know that they, at best, are trying to copy a raw emotion. This CD is that raw emotion; this is the blues as performed by someone born into the blues. As quoted (on a CD title also) Fred will tell you "I don't play no rock & roll". What Fred plays comes from the depths of his being and he sings and plays what he feels; not what he thinks you might like to hear. So if you want to hear the blues, sung and played as it is felt; listen to this man.

Fred McDowell's sound is organic and original. I find true soul in this music and I don't want to call it blues or put it in a genre because it is so unique. I have heard it called "North Mississippi Style" but then one thinks of Junior Kimbrough which is totally different. I think the best description was when he said "I dont play no rock and roll y'all. I just play the straight natural blues". I cant help but think when he said "rock and roll" he probably meant what most people call the Chicago Blues. Fred Mcdowell's music has reinvigorated my interest in folk music, particularly from the south. God Bless. R.I.P. Mr Mcdowell!

This cd is is the best sounding,delta blues cd I have ever heard. Fred's playing is in top form & this cd has most of his better known songs; A Must Have!!!

Is there a better recording of acoustic guitar blues than this? If there is, please let me know in the comments, because this CD makes me feel like I'm in heaven.

Fred must've had some great recording equipment in his living room because the sound is incredibly good. It sounds like he's sitting in the living room with me.

At the same time, you can hear people talking in the background, and Fred coughs several times mid-take. Yet this lends to a raw and spontaneous ambiance to the music.

There's a laugh-out-loud moment at the end of "Shake 'Em On Down" where Fred asks "How'd you like that, buddy?" to a friend. THAT was one of the most incredible slide guitar recordings ever! I had to play the track twice.

A must-have for both blues and acoustic guitar fans.