Mr Scrapper's Blues

Scrapper Blackwell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Obc
• ASIN: B00005N817
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,664 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues Re-issue of 2001!, November 12, 2001

By 

B. D. Tutt (London, UK.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mr Scrapper's Blues (Audio CD)

Guitarist Scrapper Blackwell was, with his partner Leroy Carr, one of the most popular blues performers of the early 1930s. However, with the death of Carr in 1935, Blackwell's career faltered, and he lived quietly in Indianapolis until white blues enthusiasts located him in the late 1950s. The result was a handful of recordings, mainly on obscure labels, before he was murdered in 1962.

This session, recorded in July 1961 on top quality equipment, is one of the finest in the whole Bluesville catalogue, and its belated appearance on CD should be a cause for rejoicing amongst all acoustic blues fans. Blackwell is in peak form throughout, both vocally and instrumentally.

His guitar style is a complex one, swinging but blues drenched, and combining strong chordal work and single string runs. He was an inventive self - accompanist, voice and guitar complementing each other superbly on tracks such as "Penal Farm Blues". Equally effective on this CD is Blackwell's vocal work: his voice is gentle, slightly hoarse and immensely weary, combining beautifully with strongly poetic and original lyrics. His blues verses tell a coherent story in a logical and sequential way: not for him the apparently arbitrary selection of random blues verses favoured by some blues singers.

Tracks 3 and 8 are impressive guitar instrumentals, whilst track 4 features Blackwell's piano playing, competent but unremarkable. The remainder of the tracks are vocal blues with guitar accompaniment. Highlights include the wonderful "Shady Lane", and a poignant version of "Down & Out", while "Little Boy Blue" is a delightfully playful rendition of the nursery rhyme.

Recommended unreservedly for all lovers of acoustic guitar blues.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part of the Acoustic Blues Bible, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr Scrapper's Blues (Audio CD)

This amazing CD is an acoustic blues masterpiece!

Scrapper Blackwell played back-up guitar to Leroy Carr's blues piano for years, and honed a creative unique Piedmont style that is a joy to experience.

This solo Scrapper album, cleanly recorded by modern equipment, showcases the guitar masterwork that frequently was buried under the piano in many of Scrapper's early recordings with Leroy. Scrapper Blackwell is a musician's musician - it is amazing to hear Scrapper's version of "Nobody Knows You When Your Down and Out" which was copied virtually note-for-note by Eric Clapton!!!Scrapper is one of the creators of Blues guitar, and this CD is an exceptionally fine, listenable example of his work....

One of my favorite disks in my large blues collection. Give this a listen - you won't regret it!!!!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Scrapper's best post-war performance, January 9, 2007

By 

Harry Symvoulidis (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr Scrapper's Blues (Audio CD)

Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell was not only one of the legendary pre-war virtouosos - who, as Leroy Carr's guitarist, essentially defined what is now called "urban blues" - but a capable singer-songwriter, too. In this album he essentialy re-visited some of his pre-war material (e.g. "Penal Farm Blues", his first 78rpm single) and managed to create an album which, I think, should be included in every collection that prouds to have gone deep into the blues.

Although age had by then left visible signs on Blackwell's voice, he is at least moving singing "Goin' Where The Monon Crosses The Yellow Dog", and also in moments like "Little Boy Blue" or "Shady Lane". But, although these are good reasons to buy this album themselves, the most stunning performance comes when he covers "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out". Blackwell sings this song in such a way that only a person who has lived situations exactly as those mentioned in the lyrics could have, managing to overshadow in emotion even the impressive "Empress of the Blues" Bessie Smith, who had originally sung it during Depression time. Don't miss this out, is one of the 100 best blues songs ever recorded!