Customer Reviews

Pig N Whistle Red

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This twenty-track set from Sony Records is a remastered reissue of the set Willie McTell and James "Curly" Weaver cut for the now-defunct Regal Records label in 1950, and it was previously issued in 1993 on Biograph with a different cover (but the same track sequence).

These fine songs have McTell and second guitarist Weaver sharing the vocals. They include remakes of McTell's 1933 singles "Talkin' To You Mama" and "Good Little Thing", as well as more recent material, and this session was left out of many McTell discographies until it resurfaced in 1993. And it's a good thing it did, because it is by far the best-sounding Willie McTell-material available, and the sheer diversity of this wonderful album makes "Pig 'n Whistle Red" an indispensable (and delightful) recording.
It includes country blues, gospel, ballads, and more country blues, and two quite different versions of a 20s pop song, "Pal Of Mine".

The playing is amazingly sharp and crisp, and the vocals wonderfully delicate, and this collection has to be considered essential to any serious acoustic blues collection.
(Pig 'n Whistle Red was a barbecue stand in Atlanta, by the way, and one of the places where McTell and Weaver played for tips. These sides were originally released under that moniker.)

Willie Samuel McTell and Curley Weaver were a legendary duo in Atlanta, Georgia even before World War II. Weaver, known as "The Georgia Guitar Wizard", played a strongly rhythmic, percussive second guitar, often playing full chords behind McTell's finger-picked twelve-string lead guitar. It is a real gift to have these two men still together and in excellent form on this wonderful postwar recording.

Enjoying this fantastic CD makes one wish to have been born sooner when Blind Willie McTell was alive and available to perform at will. How nice to see and hear him alive and full of improvisation. The soul of McTell comes through as vividly as possible in this CD along with buddy Curley Weaver. It is clear that his life was rough and that he had lived it to the fullest. If this CD were a bottle of fine wine you would share it with all of your friends and they would thank you forever!

For the money, it gets no better than "Pig N'Whistle Red." By the time he recorded these sessions for Regal Records, he was 51 years old and displayed an emotive sensitivity that transcends just about any other country blues recording ever made. For the sake of pure feeling alone, I rank this one on the same level as the best recordings from Coltrane, Miles and Monk. A simply brilliant expression of Piedmont style blues. Buy this CD!

The 1950 sessions of Blind Willie McTell rank as one of the most important if sadly neglected recording sessions in the history of acoustic blues. Born in Thompson Georgia sometime around the turn of the century, Blind Willie McTell recorded numerous sides for various labels until 1937, when he dropped out of sight. Fortunately recognized for his immense talent, if not for his commercial viability (he never had a single hit, even by modest early blues standards) he returned to the studio in 1950 with his singing partner, Curley Weaver, after being sought out by producer Fred Mendolson of Regal records. Armed only with their 12-string guitars, they recorded an amazing 20 tracks in styles ranging from pop, gospel, traditional blues, ragtime, bottleneck and hokum. Trading vocals back and forth, their energy and musicianship is evident on every track, as is their skill and confidence.

The curious title of "Pig `n Whistle Red", by the way, comes from the name of an Atlanta barbecue stand, where McTell and Weaver played for tips. Although they never made another recording together, these precious sides will stand forever as proof of their artistry. There is not a bad track on this recording, although if I had to point to a few favorites, Brown Skin Woman, I keep On Drinkin', and the two takes of the 1920's pop tune, Pal of Mine, are examples of early acoustic blues at its absolute finest. Oh, and their harmonizing on Lord Have Mercy If You Please, one of the four gospel numbers that close the session, is sublime. Good music like this is getting harder and harder to find, so I'd say get it while you can.

Highly recommended.

The 1950 sessions of Blind Willie McTell rank as one of the most important if sadly neglected recording sessions in the history of acoustic blues. Born in Thompson Georgia sometime around the turn of the century, Blind Willie McTell recorded numerous sides for various labels until 1937, when he dropped out of sight. Fortunately recognized for his immense talent, if not for his commercial viability (he never had a single hit, even by modest early blues standards) he returned to the studio in 1950 with his singing partner, Curley Weaver, after being sought out by producer Fred Mendolson of Regal records. Armed only with their 12-string guitars, they recorded an amazing 20 tracks in styles ranging from pop, gospel, traditional blues, ragtime, bottleneck and hokum. Trading vocals back and forth, their energy and musicianship is evident on every track, as is their skill and confidence.

The curious title of "Pig `n Whistle Red", by the way, comes from the name of an Atlanta barbecue stand, where McTell and Weaver played for tips. Although they never made another recording together, these precious sides will stand forever as proof of their artistry. There is not a bad track on this recording, although if I had to point to a few favorites, Brown Skin Woman, I Keep On Drinkin', and the two takes of the 1920's pop tune, Pal of Mine, are examples of early acoustic blues at its absolute finest. Oh, and their harmonizing on Lord Have Mercy If You Please, one of the four gospel numbers that close the session, is sublime. It appears that this CD is getting harder and harder to find, so I'd say get it while you can.

Highly recommended.

in the review below, because McTell's "Library of Congress" session was 1940, was not with Curly Weaver, and is not this record. Everything else is right.