Customer Reviews

The Slide Guitar: Bottles, Knives & Steel

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

 

 

Eternal thanks to Thomas Edison for inventing recording when he did because, had it been delayed for many more years, much of what you hear in this magnificent 1990 release from Sony/Columbia, which presents artists ranging from legends to the virtually unknown, may well have been just a dim memory.

Those that fall into the legend category are immediately recognizable, led by the master of the 12-string guitar (he could also play the accordion and concertina, violin, piano, mandolin, and harp or harmonica) Huddie William Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly (or Leadbelly as he is sometimes listed). Born in January 1888, he left behind an extensive catalogue of Folk standards when he died on December 6, 1949, including this previously-lost version of Packin' Trunk Blues. Another in that vein is Robert Leroy Johnson, born May 8, 1911, a Delta Blues master whose singing, guitar, and song-writing skills influenced so many later arrivals (among them Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, Jack White, and Eric Clapton) that, in its first year of existence in 1986, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted him in the Early Influence Category (Lead Belly was also so honoured in 1988). Indeed, often called the Grandfather Of Rock `N' Roll, Clapton flat-out called him "the most important blues musician who ever lived" (and he didn't live long, passing away at age 27 on August 16, 1938). One listen to Traveling Riverside Blues and you'll hear why he so highly-regarded.

Also in the legend grouping are Tampa Red (You Can't Get That Stuff No More), Bukka White (Bukka's Jitterbug Swing and Special Stream Line), and Son House (Pearline). Hudson Woodbridge, born on January 8, 1904 in Smithville, Georgia, but known from his earliest days as Hudson Whittaker, developed a signature single-string bottleneck approach which, combined with his composing under the name Tampa Red, also had a profound effect on the great Muddy Waters as well as Elmo(re) James, Big Bill Broonzy and Mose Allison. His career lasted much longer as he passed away at age 77 on March 19, 1981. Another who lived to a ripe old age was Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. (born on March 21, 1902 and died October 19, 1988) whose strong, repetitive rhythms also influenced many big names that followed, while Bukka White (born Booker T. Washington White on November 12, 1909) passed away at the relatively young age of 68 on February 26, 1977. A Delta Blues guitarist and singer (and cousin of B.B. King), his unusual nickname Bukka resulted from an erroneous spelling of his first name by the Vocalion label back in 1937.

At the other end of the spectrum are Barbecue Bob and Sister O.M. Terrell, about whom very little is known. Born Robert Hicks on September 11, 1902, Barbecue Bob took his performing name from his main occupation as a cook and, indeed, one of the few photographs of him around show him decked out in his cook's garb. The untitled cut presented here, recorded in 1929 (two years before his death on October 21, 1931) sounds very much like Handy's St. Louis Blues - but with different lyrics. As for Sister Ola Mae Terrell, it appears she was a wandering Holy Ghost Preacher who somehow managed six cuts for Columbia in or around 1953 and then disappeared.

In between these two extremes are some of the best slide guitar artists ever recorded, including Oscar "Buddy" Woods, aka The Lone Wolf, who not only was one of the driving forces behind the development of the lap steel bottleneck blues slide guitar; but is credited by many historians as THE one who created the genre.

These and other details are contained in the six pages of liner notes written by musicologist and author Richard Spottswood (Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893-1942), the AAD sound reproduction is excellent, and with the insert you get a discography of the contents.

This is a fine collection of blues songs played on the slide guitar. It features legends like Charlie Patton, Blind Boy Fuller, Leadbelly and Robert Johnson. These guys naturally turn in good performances, but a suprising highlight is a unique version of "Swing Low, Chariot" by the obscure Sister O.M. Terrell. Fans of old time blues will really enjoy this CD.

One stops in silent homage when something is perfect, actualized, manifested. This CD has music that stands as part of that perfection of American music, a root, a fundamental point of authenticity, of reality to shame our modern pop-besotted ears. Not to wax nostalgic about the lives of these often broke, often desperate musicians (most of the tracks on this CD were composed at the high-water mark of lynching), but how will we reacquire some of this genuineness in our music again? To cut to the chase, Track 8 is my favorite(You can't get that stuff here no more), a Prohibition-era ode to booze and women. The verve of the singer and the playing of the slide conspire to generate this mood: part defiance, part exuberance, all Tampa Red. This is a CD which invites both close listening and casual foot-tapping, depth and good technical ability. In short, I have it on cassette and have almost worn it out.

I am tempted to write several reviews, all giving this album 5 stars because I simply must convince you how much you need to buy this. I originally had this on tape and I listened to it so many times that it became so warbly I was forced to buy the CD. This album has gotten me through so many hard times, long drives, flight layovers and bad relationships, that I cannot express it in the maximum of 1,000 words. I will simply leave you with this: I cannot think of a single person who /wouldn't/ love this CD. Buy it! You will be thanking yourself.

I've been playing guitar for over forty years and recently decided to study slide guitar. My teacher focuses on dissection of existing slide pieces as a teaching method. This collection of songs provides a variety of styles. Some of the performances are basic, almost primitive in their approach to the medium. Other songs are more sophisticated and lean slightly in the direction of swing jazz.

This disk is a worthwhile purchase if you're interested in the sub-genres covered.

As the AMG review states this is an interesting sampler of old blues & slide guitar. Listened to this disc a few times so far, and it has been growing on me. Interesting string and fretwork, a good way to get the exposure of such music from the original 78's. Do not fear the Various Artists or compilation stigma, this title is worth the listen if you are interested or intrigued about this genre.

If you want to go back to the purest roots of guitar music, this cd is definitely for you. There are several tracks on this record that would alone warrant the purchase (e.g. Sylvester Weaver's Guitar Rag in the 1927 version), and there are several tracks that are almost painfully intense. In addition, the booklet provides interesting background information on the history of bottleneck guitar playing. A must, if you ask me.

Even without the Slide Guitar moniker, these recordings stand as some of the best performances of the 20th century. A most have for all music lovers.