Somebody Told The Truth

Cephas & Wiggins | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Label: Alligator Records
• Copyright: 2002 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
• Total Length: 49:14
• Genres: Blues/Acoustic Blues, Blues/Delta Blues, Blues/Modern Blues, Blues/Regional Blues
• ASIN: B000QQVFKW
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,175 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sheer joy, October 11, 2002

By 

Jerome Clark (Canby, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Somebody Told the Truth (Audio CD)

As a rule John Cephas and Phil Wiggins aren't dark-night-of-the-soul bluesmen, or even bluesmen in the strict sense. Which is to say that other kinds of traditional Southern genres also grace their repertoire, including ballads (e.g., "Darling Cora," rarely covered by African-American performers) and gospel (Wiggins's touching original "Forgiveness"). "Reno Factory," first recorded on a Flying Fish album in the 1980s, puts rarely heard lyrics to the often-heard, Reconstruction-era folk song known variously as "Reuben's Train," "900 Miles," and more.

The fun these guys are having through it all is palpable, and it's infectious. This is African-American roots music at its most extroverted and celebratory. I have no doubt that Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, two giants of Piedmont music and Cephas and Wiggins's most direct inspiration, would have loved it. The tradition, it is clear, remains in good hands.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent modern blues, February 7, 2006

By 

K. Parent (Daejeon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Somebody Told the Truth (Audio CD)

This is excellent modern acoustic blues, and the issue of authenticity doesn't enter the picture at all. Upbeat, fun, well-played and (the boon of many modern blues) with good lyrics as well.

However, I must stress that, despite what several reviewers have said here and on C&W's other albums, this is most definately NOT Delta blues. The performers are not from the Delta nor do they immitate its style. There is a Robert Johnson on this set but it's performed very much in the Piedmont style.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great talent and nice recording, February 18, 2005

By 

LDG in Montgomery (Montgomery, AL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Somebody Told the Truth (Audio CD)

These guys are fantastic, and this recording does a great job of capturing their partnership. Every track on this CD is strong, and it's a good one to start with if you don't own any of their other material. You can't go wrong buying this CD.