Somebody Told the Truth

Cephas & Wiggins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B00006J3VL
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,240 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Because both Cephas and Wiggins were born in Washington, D.C., they bring an urban sophistication to the traditionally rural blues they perform. With their new album (and third for Alligator), SOMEBODY TOLD THE TRUTH, Cephas & Wiggins' spirited and seamless mix of both original and classic material sheds a bright light on Piedmont blues. Of the album's 13 songs, Cephas wrote or co-wrote three and Wiggins wrote two. With the solid mix of brightly played music fueled by Cephas’ gently rolling guitar and vocals and driven by Wiggins’ freight train chugging harmonica, Somebody Told The Truth is the antidote for anyone who still thinks blues music is a soundtrack for sadness. According to Wiggins, "People automatically think of sadness and depression when they think of blues. But the blues is uplifting music, music to rejuvenate you, to nourish the spirit. When you get down, the blues will pick you up again."

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.