Customer Reviews

Today

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Clear, crisp modern recordings of the spooky, mysterious style of Blues Skip James developed early last century. His guitar playing is perfect. His high haunting voice floats and then holds and makes the hair on the back of your neck crawl. His piano playing is unpredictable yet concise. His unique style, which recorded earlier in his life (1930) sounded almost archaic (positively so), now sounds strangely modern due to the increased fidelity of the magnetic tape used for the recording. An unusual and original talent, Skip James was one of the best.

I`ve heard recordings from early 30`s and newer recording from 60`s. But this one is the best. Really... Perfect. I guess. Those few tracks on piano... You have to listen it yourself.
Once again he proved he is the best.
U can`t describe it with words. You can do it only through music. . . .

i have heard all the recorded works of skip james, and would say that this is his best album. his unique and haunting vocals, and beautifully original style of guitar picking, are presented here on his strongest set of songs. "hard times killing floor blues," "crow jane," "cypress grove," and "i'm so glad," are as good as rural blues gets. this is glorious, stunning music. stark, creative, stuff to move the soul. this is an absolute must for all blues collections.

Skip James was one of the great musicians of his generation and he knew it. His bitterness at his lack of recognition did not prevent him from leaving this artistic last will and testament. Each song displays his remarkable creative range and his originality along with his drive towards artistic perfection. This is music of extraordinary emotional depth and intellectual acuity. It is beautiful and moving and, like all great works of art, allows you to see the world in new ways. Get it!

I second the other reviews. Although some point to Skip James' recordings in the 1930s as his best, this CD is really his best recording. High fidelity makes all the difference when it comes to country blues. I also enjoy his songs playing the piano; he was as good on those as he was simply playing the guitar.

Just bought the record based on Insect Trust's version of Special Rider Blues. First impressions are very good. Writing this at this time only to praise the superb crisp dynamic sound of the vinyl format - I am amazed at the quality here, from a 1964 recording. Vanguard clearly kept their master recordings or presses or whatever in immaculate condition. Turn it up and in behind the guitar and the voice is the almost subterranean thump of skip's foot keeping time - it's the added dimension that makes this something even more special. I cannot praise the sound quality highly enough - if all records sounded this good then I would not bother with CD. I hope to return to the performances later, which are also very engaging on first listen, but I just had to praise the LP quality at this early stage. Buy the LP!

by far the most gorgeous and haunting acoustic blues album ever recorded, I question whether this music is meant for mass consumption. Ideally it should be handed down to you like the Nobel prize, only after years of hard work - an item to be appreciated and adored, carefully listened to and respected. It's astonishing how lucky we are to be able to purchase something like this, or that music of this caliber even exists. Unfortunately many people will take this for granted, only knowing of Skip James' work through the movie Ghostworld or some Scorsese documentary. People who will listen casually and without effort, only to tire of it a week later and replace it with some fool, not ever understanding the true value of what they had. It's like stepping on a million dollar lottery ticket in the park, picking it up then throwing it in the trash; oblivious to how close you actually were to real wealth.

Raw and hypnotizing. I love it. A great example of old time acoustic blues by a legend of the genre. A must for anyone who is into the history of the blues.