Reviewed by Tony Cummings

If you were growing up in the '20s having been Christened George Washington you'd have been pretty wise to change your name before embarking on a career as a blues singer and (get this!) a session washboard player. So George became Bull City Red (and occasionally Oh Red). During sessions with Blind Gary Davis, George, sorry, Red, recorded a batch of songs both secular and sacred. Some of the tracks here were released as by Brother George And His Sanctified Singers (another pseudonym!) and "I See The Sign Of Judgment" and "Jesus Touched Me" still have an earthy resonance today even if the latter is an exceedingly repetitious number. Bull City Red provides the only gospel interest on this compilation. There are also eight tracks from secular bluesman Sam Montgomery and two each from other obscure Carolina bluesmen Poor Bill (who MAY be the brother of the famed Josh White) and Boy Green (who on this evidence was a seriously hot guitarist).

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