STYLE: Blues RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 17790- LABEL: Tone-Cool 1156 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Tony May
This here's a specialist form of the blues, demanding an expertise and concentration in a different league from much of the bashin' and crashin' variety of the music. Paul Jones is known to be rather partial to the music of this duo and I remember first hearing them on his radio show and being mightily impressed. Country blues is the name of the game; this here is the Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee variety, with the slashing, sizzling Rishell guitar technique and Annie's downhome, weighty harmonica sound. Great stuff augmented by several ace musicians such as guitarist Ronnie Earl on several tracks and a touch of John Sebastian (guitar) and Jay Ungar (mandolin). Both Rishell and Raines sing well, material includes the well worn spiritual "I Shall Not Be Moved", songs borrowed from early pioneers of country blues and five originals from the duo, best of which are the powerful "Ol' Heartbreak" and the gospelly "Got To Fly". The real thing, aimed at the guts and highly potent.
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