Reviewed by Nigel Harris

This is a real gem for American blues fans, a live recording session made in 1967 by two of the all time blues greats. McDowell (1904-1972), a devoted Christian, was best known as a leading exponent of blues slide guitar, although he spent most of his life pumping gas at a service station in Mississippi. Woods scraped together a living drinking, gambling and playing blues harp. In fact George Mitchell, who recorded this album, first met Woods passed out on the front porch of a shack where a group of men were playing dice. Having agreed to record with McDowell, Woods then disappeared and was tracked down - with a bottle of whiskey - some days later. Nonetheless, although they had not played together in eight years the two of them simply sat down in front of Mitchell's portable tape recorder and recorded these 11 tracks without any rehearsal or second takes! McDowell's raw, gutsy vocals are carried along by Wood's pumping harmonica, punctuated by occasional slide solos. Unlike the more popular Delta blues which is often based on the familiar 12-bar chord change pattern later adopted by pop and rock music, McDowell's North Mississippi blues features a hypnotic, droning single chord vamp. "Going Down To The River" is typical of this mono-tone style. This recording features McDowell's popular "Shake 'Em On Down" (he was known to his friends as "Shake 'Em") and his version of the traditional "John Henry". Unlike many of Fred's other albums, this recording does not include any gospel or spiritual songs. But for anyone interested in blues music in its most authentic and emotionally satisfying form this 2002 release is an essential purchase.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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