Reviewed by Tony Cummings

IN THE MAINSTREAM

Take a giant of black blues and folk music. Allow a carefully chosen batch of folk, rock and blues people to sift through the legend's repertoire from the '20s to the '60s. And get singers and songs in the studio with a producer who really has a feel for the timeless lilt of the American folk tradition. What you end up with is an album like this, which nimbly overcomes the two faults of many "tribute" albums - tired predictability or insensitive mangling - to bring timeless, graceful music to a new audience. Producer Peter Case clearly loves the Mississippi John Hurt originals, as too do the luminaries who bring alive these lilting songs of hard times and cheating women. Steve and Justin Earle's "Candy Man" is sleezily saucy while Lucinda Williams' "Angels Laid Him Away" is eerily haunting. There's plenty of Christian involvement as well as Case, Bruce Cockburn and Victoria Williams both turning in exemplary performances while the dreamy version of "Beulah Land" by Gillian Welch is as arresting as folk gospel gets. If you are an old folk buff or a fan enraptured by America's folk riches through things like the O Brother Where Art Thow movie, this liltingly, warm album is a truly essential item.

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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