Crucial Acoustic Blues

 

 

Sampler production by Bruce Iglauer and bob depugh

 

Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec

Neal & Branch photo by Paul Natkin

 

tracks from more crucial guitar blues appear on these albums

 

1. Buddy Guy & Junior Wells

Alone And Acoustic 

ALCD 4802

The world famous Chicago blues team got back to their roots with a set of rare acoustic recordings issued on Alligator in 1991. With their instinctive chemistry, Buddy and Junior reinvented blues classics and debuted six originals. Available in Europe on Isabel Records.

 

2. Lonnie Mack 

Strike Like Lightning

ALCD 4739

Lonnie is famed for his groundbreaking electric guitar, but he loves to play acoustic blues, too. Here, he is joined in 1984 by his #1 disciple, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and his brother Billy McIntosh. Stevie is on the left, Lonnie in the middle, Billy on the right.

 

3. Carey & Lurrie Bell

Second Nature

ALCD 4898

Acoustic blues interplay bordered on telepathy as the famous father and son Chicago bluesmen dug deep to cut the most intimate recording of their careers. Veteran Carey’s harp playing is stunning while his son Lurrie’s guitar work is a revelation. 

 

4. Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin

Down In The Alley

ALCD 4816

One of the torchbearers of the blues tradition, Bob was Muddy Waters’ protégé and lead guitarist. For his Gator debut, he called on guests including veteran R&B shouter Nappy Brown, to create a hard-core blues fan’s delight. 

 

5. saffire–the uppity blues women

Hot Flash

ALCD 4796

The premier all-acoustic blues group in the world, these three straight-talking, proudly middle-aged women from Virginia know how to deliver the goods. This track features Ann Rabson’s two-fisted piano and raucous vocals on a blues classic.

 

6. Koko Taylor

Royal Blue

ALCD 4873

Rarely heard in an acoustic setting, The Queen of the Blues called upon her friend Keb’ Mo’ to help deliver some down-home Delta blues. This one really gets back to Koko’s Deep South roots.

 

7. John Jackson

Railroad Bill

ALCD 4867

The late John Jackson, from Virginia, was a master of lovely, folkie Tidewater blues. His music and songs were gentle, deep and subtle. Alligator had the honor of releasing the final album of his career.

 

8. Johnny Winter

3rd Degree

ALCD 4748

Although famous as an electric blues/rock guitarist, Johnny has a deep understanding of the Delta blues tradition. This recording captures him solo, playing dual National steel guitars through the magic of overdubbing.

 

9. Cephas & Wiggins

Homemade

ALCD 4863

Hailing from the Washington, D.C. area, John Cephas and Phil Wiggins carry on the Piedmont duet tradition of lyrical finger-picked guitar and romping harmonica. They’ve been playing this warm, relaxed blues style together for over 20 years.

 

10. Sonny Terry with johnny winter, willie dixon and styve Homnick

Whoopin’

ALCD 4734

In a rare band session, the famous master of acoustic Carolina country blues harmonica joined the guitar wizard and the famed Chicago blues bassist for a terrific super-session produced by Johnny. 

 

11. Kenny Neal & Billy Branch

Double Take

ALCD 4894

Two of the finest younger generation bluesmen, Louisiana’s Kenny Neal and Chicago’s Billy Branch unplugged for this spirited acoustic blues album. They blend traditional blues feeling with a contemporary edge. Released in Europe on Isabel Records. 

 

12. Corey Harris

Fish Ain’t Bitin’

ALCD 4850

A groundbreaking young blues giant, Corey is equally at home playing traditional slide guitar or plugging in and performing topical originals. Corey has three Alligator releases, moving from acoustic blues to aggressive, electrified socially-conscious funk.

 

13. Johnny Jones with Billy Boy Arnold

ALCD 4717

Best known for his recordings with Elmore James, Johnny Jones was one of the true greats of Chicago blues piano, but he died before the new blues audience had a chance to discover him. These rare, technically imperfect club recordings make up the only album by this keyboard giant.