Newport Folk Festival: Best of the Blues 1959-1968 presents live performances from many of the top blues players of the era. From Skip James to Mance Lipscomb to Memphis Slim, these musicians play mostly acoustic blues before an appreciative audience. From the first disc, Mississippi John Hurt's six-song set is a standout. Piedmont fingerpicking and resonant vocals highlight "Sliding Delta," "Candy Man," and "Pallet on Your Floor." Muddy Waters delivers fine versions of "Walkin' Blues" and "I Can't Be Satisfied," but his acoustic guitar lacks the rude punch that usually flavors his blues. Still, these songs make for interesting comparison to his electric work. Disc two finds Reverend Gary Davis belting out "Samson & Delilah" and "I Won't Be Back No More." Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry offer a rousing set, including a previously unreleased version of "Drink Muddy Water." Their spunky "Key to the Highway" proves once again that the blues can sometimes be joyful, while "My Baby Done Changed the Lock on the Door" reminds one to keep an eye on one's girl and best friend. Lightnin' Hopkins brings an urban touch along with -- shocking though it may be -- an electric guitar. Always laid-back and relaxed, there is something timeless about his performance of "The Woman I'm Loving, She's Taking My Appetite" and "Baby Please Don't Go." Like John Lee Hooker, his timing and approach are all his own. Many players like Son House had been brought back from obscurity thanks to the folk revival, so the historical value of this music cannot be overstated. With nearly three hours of music and a live audience, it is also the next best thing to having been at Newport during these exciting years. These discs are highly recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in acoustic blues. DISC 1 - Delta Blues: MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT 01. Sliding Delta 3:30 02. Candy Man 2:32 03. Coffee Blues 2:54 04. Stagolee 3:21 05. ???? I Am Lord Send Me 3:54 06. Pallet On Your Floor 3:18 SKIP JAMES 07. Devil Got My Woman 3:19 08. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues 2:17 SON HOUSE 09. Preaching Blues 3:52 10. Death Letter Blues 4:00 11. Empire State Express 3:52 12. Son Blues 6:30 BUKKA WHITE 13. Aberdeen Mississippi Blues 4:47 MISSISSIPPI FRED McDOWELL 14. Louise 2:40 15. If The River Was Whiskey 2:34 MUDDY WATERS 16. Walkin' Blues 4:05 17. I Can't Be Satisfied 3:22 DISC 2 - Country Blues: ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS 01. Levee Camp Blues 5:22 02. Midnight Boogie 3:25 03. On My Way From Texas 3:48 MANCE LIPSCOMB 04. Freddie 1:53 05. So Different Blues 2:32 06. God Moves On The Water 2:32 (The Sinking of the Titanic) JESSE FULLER 07. San Francisco Bay Blues 2:48 08. I Double Double Do Love You 2:41 REVEREND GARY DAVIS 09. Samson & Delilah 3:36 10. I Won't Be Back No ??re 3:40 BROWNIE McGHEE & SONNY TERRY 11. Intro/The Train Is Leaving* 6:46 12. Drink Muddy Water* 2:52 13. Long Gone 2:59 14. Key To The Highway 3:52 15. My Baby Done Changed The Lock On The Door 2:39 SLEEPY JOHN ESTES 16. Clean Up At Home 2:59 DISC 3 - Urban Blues: LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS 01. The Woman I'm Loving, She's Taken My Appetite 3:08 02. Baby Please Don't Go 2:46 03. Shake That Thing 1:41 (with Samuel Lay) JOHN LEE HOOKER 04. Tupelo 3:14 (with Bill Lee) 05. Bus Station Blues 3:16 (with Bill Lee) 06. Let's Make It* 2:40 07. Great Fire Of Natchez* 4:58 08. Boom Boom* 3:00 09. I Can't Quit You Baby/ Stop Now Baby 2:31 MEMPHIS SLIM 10. How Long* 3:24 11. Black Cat Crossed My Path* 2:48 12. Harlem Bound* 1:39 13. Piano Instrumental* 2:10 MUDDY WATERS & OTIS SPANN 14. Blow Wind Blow* 3:10 15. Flood* 4:48 THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS 16. See See Rider 3:23 PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND 17. Blues With A Feeling 3:58 18. Born In Chicago 4:06 * Previously unreleased All tracks recorded at the 1959-68 Newport Folk Festivals
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