Release Date: June 1, 1995.
Recording Time: 48 minutes.
Recording Date: November 18, 1929 - May 1978.
Release Info: Compilation (CD 1003) Studio Recording.
Styles: Folk Blues, Piedmont Blues, Regional Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, East Coast Blues, Field Recordings.
Another entry in the impressive Virginia Traditions series assembled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Appalachian Studies at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia, Western Piedmont Blues brings together field recordings from the mid-'50s and late '70s with a pair of commercially released 78s from the 1920s to make a listenable, historical portrait of blues in the region. The playing here is sharp, smooth and detailed, displaying the melodic excellence that has come to distinguish East Coast (or Piedmont, or 'Tidewater,' as the style is variously known) blues from the rougher, more cathartic styles of Delta or Texas blues. The 1929 recordings ("Won't You Be Kind," "My Gal's Done Quit on Me") by the enigmatic Luke Jordan (probably best known for "Church Bell Blues," which unfortunately is not included here) are particularly striking, both selections displaying his warm, elegant tenor vocals over solid and intricate acoustic guitar work, traits that are echoed by brothers Marvin Foddrell and Turner Foddrell years later on their tracks from the late '70s. Lewis "Rabbit" Muse is a delight as well, playing striking Piedmont ukulele on "Jailhouse Blues" and "Rabbit Stomp," even adding kazoo on the latter track, essentially turning himself into a one man jug band. The clear vocals and delicate guitar work on Western Piedmont Blues makes it an uplifting and soothing listen, not attributes generally associated with country blues, and while the album is assembled largely for archival and scholarly use, general listeners will find a lot here to like. ~ Steve Leggett
Credits: Marvin Foddrell - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Turner Foddrell - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Clayton Horsley - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Luke Jordan - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Kip Lornell - Liner Notes; James Lowry - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Mike Mayo - Liner Notes; Lewis "Rabbit" Muse - Primary Artist; Herbert Richardson - Primary Artist; William A. Richardson - Guitar, Primary Artist; Brett Sutton - Liner Notes; John Tinsley - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Traditional - Composer; Dell Upton - Liner Notes; Richard Wright - Primary Artist; Richard Wright - Performer.
Tracklist:
01. My Little Woman - Clayton Horsley
02. Penitentiary Blues - John Tinsley
03. Tampa Blues - James Lowry
04. Who's Been Fooling You? - Marvin Foddrell
05. Won't You Be Kind? - Luke Jordan
06. Jailhouse Blues - Lewis "Rabbit" Muse
07. Peakesville Boogie - Richard Wright
08. Slow Drag - Turner Foddrell
09. Karo Street Blues - James Lowry
10. My Gal's Done Quit Me - Luke Jordan
11. Going Up To The Country - Turner Foddrell
12. Rabbit Stomp - Lewis "Rabbit" Muse
13. Looking For My Woman - Marvin Foddrell
14. Red River Blues - John Tinsley
15. Don't The Moon Look Pretty? - Clayton Horsley
16. Early Morning Blues - James Lowry
17. Tell Me Baby - Herbert Richardson And William Richardson
01. 4/14/77; 02. 9/29/77; 03. 1953; 04. 10/1/76; 05. 11/18/29; 06. 1976; 07. 2/18/78; 8. 11/17/77; 09. 1953; 10. 11/18/29; 11. 7/25/77; 12. 5/78; 13. 10/1/76; 14. 9/4/77; 15. 4/14/77; 16. 1953; 17. 3/8/78.