Blind Dog Radio

Furry Lewis, Bukka White & Friends - Party! At Home

Label: Arcola Records.
Release Date: 2001.
Recording Time: 75 minutes.
Release Info: A CD 1001, Reissue, Mono.
Recording Date: July 3, 1968 - July 6, 1968.

Styles: Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Memphis Blues, Blues Revival, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Regional Blues, Slide Guitar Blues.

Party! At Home: Recorded in Memphis 1968 is a fascinating document of two old country blues players, Bukka White and Furry Lewis, playing and talking in a completely relaxed, small-party session, surrounded by friends, none of whom treat the recording going on with any special reverence, meaning the whole set sounds exactly like what it is: a party. Recorded by Bob West in three sessions (one at the home of Albino Red and the other two at Lewis' apartment) in 1968 in Memphis and originally released on LP in 1972 (minus the talking and laughing), it remains one of the most intimate glimpses of the country blues in a neutral setting ever captured on tape. While there are some strong musical performances here by both White ("Hambone Blues") and Lewis (a beautifully natural rendition of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"), its chief function is historical, letting the light in behind the scenes. The joy the folks at the party have in each other is uplifting, and the music is a bonus. It doesn't add anything startling to the cache of either blues player, but it will make you smile. ~ Steve Leggett

Credits: Kearney Barton - Transferring; Clare Conrad - Design, Liner Notes (Notes Edited By); Mike Duffy - Liner Notes; Mark Guenther - Mastering; Furry Lewis - Primary Artist, Vocals, Guitar, Voice (Talking); Bob West - Producer, Recording; Bukka White - Primary Artist, Vocals, Guitar, Voice (Talking).

Tracklist:
  • 01. Hello, Central, Give Me 49 - Bukka White
  • 02. Grey-Haired Woman - Bukka White
  • 03. Little Woman's Bed - Bukka White
  • 04. Tip And Eight Boogie - Bukka White
  • 05. Talking - Bukka White
  • 06. Hambone Blues - Bukka White
  • 07. I'm Drifting - Bukka White
  • 08. Bukka's Goodtime Swing - Bukka White
  • 09. Please, Ma'm - Bukka White
  • 10. Talking - Bukka White
  • 11. Going Away Blues - Furry Lewis
  • 12. John Henry - Furry Lewis
  • 13. Talking - Furry Lewis
  • 14. Skinny Woman - Furry Lewis
  • 15. Talking - Furry Lewis
  • 16. Old Dog Blue - Furry Lewis
  • 17. Talking - Furry Lewis
  • 18. Let Me Call You Sweetheart - Furry Lewis
  • 19. Talking - Furry Lewis
  • 20. Farewell To Thee - Furry Lewis
  • 21. Mama's Fish - Furry Lewis
  • 22. When I Lay My Burden Down - Furry Lewis
  • 23. Kassie Jones And A Message From Furry - Furry Lewis

All tracks recorded in Memphis, Tennesse.
Tracks 1, 2 recorded at Albino Red's house, July 6, 1968.
Tracks 3-20 recorded at Furry's apartment, July 5, 1968.
Tracks 21-23 recorded at Furry's apartment, July 3, 1968.

Tracks 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, and 15-20 previously unreleased.

Mono Recording
This CD was digitally transferred from analog tape to digital at Kearney Barton's Audio Recording studio in Seattle.
Final digital audio work at Seattle Disc Mastering.

Originally issued on ASP Records (ASP #1) in 1972.