Blind Willie McTell - Last Session

Artist:

McTell, Blind Willie

UPC:

025218051729

See Also:

Jefferson, Blind Lemon Carr, Leroy James, Skip

Description:

Personnel: Blind Willie McTell (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar).
Audio Remasterer: Phil DeLancie.
Liner Note Authors: Dr. David Evans ; Samuel Charters.
Recording information: Atlanta, GA (09/1956).
This recording has a less-than-stellar reputation, principally because it was done so late in McTell`s career, and it is true that he lacks some of the edge, especially in his singing, that he showed on his other postwar recordings. On the other hand, his 12-string playing is about as nimble as ever and a real treat. McTell cut these sides for record store owner Ed Rhodes, who had begun taping local bluesmen at his shop in Atlanta in the hope of releasing some of it -- McTell took to the idea of recording only slowly, then turned up one night and played for the microphone and anyone who happened to be listening, finishing a pint of bourbon in the process -- the result was a pricelessly intimate document, some of the words slurred here and there, but brilliantly expressive and stunningly played. No apologies are needed for "The Dyin` Crapshooter`s Blues," "Don`t Forget It," or "Salty Dog," however. McTell lived a few more years but never recorded again, which is a pity because based on this tape he still had a lot to show people. Rhodes never did anything with the tapes, and might`ve junked them if he hadn`t remembered how important the McTell material was -- they turned out to be the only tapes he saved, out of all he`d recorded. ~ Bruce Eder

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Baby, It Must Be Love
2. Dyin` Crpshooter`s Blues, The
3. Don`t Forget It
4. Kill It Kid
5. That Will Never Happen No More
6. Goodbye Blues
7. Salty Dog
8. Early Life
9. Beedle Um Bum
10. Married Man`s a Fool, A
11. A to Z Blues
12. Wabash Cannonball
13. Pal of Mine
14. Kill It Kid - (bonus track)
15. Broke Down Engine Blues - (bonus track)

Album Information

Release Date:

01/01/1992

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Country Blues

Label:

Original Blues Classics

Producer:

Kenneth S. Goldstein; Sam Charters

Catalog Number:

517

Original Release Year:

1960

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Mono

Runtime:

32 : 44

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