Message Board Archive: Thread Number 48

Does anyone else find him/herself listening to the same album
over and over and over with neither a thought of, nor a break
for, any other? I've been doing this with the Robert Wilkins
album on Yazoo. A friend of mine has for years been telling me how much
he loves Wilkins, and my recent bout of obsessive
listening has finally enabled me to see why. Wilkins's
recordings are just beautiful, and the lyrics contain some of the most
beautiful and expressive poetry I've ever heard in the blues (or
anywhere else, for that matter). My particular favorites are "I'll Go
With Her", "Fallin' Down Blues" and "Long Train Blues".
As for Wilkins's guitar playing, it's not necessarily virtuosic, but
it's compelling and original. Not one of these recordings sounds like
it's patterned on anything else I've heard. Great stuff.

Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 21:15:26 -0500
From: jvtdc@electro-net.com (Doc John)
Subject: Feedback: mine is Kokomo Arnold
Message Number: 48.1

Yes, I have often returned to the same album for almost 20 years now. Am
I THAT old? There's something about the "speed demon of slide" that
hooks me. And now after however many years of listening I find myself
playing many of those songs and feeling like going back home when I do.

Anyway..by way of introduction I live in Tallahassee Florida and have
been an old blues fan since high school. 21 years ago. I am so glad to
find your forum. Thanks for having it. I'll be a frequent visitor.

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 20:44:13 -0500 (EST)
From: zeppa@earthlink.net (Frank Basile)
Subject: Feedback: It's not "Blues-Proper", but...
Message Number: 48.2

Lately my wife and I have found the complete recorded works of gospel
singer Washington Phillips in the CD player on a regular basis. He
doesn't play guitar (actually a peculiar instrument called the
"dulceola") and it's definitely not what you'd immediately recognize as
blues (with the possible exception of Denomination Blues) but the eerie
beauty of his music is absolutely undeniable... If you haven't heard
him, do yourself a big favor and locate a copy!

I'm also pleased to report that my wife has _finally_ resolved her
love-hate relationship with the works of Reverend Gary Davis. We are now
in total agreement that he is the single most amazing guitarist in
recorded history....

Wahoo!

Frank