&blues - the Jazz & Blues Report

introducing Hurt who plays a deft instrumental, presumably
as a test, which he names after he finishes
“Cow Hookin’ Blues.”
Many of the songs will be familiar to Hurt’s many
fans, including ”Stack’O’Lee,” “Coffee Blues” (known
also as “A Spoonful Blues”), “Richland Woman Blues,”
“Candy Man,” “Spike Driver Blues,” and “Louis Collins.”
His playing is facile although the field tape recording
makes the sound a little bit muffled (especially
his vocals as Hoskins seems to have miced the guitar
better) and the guitar has a slightly harsh tone.
Recording limitations aside, the renditions of
“Stack-O-Lee” and “Richland Woman Blues” are superb.
As noted on the back cover, he re-recorded some
of his Okeh recordings as well as other songs that would
become staples of his performances and be recorded
by various labels) over the next three years.
Also there were some religious songs like “Do
Lord, Remember Me,” which his wife Jessie, joined by
another woman sings backed by Hurt’s guitar.
Hurt biographer Radcliffe along with Bruce Nemerov
wrote the very informative accompanying booklet
that detail this recording and include some of the photographs
Hoskins took of Hurt and his home community
as well as from performances and old 78s. Radcliffe,
Nemorov and Evan Hatch produced this marvelous
and historically important release, which despite the
unavoidable audio flaws contains some marvelous
music. This is not an essential recording, but those
interested in Mississippi John Hurt will want to at least
hear this and likely will be buying it.
Ron Weinstock
Pa g e Tw e n T y Fo u r
May • June 2012 • Issue 342