Search - Big Joe Williams :: Blues on Highway 49

After Piney Woods

01/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another great Delmark blues CD. Bob Koester, teh owner of Delmark, was teh owner of a jazz record store back in teh 50s and got in on the ground floor of the blues revival that took place around the time of Sam Charters' "The Country Blues" of 1959. Big Joe had been recording since the 30s, but he wasn't much known outside afficianado circles. When Koester located him adn took him into the studio, Joe recorded enough music for more than one album -- the first Koester released was Piney Woods. This is the second, adn it's really marvelous stuff -- tough and harsh, and with all the power of a musical force unleashed. Joe's a great musician -- if you want to get a glimpse of his life, check out Mike Bloomfield's "Me and Big Joe." It's a bit odd, but then, so was Joe."

Really a "road trip"album of a great down deep bluesman!!!

Ricardo Neves Gonzalez | Petrópolis-R.J. Brazil-bluesfan@ig.com.br | 08/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another marvellous set of this fabulous musician,with his own creation,a nine-string guitar.Bob Koester is a visionary man and started well his Delmark Records,with the second album,Piney Woods Blues from Big Joe.This "Blues on Highway 49" is really an album that tell all the truth about the trips and migration of this fantastic unrecognized bluesman.His voice has a spectacular tune,so fast,melodical crying all about his hard life;Really a "tour-de-force"!!A gem,to the bluesfans,a masterpiece album!!!!"