Search - John Cephas, Phil Wiggins :: Richmond Blues

John Cephas, Phil Wiggins
Richmond Blues
Genres: Blues, Pop

Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
1. Richmond Blues
2. Going to the River
3. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
4. Black Rat Swing
5. Mamie
6. Crow Jane
7. Dog Days of August
8. John Henry
9. Pigmeat Crave
10. Prison Bound Blues
11. Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
12. Careless Love
13. Great Change
14. Reno Factor
15. Step It Up and Go

CD Details

All Artists: John Cephas, Phil Wiggins
Title: Richmond Blues
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Original Release Date: 1/1/2008
Re-Release Date: 7/29/2008
Genres: Blues, Pop
Styles: Delta Blues, Acoustic Blues, Modern Blues
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 093074017920

Synopsis

Album Description

In Richmond Blues, guitarist-singer John Cephas and his harmonica-player partner Phil Wiggins personify the century-old blues sound of the Piedmont, the Appalachian foothills running from Richmond to Atlanta. Drawing from roots of ragtime, ballads, country, old-time string band, rhythm and blues, and more, Richmond Blues is a musical roadmap of the Virginia Piedmont tradition. While Cephas calls it "part of my heritage, part of my soul," their sound is at the same time distinctly modern, a kind of "urban acoustic blues." 32-page booklet with extensive notes and photos, 16 tracks, 65 minutes.

CD Reviews

Amazon Buyer Beware! - Updated 8/11/2008

aeo | Connecticut, USA | 08/07/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased a copy of Richmond Blues from Amazon on the release date. Upon playing, it began making noises on the next to last track and stopped completely with 22 seconds left. The last track wouldn't play at all. I returned that copy (never a problem with Amazon) and ordered another. It arrived yesterday and has the same defect---stopped about halfway through the next to last track. I'll be returning it this morning. Looks like Amazon may have received a bad shipment. I've written to the head of Sales and Marketing at Smithsonian Folkways to see if he can guarantee a sound copy if I purchase the CD direct from them. I feel bad for the artists if this defect is pervasive. I'd hate for them to lose royalties over a manufacturing defect. Every Cephas & Wiggins CD I have is great and I was anxious to hear this latest one. Maybe someday.

Update as of 8/11/2008: The good folks at Smithsonian Folkways took my problem very seriously. They sent me a complimentary copy of Richmond Blues which plays perfectly and were going to check in with Amazon to be sure they did not have defective stock. So I'm sure you'll be able to order it now with confidence.

Now that I've had a chance to listen to Richmond Blues a couple times all the way through, I can highly recommend it to all fans of acoustic blues and indeed anyone who likes the stripped-down sound of fine American roots music found on so many Smithsonian Folkways CDs. As a big Cephas & Wiggins fan, Richmond Blues will see a lot of time in my CD player.

The review editting function won't let me change my rating score, so I'll try to make a separate post with a 5-star score. [Just tried, second review not allowed]."