Search - Terry Callier :: Live at Mother Blues 1964

Recorded in his hometown of Chicago, this is Callier at his purest and his most spellbinding. In a spare setting, Callier's rich, passionate voice takes center stage across six traditional numbers, one original tune, and a cover of "Work Song," the classic Nat Adderley/Oscar Brown Jr. semi-collaboration. His riveting, super-slow-grinding "Work Song" alone makes this set worthwhile. Callier combines the soulfulness and power of a gospel singer with the thoughtfulness and earnestness of a folk singer to great effect--falling somewhere between Richie Havens and Nina Simone. Callier would eventually take his music in bold new directions, but this welcome release proves he was plenty bold wielding merely his voice, his guitar, and an old song. It provides quite a contrast with his new 2000 release, LifeTime, which despite its varied, often complex arrangements and new Callier compositions, pales dramatically in comparison. --Marc Greilsamer