Search - Various Artists :: Southern Journey, Vol. 3: 61 Highway Mississippi - Delta Country Blues, Spirituals, Work Songs & Dance Music

The Gift You Weren't Expecting

Craig Riecke | East Syracuse, NY USA | 11/10/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These days, it's easy to forget that folk music is made by ... well, folks. And not folks in Greenwich Village. These field recordings are stunning in their breadth, clarity, and subtlety. The singers have played these songs for years and have a homey, bright feel to them. "God's Unchanging Hand" is beautiful, slow, deliberate gospel, and "Fred McDowell's Blues" is earthy and transcendent at once. This is my favorite field recording EVER."

Fascinating Collection

D. Webster | Falmouth, Maine | 02/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the Southern Journey series, and this particular volume is heavily into blues. The first field recordings, actually the first recordings ever, of Fred McDowell alone make this essential listening. For anyone with more than a passing interest in country delta blues this cd is essential. The spirituals and work songs are absolute magic. This is the real deal, not something dreamed up in a recording studio."

Raw & Real & Robust AAAAAAA+++++++++++

P. Edmonds | 02/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings take blues to a higher level. To hear an artist clear his throat or a dog barking in the backround in the middle of a song, it doesnt get anymore real than this. A fantastic mix of styles plus the stories behind the songs in the sleeve. Its one of the best field hollering collections I own. Lomax was a genius to preserve this music and artistry, my only regret, I wish I accompanied him in the process of gathering these historical recordings. I would of loved to meet the men and women creating this music...."