In the 1960s, lovers of electric
blues had a lot to choose from -- not only the
chicago blues, but also the electric
blues of Texas, Louisiana, Detroit, and Memphis. Vanguard's electric blues output of the 1960s is the main focus of this 2000 compilation, which spans 1965-1968 and spotlights some of the guitar playing singers who recorded for the label. Vanguard was no stranger to acoustic
country blues -- one of the CD's highlights, in fact, is Texas native
Lightnin' Hopkins performing "Baby, Please Don't Go" at
the Newport Folk Festival -- but for the most part, Frett'n the Blues concerns itself with electric Northern blues. Chicago-based artists dominate the CD, and the vitality of Chicago's blues scene of the 1960s is illustrated by such delights as
Buddy Guy performing "Sweet Little Angel" and "One Room Country Shack,"
Homesick James tackling "Dust My Broom," and
Otis Rush embracing "It's a Mean Old World."
Muddy Waters, meanwhile, is in fine form on three
Newport Folk Festival performances, including "She's Nineteen Years Old" and "I Can't Be Satisfied." And the unique
John Lee Hooker, one of the non-Chicagoans on this CD, gives an enjoyable, if too brief, performance on "I Can't Quit You, Baby." Frett'n the Blues is far from the last word on
blues singers/guitarists in the 1960s; nonetheless, it paints a generally impressive picture of Vanguard's contributions to the electric Northern blues during that decade. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
