John Jackson – Country Blues & Ditties / Arhoolie CD-471

Description

Arhoolie CD 471

John Jackson – vocals & guitar or banjo

John has been a farmer, butler, chauffeur, historian, grave digger, humanitarian and a musician. His music represents a fascinating blend of rural songs and dance tunes he heard well over half a century ago growing up as a young African American farm hand in the isolated Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Presented here is a collection of blues, breakdowns, rags and country songs – simple, raw and played straight from the heart. Recorded between 1965 and 1969.

1. Diddy Wa Diddy
2. Matchbox Blues
3. Roll On Buddy
4. T. B. Blues
5. Guitar Rag
6. Railroad Bill
7. Waiting For A Train
8. Cindy
9. Steamboat Whistle
10. I’ll Step Aside
11. John’s Guitar Boogie
12. Brown Skin Mama
13. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning
14. Screaming And Crying
15. He’s In The Jailhouse Now
16. Red Sea Blues
17. Kneel At The Cross
18. Going Up North
19. Lay Down My Old Guitar
20. Too Tight
21. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
22. Deep In The Bottom Blues
23. That’ll Never Happen No More
24. I’m A Bad, Bad Man
25. Why I Quit Playing Guitar

REVIEW

“Although his material includes many familial blues, folk, and country tunes as well as traditional mountain songs from his Virginia heritage, Jackson endorses them personally with his own earthy style. He exhibits a lot of heart in delving into the core of the tunes. Jackson also takes off on solo guitar for several choruses on some of the blues tunes to spell off the vocals. There is nothing fancy about Jackson’s performance. He simply sits there singing and playing the music that has been such an influential factor in his life. He succeeds through sincerity and a keen sense of how the country blues should be played.”

-Frank Rubolino, Cadence