Review

This representative pair of folk-Blues talent spread over two discs crystallizes succinctly the early direction of the Blues tradition. Leadbelly, a.k.a. Huddie Ledbetter, and Blind Willie McTell were recorded in '35 and '40, respectively. Each performer represents a primitive, folk-blues form with a semi-narrative, almost storytelling delivery on top of a bright melody. As principle sources, Leadbelly and McTell on these vintage, historicak recordings exude the blues that spawned numerous, lesser imitators. While not as well known as Leadbelly, McTell had the more prolific commercial career. His music comes across as the most diverse, from his instrumental rendition of "Amazing Grace" to the lively "Kill-It-Kid Rag." Each disk in the Masterd Of The Country Blues series comes with descriptive and historical liner notes.