Washboard Sam had a long and lengthy recording career and this volume zeroes in on the period of activity from July 1942 to October 1949. Recording in the company of Big Bill Broonzy, Roosevelt Sykes, Ranson Knowling, Willie Dixon, Bob Call, and Ernest “Big” Crawford, highlights include the unissued “Down South Woman Blues,” “You Can’t Make the Grade,” “Soap and Water Blues,” “No. 1 Drunkard,” “Nothing in Rambling,” and “Gamblin’ Man.” Sam tended to stick within a limited framework but the man had a groove, no two ways about it. – Cub Koda