Sonny Terry – Blind Sonny Terry

Too bad this is such a useless record company, with no credit being given to some very important musicians beyond Sonny Terry. Why even release this as a Sonny Terry solo album? Was Woody Guthrie a risky selling point?! Did nobody at Everest records care about credentials?! Anyway, this is a delightful recording between Sonny, Woody, and lesser-known Alec Seward (whom was often in tow with Sonny & Brownie in those days). There's some good natural echo added to the vocals, and there's something dark and murky about these tracks. Not a traditional recording at all. This is a compilation of two 10" records from the 1950s. It's always great to hear Woody and Sonny together. Too bad you could release such a great recording and do so little deserve for it in your liner notes.

A great compilation, but really mislabeled. Other than 'Rock Me Mama', which is a duet between Brownie McGhee and Sonny, it's basically a Woody Guthrie compilation that features the other two artists. Sonny is prominent on several of the tracks, particularly 'Lost John', where he accompanies Woody alone (and is probably the best showcasing of his skills that I've yet heard) but he's more or less in the background on the remainder of the songs. But why would whoever compiled this record include 'Long John'? Its an unaccompanied vocal by Woody. No Sonny, no Brownie, not even a machine that kills fascists. My personal hair-brained theory is that whoever at the Archive Of Folk Music got assigned the marketing for this record loved the hell out of 'Lost John' but didn't listen all the way through the second side. Also, 'Stackolee' is mislabeled as 'Stackhole' on the labels and 'Stockhole' on the back of the sleeve!