continuing vinyl exhumation: a major way i consumed blues in the '70s was the chess "blues masters" series, one-artist, two-lp sets which i played to over and over on harmonica, of muddy waters, howlin' wolf, sonny boy williamson, little walter, and others, from the 50s and 60s. they were beautifully selected, like perfect; i'm not sure who was doing the assembling; for all i know it was willie dixon.
the one i'm listening to right now is lowell fulson: "took a long time" or hung down head' or the whole thing, really these recordings lurk in the background of many waves of hip west coast and texas blues down the generations, but are still underheard. he has some of the swingingest little jump bands you can imagine: just great rhythm sections, hot little r&b horns, etc. it's not like the chicago stuff, which is still an electrification of an acoustic form: it's fully glitter tuxedoes and electric gitfiddles. lowell isn't some kind of virtuoso on the guitar: he just swings the fuck out of the blues.
