|
On 80 Highway | 
| Artist: Sleepy John Estes
Label: Delmark
Category: Music
Buy New: $16.99
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 184207
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 038153079727
EAN: 0038153079727
ASIN: B001DZDT7W
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Love Grows In Your Heart | | • | Potato Diggin' Man | | • | Talk | | • | I'll Be Glad When You're Dead | | • | Holy Spirit | | • | 80 Highway | | • | When The Saints Go Marching In | | • | Corrine Corrina | | • | President Kennedy (Take 14) | | • | IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) | | • | T Model Ford | | • | Do Lord Remember Me | | • | Vernita Blues | | • | Mary Comes On Home | | • | President Kennedy (Take 13) | | • | Talk | | • | Brownsville Blues |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Previously unreleased 1974 studio session from two beloved masters of country blues, Sleepy John Estes, and his long time runnin' partner, Hammie Nixon.Sleepy John Estes (b. 1899 or 1904 - d. 1977) 'The Tennessee Blues Poet' had one of the most distinctive blues voices of all, with a high pitched crying singing style that sounded old as the dirt on 80 Highway. Estes' voice IS the Blues - full of loss, despair, and loneliness with a warm, wise, and witty way about him - almost overwhelmingly emotional! Hammie Nixon (1908-1984) and Sleepy John performed together for over half a century, first recording together in the mid 30's in Chicago for the Decca label. Hammie has to be one of the most underrated harmonica players of all; he was a huge influence on Sonny Boy Williamson #1. Hammie is thought to be one of the pioneers of harmonica as a rhythm instrument in a band setting, as opposed to a novelty solo instrument. His wailing and mournful harp style was the perfect complement to Estes' moaning voice. Check out Hammie's powerful and expressive vocals on Tater Diggin' Man, one of the session's many highlights, including many playful vocal duets. Particularly moving is the standout track, President Kennedy in which Estes moans 'everybody was sad, we lost the best President we ever had.' In fact, Estes had previously guested on Ry Cooder's '72 album, Boomer's Story, performing this same heartfelt and poignant number. Topical political blues at its best. These never before issued sides were recorded just before Estes and Nixon's trip to Japan, the first country blues visit to that country!
|
| Customer Reviews:
Interesting Estes Release Is Just Not at His Best November 11, 2008
R. Weinstock (Falls Church, VA USA)
On Highway 80 is the seventh album by Sleepy John Estes for Delmark which he shares with his longtime associate Hammie Nixon. This is a collection of previously unissued recordings that Estes and Nixon recorded in July 1974, prior to touring Japan. It is an interesting, although hardly essential addition to their discography with Estes and Nixon handling a variety of mostly traditional material and songs they had performed before. Estes was not the most accomplished guitarist but his simple rhythmic style could be effective and his crying vocals tugged at the heart while Nixon's harmonica playing influenced John Lee `Sonny Boy' Williamson. It is interesting to hear the treatment of the material here from the opening Love Grows in Your Heart, a version of Careless Love; Nixon's vocal on Potato Diggin' Man, which might have benefited from a stronger accompaniment; and the vigorous I'll be Glad When You're Dead, with spirited kazoo and second vocal from Nixon. Several selections are traditional religious numbers including Holy Spirit, a moving number with Nixon taking the lead with Estes seconding the vocal; When the Saints Go Marching In, on which Estes takes the vocal lead and Do Lord Remember Me with Nixon' harp and lead vocal setting the tone. There are also two takes of "President Kennedy," about the assassination of the President that I believe they first recorded shortly after that horrible event. Nixon's kazoo gives a jug band flavor to Corrine, Corinna, on which Nixon again seconds Estes' vocal. The album includes a couple of tracks featuring the pair talking and closes with a rendition of his famous song commemorating their hometown, Brownsville Blues. Some of the accompaniments are a bit more ragged than other of their albums and this might be a difficult release to listen straight through. An excellent collection of his early recordings for Victor and other labels is I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929-1941) on Yazoo. For the recordings made after his rediscovery, recommended titles include his other Delmark albums such as The Legend of Sleepy John Estes, or Brownsville Blues, which should be available from Amazon.
|
|
|
 
| |
