We knows nothing much about the blues... we called it blues, we called it breakdowns, we called it blues and some people say it's square dances... We didn't know what it was; the achin'-hearted blues is slow, breakdowns is fast - Percy Thomas, who played in the Son Simms Four with Muddy Waters, interviewed by Paul Oliver, from Blues Off The Record
While browsing on emusic to make my monthly download selection, I came across a number of items on Fat Possum from the George Mitchell Collection. One that immediately turned me on was a selection by Leon Pinson which includes some great gospel slide and also some fabulous singing in a much more modern style. I you haven't heard this I suggest you do!
Also just downloaded some post-war Buddy Moss. There is also a couple of cd's worth of material by other, more obscure country artists well worth following up. I will report later after I download.
I'm glad you posted this as I was curious about these records. I was particularly interested in how the Buddy Moss sides stack up. I have "Atlanta Blues Legend" which collects some very good live 60's sides. For whatever reason it seems his rediscovery phase never really took off. Of course his early sides are very strong. As usual Stefan has a superb Moss page: http://www.wirz.de/music/mossfrm.htm
There's also a record by Cecil Barfield who I've never heard of. If you have this one please give us the scoop.
There was a lengthy, interesting interview with Pinson conducted by Al Young in Blues & Rhythm 86 (Feb 1994). I'll unearth the issue and see if I can select something pertinent to pass on here.
Just a few notes on the Fat Possum George Mitchell collection.
Cecil Barfield. There is a 22 track cd. His voice is quite strained but also bearable and his guitar playing is beautiful and sparse. He covers a lot of standards, but not as we know them Jim! I'm ordering it.
The best in my opinion is the "Lower Chatahoochie Valley" collection. This has everything from field hollers, solo harp (William Grant), vocal+ percussion only (Ray Favors) and some great guitar/vocal pieces (V/artists) It also includes a version of Jerry Lee's "Whole Lotta Shakin" by Jimmy Lee Harris that defies my description. I've already purchased this one.