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Various Artists—Down Home Blues, Chicago - The

Beautiful Stuff—Wienerworld WNRLP3151

Vinyl only

Wienerworld have been producing this series for a few

year now. I believe that this is the only one to be issued

on vinyl with no CD available (to date). Actually it does
make sense as this stuff is closely associated to the

music of the years when only vinyl was available.

If you have any interest in the history and development of the blues, this whole

series of albums is without a doubt the most wonderful resource. Other collections
have explored blues music from Detroit and New York, Cincinnati & The North

Eastern States as well as three volumes from Chicago and a three CD collection of
New York, Cincinnati & The North Eastern States and as they say ‘much, much more’.

This collection is subtitled “The Beautiful Stuff” and it is a well deserved accolade.
The music is confined to fifteen well chosen tracks from WWII to the 1960s selected

by Chris Bentley and Mike Rowe and the album comes with a wonderful essay on
the tracks and a ‘sessionography’.

The Music? Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, JB Lenoir, Jimmy Reed, Blue Smitty,

Johnny Shines, Howlin' Wolf, Billy Boy (Arnold), Robert Lockwood Jr, Mata Roy,
Little Walter, Little Johnny Jones, Memphis Minnie, JB Hutto, and Elmore James. Most
of them well known. But how wonderful it is to hear again Muddy, on top form with

this outstanding version of ‘Rolling Stone’ as well as JB Lenoir’s ‘The Mojo’ and

Johnny Shines’ ‘Evening Shuffle’. There is a cracking version of Memphis Minnie’s
‘Me and My Chauffeur’ as well as fabulous take of Elmore James’ ‘Coming Home’ .

This is indeed the beautiful stuff, Ain’t No Doubt.

I don’t mind admitting that I had never heard of Matta Roy but I am delighted to

make her acquaintance now, and the same again with Blue Smitty. Wonderful stuff.

I could go on and on about this album but I shall close with an accolade to Anthony

Braza and all at Wienerworld for taking the initiative and it would be remiss of me
not to mention too, Glen Keiles who did such a great job of audio restoration.

Onward and Upward as someone famous once said!

Ian K McKenzie