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Elly Wininger—The Blues Never End—Earwig Records

Earwig CD 4978

Ms Wininger is based in Woodstock, NY. In her youth the
family home was infused by her parent’s love of music from
the likes of; Vera Hall, Blind Willie Johnson, Lead Belly,
Cisco Houston, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and others. To
further encourage her daughter’s existing interest in music,

her mother gave her a ‘Harmony’ guitar for her sixth
birthday and later arranged music lessons from the then
unknown David Bromberg. As she grew up, she began
performing in her local folk clubs. A friend of hers named
Hilly Kristal invited her to perform at the opening night of his new club which he was

opening named Country, Blue Grass and Blues. After duly performing on the opening night
at CBGB, which later became known as the world famous CBGBs, Ms Wininger became part
of musical history.

This is only her sixth album release, mostly due to the fact that she has spent the greater
part of her life raising a family. The 13 numbers here, include 4 Ms Wininger originals. The
opener, ‘Let That Liar Alone’, is a very pleasant and crisply swinging rendition of the gospel

first recorded in 1927 by Rev. Edward Clayborn, Rev. Isaiah Shelton. Ms Wininger’s voice
delicately floats as needed but, contains a firmness of conviction, as does her enjoyably
dexterous fingers upon the guitar strings.

The original, ‘Alabama Blues’, contains a sad but gripping, mournful harmonica courtesy of
Sam Friedman and slide blues indictment on the current misogynist attitude to the rights
and freedoms of women. Equally melancholy is ‘The Blues Never End’, a dreamy, floating

acoustic guitar and shimmering pedal steel from Rob Stein underpin a measured, fatalistic
vocal, the haunting bass is supplied by Lou Pappas. Blind Lemon Jefferson/Leadbelly’s ‘Black
Snake Moan’, wonderfully evokes the twenties/thirties blues bands with the splendid tuba,
trumpet, trombone and clarinet filling one’s ears.

Skip James’s ‘Special Rider Blues’, is the perfect tune to display Ms Wininger’s delicate but
firm fingerpicking skills and her crisp, vocal clarity. The Huddie Leadbetter/Alan Lomax

‘Leavin’ Blues’, is an emotionally powerful vocal and slide piece from Ms Wininger relating
to a harrowing tale of abuse, abandonment and total disregard. The jaunty accordion led
Huddie Leadbetter penned ‘Old Riley’, belies the nasty tale of a most unpleasant posse
hunting the prisoner ‘Old Riley’, with dogs and whatever
they can hold in their hot little hands.

Seriously recommended!

Brian Harman.

Rusty Ends Blues Band—Rusty Ends—Earwig Records CD4979

Louisville, Kentucky based singer, song-writer guitar player
Rusty, has been playing all kinds of music since the age of 15, he
learnt his trade in the roadhouses of his youth, playing on Friday