The Great Bluesmen at Newport '59 (1976)

About this title: This two-LP, single-CD compilation offers up 21 songs recorded live between 1959 and 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival. This is a killer selection of cuts by rediscovered '30s blues legends, many rising to the occasion to perform in front of thousands of people at once. A lot of comebacks and late-in-life careers were sparked by the performances captured on this CD, which is essential listening for anyone who cares about the blues. Robert Pete Williams, playing his first concert outside Louisiana gave a performance so powerful, energetic, and dexterous, that he built a new career while still ... read more

Tracks:

1. Midnight Boogie
2. Levee Camp Blues [Williams]
3. My Baby Done Changed the Lock on the Door
4. Tupelo [Hooker]
5. Bus Station Blues [Hooker]
6. Son's Blues [House]
7. Pony Blues [Patton/House]
8. Mailman Blues [Estes]
9. Clean up at Home [Estes]
10. Hey Rattler/Oh My Lord
11. Sliding Delta [Hurt]
12. Trouble I Had All My Days [Hurt]
13. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues [James]
14. Illinois Blues [James]
15. Death Don't Have No Mercy [Davis]
16. Carfish Blues
17. I Had a Woman
18. Lord, I'm Going Down South
19. If the River Was Whiskey
20. Cottonfield Blues [Hopkins]
21. Shake That Thing [Hopkins]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.