Me and the Devil/I Asked for Water (1998)

About this title: These two compilations, paired up here on a double-CD set, were just among the many to come out in the late '60s dedicated to British blues. And every single one seemed to feature the remarkable Jo-Ann Kelly (simply one of the best blues singers of any time and place, who sadly died in 1990) and Tony McPhee, who'd go on to greater fame and fortune and guitarist and leader of the Groundhogs. They were among the leading lights of the scene, and the ones who rose above (even if, ridiculously, Kelly didn't think her voice had matured). But the richness of the scene can be heard from the presence ... read more

Tracks:

1. Rollin' and Tumblin' [Traditional]
2. Duckin' and Dodgin' [Maxey]
3. Death Letter [House]
4. Elevator Woman [Williamson]
5. Make Me a Pallet on the Floor [Traditional]
6. Heartstruck Sorrow
7. When You Got a Good Friend [Johnson]
8. Me and the Devil Blues [Johnson]
9. You Better Mind [Traditional]
10. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues [James]
11. Same Thing on My Mind [Kelly]
12. Broke Down Engine [McTell]
13. Arkansas Woman [Kelly]
14. No More Doggin' [Gordon/Taub]
15. Buy You a Diamond Ring
16. Oh Death [Traditional]
17. She's Gone [Pornbach]
18. Factory Blues [Hines]
19. Boogie Woman [Lewis]
20. Nervous [Dixon]
21. Crazy With the Blues
22. Lord I Feel Tired [James]
23. Gasoline [Johnson]
24. Rock Me [Jackson]
25. London's Got the Blues [Lewis]
26. Love's in Vain
27. Dust My Blues [Johnson]
28. Built My Hopes Too High [Fernbach]
29. Don't Pass the Hat Around [McPhee]
30. When My Woman Is With Me [James]
31. I'm So Tired [Traditional]

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