Rating:
Genre:
Blues
Release Date: 09/21/2004
No one less than
Bob Dylan penned the lyric that stated, "nobody can sing the
blues, like
Blind Willie McTell."
McTell's '20s and '30s work reminds one slightly of
Robert Johnson's work in the '30s, with notable differences. While
McTell has the same dexterity as a guitarist, combining single-note runs with rhythmic aplomb, his singing is never as shrill or as tortured as
Johnson. Still, it's easy to imagine that
Johnson might have picked up something in timing and delivery from
"Death Cell Blues." For many listeners, this less intense approach will make
Blind Willie's classic sides more accessible than his better-known counterpart. In fact,
McTell, overall, is a more rounded performer, ranging from down-and-out
blues like
"Mama, Tain't Long fo' Day" to humorous fare like
"Three Women Blues." The Best of Blind Willie McTell captures these and many other moods over the course of 23 sides from the bluesman's heyday. The variety, in fact, makes
McTell much more compelling over the album's 70-minute running time than a singer like
Blind Lemon Jefferson. The best-known piece here is
"Statesboro Blues," a song later written large by
the Allman Brothers on
Live at Fillmore East.
McTell's version is much more down-to-earth and immediate, highlighted by a soulful vocal and intense guitar work.
The Best of Blind Willie McTell easily verifies the
Dylan lyric, and is a great introduction to a fine
blues singer and guitarist.
~Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
;)
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