Search - Furry Lewis :: Fourth & Beale

Utterly Captivating

halfgifts | 06/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is magical. It is raw, it is emotional, it is utterly captivating. Clearly if you are starting out on the Furry Lewis journey, I would advise one not to start with this disc, necessarily, but once you've listened to his original works from the 1920s and then SHAKE EM ON DOWN, proceed to this one. Recorded in his home in 1969 by legendary Memphis producer & musician Terry Manning, you will feel as if you are there, in his apt, watching Furry perform on his bed. This disc will take your breath away as you feel every note, every emotion... The heart and soul here is strong & intense.The banter between tracks add to the atmosphere of a blues legend performing in Memphis 1969. This will take you back into time. Unbelievable."

What a Fun Oldtime Blues Album!

FrontPage | Baltimore, MD United States | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The recording was made, I understand, in 1969, some of which was recorded in Furry Lewis's home as he lay in bed. I plan to add more to my opinions, but I give it 5 stars because it's a rare treat to be treated to such an album. These days, you find that the recording industry in general wants to keep things polished to the point that I feel music sounds "sanitized." Furry talks about the pieces he's about to play sometimes, and the stereo (where his acoustic guitar originates on the left channel while his voice comes from the right) sometimes either mixes or even switches momentarily.



In effect, you feel as though you're sitting right at his foot (he lost a leg in a mishap), enjoying a window into the history of blues, of the early 1900's. . . in effect, the history of modern music. This is the kind of expressionism that has helped influence all the great musicians. Artists like Furry Lewis are the forefathers who helped shape music of all types. If you want, also search for blues harp musician Peg Leg Sam. Furry makes guitar sound as though it's actually singing, similar to how Peg Leg Sam mastered the harmonica.



This is the CD to purchase; another CD out there has only 9 tracks or so, but this one has 15. And, it's only Furry and his guitar, unpowered. No other music or instruments were played, which is what I like, because that style makes me feel like I'm in an era where music was pure and raw. No electric guitars, no fluff. It's all substance, spirit and soul."

Not enough of a good thing

M. Goldsher | 12/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There's no such thing as a really bad Furry Lewis album, but this one is certainly not up to snuff. And only nine tunes on a CD? Deplorable! Furry's heart doesn't seem to be quite in it as he does his slide rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In," and many of these tunes can be heard to better advantage on other albums. This is okay to fill out a collection, but listeners should check out the original 1920s recordings if they want to understand why Furry Lewis deserves to be recognized as one of the true giants of the blues."