Great early modern blues
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 10/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lowell Fulson was born in Oklahoma in 1921, and settled in Oakland, California, after getting out of the army in the mid-'40s. Before going in the service he had learned guitar and played in various groups. This CD collects his first 22 sides in chronological order, all recorded for Bob Geddins's Down Town label in Oakland.
Fulson plays a very percussive guitar interspersed with fancy jazz runs, and his singing has a decided country feel to it. He is most effective on slow, down-home numbers, and this CD is loaded with them. Although these sides predate Fulson's chart hits (they began coming in 1948), there are great recordings here. I WALKED ALL NIGHT, BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAY, BLUES IS KILLING ME, and BLACK WIDOW SPIDER are excellent examples of Fulson at his best in this period. One of my favorite blues CDs. Anyone interested in early post-war blues will love this disc. Definitely worth checking out."