description Fred McDowell - Delta Blues Overview
Delta Blues is a collection of recordings by Mississippi blues singer and guitarist Fred McDowell. It presents his vocal and guitar work within the northern Mississippi and Delta blues tradition, including songs such as Kokomo Blues; McDowell's playing is associated with slide guitar and a direct, rhythmically insistent approach. The recording is suited to listeners studying country blues, regional guitar styles, and the development of postwar amplified blues.
help Fred McDowell - Delta Blues FAQ
Which release is usually meant by Fred McDowell's Delta Blues?
A well-known Arhoolie release titled Delta Blues is listed by Smithsonian Folkways with a 1980 release year and catalog number ARHLP1021. It is different from the earlier Mississippi Delta Blues, which was originally issued in 1965.
Which songs appear on Fred McDowell's Delta Blues?
The track list includes '61 Highway', 'Kokomo Blues', 'Shake 'Em on Down', 'My Trouble Blues', and 'When I Lay My Burden Down'. It also includes 'Write Me a Few of Your Lines' and 'Fred's Worried Life Blues'.
What instrument does Fred McDowell play on Delta Blues?
McDowell performs with acoustic guitar and vocals, using the direct phrasing and slide-guitar attack associated with Mississippi hill country blues. The Smithsonian Folkways release identifies both acoustic guitar and vocals in its instrument listing.
How does Delta Blues differ from a modern studio blues album?
The record preserves McDowell's close, uncluttered voice-and-guitar approach rather than surrounding him with a large rock band. Its Arhoolie catalog history places it within documentary blues recording rather than a contemporary crossover production.
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