Texas Country Blues

by Mance Lipscomb

Overview

In the 1960s when the folk revival began to recognize country blues as an important art form, Arhoolie was there to capture it all on tape. It perhaps seems odd in retrospect that a number of scholars and collectors feared that the older forms of the blues had vanished from the landscape during the 1950s. Arhoolie's recordings of Fred McDowell, Lightnin' Hopkins, and other players gave ample evidence that prewar blues were alive and doing quite well, thank you. Texas Country Blues collects a number of tracks recorded by Mance Lipscomb in the late '60s and early '70s. Lipscomb may be first and foremost a blues player, but unlike Hopkins or McDowell, he broadened his repertoire to include ragtime and folk. "Rag in F" is a fun little ditty that brings to mind the bouncy piano work of Scott Joplin, while "Corrine, Corrina" and "Wonder Where My Easy Rider Gone" conjure up the ghost of Leadbelly. Whatever style he's working in, however, Lipscomb delivers each song with focus and feeling. There's the delightful "Mama, Let Me Lay It on You," and there are sharp, electric versions of "Blues in the Bottle" and "Angel Child." With it's generous running time and fine selections, Texas Country Blues will serve as a superior introduction to an eclectic blues artist. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/10/2002
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297902622
Rank:	46058

Tracks

1. Texas Blues
2. Black Gal
3. Oh, Baby! (You Don't Have to Go)
4. Whiskey Blues
5. Haunted House Blues
6. Mance's Blues
7. Does She Ever Think of Me
8. I Just Hang Down My Head and I Cry
9. Rag in F
10. Wonder Where My Easy Rider Gone
11. Tell Me Where You Stayed Last Night
12. Corrine, Corrina
13. Evil Blues
14. Mama, Let Me Lay It on You
15. Louise
16. Sometimes I Feel Like
17. Blues in the Bottle
18. Angel Child

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mance Lipscomb   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Powell St. John   Harmonica
Michael Birnbaum   Guitar
Wayne Davis   Drums
Charlie Pritchard   Guitar

Technical Credits

Mance Lipscomb   Arranger,Composer
J. Mayo Williams   Composer
Joe Pullum   Composer
Sam Hopkins   Composer
Morgan K. Dodge   Graphic Design
Jim Crockett   Cover Photo
Chris Strachwitz   Liner Notes,Producer,Engineer
Bo Chatmon   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Big Maceo Merriweather   Composer