VA - American Folk Blues Festival, Sixty Two to Sixty Five [1990] (5 x CDs)

BLUES

VA - American Folk Blues Festival, Sixty Two to Sixty Five [1990] (5 x CDs)

The American Folk Blues Festival (AFBF), held annually from 1962 to 1985, was a groundbreaking series of music festivals that brought the rich and soulful sounds of American blues to European audiences. The festival was the brainchild of German promoters Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau, who, along with jazz publicist Joachim-Ernst Berendt, sought to introduce Europe to the authentic blues music that had deeply influenced jazz and rock and roll.

The AFBF was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provided a platform for blues musicians to showcase their talent to an international audience, many of whom had never experienced live blues performances before. This exposure was crucial in expanding the global appreciation of blues music and its cultural significance. The festival also played a pivotal role in the blues revival of the 1960s, influencing a generation of European musicians who would go on to shape the British Invasion and the rock music landscape.

The festival’s impact extended beyond the music itself. It fostered a cultural exchange that highlighted the shared human experiences expressed through the blues. The raw emotion and storytelling inherent in blues music resonated with audiences, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers. This connection helped to elevate the status of blues music, recognizing it as a vital and influential art form.

The AFBF also left a lasting legacy through a series of albums that captured the essence of the live performances. These recordings, released annually, documented the festival’s highlights and preserved the unique sound and atmosphere of the events. Notable compilations include “The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1968,” “The Lost Blues Tapes,” and various other collections that span the festival’s history.

These albums are treasured by blues enthusiasts and serve as a testament to the festival’s enduring influence. They provide a window into a pivotal moment in music history, allowing new generations to experience the magic of the AFBF. The recordings continue to inspire musicians and listeners alike, ensuring that the spirit of the American Folk Blues Festival lives on. (B)

From 1962 until 1971, the American Folk Blues Festival was responsible for bringing dozens of the most celebrated American blues artists to audiences from Europe. For many of the musicians, these were the largest audiences they'd ever played to, and the first (and often only) decent money they ever made. This five-CD set captures the vital early years of the festival more fully than any prior issues, with previously unreleased bonus tracks (some of which overlaps). The 1962 volume was recorded live in Hamburg, and has no extra tracks, but the material is so vital and robust that this volume, featuring Memphis Slim, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, never needed it. The 1963 disc, recorded live in Bremen, opens with three previously unreleased live Memphis Slim cuts, and follows these with a previously unissued Muddy Waters solo acoustic guitar piece and three more never-issued numbers featuring Muddy backed by Dixon, Otis Spann, and Matt "Guitar" Murphy. The three Sonny Boy Williamson bonus tracks were very late in the day and constitute some of the very last songs left behind by the increasingly ailing harp legend. The 1964 volume is a little less enhanced, with two songs by Willie Dixon and one song each by Sonny Boy Williamson, Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon, and Sugar Pie DeSanto. The 1965 volume was always the odd one in this series; as a studio recording rather than a concert document, it lacks the vibrancy of the earlier volumes, but its eight bonus tracks do include some interesting moments by Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, and Big Walter Horton. The sound quality is good, but given the time that's passed, a full set of notes might have been nice.

This 5-CD set contains 76 classic performances, chronologically arranged, by 30 artists and their all-star bands during the 1962-1965 festivals. These tracks were recorded live at the festival, as well as in the studio in Hamburg, Germany. Included are 30 tracks previously unreleased in the US. Artists include: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Memphis Slim, Big Mam Thornton; Sunnyland Slim; Otis Spann, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Big Walter Horton, Big Joe Williams, Lonnie Johnson, J.B. Lenoir, Roosevelt Sykes, Eddie Boyd, Victoria Spivey, Sleepy John Estes, Hubert Sumlin, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Shakey Jake, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Doctor Ross, John Henry Barbee, Jimmie Lee Robinson. (AllMusic review by Bruce Eder)

There are several more AFBF sets that will be featured at later dates.

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Track lists

CD01

01 Memphis Slim; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - We're Gonna Rock 3:01

02 T-Bone,Walker; Memphis Slim; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - I Wanna See My Baby 3:19

03 T-Bone,Walker; Memphis Slim; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - I'm In Love 4:00

04 Sonny Terry; Brownie Mcghee; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon - I'm Crazy 'bout You Baby 3:23

05 Memphis Slim; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Stewball 4:20

06 John Lee Hooker; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Let's Make It Baby 4:37

07 John Lee Hooker; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Shake It Baby 4:13

08 John Lee Hooker; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - The Right Time 6:18

09 Shakey Jake; Memphis Slim; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Hey Baby 2:16

10 Shakey Jake; Memphis Slim; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Love My Ba 3:08

11 Browniw Mcghee; Memphis Slim; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Crying At The Station 4:03

12 Memphis Slim; T-Bone,Walker; Willi Dixon; Jump Jackson - Bye Bye Baby 2:38

CD02

01 Memphis Slim - The Blues Is Everywhere 2:29

02 M. Slim, W. Dixon, M. 'guitar' Murphy, Billie Stepney - John Henry 2:51

03 M. Slim, W. Dixon, M. 'guitar' Murphy, Billie Stepney - Wish Me Well 2:47

04 M. Slim, W. Dixon, M. 'guitar' Murphy, Billie Stepney - Memphis Boogie 3:16

05 Muddy Waters - My Captain 3:51

06 Muddy Waters - Catfish Blues 2:58

07 M. Waters, Otis Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy, B. Stepney - Blow Wind Blow 3:56

08 M. Waters, O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy, B. Stepney - My Home Is In The Delta 4:42

09 M. Waters, O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy, B. Stepney - Five Long Years 5:03

10 Sonny Boy Williamson, O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy,B. Stepney - That's All I Want, Baby 4:53

11 Sonny Boy Williamson, O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy,B. Stepney - Don't Misuse Me 4:48

12 Sonny Boy Williamson, O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy,B. Stepney - I Don't Know 4:22

13 Sonny Boy Williamson - I'm Gettin' Tired 2:59

14 O. Spann, W. Dixon, M. Murphy, B. Stepney, Sonny Boy Williamson - Goin' Down Slow 3:51

15 Sonny Boy Williamson - Sonny Boy's Harmonica Blues 3:07

CD03

01 Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Matt 'guitar' Murphy, Billlie Stepney - Going' Down Slow 3:36

02 W. Dixon, Memphis Slim, M. Murphy, B. Stepney - Sittin' And Cryin' The Blues 3:22

03 W. Dixon, M. Slim, M. Murphy, B. Stepney - Crazy For My Baby 2:30

04 Victoria Spivey, W. Dixon, B. Stepney - Grant Spivey 3:53

05 Victoria Spivey, W. Dixon, B. Stepney - T.B. Blues 4:33

06 Big Joe Williams - Big Roll Blues 2:59

07 Big Joe Williams - Back In The Bottom Blues 3:16

08 Big Joe Williams - I Have No Friends 2:52

09 Big Joe Williams - Baby Please Don't Go 2:03

10 Lonnie Johnson - Careless Love 3:12

11 Lonnie Johnson - C.C. Rider 2:37

12 Lonnie Johnson - It's Too Late To Cry 4:41

13 Matt'guitar'murphy, Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, B. Stepney - Matt's Guitar Boogie 5:16

14 Memphis Slim And All - Bye Bye Blues 2:51

CD04

01 Sonny Boy Williamson, Hubert Sumlin - I'm Trying To Make London My Home 4:24

02 Sonny Boy Williamson, H. Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Dixon, Clifton James - Dissatisfied 4:16

03 Sunnyland Slim, H.Slim, W.Dixon, C.James - Everytime I Get To Drinkin' 4:22

04 Lightnin' Hopkins - Ain't It A Pity 6:47

05 Lightnin' Hopkins - Baby Please Don't Go 2:36

06 Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon - I'm A Tearing Little Daddy 2:00

07 John Henry Barbee - I Ain't Gonna Pick No More Cotton 4:05

08 Hubert Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim, W.Dixon, C.James - No Title Boogie 4:01

09 Sugar Pie Desanto, S.Slim, H.Sumlin, W.Dixon, C.James - Slip-In Mules 2:57

10 Howlin' Wolf, S.Slim, H.Sumlin, W.Dixon, C.James - Dust My Broom 6:02

11 Sonny Boy Williamson, H.Sumlin - I Got To Cut Out 3:08

12 Willie Dixon - Weak Brain And Narrow Mind 2:50

13 Willie Dixon - Big Legged Woman 2:46

14 Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon - Your Best Friend's Gone 3:21

15 Sugar Pie Desanto, Hubert Sumlin, Clifton James - Baby What You Want Me To Do 3:23

CD05

01 Mississippi Fred Mcdowell - Highway 61 3:05

02 J. B. Lenoir, Big Walter Horton - Slow Down Woman 1:51

03 Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Blues Harp Shuffle 3:28

04 Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Christine 4:03

05 Roosevelt Sykes, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Come On Back Home 2:33

06 Eddie Boyd, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Five Long Years 3:16

07 Eddie Boyd, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - The Big Question 2:51

08 Jimmie Lee Robinson, Eddie Boyd, Buddy Guy, Fred Below - Rosa Lee 2:14

09 John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Fred Below - King Of The World 3:43

10 John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Fred Below - Della Mae 4:07

11 Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - First Time I Met The Blues 4:32

12 Big Mama Thornton, Eddie Boyd, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Hound Dog 3:19

13 Doctor Ross - My Black Name Is Ringing 4:35

14 John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Fred Below - Della Mae (Alt Take) 3:16

15 Big Mama Thornton, Eddie Boyd, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Hound Dog (Alt Take) 3:33

16 Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - South Side Jump 2:57

17 J.B. Lenoir - If I Get Lucky 3:07

18 Mississippi Fred Mcdowell - Got A Letter This Morning 3:12

19 Roosevelt Sykes, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Fred Below - Sail On 3:02

20 Doctor Ross - Farewell Baby 5:11

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