AA. VV.: AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL - LIVE IN PARIS 1962 - BREMA 1963 (MONO)

Performer: Various Artists
Composer: Various Artists
Number of Discs: 2
Barcode: 3770020964206
Label: The Lost Recordings
Format: LP
Genre: Blues & Soul
Year: 2025

Remastered from the original analog tapes at Phoenix Mastering
Lacquer cut by Kevin Gray
180-gram vinyl test pressing approved at the Lost Recordings studio
Stampers replaced every 500 copies
Limited edition of only 3,000 numbered copies worldwide
Pressed at reduced speed
Unmatched quality control throughout Europe
Old-style tip-on gatefold covers made in Italy
Printing by Simon Garcia, in France

Born in the cotton fields of the southern United States, blues debuted with handcrafted instruments often made from recycled materials and simple harmonic formulas based on African styles. From the beginning, blues expressed the struggles, hopes, and fleeting joys of slaves forced to live under inhumane conditions, with the characteristic "blue note" adding a bittersweet dissonance to this highly evocative musical genre.

As industrialization progressed, blues began to gain prominence in urban centers like Chicago and New Orleans, thanks to bluesmen who finally used modern instruments and expanded their themes to denounce urban violence, the sensuality of the night, and the despair that many led in their sad existence. This period saw the rise of many musicians who later contributed to the creation of the American Folk and Blues Festival (AFBF), a project launched in Germany in the 1950s to introduce blues to European audiences and once and for all dispel the long-standing stereotype that it was merely a precursor to jazz.

The label The Lost Recordings now celebrates these legendary artists with some of the most intense performances that took place in 1962 at the Olympia in Paris and in 1963 at the Stadttheater in Bremen. Among the bluesmen featured on this 2-LP set are John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, T-Bone Walker, and Helen Humes, showcasing the extraordinary depth and evolutionary lines of the blues.

From the intimate duets between Brownie McGhee's guitar and Sonny Terry's harmonica to the electrifying group performances of T-Bone Walker, each track demonstrates the versatility and intense expressiveness of blues. John Lee Hooker's mastery hypnotized the audience, while T-Bone Walker paved the way for the electric guitar in blues, inspiring legends such as B.B. King.

The album also highlights Sonny Boy Williamson, whose charismatic harmonica and deep sensitivity helped cement his legendary performances. These tracks take listeners on a journey through the authentic sound of blues, traversing America's history and foreshadowing its transformative impact on world music.

Brownie McGhee, vocals and guitar; Sonny Terry, vocals and harmonica; Sonny Boy Williamson II, vocals and harmonica; Helen Humes, vocals; Willie Dixon, vocals and double bass; John Lee Hooker, vocals; T-Bone Walker, guitar; Memphis Slim, vocals and piano; Davor Kajfes, piano; Jump Jackson, drums; Shakey Jake, vocals and harmonica; Matt "Guitar" Murphy, guitar; Bill Stepney, drums; Sunnyland Slim, piano; Hubert Sumlin, guitar; Clifton James, drums

LP 1
I’m a Stranger Here / Stranger Blues
Nervous
I Just Want to Make Love to You
Born With the Blues
I Got My Eyes on You
John Henry
I Need Money
Everyday, I Have the Blues
Night Time Is the Right Time
My Own Fault

LP 2
Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home
Moanin’
Money Honey
Kansas City
Bye Bye Baby
Medley: The Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But a Woman and Bye Bye Baby
Eyesight to the Blind*
Your Funeral & My Trial*
Bye Bye Bird*
Fattening Frogs for Snakes*
Bye Bye Blues*
Wake Up Baby**