JOHN HAMMOND
Best Of The Vanguard Years (Vanguard)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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While considerable affirmative evidence has piled up in the intervening years, the musical question "Can a white man sing the blues?" was still a vital one back in 1964 when Vanguard Records released Country Blues, the first album by John Hammond, Jr. Hammond, the son of the producer whose discoveries ranged from Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen, answered that question with an unqualified "Yes!", and has continued to do so ever since.

He's appeared on a lot of labels over the course of thirty some years, but much of his best continues to rest in the grooves of his Vanguard output from the sixties. The best of that is here, along with some later sessions for the label, providing a cross section of sounds and styles that range from his solo country blues efforts to tough Chicago style band blues. Every track is invested with his deep affection for the form. That affection has earned him some knocks over the years, as some reviewers have found him more interested in recreating the sound of his sources than making an original contribution. They just haven't been listening close enough. While Hammond is faithful to the tradition, his status as one of the few of the first on the scene for the blues revival of the sixties still on the scene today speaks volumes about his personal strengths as a performer.

With 23 tracks recorded over a period of 12 years, including a pair of early, unreleased performances, this is an ideal introduction to the work of John Hammond, blues man. It's also the ideal argument for getting to know him a lot better.

Track List:

32-20 Blues * Statesborough Blues * Seventh Son * Drop Down Mama * Going Back To Florida * Ask Me Nice * Hellhound Blues * I'm Ready * I'm A Man * Keys To The Highway * No Money Down * I Live The Life I Love * Big Boss Man * So Many Roads, So Many Trains * Who Do You Love * I Want You To Love Me * You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover * O Yea! * Who's Been Talkin' * Pretty Thing * Last Night * I Wish You Would * Guitar King

© 2000 - Shaun Dale