Search - Bukka White :: Fixin' to Die

Best Bukka White purchase you could make...

Francois | South Louisiana | 01/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album includes all the known early works from the late 1920s early 1930s and the sessions at the end of the 1930s or beginning of the 1940s. Sound quality is acceptable and the music, of course is outstanding. I gave it 5 stars because I've yet to find a better purchase by this artist."

Excellent

Maxtone Witherball | 06/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very good sound quality (i.e., clear with minimal scratchiness) plus terrific performances plus a fine price equal a great purchase.



UPDATE (8/24/2009): A word to the wise: If you don't already have all of Skip James', Son House's, Bukka White's, Tommy Johnson's, and Ishman Bracey's prewar recordings, do yourself a favor and bypass this disc and get yourself JSP's Legends of Country Blues box. At less than $30 (or less than $6 a disc), it's one of the best values I've ever had the pleasure of availing myself of."

One of the early great blues singers

Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 12/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He was born Booker T. Washington White (Bukka became his name due to a mistake in one of his recording sessions many years later) in 1909, and had a career lasting until 1977. His first recording session was in 1930; he didn't make much of an impression since he did not record anything else until 1937. This CD features his early recordings, made in 1930, 1937, 1939, and 1940.



The liner notes identify him as one of the early greats, the end of the line of blues players originating with Charley Patton and Son House (with Tommy Johnson thrown in for good measure). From this early generation came later well know blues players such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.



Anyhow, what about his craft and his art? Three cuts illustrate:



"The New Frisco Train" comes from his first recording session. Early on, he did railroad songs as one of his genres, and this song comes from that set of works. He shows very good guitar playing, comparing very favorably with the guitar work of others early blues singers. His blues voice is mighty fine, too. The song's focus is trains. There is a second vocalist, identified as "Miss Minnie." The back and forth banter between the two works nicely. The recording quality isn't great, but it's better than some other early blues recordings.



"Shake 'em on down" is a 1937 cut, from his second recording session. This is much more blues oriented than the song previously mentioned. Again, nice guitar work and some good blues vocal wailing.



"Fixin' to Die" was later covered by Bob Dylan, according to the notes. There is the recurring line:



"I know I was born to die. . . ."



Good guitar work again and fine singing. He's backed on washboard by "Washboard Sam."



This is the first work of Bukka White that I have ever listened to(if my memory is correct). And I'm pretty happy with what I have listened to! White is an important part of the early blues, ranking with some of the other greats of the era.

"