Search - Sleepy John Estes :: Someday Baby: Essential Recordings

4 1/2 stars. Excellent compilation

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 01/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This fine Indigo CD is the only Sleepy John Estes collection to rival Yazoo's (much more expensive) "I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More", and even though the Yazoo CD has better liner notes, "Someday Baby" is still a very fine purchase.



These 23 songs are from John Adams Estes' best and most creative period. He usually recorded with a jug band, which gave his music a great variety of textures...mandolin player James "Yank" Rachell and harpist Hammie Nixon are prominent on most of these songs, and Estes is occationally backed by piano and second guitar as well.



John Estes' music swings with a loose, relaxed feel that isn't heard on many prewar blues records, and it is some of the most melodic acoustic blues you'll ever hear.

Almost all the must-have tunes are here, "The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair", "Someday Baby Blues", and "Diving Duck Blues", as well as the title track, "Every Ought To Make A Change", "Drop Down Mama", and "Floating Bridge". There is one notable omission, though, the fine "Clean Up At Home" is missing, which gives a slight edge to the Yazoo compilation."