Search - Various Artists :: Blues at Newport Recorded live at the Newport Folk Festival 1959-1964

A must-have for Stonesphiles...

Tod C. Armstrong | Rohnert Park, CA United States | 05/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A very nice collection of songs from late 50's to early 60's at the NFF...most of these are on the 3-cd set that was recently released. However a handful are not on that set - including a powerful 9:30 rendition of Rev.Robert Wilkins classic Prodigal Son, which of course was covered by the Stones on Beggar's Banquet. Here you find the inspiration for the Stones version, which included only a handful of the many verses that Wilkins' had...also, you hear how Charlie and Keith appropriated the guitar and percussion (Wilkins' foot, here) parts for the Stones' version. A must-hear experience!"

A fine collection of recordings

J. Mercik | Hartford, CT United States | 08/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In short: I am on Amazon right now, shopping for this CD because my first one is worn out. Good stuff.



There are many fine recordings on this CD... I have listened to it over and over for the last 10 or so yrs. In addition I have found that people who don't usually listen to country blues seem to enjoy this collection. It has an airy and intimate recording quality.



Specifically: The whole 1st half of the CD is great... The John Hurt recordings are all charming & spirited ('Coffee Blues' is super), as are the Terry/McGhee tunes (check out 'Long Gone.'). Gary Davis' recording of 'Samson & Delilah' shows Mr. Davis at his showtime best. Skip James's 'Devil Got My Woman' and Robt. Wilkens 'Prodigal Son' are, in my opinion, the best versions extant of those performers' best compositions ... i.e. these are must-have recordings. The John Estes tune is a good example of his jugband trio with Yank Rachel and Hammy Nixon, and 'That'll Never Happen No More' by Dave Van Ronk is a clever reworking of the Blind Blake version."