Search - Yank Rachell, Tennessee Jug Busters :: Yank Rachell's Tennessee Jug-Busters : Mandolin Blues

The REAL Country Blues

nadav haber | 11/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"People have a lot of strange ideas about the blues--Believe it or not, there are quite a few folks out there who actually think that Keb Mo' is the real deal! Serious fans of this often misunderstood art form probably already know that Yank Rachell is one of the great unsung heroes of the blues. This collection of his work ranks among the very best of hardcore acoustic blues recordings, bar none. Mandolin, guitar, and harmonica wail as if with one voice, and what an intensely satisfying voice it is! Rachell and his small band evoke both the joy and the pain of human experience, often at the very same moment in a single heartfelt tune. The music is somewhat reminiscent of the pre-electrified Muddy Waters, before his country roots began fading under the harsh lights of Chicago sophistication. For blues fans who are chiefly familiar with the Mississippi styles of Robert Johnson and his followers, the Tennessee-rooted sound of Yank Rachell will come as a breath of fresh air. I like this album a lot better than most of what I've heard of Rachell's recordings with Sleepy John Estes. If you care at all about country blues, you can't go wrong with this one!"

Memphis blues jam

nadav haber | jerusalem Israel | 12/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yank Rachell is mostly known as a mandolin player who accompanied Sleepy John Estes and Sonny Boy Williamson during the 1930's. He also recorded under his own name during those years.
He was lucky enough to be "rediscovered" in the 60's and to record some more under his own name and with others.
This CD has Rachell jamming with Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon, with Big Joe Williams and Mike Bloomfield joining in for the last 6 tracks.
There are a lot of happy moments here. The first 10 tracks, until Big Joe enters, are lighter and relaxed. Big Joe add his heavy touch to the remaining tracks, and is himself the singer on "move your hand".
Rachell's mandolin is the leading voice throughout - playing well and making us wonder why this instrument was not used more often by others.
The jam session quality of the recordings is welcome - there is not enough of it around.
The linear notes say that Rachell is acknowledged to be the best player among the mandolin trio - with Charly Mccoy and Johnny Young. This is a bit foolish, since all three are great mandolin players, and Mccoy plays on some of the most important country blues records ever made - with Tommy Johnson and his brother Kansas Joe.
Overall, this CD is recommended to all country blues fans."

VERY cool

David Klausmeyer | USA | 01/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great CD. A bunch of old string blues musicians sitting around in a couple of the guys living rooms. (According to the liner notes, these tunes were recorded in their homes!) The sound isn't studio quality, but it's definately higher than a field recording; you feel like you're in the room with them. It's actually pretty good.



I bought this CD with the book Blues Mandolin Man. Don't bother with the book. (Read my review about it for further details.) But if you're into country acoustic blues or the mando, you've got to check out this CD. It's a little different and off-the-wall, but I listen to it quite a bit. I guess that's the highest compliment I can give it."