Thursday 26 May 2016

Blues Songs Ballads – TOM RUSH****

Alabama Bound/More Pretty Girls/Sister Kate/Original Talking Blues/Pallet On The Floor/Drop Down Mama/Rag Mama/Barb'ry Allen/Cocaine/Come Back Baby/Staggerlee/Baby Please Don’t Go

Blues Songs Ballads is a follow up collection of folk and blues standards interpreted by Tom Rush with acoustic guitar accompaniment, backed only by washtub bass.

“None of these songs are originals but while Tom Rush stole from everyone, I'm starting to get the feeling he always did their material better. Barb'ry Allen is a standout as is Cocaine in a typically light-hearted version. Pallet On The Floor displays some wonderful guitar playing, and Drop Down Mama, another early bluesmen cover is also a highlight.”

“Blessed with an exceptionally expressive voice, Tom rambles through a set of folk and blues standards. It also helps that his guitar skills are more than adequate to carry the set in near solo fashion. In this engaging album, backed only by a washtub bass, Tom shows why he was a legend in the mid sixties.”

“His versions of Staggerlee, Cocaine and Sister Kate have stayed in my brain for decades now, overpowering all the other versions.” “What I like most about Tom Rush is the emotion he puts in the guitar playing. His voice sounds sad a lot of the time.”

“This is definitely one of his best. And it's just Tom, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, backed up by washtub bass. Tom was young at the time he made this, but sounds like a real old-timer.”

“This is a truly delightful set of songs. From start to finish, this is a great song set: hilarious at times, moving at others, and always delivered by Rush expertly. A supremely underrated work that won't disappoint you.”

“A great album which reveals the early talent which burned itself out far too soon. It was the sixties, I guess, and you had to be there.”

“If you want to get to the roots of folk music of the sixties, this is a good place to start. A major influence on artists from Joni Mitchell to James Taylor.”

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