Sunday, April 4, 2010

Sonny Boy Williamson & The Yardbirds - "Live At The Craw-Daddy Club"

Sonny Boy Williamson & The Yardbirds - "Live At The Craw-Daddy Club" Vinyl LP
SR 61071
Mercury
Original Release - 1966

This is why I love vinyl. I love the search, the surprise finds, and the pure joy of finding a gem from 1966 to bring home and enjoy. Thats what happened here with this blues classic. A live album, featuring the legendary Sonny Boy Williamson, and the equally legendary Yardbirds as his backing band.

When I listen to blues music, I prefer live albums, as I feel they are a better representation of the emotion and power of great blues music. This recording is no exception, the crowd is obviously enjoying seeing two legendary acts on stage, a meeting of talent that is rarely seen live. The Craw-Daddy Club is bustling with activity, thunderous applause and a sense of appreciation for the blues music they are enjoying.

Sonny Boy Williamson gives an impassioned performance, though he was at that time, beginning to see the end of his career approaching. The Yardbirds on the other hand were Britain's next big thing, giving rise to the promising careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.

This album has been deemed the "re-birth of the blues" and I think that description is spot on, especially when listening to tracks like "Bye, Bye Bird", and "Out of Water Coast".

I would recommend this recording to anyone who wants to add some classic, hard to find blues to their collection. Its a new cornerstone of mine, like that perfect drive in a round of golf, finding this album fuels your desire to track down more.


Album - A-

Vinyl - B- (Note, this is a pretty rare LP, and though its not in perfect condition, I could not leave it at the shop. I am willing to sacrifice perfect fidelity for the chance to own this rare blues recording.)

No comments:

Post a Comment