This set collects the best of Robert Nighthawks' late-'40s and early-'50s recordings for the United label. These are arguably some of the finest tracks he ever recorded, though he was never less than fully committed and engaging right up until his death in the '60s. His slide guitar playing--generally on a single string--is full of searing passion and fire, and his vocals can convey loss, longing, anger, and hope with honesty and flair. On a slow blues like "Seventy-Four" his draws out notes, both in his singing and playing. The personnel varies, but the rollicking Roosevelt Sykes is one of the standouts among the piano players. The drummers leave a compelling mark on these tracks, especially on the alternate take of "Maggie Campbell," with the freewheeling rolls hopping to the fore. These are essential blues recordings by a pivotal and often underappreciated bluesman.
