In the 1960s, lovers of electric blues had a lot to choose from -- not only the Chicago blues, but also the electric blues of Texas, Louisiana, Detroit, and Memphis. Vanguard's electric blues output of the 1960s is the main focus of this 2000 compilation, which spans 1965-1968 and spotlights some of the guitar playing singers who recorded for the label. Vanguard was no stranger to acoustic country blues -- one of the CD's highlights, in fact, is Texas native Lightnin' Hopkins performing "Baby, Please Don't Go" at the Newport Folk Festival -- but for the most part, Frett'n the Blues concerns itself with electric Northern blues. Chicago-based artists dominate the CD, and the vitality of Chicago's blues scene of the 1960s is illustrated by such delights as Buddy Guy performing "Sweet Little Angel" and "One Room Country Shack," Homesick James tackling "Dust My Broom," and Otis Rush embracing "It's a Mean Old World." Muddy Waters, meanwhile, is in fine form on three Newport Folk Festival performances, including "She's Nineteen Years Old" and "I Can't Be Satisfied." And the unique John Lee Hooker, one of the non-Chicagoans on this CD, gives an enjoyable, if too brief, performance on "I Can't Quit You, Baby." Frett'n the Blues is far from the last word on blues singers/guitarists in the 1960s; nonetheless, it paints a generally impressive picture of Vanguard's contributions to the electric Northern blues during that decade. ~ Alex Henderson
Professional Reviews
Dirty Linen (6-7/00, pp.92-3) - "...Brings together some of the choicest blues artists ever to pick up a 6-string....an excellent introduction to the blues genre with detailed liner notes on all songs and discography included..."
