North Carolina blues legend Blind Boy Fuller made his debut in 1935 recording in New York City for the American Record Corporation. Along with his guitar mentor, Rev. Gary Davis, and washboard player Bull City Red, Fuller ended up cutting 12 songs during that first trip, which established him as a vital new voice in the Piedmont Blues tradition. With his gritty voice and percussively picked National steel guitar, he covered multiple styles including ragtime, gospel, traditional blues, and hokum, eventually recording over 120 songs during his brief career. His performance style was often rough and straightforward, and he drew on his personal experiences as an underprivileged black man in prewar America. Fuller's honesty and wit are a big part of his legacy, which is highlighted on this 25-song Rough Guide collection. Highlights like the uptempo "Truckin' My Blues Away No. 2" and "Get Your Ya Yas Out" stand next to slower blues numbers like "Untrue Blues" and "Lost Lover Blues," showing the range of this classic bluesman. ~ Timothy Monger
