Memphis Minnie - Queen of Country Blues 1929-1937 (CD)

All Music Guide

This fivedisc set from JSP includes all the surviving sides Memphis Minnie cut for the Vocalion, Decca, and Bluebird labels between 1929 and 1937 in chronological order. Among the highlights on disc one are the four takes of one of her best songs, "Bumble Bee," including one with the Memphis Jug Band. Disc two gathers a number of duets with her thenhusband, Kansas Joe McCoy, and their twin guitars coupled with her contralto singing and Kansas Joe's tenor made for a signature sound. Disc three contains another of her best songs, "My Butcher Man," and features increased use of piano backing. The fourth disc contains her last sessions for Decca, as well as her complete body of work on the Bluebird label. The final disc, which spotlights the occasional use of horns and other urban trappings, includes versions of "Ice Man," "Hoodoo Woman," and "Black Cat Blues." Minnie's bestknown song, "When the Levee Breaks," is not included in this set, which also does not include her last sessions from ...1940 and 1941. Truthfully, there is probably more Memphis Minnie here than the casual listener would ever need, and a singledisc collection that spans her career (and includes "Levee") would suffice. Liner notes are soso, although the session annotation is decent. - Steve Leggett, All Music Guide Read more Less