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Lonnie Johnson - The Complete Folkways Recordings (Smithsonian/Folkways CD SF 40067)

Track listing:
  1. Raise The Window High 2:39
  2. Tears Don't Fall No More 3:11
  3. Long Road To Travel 2:22
  4. Old Rocking Chair 2:43
  5. You Have My Life In Your Hands 2:50
  6. Lazy Mood 3:11
  7. Mister Trouble 3:28
  8. How Deep Is The Ocean 2:19
  9. Pouring Down Rain 2:23
  10. Prisoner Of Love 2:49
  11. Careless Love 3:53
  12. Juice Headed Baby 2:45
  13. Teardrops In My Eyes 3:14
  14. Looking For A Sweetie 3:48
  15. I've Been A Fool Myself 2:33
  16. What A Difference A Day Makes 2:31
  17. That Lonesome Road 3:22
  18. I Can't Believe 2:20
  19. When You Always By Yourself 2:58
  20. My Mother's Eyes 3:15
  21. Summertime 2:13
  22. C. C. Rider 2:30
  23. The Entire Family Was Musicians 4:38
  24. Falling Rain Blues 4:42

Notes

Recorded 1967 by Moses Asch in New York
Originally issued in 1982 as Folkways 3577 and 3578
Remastered CD released 1993

From back: "Though Lonnie Johnson is one of blues' most brilliant and influential guitarists, these rare Folkways sides reveal a powerfully emotive vocalist. Certainly these solo studio performances are marked by superb guitar accompaniment, however Lonnie Johnson the singer commands our attention here."


The two-dozen solo performances on The Complete Folkways Recordings are from late (1967) in legendary guitarist Lonnie Johnson's amazing career, but they are chock-full of stellar moments all the same. Artists of Johnson's versatility were rare even then -- he brings a multitude of shadings to "My Mother's Eyes" and "How Deep Is the Ocean?," then delivers a saucy "Juice Headed Baby" with the same stunning complexity.