First Recordings

This is a good collection by R.L. Burnside... my gripe is with the seller... $24.64 for an open item full of tape, a "cd surface scratched" sticker and a $6.96 price tag sticker from Amoeba... thrown in a typical oversized envelope that looks as if it was crushed or stepped on... buying used ain't what it used to be... fortunately the CD sounds fine, but good luck removing all the taped crap from the cardboard case...Amoeba SF reopened last week, so I can avoid the "used" sharks taking over our culture, at least when buying cds...

I hunt for music, and the hunt leads down paths that dead-end, aren't my thing, or whatever, but sometimes I get lucky. I discovered R.L. by chance after following links from a blues guitar instruction book page. Of all the R.L. stuff, this seemed the most basic and raw, and I bought it. Who knew I'd just discovered my favorite blues album ever!This was recorded in R.L.'s living room one night after another explorer was lead down the Mississippi dirt road to the "best bluesman around". The recording has a raw quality but the sound is very good. But the music itself is spectacular. This is the real thing, no doubt about it. No Chicago blues here, this is raw and droning and hypnotic and tuneful. The guitar work is great, and his voice has depth and expression, and there is no heavy production; you are there in the dark muggy Mississippi night, R.L.'s foot thumping on the floorboards.This discovery will be tough to top, and it's been in my top 5 CD playlist for months.

This album looms large in my blues collection because purchasing RL Burnsides First Recordings was when I really got hooked on blues, especially country/acoustic blues. Even 10 years later and adding hundreds more blues albums to my collection, this still stands as one of the 3 or 4 best blues albums I own. While RL Burnside got more famous for his electric blues music, his acoustic stuff was every bit as good.

I have only recently come upon RL and man have I missed a lot. I am currently acquiring his early recordings and am very pleased by what I hear. I was playing this CD in my car while taking my 80 year old mother out shopping recently when she commented "that's good music". Enough said! I love his rhythm, his voice and the simple but infectious lyrics.

Great record!

His best album.

This album is classic and captures the finest recordings of Burnside's early music.

A full acoustic set from a young Burnside his voice is full, rhythm contagious. My favorite track is Black Mattie simple and compelling.

This disc lives up to the hype that it has attracted. Authentic blues from a forgotten master. High quality recording and pressing which did not disappoint. To many recent re-issues have been let down by the pressing, which has resulted in them being sent back. Currently on heavy rotation.

Excellent record, from one of the most greatest of blues artists ✊And a great seller, always a pleasure to buy from ☺

RL Burnside is wonderful

Best country acoustic blues album...or at least top 10, of all time. When RL talked about the fella he murdered he said, "I didn't mean to kill nobody. I just meant to shoot the sonofa blank in the head and two times in the chest. Him dying was between him and the Lord." He plays and sings the blues in the same manner, like he can't help it, it's just the way it is. The guitar is hypnotic. His voice is amazing. A visceral moan.I bought the 180gram vinyl and love it.

Classique du country blues. Incantatoire, très proche des racines africaines. Probablement la quintessence de R.L. Burnside Un must pour fan de blues.