This collection is a great starting point for the neophyte, starting with
Elmore James' screaming slide on his signature electric version of
Robert Johnson's
"Dust My Broom" (aka
"I Believe I'll Dust My Broom") and roaring through highlights of
James' distinct brand of
Chicago blues.
James, an electronics whiz, would tinker with his amplifier in order to produce the jagged, raw sounds he was noted for -- and therein lay the roots of the
rock guitar sound. On this collection, you can hear, in
"The Sky Is Crying," what appealed to a young
Jimi Hendrix. In
"Dust My Broom" and
"I Believe," you can hear the screeching guitar tone that must have crawled right up young
Brian Jones' neck, dictating the direction for
the Rolling Stones. The driving, ominous
"Rollin' and Tumblin'" sounds about 40 years ahead of its time. (Listen closely, you can even hear the dark, tribalistic tones of future groups
the Doors and
the Velvet Underground in that one.) This is as strong a single-disc representation of
James' canon as there is, and among these 12 tracks are essential performances and definitive versions. ~ Erik Hage
