Hard Time Killing Floor Blues

by Skip James

Overview

Hard Time Killing Floor Blues was the first session Skip James recorded following his rediscovery by John Fahey and Henry Vestine in the mid-'60s. Though he had not played the blues for more than 20 years, his skills were largely undiminished, and he turns in a fantastic set here. James was the pinnacle of the Bentonia (Mississippi) sound, which combines complex fingerpicking with falsetto vocals, resulting in somewhat spooky-sounding strain of blues. James reprises several of his 1931 Paramount sides on this session, as well as a couple new tunes that chronicle the illnesses of James' latter days. Anyone with a passing interest in acoustic blues should own some James. This set would make a great starting point, especially for those who don't take well to the surface noise that can accompany his '30s sessions. The new mastering here sounds rich and warm. Highly recommended. [This set was previously released as Biograph 122, with a different running order.] ~ Sean Westergaard

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/2003
Label:	Shout! Factory / Shout! Records
UPC:	0826663016925

Tracks

1. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
2. Sickbed Blues
3. Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
4. Devil Got My Woman
5. Illinois Blues
6. I Don't Want a Woman to Stay Out All Night Long
7. Cherry Ball Blues
8. Skip's Worried Blues
9. Cypress Grove Blues
10. Catfish Blues
11. Motherless & Fatherless
12. All Night Long

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Skip James   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals

Technical Credits

Arnold S. Caplin   Producer,Reissue Producer
Skip James   Composer
Michael Ochs   Photography
Greg Allen   Art Direction,Design
Brett J. Bonner   Liner Notes
Shawn Amos   A&R