On 80 Highway

by Sleepy John Estes

Overview

Vocalist/guitarist Sleepy John Estes was already in his seventies when he recorded this set of mostly traditional country blues, while his partner, harmonica player and vocalist Hammie Nixon, was in his late sixties. They'd already been making music together for some 40 years or more so, not surprisingly, their playing and singing mesh seamlessly on this collection of previously unreleased recordings, cut in a single day in Chicago in 1974. There's a lightheartedness to the mix of Estes' upper-register vocals (think of him as the anti-Howlin' Wolf) and Nixon's rougher voice and easy rollin' harmonica, which features prominently on all but two tracks, among them "Mary Come on Home," "80 Highway," and the opening "Love Grows in Your Heart." Nixon takes over on lead vocals for the earthy "Potato Diggin' Man," doubles up on vocals on several numbers, among them a spirited "When the Saints Go Marching In," and switches from harp to kazoo on "I'll be Glad When You're Dead" and "Corrine Corrina." Two different takes of "President Kennedy" serve as a reminder of the affection that African-Americans had for the fallen leader. A fine sampling of unadulterated acoustic blues. ~ Jeff Tamarkin

Product Details

Release Date:	10/21/2008
Label:	Delmark
UPC:	0038153079727
Rank:	160925

Tracks

1. Love Grows in Your Heart
2. Potatoe Diggin' Man
3. Talk
4. I'll Be Glad When You're Dead
5. Holy Spirit
6. 80 Highway
7. When the Saints Go Marching In
8. Corrine Corrina
9. President Kennedy
10. Iga
11. T Model Ford
12. Do Lord Remember Me
13. Vernita Blues
14. Mary Come on Home
15. President Kennedy
16. Talk
17. Brownsville Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sleepy John Estes   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Hammie Nixon   Kazoo,Vocals,Harmonica

Technical Credits

J. Mayo Williams   Composer
Sam Theard   Composer
Robert G. Koester   Producer,Supervisor,Audio Production
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Bo Chatmon   Composer
Stu Black   Engineer
Diane Allmen   Tray Photo
Traditional   Composer
Steve Wagner   Producer,Audio Production
Bob Koester   Liner Notes