R.L. Burnside  My Black Name A-Ringin'
Released:  1999
Label: Genes Records
Format:[email protected]


In the '90s Burnside emerged as one of the most authentic and powerful blues artists in the world, gaining international recognition as a flagship artist of the raw, "real" blues label Fat Possum. His fierce electric sound was full of fire and fury, accompanied by bashing drums and frenetic slide guitar. 'Twas not always thus, however. My Black Name A-Ringin' contains material from one of Burside's earliest sessions (1969), when he was still an acoustic artist, pounding out unamplified versions of tunes by his heroes Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins, his style a mixture of the two (in a typical example of confusing blues proprietorship, Hopkins' "Last Night Blues" is listed as "Sat Down on My Bed and Cried," credited to Burnside).

Burnside was already in his 40s in 1969, with plenty of hard living behind him. Consequently, these early recordings expose a voice full of experience and hard-learned lessons. this is far more focused and intense than the other pre-Fat Possum Burnside releases. Despite the acoustic setting, it's closer in spirit to Burnside's astounding '90s electric recordings.


Tracklist:

01. Going Down South
02. Two Trains Runnin'
03. Sat Down On My Bed And Cried
04. Nine Days In Jail
05. Long Haired Doney
06. Hobo Blues
07. My Black Name A-Ringin'
08. Catfish Blues
09. See My Jumper
10. Peach Tree Blues
11. Goin' Away Blues
12. Poor Boy
13. Tom Wilson's Place