Audio CD review:
Leadbelly - Absolutely the Best

Leadbelly - Absolutely the Best

Band: Leadbelly Title: Absolutely the Best Rating: Release Date: 03 October, 2000 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: In New Orleans (House Of The Rising Sun) 2: The Bourgeois Blues 3: Goodnight, Irene 4: Looky, Looky Yonder/Black Betty/Yellow Women's Doorbells 5: Borrow Love And Go 6: De Kalb Blues 7: John Hardy 8: How Long 9: Roberta 10: Pretty Flower In Your Backyard 11: The Gallis Pole 12: Where Did You Sleep Last Night 13: Midnight Special 14: John Hardy (Version 2) 15: When I Was A Cowboy

Customer Reviews Short but sweet. Included are strong and tuneful renditions of Huddie's most popular songs, including "In New Orleans," "The Bourgeois Blues," "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," "Midnight Special," and of course, the immortal "Goodnight Irene. If you're just getting into Lead Belly, this collection isn't a bad place to start. " Also, the sound quality is pretty good, or at least better than some of the other Lead Belly compilations out there. My only complaint is that they included TWO versions of "John Hardy," when such standards as "Boll Weevil," "Yellow Gal," "Blue-Tailed Fly" and "Pick a Bale of Cotton" were left out. The music itself is flawless though. Five stars and then some. Excellent selection and sound quality John Hardy is a crucial element in the Americana songlist, and both versions are individually worthwhile and unique. This CD deserves a good rating, so I'm coming to its rescue. I enjoy this CD every time I hear it, and I can't say that for many historical compilations. Leadbelly's vocals and sense of rhythm impress on every track. 12-string work The recording was not, I'll admit, as good of clarity as the Last Sessions CD, but was better than most Highly reccomended for an intro to Leadbelly's work. . You can see a complete list of all Leadbelly discography, or go back to the Leadbelly tabs