The Essential – Washboard Sam

Washboard Sam was a pivotal, if somewhat unsung, figure in late-'30s and 1940s blues, taking country hokum concepts to the city and to the edge of R&B and even small-combo jazz. Yes, he played washboard, usually in the same rhythm, but a case could be made that he got everything possible out of its percussive capabilities. His real strength was his rich, strong voice, which always carried a kind of joyful wink, and his ability to perfectly straddle the line between rural and urban sounds, which made him an immensely popular performer wherever he played. This two-disc collection is a great overview of his career, but it has a very serious problem: the track listing bears absolutely no relation to what is actually on the discs. Among the recordings found here, but not listed at all, are Washboard classics like "Mama Don't Allow," Bukka White's driving "Parchman Farm Blues," "Back Door," "Diggin' My Potatoes," the amusing "Soap and Water Blues," and the infectious "Bucket's Got a Hole in It." If knowing the name of a song is important to you, then this isn't the place to go for a taste of this interesting, one-of-a-kind performer. The music is great, but this release gets a big zero for documentation. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide