Classic Blues, Volume 1

Description

Classic Blues, Volume 1 is the first of two albums by the American guitarist, songwriter and producer Lanny Cordola‘s blues project Shack of Peasants, released on Metro One Recordings in June 1993. The album is dedicated to the blues legends Rev. Gary Davis and Blind Willie Johnson and produced by Lanny Cordola and Gary Thomas Griffin.

The second volume, released on Metro One later the same year, was entitled Gospel Blues, Volume 2.

The title of this acoustic album is a pun on the name of session leader Lanny Cordola‘s former band, House of Lords. But Cordola takes his blues very seriously. He has sought out a number of obscurities by artists such as Leadbelly and Rev. Gary Davis, as well as including better known fare like «I Shall Not Be Moved», «Denomination Blues» and «Death has No Mercy Seat» (popularly known as «Death Don’t Have No Mercy»). Guest vocalist Darrell Mansfield, who has become one of the genre’s biggest supporters in the Christian music marketplace, does his usual fine job on «Death Don’t Have No Mercy» and «Nobody’s Fault But Mine», while some may be surprised at the soulful performance Crystal Lewis turns in on «Glory Glory Hallelujah» and «Stand By Me» (not the Ben E. King hit). But the hidden treasure is Phil Bardowell, vocalist from Cordola’s new version of Magdallan. His full-throated renditions of «Denomination Blues» and «Gonna Sit on the Banks of the River» are a delight. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, August 1993]

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CD tracklist:

01. Gwine Dig a Hole to Put the Devil In (feat. Lanny Cordola) – 2:27
02. Gonna Sit on the Banks of the River (feat. Phillip Bardowell) – 3:00
03. I Shall Not Be Moved (feat. Phillip Bardowell and Darrell Mansfield) – 2:32
04. Stand By Me (feat. Crystal Lewis) – 2:42
05. Death Has No Mercy Seat (feat. Darrell Mansfield) – 3:33
06. Tears of Faith – 3:38
07. Nobody’s Fault But Mine (feat. Darrell Mansfield) – 2:19
08. Down on Me – 2:26
09. Cincinnati Flow Rag (feat. Lanny Cordola) – 2:30
10. Denomination Blues (feat. Philip Bardowell and Lanny Cordola) – 2:30
11. Glory Glory Hallelujah (feat. Crystal Lewis) – 3:05
12. Tribute (feat. Crystal Lewis, Darrell Mansfield, and Philip Bardowell)

Note: Featuring extensive sleeve notes written by Lanny Cordola tracing the origins of the songs.