Country Blues in Bloomington, MN

Although
Hammond
had already recorded electric material, he went back to a solo acoustic format for his fourth album, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica on faithful interpretations of standards by
Robert Johnson
,
Blind Willie McTell
John Lee Hooker
Sleepy John Estes
Jimmy Reed
Willie Dixon
, and
Bo Diddley
. If it sounds a bit unimaginative and routine today, one has to remember that the general listening audience was much less aware of these artists and songs in the mid-'60s.
did a commendable job of rendering them here, with fine guitar work and vocals that were a considerable improvement over his earliest efforts. ~ Richie Unterberger