Free & Equal Blues in Bloomington, MN

This fine 26-song compilation of material was recorded by folklorist
Moses Asch
in the 1940s, at a time when
Josh White
was beginning to reach an urban, educated audience with his mixture of blues, folk, and pop styles. What comes across particularly strong in this set is his versatility and all-around appeal; he handles topical songs about discrimination and war, spirituals, covers of blues by
Leroy Carr
and
Victoria Spivey
, folk ballads, and theatrical pieces, even extending to a cover of
Cole Porter
's
"Miss Otis Regrets."
"One Meatball"
provided some of the musical inspiration for the classic
Merle Travis
tune
"Sixteen Tons"
;
"Freedom Road"
had lyrics by poet
Langston Hughes
. Because he was less earthy and not as Southern-sounding as
Leadbelly
Big Bill Broonzy
,
White
has been accorded less critical respect, but this anthology shows him to be one of the unquestioned linchpins of the first stirrings of the folk revival.
Free & Equal Blues
includes copious notes by
biographer
Elijah Wald
. ~ Richie Unterberger