These '60s recordings came about as a result of
Chris Strachwitz
tracking down fiddler
Luderin Darbone
in Louisiana in 1963.
The Hackberry Ramblers
had not recorded for years, but assembled again for some sessions in both the
Goldband Studio
and
Darbone
's home. Two other
Ramblers
from the '30s-era lineup,
Edwin Duhon
Lennis Sonnier
, were also on board, with the personnel filled out by some younger musicians.
Old-timey
purists will probably still prefer the
'30s and '40s sides; this collection has the advantages of clearer fidelity and easier availability.
Jolie Blonde
adds nine previously unreleased bonus cuts, most taken from their appearance at the 1995
UC-Berkeley Folk Festival
. ~ Richie Unterberger