Southern Louisiana swamp blues doesn't get more infectious or atmospheric than in the hands of
Lazy Lester, whose late-'50s/early-'60s catalog for Excello Records (produced by the legendary
J.D. Miller) is splendidly summarized with the 30 sides here.
Lester's insistent harp and laconic vocals shine brightly on the rollicking "I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter," "Sugar Coated Love," "I Hear You Knockin'," and "If You Think I've Lost You," serving to help define the genre's timeless appeal. ~ Bill Dahl