Downhome Blues 1959 contains 46 tracks, spread out over two CDs, tracing the rural blues guitarist
Mississippi Fred McDowell’s earliest recordings. The sessions take place on the front porch of his Como, MS farm between September 21-25, 1959 and recorded by folk researcher
Alan Lomax with assistance from
Shirley Collins. On the first disc,
McDowell is heard playing acoustic guitar and is occasionally joined by guitarist
Miles Pratcher with
Fannie Davis on kazoo and comb, with vocals by
McDowell’s wife
Annie Mae,
James Shorty,
Sidney Carter, and
Rose Hemphill. The second disc includes one
McDowell track, “Shake ‘Em on Down,” with the remaining cuts spotlight other
Lomax recordings from the same time by bluesmen
Forrest City Joe,
Boy Blue,
Willie Jones and the fife and drum duo of
Ed Young and
G.D. Young. Although this material has been reissued over the years, JSP not only does an admirable job remastering the tracks but providing recording dates, personnel, and a bit of history that is easily accessible in individual jewel cases as opposed to a bulky booklet. As far as budget blues sets are concerned, this is one of the best.