Farewell Blues covers a very narrow but vital era, a five-year window when traditional string bands began making the rapid transition into Western swing. The tracks on this collection from British label Krazy Kat exhibit a fascinating hybrid of styles, from traditional Appalachian approaches to jug band and Dixieland, even pop, all with a kinetic pace and a "hotness" that mark them as forerunners of Western swing. There are name artists here like ace fiddler
Clayton McMichen of
the Skillet Lickers (whose "Farewell Blues" gives this compilation its title),
Texas Jim Lewis, and
Al Clauser, but also several more obscure artists. The Swing Billies are a particular delight, with their tight harmonies and swinging pop sheen on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and their everything but the kitchen sink approach on "Leavin' Home," a radically re-constructed version of "Frankie and Johnny." The sound is surprisingly good, free of the snaps and crackles that are often found on archival releases of vintage 78s. ~ Steve Leggett