The second half of an epic recording session Mississippi John Hurt cut for the Library of Congress on July 15th-23rd, 1963 (the first half is available on D.C. BLUES--THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RECORDINGS VOL. 1), VOL. 2 reveals all the delights of this legendary bluesman. Though his most essential recordings were waxed in the late '20s for OKeh, Hurt's complex, fleet fingerpicking style and gentle, conversational singing were little diminished when the artist was "rediscovered" during the folk and blues revival of the '60s.
Over two discs and 37 tracks, Hurt delivers versions of some of his best-known songs ("Nobody's Dirty Business," Stackolee"), spirituals ("Will the Circle Be Unbroken"), and popular songs ("You Are My Sunshine"). Hurt's soothing, pleasant style of rural blues wears particularly well here; VOL. 2 makes an excellent companion to the first Library of Congress set, and would make a fine addition to any blues collection.