R.L. Burnside – 'First Recordings'

 

'First Recordings' compiles the very first tracks recorded by Mississippi hill country bluesman R.L. Burnside. 

In 1968, field researcher George Mitchell recorded these raw acoustic songs in R.L. Burnside’s home using a portable recorder.   At the time, R.L. was a farmhand who only played music for his family and friends.

In 2003, Fat Possum Records compiled and released his music to the public.  'First Recordings' offers a captivating glimpse into the development of a legendary artist’s hypnotic and rhythmic guitar style.

The songs on 'First Recordings' are raw and dark, bursting with intense emotion.  R.L. has clearly poured his heart into them, his moans and howls telling stories of broken hearts, loose women and the end results that both bring.  Even though R.L. Burnside’s humor became more noticeable on later albums, you can still catch glimpses of it, especially in "Skinny Woman" and "Long Haired Doney".  If you’ve heard Burnside’s later, more electric output, it’s really moving to hear him at his most honest and vulnerable.

Despite being taped in a small shack with a portable tape recorder, the audio quality is surprisingly clear, intimate, and well-balanced.

While I'm on the subject of audio quality, the freeload is a 24-bit/174.4kHz SACD rip of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s Ultradisc UHR, released in 2004.  It's a truly immersive audio experience, as if you’re sitting in the same room as R.L. Burnside.

For the freeload, what are some of your favorite first recordings, or debut albums?