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Barrelhouse Buck McFarland

Title: Alton Blues

Label: Delmark Records

Cat No:DE788
Format:CD

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Discovery Records
specialist music - mail order

In the late fifties Bob Koester and Charlie O’Brien turned gumshoes in St Louis, following the trails of long forgotten blues musicians. Information from the likes of Big Joe Williams and Speckled Red led to further discoveries and in 1960 O’Brien (a policeman in real life) tracked down Buck McFarland, a pianist from the old barrelhouse days with a recognizable St Louis style who had cut a handful of records between 1929 and 1935. In 1961, Sam Charters encountered technical problems when trying to record a raucous performance during which McFarland’s foot stomping shook ashtrays and lamps to the floor but shortly afterwards a more successful session took place at a better equipped home studio. It is these recordings that are issued here, capturing McFarland’s percussive piano style and his mahogany voice varnished by 60 years of experience.There’s also five minutes of conversation which is a fascinating oral document. Had he not died a few months later, Buck McFarland might well have resurrected his career as Speckled Red and Henry Brown were to do.

Reviews

Blues & Rhythm - Chris Smith

The thing to keep sight of is the combination of forcefulness, elegance and emotional depth that his playing achieves, He's quite a lyricist. This CD is definitely the nicest surprise of the year so far, and a valuable addition to the canon of St Louis piano blues.

Discovery catalogue available for
Barrelhouse Buck McFarland

Alton Blues