American Blues
Various Artists
(2003) Putumayo World Music
This CD represents everything I love about today’s artists who manage to take music from the past and make it meaningful for us today. Some of today’s best blues artists are featured on this CD, including Arthur Adams and B.B. King with “Get You Next To Me,” Taj Mahal with “Cakewalk Into Town,” Keb Mo’ with “Hand It Over,” and Chris Thomas King with “Why Blues.” Each of these songs show why the blues can be both very old and very innovative at the same time. Solomon Burke’s “None of Us Are Free” is probably one of the best blues songs of all time, and it’s right here on American Blues. You may have heard it on the show House, M.D. The song is a classic.
Compilation CDs are a great way to listen to your favorite artists while being introduced to artists you may not be familiar with. I already loved B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo’, and Chris Thomas King, but Susan Tedeschi’s “Just Won’t Burn” on American Blues made me listen up, and then of course I had to get her CDs. If you’re not familiar with her, check out her song. You may also find blues artists you’re not familiar with but you’ll love them as soon as you hear them on American Blues.