Front Porch Blues

Front Porch Blues
Studio album by
John Jackson
Released1999
Genre
Length44:54
LabelAlligator
ProducerJoe Wilson
John Jackson chronology
Country Blues & Ditties
(1999) 		Front Porch Blues
(1999) 		Rappahannock Blues
(2010)

Front Porch Blues is an album by the American musician John Jackson, released in 1999.[1][2] It was Jackson's first studio album of new recordings in 16 years.[3] He supported it with a North American tour.[4] Front Porch Blues was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Comeback Blues Album".[5] Jackson referred to his music as "mountain hoedown".[6]

Production

The album was produced by Joe Wilson.[7] Jackson recorded it while working as a part-time gravedigger.[8] He used a resonator guitar, and believed that the blues was best expressed with just a voice and guitar.[9] "Rappahannock Blues" is an instrumental, named for the Virginia county of Jackson's birth.[10][11] "West Texas Blues" is a version of the blues standard, modeled after Jimmie Rodgers's interpretation.[12] "Chesterfield" is a salute to Chesterfield cigarettes, inspired by Buddy Moss's similar song.[13] "Have It Your Own Way" features a vocal by Jackson's son, James.[14] "The Devil He Wore a Hickory Shoe" is an interpretation of a gospel song beloved by Jackson's mother.[15] "Death Don't Have No Mercy" was written by Reverend Gary Davis.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Gazette8.5/10[12]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[16]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[17]

The Gazette noted that Jackson's "music is informed not only by the blues, but also by the country, ragtime and early jazz records he heard growing up".[12] Billboard called the album "a sweet recital drawn from the musician's apparently vast repertoire of country blues."[7] The Washington Post said that "Jackson has pared away all the unnecessary notes to reveal the essential dialogue between his gravelly baritone voice and his sparkling, skeletal guitar lines."[3] The Edmonton Journal stated that Jackson's "voice is a warm but flexible instrument that is equally comfortable performing story songs, relating dramatic gospel inspired tunes or conveying raw emotions."[18] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the "delicate lines and finger-picked versions of ... traditional tunes".[17] The Times deemed Front Porch Blues "the best acoustic blues of the year".[19]

Track listing

Front Porch Blues track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Railroad Bill"4:03
2."C. C. Rider"3:01
3."Death Don't Have No Mercy"3:26
4."Chesterfield"2:46
5."Steel Mill Blues"3:00
6."Louisiana Blues"2:14
7."Just Because"3:39
8."Red River Blues"2:45
9."Fairfax Station Rag"1:33
10."West Texas Blues"3:34
11."When He Calls Me"3:10
12."Midnight Hour Blues"3:20
13."Rappahannock Blues"1:33
14."She's So Sweet"2:59
15."The Devil He Wore a Hickory Shoe"2:06
16."Have It Your Own Way"1:45
Total length:44:54

References

  1. ^ Calloway, Earl (June 1, 1999). "John Jackson celebrates Alligator release". Chicago Defender. p. 20.1.
  2. ^ Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to the Blues. Rough Guides. p. 210.
  3. ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (July 2, 1999). "John Jackson". The Washington Post. p. N14.
  4. ^ "Country-style blues". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 16, 1999. p. 20.
  5. ^ Ellis, Bill (January 15, 2000). "Walker Tops Nominees for Coveted W. C. Handy Blues Honors". The Commercial Appeal. p. F1.
  6. ^ Berrier Jr., Ralph (February 20, 2001). "From the Wilderness Comes Greatness". Extra. The Roanoke Times. p. 1.
  7. ^ a b Morris, Chris (June 19, 1999). "A Pair of Jacksons". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 25. p. 59.
  8. ^ Harrington, Richard (January 22, 2002). "The Great Guitar of John Jackson: Legendary Virginia Bluesman Never Lost Down-Home Warmth". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  9. ^ Johnson, Jeff (February 4, 2000). "Blues legend master of solo act". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 8.
  10. ^ McDonald, Sam (May 14, 1999). "Blues Deluxe". Daily Press. Newport News. p. D6.
  11. ^ Lien, James (June 14, 1999). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 58, no. 622. p. 29.
  12. ^ a b c Regenstreif, Mike (June 17, 1999). "Blues". The Gazette. Montreal. p. C15.
  13. ^ Dallas, Karl (January 24, 2002). "John Jackson". Obituaries. The Independent. p. 6.
  14. ^ Henry, Tom (June 27, 1999). "'Front Porch Blues' John Jackson". The Blade. Toledo. p. G2.
  15. ^ Kell, Ellis (July 4, 1999). "Fresh front porch blues". Life. The Dispatch–Argus.
  16. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 304.
  17. ^ a b White, Jim (October 31, 1999). "The Best of a New Batch of Blues Albums". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G4.
  18. ^ North, Peter (September 4, 1999). "Ridin' with Bob & sharing the blues on John's front porch". Edmonton Journal. p. C3.
  19. ^ Clarke, John (December 11, 1999). "Blues choice". The Times. p. Metro 11.