Classic Pre-War Acoustic Blues
The young Delta Groove label has consistently put out interesting CDs, but with John Long 's Lost & Found they have taken another turn; one that is more consistent with their name in that it indeed has a Delta groove. The first thing that hits you on this release is Long's deep, timeless voice as it rolls like a Greyhound bus rolling south out of Memphis over the sliding strings of his resonator guitar, which is hard to ignore as it jumps right up and fills the room with a sound as old as the Blues itself. The second thing that hits you is that this is the real deal Blues, carrying the torch of Country Blues greats like Lightnin' Hopkins and Homesick James Williamson . And like a proud Olympian, Long carries that torch high and with great respect for the endless line of great Bluesmen that it represents.

Along with singing and guitar, Long plays harmonica in a not-so-original style, but in a pure pre-war style that tastes of back roads and complements his voice. These are original songs that, like that first shot of whiskey after a long day at work; at first it hits you hard, but after awhile just warms up everything. Check out track number six, "Stranglevine," and the instrumental track number seven, "Johnny's Jump," or "Healin' Touch" to see what I mean.

While the songs on the CD are all originals, they all sound eerily familiar as if you already knew them. And if you have listened to enough early Muddy recordings, Tommy Johnson , and Son House , maybe you do already know them. But what you also get by the time you get to the third or forth cut, is that this is no well-trained imitator, but someone who wears these songs like a coat of country dust. If the production weren't so good, you might swear that you are listening to some Yazoo release of vintage pre-war Blues. Check out "Mean Ole Rootin' Ground Sloth" for this sort of flavor, or hell, just drop the needle (or point the laser?) at any track on the CD. They all ring true.

It would be remiss not to mention the great piano from Fred Kaplan on a couple of cuts, like on the rollicking and greasy "Hell Cat." Another one is the "bonus cut" where Kaplan jumps in with Long to reprise the last regular song on the CD, "Leavin' St. Louis." If there is anything missing on the disc it is more of Kaplan's piano.

If you are a fan of classic pre-war acoustic Blues, or of Paul Oscher 's Down in the Delta , or about anything by Watermelon Slim (whose voice came to mind often during this listening), then you are going to love John Long's Lost & Found . I don't know where this guy has been, but this disc is clearly in the top runners so far for next year's Blues Music Awards for Best New Artist Debut or Best Acoustic Album.