Shack of Peasants

Item: Classic Blues Vol. 1
Author: Beth Blinn

Classic Blues Vol. 1

(1993)

Reviewed by Beth Blinn

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music YouTube Music

Label Metro One MusicThe LighthouseMay 1993

acoustic blues gospel blues

Classic Blues, Vol. I is the debut album on Metro One Records of Shack of Peasants, a group of Christian musicians and singers, most of whom have their own individual or group projects, but who share a common love and appreciation for Blues music. These type of projects seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately, but they are really making up for lost time, since this is an area of Contemporary Christian music that had been relatively untouched, until recently.

And some of those same players show up on this work-notably Darrell Mansfield and Chris Lizotte. But the catalyst for this album was really Lanny Cordola who was instrumental in rounding up the Blues artists, as well as others, including Sandra Stevens, Allegra Parks, Crystal Lewis and Philip Bardowell.

The album is mostly composed of remakes of traditional Blues tunes, with the mix of players changing from track to track. Cordola is the one constant, and he even adds his vocals to the mix, a first that I am aware of.

"Gwine Dig A Hole To Put The Devil In" is the first cut, and is a fun tune. "Gonna Sit On The Banks of The River" is stripped down-just Cordola on guitar and Bardowell on vocals. It is effective, and has an intimate feel to it.

"I Shall Not Be Moved" and "Stand By Me" are both traditionals, and the latter features some great harmonica work by Mansfield. Mansfield is also featured on the next tune "Death Has No Mercy Seat," as a vocalist-his rough vocals suit the tune well.

Then comes one of only two originals on the record. "Tears of Faith," written by Cordola, is a great song. Bardowell and Cordola trade vocals, and the tune holds its own against the classics.

The rest of the album continues in the same vein, and includes an instrumental solo by Cordola entitled "Cincinnati Flow Rag" by one of his heroes, the Rev. Gary Davis. The album finishes with another Cordola original, "Tribute."

In the credits, the album is dedicated to Rev. Davis and Blind Willie Johnson. If the album is meant as a tribute to these men and their influence, I think that they would have been proud.