At the time these tracks were cut, 1967 and 1968,
R.L. Burnside was working on a plantation in Coldwater, MS, cutting silage. Folklorist George Mitchell was on a mission to record unknown blues singers down South. Mitchell heard about
Burnside and paid him a visit, asking if he could record him. That night Mitchell returned to
Burnside's place with a case of beer and some whiskey. Ten months later,
Burnside had his first release. While these 14 tracks didn't jump start
Burnside's career, they are stark, organic, and timeless, just
Burnside and his acoustic guitar running down mainly traditional material that he arranged. This is an absolute treasure for
Burnside aficionados and casual blues listeners alike. ~ Al Campbell