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DELUXE EDITION Alligator (2005) 1. River Hip Mama |
Musselwhite recorded three critically acclaimed albums for Alligator Records during the 1990s. Deluxe Edition is a collection of highlights from those releases, which are among the strongest of his entire career. Included on the new CD is a previously unreleased track from 1994 and a never-before-available home recording of legendary Memphis Jug Band member Will Shade (Charlie’s first mentor) and Musselwhite from the early 1960s.
Musselwhite signed with Alligator in 1990 after overcoming his personal battles with alcohol. His label debut, Ace Of Harps, was a true comeback album, and received massive amounts of critical and popular acclaim, including a Grammy® Award nomination. Signature, which followed in 1992, reconfirmed Charlie’s position as a world-class bluesman and pushed his music forward with horns and jazz chording. 1994′s In My Time followed, and was hailed as Musselwhite’s most personal and powerful recording. Released on his 50th birthday, the album found Musselwhite recounting his own musical history, with blues and gospel sounds from Mississippi, Memphis and Chicago, and a guest appearance by The Blind Boys of Alabama. A few songs even feature Musselwhite on solo guitar. The album received four stars from Rolling Stone, received another Grammy® nomination, and elevated his status as a true blues master. He appeared on Saturday Night Live and was the subject of a feature story on CBS Sunday Morning.
