Burnett also palpably conveys the appeal of the diametric poles of the church and the roadhouse - each afford their own kind of "freedom," but which is more "real"? Which more fundamental, which more true to the self? The legacy of slavery hangs over the landscape like a curse, like mud in the great brown river, with the overt vestige of Jim Crow segregation still very much in effect, and the '50s South no more than a generation removed from the near-slavery of sharecropping and the forced labor levee camps.
The soundtrack - though a bit chaotic - is brilliant as well with selections from Big Bill Broonzy, Elizabeth Cotten, Reverend Gary Davis, Ida Cox, Willie Dixon,
Lightnin' Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, Vasti Jackson, Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, Victoria Spivey, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dinah Washington, Sonny Boy Williamson, and the reappearance of Son House and Muddy Waters.
For much more on the series please see here.
Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
Last night's episode of "The Blues" was a little on the lame saide, but it did take the unwary viewer into the nasty side of the music. Ever heard of a song called "Shave '`Em Dry?" Scroll down for the unexpurgated version. Little Kim clearly had nothing on Lucille Bogan.
2 - AntFreeze
Each nights show is getting better. Monday nights primary goal seemed to be proving that white boys can not play the blues. Nick Cave, John Spencer, Lou Reed, Beck, and even Cream just royally sucked when they attempted to interpret others songs. Luckily Bonnie Raitt single-handedly redeemed us pigmentally challenged. Los Lobos also excelled. Last night made me order a Lightnin Hopkins cd. Finally a reason to turn on my TV!
3 - Eric Olsen
AF, I'm not sure if each one is getting better, but with each episode the series itself seems to be accumulating weight. Maybe it works better en toto than separately, which is interesting because they are all pretty different from one another.
And I agree tht the musical segment with the white people doing J.B and others was the low point. I like Jon Spencer, but it didn't seem to fit, Nick Cave was not good, Lucinda was ick - Bonnie and Los Lobos were definitely the highlight of that section.
I love Cream's version of "I'm So Glad" but the live footage they used didn't do the song justice.