Vol. 6 in the Document label's seven-part series devoted to the complete works of Washboard Sam makes available all of his Bluebird recordings made between June 26, 1941, and July 31, 1942, the day before the AFM recording ban went into effect. Sam is accompanied by electrically amplified guitarist Big Bill Broonzy, pianist Memphis Slim, an occasional unidentified saxophonist, and three different bassists -- William Mitchell, Alfred Elkins, and Ransom Knowling -- the latter of whom was practically Bluebird's house bassist as far as the blues were concerned. Two tempos are generally employed: the slow, purposeful amble used on numerous titles including "Gonna Hit the Highway," "Stop and Fix It," and "She Belongs to the Devil"; and the rocking bounce that makes "Do That Shake Dance," "River Hip Mama," "Good Old Cabbage Greens," and "Rockin' My Blues Away" so enjoyable that impressionable listeners might feel compelled to acquire this disc in addition to the other six installments in the series. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
