Similar Albums:
- Artist: Josh White
- Rating:
- Release Date: September 10, 2002
- Type: Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Folk
Review
Elektra Records' president, Jac Holzman, was usually one step ahead of the competition. In the early '50s, way before the Kingston Trio kicked off the folk revival with "Tom Dooley," he recorded Bob Gibson and Theodore Bikel. He also recorded folk-blues artists like Josh White. Josh at Midnight/Ballads and Blues were recorded in 1956 and 1957, respectively, and helped to reintroduce the singer to a new audience. Josh at Midnight represents a couple of approaches, switching between solo cuts like "St. James Infirmary" and duos where he's accompanied by another, deeper-voiced singer, like "Raise a Rukus." There's also the interesting coupling of racy songs like "Jelly Jelly!" and religious ones like "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho." Ballads and Blues chooses a more integrated, progressive approach, adding drums and bass. While folk purists may find these additions sacrilegious, White's soulful renditions of "Miss Otis Regrets" and "One for My Baby" work extremely well in these settings. It's interesting that despite the change in arrangements on these cuts, he continues to play acoustic guitar. It's also fascinating that Holzman didn't object to the inclusion of a political piece like "Jim Crow Train." Taken together, Josh at Midnight/Ballads and Blues offer 70 minutes of music and provide a good introduction to a fine blues singer. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| St. James Infirmary | Traditional, |
Josh White | (3:39) |
| Raise a Rukus | Public Domain | Josh White | (1:57) |
| Scandalize My Name | Public Domain | Josh White | (1:54) |
| Jesus Gonna Make up My Dyin' Bed | Public Domain | Josh White | (4:10) |
| Timber (Jerry the Mule) | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:09) |
| Jelly, Jelly! | Public Domain | Josh White | (5:54) |
| One Meatball | Hy Zaret | Josh White | (3:41) |
| Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:46) |
| Don't Lie Buddy | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:37) |
| Number Twelve Train | Public Domain | Josh White | (3:46) |
| Peter | Public Domain | Josh White | (1:58) |
| Takin' Names | Public Domain | Josh White | (3:35) |
| Midnight Special | Public Domain | Josh White | (3:15) |
| Miss Otis Regrets | Cole Porter | Josh White | (3:03) |
| Helleleu | Public Domain | Josh White | (3:44) |
| Woman Sure Is a Curious Critter | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:02) |
| Prison Bound Blues | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:25) |
| Gloomy Sunday | Sam M. Lewis, |
Josh White | (3:04) |
| Ball and Chain Blues | Public Domain | Josh White | (3:08) |
| One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) | Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer | Josh White | (3:06) |
| Jim Crow Train | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:51) |
| Told My Captain | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:21) |
| So Soon in the Mornin' | Public Domain | Josh White | (2:18) |
| Bury My Body | Traditional | Josh White | (3:52) |
