Saturday, February 2, 2013

Little Walter / The Best of Little Walter (1958)

Little Walter's amplified, overdriven, tough-as-nails harp is in full force on this best-of compilation. And for once, the "best of" label might actually apply to the music on the disc. Lyrically, songs like "Blue Lights," "Tell Me Mama," and "Watch Yourself" paint Walter as the hard character that he was, and showcase his innovative and distinctive harp style. There are also several previously unreleased outtakes that shed light on how the band worked, and provide additional illumination of the legend. In the years since his death, Walter's work has been packaged and repackaged a staggering number of times, making finding a truly representative set hard to find without breaking the bank. For listeners unfamiliar with most of his work who want to explore the back catalog, this is a great place to start.

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