The world is not exactly short of Blues compilations. Go into your local HMV and you'll see stacks of the buggers - roots, acoustic, electric, accapella, gospel, rock 'n' roll...hell there's probably a Popstars Blues compo with Gaz and Will covering Robert Johnson love songs in the making as we speak.
So why should you welcome this collection into your CD player? The clue, as they say is in the title - the Blues that left town. Here Joe Cushley has selected 35 tracks which highlight the outer limits, but the heart and soul, of the genre - old prison work songs complete with whirring machinery in the background, English comic rock from the 60s, blokes who sing like frogs and er... Dr. Feelgood.
Some of the classics are here too - Lightning Hopkins' dexterously, gritty 'Jake Head Boogie' allowing us to excuse the absence of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the magnificent Sister Rosetta Tharpe's swing era 'That's All'. Dylan fans can wallow in the workmanlike 'Dirt Road Blues' and Dr John will appease Beefheart fans (another absence) with the whisky and razor blades rasp of 'Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya'.
And let's not forget the modern blues torch bearers here - just as important to the project. Errol Linton's reggae/blues is a weird, mutant creature and Corey Harris brings a sample and beats vibe to 'Downhome Sophisticate' while the traditional blues is evidently safe and well in the hands of Otis Taylor judging by his excellent 'My Soul's In Louisiana'. So if you think you know all there is to the blues, this album will still throw up a few worthwhile surprises.
