Paul Geremia
LIVE FROM UNCLE SAM'S BACKYARD
Red House 101
available on Red House Records
This is one of the most pleasing and authentic live recordings, from one of the best country delta style blues interpreters playing today. I call him an interpreter because as well as following the tradition of the original players such as Willie McTell, and Skip James by letting the songs stretch and grow to fit the changing times. He is also adding new and relevant material to the pool, he wrote 5 of the 14 songs on this disc, and without looking at the credits you can't tell them from the ones written by the old masters. His guitar playing, particularly his bottleneck playing, and voice have done nothing, but improve with the more experiences he has added to his life. His voice has aged and adapted to his medium, until now it is one of his strongest assets. (I had the good fortune to know and hear Paul during our college days, and then a couple of years ago he took a rare trip out west and stopped in our little cowtown on his way to the coast and I had the good fortune to renew our acquaintance ship, and hear him live again after all these many years) This comes pretty close to capturing the essence of his live shows, which should not be missed. He is a wealth of knowledge about many of these long gone musicians who have given today's music so much, and he readily shares it in his raps about them. These vignettes, two of which are included here, are worth the price of admission alone. The humor behind the real life situations that make up 'the blues', comes flashing through.
The playing and singing here is stellar and should not be missed by anyone even remotely interested in the blues. If he plays your area don't miss the chance to see him. There is also a great painting by Eric Von Schmidt gracing the front and back of the package. Get this one.
Songs and writers
1. Diggin' Uncle Sam's Backyard - 3:24 - Paul Geremia
2. Arrangement For Me Blues - 3:23 - Bo Carter
3. Devil Got My Woman - 4:00 - Skip James
4. Piccolo/Kill It Kid Rag - 3:00 - Blind Boy Fuller/Willie McTell
5. Rap about Hambone Willie - 1:51
6. Travelin' Riverside - 3:23 - Robert Johnson
7. I Really Don't Mind Livin' - 3:04 - Paul Geremia
8. Dying Crapshooter's Blues - 3:07 - Willie McTell
9. Ain't Nobody Home But Me - 3:10 - Traditional
10. Rap About Son House - 1:43
11. My Kinda Place - 4:18 - Paul Geremia
12. The Monkey and the Baboon 5:02 - Traditional
13. Broke Down Engine - 4:26 - Willie McTell
14. Holly - 3:51 - Steve Mann
15. Something's Gotta Be Arranged - 3:59 - Paul Geremia
16. Big Walter - 3:29 - Paul Geremia
All instruments played by Paul Geremia
Produced by Chris Frymire