Product Review

Well into the 1930s, music crossed racial barriers casually through much of the rural South. This Deep River of Song set from the Alan Lomax Collection captures black country musicians recorded in the field by Lomax, his father John, and four others between 1933 and 1946 (when holdouts still persevered). Most of the traditional material was commonly performed by musicians, and enjoyed by fans, of both races. They weren't overly concerned with commercial niceties, as guitarist Jimmie Strothers's "Poontang Little, Poontang Small" demonstrates. The great north Mississippi fiddler and singer Sid Hemphill (also adept at other instruments) sizzles through "The Eighth of January" (which ultimately morphed into Johnny Horton's hit "The Battle of New Orleans"), "Skillet Good and Greasy" (one of Uncle Dave Macon's signature tunes), and more. Even Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee get into the act. This represents some of America's original crossover music. --John Morthland