Twenty-six tracks that
Fulson
cut between 1946 and 1951 for the Swing Time, Big Town, and Down Town labels. This is far more sparsely produced, and less urbane in feel, than the material
Lowell
would record for Chess throughout the 1950s. Indeed, on ten of the cuts, he's supported only by his brother
Martin
on rhythm guitar; there's a small combo on the remainder of the cuts, but a fairly subdued one. Those who prefer their blues down-home might like this better than the more polished sound that
moved into for the rest of his career. It's city blues just out of the country, with
Fulson's
high, pleading vocals and sharp, countrified electric licks to the fore. The most famous song, by far, is the original version of
"Three O'Clock Blues,"
which was covered for a huge R&B hit by
B.B. King
in the early '50s. ~ Richie Unterberger