Varese Records
1995
I Do Not Play No Rock 'N' Roll
About This Album
This reissue of the original Capitol landmark from 1969 adds five tracks totaling 20 minutes to the playing time, yet falls short of the 1995 Capitol re-release The Complete Sessions, which tacked on ten tunes. Interestingly, three of these additional songs that close this 2001 reissued disc -- "You Got to Move," "The Train I Ride," and "You Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore" -- weren't included in those ten and don't feature the bass and drums that were an integral part for most of the session. Regardless, the performance is classic and retains all of its spiky edginess. Even though blues purists griped because it was the first recording where the previously acoustic McDowell played electric guitar, his lines are so stark, spare, and jagged that the fullness and volume the instrument provides works perfectly with his hardcore Delta approach. McDowell is in wonderful voice and exuberant spirits throughout, spinning lively stories on the nine-minute "Everybody's Down on Me," where he doesn't start playing guitar or singing until four minutes into the track. The raconteur expresses, as well as explains, the album's title on the opening version of Big Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go," the session's only cover.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 and 11)

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