Elmore James - The Sky Is Crying (Remastered) (2019)

The legendary bluesman Elmore James is the most influential slide guitarist of the postwar period. He’s been credited as one of the primary architects of blues-rock by virtue of his energizing primal riffs and raw, driving intensity. His influence (in approach, attitude and tone) is incalculable, and can be heard in just about every guitar player who puts a slide on his finger and wails the blues.

Although James had been on the scene since 1939, he recorded the lion’s share of his finest work between the early ‘50s and ‘60s, for different labels, such as Flair, Trumpet, Chief, Chess, and Fire Records. Including here are blues classics like his signature tune “Dust My Broom” (an electric updating of Robert Johnson’s “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom”), as well as classic numbers like “Shake Your Moneymaker,” “Standing at the Crossroads,” and the soulful ballad ”The Sky Is Crying.” (The latter tune has become a blues standard, performed by many artists, such as Eric Clapton, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and The Allman Brothers Band, to name a few.) The aforementioned tracks, and many other great songs, have been included on this essential remastered edition, which compiles the cream of the crop of Elmore James’ legacy.