1. Richmond Blues
2. Going to the River
3. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
4. Black Rat Swing
5. Mamie
6. Crow Jane
7. Dog Days of August
8. John Henry
9. Pigmeat Crave
10. Prison Bound Blues
11. Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
12. Careless Love
13. Great Change
14. Reno Factor
15. Step It Up and Go
Album Description
In Richmond Blues, guitarist-singer John Cephas and his harmonica-player partner Phil Wiggins personify the century-old blues sound of the Piedmont, the Appalachian foothills running from Richmond to Atlanta. Drawing from roots of ragtime, ballads, country, old-time string band, rhythm and blues, and more, Richmond Blues is a musical roadmap of the Virginia Piedmont tradition. While Cephas calls it "part of my heritage, part of my soul," their sound is at the same time distinctly modern, a kind of "urban acoustic blues." 32-page booklet with extensive notes and photos, 16 tracks, 65 minutes.
Album Description
Guitarist-singer John Cephas and his harmonica-player partner Phil Wiggins personify the century-old blues sound of the Piedmont, the Appalachian foothills running from Richmond to Atlanta. Drawing from roots of ragtime, ballads, country, old-time string band, rhythm and blues, and more, Richmond Blues is a musical roadmap of the Virginia Piedmont tradition. 32-page booklet with extensive notes and photos, 16 tracks, 65 minutes.
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Richmond Blues
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2008-07-29)
- Publisher: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
- Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
- Studio: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 2 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #39009
Avg. Customer Review:
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Another great release from Smithsonian Folkways 2008-08-11
Comment: I didn't have any trouble with the CD that the other reviewer had - the issue must have been isolated/random. The music on this release is a fine example of Piedmont Blues. Acoustic, jocular, nimble, thoughtful, and honest. Just guitar, harmonica, and the ragged-but-right sound of John Cephas singin' the blues.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Amazon Buyer Beware! - Updated 8/11/2008 2008-08-07
Comment: I purchased a copy of Richmond Blues from Amazon on the release date. Upon playing, it began making noises on the next to last track and stopped completely with 22 seconds left. The last track wouldn't play at all. I returned that copy (never a problem with Amazon) and ordered another. It arrived yesterday and has the same defect---stopped about halfway through the next to last track. I'll be returning it this morning. Looks like Amazon may have received a bad shipment. I've written to the head of Sales and Marketing at Smithsonian Folkways to see if he can guarantee a sound copy if I purchase the CD direct from them. I feel bad for the artists if this defect is pervasive. I'd hate for them to lose royalties over a manufacturing defect. Every Cephas & Wiggins CD I have is great and I was anxious to hear this latest one. Maybe someday.
Update as of 8/11/2008: The good folks at Smithsonian Folkways took my problem very seriously. They sent me a complimentary copy of Richmond Blues which plays perfectly and were going to check in with Amazon to be sure they did not have defective stock. So I'm sure you'll be able to order it now with confidence.
Now that I've had a chance to listen to Richmond Blues a couple times all the way through, I can highly recommend it to all fans of acoustic blues and indeed anyone who likes the stripped-down sound of fine American roots music found on so many Smithsonian Folkways CDs. As a big Cephas & Wiggins fan, Richmond Blues will see a lot of time in my CD player.
The review editting function won't let me change my rating score, so I'll try to make a separate post with a 5-star score. [Just tried, second review not allowed].
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Richmond Blues
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