The blues "rediscovery" era of the 1960s brought to concert and sound stages many veteran artists who had participated in the "Golden Age" of country blues recording prior to World War II. The best of them retained much of their youthful power and brought with them the authority of experience. While these artists have since passed on, their record legacy is enhanced by these extraordinary performance clips.

The first generation of recorded Delta bluesmen--Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, and Mississippi Sheiks--is echoed in the stark and powerful performances of Bukka White, Sam Chatmon, Big Joe Williams, Houston Stackhouse and Son House. The East Coast ragtime style is exemplified by its supreme exponent, Reverend Gary Davis, seen here in some recently discovered informal footage. Huddie Ledbetter was a tradition unto himself with his repertoire of work and "play party" songs reflecting pre-blues African-American music idioms. The extraordinary color footage of Lead Belly singing three songs, and the informal footage of him singing Goodnight Irene to his wife Martha, are a treasure for fans of this American folk giant.

Collectively the performers presented here are an extraordinary group, keepers of bygone traditions whose legacies still resonate. 

Running time 58 minutes

DVD is region 0, playable worldwide

Bukka White: Aberdeen Mississippi Blues

                           Poor Boy

Sam Chatmon: Big Road Blues

                             That’s All Right

                                Sam’s Rag

Big Joe Williams: Sloppy Drunk Blues

                                  Highway 49

                                  Providence Help the Poor People

Houston Stackhouse: Cool Drink of Water

Son House: Yonder Comes the Blues

Rev. Gary Davis: Buck Dance

                                 Hard Walking Blues

                                 Make Believe Stunt

                                Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning

Lead Belly: Goodnight Irene (take 1)

                       The Grey Goose

                       Pick a Bale of Cotton

                       Take This Hammer

                        Goodnight Irene (take 2)