Louisiana / Gospel CDs

2011 is the centenary of Robert Johnson's birth and in addition it was in 1941 that Muddy Waters first recorded on Stovall's Cotton Plantation in Mississippi. This excellent 2CD compilation traces the impact and influence of the blues on popular music. '100 Years of the Blues' is supported by a r...

Joel Rafael is an award winning internationally recognized songwriter from north San Diego County, California. His first release on Jackson Browne's Inside Recordings label combines two albums worth of Woody Guthrie songs, including 5 previously unpublished lyrics to which Joel has provided music. ...

Songs of the American labor movement over the 20th century called for just wages, dignity, and a fair shake. They voiced grievances, affirmed the value of the worker to society, and expressed hope for life in a more just world. Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways is a collage of these voic...

Seldom equalled and never surpassed, Muddy Waters changed the course of popular music. Beautifully remastered to capture Muddy's intoxicating power, this Rough Guide charts his early career in the Delta and pioneering time in Chicago. Comes with a bonus disc of Blues Legends featuring James Cott...

A true original with cult status, Robert Johnson was arguably the most influential bluesman of them all. Lovingly remastered to give exceptional clarity, this Rough Guide breathes new life into the work of a legend, who defined the blues and planted the seed of rock and roll.    Com...

Spirituals, guitar evangelists, "shout" bands, quartets, and choirs sing out the sacred sounds of African American gospel music. This Smithsonian Folkways "Classic" spans over a half century of select recordings to paint a broad panorama of this cherished American musical creatio...