Goree Carter Rock Awhile (LP)

(Blues Boy Records) 16 tracks, gatefold cover

The combination of Texas, the late 1940s and the influence of T-Bone Walker produced a lot of exciting guitar blues. In fact, the influence of hot Texas blues bands on modern blues tastes is now at a peak not seen since Johnny Winter's 1968 breakthrough. Gatemouth Brown, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland are getting work and much praise, while the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan are at the forefront of a whole wave of young white Texas bands bringing the blues to the public. Left in the dust of history are many excellent recordings that were only available on 78 rpm by outstanding artists like Clarence Garlow, Roy Gaines and Zuzu Br'. Surprisingly, very few reissues of the lesser known Texas Jump Blues have appeared since the glory days 35 years ago. Most Texas reissues of the postwar era were either down home and featured performers like Lightnin' Hopkins or his contemporary artists on guitar and piano, or they spotlighted more famous artists like T-Bone. Gate, or Arno Milburn. More recently, Krazy Kat Records in England has released a series of albums focusing on Houston's postwar scene. Peppermint Harris is the star among American and European reissues, and now Blues Boy has issued this first full LP by one of the most exciting, deserving, and unfortunately still obscure Texas artists: guitarist and singer Goree Carter.