The Toronto Sessions by Archie Edwards

08 Apr

Written by Richard Bourcier
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Archie Edwards (1918 - 1998) was a legendary East Coast performer who lived in Washington, DC. Born in Virginia, Edwards was playing guitar at age seven and was heavily influenced by Blind Lemon Jefferson. Mississippi John Hurt was also a hero to Edwards and the two performed together in the early 1960s.

Moving to Washington in 1946, Archie Edwards eventually bought a barbershop which still bears his name and is the site of the Archie Edwards Memorial Foundation. He was part of the Capitol blues scene and played locally with Skip James, Flora Molton, John Jackson and Mother Scott.

Edwards never became a household name in the blues world as he seldom recorded in spite of numerous live appearances. NorthernBlues president, Fred Litwin, was delighted to be able to release this session recorded in Toronto during the summer of 1986. The bluesman was at his best in this concert and the audience included the members of the rock group U2. This release is the only Archie Edwards recording available on CD. Litwin feels the tapes will yield enough material for a second CD in the future. The quality of the mastering is superb with faithful reproduction of the sounds of Edward’s old steel-pan Gretch guitar.

The additional 28 page booklet written by Barry Lee Pearson is a bonus. Pearson’s writings on Piedmont Blues are not unknown to serious blues fans. This package is highly recommended to all students of the blues idiom.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Archie Edwards
CD Title: The Toronto Sessions
Genre: Blues
Year Released: 2001
Record Label: NorthernBlues
Tracks: I Had a Little Girl; One Thin Dime Blues; I’m Down Today; Sitting On Top Of The World; That Won’t Do; Greyhound Bus Blues; I Called My Baby Long Distance; Take Me Back Baby; Easy Rider; How Long Blues; Pittsburgh Blues; Poor Me; Meet Me In The Bottom.
Musicians: Archie Edwards (vocal, guitar).
Label Website: http://www.northernblues.com
Rating: Five Stars