Various Artists - Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: The Soul Of A Man

This soundtrack is one in a series (Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues) featuring original recordings and blues classics hand picked by the director Wim Wenders. 20 tracks from the likes of Cassandra Wilson, James Blood Ulmer, Marc Ribot, Lou Reed & Los Lobos. Sony. 2003. Album Description

A Great Sampling of Blues Interpretations

The film `The Soul of a Man,' directed by Wim Wenders, is terrific for many reasons, and requires a review of its own. The soul of the film, certainly, was the music, and it is well (but not completely) represented in this collection. Wenders decision to use contemporary interpretations of the songs of the three blues artists of the film was an inspired one. Immediately we recognize the depth of the work by these artists by noting how well the songs work today, in a vast array of styles (and originating from such a varied group of interpreters). There are so many wonderful moments on this album, that it would be impossible to detail them all. The best that I can do is encourage as many people as I can (particularly those not typically drawn to blues music) to give this album a listen, and perhaps it will provide that little spark of inspiration to seek out more historical and contemporary blues material. All great American music starts here. August 25, 2004

Won't somebody tell me just what is the soul of a man?

The soundtrack to the second film in Martin Scorcese's series on the Blues explores three blues artists: Nehemiah "Skip" James, Blind Willie Johnson, and J.B. Lenoir, the latter whose use of the blues extended to protesting injustice on a larger scale, such as the race riots of the 60's ("Alabama") and even the Vietnam War. The artists covering their songs range from jazz, goth, Mexican, alternative, and blues artists. Highlights follow.

Cassandra Wilson two Lenoir songs, of which the latter's "Vietnam Blues" is my favourite from the way her dark smoky voice wraps around the words. The concern addresses the fact that the soldiers "may be killing their brothers they don't know" but there's a well-deserved rap against LBJ, "Mr. President, you always talk about peace/.../you must always clean up your house before you leave/how can you tell the world they need peace, when you still killing and mistreating on me." Someone send this part of the song to W, please. She also does the slow and melodic "Slow Down."

Lou Reed performs James' "Look Down The Road." This is an upbeat arrangement here, but the underlying message is that down that road, "I can't see nothing that ever belonged to me." The other track he does is a cover of Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" performed over the end credits, and his voice mirrors Jefferson's gravelly one. He plays with the same musicians in both songs.

Nick Cave and the Dolls do a rousing version of J.B. Lenoir's "I Feel So Good" that's far from the proto-punk goth of "The Carny" or "From Her To Eternity."

"Don't Dog Your Woman" shows that Lenoir had some sensitive feelings to women, about not chaining them down in the house and letting them out so they can enjoy themselves. T. Bone Burnett and Jade Vincent do the vocal honours here.

Los Lobos shows they can do chugging blues as good as anyone else in Lenoir's "Voodoo Music." The guitar here is a standout, and utilizing a bari-sax for accompaniment is well-executed.

Lenoir was hit by a car accident and his injuries not taken seriously. He was released from the hospital and died at home in April 1967. John Mayall sings the pained "The Death of J.B. Lenoir" recorded three months after his death.

The way racist whites mistreated blacks while authority turned a blind eye is why Lenoir didn't like Alabama, and he sings as such in "Alabama" for, and asks for a Moses-like deliverance for his people.

Bonnie Raitt does a decent cover of James' "Devil Got My Woman" and Beck's cover of "I'm So Glad" is closer to James' original than Cream's electrified version. But Shemekiah Copeland's strong soulful blues voice does great justice to "God's Word."

Garland Jeffreys covers "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues", which Skip did based on his stay in the hospital. The refrain, done in response to the doctor and nurses asking who he is, and his getting food and bed at the hospital, he says "I'm a good man, I'm a poor man, you can understand." At one point in the song, his falsetto echoes that of Skip during his 60's comeback.

The title track by the gravelly-voiced Blind Willie Johnson backed by Willie B. Harris, is the most important and powerful song here, asking "won't somebody tell me, answer if you can/won't somebody tell me/just what is the soul of a man." He also states concisely that "a man ain't nothing but his mind." And the song of his that was included in Voyager's mission, "Dark Was The Nighht", is done here by guitarist Marc Ribot.

One of the better collections in the series despite the heavier emphasis on new cover versions rather than the originals. February 17, 2004

The Ultimate Tribute to Blind Willie Johnson

I cry for Blind Willie, he didn't deserve the life he had, he didn't deserve the pain he through for years and years, he is the ultimate bluesman who died way too soon. As I write this, his songs Dark was the Night and possibly Soul of a Man are
on a gold record on the Voyager One space probe that had left the solar system sometime ago. His music will outlive him and us forever and that makes me both cry and wonder about Blind Willie for what might have been as I look toward a uncertain future. I am listening to Dark was the Night and Soul of a
Man as I write this and I feel the spirit of Blind Willie looking on as I write this special tribute about him. There was a West Wing episode recently that mentioned Blind Willie, that was really cool. Buy this CD and watch the incredible film The Soul of a Man in the Blues series soon... February 12, 2004

Varied, striking, mesmerizing- lightning in a bottle....

I went out and bought this because some of my favorites
are represented on here BUT with something this exciting
I've found some excellent resources to seek out. I watched
this episode on PBS and I knew I had to own this collection and sure enough
it made it to the music stores. Quality music and theres really
nothing dull or repetitive about this one. So many examples of contemporary
blues weaved in with tradtional settings and even a a few
tunes from way back in the 30's. The musicanship & love and dedication to this unending musical style keeps moving along decade into decade, just close your eyes, it takes you back to another
time and place. These sets are priceless. You need to live with
these a couple weeks and give em all a chance to get under
your skin. I did and its really growing on me. From the raw acoustic blues solo training camp Bonnie Raitt puts you through("I lay down last night and I tried to get some rest")
with her right on the money, Open D take on the Skip James classic "DEVIL GOT MY WOMEN"(So timely. just listen to the aching pain and remorse and the fingerpicken,oouch!), to the gospel fever
solo gem "GOD'S WORD" from Shemekia Copeland(can this girl sing)
to Lucinda Williams excellent take on "HARD TIMES KILLING FLOOR"
another highlight, nice backing band, Lou Reed's perfect dylan
hoarse "LOOK DOWN THE ROAD", Cassandra Wilson, another voice
to reckon with on J.B. Lenoir's timely "VIETNAM BLUES" and "SLOW DOWN", LOS Lobos puts a spell on "VOODOO MUSIC" and
another favorite on this disc- T Bone Burnett's "DON'T DOG YOUR WOMEN",(New Orlean's funeral march like groove, with a Lennon'ish ghostly vocal, just excellent errie takes on this music. With contributions from Beck, Garland Jeffreys, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Jon Spencer Band this is enshrinement of top notch talents not to
be missed. Thats just ONE of many representations that has come out
from this outstanding PBS Special. Catch the blues wave. These tunes should be played on a radio station with a Program director that has some chestnuts so people can hear this music! October 25, 2003

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