Not to be confused with the Brownsville Blues session that Sleepy John Estes recorded for Delmark in the '60s, this Brownsville Blues is an Austrian release that focuses on the Tennessee bluesman's early recordings for Victor, Decca and RCA/Bluebird. Many blues experts will tell you that Estes did his most essential work before World War II, and they speak the truth. The Tennessee country blues don't get any richer than the 23 selections on this CD, which span 1929-1941 and boast Estes' definitive versions of classics like "Divin' Duck Blues," "Milk Cow Blues," "Married Woman Blues," and "Brownsville Blues." Equally valuable is 1935's "Someday Baby Blues," the gem that became the basis for Big Maceo Merriweather's famous "Worried Life Blues." On these essential recordings, Estes' acoustic guitar playing isn't fantastic -- competent, although not fantastic. But then, one doesn't have to have killer chops to create meaningful music. While Estes was never a great guitarist, he was a compelling storyteller and a most expressive vocalist -- and those qualities make Brownsville Blues a joy to listen to. For those who don't own any Estes albums and are looking for a single-CD collection of his most essential work, Brownsville Blues would be an excellent choice. ~ Alex Henderson|

Rovi