Dubbed “The Queen of Country Blues”, Lizzie Douglas, aka “Memphis Minnie” was one of the most influential guitarist of the early 20th century, displaying a picking style that influenced Rev Gary Davis, and composing songs that are still played to this day.
This four disc 99 song collection includes some of her most famous tunes, including “Bumble Bee”, “When The Levee Breaks”, Me and My Chauffeur Blues” and “Nothing In Rambling”. The fact is that the difference between these “hits” and everything else here is just a question of timing with popularity, because everything here is pretty uniform, and uniformly first rate. She’s got a rich, earthy and expressive voice, and is a one woman band most of the time, as her strings create a bass line, lead and rhythm all in one. Towards the end of these sessions in the 1950s, she does go electric for a couple of tunes as on “Broken Heart”, but whether plugged in or not, you’re going to learn some licks and tricks from this lady.