Bluesman Cat-Iron has 1958 album re-issued
A LONG deleted blues and gospel album by Cat-Iron has been re-issued on vinyl. Folklorist Frederic Ramsey Jr came across William 'Cat-Iron' Carradine in 1958, 20 years after the singer/guitarist had hung up his instrument having renounced the blues and found Christianity. After some persuasion, Ramsay recorded Cat-Iron singing blues and gospel in his living room and the results were issued on a Folkways album. 'Sings Blues & Hymns' has now been re-issued on vinyl by Exit Stencil Records. Wrote Record Collector magazine, "He doesn't seem to defer to any blues conventions, his guitar playing is as personal as handwriting; raw, nuanced and without regard for any one popular blues paradigm." Months after making the recording Cat-Iron died.
The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.