Various ArtistsThe Devil's MusicReview

This 3 CD box set is inspired by the 1976 BBC TV series chronicling the history of the blues. 2 cds are of music taken directly from the series, while the third (and most interesting) features performances recorded at a 1963 blues festival in Germany.

The series focused on interviews and specially recorded performances by bluesmusicians in Chicago, New York, St. Louis, Memphis and Mississippi; including big names such as Bukka White and Big Joe Williams, as well as lesser-known new blood Fenton Robinson.

In truth, many better performances of the songs are available, a number of artists being well past their prime when recorded. A rough charm shines through, but the real appeal of the documentary would have been to see the performers themselves on film in their own environment. Listened to as a soundtrack it justisn't that good.

The tastier morsel is the 1963 open air festival set. The importance of such events (in the days before the Rolling Stones and Beatles endorsement of their blues heroes helped widen their appeal to pop fans) was getting the real US blues acts to Europe. Recordings were a by-product and regularly featured music now easily available on reissues of original US recordings. Even so, the featured set is strong, particularly the work of guitar legend Matt Murphy.

Sonny Boy Williamson isnt quite up to the standard of his original Checker label recordings here, but still turns in an intense and intimate performance. Aficionados will particularly enjoy the transformation of "Dont Start Me to Talkin" from the driving original to the slow drag version that closes the set.

In the end this CD is a curiosity, rather than a must have. Too specialist to be of use to blues beginners, but holding only limited appeal to those notoriously picky blues anorak types.