Richmond Blues

In Richmond Blues, guitarist-singer John Cephas and his harmonica-player partner Phil Wiggins personify the century-old blues sound of the Piedmont, the Appalachian foothills running from Richmond to Atlanta. Drawing from roots of ragtime, ballads, country, old-time string band, rhythm and blues, and more, Richmond Blues is a musical roadmap of the Virginia Piedmont tradition. While Cephas calls it "part of my heritage, part of my soul," their sound is at the same time distinctly modern, a kind of "urban acoustic blues."

This recording is part of the Smithsonian Folkways African American Legacy series, co-presented with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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The Piedmont Blues

Track Listing

101	Richmond Blues	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:57
102	Going to the River	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	05:02
103	Keep Your Hands Off My Baby	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:58
104	Black Rat Swing	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:32
105	Mamie	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	04:10
106	Crow Jane	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:01
107	Dog Days of August	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	04:09
108	John Henry	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	05:36
109	Pigmeat Crave	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:32
110	Prison Bound Blues	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	05:21
111	Key to the Highway	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:25
112	Going down the Road Feeling Bad	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:35
113	Careless Love	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	05:48
114	Great Change	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:47
115	Reno Factory	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	03:16
116	Step It Up and Go	John Cephas and Phil Wiggins	02:57