The Country Blues Roots of Toby Walker
The songs in this collection hold a special meaning to me, as they laid the groundwork for everything else that I would do in the future as a musician. From my first exposure to musicians like Charley Patton, Son House, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, I was hooked on this soulful, riveting music.
So I happily recorded myself playing my favorite songs, the ones that first captivated me as a young teenager. I think you'll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed recording them!
So I happily recorded myself playing my favorite songs, the ones that first captivated me as a young teenager. I think you'll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed recording them!
"Walker’s talent for playing deep Blues with authority and inhuman dexterity stuns me. I was inspired to hear what a modern master can do to honor the traditional Blues we love. For Walker, to be able to play and sing like this speaks to where he has been - Deep in the deepest Blues. I’m sure the ghosts are smiling down upon you."
Bob Margolin: Muddy Waters band, winner of numerous WC Handy Awards, Blues Blast Magazine Awards, and played on several Grammy-winning recordings.
Bob Margolin: Muddy Waters band, winner of numerous WC Handy Awards, Blues Blast Magazine Awards, and played on several Grammy-winning recordings.
What's Special About This Album:
All 24 songs will be available immediately as downloadable and streaming mp3s on the web page that I'll send to you.
Here's a free sample from the album, which looks just the way it does on the web page that I'll send you. Click on the arrow in the middle column to stream. To download the song, simply right-click or control-click on the file in the right column and choose "Save As." Easy as that!
All 24 songs will be available immediately as downloadable and streaming mp3s on the web page that I'll send to you.
Here's a free sample from the album, which looks just the way it does on the web page that I'll send you. Click on the arrow in the middle column to stream. To download the song, simply right-click or control-click on the file in the right column and choose "Save As." Easy as that!
|
Mississippi John Hurt
|
| |||
"The latest offering from New Jersey, US, acoustic picker, Toby Walker, is nothing short of a complete, masterful tour de force of blues-picking at its very best ... this is clearly an album of the year, with twenty-four superb tracks making it an absolute must-have for anyone who loves traditional acoustic blues music."
Iain Patience: International Blues Music Journalist: Elmore; Rhythms Magazine (Oz); Blues Matters (UK); Jefferson (Sweden); BluesMagazineNL (Netherlands).
To read the full review, scroll down the page.
Iain Patience: International Blues Music Journalist: Elmore; Rhythms Magazine (Oz); Blues Matters (UK); Jefferson (Sweden); BluesMagazineNL (Netherlands).
To read the full review, scroll down the page.
|
Here's What You Get!
|
|
• I play 24 songs, each one recorded with one microphone, just like the old timers did. However, the songs were recorded, mixed, and mastered using today's modern technology. The only things missing are those "cracks" and "pops" that were present in the original 78s.
• Liner Notes, LOTS of them. There's an introduction, giving some of my history with this wonderful music, as well as notes describing the original artists, the songs, and the lyrics. • Bonus For Guitar Players. I've also included an instructional video with tab on how to play Blind Blake's "Hey Hey Daddy Blues."
Here are the songs that I play.
Only $8.95
Once I receive your payment I PERSONALLY (yes, me and not a robot ) will send you From The Ground Up in a link via email. |
The Reviews
“From the Ground Up”
Buggypie Records
You want a history of the blues, to learn and understand why the blues are an essential part of our musical heritage, and how they should be respected and lovingly played, pick up and listen to this spectacular new release, “From the Ground Up,” from blues master Toby Walker. It is an indispensable history of one of America’s traditional formative and inspiring musical histories from a bluesman who has the combined care, respect and chops to pull it off.
Of course, this is not Walker’s first blues rodeo. Equal parts guitar teacher, historian and seasoned performer, “Ground Up” continues his conduit to the original country blues performers that have long been the foundation of Walker’s career.
The authenticity of this project would bring a warm smile from the progenitors of its sounds. Walker recorded each of the 24 songs, all of which have long been favorites of his, over one microphone, remaining true to their genesis.
The spectrum of the selections is as strong and pure as Walker’s innate ability to bring these classics to life. From Robert Johnson’s “Terraplane Blues” and “Dust My Broom,” to Son House’s “My Black Mama” and “Dry Spell Blues,” to Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “You Got to Move,” to Charley Patton’s “34 Blues,” and “Green River Blues,” to Mississippi John Hurt’s “Avalon Blues,” to Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Black Snake Moan,” to Furry Lewis’ “Kassie Jones,” to the Reverend Gary Davis’ “Soldier’s March,” and on, these classics are given a new life in the hands and voice of a truly modern blues genius.
If you love the blues, you must get “From the Ground Up.”
***** (out of five)
----MARK T. GOULD - Sound Waves Magazine
Buggypie Records
You want a history of the blues, to learn and understand why the blues are an essential part of our musical heritage, and how they should be respected and lovingly played, pick up and listen to this spectacular new release, “From the Ground Up,” from blues master Toby Walker. It is an indispensable history of one of America’s traditional formative and inspiring musical histories from a bluesman who has the combined care, respect and chops to pull it off.
Of course, this is not Walker’s first blues rodeo. Equal parts guitar teacher, historian and seasoned performer, “Ground Up” continues his conduit to the original country blues performers that have long been the foundation of Walker’s career.
The authenticity of this project would bring a warm smile from the progenitors of its sounds. Walker recorded each of the 24 songs, all of which have long been favorites of his, over one microphone, remaining true to their genesis.
The spectrum of the selections is as strong and pure as Walker’s innate ability to bring these classics to life. From Robert Johnson’s “Terraplane Blues” and “Dust My Broom,” to Son House’s “My Black Mama” and “Dry Spell Blues,” to Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “You Got to Move,” to Charley Patton’s “34 Blues,” and “Green River Blues,” to Mississippi John Hurt’s “Avalon Blues,” to Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Black Snake Moan,” to Furry Lewis’ “Kassie Jones,” to the Reverend Gary Davis’ “Soldier’s March,” and on, these classics are given a new life in the hands and voice of a truly modern blues genius.
If you love the blues, you must get “From the Ground Up.”
***** (out of five)
----MARK T. GOULD - Sound Waves Magazine
Toby Walker
From The Ground Up
Buggypie Records
"The latest offering from New Jersey, US, acoustic picker, Toby Walker, is nothing short of a complete, masterful tour de force of blues-picking at its very best. Walker is a guy who has been out there many years now, always happy and prepared to push the boundaries with his music and his sheer class act. Here, with ‘From the Ground Up,’ he has glanced over his shoulder, looking back to those remarkable songs and artists that first fuelled his own interest and love for the music as a teenager.
In truth, there’s a track version cover from almost every true, traditional blues giant included within this package: kicking off with Robert Johnson’s ‘Terraplane Blues’, Walker moves effortlessly through Blind Boy Fuller, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Charley Patton, Fred McDowell, Lead Belly, and just about anyone you care to think of, tackling each style – and these vary enormously – with complete ease and towering skill and talent. And, as Walker explains, these are the tracks, the musicians who first fired him up, lit the spark, and whose work he still adores and returns to time and time again.
As a result, we have a simply stunning collection of traditional blues tracks from the true greats all picked here by Walker, a guy who seems to be easily their equal. This is clearly an album of the year, with twenty-four superb tracks making it an absolute must-have for anyone who loves traditional acoustic blues music."
Iain Patience: International Blues Music Journalist: Elmore; Rhythms Magazine (Oz); Blues Matters (UK); Jefferson (Sweden); BluesMagazineNL (Netherlands).
From The Ground Up
Buggypie Records
"The latest offering from New Jersey, US, acoustic picker, Toby Walker, is nothing short of a complete, masterful tour de force of blues-picking at its very best. Walker is a guy who has been out there many years now, always happy and prepared to push the boundaries with his music and his sheer class act. Here, with ‘From the Ground Up,’ he has glanced over his shoulder, looking back to those remarkable songs and artists that first fuelled his own interest and love for the music as a teenager.
In truth, there’s a track version cover from almost every true, traditional blues giant included within this package: kicking off with Robert Johnson’s ‘Terraplane Blues’, Walker moves effortlessly through Blind Boy Fuller, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Charley Patton, Fred McDowell, Lead Belly, and just about anyone you care to think of, tackling each style – and these vary enormously – with complete ease and towering skill and talent. And, as Walker explains, these are the tracks, the musicians who first fired him up, lit the spark, and whose work he still adores and returns to time and time again.
As a result, we have a simply stunning collection of traditional blues tracks from the true greats all picked here by Walker, a guy who seems to be easily their equal. This is clearly an album of the year, with twenty-four superb tracks making it an absolute must-have for anyone who loves traditional acoustic blues music."
Iain Patience: International Blues Music Journalist: Elmore; Rhythms Magazine (Oz); Blues Matters (UK); Jefferson (Sweden); BluesMagazineNL (Netherlands).
