Recorded in 1969, this album, as McDowell’s titular quote suggests, is not just a collection of songs but a significant piece of musical history. It’s a masterclass, a confessional, a musical statement, and a history lesson all in one.
Despite its seemingly simple nature, it’s a profound work. Regarded as one of the greatest blues albums of all time, I Do Not Play No Rock ‘N’ Roll is a must-listen, a testament to one of the greatest musical forces that has directly influenced The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, The Black Keys & Bonnie Raitt (to whom McDowell taught slide guitar).
In 1959, McDowell’s talent was first captured by folklore musicologist Alan Lomax, and from there, he quickly rose to stardom with his live recordings and festival appearances across the US and UK. This album is a testament to McDowell’s unique voice and guitar style, dominating the air and filling it with raw power and authenticity.
Fred McDowell was actually a contemporary of Robert Johnson yet Fred wasn’t discovered ( by apparently Lomax Jr.) until 1959, in late middle age, but for those of us who know, Fred is every bit as important as Robert Johnson though Johnson was laudably far more ambitious and played all over the region, even going as far north as Chicago and Canada. Yet Fred’s voice is even more pained and powerful as RJ’s, and his song writing ability has really never been acknowledged for its greatness. We are so lucky to have the recordings we do, and God Orpheus only knows how many others of RJ’s or Fred’s talent went unrecognized due to the stupidity and brutality of the Jim Crow era, which extended far beyond the old Confederacy.
Originally released in 1969
The Fat Angel Sings 