by William Ruhlmann
This midpriced reissue of the Archive of Folk Music recording Big Bill Broonzy (FS-213) chronicles the blues singer-guitarist's European comeback of the early 1950s, when he was in his late 50s. He is assured and comfortable with the material, which includes such standards as &Baby Please Don't Go,& &See Rider,& and even &Sixteen Tons& (the last suggesting his eclecticism). His performance of &St. Louis Blues& should serve as a lesson to guitar players everywhere, and &Ridin' On Down,& which he speak-sings in a deadpan manner, is hilarious. Complete with warmups and coughs, this is hardly a professional session, but a pro like Broonzy doesn't require much more than a microphone and a tape recorder to make a good record.