Clifford Gibson – Complete Recorded Works 1929-1931 In Chronological Order – Document Records BDCD-6015

This 23-song compilation by Clifford Gibson ideally captures his precise guitar picking style and wholly original lyrics.  Gibson was something of a fluke on the vibrant St. Louis, Missouri blues scene, as he originally hailed from Kentucky, while the majority of the big city’s artists were from Mississippi and Arkansas.  There is more than a hint of the great Lonnie Johnson’ influence upon Gibson’s guitar style, and without a doubt, as previously mentioned, he was an extremely gifted player.  But it was his lyrical proficiencies that set him apart.  Many of Gibson’s songs framed tales of abuse at the hands of bad women, with the other major topic within his tunes dealing with games of chance.  Certainly, other themes arise, with 20 of the cuts here are purely Gibson’s, with three other finding him in support of blues piano man Roosevelt Sykes, R.T. Hanen (most likely the blues vocalist known as J.D. Short), and surprisingly accompanying the famed yodeling hillbilly blues vocalist Jimmie Rodgers.  Gibson did go on to make some Bobbin label sides in 1960, but these earliest tracks are a primer in precise blues guitar work and poetic invention.

St. Louis was a wellspring of blues talent during the period of these excellent songs, and Gibson’s place on that scene must surely have been equally renowned.

This set is a gem, and considered essential.