Ishman Bracey Saturday Blues

By Jim Weaver

“Now here is what appears to be a common problem with reissues of early blues recordings.

Here someone has slowed the original 78 to 70 rpm (using a true variable speed turntable) to change it to what was thought to be the key as it was originally recorded.

This video ends with two test key changes. In the 50’s and 60’s when there was no tab or sheet music for country blues, guitarists would slow the record speed to pick out the notes being played.

Ishman is a highly regarded guitarist by fingerpickers. He recorded very little but what he did record was “so simple that it was impossible to duplicate” meaning of course that it ain’t as easy as it seems.

I am assuming that this engineering was done in Japan, hence all the characters at the bottom of the screen.”