Tinsley Ellis opens with "Hell Or High Water" (from the album of the same name) at the rockier end of the spectrum. Elsewhere rock tends to take a back seat, such as on Tab Benoit's "Fast and Free" (from "Wetlands") which more strongly relies on Louisiana for its sound. Even when Benoit combines with Jimmy Thackery they stay pretty firmly in blues mainstream for the slow burner, "Nice and Warm" (from "Whiskey Store") with its very tasty guitar.

The first of the straighter blues tracks is the unmistakable sound of James Cotton with the rocking instrumental "The Creeper" (from "35th Anniversary Jam"). The Hoodoo Kings also maintain a high tempo with the driving southern groove of "Hard Times" (from "The Hoodoo Kings"), as does Charlie Musselwhite on "Big River" (from "One Night In America"). Ronnie Earl gets mellow, however, for "Twenty Five Days" (from "Ronnie Earl and Friends") which features his trademark quality guitar playing.

Soul is represented initially by Joe Louis Walker, with the title track from "In The Morning" which received mixed reviews when it was released. Jimmy Thackery also gets soulful on "Where'd My Good Friend Go?" from "We Got It"), an absolute cracker, which makes you want to clap your hands and tap your feet. The soul sequence is completed by Luther Guitar Junior Johnson's "Crazy Over You" (from "Talkin' About Soul") another fine song which is a little marred by a slightly murky mix.

Acoustic blues also gets a look in. Firstly Paul Geremia does a take of "Get Right Church" (from "Preachin' The Blues" a Fred McDowell tribute album), showing his prowess on acoustic slide guitar. Annie Raines and Paul Rishell later do their thing on "I Shall Not Be Moved" (from "Down The Dirt Road" a Charlie Patton tribute album). Lastly, Colin Linden closes the album with "Blackbird" (from "The Blues White Album" where blues artists play songs from the White Album). Linden is a fine guitarist, but the mere title and concept behind the album makes it sound like one to give a wide berth.

"NTIWWCB Vol 420" offers a good cut-price introduction to Telarc's recent blues catalogue for anyone who has missed out. The tracks by the Hoodoo Kings and Jimmy Thackery and Luther Guitar Junior Johnson in particular have persuaded this reviewer that their albums are worthy of further investigation.

www.telarc.com

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