Various - Takoma Slide

Review by Jens Nähler

Takoma Slide: A Bluesy, Soul-Stirring Journey That Sticks With You If you’re a fan of raw, heartfelt blues and jazz that feels like it crawled straight out of some dusty Southern roadhouse or smoky Chicago club, Takoma Slide is gonna hit the spot. Released in 1999 on Takoma Records by Various artists, this album is less of a cohesive project and more of a love letter to American roots music—blues, gospel, folk, country, you name it. It’s messy, sprawling, and unapologetically real. And honestly? That’s what makes it so damn good. Denny Bruce, who compiled, produced, and wrote the liner notes for this gem, clearly poured his soul into curating these tracks. Joe Tarantino remastered them with care, but nothing here feels overly polished. This isn’t your pristine Spotify playlist; it’s an old friend telling stories through crackles and grooves. The album jumps between styles like Pre-War Gospel Blues, Delta Blues, Jazz-Rock, and even Psychedelic/Garage vibes. Yeah, it’s all over the place—but somehow, it works. Two tracks that stuck with me were “Preachin’ Blues” and “Vaseline Machine Gun.” Let me tell ya why. “Preachin’ Blues” hits hard right from the start. There’s something about the way the slide guitar wails—it’s like it’s crying out for help, just as much as the lyrics do. When the singer belts, “O Lord I Want You To Help Me,” it doesn’t feel performative. No, this is the kind of prayer born outta desperation, the kind where you’re down on your knees hoping someone—or something—hears you. I’ve had days where life felt heavy, and this track made me feel seen, y’know? Like, yeah, we’re all just trying to get through this thing called existence. Then there’s “Vaseline Machine Gun.” What can I say? This one’s wild. It’s not your typical blues number—it’s got this gritty, almost garage-rock edge to it. The energy is chaotic, frenetic, but oddly cathartic. Listening to it feels like driving too fast down a backroad at midnight, windows down, wind whipping your face. You don’t know where you’re going, but you don’t care either. For me, this song became a soundtrack to letting go, to embracing chaos instead of fighting it. What strikes me most about Takoma Slide is how alive it feels. These songs aren’t relics—they breathe, they sweat, they bleed. They remind us that music isn’t just entertainment; sometimes, it’s survival. Whether it’s the haunting call of “At The Cross” or the rollicking groove of “Everybody Slides,” every track has its own heartbeat. And maybe that’s why this album sticks with you long after the last note fades. In a world obsessed with shiny pop hits and algorithm-friendly playlists, Takoma Slide feels refreshingly human. Oh, and here’s the kicker—I listened to this while cleaning my apartment once, and now every time I hear “Rolling And Tumbling Blues,” I think of scrubbing grout. Weird, huh? But hey, isn’t that what great music does? It sneaks into your life and becomes part of your story.

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Filename: various-takoma-slide.zip

MP3 size: 150.1 mb
FLAC size: 1145.7 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
O Lord I Want You To Help Me	3:24
At The Cross	4:35
Preachin' Blues	4:40
Goodbye, My Friend	3:12
Everybody Slides	4:19
T. L. Walkin'	3:13
New Orleans Streamline	3:43
Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home	02:22
Rolling Stone	4:47
Preachin' Blues	4:40
Vaseline Machine Gun	3:9
Rolling And Tumbling Blues	6:57
Phoney Baloney	1:57
At the Cross	04:37
Rolling and Tumbling Blues	06:59
T.L. Walkin'	3:14
O Lord I Want You to Help Me	03:24
Poor Boy Long Ways From Home	2:20
Poor Boy	2:28

Video

Michael Bloomfield - At The Cross

Images

télécharger l'album Various - Takoma Slide

Catalog Numbers

TAKCD-8910-2

Labels

Takoma Records

Listen online

écouter en ligne
lytte på nettet
lyssna på nätet
online anhören
ouvir online
kuunnella verkossa
online luisteren
escuchar en línea
ascolta in linea

Formats

CD
Compilation

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Fantasy, Inc.
Copyright (c)	Fantasy, Inc.

Credits

Role	Credit
Compiled By	Denny Bruce
Producer	Denny Bruce
Liner Notes	Denny Bruce
Remastered By	Joe Tarantino

Notes

Packaged in a jewel case with a 16-page photo-illustrated booklet that includes credits, notes, and release information.

Barcodes

Barcode: 0 25218-8910-2 8
SPARS Code: AAD

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Takoma Slide* is like a time machine for your ears. It mixes blues styles from way back with sounds that feel fresh even today. Imagine finger-picked guitar meeting electric Chicago blues, or gospel vibes blending with psychedelic garage rock. All of this was pulled together by Denny Bruce, who not only compiled the tracks but also wrote the liner notes and produced the whole thing. One fun detail? The album includes two versions of "T.L. Walkin'" and multiple renditions of songs like "Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home" and "Preachin' Blues." It’s like hearing the same story told in totally different ways—raw, soulful, and full of history. And get this—it came out in 1999 on Takoma Records, a label known for its deep roots in American music. Not bad for an album that feels both vintage and new at the same time!

Comments

giorginagrandinetti99

2025-03-12

You are more than welcome flexman! I as well have trouble putting into words how I feel when I hear Michael's playing, so no worries. We are on the exact same page.

phillippabeharry

2025-03-12

Check out his playing on the 'Fathers and Sons" album he did with Muddy, Butterfield and more. Also his early recordings at Big John's, like 'Blues for Roy', 'Gotta Call Susie' and 'Country Boy'