Chris Cotton – I Watched The Devil Die
{2005 | Yellow Dog Records}

“Chris Cotton’s Yellow Dog Records debut sounds like a house party caught on tape – world-weary men effortlessly strumming their guitars and bass, while passing around a jug of whiskey for sustenance.”

America/Blues guitarist Chris Cottons debut solo album includes 12 songs.

Track Listing:

1. Morgan City, Mississippi – a bit of piano, whiskey jug like bass.

2. Come On – fairly traditional delta acoustic.

3. I Watched The Devil Die – finger pick’in good with long instrumental intro.

4. Dying Crapshooter’s Blues – just guitar and vocal, this is crossroad music.

5. That’s It – fast paced country instrumental with ho-down fiddlin’ joined by the mandola/banjo.

6. I’m So Glad – vocals with a deep growl.

7. Was it low? – musically, the song is low acoustic and bass, vocally, Cotton takes it high.

8. Black Night (featuring Big Jack Johnson) – I liked this song best, it was mighty fine y’all.

9. Louis Collins – a slow, gospel-like tune done acoustically with moving vocals.

10. Blues for Big Bill – fiddle over bluesy shuffle, variety of vocal contributions.

11. Bill Bailey – this is a flashback of seventy years back to the roots of blues.

12. Goin’ Back Home – beautiful guitar playing on this ballad. I also liked this track a lot.

If you like good ol’ country and traditional blues, then you’ll dig this recording. It’s fairly mellow and 100% blues. It’s not the cookie cutter blues CD being released, it’s very traditional at parts. Rating 4.321.