American Folk-Blues Festivals: The British Tours 1963-1966 Hip-O DVD.

This is the fourth in a series that’s garnered Grammy nods and is especially historic, considering how much these icons of American blues influenced and inspired young British invasion bands that included The Rolling Stones and The Animals.

Between 1963 and 1966, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, and Junior Wells toured the UK several times, and some of the original performances aired on British TV. Those now-legendary moments are now collected here on this DVD.

Muddy has his “Mojo Working” indeed and also delivers “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” and “Blow Wind Blow”. Sonny Boy sings “Keep It To Youself”, which opens the disc, and also “Bye Bye Bird” and “Getting Out of Town”. Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning” is thunderous.

The two Big Joe’s–Williamson and Turner–also appear for some good-time jump stylin’ for “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “Oh Well, Oh Well”. Also performing are some ladies of the blues: Sugar Pie DeSanto nails both “Baby What You Want Me To Do” and “Rock Me Baby”, while Sister Rosetta Tharpe is sharp on “Trouble In Mind”. Everything is both vitally archival and vividly entertaining as well.