Artist: REVEREND ROBERT WILKINS
Album: PRODIGAL SON (DIGI)

Release date: 2014
Media type: CD

Memphis bluesman Robert Wilkins recorded between 1928 and 1935 - and then disappeared. Researcher Dick Spottswood rediscovered him in 1964 and gave him a new career. Of all the rediscovered pre-War blues singers, Wilkins was among the finest. His vocals and guitar playing were still very strong and confident. But Wilkins had become a preacher and wouldn't do blues as he had recorded them before the War. Instead, he recorded gospel songs with the fire and passion with which he'd recorded blues.

Spottswood issued some of the Wilkins songs on 'Memphis Gospel Singer' (Piedmont Records) and another four songs on 'The Old World's In A Hell Of A Fix' (Biograph Records). Now all are gathered together, remastered and restored together with Spottswood's detailed remembrance of his friend Robert Wilkins.

At one time, we took rediscovered blues men for granted, but of course they passed one by one. Robert Wilkins died in 1987. The Rolling Stones royalties from their cover of Prodigal Son made the last years good for him. Now, no pre-War blues singers remain alive, and the ranks of post-War bluesmen are thinning fast. That makes these recordings, quickly passed over at the time of release, more valuable than ever. A tangible reminder of the blues in its infancy as a great American art form.

TRACKLIST:

001 Jesus Will Fix It Alright
002 Thank You, Jesus
003 Just A Closer Walk With Thee
004 Do Lord Remember Me
005 Here Am I, Send Me
006 The Prodigal Son
007 Jesus Said If You Go
008 I'm Going Home To My Heavenly King
009 Old Time Religion
010 I Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
011 It Just Suits Me
012 The Gambling Man
013 Biographical Statement