R.L. Burnside Discography

	A Bothered Mind [buy this CD] Fat Possum 2004 Another remix collection. This one has guest turns from people like Kid Rock and Lyrics Born. If you liked Come On In, you'll probably like this one.
	Burnside On Burnside [buy this CD] Fat Possum/Epitaph 2001 Long-awaited live disc. Totally worthwhile. I was at the San Francisco show that supplied a few songs. Read reviews by Stephen T. Davidson and Mark A. Cole.
	Well Well Well [buy this CD] MC Records 2001 I don't own this one yet, but Amazon describes it as a "fascinating, scattershot collection of tunes and interviews, recorded between 1986 and 1993."
	Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down [buy this CD] Fat Possum 2000 Like Come On In, this one has some scratching and unusual effects, but it's a little more understated. The title track and "Hard Time Killing Floor" are great tunes; the others I'm not 100% sure about yet. If you'd like more info, you can read reviews by Stephen T. Davidson, Dick Houff, and Alan Haworth
	Come On In [buy this CD] Fat Possum/Epitaph 1998 I didn't like this much at first, but I've definitely come around. It contains some new stuff and previously released tunes remixed by Tom Rothrock and Beal Dabbs. Like A Ass Pocket of Whiskey, it's fun to crank up.
	Mr. Wizard [buy this CD] Fat Possum/Epitaph 1997 A solid effort in my opinion. Jon Spencer and the boys are along for the ride again, but only on two songs. It's a little more ragged than Too Bad Jim, but still well worth buying.
	A Ass Pocket o' Whiskey [buy this CD] [review] Matador/Fat Possum 1996 I didn't get this for a while because I had heard some less-than-positive reviews, but it's actually pretty fun, in a ragged sort of way. R.L. and Kenny Brown are backed up by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. It's a great "turn it up loud when you're driving" kind of disc, probably not meant for the blues purist. The best explanation of the sound I heard was something like, "It's Bo Diddley backed up by the Stooges."
	Too Bad Jim [buy this CD] Fat Possum 1994 This is easily my favorite R.L. alrbum. Produced by Robert Palmer, it mixes great originals with Lightnin' Hopkins covers and other standards. "Shake 'Em On Down" opens things off with a bang, and "Goin' Down South" brings it to a creepy, hypnotic close. Along with Junior Kimbrough's Sad Days, Lonely Nights, it monopolized my CD player for most of 1995.
	Bad Luck City [buy this CD] Fat Possum 1993 I tried to special order this a while back, but it was out of print in the U.S. I do have a couple of songs from it on a Fat Possum promo disc- they sound decent, but not outstanding. Admittedly, this was the very first Fat Possum release, so they didn't have things down pat yet. For his part, label co-founder Matthew Johnson said of the album, "I don't know if what we had in mind is what we got. But I guess that's how a lot of first times go." There is allegedly an import version available. Write Demon Records Ltd, Brentford, Middlesex, TW89HF for more information.
	Acoustic Stories [buy this CD] M.C. Records 1988/1997 Solid stuff. This album was recorded in New York City in 1988 with just R.L. and his harmonica player, John Neremberg. Like the title suggests, it's acoustic, so it's a little more reserved than his other works, but still worth a listen.
	Mississippi Blues Arion 1984/1997 I don't have this one, but I've been told that it was recorded in France and features eleven acoustic songs: Jumper Hanging Out on the Line, Sweet Little Angel Child, Long Haired Doney, Nightmare Blues, Poor Black Mattie, Catfish Blues, Death, Bells, Dust My Broom, Back Luck and Trouble, Rolling and Tumbling, and When My First Wife Quit Me. Liner notes are by Dr. David Evans.
	Plays and Sings the Mississippi Delta Blues Swingmaster 1980 (LP only) An entirely different set of songs from his Swingmaster CDs. Thanks to Bob Corritore for the information and cover scan.
	Mississippi Hill Country Blues [buy this CD] Swingmaster Contains 19 acoustic tracks recorded mostly in the Netherlands between 1980-1984 with a couple of interjections from Michell's 1967 recordings. Only available as an import, but it has a lot of songs you won't find anywhere else (Miss Maybell, House Up On the Hill, Just Like a Woman, Greyhound Bus Station...). Thanks to Stephen Davidson for providing the cover scan (with autograph!) at left. Click it for a larger version.
	Sound Machine Groove [buy this CD] HighTone 1980/1997 Reissue of a 1980 album produced by Dr. David Evans. R.L. is joined by his sons Daniel and Joseph on guitar/bass and brother-in-law Calvin Jackson on drums. Evans wrote some nice liner notes for the rerelease detailing what a typical R.L. gig in this era was like. The solo version of "Goin' Down South" is great.
	My Black Name A-Ringin' [buy this CD] Genes 1969/1999 Acoustic solo and duo sessions. Pretty solid stuff.

Singles

	Bad Luck City/Jumper Hangin Out On The Line High Water 45 rpm single, now out of print. Credited to R.L. Burnside and the Sound Machine. Thanks to Bob Corritore for the information and cover scan.
	Rollin' Tumblin' Bong Load 1998 Features remixes by Tom Rothrock and Alejandro Rosso: two versions of Rollin' and Tumblin', one of Going Down South, SHT Bug Story, and the original Fat Possum Rollin' and Tumblin'.
	Georgia Women Sympathy for the Record Industry/Fat Possum Has "4 Women" on the B-side.

Compilations

	Mississippi Delta Blues: Blow My Blues Away Vol. 2 Arhoolie 1967 Recorded by George Mitchell, this disc features ten songs from R.L. plus works by Joe Callicott and Houston Stackhouse. The tunes are all solo acoustic numbers, truly great stuff. Well worth the money.
	Going Down South Swingmaster 1986/1999 Recorded in New Orleans, February 6, 1986. R.L. is featured on five tracks. Ranie Burnette and Johnny Woods handle the rest. I don't own this one, but the sound clips on Swingmaster's site sound pretty good.
	Deep Blues Atlantic/Anxious Records 1992 Soundtrack to the Robert Palmer/Robert Mugge film. Features R.L., Junior Kimbrough, Jack Ownes, etc. R.L.'s tracks are "Jumper on the Line" and "Long Haired Doney." Not currently available in the U.S., although I've been told you can order the video from As Seen On TV, 1004 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford MS 38655, phone: (662) 236-7770, fax: (662) 236-7798. Thanks to Nick for this info.
	Duwayne Burnside and the Mississippi Mafia: Live at the Mint Lucky 13 Recordings 1999 From Blake: "Duwayne is R.L. son. This was recorded at the Mint in Los Angeles. R.L. is featured on several songs: Well, Well, Well 5:07, Dust My Broom 5:39 and Hoochie Coochie man 18:49. The album has its strong points, but is weakened by a lack of flow that doesn't transfer from the live setting to the CD."
	Forces of Nature Soundtrack UNI/Dreamworks 1999 Rollin' & Tumblin (Remix) is featured in this Sandra Bullock/Ben Affleck romantic comedy. Go figure.
	Tangled Up In Blues: The Songs of Bob Dylan House of Blues 1999 various artist collection where blues and rock artists are featured covering Bob Dylan songs. R.L. performs "Everything Is Broken" (Dylan's original is on "Oh Mercy"). Other acts include Taj Mahal, The Band, Issac Hayes, Leon Russell, and John Hammond.
additions from Bob Corritore and Stephen Davidson, to be formatted soon: Hightone/HMG 1008 Various Artists/From Mississippi To Chicago 5 songs by R.L in a solo setting Hightone/HMG 1009 Bob Corritore's All-Star Blues Sessions - R.L. Performs a great band version of 'Goin Down South' on this album. [buy this CD] Hightone/HMG 6513 Deep South Blues - A various artist collection showcasing recordings from '79-'84 from Dr. David Evans' High Water label. This contains one song by R.L.[a version of Bad Luck City] as well as songs by Junior Kimbrough and Jessie Mae Hemphill to name a few. "Giants of Country Blues" Guitar Vol. 2 1975 - 1991 Wolf 120.917 CD...Various.. 6 songs each from R.L., James "Son" Thomas, and Boogie Bill Webb...+ 3 others... "Joes Blue Plate Special" Vol 6 & 7 , Joes Production and Grill Inc. JBPS 6,7 ...Various... contains 3 snippets of an interview with R.L. and a edited version of "Sht Bug" and "Rollin and Tumblin" (AJM3 Remix) from the Bong Load "Rollin and Tumblin CD.... "Shake 'Em on Down, The Real Country Blues" Various, Arhoolie/Ace CDCHD 527 Contains "Poor Black Mattie" from the "MS Delta Blues, Blow My Blues Away" CD "Big Bad Love" - Various Artists [buy this CD] Soundtrack to movie based on the collection of short stories by Mississippi writer Larry Brown. R.L.'s "Come on In (live)" and "Everything is Broken" appear here. Thanks to Blake Wintory, Josh, Steven Hildebrand, Bob Corritore, and many others for additions/corrections to this page.