It’s Free Basin’ Friday! We’ve all made it through another week and here we are again, in this familiar corner of the internet, ready to give away another killer record! This week we’re shelling out a copy of Precious Bryant & Algia Mae Kinton’s delicate blues comp Gran’mas I’ve Never Had. So lay that banjo on your knee for a second and check this out.
Precious Bryant and Algia Mae Hinton have wandered through the century, singing lullabies to their children and grandchildren. Real and timeless, their music has travelled across the Atlantic, meandered between the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and settled into a style of fingerpicking a little reminiscent of Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmy Rodgers, or their buddy Elisabeth Cotton.
Deep in the rubble of a forgotten South West, far away from the Mississippi, both river and State, the two fine fingerstyle guitarists play, evoking the tingle of rain on sheet metal. Gentle and unobtrusive, unaffected by a half- century of changes, they have salvaged the precious and youthful feel of the timeless blues: an enthralling and beautiful sound, distinctly feminine, with major chords and melancholy textures.
What we have here is a selection of works from both grandmothers – as a tribute to the gran’mas we’ve never had.
Precious Bryant was born in Talbot County, Georgia, in 1942. She was raised in a family of music-makers, in a village packed with stomping blues and spirituals. She soon developed her own inspired style of blues, away from the mainstream, with only her voice and her guitar. In the 1990s, she played the Newport Folk Festival as well as a few concerts in Europe – but mostly she stuck to Georgia and the surrounding areas. In 1967, she walked into a studio for the first time to record with Georges Mitchell. Three wonderful songs still remain from those sessions. Precious Bryant is one of the last living great blues women from the 20th century – still living in her mobile-home in the deep woods of Georgia.
Algia Mae Hinton was born in Johnston County, North Carolina, on 29th August 1929, in a family of farmers. She was the youngest of 14 and was soon put to work in the fields. At the age of 9 already, her mother taught her the guitar. In 1965, after her husband’s death, she was left alone to raise her 7 children. Despite those circumstances, Algia still managed to impose the musical arts in her household and to pass them on to her children. Music provided the family and the whole community with crucial solace throughout their trials and tribulations. Algia Mae plays the 6-string guitar, the 12-string and the banjo. She’s also an accomplished singer and a fantastic Buck dancer.
Leave a comment below with your email address in the proper field (kept private) for your chance to win! Winner will be chosen at random and announced next Friday! Good luck and have a great weekend!
FLIPPIN SWEET
Pickin’ and a-frownin’…Sign me up!
Sounds like something I would love to have in the collection!!
Well, my gran’mas did make some tasty cookies!
I aspire to live in a mobile home deep in the woods of Georgia. Maybe winning this will help me take charge of achieving my dream.
Music runs in my family!
You guys are doin’ good work!
That looks immense
Sounds banjo-vial!
Looks fantastic.
my grandma was born inside a toaster. when the timer rang, she popped right out of that toaster and landed on the kitchen floor.
“let’s do this!”, she said.
and that’s how i knew she was my grandma.
I’d love to win this so that I can play it for my actual grandma, who is actually from Talbot County, Georgia, just like Precious Bryant! Sounds like a phenomenal record!
I Need You Boomin’ Granny
I Said I Want You Boomin’ Granny
Boomin’ Granny, Boomin’ Fanny
Boomin’ Granny, Good And Planty
Another great give away! You guys are the best!
cant wait to hear this! you guys are so awesome
Will listen to anything LITA puts out. Need to get my money in for a new subscription. Nothin better in life than getting records in the mail on the regular. Keep up the good work.
I miss my grandma.
LITA,What A lovely Label.
I will be spending all week long in the City of Random since that’s where you pick the winner of this contest. I’ll be hanging out at the corner of Anystreet and Every Blvd.
that lp sounds sweet. m have to look into this.
Amen to that….
Hey Granma!!
Born in GA, moved to Cackalacky: both these wimmen dear 2 my soul!
Woah! Looks good!
go on ya good thing
Blues Ladies Get it Done
this sounds pretty cool!!!
Lovin it!
Thank you
Sounds exciting!
Thanks for shining your light on this
Sounds like right up my alley, cheers!
Thanks for releasing such wonderful music!!!
This release sounds amazing. Thanks!
Another one for the wishlist.