Sisters of the South contains 13 songs performed by 12 different female Music Maker artists. Every song on this memorable compilation pays for the price of purchase—a tax deduction.
The Branchette’s “I Know I’ve Been Changed” emits a golden sound of a Sunday morning church hymn. Beverly “Guitar” Watkins’ guitar-slingin’ “Baghdad Blues” stands as an honest political song. 90-year-old Etta Baker’s silvertone instrumental “One-Dime Blues”, inspired odes to the eternal mother.
Willa Mae Buckner’s risqué “Yo-Yo” spices the musical content with a tempting female lure. Bob Margolin appears on Sweet Betty’s “Coffee Drinking Blues” playing guitar, and John Ferguson showcases amazing piano work on graceful Essie Mae Brooks’ “I Feel Like My time Ain’t Long”. The final track, Cora Fluker’s soul-confessing “Testimony”, transcends this earthly sphere.
Other musicians featured on this collection include Precious Bryant, Cora Mae Bryant, Marie Manning, Algia Mae Hinton, and Lucille Lindsey. Music Maker president Tim Duffy talked about some of these original artists in our interview (Insured Beyond the Grave). These sisters of the south prove they’re masters of the trade.