2007年VOA标准英语-Blind Pig Records Marks 30th Anniversary

Record companies may come and go, but for blues¹ label Blind Pig Records, the music just keeps getting better with time. VOA's Doug Levine reports on a new compilation² that celebrates Blind Pig's 30th anniversary.

The 1970s weren't exactly the best of times for blues in the U.S. Disco was in full swing and rock "supergroups" were filling stadiums and arenas³ across the country. But, in the small university town of Ann Arbor⁴, Michigan, the blues were alive and well. That's where, in 1977, club owner Jerry Del Giudice and his friend Edward Chmelewski turned the Blind Pig Café into one of today's most prolific⁵ independent blues labels.

Blind Pig, now based in San Francisco, California, first garnered⁶ attention with recordings⁷ by blues masters Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Snooky Pryor, and Buddy⁸ Guy and Junior Wells.

The Buddy Guy and Junior Wells album Drinkin' TNT 'N' Smokin' Dynamite⁹ is one of Blind Pig's all-time best-selling releases, as well as albums by Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop¹⁰ and the late Luther Allison.

But, there have been other groundbreaking titles by artists outside the realm of blues, including The Gospel Hummingbirds¹¹, Chubby¹² Carrier, The Rounders and Reverend Billy C. Wirtz.

The so-called "deep fried and sanctified" piano man Reverend Billy C. Wirtz brings some comic relief and a keen sense of boogie-woogie blues into the Blind Pig fold. Wirtz displays his talent on "Jerry Rig" from his recent Blind Pig debut¹³, Sermon From Bethlehem.

In addition to its 30th anniversary collection, featuring 33 acclaimed¹⁴ blues and American roots artists, Blind Pig Records has been celebrating all year with the Legendary¹⁵ Rhythm And Blues Revue Tour. Four of the label's top contemporary blues artists are featured on the tour, including Bay Area blues-rock guitarist Tommy Castro.