In Europe with Clapton, Dixon and Spann (CD - 1995)

Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson (vocals, harmonica); Hubert Sumlin, Matt "Guitar" Murphy (guitar); Sunnyland Slim, Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Bill Stepney, Clifton James (drums).

The Yardbirds: Eric Clapton, Chris Dreja (guitar); Paul Samwell-Smith (bass); Jim McCarty (drums).

Producer: Giorgio Gomelsky (tracks 6-14).

Compilation producer: Mick Martin.

Recorded live at The American Folk Blues Festival, Hamburg, Germany on October 9, 1964; The American Folk Blues Festival, Bremen, Germany on October 13, 1963; The Crawdaddy Club, London, England on December 7-8, 1963. Tracks 6-14 originally released on SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON & THE YARDBIRDS on Fontana in 1966. Includes liner notes by Mick Martin.

All songs written by Alex "Rice" Miller except "Had My Fun" (Otis Spann).

Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson (vocals, harp); Otis Spann (vocals, piano); Chris Dreja, Eric Clapton, Hubert Sumlin, Matt "Guitar" Murphy (guitar); Sunnyland Slim (piano); Clifton James, Billy Stepney, Jim McCarty (drums).

Liner Note Author: Mick Martin.

Recording information: American Folk Blues Festival, Hamburg, Germany (10/13/1963-10/09/1964); Crawdaddy Club, London, England (10/13/1963-10/09/1964).

Photographer: Stephanie Wiesand.

More highlights from Sonny Boy Williamson's overseas travels, in a wide variety of settings -- during the 1963 and 1964 American Folk Blues Festivals with old friends like Willie Dixon, Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin and Matt Murphy behind him, and for nine tracks, with the Yardbirds in support. The latter combination works pretty well -- Clapton and company offer reverent, laidback rhythms that seldom intrude and often mesh nicely. ~ Bill Dahl minimize