Frank Frost's Downhome Blues

Remember Sam Phillips? Yeah, that legendary producer from Sun Records (Memphis, Tennessee). Just like Chicago blues was the trademark sound of Chess Records, Phillips most of his works recorded in a strong rockabilly vein. It shows when I listen to one of his last projects, early 60s songs by Frank Frost.

Frost came from Arizona, but played delta blues influenced soul all over the country juke joints. He played guitar, harp and a little piano, too. The compilation Downhome Blues is a set of his best works, this time with Jack Johnson and Sam Carr. A couple of years later Frost played with Scotty Moore.

I like the tunes. Many of them are a nod to Jimmy Reed (who is uncredited). This sounds like Reed on Sun Records, exactly. Frost played music which would be admired by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton alike. On the other hand, it was as unorginal as it was only possible. It resulted in the fact that Frost never made it big. He became an obscure blues shouter, today long forgotten despite quite ambitious come-backs in the 80s and early 90s - Frost even appeared on Deep Blues soundtrack in 1992.

You can hear his songs on YouTube: Didn't Mean No Harm and Back Scratcher.