Scott Ainslie
Blues guitarist and historian

You Better Lie Down

You Better Lie Down brings together a rich and varied body of work from African American blues, worksongs, gospel and rhythm and blues traditions, including songs learned from my field recordings of some of the Southeast's little known blues and gospel musicians. A disk full of remarkable guitar playing and powerful singing, this is a recording for anyone who loves acoustic music and a welcome new collection from the guy who literally 'wrote the book' on Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson.

The instruments used on this recording include a Jean L'Arrivee Maple-body OM from the 1990's, a Michael Gurian Mahoghany body, classical inspired steel-string guitar from about 1974, a National Resophonic Style-O, round neck from 1931., a Washburn fretless bass, and a non-descript Japanese knock-off of an f-style mandolin.

Reviews

"North Carolinian Scott Ainslie began exploring traditional music as an old-time fiddler. His most recent travels find him playing blues guitar and mining the deep vein in the Piedmont and Delta styles. Much of the music on You Better Lie Down was learned first hand from players of the region.

His sound is big and robust with a strong voice and aggressive playing style. Standards such as Mississippi John Hurt's "Pay Day" get reworked with slide guitar punctuating the sweet John Hurt syncopation. Another standout track is Robert Johnson's "Phonograph Blues." Scott has written an instructional manual and produced a teaching video on the playing style of Johnson and his rendition is true to the source. There's power in those steel strings and voice!

..... I don't understand why Scott Ainslie is not one of the best-known interpreters. His style is both authentic to the source as well as highly entertaining to the blues neophyte and truly deserves wider recognition." [ Sing Out! Winter 2003]

Full Review....

Personnel