Atlanta's Robert "Barbecue Bob" Hicks recorded some 65 sides between 1927 and his death in 1931, an interesting mix of modal country blues that is as fine as any tracked by a country blues artist in the era, although he seldom gets the same attention afforded the Mississippi Delta players of the period. This double-disc set has all the essentials, although it may be more than the casual listener really needs, since like most blues players of the day, Hicks wasn't about to change what worked. Still, his modal approach sets him apart, and his guitar playing is vastly underrated.
