“What the guitar says, I say,” states Mississippi Fred McDowell. Truer words have never been said.

Possibly best known as the original songwriter of “You Gotta Move” (covered on the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers), McDowell grew up in Memphis before settling in Como, Mississippi to work as a field hand. He pioneered the slide guitar sound, playing with a pocket knife, then an old beef rib bone! McDowell is rumored to have taught country star Bonnie Raitt slide guitar technique and finally received some popularity in the 1970s (just before his death).

McDowell’s haunting blues are one of many record compilations recently reissued by local record shop Mississippi Records. Bringing to light lost gems from lands stretching from Thailand to Africa (all limited to only 1,000 copies), Mississippi releases have been known to fetch hefty sums from record collectors on ebay.

We are proud to stock Fred McDowell’s records (and all of Mississippi Record’s current releases) at the Dill Shop. Just $11 cheap!