Burnside On Burnside

Burnside On Burnside

R.L. Burnside s first break came in the early 90s when the documentary film based on author Robert Palmer s book Deep Blues featured R.L. as one of its highlights. Subsequently Palmer produced R.L. s Too Bad Jim for the fledgling Fat Possum label. Along with Junior Kimbrough s All Night Long, Too Bad Jim was one of the most important and influential blues albums of the 90s.<br><br>Too Bad Jim brought R.L. to the attention of post-punk musician Jon Spencer. R.L. toured extensively with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and this led to the collaboration between the two, the result was a Ass Pocket of Whiskey, a teenage party record. Ass Pocket of Whiskey made R.L. an unlikely champion in the indie rock world.<br><br>In 1997 R.L. released Mr. Wizard, Fat Possums debut record on their distribution label Epitaph featured R.L. s hardcore touring mates, grandson Cedric Burnside and adopted son Kenny Brown.<br><br>In 1998 R.L. released Come On In, which pitted his raw blues against modern electronica, courtesy of producer Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliot Smith). The album was a critical and commercial success, and one of its tracks, 'It s Bad You Know.' Became a respectable radio hit and was featured in The Sopranos and on its soundtrack.<br><br>In the year 2001, R.L. Burnside was still breaking down boundaries, and bringing the blues to where it had never gone before. Listen up.