AMG Review of Complete Folkways Recordings

Bill Dahl
All Music Guide

The two-dozen solo performances on The Complete Folkways Recordings are from late (1967) in legendary guitarist Lonnie Johnson's amazing career, but they are chock-full of stellar moments all the same. Artists of Johnson's versatility were rare even then -- he brings a multitude of shadings to "My Mother's Eyes" and "How Deep Is the Ocean?," then delivers a saucy "Juice Headed Baby" with the same stunning complexity.