When the Blues legends were being generally ignored by the masses in their own country of the United States in the early '60s, there were some folks over in Europe eager to see and hear first-hand the artists they could only hear on hard-to-obtain records; two German promoters, Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau, decided to book a tour of American Blues stars in Europe in 1962. The series of performances proved to be so successful that it turned into an annual event. Until now, we were privileged to only see snippets of footage and hear a handful of sides on record of these important and groundbreaking shows.

Now Reelin' In The Years Productions, in conjunction with Experience Hendrix, have finally released for our great pleasure two DVDs chock full of live footage from the American Folk Blues Festival (AFBF) tours from the years of 1962-1966. There is also some incredible bonus film from 1969. The footage is in black and white, but it is crystal clear, as is the audio portion, effectively bringing alive some absolutely stunning performances from the best in the Blues world at the time, actually of all-time.

The effect of watching these DVDs is profound, as most of these artists have never, or rarely, been seen before on film. To emphasize the importance of what is here on these discs, out of approximately three-dozen musicians represented, I only know of four that are still alive today - Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Matt Murphy, and Hubert Sumlin. I will dare say that these DVDs are the most important and pleasing productions concerning the Blues ever. To finally see some of these all-time greats in action, most in their prime, is mesmerizing, spellbinding, and downright awesome.

Rightly so, Reelin' In The Years was the recipient this year of the Keeping The Blues Alive (KBA) Award for Film. I can't imagine a more deserving recipient.

Here is a rundown of the highlights from these two amazing DVDs:

Volume One begins with the great T-Bone Walker sitting down outside of a house built inside of a television studio. Walker is playing his big hollow-body guitar, while a woman knits a garment next to him. Walker is playing in a solo, down-home, Chicago Blues mode - a rarity for the man who pioneered the swingin' West Coast sound of the '40s. Shakey Jake joins in with a powerful vocal, while Walker strums and taps his heel on the floor to keep time.

They fade out the song and T-Bone stands up and walks around the corner of the house to introduce the stompin' Country Blues duo of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, doing a good job of simulating for the audience a Saturday night get-together typical in the rural South, complete with dancers.

Then, around the next corner, there is a saloon where we hear the more urban strains of Memphis Slim's piano emanating, accompanied off-camera by T-Bone, bassist Willie Dixon, and drummer Jump Jackson. We see Slim's countenance reflected in the mirror above the piano. Dixon is prevalent throughout these DVDs, as he also played a huge role Stateside in coordinating and organizing the artists who would make the trip overseas each year.

Perhaps some of the most satisfying performances on Volume One is from the 1963 tour. The first offering here has Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II) introducing Lonnie Johnson to the stage to play in front of the appreciative, but relatively sedate and overly well-mannered European crowd sitting in the seats. The definitive Chicago Blues piano player Otis Spann, along with Dixon and drummer Billy Stepney, accompanies Johnson. Johnson's smooth, clear, and strong voice, coupled with his sophisticated guitar playing, clearly demonstrates why he was such a huge influence in the early days of the Blues, particularly on T-Bone Walker. He still sounds wonderful here at the age of 64. He would only be around on this earth for seven more years.

Other footage from '63 includes a solo performance from Big Joe Williams on his unique, modified nine-string guitar. Then there are four songs featuring the basic band of Spann, Dixon, Stepney, and Matt Murphy. They back up Sonny Boy on "Nine Below Zero," then Spann gets a turn at the microphone, showing that he was a great Blues vocalist as well. Then Muddy Waters does a rather toned-down, but very charming version of the usually rambunctious "Got My Mojo Working," with Sonny Boy adding some harp and background vocals. What may be the coolest gathering of Blues artists together ever on one stage is "Bye Bye Blues." This is where Spann, Big Joe, Sonny Boy, Dixon, Johnson, Victoria Spivey, Muddy, and Memphis Slim all sing a verse, all of them in very fine form indeed. Spivey is bedecked in an evening gown with a feather boa while rolling and batting her big, beautiful eyes. During it all, Muddy is smiling and clapping with Lonnie, occasionally whispering in his ear; two venerable Blues legends having a ball like a couple of kids. The entourage kicks into the ending chorus and begins to line up while waving goodbye to the crowd with big smiles on their faces. You'll never see anything like this ever again.

Volume One has only one tune from the '64 tour - Willie Dixon playing solo on an acoustic guitar for a change. Some marvelous songs, including solo performances by Mississippi Fred McDowell and "Hobo Blues" by John Lee Hooker, represent the 1965 tour. There is also Eddie Boyd singing and playing piano on his classic "Five Long Years" backed by Buddy Guy on guitar, Lonesome Jimmy Lee Robinson on bass and Fred Below on drums. This foursome then accompanies Walter "Shakey" Horton.

Fred Below is also the drummer on the 1966 tour. He is the man that helped make most of Little Walter's classic records in the '50s so special with his snappy cymbal accents and jazzy tom fills. Below's drumming definitely adds color and drive to all the artists he backs on the AFBF, as well, making me wish he could have been there in '63 and '64 instead of having the comparatively pedestrian playing of Billy Stepney and Clifton James. A minor quibble, though.

The three tunes from 1966 on Volume One include a spine-tingling version of "I Can't Quit You Baby" by Otis Rush at his very best, with rivulets of sweat streaming down his face. Then Rush, Below, and the bassist Jack Myers back Junior Wells on a great version of "Hoodoo Man Blues." Man, this is some heavy stuff...badass Chicago Blues at its best. The other song is by Sippie Wallace singing the clever "Women Be Wise," with Little Brother Montgomery on piano.

Wait! There's the bonus footage from '69 of Earl Hooker, the man that was considered the finest guitarist in Chicago by all of his peers. Earl battled the effects of tuberculosis for years and years, but you would never know he was close to his death when witnessing his dynamic performance here. Known as an entertaining showman, he proves it by playing the torrid instrumental of "Off The Hook" with his teeth, giving his axe a strum with his foot, and playing it while the guitar is lying on his chair that he had vacated almost immediately. All of this is right after we see Earl backstage strumming and singing "Walk The Floor Over You," in perfect traditional Country & Western style, complete with a couple hoots and hollers, much to the amusement of his fellow musicians hanging out.

Wow! This is just Volume One. Highlights from Volume Two of the AFBF surely include the 1962 performance of T-Bone Walker doing "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong," with Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, and Jump Jackson. This song had just been a big number for Albert King in '61, but T-Bone puts his own classy style on it, making it his own. This has to be the finest guitar playing on either DVD.

Other high marks on Volume Two: Spivey doing her "Black Snake Blues" with Sonny Boy and Lonnie Johnson ('63); Memphis Slim doing his own "Everyday I Have The Blues" (originally titled "Nobody Loves Me"), also from '63; Lightnin' Hopkins doing "Mojo Hand" ('64); Roosevelt Sykes pounding a typical piano Boogie ('66); and Matt "Guitar" Murphy (from '63) showing why he earned his nickname with a slick instrumental.

Let's see, there's some '64 stuff from Sonny Boy with Sunnyland Slim and Hubert Sumlin lending expert backing, before Sunnyland takes over the mic and Hubert rips some furious and hip licks on his Les Paul guitar.

Speaking of Slim and Sumlin, they are also on hand for the three (!) songs by the formidable Howlin' Wolf. How can you complain about the mighty Wolf getting more than his share on this DVD? It is absolutely riveting to watch this incomparable performer wrench out his unique brand of Blues.

The big finale is an amazing Blues harp extravaganza with Big Mama Thornton starting things off and Shakey Horton, J.B. Lenoir, Doctor Ross, and John Lee Hooker all taking turns blowing harmonica. That's right, John Lee Hooker is up there trying his best to keep up with the others, clearly looking and sounding like a fish out of water. He must have been thinking of how in the hell he got talked into doing that! Stick a guitar in the man's hands already! It's cool to see though, because of how utterly rare it is to see the Hook playing harp.

Perhaps the most special thing about Volume Two is the bonus tracks that show us a short interview and the two songs by Magic Sam, only months before his passing. This master of the West Side Chicago sound was poised to break out to the world at the time of his untimely death at the age of 32. He does his signature "All Your Love" and the intense, high-energy workout of "Looking Good," titled "Magic Sam's Boogie" here. It's ironic that he is playing Earl Hooker's guitar and that they were both struck down soon after these performances.

We have some special people to thank for bringing about these concerts in the first place and having the vision to record them for prosperity. I can only wonder why it took so long for this incredible music to see the light of day. Good things are worth the wait and with Eddie Kramer's expert audio restoration and transfer, we are all now able to enjoy some of the finest Blues moments ever captured in all of their glory.

If you have a DVD player and have yet to buy these DVDs, make them your next purchase. Do it today, you won't be disappointed. If you do not own a DVD player yet, I can't possibly imagine a better or more perfect excuse to get one, just so you can experience this wonderful stuff for yourself. Get the player, call all your friends over, sit back and enjoy! Would I steer you wrong? I don't think so...

T-Bone is the founding editor of BluesWax and is anxiously anticipating the arrival of Volume Three of the AFBF later this spring. T-Bone may be contacted at blueswax@visnat.com.