Henry Townsend - Mule

A truly exceptional blues record by one of the genre's great but underrated masters. Mule might have flown under the radar, but the title belongs in any semi-serious blues fan's collections. Henry Townsend, who first recorded for Columbia Records in 1929, is the only known artist of any genre to have recorded in eight consecutive decades. He's also among the very last to have performed with the mythical legend Robert Johnson. Townsend died in September 2006 at the age of 96.

For more than 30 years, Nighthawk Records was among the leading independent record labels that specialized in the finest black roots music. The label began in the spring of 1976 with the release of four groundbreaking blues reissue albums that Living Blues Magazine called "the major event of the year for lovers of post-war blues." Nighthawk eventually transitioned to become one of the first American record labels to make a commitment to the culture and music of Jamaica. They became recognized internationally for bringing some of Jamaica's finest recording and performing artists to the attention of the broader world music community and for playing a key role in establishing the popularity of reggae music in North America.

Label founder and owner Bob Schoenfield died in October 2006. With no plans in the works to further issue any of these Nighthawk titles, these may be the last stock of these fine records ever available.