I'm the Boss Card in Your Hand, 1937-1960

I'm the Boss Card in Your Hand, 1937-1960 stands as the definitive Black Ace collection to date -- not only does Arhoolie's CD reissue include the entirety of their original 1960 release, but it also appends previously unissued material from the same session and even tosses in a half-dozen tracks from his 1937 Decca label debut. Thanks largely to its steadfast refusal to fit easily into any kind of regional genre pigeonhole, Ace's music possesses a beautifully timeless quality; and though he's a poignant vocalist, the real treat here is his slide guitar mastery, as instrumentals like "Ace's Guitar Blues" and "Bad Times Stomp" reveal a unique hybrid sound successfully bridging the gap between the Delta and Hawaiian styles.