From Hell to Gone and Back: Texas Blues seems like an apt expression for a collection of blues songs from Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Pee Wee Crayton, and Lee Roy Parnell. A mixture of live and studio, issued and unissued tracks, the material stretches from the Newport Folk Festival in 1964 to the four walls of a recording facility in 2001. While the connection between these artists, and the eras they recorded in, may seem disparate on the surface, each has been baptized in the deep waters of Texas blues. Lipscomb kicks off the album with fine acoustic work on three originals, "Freddie," "So Different Blues," and "God Moves on the Water." His quiet vocals and tasteful slide prepare the way for Hopkins' more modern sound. Hopkins is in fine form on "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Shake That Thing," spinning out sharp guitar lines to bolster his idiosyncratic vocal delivery. Unreleased versions of "Mojo Hand" and "Where Can I Find My Baby" also appear here. The highlight of this collection arrives at exactly the midpoint, with Big Mama Thornton offering live takes of "Ball and Chain," "Hound Dog," and "Rock Me Baby." Recorded live at two different prisons, the material is boosted by a bluesy, rocking band, featuring electric guitar, piano, and sax. A seven-minute version of "Ball and Chain" will remind anyone who doesn't already know where Janis Joplin got part of her inspiration. Both Crayton and Parnell also deliver fine sets, bringing the album to a close on a rousing note. At nearly 75 minutes, From Hell to Gone and Back is a fine collection of classic and contemporary Texas blues artists. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., All Music Guide