The Best of Seasick Steve Rhino***

American bluesman Seasick Steve, aka Steve Wold, is something of a phenomenon. He was 63 when his first solo album was released in 2004 after a lifetime of busking, playing, drifting and living by his (considerable) wits. After a celebrated appearance on Jools Holland's show, there followed four more albums, including last May's You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks.So A Best of . . . collection might seem a tad hasty. But perhaps his clock is ticking faster than most, given his late arrival. Steve's work has been marked by an earthy, self-deprecating humour, a choice of colourful DIY instruments, and a convert's passionate embrace of the almost primordial sound of hard-driving country blues. It has its limits, but there is both great, foot-stomping joy and heartfelt pain in this 21-track edit – a strong introduction to one of music's more interesting characters. See rhino.co.uk

Download tracks: Started Out With Nuthin . . . , The Banjo Song, Diddley Bo