How cool is this, to have Alan Lomax, Leadbelly and Moby discussed in the same thread? I've been a blues fan for about 30 years and couldn't agree with Jim more about the early performers of the blues. But, I also love Moby's music. Call me weird, but I have no problem listening to a mix CD that contains Buck Owens, Slim Harpo, the Doors, Bob Marley, Lucinda Williams, Clifton Chenier and Moby all mixed together. (I still don't "get" rap and hip-hop, but to each his own) The thing that excited me about Moby's "Play" (and the extended version: Play-the B Sides) is the fact that he DID use samples from these great old blues and gospel songs. I can understand seeing it as a desecration, but it gave me hope that some of the people who get hooked by these songs will do like I did and seek out the original songs that Moby sampled from. And, in doing so, maybe open themselves up to the musical goldmine of recorded blues and gospel that has been so important in shaping every kind of music that came after it.