Label: Capitol Records.
Release Date: June 20, 1995.
Recording Time: 217 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Releases: 2001 (EMI Music Distribution), 2003 (Capitol), 2004 (EMI Music Distribution), 2008 (Capitol).
Styles: Electric Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Regional Blues, Texas Blues, West Coast Blues.
Three-CD, 75-track box of T-Bone Walker's recordings for the Capitol and Black & White labels in the 1940s. From a historical perspective, this is perhaps the most important phase of Walker's evolution. It was here where he perfected his electric guitar style, becoming an important influence on everyone from B.B. King down. It was also here where he acted as one of the key players in a small combo West Coast bands' transition from jazz to a more jump blues/R&B-oriented sound (though most of these sides retain a pretty strong jazz flavor). These sessions, which include the original version of his most famous tune ("Call It Stormy Monday"), have previously been chopped up into small morsels for reissue, or incorporated into the mammoth limited-edition Mosaic box set; this isolates them more conveniently. At the same time, it may be too extensive for some listeners, especially with the abundance of alternate takes (which are placed right after the official versions). Excellent liner notes, although the discographical information is surprisingly inconsistent. - Review by Richie Unterberger.
Credits: Dallas Bartley - composer; Lou Baxter - composer; Brad Benedict - photo research; Johnny Cameron - composer; Joe Ciardiello - artwork, illustrations; John Henry - composer; Les Hite - composer; Mark A. Humphrey - liner notes; Oscar Lollie - composer; Murray Mencher - composer; Billy Moll - composer; Kim Niemi - coordination; Bob Norberg - remastering; Freddie Slack - performer; Tommy Steele - art direction; T-Bone Walker - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Wayne Watkins - project director; Pete Welding - producer; Dootsie Williams - composer; Richard Williams - composer.
Tracks, Disc 1: 1) T-Bone Blues; 2) I Got A Break Baby; 3) Mean Old World; 4) No Worry Blues (Alternate Version); 5) No Worry Blues; 6) Don't Leave Me Baby (Alternate Version); 7) Don't Leave Me Baby; 8) Bobby Sox Blues (Alternate Version); 9) Bobby Sox Blues; 10) I'm Gonna Find My Baby; 11) I'm In An Awful Mood; 12) It's A Lowdown Dirty Deal; 13) Don't Give Me The Runaround; 14) Hard Pain Blues; 15) I Know Your Wig Is Gone; 16) T-Bone Jumps Again; 17) Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday Is Just As Bad (Alternate); 18) Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad); 19) She Had To Let Me Down (Alternate Version); 20) She Had To Let Me Down; 21) She's My Old Time Used To Be; 22) Dream Girl Blues (Alternate Version); 23) Dream Girl Blues; 24) Midnight Blues (Alternate Version); 25) Midnight Blues.
Tracks, Disc 2: 1) Long Lost Lover Blues (Alternate Version); 2) Long Lost Lover Blues; 3) Triflin' Woman Blues (Alternate Version); 4) Triflin' Woman Blues; 5) Long Skirt Baby Blues (Alternate Version); 6) Long Skirt Baby Blues; 7) Goodbye Blues; 8) Too Much Trouble Blues (Alternate Version); 9) Too Much Trouble Blues; 10) I'm Waiting For Your Call; 11) Hypin' Woman Blues (Alternate Version); 12) Hypin' Woman Blues; 13) So Blue Blues; 14) On Your Way Blues; 15) Natural Blues; 16) That's Better For Me; 17) First Love Blues (Alternate Version); 18) First Love Blues; 19) Lonesome Woman Blues (Alternate Version 1); 20) Lonesome Woman Blues (Alternate Version 2); 21) Lonesome Woman Blues; 22) Vacation Blues; 23) Inspiration Blues (Alternate Version); 24) Inspiration Blues; 25) Description Blues (Alternate Version).
Tracks, Disc 3: 1) Description Blues; 2) T-Bone Shuffle (Alternate Version); 3) T-Bone Shuffle; 4) That Old Feelin' Is Gone; 5) The Time Seems So Long; 6) Prison Blues; 7) Home Town Blues; 8) Wise Man Blues (Alternate Version); 9) Wise Man Blues; 10) Misfortune Blues (Alternate Version); 11) Misfortune Blues; 12) I Wish You Were Mine (Alternate Version); 13) I Wish You Were Mine (LP version); 14) I'm Gonna Move You Out And Get Somebody Else; 15) She's The No-Sleepin'est Woman (Alternate Version); 16) She's The No-Sleepin'est Woman (1995 Digital Remaster); 17) Plain Old Down Home Blues; 18) Born To Be No Good; 19) Go Back To The One You Love (Alternate Version); 20) Go Back To The One You Love; 21) I Want A Little Girl; 22) I'm Still In Love With You; 23) You're My Best Poker Hand (Alternate Version); 24) You're My Best Poker Hand; 25) West Side Baby.