Blind Dog Radio

Memphis Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927-34

Label: Yazoo Records.
Release Date: October 25, 1994.
Recording Time: 61 minutes.
Recording Date: 1927 - 1934.
Release Info: Compilation (Yazoo2008-LC5762) Studio Recording.

Styles: Country Blues, Memphis Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Memphis Blues, Jug Band, Pre-War Country Blues.

A companion to Yazoo's excellent Mississippi Masters collection, this time focusing on Memphis artists recorded between 1927 to 1934. The tracks collected here offer up a musical ambience that accurately depicts time and place with classic selections from acknowledged area kingpins Frank Stokes, Furry Lewis, Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, Memphis Minnie, Joe McCoy and Jack Kelly. Like its companion volume, this 20 track compilation is mastered direct from extremely rare old 78s-in some cases, the only copies known to exist-and the sound varies wildly from track to track. But the music is so great and of such major historical significance, the 78 surface noise that remains only seems to add to the charm and romance of it all. ~ Cub Koda

Credits: Will Batts - Performer, Primary Artist; Cannon's Jug Stompers - Performer, Primary Artist; Gus Cannon - Performer, Primary Artist; Jennie Mae Clayton - Composer; Jed Davenport - Performer, Primary Artist; Pearl Dickson - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Tom Dickson - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Sherwin Dunner - Producer; Hattie Hart - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Jack Kelly - Performer, Primary Artist; Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band - Performer, Primary Artist; Don Kent - Liner Notes, Producer; Furry Lewis - Performer, Primary Artist; Kansas Joe McCoy - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Memphis Jug Band - Performer, Primary Artist; Memphis Minnie - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Richard Nevins - Producer; Joan Pelosi - Art Direction; Mooch Richardson - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Dan Sane - Composer; Will Shade - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; South Memphis Jug Band - Performer, Primary Artist; Frank Stokes - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Traditional - Composer; Robert Vosgien - Mastering.

Tracklist: 
01. Country Woman - Will Batts
02. Death Bell Blues - Tom Dickson
03. Billy Lyons And Stackolee - Furry Lewis
04. Pile Driver Blues - Joe McCoy
05. I'm Going Away Blues - Frank Stokes
06. Little Rock Blues - Pearl Dickson
07. Beale St. Breakdown - Jed Davenport
08. Where Is My Good Man At? - Memphis Minnie
09. Doctor Medicine - South Memphis Jug Band
10. Poor Boy A Long Way From Home - Gus Cannon
11. Red Ripe Tomatoes - Jack Kelly And His South Memphis Jug Band
12. Downtown Blues - Frank Stokes
13. Last Chance Blues - Cannon's Jug Stompers
14. Better Leave That Stuff Alone - Will Shade
15. Won't You Be Kind - Hattie Hart
16. Cadillac Baby - Will Batts
17. Bob Lee Junior Blues - Memphis Jug Band
18. T And T Blues - Mooch Richardson
19. I Let My Daddy Do That - Hattie Hart
20. Old Sometime Blues - Frank Stokes