Blind Dog Radio

Piano Blues, Vol. 1, The Twenties (1923-1930) by Various Artists

Label: Story of Blues.
Release Date: June 1, 1991.
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Recording Date: February, 1923 - September 9, 1930.

Styles: Piano Blues, Blues Revival, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues.

In the early '90s, the Da Music label leased albums from the Austrian Document company, reissuing the programs originally on LPs on their CDs, giving them new liner notes. Much of this vintage blues music has since been reissued in a different form by Document, so one has to pick and choose to see which CDs are worth picking up. This particular CD has Clay Custer's historic and haunting "The Rocks," a 1923 recording that is the first piano record utilizing a boogie-woogie bass; the pianist is actually George W. Thomas. In addition, there are all of the recordings by pianist Q. Roscoe Snowden and singers L.C. Prigett, Willie Jones, Jack Ranger, Blind Clyde Church, Jesse Clayton, and the team of George Allison and Willie White. The music is both historic and largely enjoyable. - Review by Scott Yanow.

Credits: George Allison - accordion, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Henry Brown - piano; Blind Clyde Church - piano, primary artist, vocals; Jesse Clayton - accordion, guitar, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Clay Custer - performer, piano, primary artist; Skip James - performer, piano, vocals; Willie Jones - accordion, guitar, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; L.C. Prigett - accordion, performer, primary artist, vocals; Martha Prigett - vocals; Jack Ranger - accordion, composer, guitar, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Q. Roscoe Snowden - performer, piano; Susan Swain - liner notes; George W. Thomas - piano; Clarence T. Walker - piano; Willie White - accordion, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals.

Tracks: 1) The Rocks - Clay Custer; 2) Deep Sea Blues - Q. Roscoe Snowden; 3) Misery Blues - Q. Roscoe Snowden; 4) Sure As You Take A Woman From Somebody Else - L.C. Prigett; 5) When I Say Ta-Ta, It Means Goodbye - L.C. Prigett; 6) Frogtown Blues - L.C. Prigett; 7) Willie's Weary Blues - Willie Jones; 8) Blue Buddies Blues - Willie Jones; 9) Throw Me Down - Unknown (? Skip James); 10) Thieving Blues - Jack Ranger; 11) T.P. Window Blues - Jack Ranger; 12) Lonesome Grave Blues - Jack Ranger; 13) Number Nine Blues - Blind Clyde Church; 14) Pneumatic Blues - Blind Clyde Church; 15) How I Feel My Love - George Allison/Willie White; 16) I'll Be Mean To You Blues - George Allison/Willie White; 17) Station House Blues - Jesse Clayton; 18) Neckbone Blues - Jesse Clayton.