Label: Document Records.
Release Date: 1990.
Recording Time: 60 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: June - December, 1929.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Regional Blues, Slide Guitar Blues.
For completists, specialists and academics, Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1929) is invaluable, offering an exhaustive overview of Charley Patton's early recordings. For less dedicated listeners, the disc is a mixed blessing. There are some absolutely wonderful, classic performances on the collection, but the long running time, exacting chronological sequencing, poor fidelity (all cuts are transferred from original acetates and 78s), and number of performances are hard to digest. The serious blues listener will find all these factors to be positive, but enthusiasts and casual listeners will find that the collection is of marginal interest for those very reasons. ~ Thom Owens
Personnel: Charley Patton - vocals, guitar; Henry Sims, violin.
Credits: Bob Broom - liner notes; Bob Groom - liner notes; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Charley Patton - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Henry "Son" Sims - violin; Traditional - composer.
Tracks: 1) Mississippi Boweavil Blues; 2) Screamin’ And Hollerin’ The Blues; 3) Down The Dirt Road Blues; 4) Pony Blues; 5) Banty Rooster Blues; 6) It Won’t Be Long; 7) Pea Vine Blues; 8) Tom Rushen Blues; 9) A Spoonful Blues; 10) Shake It And Break It (But Don’t Let It Fall Mama); 11) Prayer Of Death – Part 1; 12) Prayer Of Death – Part 2; 13) Lord I’m Discouraged; 14) Lord I’m Discouraged (alt take); 15) I’m Goin’ Home; 16) Going To Move To Alabama; 17) Elder Greene Blues (Take 1); 18) Elder Greene Blues (Take 2); 19) Circle Round The Moon; 20) Devil Sent The Rain Blues; 21) Mean Black Cat Blues.