Release Date: February, 1991.
Recording Time: 73 minutes.
Recording Date: July 1926 - October 1927.
Release Info: DOCD-5024, CD, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered.
Abridged from this album's original booklet notes.
Over a six year period Blind Blake recorded eighty-four titles together with numerous as house guitarist to artists like Papa Charlie Jackson, Ma Rainey, Leola B. Wilson and Irene Scruggs. This compilation covers his formative years and it has been surmised that initially he made three visits between August and December 1926 to Paramount's Chicago studio. Blake's first record West Coast Blues / Early Morning Blues was released on October 2 1926, the former title being basically a dance piece with Blake's jaunty voice exhorting his listeners to do that old country rock, underpinning the spoken lyric with sophisticated, ragtime guitar accompaniment, taking the opportunity to incorporate a popular advertising slogan of the day (Good to the last drop, just like Maxwell House coffee). Early Morning Blues, on the other hand, was lyrically far more menacing, his warm, wistful and insinuating voice, at times reminiscent of Lonnie Johnson's approach, giving lie to the seriousness of the subject (When you see me sleeping, baby don't you think I'm drunk, I got one eye on my pistol, the other one on your trunk). The role of Blind Blake as accompanist to Leola B. Wilson, an artist who sang on the vaudeville circuit, displays his ability to use double and stop time phrases, as well as managing to copy her vocal range on Down The Country Blues, a number inspired by a Bessie Smith song. The instrumental, Buck Town Dance, with kazoo playing from Dad Nelson, was probably the model for the piece so often recorded by John Hurt and Gary Davis during the 1960s while Dry Bone Shuffle and That Will Never Happen No More have noticeable echoes of minstrel and white influence. As both were recorded as part of a hillbilly session by the Kentucky Thorobreds perhaps Paramount were hoping to sell Blind Blake to both markets. Blake's true guitar genius is evinced with Sea Board Stomp (perhaps the basis for some of Big Bill Broonzy's stomps) where, not satisfied with emulating instruments like cornet, saxophone and trombone, he also treats his audience to a lesson in the syncopations of Dixieland Jazz. ~ Alan Balfour, 1991 & 2008 Document Records
* * * * *
Blind Blake, one of the top blues guitarists and singers of the 1920s, is a mystery figure whose birth and death dates are not definitively known. He recorded 84 selections in six years (1926-1932), and fortunately all have been reissued on four Document CDs. Vol. 1 mostly features Blake in unaccompanied performances other than six numbers backing singer Leola Wilson, one song in which he is joined by a kazoo player and two in which someone plays rattlebones behind his guitar. Among the classics heard on this CD are "Early Morning Blues," "Too Tight," "Come on Boys Let's Do That Messin' Around," and "Seabord Stomp." All four of Blind Blake's Document CDs are essential for every serious blues collection. ~ Scott Yanow
Credits: Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth; Executive-Producer – Gary Atkinson; Liner Notes – Alan Balfour; Remastered By (uncredited) – Hans Klement.
Personnel: Leola B. Wilson - vocals; accompanied by Blind Blake - guitar. Blind Blake - vocals, guitar; Leola B. Wilson - vocals; accompanied Blind Blake - guitar; possibly Jimmy Blythe - piano. Blind Blake with Kazoo Band: Blind Blake - guitar; possibly Dad Nelson - kazoo; Blind Blake - vocals, guitar; unknown - rattle-bones.
Tracklist:
- 01. Dying Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 02. Ashley Street Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 03. Early Morning Blues (2668) – Blind Blake
- 04. West Coast Blues – Blind Blake
- 05. Early Morning Blues (3057-1) – Blind Blake
- 06. Too Tight (Drag) – Blind Blake
- 07. Blake's Worried Blues – Blind Blake
- 08. Come On Boys Let's Do That Messin' Around (Take 2) – Blind Blake
- 09. Tampa Bound Blues – Blind Blake
- 10. Skeedle Loo Doo Blues (Take 1) – Blind Blake
- 11. Skeedle Loo Doo Blues (Take 2) – Blind Blake
- 12. Stonewall Street Blues – Blind Blake
- 13. State Street Men Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 14. Down The Country – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 15. Black Biting Bee Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 16. Wilson Dam Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson
- 17. Buck-Town Blues – Blind Blake
- 18. Black Dog Blues – Blind Blake
- 19. One Time Blues – Blind Blake
- 20. Bad Feeling Blues – Blind Blake
- 21. Dry Bone Shuffle (Take 3) – Blind Blake
- 22. That Will Never Happen No More – Blind Blake
- 23. Brownskin Mama Blues (Take 2) – Blind Blake
- 24. Hard Road Blues – Blind Blake
- 25. Hey Hey Daddy Blues – Blind Blake
- 26. Sea Board Stomp – Blind Blake
Recording date, location, matrix, catalog number:
01. circa July 1926, Chicago, 2655-2, Paramount 12392
02. circa July 1926, Chicago, 2656-2, Paramount 12392
03. circa August 1926, Chicago, 2668-2, Paramount 12387
04. circa August 1926, Chicago, 2669-2, Paramount 12387
05. circa October 1926, Chicago, 3057-1, Paramount 12387
06. circa October 1926, Chicago, 3059-2, Paramount 12431
07. circa October 1926, Chicago, 3060-2, Paramount 12442
08. circa October 1926, Chicago, 3061-2, Paramount 12413
09. circa October 1926, Chicago, 3062-2, Paramount 12442
10. circa November 1926, Chicago, 3073-1, Paramount 12413
11. circa November 1926, Chicago, 3073-2, Paramount 12413
12. circa November 1926, Chicago, 3081-1, Paramount 12431
13. circa November 1926, Chicago, 4010-2, Paramount 12426
14. circa November 1926, Chicago, 4012-2, Paramount 12444
15. circa November 1926, Chicago, 4013-2, Paramount 12444
16. circa November 1926, Chicago, 4014-2, Paramount 12426
17. circa March 1927, Chicago, 4359-1, Paramount 12464
18. circa March 1927, Chicago, 4362-1, Paramount 12464
19. circa March 1927, Chicago, 4363-2, Paramount 12479
20. circa April 1927, Chicago, 4443-1, Paramount 12497
21. April 13-14, 1927, Chicago, 4462-2, Paramount 12479
22. April 13-14, 1927, Chicago, 4468-2, Paramount 12497
23. circa October 1927, Chicago, 20106-2, Paramount 12606
24. circa October 1927, Chicago, 20107-2, Paramount 12583
25. circa October 1927, Chicago, 20108-1, Paramount 12606
26. circa October 1927, Chicago, 20109-1, Paramount 12583