Label: Document Records.
Release Date: February, 1991.
Recording Time: 73 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: July 1926 - October 1927.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Country Blues, Piedmont Blues, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues.
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: Alan Balfour - liner notes; Blind Blake - composer, guitar, guitar (rhythm), primary artist, vocals; Jimmy Blythe - performer, piano, primary artist; Al Cook - composer; Blind Willie McTell - composer; Nelson's Paramount Serenaders - kazoo; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Leola B. Wilson - performer, primary artist, vocals.
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.
Tracks: 1) Dying Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson; 2) Ashley Street Blues – Blind Blake & Leola B. Wilson; 3) Early Morning Blues (2668) – Blind Blake; 4) West Coast Blues – Blind Blake; 5) Early Morning Blues (3057-1) – Blind Blake; 6) Too Tight (Drag) – Blind Blake; 7) Blake's Worried Blues – Blind Blake; 8) Come On Boys Let's Do That Messin' Around (take 2) – Blind Blake; 9) 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.