Blind Dog Radio

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1928-1929) by Blind Blake

Label: Document Records.
Release Date: June, 1991.
Recording Time: 95 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: May, 1928 - August, 1929.

Styles: Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Country Blues, Piedmont Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Blues.

The third volume in the series opens with a pair of mid-1928 tracks featuring Blind Blake in the role of sideman, lending his brilliant guitar leads in support of Elzadie Robinson on "Elzadie's Policy Blues" and "Pay Day Daddy Blues." Blake's next session, from later that same year, returns him to the fore, yielding the mesmerizing "Notoriety Woman," one of the most menacingly violent tracks he ever cut; the same date also produced the comparatively lighthearted "Sweet Papa Low Down," a seeming attempt to cash in on the Charleston dance craze. The real jewel of the set, however, is a 1929 session teaming him with pianist Charlie Spand; "Hastings St." is a lively, swinging guitar and piano duet, while "Police Dog Blues" is among Blake's most vividly lyrical efforts, further galvanized by his haunting instrumental work. ~ Jason Ankeny

Credits: Alan Balfour - liner notes; Jimmy Bertrand - xylophone; Annalisa Blake - composer; Blind Blake - composer, guitar, guitar (rhythm), primary artist, speech/speaker/speaking part, vocals, whistle (human), whistle (instrument); Althea Dickerson - piano; Johnny Dodds - clarinet; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Alex Robinson - piano; Elzadie Robinson - vocals; Charlie Spand - Composer, piano.

Personnel: Elzadie Robinson - vocals, acc. Johnny Dodds - clarinet; Blind Blake - vocals, guitar, whistle (on 1), vocals (speech on 17; Jimmy Bertrand - xylophone on 11; unknown - cornet on 11; unknown - piano on 11; Alex (?) Robinson - piano; No vocals but incidental talking on 16; Charlie Spand - piano on 17; Aletha (possibly Aletha Dickerson) - piano on 23.

Tracks: 1) Elzadie's Policy Blues - Blind Blake with Elzadie Robinson; 2) Pay Day Daddy Blues - Blind Blake with Elzadie Robinson; 3) Walkin' Across The Country Blues - Blind Blake; 4) Search Warrant Blues - Blind Blake; 5) Ramblin' Mama Blues - Blind Blake; 6) That New Style Of Loving - Blind Blake; 7) Back Door Slam Blues - Blind Blake; 8) Notoriety Woman Blues - Blind Blake; 9) Cold Hearted Mama Blues - Blind Blake; 10) Low Down Loving Gal - Blind Blake; 11) Sweet Papa Low Down - Blind Blake; 12) Poker Woman Blues - Blind Blake; 13) Doing A Stretch - Blind Blake; 14) Fighin' The Jug - Blind Blake; 15) Hookworm Blues - Blind Blake; 16) Slippery Rag - Blind Blake; 17) Hastings St - Blind Blake; 18) Diddie Wa Diddie - Blind Blake; 19) Too Tight Blues No. 2 - Blind Blake; 20) Chump Man Blues - Blind Blake; 21) Ice Man Blues - Blind Blake; 22) Police Dog Blues - Blind Blake; 23) I Was Afraid Of That, Part 2 - Hokum Boys; 24) Georgia Bound - Blind Blake; 25) Keep It Home - Blind Blake.