Label: Document Records.
Release Date: 1990.
Recording Time: 63 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: December 1929 - February 1934.
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. 3 (1929-1934) 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
Credits: Big Bill Broonzy - composer; Willie Brown - guitar; Bob Groom - liner notes; Bertha Lee - composer, vocals; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Charley Patton - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Henry "Son" Sims - violin, vocals; J. White - composer.
Personnel: Charley Patton - vocals, guitar; Henry Sims - violin, vocals; Willie Brown - 2nd guitar; Bertha Lee - vocals; accompanied by Charley Patton - guitar.
Tracks: 1) Runnin' Wild Blues - Charley Patton; 2) Tell Me Man Blues - Charley Patton with Henry Sims; 3) Be True Be True Blues - Charley Patton with Henry Sims; 4) Joe Kirby - Charley Patton; 5) Mean Black Moan - Charley Patton; 6) Dry Well Blues - Charley Patton; 7) Some Summer Day, Part 1 - Charley Patton; 8) Moon Going Down - Charley Patton; 9) Bird Nest Bound - Charley Patton; 10) Jersey Bull Blues - Charley Patton; 11) High Sheriff Blues - Charley Patton; 12) Stone Pony Blues - Charley Patton; 13) Yellow Bee - Charley Patton with Bertha Lee; 14) Mind Reader Blues - Charley Patton with Bertha Lee; 15) 34 Blues - Charley Patton; 16) Love My Stuff - Charley Patton; 17) Revenue Man Blues - Charley Patton; 18) Oh Death - Charley Patton and Bertha Lee; 19) Troubled 'Bout My Mother - Charley Patton and Bertha Lee; 20) Poor Me - Charley Patton; 21) Hang It On The Wall - Charley Patton.