Label: Document Records.
Release Date: June 2, 1994.
Recording Time: 75 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: March 18, 1935 - March 20, 1935.
DOCD 5196
Styles: Folk-Blues, Piedmont Blues, Political Folk, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Regional Blues, Songster, Blues Revival, Folk Revival.
The third of three Document CDs that cover Josh White's early years has 16 selections from 1935-1936 and eight from 1940. In between those periods, White suffered a serious injury to a hand that forced him out of music temporarily. The earlier numbers feature him either as "The Singing Christian" or as a blues singer under the name of "Pinewood Tom." Those duets (with either pianist Walter Roland or guitarist Buddy Moss) are excellent including such numbers as "Jet Black Woman," "Got a Key to the Kingdom" and "No More Ball and Chain." The later eight numbers have White accompanied by bassist Wilson Meyers and, on "Careless Love" and "Milk Cow Blues," the great clarinetist Sidney Bechet. Listeners who think of Josh White as primarily an urban folk singer, will find these performances, and those are the preceding two Document CDs, to be quite intriguing. ~ Scott Yanow
Credits: Kokomo Arnold - composer; Sidney Bechet - clarinet; Leroy Carr - composer; Waring Cuney - composer; W.C. Handy - composer; Lightnin' Hopkins - composer; Martha E. Koenig - composer; David Moore - liner notes; Buddy Moss - guitar, vocals; Wilson Myers - bass, sbs; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Walter Roland - piano; Traditional - composer; Gerhard Wessely - remastering; Bill White - vocals; Josh White - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Spencer Williams - composer.
Tracks: 1) I Got a Home in That Rock; 2) Paul and Silas Bound in Jail; 3) Jet Black Woman; 4) Pigmeat and Whiskey Blues; 5) Prodigal Son; 6) While the Blood Runs Warm in Your Veins; 7) Trying to Get Home; 8) Got a Key to the Kingdom; 9) My Soul Is Gonna Live with God; 10) On My Way; 11) How About You?; 12) Talking About My Time; 13) Did You Read That Letter?; 14) When the Sun Goes Down; 15) No More Ball and Chain; 16) Silicosis Is Killin' Me; 17) Careless Love (mx. 671); 18) Milk Cow Blues; 19) Careless Love (mx. 673); 20) Prison Bound; 21) Hard Time Blues; 22) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; 23) Motherless Children, Pt. 1; 24) Motherless Children, Pt. 2.