Label: Document Records.
Release Date: 1992.
Release Info: Compilation, DOCD-5123,5124,5125.
Recording Date: January 16, 1933 - October 23, 1941.
Styles: Country Blues, East Coast Blues, Piedmont Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues.
These three CDs contain all of Moss's recordings made between January 1933 and October 1941. The sound is generally good to excellent, and as for the material, it is just about the most sophisticated and beautifully played Atlanta blues of its period. From his very earliest sessions in January of 1933, Buddy Moss made his guitar sing almost like a human voice even without a slide, just strumming, and his own voice was one of the most expressive in the blues. And when he played slide . . . well, Atlanta blues didn't get any better than this, especially with Curley Weaver ("Prowling Woman" and "T.B.'s Killing Me," for the guitar duet, are worth the price of Vol. I) or Fred McMullen providing the second guitar part (and Blind Willie McTell's voice turning up every so often), or, a little later, Josh White playing with him. Among the more fascinating anomalies is "Daddy Don't Care" from Volume I, which anticipates Blind Boy Fuller's "You've Got Something There." But the real reason for getting these three discs -- and all three are necessary -- is to take in one of the genuine, deserving blues giants in history on 67 of the greatest sides ever laid down. ~ Bruce Eder
Credits: Brownie McGhee - guitar, piano; Fred McMullen - guitar; Blind Willie McTell - speech; Buddy Moss - guitar, harmonica, primary artist, vocals; Curley Weaver - guitar; Joshua White - guitar, vocals; Ruth Willis - speech;
Tracks, Disc 1: 1. Bye Bye Mama; 2. Daddy Don't Care; 3. Red River Blues; 4. Cold Country Blues; 5. Prowling Woman; 6. TB's Killing Me; 7. When I'm Dead And Gone; 8. Hard Times Blues; 9. Prowlin' Gambler Blues; 10. Hard Road Blues; 11. Jealous Hearted Man; 12. Midnight Rambler; 13. Best Gal; 14. Restless Night Blues; 15. Married Man's Blues; 16. Somebody Keeps Calling Me; 17. Back To My Use To Be - take 1; 18. Back To My Use To Be - take 2; 19. Can't Use You No More - take 1; 20. Can't Use You No More - take 2; 21. Travelin' Blues; 22. Bachelor's Blues; 23. Broke Down Engine.
Tracks, Disc 2: 1. Broke Down Engine No. 2 - take 1; 2. Broke Down Engine No. 2 - take 2; 3. B & O Blues No. 2; 4. Some Lonesome Day - 14065-1; 5. Some Lonesome Day - 14065-2; 6. New Lovin' Blues; 7. Unkind Woman; 8. When The Hearse Roll Me From My Door; 9. Insane Blues; 10. Tricks Ain't Walkin' No Mores; 11. Stinging Bull Nettle; 12. Oh Lordy Mama; 13. Dough Rolling Papa; 14. Some Lonesome Day - 15552; 15. Misery Man Blues; 16. Jinx Man Blues; 17. Evil Hearted Woman; 18. Too Dog Gone Jealous; 19. Someday Baby; 20. Love Me, Baby, Love Me; 21. Sleepless Night; 22. Shake It All Night Long.
Tracks, Disc 3: 1. Gravy Server; 2. Going To Your Funeral In A Vee Eight Ford; 3. My Baby Won't Pay Me No Mind; 4. Undertaker Blues; 5. Oh Lordy Mama No. 2; 6. Worrysome Woman; 7. Your Hard Head Will Bring You Some Sorrow Some Day; 8. Can't Use You No More; 9. See What You Done Done; 10. Stop Hanging Around; 11. On My Way To Heaven (with Joshua White); 12. How About You (with Joshua White); 13. Talking About My Time (with Joshua White); 14. You Got To Give Me Some Of It (with Joshua White); 15. Mistreated Boy; 16. You Need A Woman; 17. Joy Rag; 18. Little Angle Blues; 19. Struggle Buggie; 20. I'm Sttin' Here Tonight; 21. Baby You'?re The One For Me; 22. Unfinished Business.