Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Release Date: February 16, 2010.
Recording Date: 1944 - 1992.
Recording Time: 67 minutes.
Release Info: SFW CD 40198.
Styles: Appalachian Folk, Folk Blues, Country Blues.
The "mountain cousin" of the Delta blues, Appalachian blues bears the stamp of a distinctive regional blend of European and African styles and sounds born at the cultural crossroads of railroad camps, mines, and rural settlements. Drawn from deep within the Folkways collection and from historic live recordings at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the music of bedrock blues performers such as Pink Anderson, Lesley Riddle, Etta Baker, John Jackson, and Doc Watson shines bright, claiming Appalachia as a key cradle of American acoustic blues. 21 tracks, 66 minutes, 40-page booklet. ~ Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (SFW40198)
Credits: Fulton Allen - composer; Tracey Alperstein - audio restoration; Pink Anderson - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Howard Armstrong - violin; Tommy Armstrong - bass; Etta Baker - arranger, guitar, primary artist, vocals; E.C. Ball - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Doug Bell - photography; James Bellamy - bass; James A. Bland - composer; Ted Bogan - guitar; J.C. Burris - composer, harmonica, primary artist, vocals; Cephas & Wiggins - featured artist; John Cephas - guitar; Ray Charles - composer; Lonnie Chatmon - composer; Rev. Gary Davis - arranger, guitar, primary artist; Jack Delano - photography; Archie Edwards - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Big Chief Ellis - primary artist; Chief Ellis & the Barrelhouse Rockers - primary artist; Wilbert Ellis - piano, vocals; Marvin Foddrell - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Turner Foddrell - guitar, primary artist, vocals; León García - producer; Robert Hicks - composer; Roscoe Holcomb - guitar, primary artist, vocals; John Jackson - arranger, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Peg Leg Sam Jackson - harmonica, primary artist, vocals; Roy Jordan - composer; Carolyn Kerchof - production assistant; Dorothea Lange - inside photo, tray photo; Martin, Bogan & the Armstrongs - primary artist; Carl Martin - composer, mandolin, vocals; Brownie McGhee - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Granville "Sticks" McGhee - composer; Sticks McGhee - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Mary Monseur - production manager; Margot Nassau - licensing; Barry Lee Pearson - annotation, liner notes, song notes; Jeff Place - annotation, introduction, liner notes, song notes; Pete Reiniger - audio restoration, mastering; Renald Richard - composer; Lesley Riddle - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Duncan P. Schiedt - photo courtesy; Peter Seitel - editorial assistant; Daniel E. Sheehy - executive producer; Stephanie Smith - archivist; D.A. Sonneborn - executive producer; Baby Tate - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Johnny Temple - composer; Sonny Terry - harmonica, vocals; John Tinsley - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Walter Vinson - composer; Doc Watson - arranger, guitar, primary artist, vocals; William Weldon - composer; Josh White - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Phil Wiggins - harmonica; Bill Williams - primary artist; Bill "Colonel" Williams - guitar, vocals; J. Mayo Williams - composer; Marion Post Wolcott - photography.
Tracks: 1. My Baby's Gone - Sticks McGhee; 2. Louise Blues - Big Chief Ellis with Cephas and Wiggins; 3. Sitting on Top of the World - Doc Watson; 4. Railroad Bill - John Jackson; 5. Don't Let Your Deal Go Down - Bill Williams; 6. You Don't Know My Mind - Pink Anderson; 7. Blues Around My Bed - J. C. Burris; 8. Hesitation Blues - Reverend Gary Davis; 9. Pawn Shop Blues - Brownie McGhee; 10. The Road is Rough and Rocky - Archie Edwards; 11. Hoodoo Blues - Carl Martin, Ted Bogan and Tommy Armstrong; 12. Red River Blues - Lesley Riddle; 13. Walking Cane - Peg Leg Sam Jackson; 14. One Dime Blues - Etta Baker; 15. Mississippi Heavy Water Blues - Roscoe Holcomb; 16. Outskirts of Town - Josh White; 17. See What You Done Done - Baby Tate; 18. I Got a Woman - Marvin and Turner Foddrell; 19. Girl Dressed in Green - John Tinsley; 20. Blues in the Morning - E.C. Ball; 21. Wine Blues (Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee) - Sticks McGhee.