Release Date: June 5, 2001.
Recording Time: 97 minutes.
Release Info: CBL 200018, Compilation, 2 x CD, Studio Recording.
Like each of the entries in the Classic blues catalog, The Essential Bill Gaither summarizes the artist's contribution to musical history by tapping into his complete works as reissued by Document in five volumes a few years prior to this collection's appearance in 2001. Gaither, whose recording career began in 1935 and was interrupted then ultimately terminated by the Second World War, operated under the combined influences of Leroy Carr, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, Jazz Gillum, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Big Maceo Merriweather. Most but not all of his records were made with Indianapolis pianist Honey Hill, and the producers of this collection were thoughtful enough to include Hill's only known piano solos, "Boogie Woogie" and "Set 'Em." While no two people familiar with Gaither's works would be able to agree on the ideal tune selection, there is enough variety here to demonstrate his range of moods, subject matter, and tempos, from slow and wistful to what he himself referred to as "barrel house." This is classic Midwestern blues of the '30s and early '40s, much of it hatched on the road as Gaither restlessly tooled around on his motorcycle from Louisville to Indianapolis to Chicago and all the way down to New Orleans. Despite his having been posthumously upstaged by some of his contemporaries, Bill Gaither's recordings became available in the digital format during the early '90s and the appearance of his Essential Classic Blues edition at the dawn of the 21st century stands as a righteous salute to his memory. Presently, the one persistent source of confusion is the likelihood of Gaither getting mixed up with an identically named contemporary white gospel singer. ~ arwulf arwulf
Credits: Bill Gaither - composer, primary artist; Honey Hill - performer, primary artist; Casey Smith - booklet.
Tracklist:
- 1-01. Naptown Stomp - Bill Gaither
- 1-02. Pains In My Heart - Bill Gaither
- 1-03. Tired Of Your Line Of Jive - Bill Gaither
- 1-04. 'Leven Light City (with Frank Busby) - Bill Gaither
- 1-05. Old Model 'A' Blues - Bill Gaither
- 1-06. Triflin' Woman Blues - Bill Gaither
- 1-07. Life Of Leroy Carr - Bill Gaither
- 1-08. Sunrise Blues - Bill Gaither
- 1-09. I'm Wise To Your Line Of Jive - Bill Gaither
- 1-10. I Just Keep On Worryin' - Bill Gaither
- 1-11. Boogie Woogie (with Honey Hill) - Bill Gaither
- 1-12. Army Bound Blues - Bill Gaither
- 1-13. That Will Never Do - Bill Gaither
- 1-14. Georgia Woman Stomp (Carrying On Blues) - Bill Gaither
- 1-15. Bad Luck Child - Bill Gaither
- 1-16. After The Sun's Gone Down - Bill Gaither
- 1-17. How Long Baby How Long - Bill Gaither
- 1-18. Prisoner Bound (with Frank Busby) - Bill Gaither
- 2-01. Jungle Man Blues - Bill Gaither
- 2-02. Set 'Em (with Honey Hill) - Bill Gaither
- 2-03. Evil Hearted Me - Bill Gaither
- 2-04. Racket Blues - Bill Gaither
- 2-05. Worried Life Blues - Bill Gaither
- 2-06. Tired Of Your Trifling Ways - Bill Gaither
- 2-07. Greyhound Blues - Bill Gaither
- 2-08. Knew So Much Trouble - Bill Gaither
- 2-09. Evil Yalla Woman - Bill Gaither
- 2-10. You Done Ranked Yourself With Me - Bill Gaither
- 2-11. Strange Woman - Bill Gaither
- 2-12. Georgia Barrel House - Bill Gaither
- 2-13. I'm Behind The Eight Ball Now - Bill Gaither
- 2-14. Mean Old World To Live In - Bill Gaither
- 2-15. 'Bout The Break Of Day - Bill Gaither
- 2-16. You Done Lost Your Swing - Bill Gaither
- 2-17. It's A Sad Story - Bill Gaither