Release Date: August 10, 1990.
Recording Time: 58 minutes.
Recording Date: February 14, 1925 - April 12, 1965.
Release Info: Compilation (CK 46215) Studio Recording.
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Folk-Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Texas Blues, Blues Revival, Early Jazz, East Coast Blues, Folk Revival, Piano Blues, Piedmont Blues, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Slide Guitar Blues, Songster, St. Louis Blues.
This CD serves as a perfect introduction to pre-war blues for the novice since it contains fine examples of the music of 20 blues artists: Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie Johnson, Bo Carter, Blind Willie McTell, Lonnie Johnson, Charley Patton, Leroy Carr, Josh White, Leadbelly, Peetie Wheatstraw, Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Minnie, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams and Son House. Four selections are from the '20s, Son House's "Death Letter" is from 1965, and otherwise the music dates from 1931-1947. The who's who roster includes practically every early great (Tampa Red is missing but Washboard Sam and the first Sonny Boy Williamson appear as sidemen) and, with nine previously unreleased selections (both alternate takes and "new" performances), this CD is an essential purchase for both beginning and veteran collectors alike. ~ Scott Yanow
Credits: Joshua Altheimer - Piano; Louis Armstrong - Cornet; Scrapper Blackwell - Guitar; Blind Sammie - Guitar, Vocals; Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Leroy Carr - Composer, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Bo Carter - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; James Clark - Piano; Blind Boy Fuller - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; John Hammond, Jr. - Performer; W.C. Handy - Composer; Son House - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Mississippi John Hurt - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Blind Lemon Jefferson - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Blind Willie Johnson - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Lonnie Johnson - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Robert Johnson - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Ransom Knowling - Bass; Lead Belly - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Little Son Joe - Guitar; Fred Longshaw - Organ; Blind Willie McTell - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Memphis Minnie - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; McKinley Morganfield - Guitar, Vocals; Paul Oliver - Liner Notes; Charley Patton - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Judge Riley - Drums; Walter Roland - Piano; Bessie Smith - Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Swamp Dogg - Composer; Traditional - Composer; Washboard Sam - Washboard; Muddy Waters - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Peetie Wheatstraw - Composer, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Bukka White - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Josh White - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Big Joe Williams - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Fred Williams - Drums; Sonny Boy Williamson I - Harmonica.
Tracklist:
01. St. Louis Blues - Bessie Smith
02. Match Box Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson
03. Ain't No Tellin' - Mississippi John Hurt
04. Lord, I Just Can't Keep From Cryin' - Blind Willie Johnson
05. Pigmeat Is What I Crave - Bo Carter
06. Southern Can Is Mine - Blind Willie McTell
07. Low Down St. Louis Blues - Lonnie Johnson
08. Revenue Man Blues - Charley Patton
09. Stormy Night Blues - Leroy Carr
10. I Believe I'll Make A Change - Pinetop Tom
11. Fort Worth And Dallas Blues - Leadbelly
12. Sweet Home Blues - Peetie Wheatstraw
13. Stop Breakin' Down Blues - Robert Johnson
14. Truckin' My Blues Away, #2 - Blind Boy Fuller
15. Spreadin' Snakes Blues - Big Bill Broonzy
16. Nothing In Ramblin' - Memphis Minnie
17. Fixin' To Die Blues - Bukka White
18. Hard Day Blues - Muddy Waters
19. Don't You Leave Me Here - Big Joe Williams
20. Death Letter - Son House
Notes:
Track 1 Recorded New York City. Feb 14, 1925.
Track 2 Recorded Atlanta, GA. Mar 14,1927.
Track 3 Recorded New York City. Dec 21, 1928.
Track 4 Recorded Dallas, TX. Dec. 5, 1928.
Track 5 Recorded New York City. Jun. 5, 1931.
Track 6 Recorded Atlanta, GA. Oct. 23, 1931.
Track 7 Recorded New York City. Feb. 11,1931.
Track 8 Recorded New York City. Jan. 31, 1934.
Track 9 Recorded New York City. Aug. 14, 1934.
Track 10 Recorded New York City. Aug. 1, 1934.
Track 11 Recorded New York city. Jan. 24, 1935.
Track 12 Recorded Chicago. Feb. 13, 1936.
Track 13 Recorded Dallas, TX. June 20, 1937
Track 14 Recorded New York City. Feb. 9, 1937,
Track 15 Recorded Chicago. Feb. 5, 1939.
Track 16 Recorded Chicago. June 27,1940
Track 17 Recorded Chicago. Mar. 8, 1940
Track 18 Recorded Chicago. Sept. 27 1946.
Track 19 Recorded Chicago. Dec. 18, 1947.
Track 20 Recorded New York. Apr. 12, 1965.