Release Date: 2007.
Recording Time: 60 minutes
Recording Date: 1926 - 1931.
Release Info: Compilation (BSCD-37) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Folk-Blues, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues.
A compilation of blues artists, some quite obscure, who recorded for the Paramount label between 1926-1931. 20 tracks in all featuring Edward Thompson, Ed Bell, Geeshie Wiley (considered one of the best female country blues artists), George "Bullet" Williams, Ramblin' Thomas, William Moore, Rube Lacey, Walter "Buddy Boy" Hawkins, Clifford Gibson, Bo Weavil Jackson, Freddie Sprull, Ishman Bracey. Fans of acoustic country blues will find much to like on this release.
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The Paramount record label of the 1920s and '30s started out as an a side venture of the Paramount Furniture Company in Grafton, WI, a way to sell the company's line of phonograph players by featuring a line of cheaply made 78s to play on them. Luckily, the Southern blues musicians the company recorded at the time just happened to be pretty vital, and such country-blues legends as Charley Patton, Skip James, Blind Blake, and Blind Lemon Jefferson all recorded classic sides for Paramount, as did dozens of lesser known and obscure figures, many of whose recordings are collected here on this 20-track compilation. There aren't any big country-blues names here, but there are plenty of little gems, including Geeshie Wiley's stark and haunting "Last Kind Words Blues" from 1930, Ramblin' Thomas' poignant "So Lonesome" from 1928, Walter "Buddy Boy" Hawkins' "Shaggy Dog Blues" from 1927, and Freddie Spruell's "Tom Cat Blues" from 1928. Wiley's "Last Kind Words Blues" aside, none of these sides is absolutely essential to any blues collection, but they won't diminish one, either. ~ Steve Leggett
Credits:
Archive Material – John Tefteller
Digital Transfers – Richard Bird
Graphic Design – Kenneth Pape
Producer – George H. Buck, Jr.
Production Manager, Liner Notes – Lars Edegran
Tracklist:
01. Showers Of Rain Blues - Edward Thompson
02. Seven Sisters Blues - Edward Thompson
03. Mamlish Blues - Ed Bell
04. Last Kind Words Blues - Geeshie Wiley
05. Skinny Leg Blues - Geeshie Wiley
06. Touch Me Light Mama - George "Bullet" Williams
07. So Lonesome - Ramblin' Thomas
08. Lock And Key Blues - Ramblin' Thomas
09. Barbershop Rag - William Moore
10. Raggin' The Blues - William Moore
11. Mississippi Jail House Groan - Rube Lacy
12. Jailhouse House Blues - Buddy Boy Hawkins
13. Shaggy Dog Blues - Buddy Boy Hawkins
14. Tired Of Being Mistreated Part 1 - Clifford Gibson
15. Eagles On A Half - Geeshie Wiley
16. Pick Poor Robin Clean - Geeshie Wiley
17. Pistol Blues - Bo Weavil Jackson
18. Why Do You Moan? - Bo Weavil Jackson
19. Tom Cat Blues - Freddie Spruell
20. Woman Woman Blues - Ishman Bracey