Release Date: August 7, 2001.
Recording Time: 109 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation (CBL 200028) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Dirty Blues, Regional Blues.
Bo Carter was born Armenter Chatmon and with brothers Lonnie and Sam Chatmon formed the much-revered blues jug band the Mississippi Sheiks. A multi-instrumentalist (he played guitar, fiddle, and bass viol), Carter recorded several solo 78s in addition to his work with the Sheiks and is remembered as a master of the sexual double entendre, where even "Cigarette Blues" (included here) ends up having not much at all to do with smoking. He could play it straight, as well, and this two-disc collection includes several classics that don't fall into the hokum category, including the first recorded version of "Corrine Corrina," which features Carter's fiddle, and the sly, satirical "Sales Tax." The ancient "Old Devil Blues" and the fiddle-driven "Back to Mississippi" are also here. Although born in the Delta (he was a half brother to the legendary Charley Patton), Carter's guitar playing showed little of the local "Big Road Blues" style of Patton, Son House, and others, but featured intricate proto-ragtime fingerpicking. As versatile and charming as Bo Carter is, three-dozen tracks by him is probably more than most people need. ~ Steve Leggett
Credits: Keith Briggs - Liner Notes; Bo Carter - Composer, Primary Artist; Peter Chatman - Composer; Mississippi Sheiks - Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist; Chris Osborne - Illustration; Modesty Mary Sablan - Design; EA Smith - Executive Producer.
Tracklist:
1-01. The Law Gonna Step On You - Bo Carter
1-02. Pigmeat It What I Crave - Bo Carter
1-03. Twist It, Babe - Bo Carter
1-04. Same Thing The Cats All Fight About - Bo Carter
1-05. Banana In Your Fruit Basket - Bo Carter
1-06. I Want To Know You - Bo Carter
1-07. Baby, How Can It Be? - Bo Carter
1-08. Don't Do It No More - Bo Carter
1-09. Mashing That Thing - Bo Carter
1-10. It's Done Got Wet - The Mississippi Sheiks
1-11. Cigarette Blues - Bo Carter
1-12. Honey - Bo Carter
1-13. Let's Get Drung Again - Bo Carter
1-14. Old Devil Blues - Bo Carter
1-15. Pussy Cat Blues - Bo Carter
1-16. Corinne Corinna - Bo Carter
1-17. I've Got The Whole World In My Hand - Bo Carter
1-18. Ways Like A Crawfish - Bo Carter
2-01. Ram Rod Daddy - Bo Carter
2-02. Howling Tom Cat Blues - Bo Carter
2-03. She's Gonna Craw Back Home To You - Bo Carter
2-04. All Around Man - Bo Carter
2-05. What Kind Of Scent Is This - Bo Carter
2-06. Sales Tax - The Mississippi Sheiks
2-07. Last Go Round - Bo Carter
2-08. Beans - Bo Carter
2-09. Shake 'Em On Down - Bo Carter
2-10. Back To Mississsippi - The Mississippi Sheiks
2-11. Arrangement For Me Blues - Bo Carter
2-12. Let Me Roll Your Lemon - Bo Carter
2-13. Shoo That Chicken - Bo Carter
2-14. I Get The Blues - Bo Carter
2-15. Rolling Blues - Bo Carter
2-16. Pussy Cat Blues - Bo Carter
2-17. Who's Been Here? - Bo Carter
2-18. Bo Carter's Advice - Bo Carter