Release Date: October 25, 1992.
Recording Date: April 23, 1927 - October 8, 1931.
Release Info: Compilation (PCD-2431) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues.
22 songs, mostly clean and well transferred, make this one of the better bargains among Japanese imports, especially at a $14 list price. The first 15 songs date from 1927, and most of them feature Collins solo, playing some lively and dexterous blues accompanied by some very expressive vocals. "Lion's Den Blues," "Yellow Dog Blues," "Riverside Blues," and "I'm Still Sitting On Top of the World" (just two of the songs that refer to more familiar later songs) are highlights on this very fine disc, which includes some major surprises -- on "Lovely Lady Blues," for instance, one actually gets a real sense of room ambience from the 1927 disc, done for the Gennett label; and there are places where Collins' playing is so animated that it sounds like two guys. The notes are in Japanese, but it's the music that counts here. ~ Bruce Eder
Credits: Sam Collins - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals (tracks: 1 to 13, 16 to 22); John D. Fox - Vocals (tracks: 14, 15).
Tracklist:
01. The Jail House Blues - Sam Collins
02. Devil In The Lion's Den - Sam Collins
03. Yellow Dog Blues - Sam Collins
04. Loving Lady Blues - Sam Collins
05. Riverside Blues - Sam Collins
06. Dark Cloudy Blues - Sam Collins
07. Hesitation Blues - Sam Collins
08. Pork Chop Blues - Sam Collins
09. Midnight Special Blues - Sam Collins
10. I Want To Be Like Jesus In My Heart - Sam Collins
11. Lead Me All The Way - Sam Collins
12. It Won't Be Long - Sam Collins
13. Do That Thing - Sam Collins
14. The Worried Man Blues - John D. Fox, Sam Collins
15. The Moanin' Blues - John D. Fox, Sam Collins
16. Lonesome Road Blues - Salty Dog Sam
17. New Salty Dog - Salty Dog Sam
18. Slow Mama Slow - Salty Dog Sam
19. Signifying Blues - Salty Dog Sam
20. I'm Still Sitting On Top Of The World - Salty Dog Sam
21. Graveyard Digger's Blues - Salty Dog Sam
22. My Road Is Rough And Rocky (How Long, How Long?) - Salty Dog Sam
Tracks 1 to 5 recorded in Richmond, Indiana or Chicago around April 23, 1927; tracks 6 to 13 in Richmond or Chicago around September 17, 1927; track 14 in Richmond on December 14, 1927; track 15 in Richmond on December 15, 1927; tracks 16 to 22 in New York City on October 8, 1931.
Tracks 16 to 22 originally released under the alias Salty Dog Sam.
Notes: Digipak with obi. Includes a sheet of lyrics in English.