Legends Of Country Blues (The Complete Pre-War Recordings of Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Tommy Johnson, Ishmon Bracey)
Release Date: September 23, 2003.
Recording Time: 282 minutes.
Recording Date: February 3, 1928 - July 17, 1942.
Release Info: 5 x CD, Compilation (JSP7715) Studio & Live, Remastered.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Blues Revival, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Field Recordings, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Regional Blues, Slide Guitar Blues, Work Songs.
JSP's Legends of Country Blues compiles five CDs of performances by Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Tommy Johnson, and Ishman Bracey. These historic prewar recordings have been remastered, and according to the packaging, feature "unprecedented listening quality." While that claim is a bit of a stretch, the majority of this material does sound great. Unlike other packages of this type, the liner notes are informative, listing personnel, dates, and concise history without going on ad nauseam. As an extra bonus this is a budget-priced set, making it highly recommended, especially for the blues novice. ~ Al Campbell
Credits: Ishman Bracey - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Vocals; Willie Brown - Guitar, Vocals; Bill Ellis - Composer; Napoleon Hairiston - Guitar, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part; Son House - Composer, Primary Artist, Slide Guitar, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Vocals; Skip James - Composer, Foot Stomping, Guitar, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Robert Johnson - Composer; Tommy Johnson - Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Alan Lomax - Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part; Fiddlin' Joe Martin - Mandolin, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Vocals; Charlie McCoy - Guitar, Mandolin; Kid Ernest Michall - Clarinet; Miss Minnie - Vocals; Rosie Mae Moore - Vocals; Johnny Parth - Composer; Charley Patton - Composer, Guitar; Charley Taylor - Piano, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part; Traditional - Composer; Washboard Sam - Washboard; Bukka White - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Leroy Williams - Harmonica.
Tracklist:
1-01. Devil Got My Woman - Skip James
1-02. Cypress Groove Blues - Skip James
1-03. Cherry Ball Blues - Skip James
1-04. Illinois Blues - Skip James
1-05. Four O'Clock Blues - Skip James
1-06. Hard Luck Child - Skip James
1-07. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues - Skip James
1-08. Yola My Blues Away - Skip James
1-09. Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader - Skip James
1-10. Be Ready When He Comes - Skip James
1-11. Drunken Spree - Skip James
1-12. I'm So Glad - Skip James
1-13. Special Rider Blues - Skip James
1-14. How Long Buck - Skip James
1-15. Little Cow And Calf Is Gonna Die Blues - Skip James
1-16. What Am I To Do Blues - Skip James
1-17. 22-20 Blues - Skip James
1-18. If You Haven't Any Hay, Get Down On The Road - Skip James
1-19. Walkin' Blues - Son House
1-20. My Black Mama Part 1 - Son House
1-21. My Black Mama Part 2 - Son House
1-22. Preachin' The Blues Part 1 - Son House
1-23. Preachin' The Blues Part 2 - Son House
1-24. Dry Spell Blues Part 1 - Son House
1-25. Dry Spell Blues Part 2 - Son House
2-01. Levee Camp Blues - Son House
2-02. Government Fleet Blues - Son House
2-03. Walking Blues - Son House
2-04. Shetland Pony Blues - Son House
2-05. Fo' Clock Blues - Son House
2-06. Camp Hollers - Son House
2-07. Delta Blues - Son House
2-08. Special Rider Blues - Son House
2-09. Special Rider Blues - Son House
2-10. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues - Son House
2-11. Depot Blues - Son House
2-12. The Key Of Minor - Son House
2-13. American Defense - Son House
2-14. Am I Right Or Wrong - Son House
2-15. Walking Blues - Son House
2-16. County Farm Blues - Son House
2-17. The Pony Blues - Son House
2-18. The Jinx Blues Part 1 - Son House
2-19. The Jinx Blues Part 2 - Son House
3-01. The New Frisco Train - Bukka White
3-02. The Panama Limited - Bukka White
3-03. I Am In The Heavenly Way - Bukka White
3-04. Promise, True And Grand - Bukka White
3-05. Pine Bluff, Arkansas - Bukka White
3-06. Shake 'Em On Down - Bukka White
3-07. Sic 'Em Dogs On - Bukka White
3-08. Po' Boy - Bukka White
3-09. Black Train - Bukka White
3-10. Strange Place Blues - Bukka White
3-11. When Can I Change My Clothes - Bukka White
3-12. Sleepy Man Blues - Bukka White
3-13. Parchman Farm Blues - Bukka White
3-14. Good Gin Blues - Bukka White
3-15. High Fever Blues - Bukka White
3-16. District Attorney Blues - Bukka White
3-17. Fixin' To Die Blues - Bukka White
3-18. Aberdeen Mississippi Blues - Bukka White
3-19. Bukka's Jitterbug Blues - Bukka White
3-20. Special Stream Line - Bukka White
4-01. Cool Drink Of Water Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-02. Big Road Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-03. Bye Bye Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-04. Maggie Campbell Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-05. Canned Heat Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-06. Lonesome Home Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-07. Lonesome Home Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-08. Big Fat Mama Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-09. I Wonder To Myself - Tommy Johnson
4-10. Slidin' Delta - Tommy Johnson
4-11. Lonesome Home Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-12. Untitled (Morning Prayer Blues) - Tommy Johnson
4-13. Untitled (Boogaloosa Woman) - Tommy Johnson
4-14. Black Mare Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-15. Black Mare Blues - Tommy Johnson
4-16. Ridin' Horse - Tommy Johnson
4-17. Alcohol And Jake Blues - Tommy Johnson
5-01. Stranger Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-02. Stranger Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-03. Left Alone Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-04. Leavin' Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-05. Leavin' Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-06. Brown Mama Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-07. Brown Mama Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-08. Trouble Hearted Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-09. Trouble Hearted Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-10. The Four Day Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-11. The Four Day Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-12. Jake Liquor Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-13. Family Starving - Ishman Bracey
5-14. Mobile Stomp - Ishman Bracey
5-15. Farish Street Rag - Ishman Bracey
5-16. Woman, Woman Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-17. Suitcase Full Of Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-18. Bust Up Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-19. Pay Me No Mind - Ishman Bracey
5-20. Heavy Suitcase Blues - Ishman Bracey
5-21. Louisiana Bound - Ishman Bracey
5-22. Too Damp To Be Wet - Ishman Bracey
5-23. Where My Shoes At? - Ishman Bracey