Release Date: February 9, 1999.
Recording Time: 69 minutes.
Recording Date: June 24, 1929 - February 1, 1934.
Release Info: Compilation (BC002) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Regional Blues, Slide Guitar Blues.
The story of Delta blues starts with Charley Patton's slashing slide style, hoarse and gruff vocals, and unerring ability to personalize even the most mundane blues lyric. Patton's 78s have been collected in several fine packages, including the JSP box called Complete Recordings, Catfish's three-disc budget box called Definitive Charley Patton, and the last word in all this, the impressive (and expensive) seven-disc Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues from Revenant Records. This single-disc selection from Wolf works as an inexpensive single-disc introduction to Patton, and it contains his best-known songs like "Pony Blues," the two-part "High Water Everywhere," "Down the Dirt Road Blues," "High Sheriff Blues," and "Revenue Man Blues." Since Patton's rhythms and overall approach can be repetitive at times, casual listeners wondering what all the fuss is about might be better served with a single disc like this one that hones things down a bit, but Patton's work is both the Big Bang and the epicenter of country blues, so going a little deeper and springing for one of the box sets is well worth the time and expense. ~ Steve Leggett
Credits: Willie Brown & Woodie - Guitar; Charley Patton - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Henry "Son" Sims - Violin; Joop Visser - Liner Notes, Producer; Geraint Watkins - Digital Remastering.
Tracklist:
01. Mississippi Boweavil Blues - Charley Patton
02. Screamin And Hollerin' The Blues - Charley Patton
03. Down The Dirt Road Blues - Charley Patton
04. Pony Blues - Charley Patton
05. Banty Rooster Blues - Charley Patton
06. Pea Vine Blues - Charley Patton
07. A Spoonful Blues - Charley Patton
08. Prayer Of Death (Part 1) - Charley Patton
09. Elder Green Blues (Take 1) - Charley Patton
10. Mean Black Cat Blues - Charley Patton
11. Green River Blues - Charley Patton
12. Hammer Blues - Charley Patton
13. Heart Like Railroad Steel - Charley Patton
14. High Water Everywhere (Part 1) - Charley Patton
15. Rattlesnake Blues - Charley Patton
16. Mean Black Mon - Charley Patton
17. Dry Well Blues - Charley Patton
18. Bird Nest Bound - Charley Patton
19. Jersey Bull Blues - Charley Patton
20. High Sheriff Blues - Charley Patton
21. Stone Pony Blues - Charley Patton
22. 34 Blues - Charley Patton
23. Hang It On The Wall - Charley Patton