Release Date: 1991.
Recording Date: 1934-1943.
Release Info: Compilation (TM CD 08) Field Recordings.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Field Recordings, Gospel Blues, Folk Blues, Harmonica Blues, Pre-War Blues, Regional Blues.
Something else that came along in 2001 besides the Patriot Act was the Rounder label's Deep River of Song series, in which the original '30s and '40s field recordings carried out by Alan Lomax and John A. Lomax are once again collected, complete with lavish packaging and detailed liner notes. Some of the material that previously appeared on Red River Blues 1934-1943 and a similar set entitled Red River Runs: 1934-41 Field Recordings wound up included on the Rounder volume entitled Deep River of Song: Georgia. In light of that, blues collectors may seriously wonder whether these older sets published by labels such as Flyright and Travelin' Man are worth the trouble. Many may never have to ask the question, as these labels were distributed much less widely than Rounder product and may not even show up even after a marathon exploration of the used record pile. There is life after Lomax, however. In point of fact, there are more than a few blues fans who became disgusted by this family's habit of taking credit as the authors and de facto publishers of songs that they recorded, but had absolutely nothing to do with creating. Sorry, suggesting to a bluesman that he make up a song about "Goin' to Richmond" is not an instant promotion to authorship of the song. Even without a Lomax loathing, listeners may find this compilation highly worthwhile. It is superbly assembled and flows through its cast of characters with little distraction. It is also quite consistent in quality despite the difference between performers such as Robert Davis, who seems to have only made one recording in his life, and Gabriel Brown, who moved from field recordings to a prolific and popular urban recording career. The aforementioned Davis track, "Poor Joe Breakdown," is a marvel. This romping instrumental is a popular choice of country blues radio programmers, and listeners who have been wondering who it is and where it came from, will be delighted to find it here. There are also generous selections from the limited recording catalog of players such as Blind Joe Taggart, Sonny Chestain, and Willie Williams, all of whom deserve as much attention as they can get. ~ Eugene Chadbourne
Credits: Kokomo Arnold - Composer; Mary Elizabeth Barnicle - Engineer; Buster Brown - Harmonica, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Gabriel Brown - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; J. Brown - Guitar; Sonny Chestain - Primary Artist; Reese Crenshaw - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Charlie Crump - Remastering; Robert Davis - Performer, Primary Artist; William Flowers - Guitar, Vocals; Willy Flowers - Primary Artist; Gus Gibson - Primary Artist; Hasmick - Remastering; Zora Neale Hurston - Engineer; Willis James - Engineer; Lewis Jones - Engineer; Alan Lomax - Engineer; John A. Lomax - Engineer; Allison Mathis - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Roger Matthews - Harmonica, Vocals; Jimmie Owens - Primary Artist; Alvin Sanders - Guitar; Booker T. Sapps - Harmonica, Primary Artist, Vocals; Smith Band - Primary Artist; Clifton William Smith - Banjo, Guitar, Leader, Mandolin; James Sneed - Vocals, Washboard; James Sneed's Washboard Band - Primary Artist; Harold Spivacke - Engineer; Jesse Stroller - Primary Artist; Jimmie Strothers - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Blind Joe Taggart - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Ray Templeton - Liner Notes; Traditional - Composer; Willie Williams - Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; J. Wilson - Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; John W. Work - Engineer.
Tracklist:
01. When I Lie Down - Blind Joe
02. In Trouble - Blind Joe
03. Trouble - Reese Crenshaw
04. Poor Joe Breakdown - Robert Davis
05. Not Satisfied - Jimmie Owens
06. Red River Blues - Willie Williams
07. Barrel House Blues - J. Wilson
08. Mama You Goin' To Quit Me - Allison Mathis
09. Goin' To Richmond - Jimmie Strothers
10. Fort Valley Blues - The Smith Band
11. War Song - Buster Brown
12. Milk Cow Blues - Gus Gibson
13. Po' Boy Long Way From Home - Sonny Chestain
14. I'm Gonna Make You Happy - Buster Brown
15. Railroad Song - Gus Gibson
16. Southern Rag - James Sneed's Washboard Band
17. John Henry - Allison Mathis & Jessie Stroller
18. Talking In Sebastopol - Gabriel Brown
19. Alabama Blues (Part 1) - Booker T. Sapps
20. The Weeping Worry Blues - Booker T. Sapps
21. Levee Camp Holler - Willy Flowers
22. Boot That Thing - Booker T. Sapps
Personnel: Blind Joe - Vocals, Guitar (1, 2); Reese Crenshaw - Vocals, Guitar (3); "Cool Breeze" - Vocals (3); Robert Davis - Vocals, Guitar (4); Jimmie Owens - Vocals, Guitar (5); J. Brown - Guitar (5); Willie Williams - Vocals (6), Guitar (6, 7); J. Brown - Vocals (7), Guitar (6, 7); Allison Mathis - Vocals, Guitar (8, 17); Jimmie Strothers - Vocals, Guitar (9); Clifton William Smith - Leader (10); Unknown Artists - Guitar, Bass, Mandolin (Banjo-Mandolin), Kazoo (10); Buster Brown - Vocals, Harmonica (11, 14); Gus Gibson - Vocals, Guitar (12, 15); Sonny Chestain - Vocals, Guitar (13); James Sneed - Vocals, Washboard (16); Alvin Sanders - Guitar (16); J. F. Duffy - Guitar (16); Jesse Stroller - Harmonica (17); Gabriel Brown - Vocals, Guitar (18); Rochelle French - Guitar (18); Booker T. Sapps - Vocals, Harmonica (19, 20, 21); Roger Matthews - Vocals, Harmonica (19, 20); Willy Flowers - Vocals, Guitar (19, 20, 21).
Recorded on location on behalf of the Library of Congress.
NOTE: The original acetate for track 19 was irretrievably damaged and no further improvement could be made.