Release Date: 2003.
Recording Time: 74 minutes.
Recording Date: February 19, 1927 - September 13, 1944.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-32-20-04) Studio Recording, Remastered.
Styles: Chicago Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues, Regional Blues.
Blues recordings began in 1920 with Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues". For the next three years blues records would invariable follow the formula of having a female vocalist backed with a jazz band and became known as the "Classic Blues". Then came along Sylvester Weaver who, it has been said, became the first "Guitar Hero", a male blues singer, recorded playing his own guitar. It would be another three years before the first major commercial success would be experienced by another blues guitarist, the great Blind Lemon Jefferson from Texas. This collection brings together real blues; blues about being unhappy, dissatisfied or grief-ridden and, if possible, dealing with it. You won't find 'It's Tight Like That' or 'Who Pumped The Wind In My Doughnut' on this set - just front rank 'deep' blues on which each of the singers is predominantly supported by a guitar, played by either themselves or another, as an integral and essential part of the performance. The result is that blending of lyrical intensity and sympathetic instrumental work that is the soul of the blues. ~ Keith Briggs (2003 Document Records)
Credits: Wilbert Andrews - Guitar; Gary Atkinson - Cover Art, Executive Producer; Willie Baker - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Pillie Bolling - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Ishman Bracey - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Keith Briggs - Liner Notes; Gabriel Brown - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; John Byrd - Guitar; Lawrence Cohn - Collection; Julius Daniels - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Mattie Delaney - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Tom Dickson - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Alfred Elkins - Tuba (Bass); Mae Glover - Primary Artist, Vocals; Blind Lemon Jefferson - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Lottie Kimbrough - Primary Artist, Vocals; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - Composer, Primary Artist; Minnie McCoy - Composer; Memphis Minnie - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Miles Pruitt - Guitar; Willie Reed - Composer, Primary Artist; Blind Joe Reynolds - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Paul Swinton - Collection, Compilation Producer, Digital Remastering, Producer; Ramblin' Thomas - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; George Torey - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Unidentified Prisoner - Composer; Otto Virgial - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Sylvester Weaver - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Bukka White - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Robert Wilkins - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; Tommy Willis - Collection.
Tracklist:
01. Ninety Nine Year Blues (Take 2) - Julius Daniels
02. Weak Minded Woman - Willie Baker
03. Tallahatchie River Blues - Mattie Delaney
04. Brown Skin Woman - Pillie Bolling
05. Rolling Log Blues - Lottie Kimbrough
06. Get Away Blues - Robert Wilkins
07. Death Bell Blues - Tom Dickson
08. Richmond Blues (Take 1) - Julius Daniels
09. Dreaming Blues - Willie Reed
10. Ground Hog Blues No. 2 - Ramblin' Thomas
11. Black Spider Blues - Robert Lockwood
12. Little Boy Blues - Robert Lockwood
13. Trouble Hearted Blues - Ishman Bracey
14. Little Girl In Rome - Otto Virgial
15. I Ain't Givin' Nobody None - Mae Glover (as Bessie Jones)
16. Married Woman Blues - George Torey
17. Rambler Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson
18. Cold Woman Blues - Blind Joe Reynolds
19. Ninety Nine Blues - Blind Joe Reynolds
20. Drunken Barrel House Blues - Memphis Minnie
21. I'm Gonna Take It Easy - Gabriel Brown
22. Special Stream Line - Bukka White
23. Labour Blues - Tom Dickson
24. Rock Pile Blues - Sylvester Weaver