Release Date: October 25, 1994.
Recording Time: 61 minutes.
Recording Date: 1927 - 1935.
Release Info: Compilation (Yazoo-2007) Studio Recording, Remastered.
Styles: Country Blues, Delta Blues, Pre-War Blues, Regional Blues, Pre-War Country Blues.
The early Mississippi artists featured here represent traditional blues at the height of its power. Possessing a drive and eloquence rarely matched, the selections presented here rank among the all-time classic performances in blues history.
This compact disc was compiled from extremely rare old 78's which have been remastered to produce the best possible sound. However, the listener is advised to approach this CD in its historical perspective realizing that there are some imperfections and noise in the original recordings. These should be viewed as being of minor consequence in view of the considerable musical and historical importance of this project.
* * * * *
This is a well-organized, smartly chosen 20-track compilation of some of the lesser-known early Mississippi blues artists. Garfield Akers is about the most famous, which tells you right there how obscure most of these names -- King Solomon Hill, Otto Virgial, Mattie Delaney, Joe Calicott, Blind Joe Reynolds, John D. Fox and others -- are to the general listening public. It's quality material, however, and not in a drastically different league than the most renowned classics by singers like Tommy Johnson and Son House. The guitar playing and singing are emotional and inventive throughout, but standouts include Mattie Delaney, Elvie Thomas and Geeshie Wiley, some of the relatively few guitar-playing Delta blueswomen who recorded; Wiley's minor-key, doomy "Last Kind Words" is particularly affecting. ~ Richie Unterberger
Credits: Garfield Akers - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Joe Calicott - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Mattie Delaney - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; John D. Fox - Performer, Primary Artist; William Harris - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; King Solomon Hill - Performer, Primary Artist; Don Kent - Liner Notes, Producer; Scott Levitin - Audio Restoration; Richard Nevins - Producer, Remastering; Joan Pelosi - Art Direction; Arthur Reynolds - Composer; Blind Willie Reynolds - Performer, Primary Artist; Joe Reynolds - Composer; Joe Tarantino - Audio Restoration; Elvie Thomas - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist; Otto Virgial - Performer, Primary Artist; Robert Vosgien - Remixing; Geeshie Wiley - Performer, Primary Artist.
Tracklist:
01. Dough Roller Blues (1930) - Garfield Akers
02. Kansas City Blues (1928) - William Harris
03. Little Girl In Rome (1935) - Otto Virgial
04. Tallahatchie River Blues (1930) - Mattie Delaney
05. Last Kind Words (1930) - Geechie Wiley
06. Fare Thee Well Blues (1930) - Joe Callicott
07. Bullfrog Blues (1928) - William Harris
08. The Moaning Blues (1927) - John D. Fox
09. Pick Poor Robin Clean (1931) - Geechie Wiley And Elvie Thomas
10. Outside Woman Blues (1930) - Blind Joe Reynolds
11. Gone Dead Train (1932) - King Solomon Hill
12. Cotton Field Blues Part 1 (1929) - Garfield Akers
13. Cotton Field Blues Part 2 (1929) - Garfield Akers
14. Hot Time Blues (1928) - William Harris
15. Skinny Legs Blues (1930) - Geechie Wiley
16. Third Street Woman Blues (1930) - Blind Joe Reynolds
17. Worried Man Blues (1927) - John D. Fox
18. Down The Big Road Blues (1930) - Mattie Delaney
19. Whoopee Blues (1932) - King Solomon Hill
20. Motherless Child Blues (1930) - Elvie Thomas