Release Date: June 15, 2004.
Recording Time: 272 minutes.
Recording Date: 1943 - 1953.
Release Info: BVDCD1033, 4 x CD, Compilation.
Four CD set featuring 100 tracks of rare great Classic Blues. Part of a series of CD sets featuring Blues artists from all over the USA, lovingly remastered from 78s, many never previously available on CD. Includes Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Little Walter, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James and many more.
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Searching for a blues collection that covers a lot of ground? You might want to opt for Down Home Blues Classics, a 100-track post-WWII anthology released in 2004 by Boulevard Vintage. Given the high percentage of urban blues in this collection, the phrase "down home" could be misleading, unless you take into account the musicians' home turf, and the producers seem to have done exactly that by starting out in Texas, moving the focus up to the Great Lakes region (Chicago and Detroit), then downriver toward the Mississippi Delta. The lineup is wonderfully diverse because each selection is performed by a different artist, and only about 25-percent of these people are really well-known to casual blues followers. Examples of individuals from this set who deserve wider recognition are Thunder Smith (an early colleague of Lightnin' Hopkins); Dr. Hepcat, also known as Albert Lavada Hurst, who was the first African American DJ in Texas; Rattlesnake Cooper, Big Charlie Bradix, Rocky Fuller, Morris Pejoe, Little Hudson & His Red Devil Trio, Silver Cooks & the Gondoliers; Stick Horse Hammond, Lost John Hunter & His Blind Bats; Seth Richard, who recorded as Skoodle-Dum-Doo; Doug Quattlebaum, Square Walton, and Lazy Slim Jim. That list barely scratches the surface of this amazing stash of blues recordings dating from the years 1943-1953. ~ arwulf arwulf
Secret Records (BVDCD1033):
Four CD set featuring 100 tracks of rare great Classic Blues. Part of a series of CD sets featuring Blues artists from all over the USA, lovingly remastered from 78's, many never previously available on CD.The years that saw out the 1940s and set the pace for the 1950s were both a Golden Age and a time of transition for blues. City blues, jump blues, rhythm & blues, call it what you will, was putting paid to the wild and wilful music being made in the bars and jooks of the Southern states. From Houston, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia, from Shreveport, Louisiana to Memphis, Tennessee but above all, in Mississippi, this was where the music's lifeblood flowed at its richest. Some of the stat's guitarists and harmonica players moved north to Chicago and Detroit. A similar pilgrimage journeyed up America's East Coast to New York to create another last bastion for a style of music that breathed its last as rock'n'roll was born. These four CDs capture the brilliance of those times and the many varieties of blues that enjoyed a late flowering more than 60 years ago.
Credits: Doc Bagby - Organ; Mickey Baker - Guitar; Willie Baker - Composer, Primary Artist; James Bannister - Drums; Johnny "The Blind Boy" Beck - Primary Artist; Fred Below - Drums; Bernard Besman - Composer; Big Boy Ellis - Composer, Primary Artist; Big Maceo - Primary Artist; Denis Blackham - Mastering; Junior Blackmon - Drums; Edgar Blanchard - Guitar, Primary Artist; Blue Smitty & His String Men - Primary Artist; The Blues Boys - Primary Artist; Boogie Woogie Red - Piano; Charles Bradix - Composer, Primary Artist; John Brim - Composer, Harmonica, Primary Artist, Vocals; Gabriel Brown - Composer, Primary Artist; Eddie "Guitar" Burns - Primary Artist; Bob Call - Piano; Milton Campbell - Guitar; Chicago Sunny Boy - Primary Artist; Buddy Chiles - Primary Artist; Donald Cooks - Bass; Silver Cooks - Drums, Primary Artist; Rattlesnake Cooper - Composer, Primary Artist; Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Primary Artist; Leroy Dallas - Primary Artist; Little Sammy Davis - Composer, Primary Artist; Sam Davis - Harmonica; Sonny Boy Davis - Piano; Jimmy DeBerry - Guitar, Primary Artist; Willie Dixon - Bass; Doctor Hepcat - Primary Artist; Fats Domino - Composer; Duke Bayou - Primary Artist; Champion Jack Dupree - Composer, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Lavada Durst - Piano, Vocals; Joe Dyson - Drums; David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Guitar, Vocals; J.D. Edwards - Primary Artist; Wilbert Ellis - Piano; Leroy Ervin - Composer, Primary Artist; Leroy Foster - Drums; Rocky Fuller - Primary Artist; A.J. Gladney - Drums; Henry Gray - Piano; T.J. Green - Bass; L.C. Greene - Primary Artist; Stick Horse Hammond - Composer, Primary Artist; Bob Harris - Bass; Edward Harris - Guitar, Vocals; James Harris - Bass; Louis Hayes - Guitar; Robert Henry - Primary Artist; Harvey Jr. Hill - Primary Artist; Smokey Hogg - Guitar; Fred Holland - Guitar, Primary Artist; Tony Hollins - Composer, Primary Artist; Wright Holmes - Composer, Primary Artist; Earl Hooker - Guitar, Primary Artist; John Lee Hooker - Composer, Primary Artist; Lightnin' Hopkins - Guitar, Primary Artist; Big Walter Horton - Harmonica; J.D. Horton - Composer, Primary Artist; Soldier Boy Houston - Composer, Primary Artist; Howlin' Wolf - Composer, Primary Artist; Luther Huff - Composer, Primary Artist; Percy Huff - Guitar; Pee Wee Hughes - Primary Artist; Lee Hunter - Composer, Primary Artist; Lost John Hunger - Primary Artist; Armand Jump Jackson - Drums; Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson - Primary Artist; Elmore James - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist; Jesse James - Primary Artist; Malron Jett - Piano; Jimmy & Walter - Primary Artist; Leroy Johnson - Primary Artist; Sonny Boy Johnson - Composer, Primary Artist; Willie Johnson - Guitar, Piano; Eddie Jones - Composer, Primary Artist; Floyd Jones - Composer, Primary Artist; Johnny Jones - Piano; Moody Jones - Guitar, Primary Artist; Willie Jones - Drums; Hank Kilroy - Primary Artist; Albert King - Drums; Eddie Kirkland - Guitar; Frank Kirkland - Drums; Ransom Knowling - Bass; Willie Lane - Composer, Primary Artist; Lazy Slim Jim - Primary Artist; John Lee - Primary Artist; Tommy Lee - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; J.B. Lenoir - Composer, Primary Artist; Dennis Lewis - Cover Photo, Photography; Little David - Primary Artist; Little Hudson - Primary Artist; Little Walter - Composer, Harmonica, Primary Artist; Lockwood - Composer; Clarence London - Composer, Primary Artist; Joe Hill Louis - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals; Willie Love - Composer, Piano, Primary Artist; Lazy Bill Lucas - Piano; McCollum - Composer; Brownie McGhee - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist; Sticks McGhee - Guitar, Primary Artist; David "Pete" Mckinley - Composer, Primary Artist; Dennis "Thug Child" McMillan - Primary Artist; Blind Willie McTell - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist; Melvin Merritt - Drums; Charley Mills - Piano; Iverson Minter - Composer, Guitar, Vocals; Walter Mitchell - Harmonica, Primary Artist; Peter Moody - Coordination; Alexander Herman Moore - Primary Artist; Mr. Honey - Primary Artist; Dave Myers - Bass, Guitar; Louis Myers - Guitar; Willie Nettles - Drums; Manny Nichols - Composer, Primary Artist; Robert Nighthawk - Composer, Primary Artist; Frock O'Dell - Drums; Papa Lightfoot - Harmonica, Primary Artist; Monister Parker - Primary Artist; Odie Payne - Drums; Morris Pejoe - Primary Artist; Buster Pickens - Piano; Dan Pickett - Primary Artist; Pine Top Slim - Primary Artist; Louis Pitts - Bass; Snooky Pryor - Primary Artist, Violin; Doug Quattlebaum - Primary Artist; Gene Ramey - Bass; Dumas Ransom - Bass; Henry Reed - Bass; Jimmy Reed - Composer, Primary Artist; Robert Richard - Composer, Harmonica, Primary Artist; Seth Richard - Guitar, Vocals; Tommy Ridgley - Piano; Jimmy Rogers - Composer, Primary Artist; Marylin Scott - Primary Artist; Alec Seward - Guitar, Vocals; John Sheffield - Guitar, Harmonica; Johnny Shines - Composer, Primary Artist; The Showers - Composer; Frankie Lee Sims - Composer, Primary Artist; Skoodle-Dum-Doo & Sheffield - Primary Artist; Neil Slaven - Sleeve Notes; Al Smith - Bass; Claude Smith - Guitar, Vocals; Fletcher Smith - Piano; Huey Smith - Piano; Ike Smith - Drums; John T. Smith - Guitar; Thunder Smith - Primary Artist; Willie Steel - Drums; Luther Stoneham - Guitar; Luther "Rocky" Stoneham - Primary Artist; Sunnyland Slim - Piano; Roosevelt Sykes - Piano; Tampa Red - Guitar; Nathaniel Terry - Composer, Primary Artist; Sonny Terry - Composer, Harmonica, Primary Artist; Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Primary Artist; Andy Thomas - Primary Artist; Bobo "Slim" Thomas - Primary Artist; John Thorn - Piano; John Tinsley - Primary Artist; Ike Turner - Piano; Alfred Wallace - Drums; Square Walton - Primary Artist; Leonard Ware - Bass, Harmonica; Baby Boy Warren - Composer, Primary Artist; Muddy Waters - Composer, Primary Artist; Curley Weaver - Primary Artist; Junior Wells - Composer, Primary Artist; Whittaker - Composer; Morris Wilkerson - Drums; Joe Willie Wilkins - Guitar; Big Joe Williams - Composer, Primary Artist; Jody Williams - Guitar; Johnny Williams - Bass; L.C. Williams - Composer, Primary Artist; Sonny Boy Williamson II - Composer, Primary Artist; Sonny Boy Williamson I - Composer, Harmonica; Ralph Willis - Composer, Primary Artist; Marty Wilson - Drums; Bob Woodfork - Guitar; David Wylie - Guitar, Vocals.
Four CD set presenting 100 tracks from the finest exponents of down home blues from deep south to the industrial north.
Tracklist:
- Disc 1: Texas - "Throw A Little Boogie"
- 01. Little Mama Boogie (Big Mama Jump) - Thunder Smith
- 02. Cross Country Blues - Frankie Lee Sims
- 03. Hobo - J.D. Edwards - J.D. Edwards
- 04. Hole in the Wall - L.C. Williams
- 05. Rock Island Blues - Leroy Ervin
- 06. Alley Special - Wright Holmes
- 07. Quinsella - Sonny Boy Johnson
- 08. Hattie Green - Dr. Hepcat
- 09. Angel Chile - Andy Thomas
- 10. Back to Santa Fe - Lee Hunter
- 11. Rattlesnake Blues - Rattlesnake Cooper
- 12. Mistreated Blues - Buddy Chiles
- 13. No One to Love Me - Leroy Johnson
- 14. Too Many Woman Blues - Willie Lane
- 15. Locked in Jail Blues - Johnny "The Blind Boy" Beck
- 16. Wee Wee Hours - Charles Bradix
- 17. Forgive Me Blues - Jesse James
- 18. Black Snake Blues - Monister Parker
- 19. Neglected Woman - Alexander Herman Moore
- 20. Gambling Blues - Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson
- 21. Throw a Little Boogie - Manny Nichols
- 22. Give Me Central 209 (Hello Central) - Lightnin' Hopkins
- 23. Western Rider Blues - Soldier Boy Houston
- 24. Take It Easy - Nathaniel Terry
- 25. Sittin' Here Wonderin' - Luther "Rocky" Stoneham
- Disc 2: Chicago & Detroit - "High & Lonesome"
- 01. Boogie - Snooky & Moody
- 02. Hard Times - Floyd Jones
- 03. Stop Messing Around - Walter Mitchell
- 04. Cadillac Woman - Robert Richard
- 05. Big City Blue - Big Maceo
- 06. Please Don't Think I'm Nosey - Baby Boy Warren
- 07. Notoriety Woman - Eddie "Guitar" Burns
- 08. Rollin' Stone - Muddy Waters
- 09. Cut That Out - Junior Wells
- 10. Crawlin' King Snake - Tony Hollins
- 11. Crying Won't Help You - Robert Nighthawk
- 12. Soon One Morning - Rocky Fuller
- 13. Mean Old World - Little Walter
- 14. Tired of Crying Over You - Morris Pejoe
- 15. It Was a Dream - John Brim
- 16. The Last Time - Jimmy Rogers
- 17. Sad Story - Blue Smitty & His String Men
- 18. Little School Girl - L.C. Greene
- 19. Something's Wrong with My Little Machine - Robert Henry
- 20. Brutal Hearted Woman - Johnny Shiness
- 21. I'll Die Trying - J.B. Lenoir
- 22. I'm Looking for a Woman - Little Hudson
- 23. I'm the Boogie Man - John Lee Hooker
- 24. She Fool Me - Harvey Jr. Hill
- 25. High and Lonesome - Jimmy Reed
- Disc 3: Memphis & The South - "Take A Little Chance"
- 01. She's a Married Woman - Big Joe Williams
- 02. How Many More Years - Howlin' Wolf
- 03. Build Myself a Cave - Mr Honey
- 04. Mr. Ticket Agent - Silver Cooks
- 05. Creole Gal Blues - Edgar Blanchard
- 06. Too Late Baby - Stick Horse Hammond
- 07. Country Boy - Pee Wee Hughes
- 08. Ardelle - David "Pete" McKinley
- 09. Cadillac Blues - J.D. Horton
- 10. Schoolboy - Lost John Hunger
- 11. Eyesight to the Blind - Sonny Boy Williamson II
- 12. 1951 Blues - Luther Huff
- 13. New Arrival - Eddie Jones
- 14. Dust My Broom - Elmore James
- 15. Catfish Blues - Bobo "Slim" Thomas
- 16. Goin' Back to Mama - Clarence London
- 17. Highway 80 Blues - Tommy Lee
- 18. Western Union Man - Chicago Sunny Boy
- 19. After Awhile - Papa Lightfoot
- 20. Sweet Angel - Earl Hooker
- 21. Seventy Four Blues - Willie Love
- 22. Easy - Jimmy & Walter
- 23. Take a Little Chance - Jimmy Deberry
- 24. Make a Little Love - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
- 25. Goin' to New Orleans - Little Sammy Davis
- Disc 4: New York & The East Coast States - "Rub A Little Boogie"
- 01. Broome Street Blues - Skoodle-Dum-Do & Sheffield
- 02. Black Jack Blues - Gabriel Brown
- 03. Worried Man Blues - The Blues Boys
- 04. Income Tax Blues - Ralph Willis
- 05. Poor Little Angel - Dennis "Thug Child" McMillan
- 06. Broke Down Engine Blues - Blind Willie McTell
- 07. Applejack Boogie - Pinetop Slim
- 08. Number Writer - Dan Pickett
- 09. She's Gone - Big Boy Ellis
- 10. Your Sweet Man Blues - Leroy Dallas
- 11. Blues Mixture - Sticks McGhee
- 12. Shackles Round My Body - Little David
- 13. Ticket Agent - Curley Weaver
- 14. I Got What My Daddy Likes - Marylin Scott
- 15. Blinds Blues - John Lee
- 16. Keep You Hands Off 'Er - Fred Holland & John Tinsley
- 17. Awful Shame - Hank Kilroy
- 18. Lizzie Lou - Doug Quattlebaum
- 19. Rub a Little Boogie - Duke Bayou
- 20. So Much Trouble - Brownie McGhee
- 21. Wine Head Baby - Lazy Slim Jim
- 22. Baby Let's Have Some Fun - Sonny Terry
- 23. Rumors About My Baby - Willie Baker
- 24. Gimme Your Bankroll - Square Walton
- 25. Shake Baby Shake - Champion Jack Dupree