Blind Dog Radio

The Definitive Charley Patton

Label: Catfish Records.
Release Date: March 13, 2001.
Recording Time: 176 minutes.
Recording Date: July 14, 1929 - February 1, 1934.
Release Info: KATCD180, 3 x CD, Compilation.

The digital remastering on this compilation is just as superior to any previous attempts to transcribe Patton's marginally recorded and preserved legacy as that of the Document discs. And as it is only slightly less thorough -- the Document discs include extra takes on "Elder Green Blues," "Hammer Blues," and "Some of these Days I'll Be Gone" -- this compilation seems the likely choice for anyone with an interest in pre-war Delta blues. Both affordable and handsomely packaged, the three-disc box includes extensive liner notes written by blues historians Keith Briggs and Alex Van Der Tuuk, with reminiscences by Patton crony Son House. ~ Travis Drageset

Credits: Guitar - Charley Patton; Guitar (Second) – Willie Brown (tracks: 2-19, 3-1, 3-2); Liner Notes – Alex van der Tuuk, Keith Briggs; Producer (Project Producer) – Paul Swinton, Russell Beecher; Speech – Charley Patton (tracks: 3-17); Violin – Henry Sims (tracks: 1-15 to 1-18, 2-15 to 2-18, 3-13 to 3-16); Vocals – Bertha Lee (tracks: 3-9 to 3-10, 3-17, 3-18), Charley Patton (tracks: 1-1 to 3-12), Henry Sims (tracks: 3-13 to 3-16).

Tracklist:
  • 1-01. Mississippi Boweavil Blues (3:13)
  • 1-02. Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues (3:03)
  • 1-03. Down The Dirt Road Blues (2:56)
  • 1-04. Pony Blues (3:01)
  • 1-05. Banty Rooster Blues (3:05)
  • 1-06. It Won't Be Long (3:24)
  • 1-07. Pea Vine Blues (3:05)
  • 1-08. Tom Rushen Blues (3:05)
  • 1-09. A Spoonful Blues (3:10)
  • 1-10. Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama) (3:08)
  • 1-11. Prayer Of Death, Pt. 1 (3:05)
  • 1-12. Prayer Of Death, Pt. 2 (2:50)
  • 1-13. Lord, I'm Discouraged (3:08)
  • 1-14. I'm Goin' Home (3:03)
  • 1-15. Going To Move To Alabama (3:02)
  • 1-16. Elder Greene Blues (3:00)
  • 1-17. Circle Round The Moon (2:32)
  • 1-18. Devil Sent The Rain Blues (2:56)
  • 1-19. Mean Black Cat Blues (2:53)
  • 1-20. Frankie And Albert (3:13)
  • 2-01. Some These Days I'll Be Gone (3:17)
  • 2-02. Green River Blues (3:13)
  • 2-03. Hammer Blues (3:14)
  • 2-04. Magnolia Blues (3:08)
  • 2-05. When Your Way Gets Dark (3:07)
  • 2-06. Heart Like Railroad Steel (2:50)
  • 2-07. Some Happy Day (3:10)
  • 2-08. You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die (2:56)
  • 2-09. Jim Lee Blues, Pt. 1 (3:00)
  • 2-10. Jim Lee Blues, Pt. 2 (3:01)
  • 2-11. High Water Everywhere, Pt. 1 (3:06)
  • 2-12. High Water Everywhere, Pt. 2 (3:04)
  • 2-13. Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker (2:56)
  • 2-14. I Shall Not Be Moved (3:02)
  • 2-15. Rattlesnake Blues (2:42)
  • 2-16. Running Wild Blues (2:51)
  • 2-17. Joe Kirby (3:08)
  • 2-18. Mean Black Moan (3:09)
  • 2-19. Dry Well Blues (3:17)
  • 2-20. Some Summer Day, Pt. 1 (2:53)
  • 3-01. Moon Going Down (3:16)
  • 3-02. Bird Nest Bound (3:10)
  • 3-03. Jersey Bull Blues (3:08)
  • 3-04. High Sheriff Blues (3:11)
  • 3-05. Stone Pony Blues (2:48)
  • 3-06. 34 Blues (2:59)
  • 3-07. Love My Stuff (2:55)
  • 3-08. Revenue Man Blues (2:39)
  • 3-09. Oh Death (2:52)
  • 3-10. Troubled 'Bout My Mother (2:56)
  • 3-11. Poor Me (2:57)
  • 3-12. Hang It On The Wall (2:41)
  • 3-13. Farrell Blues (3:08)
  • 3-14. Come Back Corrina (3:10)
  • 3-15. Tell Me Man Blues (3:13)
  • 3-16. Be True, Be True Blues (3:02)
  • 3-17. Yellow Bee (2:51)
  • 3-18. Mind Reader Blues (2:50)
1-1 to 1-14 recorded Friday 14th June 1929 in Richmond, Indiana.
1-15 to 2-18, 3-13 to 3-16 recorded October 1929 in Grafton, Wisconsin.
2-19 to 3-2 recorded circa 28th May 1930 in Grafton, Wisconsin.
3-3 to 3-5 recorded Tuesday 30th January 1934 in New York City.
3-6 to 3-9, 3-17, 3-18 recorded Wednesday 31st January 1934 in New York City.
3-10 to 3-12 recorded Thursday 1st February 1934 in New York City.

Three CDs containing all of Patton's originally issued recordings, digitally remastered in chronological order.