Series: Roots N' Blues.
Release Date: February, 1991.
Recording Time: 56 minutes.
Recording Date: November 27, 1927 - April 14, 1965.
Release Info: Columbia – 472191 4, Legacy – 472191 4, CD, Compilation, Mono.
The Slide Guitar: Bottles, Knives & Steel is a highly regarded blues compilation first released in 1990 as part of Columbia’s Roots N' Blues series. It showcases the raw origins of bottleneck and slide guitar, spanning recordings from the late 1920s to the mid-1960s.
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This CD is a hodgepodge sampling of blues records featuring mostly pre-war slide guitarists ranging from the simplicity of Barbecue Bob (who was much better-known as a pianist) and Sylvester Weaver to the sophistication of Blind Willie McTell (backing Ruth Willis on "Experience Blues") and Tampa Red. Among the highlights are Blind Willie Johnson's wordless "Dark Was the Night" and Tampa Red's goodtime "You Can't Get That Stuff No More" and also featured are Charley Patton, Blind Boy Fuller, Leadbelly, Casey Bill Weldon, Buddy Woods, Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Sister O.M. Terrell and Son House. With the exception of two later cuts, all of the music (which includes a pair of previously unreleased selections) dates from 1927-40. An interesting if not quite essential sampler. ~ Scott Yanow
Credits: Art Direction – Howard Fritzson; Coordinator (Package Coordination) – Tony Tiller; Coordinator (Project Coordination) – Amy Herot, Gary Pacheco, Mike Berniker, Steve Berkowitz; Engineer (Engineer & Digital Restoration) – Frank Abbey; Executive-Producer - Gary Pacheco; Producer (Roots N Blues Series Producer), Executive-Producer - Lawrence Cohn; Technician (Archival Restoration), Liner Notes – Richard Spottswood; Mastered By - David Mitson; Photography By (Cover) – Steve Prezant.
Original 78s from the collections of Lawrence Cohn and Richard K. Spottswood. Comes with 14-page booklet of credits and liner notes.
Tracklist:
- 01. Sylvester Weaver & Walter Beasley - Bottleneck Blues [2:51]
- 02. Barbecue Bob - Untitled [3:07]
- 03. Blind Willie Johnson - God Don't Never Change [2:56]
- 04. Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was The Night [3:18]
- 05. Sylvester Weaver & Walter Beasley - St. Louis Blues [2:44]
- 06. Ruth Willis - Experience Blues [3:09]
- 07. Sylvester Weaver - Guitar Rag [2:58]
- 08. Tampa Red & Georgia Tom - You Can't Get That Stuff No More [2:55]
- 09. Charlie Patton - High Sheriff Blues [3:07]
- 10. Blind Boy Fuller - Homesick And Lonesome Blues [3:07]
- 11. Huddie Ledbetter - Packin' Trunk Blues [2:54]
- 12. Casey Bill Weldon - I Believe I'll Make A Change [3:00]
- 13. Buddy Woods* With The Wampus Cats - Don't Sell It (Don't Give It Away) [2:30]
- 14. Buddy Woods* With The Wampus Cats - Muscat Hill Blues [2:48]
- 15. Robert Johnson - Traveling Riverside Blues [2:48]
- 16. Bukka White - Bukka's Jitterbug Swing [2:36]
- 17. Bukka White - Special Stream Line [2:52]
- 18. Sister O. M. Terrell - Swing Low Sweet Chariot [2:33]
- 19. Son House - Pearline [4:31]
Track 01 rec. 18/9/1934 NYC. Previously released as Vocalion 02844.
Track 02 rec. 8/10/19334. Previously released as Banner 32311, Oriole 8106, Perfect 193.
Track 03 rec. 19/1/1933 NYC. Previously released as Banner 32785, Melotone M12720, Oriole 8239, Perfect 0242, Romeo 5239, Vocalion 1740.
Track 04 rec. 8/4/1936 NYC. Previously unreleased.
Track 05 rec. 10/4/1936 NYC. Previously released as ARC 7-03-61.
Track 06 rec. 21/4/1928 Atlanta, GA. Previously released as Columbia 14342-D.
Track 07 rec. 4/2/1932 NYC. Previously released as Banner 32798, Melotone M12731, Oriole 8244, Perfect 0247, Romeo 5244, Vocalion 1685.
Track 08 rec. 23/3/1934 Chicago, IL. Previously released as Vocalion 02774.
Track 09 rec. 16/12/1935 Chicago, IL. Previously released as Vocalion 03156.
Track 10 rec. 26/11/1927 NYC. Previously released as OKeh 8825.
Track 11 rec. 27/11/1927 NYC. Previously released as OKeh 8529.
Tracks 12, 13 rec. 19/1/1933 NYC. Previously unreleased alternate takes.
Track 14 rec. 4/2/1932 NYC. Previously released as Vocalion 1699.
Track 15 rec. 3/2/1932 NYC. Previously released as Vocalion 1699.
Track 16 rec. 30/11/1927 NYC. Previously released as OKeh 8540.
Track 17 rec. 19/1/1933 NYC. Previously released as Banner 33106, Melotone M13074, Oriole 8356, Perfect 0288, Romeo 5356, Vocalion 04393, Lucky 1030 (Japan).
Track 18 rec, 11/12/1928 Chicago, IL. Previously released as OKeh 8651.
Track 19 rec. 7/5/1932 Chicago, IL. Previously released as Vocalion 1700.
Track 20 rec. 23/3/1934 Chicago, IL. Previously released as Vocalion 02720, Conqueror 8862.