***This 24-track collection of historic Delta blues recordings kick off with SON HOUSE’s earliest recorded material. These seven tracks were recorded by House for Paramount in Grafton, WI in 1930 and are keystone recordings in the history of American music. They include the original rare versions of “Walkin’ Blues” (later made famous by Robert Johnson) and “Death Letter Blues” (here called “My Black Mama Part II), covered by Jack White of the White Stripes. The remaining seventeen tracks on this album are a chance for listeners to hear some lesser known Delta bluesmen, all contemporaries of Son House like RUBE LACY, GARFIELD AKERS, JOE CALLICOTT, JIM THOMPKINS, BLIND JOE (WILLIE) REYNOLDS, KID BALEY and WILLIE BROWN. While these men are perhaps not quite the genius that House was—with perhaps the exception of Willie Brown who often played with House (just check out “Future Blues” if you need convincing)—these lesser known artists are still all top drawer Delta bluesmen that add welcome context to the genre.
2XLP $32.65
07/13/2010
***A retrospective of twenty-four songs recorded between 1929-1937 in Memphis, Chicago and NYC, when Tennessee native, SLEEPY JOHN ESTES was at the height of his abilities. Despite the fact that Estes wasn't the fastest or most technical blues guitarists out there, his distinct and emotional vocals, and uniquely relaxed style more than compensates for this, making him one of the genre's true geniuses. Estes, in fact, perhaps because he wasn't a guitar virtuoso, usually preferred to play in a group setting, and on these recordings he is often accompanied by great players like “YANK” RACHELL on mandolin or HAMMIE NIXON on harmonica. He is also frequently accompanied by piano and sometimes second guitar. Estes is also well known for his lyrics which talked about places and people he know. I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More contains all of his best songs, including blues favorites like “The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair” (covered by Led Zeppelin), “Drop Down Mama,” “Milk Cow Blues” (covered by The Kinks), and “Someday Baby Blues” (covered by Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan).
2XLP $32.65
05/11/2010
***FRANK STOKES was an African American singer and guitar player who got his start playing on the streets of Memphis around the turn of the century. His enormous repertoire of early folk, blues, old time country and popular music, along with his influence on local musicians has made many point to him as the true father of Memphis blues. He began touring the South with a black face Medicine Show comedian in the 1910s where it is said he met and influenced Jimmie Rodgers, among others. He then moved to Tennessee where he began playing with musician Dan Sane with whom he made his first recordings as the Beale Street Sheiks for Paramount in 1927. Throughout this period Stokes recorded a number of sides for Paramount and Victor until his old time style began to lose popularity with the record buying public.
LP $23.45
09/28/2009
***Maybe ARTHUR “BLIND” BLAKE did not live too long, but it was certainly enough to prove to the world that he was one of the blind geniuses the history of blues seems to be made of. Born in Florida in 1893, he died at the age of 40 in controversial circumstance—Booze? Car accident?—leaving a good number of recordings for Paramount that made him famous as "the king of ragtime guitar". His astonishingly odd style made his riffs sound like a ragtime piano and his particular finger picking inspired many modern blues artists, Jorma Kaukonen among the best known.
LP $22.95
09/14/2009