Legends of Country Blues

by N/A

Overview

JSP's Legends of Country Blues compiles five CDs of performances by Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Tommy Johnson, and Ishman Bracey. These historic prewar recordings have been remastered, and according to the packaging, feature "unprecedented listening quality." While that claim is a bit of a stretch, the majority of this material does sound great. Unlike other packages of this type, the liner notes are informative, listing personnel, dates, and concise history without going on ad nauseam. As an extra bonus this is a budget-priced set, making it highly recommended, especially for the blues novice. ~ Al Campbell

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2003
Label:	Jsp
UPC:	0788065771522
Rank:	85054

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Devil Got My Woman  - Skip James
2. Cypress Grove Blues  - Skip James
3. Cherry Hall Blues  - Skip James
4. Illinois Blues  - Skip James
5. Four O'Clock Blues  - Skip James
6. Hard Luck Child  - Skip James
7. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues  - Skip James
8. Yola My Blues Away  - Skip James
9. Jesus Is a Mighty Good Leader  - Skip James  -  Traditional
10. Be Ready When He Comes  - Skip James
11. Drunken Spree  - Skip James
12. I'm So Glad  - Skip James
13. Special Rider Blues  - Skip James
14. How Long Buck  - Skip James
15. Little Cow and Calf Is Gonna Die Blues  - Skip James
16. What Am I to Do Blues  - Skip James
17. 22-20 Blues  - Skip James  - Robert Johnson
18. If You Haven't Any Hay Get on Down the Road  - Skip James
19. Walkin' Blues  - Son House  - Robert Johnson
20. My Black Mama, Pt. 1  - Son House
21. My Black Mama, Pt. 2  - Son House
22. Preachin' the Blues, Pt. 1  - Son House
23. Preachin' the Blues, Pt. 2  - Son House
24. Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 1  - Son House
25. Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 2  - Son House

Disc 2

26. Levee Camp Blues  - Son House
27. Government Fleet Blues  - Son House
28. Walking Blues  - Son House  - Robert Johnson
29. Shetland Pony Blues  - Son House
30. Fo' Clock Blues  - Son House
31. Camp Hollers  - Son House  -  Traditional
32. Delta Blues  - Son House
33. Special Rider Blues  - Son House
34. Special Rider Blues  - Son House
35. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues  - Son House
36. Depot Blues  - Son House
37. The Key of Minor  - Son House
38. American Defense  - Son House
39. Am I Right or Wrong  - Son House  -  Traditional
40. Walking Blues  - Son House  - Robert Johnson
41. Country Farm Blues  - Son House
42. The Pony Blues  - Son House  - Charley Patton
43. The Jinx Blues, Pt. 1  - Son House
44. The Jinx Blues, Pt. 2  - Son House

Disc 3

45. The New Frisco Train  - Bukka White
46. The Panama Limited  - Bukka White
47. I Am in the Heavenly Way  - Bukka White
48. Promise True and Grand  - Bukka White
49. Pine Bluff, Arkansas  - Bukka White
50. Shake 'Em on Down  - Bukka White
51. Sic 'Em Dogs On  - Johnny Parth  - Bukka White
52. Po' Boy  - Bukka White
53. Black Train  - Bukka White
54. Strange Place Blues  - Bukka White
55. When Can I Change My Clothes  - Bukka White
56. Sleepy Man Blues  - Bukka White
57. Parchman Farm Blues  - Bukka White
58. Good Gin Blues  - Bukka White
59. High Fever Blues  - Bukka White
60. District Attorney Blues  - Bukka White
61. Fixin' to Die Blues  - Bukka White
62. Aberdeen Mississippi Blues  - Bukka White
63. Bukka's Jitterbug Blues  - Bukka White
64. Special Stream Line  - Bukka White

Disc 4

65. Cool Drink of Water Blues  - Tommy Johnson
66. Big Road Blues  - Tommy Johnson
67. Bye Bye Blues  - Tommy Johnson
68. Maggie Campbell Blues  - Tommy Johnson
69. Canned Heat Blues  - Tommy Johnson
70. Lonesome Home Blues  - Tommy Johnson
71. Lonesome Home Blues  - Tommy Johnson
72. Big Fat Mama Blues  - Tommy Johnson
73. I Wonder to Myself  - Tommy Johnson
74. Slidin' Delta  - Tommy Johnson  -  Traditional
75. Lonesome Home Blues  - Tommy Johnson
76. Untitled (Morning Prayer Blues)  - Tommy Johnson
77. Untitled (Boogaloosa Woman)  - Tommy Johnson
78. Black Mare Blues  - Tommy Johnson
79. Black Mare Blues  - Tommy Johnson
80. Ridin' Horse  - Tommy Johnson
81. Alcohol and Jake Blues  - Tommy Johnson

Disc 5

82. Stranger Blues  - Ishman Bracey  - Bill Ellis
83. Saturday Blues  - Ishman Bracey
84. Left Alone Blues  - Ishman Bracey
85. Leavin' Town Blues  - Ishman Bracey
86. Leavin' Town Blues  - Ishman Bracey
87. Brown Mama Blues  - Ishman Bracey
88. Brown Mama Blues  - Ishman Bracey
89. Trouble Hearted Blues  - Ishman Bracey
90. Trouble Hearted Blues  - Ishman Bracey
91. The Four Day Blues  - Ishman Bracey
92. The Four Day Blues  - Ishman Bracey
93. Jake Liquor Blues  - Ishman Bracey
94. Family Stirving  - Ishman Bracey
95. Mobile Stomp  - Ishman Bracey
96. Farish Street Rag  - Ishman Bracey
97. Woman, Woman Blues  - Ishman Bracey
98. Suitcase Full of Blues  - Ishman Bracey
99. Bust Up Blues  - Ishman Bracey
100. Pay Me No Mind  - Ishman Bracey
101. Heavy Suitcase Blues  - Ishman Bracey
102. Louisiana Bound  - Ishman Bracey
103. Too Damp to Be Wet  - Ishman Bracey
104. Where My Shoes At?  - Ishman Bracey

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tommy Johnson   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Skip James   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Foot Stomping
Ishman Bracey   Primary Artist,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part,Guitar,Vocals
Bukka White   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Son House   Primary Artist,Vocals,Slide Guitar,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Charley Taylor   Piano,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Rosie Mae Moore   Vocals
Miss Minnie   Vocals
Alan Lomax   Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Washboard Sam   Washboard
Willie Brown   Guitar,Vocals
Charlie McCoy   Guitar,Mandolin
Fiddlin' Joe Martin   Vocals,Mandolin,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Leroy Williams   Harmonica
Kid Ernest Michall   Clarinet
Napoleon Hairiston   Guitar,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Charley Patton   Guitar

Technical Credits

Charley Patton   Composer
Bukka White   Composer
Tommy Johnson   Arranger,Composer
Son House   Composer
Johnny Parth   Composer
Robert Johnson   Composer
Skip James   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Bill Ellis   Composer
Ishman Bracey   Composer