The Best There Ever Was: The Legendary Early Blues Performers

by BEST THAT EVER WAS: LEGENDARY E

Overview

Yazoo Records has long been one of the prime sources for rural blues reissues from the 1920s and '30s. Transferred from old 78s, some so rare only a single copy or two are known to exist, these tracks offer a wonderful glimpse into a fabled blues past. Essentially a kind of greatest-hits collection for Yazoo, The Best There Ever Was features lesser known songs from several giants of the genre (Blind Willie Johnson's "I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole," Charley Patton's "It Won't Be Long," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Prison Cell Blues") that exhibit the same sort of range and power of their better known works. Also included are stellar tracks from more obscure performers, making the end result a great introduction to country blues. Highlights include the high tenor voice of Sam Collins on "Graveyard Digger's Blues" (a variant of "Sugar Babe," perhaps best known as performed by blues banjoist Dock Boggs), the taut guitar work of Garfield Akers on "Dough Roller Blues," and Geeshie Wiley's forlorn, haunting, and absolutely stirring vocal take on "Last Kind Word Blues." Classic songs by Skip James ("Cypress Grove"), Tommy Johnson ("Big Road Blues"), and Son House ("My Black Mama") round out an impressive track list. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	08/26/2003
Label:	Yazoo / Shanachie
UPC:	0016351300225
Rank:	70218

Tracks

1. Dough Roller Blues  - Garfield Akers
2. Big Road Blues  - Tommy Johnson
3. My Black Mamma, Pt. 1  - Son House
4. Ain't No Tellin'  - Mississippi John Hurt  - Brownie McGhee
5. Cypress Grove Blues  - Skip James
6. I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole  - Blind Willie Johnson  -  Traditional
7. Mama, Tain't Long Fo' Day  - Blind Willie McTell
8. Barefoot Blues  - Johnny Parth  - Jaydee Short
9. I'll Go With Her Blues  - Robert Wilkins
10. Squabblin Blues  - Ed Bell
11. It Won't Be Long  - Charley Patton
12. What's the Matter Blues  - Frank Stokes
13. Last Kind Word Blues  - Geeshie Wiley
14. Bullfrog Blues  - William Harris
15. You Gonna Quit Me Blues  -  Blind Blake
16. The Gone Dead Train  - King Solomon Hill
17. Outdoor Blues  -  Memphis Minnie
18. Prison Cell Blues  - Blind Lemon Jefferson
19. Graveyard Digger's Blues  - Sam Collins
20. Big Chief Blues  - Furry Lewis  -  Traditional

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Skip James   Primary Artist
Blind Blake   Primary Artist
Son House   Primary Artist
Tommy Johnson   Primary Artist
Mississippi John Hurt   Primary Artist
Memphis Minnie   Primary Artist
Robert Wilkins   Primary Artist
Sam Collins   Primary Artist
Garfield Akers   Primary Artist
Geeshie Wiley   Primary Artist
Ed Bell   Primary Artist
Charley Patton   Primary Artist
William Harris   Primary Artist
Frank Stokes   Primary Artist
Furry Lewis   Primary Artist
King Solomon Hill   Primary Artist
Blind Lemon Jefferson   Primary Artist
Blind Willie McTell   Primary Artist
Jaydee Short   Primary Artist
Blind Willie Johnson   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Richard Nevins   Compilation Producer
Skip James   Composer
Johnny Parth   Composer
Charley Patton   Composer
Garfield Akers   Composer
Frank Stokes   Composer
Blind Blake   Composer
Don Kent   Liner Notes
King Solomon Hill   Composer
Tommy Johnson   Composer
Blind Lemon Jefferson   Composer
Brownie McGhee   Composer
Richard Nevis   Remastering,Producer
Blind Willie Johnson   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Mississippi John Hurt   Composer
William Harris   Composer