1. Drunken Gambler, by Roosevelt Sykes.
2.
Magnolia Blues, by Charley Patton (1930).
3.
Frisco Blues, by J. L. Hooker (1963). This has long been one of my favorites by the “boogie man.”
4.
My Darkest Hours, by L. C. “Lightnin’ Junior” Williams (1949). This track features Lightnin’ Hopkins on guitar, and Elmore Nixon on piano.
5.
Hard Time Blues, by Lane Hardin (1935).
6.
Down At The Depot, by John A. Lee (1952).
7.
California Desert Blues, by Lane Hardin (1935). As I’ve stated here before, blues has been my favorite music genre for over 25 years, but I have discovered many great blues musicians for the first time after starting this blog 2 years ago, including Lightnin’ Hopkins, Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, Skip James, Victoria Spivey, Memphis Minnie, and Josh White, to name just a few. I can now add Lane Hardin to the list. Enjoy!
8.
Let Me Squeeze Your Lemon, by Blind Boy Fuller (1937).
9.
Double Trouble, by Otis Rush.
10.
The Blues Don’t Like Nobody, by Otis Spann (1966).
11.
You Can’t Lose What You Never Had, by Muddy Waters (live, 1964). You may also check out this great track, with the blues legend jamming out on a Fender Telecaster, on the DVD Blues Masters, which just happens to be on YouTube. The original footage was produced in 1966.
12.
Unnamed Blues, by Barbecue Bob (1929).
13.
Nobody’s Dirty Business, by Mississippi John Hurt (1935).
14.
Mistreatin’ Mama, by Jaybird Coleman (1927). Black Patti Records credited this track to “Rabbits Foot Williams,” even though Burl C. “Jaybird” Coleman (1896-1950) is the only person heard on it.
15.
Back To The Woods Blues, by Charlie Spand (1929). Blind Blake played on several songs Spand recorded for Paramount in Richmond, Indiana in 1929, but the guitarist on this track is unknown.
16.
Hoodoo Man Blues, by Junior Wells (live). This track features the great Otis Rush on guitar.
17.
I’m Gonna Train My Baby, by Robert Jr. Lockwood (1941).
18.
Friendless Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy (1934). A nice example of the young Broonzy’s self-taught guitar expertise.
19.
Sometimes I Wonder, by Otis Spann (1964).
20.
Dry Land Blues, by Furry Lewis (1928).
21.
Sliding Delta, by Mississippi John Hurt (live). For whatever reason, Okeh Records declined to issue this great tune after Hurt recorded it for them on February 14, 1928.
22.
All Around Man, by Bo Carter (1931).
23.
Mighty Man, by Mungo Jerry. I believe this song is only the second one I’ve heard by this British band named after a T. S. Eliot poem and fronted by Ray Dorset. The first, of course, was their 1970 mega-platinum hit In The Summertime.
24.
Broke Down Engine, by Blind Willie McTell (1949). I blogged a 1930s version of this within the first few weeks of starting this blog in June of 2010, but it is one of my favorites and I’m going on vacation tomorrow morning until Memorial Day, so there will be a hiatus from my normal daily posts…
25.
What’s The Matter With Me? (Don’t You Wear No Black), by Albinia Jones (1914-1989). Two things about Ms. Jones—she always played with great musicians like Sammy Price and Cliff Jackson on piano and Leonard Ware on guitar, and she had an awesome, kick-ass voice. Ware’s masterful early-40s electric jams cannot be heard as much on this as in her Give It Up Daddy Blues, which I blogged here not long ago, but take a listen right before the two-minute mark…
26.
Mr. Freddie’s Kokomo Blues, by Freddie Spruell (1935). Carl Martin, the second guitarist on this track, was a great blues performer in his own right. Peruse my archive for his Farewell To You Baby (12/24/2011) and Joe Louis Blues (4/16/2012).
27.
Dark Cloudy Blues, by Sam Collins (1927). In my opinion, “Cryin’ Sam” really knew how to put his heart and soul into his music; he was one of the first masters of slide guitar blues.
28.
Joker Man Blues, by The Georgia Browns (1933). This song, for whatever reason, was credited to a “Jim Miller” by Vocalion Records when it was issued, but it’s really The Georgia Browns, with Buddy Moss on harmonica, along with Fred McMullen and Curley Weaver handling the guitars. There is some dispute among blues authorities about who is doing the lead vocals. Jas Obrecht says it’s Fred McMullen (I think he’s right), while Stefan Wirz lists it in his illustrated discography as the then-teenaged Buddy Moss.
29.
Starvation Farm Blues, by Bob Campbell (1934).
30.
Undertaker Blues, by Buddy Moss (1935). This track features Josh White on second guitar. Moss and White recorded this and 14 other songs on August 21, 1935, shortly before Moss began his prison term in Georgia.
31.
I’m Still Sloppy Drunk, by Ruth Willis (1933). I think this woman had a great voice. She is backed on this track by the obscure Fred McMullen on one guitar, along with (most likely) Curley Weaver on the other, although there is some question as to whether the second guitar is handled by Buddy Moss.
32.
Mississippi County Farm Blues, by Son House (1930).
33.
What In The World Am I Gonna Do? by Smokey Hogg (1950).
34.
Cherry Ball Blues, by Jack Owens and Bud Spires (1971).
35.
Mississippi Bottom Blues, by Kid Bailey (1929). Little is known about Bailey, other than that four recordings survive from his only known studio session for Brunswick Records on September 25, 1929 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. One of the others, Rowdy Blues, was blogged here on January 24, 2012.
36.
Evil Hearted Woman, by Buddy Moss (1934). The photograph is of a young Buddy Moss playing for inmates at a Georgia county prison in 1941.
37.
Slow Mama Slow, by Sam Collins (recorded as Salty Dog Sam, 1931). “Sam Collins (August 11, 1887 - October 20, 1949) was sometimes known as Crying Sam Collins and also, according to one authoritative website, as Jim Foster, Jelly Roll Hunter, Big Boy Woods, and Bunny Carter…” Source: Wikipedia. I just love the slow moaning slide work on this.
38.
Ma Rainey, by Memphis Minnie (1940). One female blues great sings a tribute to another.
39.
St. James Infirmary, by Brownie McGhee (1959). Of the dozens of different recordings of this blues standard, this guitar-dominated version is my new favorite. Also check my archive for the Blind Blake version (Gambler’s Blues, by The Hokum Boys January 6, 2012), a version by Cab Calloway (December 16, 2011), and a Joe Cocker version (August 21, 2010).
40.
Did You Read That Letter? by Josh White (1935). This song is blessed with some of the best guitar work I’ve ever heard on a gospel number. Buddy Moss is the second guitarist on this track.
41.
Honey Drippin’ Papa, by Kid Prince Moore (1937).
42.
Mad Dog Blues, by Mary Butler (1928). This track features outstanding guitar accompaniment by Walter Vinson, an original Mississippi Sheik and songwriter on Sittin’ On Top Of The World.
43.
Four Hands Are Better Than Two, by Lonnie Johnson (1927). The year 1955 is often mentioned as the year rock ‘n’ roll was born, but listening to an incredibly modern instrumental jam-out like this one, in which the incomparable Lonnie and his accomplished but unknown piano partner really rock out, makes me wonder whether that date shouldn’t be pushed back by two or three decades.
44.
One Way Out, by Elmore James. Recorded in late 1960 or early 1961 at Belmont Studios in New York City, this particular version was unreleased until the 1965 memorial album was put out by Sue Records of London. Years before I had ever heard of Elmore James, who wrote the song along with Marshall Sehorn, I must have listened to the Allman Brothers version hundreds of times throughout high school.
45.
How Long-How Long Blues, by Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. This song, recorded on June 19, 1928 in Indianapolis, appears to be the first one Carr and Blackwell ever recorded together.
46.
Why Women Go Wrong, by Lonnie Johnson (1939).
47.
Brownsville Blues, by Sleepy John Estes (1938). Although blues has been my favorite musical form for well over 20 years now, Estes is one of many great blues artists I have discovered for the first time after June 2010, when I started this blog.
48.
Me And My Whiskey, by Robert “Barbecue Bob” Hicks (1929).
49.
Joe Louis Blues, by Carl Martin (1935). Willie Bee James may be the second guitarist heard on this track about the legendary prizefighter.
50.
You Scolded Me And Drove Me, by Caldwell Mississippi Bracey (1930).
51.
Bad Luck Moan, by Willie Baker (1929).
52.
Texas Easy Street, by Henry “Ragtime Texas” Thomas (1929).
53.
Canned Heat Blues, by Waymon “Sloppy” Henry (1928). There is no birthplace or other biographical information on Henry, but he recorded all his songs in Atlanta, Georgia in 1928 and 1929. He hung out with guitarist Peg Leg Howell and fiddler Eddie Anthony in Atlanta, but little else is known about him. There is another Canned Heat Blues from 1928, a Tommy Johnson tune the 60s band Canned Heat took their name from.
54.
Sawmill Moan, by Ramblin’ Thomas (1928). Willard Thomas (1902-1945), a brother of blues musician Jesse Thomas,
1.
I’ll Be Gone, Long Gone, by The
Mississippi Sheiks (1933). This song, using the melody from Sitting On Top Of
The World, contains rare (for the Sheiks) piano accompaniment, with the
outstanding Walter Vinson on guitar and vocals.
2.
Wayward Girl Blues, by Lottie Kimbrough
(1928).
3.
Seaboard Stomp, by Blind Blake.
4.
Down The Big Road Blues, by Mattie Delaney
(1930).
5.
Cottonfield Blues Part 1, by Henry Thomas
(1928).
6.
Tallahatchie River Blues, by Mattie
Delaney (1930). There are only five copies of the original 78 r.p.m. recording
of this song known to exist. Delaney (1905-unknown) has been called “one of the
ultimate blues mysteries;” she recorded this and Down The Big Road Blues in the
same 1930 session for Vocalion, and little to nothing else has ever been
discovered about her.
7.
Get Away Blues, by Robert Wilkins
(1930).
8.
One Way Gal, by William Moore
(1928).
9.
Done Somebody Wrong, by Elmore James
(1960). To listen to my favorite tune by this slide guitar master, The Sun Is
Shining,go to my archive, “jump to month” July 2011; it’s my song of the day for
July 1.
10.
Goin’ Away Blues, by Lottie Kimbrough and
Winston Holmes (1928).
11.
hardtowant: Furry Lewis - Falling Down
Blues
12.
Give It Up Daddy Blues, by Albinia
Jones. Featuring outstanding guitar work by Leonard Ware, one of the earliest
specialists on electric guitar, with Sammy Price or Cliff Jackson on
piano.
13.
I’m So Glad, by Skip James (1931).
Unlike Led Zeppelin, who litigated for years against paying Willie Dixon and
others for songs they had used on their first few albums, the British rock band
Cream provided James the only financial windfall of his career when they covered
this song in the 1960s.
14.
Evil Devil Woman Blues, by Kansas Joe
McCoy (1934). This song, with Joe’s brother Charlie backing him up, is more or
less a version of the 1931 Skip James tune, Devil Got My Woman.
15.
Range In My Kitchen Blues, by Texas
Alexander (1927). This track features the great Lonnie Johnson on guitar.
16.
Traveling Mama, by Joe Callicott
(1930).
17.
Rabbit Foot Blues, by Blind Lemon
Jefferson (1926).
18.
I’m Leavin’ Town, by William Harris
(1927).
19.
Won’t You Be Kind? by Hattie Hart
(1928). This was Hattie’s first of five recordings with the Memphis Jug Band.
She recorded more songs in the 1930s, of which four were released, including I
Let My Daddy Do That, my archive song of the day for May 24, 2011. In 1938, she
“disappeared from public attention,” according to Wikipedia, and not much else
is known about her.
20.
Sissy Man Blues, by Kokomo Arnold
(1934).
21.
How Can You Have The Blues?, by Kansas
City Kitty and Georgia Tom (1932). Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) is well-known as
the father of gospel music and the writer of “Peace In The Valley,” whose songs
have been covered by dozens of artists. The mysterious Kansas City Kitty is just
the opposite; some say she also used the pseudonym “Jane Lucas,” but Dorsey
apparently never divulged her real identity during his long life.
22.
Black Cat Blues, by Lightnin’ Hopkins
(1951).
23.
Hard Road Blues,by Blind Blake
(1927).
24.
You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now, by
Otis Spann (1966).
25.
That Will Never Happen No More, by Blind
Blake (1927).
26.
Labor Blues, by Tom Dickson (1928). An
early, somewhat different, version of Jimmie Rodgers’ 1930 recording, Mule
Skinner Blues. Dickson recorded six songs for Okeh Records in February 1928, of
which only four were issued. Biographical details on him remain practically
nonexistent.
27.
California Blues, by Robert “Barbecue
Bob” Hicks (1929).
28.
Blues Before Sunrise, by Leroy Carr and
Scrapper Blackwell (1934).
29.
It’s Hard Time, by Jaydee “Jelly Jaw”
Short (1933). Bluebird Records listed the artist on this track as “Joe Stone;”
along with “R. T. Hanen,” this was generally considered to be one of Short’s
pseudonyms.
30.
Barrelhouse Woman, by Leroy Carr (1934).
Carr (1905-1935) is accompanied on this track by Scrapper Blackwell and Josh
White.
31.
I’m Mister Luck, by Jimmy Reed
(1961).
32.
tumbleword: So long i’ll see ya’, Tom
Waits
33.
Fishing Blues, by Henry “Ragtime Texas”
Thomas (1928). Thomas cut about two dozen songs from 1927-1929 and then kind of
disappeared. Consensus among biographers is that he was born in 1874 and died in
1930. He played “quills,” and wrote the music to Canned Heat’s “Goin’ Up The
Country.” (the late-sixties hit features Jim Horn duplicating Thomas’ quills
from “Bull Doze Blues” on flute, almost note-for-note, with changed
lyrics).
34.
Chain Gang Bound, by Amos “Bumble Bee
Slim” Easton (1931).
35.
Red River Blues, by Virgil Childers
(1938). A nice take on a blues standard, by a relatively little-known
performer.
36.
Every Day In The Week Blues, by Pink
Anderson and Blind Simmie Dooley (1928).
37.
Feels So Good, by Kokomo Arnold
(1935).
38.
Cold Country Blues, by Buddy Moss
(1933). The second guitar on this is probably the little-known Fred McMullen,
who also worked with Curley Weaver, Blind Willie McTell, and others.
39.
drum-taps: Scrapper Blackwell—“My Dream
Blues” The Virtuoso Guitar of Scrapper Blackwell 1925-1934 (Yazoo 1970).
40.
Untrue Blues, by Fulton “Blind Boy
Fuller” Allen (1937). With Bull City Red on washboard. Red, who sometimes went
by Oh Red, was born George Washington.
41.
I’m Worried Now, And I Won’t Be Worried
Long, by Tom Bell (1940).
42.
Midnight Weeping Blues, by Nellie
Florence (1929). This song and its other side, Jacksonville Blues, blogged here
2/10/2012, are the only two involving Nellie Florence that are known to exist.
They both feature the guitar work of Charlie Hicks and his brother Robert
“Barbecue Bob” Hicks. On Jacksonville Blues one can also hear why one of
Charlie’s nicknames was “Laughing Charlie.”
43.
Blue Day Blues, by Scrapper Blackwell
(1931).
44.
It’s Just Too Bad, by Robert “Barbecue
Bob” Hicks.
45.
Diggin’ My Potatoes, by Washboard Sam
(1953). Featuring guitar work by Big Bill Broonzy.
46.
It’s Hard To Be Lonesome, by Tommy
McClennan (1940). For more by this great, lesser-known Delta bluesman and/or his
“sound-alike,” Robert Petway, I have several in my archive: Drop Down Mama
(1/5/2012), along with the following tunes in 2011: You Can Mistreat Me Here
(12/21), Whiskey-Head Woman (7/3), I’m A Guitar King (7/17), My Little Girl
(9/12),Cotton Patch Blues (10/28), Travelin’ Highway Man (10/31), Mr. So And So
(11/1), Crosscut Saw (11/2), and New Sugar Mama (11/20).
47.
Hurry Down Sunshine, by Champion Jack
Dupree (1941).
48.
Lean Meat Won’t Fry, by Memphis
Minnie…Take One (1946).
49.
Midnight Blues, by T-Bone Walker
(1910-1975).
50.
Death Don’t Have No Mercy, by Reverend
Gary Davis (1896-1972).
51.
I’m Gettin’ Wild About Her, by Big Joe
Williams (1941).
52.
Long Tall Mama, by Big Bill Broonzy
(1932).
53.
Honey Bee, by Joe Carter and his Chicago
Broomdusters (1976). A great version of the 1954 Muddy Waters recording, with
Walter “Big Red” Smith on 2nd guitar, Big John Wrencher on blues harp, and
Johnny Junious on drums.
54.
Lonesome Highway Blues, by Lucious
Curtis (1940).
55.
Diving Duck Blues, by Sleepy John Estes
(1929). Featuring James (Yank) Rachell on mandolin and Jab Jones on piano.
56.
Up North Blues, by Yank Rachell (1941).
Featuring the great Sonny Boy Williamson on blues harp.
57.
Adam & Eve In The Garden, by Ben
Curry (1928), who recorded as Bogus Ben Covington.
58.
Whoopee Blues, by King Solomon Hill
(1932). I also have My Buddy Blind Papa Lemon in my archive (1/16/2012). Billed
as “Blind Lemon [Jefferson]’s buddy” on this and other 78 r.p.m. recordings,
“Hill (1897, McComb, Mississippi – 1949, Sibley, Louisiana) was an American
blues musician, who recorded a small handful of songs in 1932. His unique guitar
and voice make them among the most haunting blues recorded. Hill is speculated
to have been Joe Holmes, a self-taught guitarist from Mississippi. As of 2011,
King Solomon Hill has eight known recordings which are as follows: “Whoopee
Blues” (Take 1) “Whoopee Blues” (Take 2) “Down on My Bended Knee” (Take 1) “Down
on My Bended Knee” (Take 2) “The Gone Dead Train” “Tell Me Baby” “My Buddy Blind
Papa Lemon” “Times Has Done Got Hard” Otherwise, little evidence exists of his
life outside of music, but he was noted as a heavy drinker. Hill died of a
cerebral hemorrhage in Louisiana in 1949.” Source: Wikipedia.
59.
On The Road Again, by Floyd Jones
(1953). With Sunnyland Slim and Robert Jr. Lockwood.
60.
Ford V-8, by The Cedar Creek Sheik.
Researchers say the sheik was a white guy from the Carolinas, and he recorded a
few songs in the 1930s, including the reefer tune Don’t Credit My Stuff, but not
much else is known about him.
61.
Blues Knocking At My Door, by Carolina
Slim (1923-1953).
62.
D. B. Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
(1928).
63.
Don’t Turn The Card, by Memphis Minnie
(1941). so modern (a poem by steve norquist written just now regarding a
wonderful Lizzie Douglas song) this sounds so modern to me, you know? in my old
age and comfort smoking the half-joint every two months or so Lizzie sings this
days before our plunge into war when my dad was still a pup and decades before
he lucky struck till his time was up that one’s old age allows oneself hell i
can barely down eight beers! this sounds so rock and roll so heart and soul the
notes just go and proudly go and loudly go forth from minnie’s guitar guitar of
pure gold guitar of real old guitar of her soul seeking something a heart cannot
give, but does anyway— to listen is to live
64.
blindwilliam: It’s pretty cold in
hyeah.
65.
Jacksonville Blues, by Nellie Florence
(1929). Florence was a very obscure figure. She recorded this song and its B
side, Midnight Weeping Blues, and then more or less disappeared. She is
accompanied by Robert “Barbecue Bob” Hicks (1902-1931) and his older brother
Charley (1900-1963) on guitar, taught to them as boys by Curley Weaver’s mother,
Savannah “Dip” Weaver. Charley was also known as Charley Lincoln and Laughing
Charley (it’s probably him heard laughing on this track).
66.
good-dogwood: The Masked Marvel (Charlie
Patton) - ‘Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues’
67.
Spoonful Blues, by Charlie Patton
(1929). For the more modern (and less scratchy) Howlin’ Wolf rendition, penned
by Willie Dixon, go over to the lower right, and click on archive. “Jump to
month” August 2010; it is my song of the day for August 11…
68.
My Black Mama, by Son House (1930).
Robert Johnson is said to have patterned Walking Blues after this tune by one of
his mentors.
69.
Skinny Legs Blues, by Geeshie Wiley
(1930). Not much is known for sure about Wiley, who only recorded a few songs in
1930 and 1931. Elvie Thomas is on second guitar on this, the B side of her Last
Kind Words.
70.
Third Street Woman Blues, by Blind
Willie Reynolds (1930).
71.
hollobone: crashinglybeautiful: Geeshie
Wiley | “Last Kind Words,” 1930 I put this up in the spring but nobody seemed to
notice. Now I find it here with 118 plays!… A superb minor blues from a great
musicain…Geeshie Wiley
72.
Outside Woman Blues, by Blind Joe
Reynolds (1929). “It is uncertain what name Reynolds was given at birth. Whilst
it is widely thought to have been Joe Sheppard, his nephew Henry Millage claimed
it was Joe Leonard. Throughout his career, Reynolds travelled the country
performing under various aliases as a way of evading the police, as he had
served two jail sentences in his early life, as well as escaping [his]
enemies”—Source: wikipedia. One of Reynolds’ aliases was Blind Willie
Reynolds.
73.
Black Mountain Blues, by the “Empress of
the Blues,” Bessie Smith (1930).
74.
No Job Blues, by Ramblin’ Thomas (1928).
Willard Thomas (1902-1945), a brother of blues musician Jesse Thomas, recorded a
handful of songs in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was best known for his
slide guitar expertise on such songs as this one. For a good example of his
younger brother Jesse’s work, check out I’m Gonna Write You A Letter (1948), my
archive song of the day for August 14, 2010.
75.
Loving Lady Blues, by “Crying” Sam
Collins (1927).
76.
I’ll Go With Her, by Rev. Robert Wilkins
(1896-1987). In my archive July 15, 2011, I also have That’s No Way To Get Along
by Wilkins, which The Rolling Stones titled Prodigal Son on their great Beggars
Banquet LP.
77.
Old Vets Blues, by Poor Boy Burke
(1941). The only information thus far discovered about Burke is that he recorded
four sides in 1941 which remained unreleased until the 1990s. This is from disc
4 of the Roots ‘N’ Blues retrospective 1925-1950.
78.
Whiskey And Women, by Black Ace
(1937).
79.
DeKalb Chain Gang, by Fred McMullen with
Curley Weaver and possibly Buddy Moss (1933). In a way, this is like
Depression-era “gangsta blues.”
80.
I Keep On Drinkin,’ by Sylvester
“Curley” Weaver and Blind Willie McTell (1950). Weaver handles the lead vocals
on this track, with the immortal Blind Willie on guitar.
81.
Somebody’s Been Talking, by Blind Boy
Fuller (1940). This song, recorded the year before Fuller died, features the
great Sonny Terry on harmonica.
82.
Gonna Beat It Back To Memphis, by Jesse
“Monkey Joe” Coleman (1935). The great Walter Vinson handles guitar work on this
track, one of the first recorded by Coleman, but it’s a bit overshadowed by the
piano, which is too high in the mix.
83.
Deep Blue Sea Blues, by Texas Alexander
(1928) Alexander (1900-1954) was a colorful singer with a deep, classic-blues
voice who didn’t play a musical instrument. He spent World War II in a Texas
prison for murdering his wife, and died of syphilis at the age of 53 . This
track features the incomparable Lonnie Johnson on guitar.
84.
Rowdy Blues, by Kid Bailey (1929). Some
historians claim Willie Brown recorded as Bailey, but nothing is definitive
except that four of his songs survive from a 1929 session for Brunswick in
Memphis.
85.
Down In The Cemetery, by Billy Bird
(1928). There are no known photos of Bird, who is said to have been from
Atlanta, and who recorded only four songs on two 78s for one Columbia session in
1928.
86.
Well, I Had My Fun, by “Blind” Snooks
Eaglin (1936-2009).
87.
Smack That Thing, by Walter Coleman
(1936).
88.
Mercy Blues, A mid-1930s track from the
“obscure” Sam Montgomery.
89.
I’m A Lonely Man, by Sonny Boy
Williamson II (live). Williamson (1912-1965) was one of the great blues
harmonica masters of all time. In my archive, way back on July 2, 2010, less
than two weeks after I created this blog, I posted his great version of Bring It
On Home, which is one of many that the prolific blues songwriter Willie Dixon
penned with specific artists in mind.
90.
drum-taps: Mississippi John Hurt—“Louis
Collins” Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (Sony 1996).
91.
Lonesome House Blues, by Blind Lemon
Jefferson (1927). I have neglected this seminal blues artist on this blog,
partly because he is more familiar to most blues fans than some of the artists
whose songs I post frequently, and partly because I haven’t found many of his
recordings that aren’t excessively scratchy, but what the hell…some find the
scratches charming, and one longtime friend even says she finds “Blind Papa
Lemon’s” recordings preferable to those of John Hurt…
92.
hellhoundonmytrail: The Moving Sidewalks
“Joe Blues” (7:37)Flash, 1968 Billy Gibbons before he formed ZZ Top.
93.
hellhoundonmytrail: Mississippi Fred
McDowell “Gravel Road Blues” (3:49)(Recorded November 12, 1966 at the University
of California)
94.
leslionsetlesloups: Lightnin’ Hopkins |
Jake Head Boogie
95.
Hard Working Woman, by Mississippi
Matilda with Eugene “Sonny Boy Nelson” Powell (1936).
96.
My Buddy Blind Papa Lemon, by King
Solomon Hill (1932). Little is known about Hill, who lived 1897-1949 & only
recorded a handful of songs. According to thebluestrail.com, his real name may
have been Joe Holmes, and according to The Official Document Records Myspace,
this might be a photograph of him. I’ve read that this song is the rarest of all
the old 78 r.p.m. blues records, with only one copy known to exist, and that
Yazoo Records persuaded the owner into letting them borrow it to make
circulation copies. The B side is Times Has Done Got Hard.
97.
Liquor Store Blues, by Sleepy John Estes
(1938).
98.
Why Don’t You Do Right? by Lil Green
with Big Bill Broonzy on guitar (1941). I prefer this version to the 1936 Kansas
Joe McCoy original, The Weed Smoker’s Dream, by The Harlem Hamfats, and to later
versions by Peggy Lee and Amy Irving (“Jessica Rabbit”).
99.
Dreamy-Eyed Woman Blues, by Hambone
Willie Newbern (1929).
100.
Mobile County Blues, by Nelstone’s
Hawaiians (1929). Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone featured the unique
combination of Hawaiian steel guitar and harmonica. This is from the LP Black
and White Hillbilly Music. “If you wanna fight somethin,’ you fight that harp.
Seriously…”
101.
I’m Goin’ Up The Country, by Lawrence
“Papa Eggshell” Casey (1929). Obscure blues by one of the great old St. Louis
bluesmen. A copy of this 78 in “near mint” condition recently sold for $710.00
on the internets.
102.
The Trouble Blues, by Lightnin’
Hopkins. I’ve posted a ton of tunes by this great singer and guitarist, and
here’s another good one. I almost can’t believe I hadn’t heard a note from him
before I started this blog in June of 2010…
103.
Kentucky Blues, by George “Little Hat”
Jones (1930).
104.
Baby Please Don’t Go, by Big Bill
Broonzy (1952). This is another of those classic blues tunes that almost every
performer takes a shot at somewhere along the line. In my archive for September
5, 2010, I have two other versions: a cool AC/DC YouTube video circa 1974, and a
live audio version by Lightnin’ Hopkins circa 1964.
105.
France Blues, by Papa Harvey Hull
(1927). An old Black Patti Records 78 r.p.m. song that is now in the public
domain.
106.
Gambler’s Blues, by The Hokum Boys
(1929), featuring Blind Blake and Black Rob (not to be confused with other
versions of The Hokum Boys or The Famous Hokum Boys). This song, made famous in
1928 by Louis Armstrong’s recording of it, has been covered numerous times over
the years, usually as St. James Infirmary Blues. In my archive I have an older
version by Cab Calloway (12/16/2011) and a 1972 live version by Joe Cocker
(8/21/2010).
107.
Drop Down Mama, by Tommy McClennan
(1940).
108.
Head Rag Hop, by Romeo Nelson (1929).
Featuring talking vocals by Tampa Red and Frankie Jaxon. Romeo had a “whole
lotta shakin’ goin’ on” about a quarter-century before The Killer hit the
scene.
109.
krisitay: Candy Man — Mississippi John
Hurt This is a sweet version of this great bluesman’s most well-known tune,
first recorded by Hurt in 1928.
110.
God Don’t Like Ugly, by Sam Chatmon.
For Kokomo Arnold’s take on playing the dozens, see “The Twelves (Dirty
Dozens),” my archive song of the day for November 12, 2011.
111.
No More Troubles Now, by Lonnie
Johnson (1930).
112.
Bye Bye Baby Blues, by Little Hat
Jones (1930). A fitting goodbye to the year 2011. Happy 2012 everyone! Jones
recorded 10 songs of his own and a few more with Texas Alexander over 80 years
ago, and never recorded another song, as far as anyone knows. His emergence from
obscurity was assisted by the use of this tune in the movie Ghost World in
2001.
113.
Barefoot Blues, by Jaydee “Jelly Jaw”
Short, 1932. “Henry Townsend in his autobiography, A Blue Life, told of
incidents in St. Louis that affected both his and Short’s lives. Seemingly due
to jealousy of his musical standing, Short attacked and twice stabbed Townsend.
Later, by way of revenge, Townsend shot Short in his genitals, which resulted in
Short losing both of his testicles.The account was also mentioned in Townsend’s
obituary in The Guardian. Short continued performing in St. Louis after World
War II, often as a one-man band and sometimes with his cousin, Big Joe
Williams.” Source: Wikipedia
114.
drum-taps: Charlie Patton—“Moon Going
Down” The Best of Charlie Patton (Yazoo 2003). Moon Going Down (Recorded 1930,
Grafon, Wisconsin)
115.
Southern Flood, by Big Bill Broonzy
(1937). I’ve read that this was about the same 1927 Mississippi River flood that
was the subject of When The Levee Breaks (which I posted earlier this week), but
listening to the words, I believe it’s about the great Ohio River flood of
January 1937, which killed 385 people. The song is also a good example of
Broonzy’s work before he “modernized” & electrified his sound to sell more
records later in his career.
116.
cigarettesandcoffee: Pink Anderson - I
Will Fly Away Trivia: I spent some time in Vermillion, SD in 2007, and
Anderson’s son, Little Pink Anderson, was giving guitar lessons from his home,
around the corner from Jones Market.
117.
Someday Baby Blues, by Sleepy John
Estes (1935). Estes was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in
1991. This is one of his “signature” tunes, with Hammie Nixon on
harmonica.
118.
Hey Hey Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
(1951). Big Bill was a great bluesman who recorded hundreds of songs from the
1920s through the 1950s, and I’ve overlooked him up until now. Enjoy!
119.
When The Levee Breaks, 1929. Led Zep’s
version probably outnumbers this Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie original
by at least twenty to one on tumblr. It’s one of many Zep “borrowed” from old
blues masters as they made their name in the 60s and 70s. Jimmy Page blamed
Robert Plant for not reworking the lyrics, telling Guitar World in 1993 that
Plant had thus caused the band “grief” with lawsuits, saying his guitar work was
too original to be “nailed” on, but with many of the old blues song lyrics
basically unchanged, that wasn’t the case with the words. Personally, I like
both versions of this song—Memphis Minnie’s guitar work is great, as is Jimmy
Page’s—although in some instances (i.e. “Bring It On Home”) I definitely prefer
the old to the new.
120.
hellhoundonmytrail: Furry Lewis “Big
Chief Blues” (2:53)(Recorded October 9, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois)
121.
Cairo Blues, by Henry Spaulding
(1905-1939). This is one of only two known recordings by Spaulding, from a 1929
session for Brunswick Records. The wealth of quality vocals and guitar technique
in the world of old and once-forgotten blues never ceases to impress me. In the
last month I’ve probably posted at least a dozen great tunes from the year 1929
alone…
122.
Hastings Street Boogie, by Charlie
Spand (piano) and Blind Blake (“talking blues” vocals, guitar), 1929. When Jas
Obrecht played this for John Lee Hooker during a 1992 interview, Hooker said,
“That’s the real, real blues,” and reminisced about what a “jumping” town
Detroit was back in the day.
123.
Farewell To You Baby, by Carl Martin
(1906-1979). In a 1966 interview with Pete Welding, Martin said, “First record I
ever made, I made in Tennessee, in Knoxville. It was called ” The Vine Street
Rag .” It was me and Howard [“Louie Bluey” Armstrong], about four of us there,
recorded “Knox County Stomp” and ” The Vine Street Rag .” The fellows beat us
out of the record, though. That´s what discouraged me from lots of recording
because - it was Brunswick - they beat us out , a fellow named Brown. The record
was supposed to be under my name but he put his name on it. He told me his name
was Brown.This was before ´32 , ´way back before then. We made the record and
that fellow he told me, he said, “Now in a month you´ll hear from me”. When the
record came out I heard it on the vendor, but my name wasn´t on it.” Too
bad…Martin’s name should have been on many more!
124.
Shelby County Workhouse, by Hambone
Willie Newbern (1929). “Hambone Willie Newbern (1899 – 1947) was an American
guitar-playing country blues musician.His home community was in the Brownsville,
Tennessee area along Tennessee State Route 19. He was reported to have played
with Yank Rachell and Sleepy John Estes (from whom most of our knowledge of
Hambone was gained) in the 1920s and 1930s. He recorded one of the earliest
known versions of the blues standard “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” in 1929. He only
recorded six tracks in total, which also included, “She Could Toodle-Oo” and
“Hambone Willie’s Dreamy-Eyed Woman’s Blues.” Newbern was a hot-tempered man who
eventually was beaten to death in a prison brawl, around 1947.” Source:
Wikipedia
125.
crossroadsmusic: Robert Johnson is my
favorite blues musician and inspiration behind the Crossroads blog theme. Legend
has it that as a young man, Johnson took his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery
Plantation in rural Mississippi at midnight where he was met by the devil who
tuned his guitar for him, played a few songs and returned the guitar. This
became Johnson deal with the devil that in exchange for his soul gave him
mastery of the blues. There are so many great tunes to choose from in his
catalog, but I’m going with Malted Milk. Every person, no matter status, income
or education level knows the blues (some more than others) but nobody made it
sound as good to my ears as Robert Johnson. More so than any other, including
RJ’s two versions of Drunken Hearted Man, this tune is solid evidence of Lonnie
Johnson’s influence on Robert Johnson.
126.
Chump Man Blues, by Blind Blake
(1929). One of my very favorites from Blake so far ( I just started listening to
his songs a bit over a year ago). Also by Blind Blake in my archive: Night and
Day (9/2/10), Sun to Sun (9/3/10), Poker Woman Blues (10/22/11), Police Dog
Blues (10/25/11), Early Morning Blues (11/25/11), and Georgia Bound
(12/5/11).
127.
bedsitter: blind willie mctell - stomp
down rider
128.
You Can Mistreat Me Here, By Tommy
McClennan and Robert Petway. I had already been a blues fan for a
quarter-century when I started this blog in June of 2010. I’ve stumbled and
bumbled a bit, trying to get the right versions, just recently downloading
Audacity to try to improve the clearness of some of the older stuff, etc., but
the coolest thing so far, as well as the most fun, has been discovering great
artists for the first time. In the last 18 months, these include Tommy
McClennan, Robert Petway, Clifford Gibson, Lonnie Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins,
and Blind Blake, just to name a few. I have enough stuff backlogged to take me
well into 2012, and I’m enjoying the ride! Happy Holidays, everyone! For more by
Petway & McClennan, see my 2011 archive for Whiskey-Head Woman (7/3), I’m A
Guitar King (7/17), Cotton Patch Blues (10/28), Travelin’ Highway Man (10/31),
Mr. So And So (11/1), Crosscut Saw (11/2), and New Sugar Mama (11/20).
129.
Don’t Put That Thing On Me, by
Clifford Gibson (1929). Webmaster of the awesome blog “Honey, Where You Been So
Long?” (prewarblues.org) calls this “a perfect blend of Peetie Wheatstraw and
Lonnie Johnson” that “really conveys the power of the blues.” I couldn’t have
said it better myself. I also have Gibson’s more well-known classic “Bad Luck
Dice” in my archive (7/16/11).
130.
Overtime Blues, by Walter Vinson
(1929). Mississippi Blues Hall of Fame member Vinson (1901-1975) started the
Mississippi Sheiks with Bo Carter and the Chatmon brothers a couple of years
after this great guitar blues song was recorded, and “Sitting On Top of the
World,” which he wrote with fellow Sheik Lonnie Chatmon, is in the Grammy Awards
Hall of Fame. For Doc Watson’s great 1964 rendition of the latter song, see my
archive “song of the day” for July 11, 2011.
131.
Poor Boy, A Long Ways From Home, by
Barbecue Bob (1902-1931).
132.
burnjoyfully: Tom Waits - “Silent
Night/Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis” (live 1979)
133.
TV Mama, by Johnny Winter. One of my
all time favorites from Johnny, from 1977’s Nothin’ But The Blues. The album has
the following dedication: “I’d like to dedicate this album to all the people who
enjoy my kind of blues and especially to Muddy Waters for giving me the
inspiration to do it and for giving the world a lifetime of great blues.” -
Johnny Winter… Johnny has given the world no less, in my book.
134.
St. James Infirmary, by Cab Calloway.
This is one of those classic songs that almost every blues musician takes a shot
at in concert or in the recording studio at some point. For a live Joe Cocker
take, check out my song of the day for August 21, 2010.
1.
Mama
I’m Sorry, by Buddy Red Bow (1948-1993). This is one of the bluesier
numbers from family friend Buddy, who usually worked in the country and
western genre. A Lakota native of Red Shirt, SD, in 1998 he was the
second inductee into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame,
after Jimi Hendrix, who was part Cherokee. Also by Buddy Red Bow in the
Vertex archive: “My Once-Indian Girl,” June 23, 2010; “Brother of the
Road,” July 12, 2010; and “Black Hills Dreamer,” July 23, 2010.
2.
Talkin’ About Lightnin’ by Weldon “Jukeboy” Bonner (1969).
3.
Brownskin
Blues, by Dick Justice (1929). I also have Mr. Justice’s nice 1929
cover of Luke Jordan’s Cocaine Blues in my archive (July 13)
4.
Smoking
Reefers, by Cab Calloway (circa 1950). This is the immortal Mr.
Calloway’s take on a 1938 Larry Adler number, unreleased perhaps because
the white folks at the record company were afraid of it. I think it
deserves a listen.
5.
Got The Blues (Can’t Be Satisfied), by Mississippi John Hurt.
6.
Going
Up The Country, by Robert “Barbecue Bob” Hicks (1902-31), who got his
nickname from having actually worked at Tidwell’s Barbecue in the
Atlanta suburb of Buckhead. One of the Georgia Cotton Pickers with
Curley Weaver, he’s shown here in the full-length apron and chef’s hat
from Tidwell’s in 1927.
7.
Judge
Harsh Blues, by Furry Lewis (1928). Pictured: Furry Lewis (1893-1981)
in later life with a Falstaff beer, a cig, and a slide on his pinky.
8.
lostprovinces:
Furry Lewis—“When My Baby Left Me”
Shake Em On Down (1961; Fantasy 1995).
9.
Every
Time I Get To Drinkin’ by Sunnyland Slim (piano, vocals) & Hubert
Sumlin (guitar). Live, 1964. Sumlin (1931-2011, shown with Howlin’
Wolf, for whom he played guitar for many years) passed away Sunday at
the tender age of 80. RIP…
10.
Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie, by Blind Willie McTell (1949).
11.
Christine, by Big Walter “Shakey” Horton (live, 1965). Guitar: Buddy Guy. Bass: Jimmy Lee Robinson. Drums: Fred Below.
12.
Worried Blues, by Skip James.
13.
Georgia Bound, by Blind Blake (1929).
14.
You
Was Born To Die, by Curley Weaver and Blind Willie McTell (1933). From
Atlanta Blues 1933: A Collection of Previously Unissued Recordings.
Many sources credit only McTell for this number, but I’m pretty sure it
features Willie’s longtime partner Weaver on both lead vocals and slide
guitar. Compare, for example, Weaver’s Some Cold, Rainy Day.
15.
frozensilkwood:
Jim Croce “Box #10”
16.
No Shoes, by John Lee Hooker.
17.
Look Down The Road, by Skip James.
18.
Stones In My Passway, by Robert Johnson.
19.
God Don’t Like It, by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
20.
Downtown Blues, by Frank Stokes (1928).
21.
Big Town Playboy, by Eddie Taylor (1955).
22.
bluessongoftheday:
Long Gone Like A Turkey In The Corn
- Lightnin’ Hopkins
23.
Early Morning Blues, by Blind Blake (1926).
24.
Backlash Blues, by Nina Simone (1967). Lyrics: Langston Hughes; Guitar: Rudy Stevenson.
25.
Cryin’ At The Station, by Brownie McGhee (live).
26.
Ragged
And Dirty, by William Brown (recorded by A. Lomax, 1942). This is not
Robert Johnson’s “friendboy Willie Brown,” although Lomax, writing 50
years later, apparently confused him with Willie, who recorded over a
decade earlier. It’s still some damn good delta blues, though.
27.
Love
Me Over Slow, by Honeyboy Edwards. Honeyboy passed away in August at
the tender age of 96. His obituary noted that he was the “last of the
great Delta bluesmen.” RIP…
28.
New
Sugar Mama, by Tommy McClennan (1940). I’ve put up several songs by the
underrated McClennan and his friend and “sound-alike,” Robert Petway.
Tommy’s rough, raspy voice reminds me of Tom Waits. His guitar style,
throwing in chord changes when the mood strikes him, recalls Robert
Johnson. Honeyboy Edwards once described Tommy’s style in an interview:
“He just play the blues. Play straight blues. There wasn’t nothin’
betwixt nothin’. Just straight go.”
That’s a good description of McClennan’s music: just straight go!
29.
I Want You To Know, by Bo Carter.
30.
Key To The Highway, by Little Walter, the only person in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame based solely on his harmonica skills.
31. No-Title Boogie, by Hubert Sumlin and Sunnyland Slim (live instrumental)
1. Sittin' At Home Alone, By Hound Dog Taylor & The Houserockers.
2.
Problems All Around, by Juke Boy Bonner.
3.
Mojo Hidin’ Woman, by Blind Boy Fuller (1937).
4.
Slip-in Mules, by Sugar Pie DeSanto featuring Billy Davis and Hubert Sumlin (live, 1964).
5.
Reconsider Baby, by Lowell Fulson (1954).
6.
The Twelves (Dirty Dozens), by Kokomo Arnold.
7.
Vietnam,
by Lightnin’ Hopkins. I realized there weren’t many blues tunes about
war when I started trying to select one to blog for Veteran’s Day. I
guess that’s because being involved in a war is the blues, and the best
blues artists knew instinctively that they couldn’t really “pay their
dues to sing the blues” without actually having fought in one. That’s
also why the bluesmen weren’t the misguided ones berating the troops
returning from Vietnam. I wasn’t quite 18 when they stopped sending
kids over there, and like my WWI veteran grandpa, I was against the war
but never against the troops. Anyway, here’s Lightnin’ with his
characteristic musical excellence, doing a blues tune about Vietnam with
the mothers’ viewpoint at the forefront. In terms of a Veteran’s Day
selection I could have done worse, if I do say so myself…
8.
Driving
Wheel, by John Brim and Pinetop Perkins (1989). Two blues greats who
recently passed away; Brim in 2003 and Perkins earlier this year at the
tender age of 97, after he became history’s oldest Grammy-winner. I had
the pleasure of seeing the immortal Pinetop at the old Yesterdays
Lounge at the Alex-Johnson Hotel in Rapid City in the late 1980s. He
played piano for everyone from Robert Nighthawk to Eric Clapton. RIP
guys…
9.
Dope
Head Blues, by Victoria Spivey (vocals) & Lonnie Johnson (guitar).
1927. The immortal Victoria Spivey accompanied by the incomparable
Lonnie Johnson…Oh yeah! Let me have another hit o’ that!
10.
Cotton
Mill Colic, by David McCarn (1930). This song goes back before the
days of powerful labor unions. On November 8 voters in Ohio have a
chance to reverse the efforts of Gov. John Kasich and others to take
workers back to those days.
11.
musical-moodswings:
Artist: Mississippi John Hurt
Track: Tender Virgins
Album: The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt
Year: 1967
12.
John
Henry, by Eddie (One-String) Jones. I’ve never been real interested
in “diddley-bow” music, and not much is known about Jones, but he had a
strong blues voice, and this is some of the best one-string guitar
playing I’ve heard.
13.
Call Me When You Need Me, by T-Bone Walker (guitar) and Shakey Jake (vocals), 1962.
14.
I’m
A Steady Rollin’ Man, by Robert Johnson. Just 29 songs like this gem
from 1937 were enough to put the “King of the Delta Blues” into the Rock
‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and #5 on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest
guitarists of all time, behind only Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, B. B.
King and Eric Clapton.
15.
That’s All Right, by Jimmy Rogers (1950). One of my all-time favorites.
1.Crosscut Saw, by Robert Petway2.Ticket Agent - Lightnin’ Hopkins 3.Mr. So & So, by Robert Petway.4.Travelin’ Highway Man, by Robert Petway.5.The Original House-Rent Blues, by J. L. Hooker.6.Boo hoo Rangers (Goin' back to) Dallas, by Johnny Winter 7.Cotton Patch Blues, by Tommy McClennan.8.Crossroads Another great (1971) variation on an old Robert Johnson theme. 9.Hard Times Ain’t Gone Nowhere, by Lonnie Johnson (1937).
10.
Police Dog Blues, by Blind Blake (1929).
11.
Shotgun Blues, by Lightnin’ Hopkins.
12.
Grandpa Got Drunk, by Kokomo Arnold (1937).
13.
Poker Woman Blues, by Blind Blake (1929).
14.
Avalon Blues, by Mississippi John Hurt (Okeh, 1928).
15.
Fast Blues in A, by Reverend Gary Davis.
16.
Fred McDowell’s Blues, by Mississippi Fred McDowell (recorded by Alan Lomax).
17.
You Gotta Move, by Mississippi Fred McDowell.
18.
The Sky Is Crying, by Crow (From the Mosaic LP, 1971).
1.Payday, by Mississippi John Hurt
2.Birds Are The Eyes, by The Raggedy Anns
3.Woke Up This Morning, by Mississippi Fred McDowell
4.Someone Changed The Lock On My Door, by Casey Bill Weldon (1935)
5.South Carolina Rag, by Willie Walker (1930)
6.Cross And Evil Women, by Reverend Gary Davis
7.Travelin’ Blues, by Blind Willie McTell
8.Searching The Desert For The Blues, by Blind Willie McTell and Ruby Glaze
9.Blues IN G, by Lonnie Johnson (Instrumental, 1928)
10.Tribute To Albert King, by Junior Brown
11.I’m Going Away, by Frank Stokes (1927)
12.Hoodoo Lady, by Memphis Minnie
13.Improvisation #1, by Django Reinhardt
14.Tough Times, by John Brim
15.I Woke Up This Morning, by Lightnin’ Hopkins
16.Fast Mail Rambler,by Lightnin’ Hopkins
17.My Little Girl, by Tommy McClennan.
18.Talkin’ To Myself, by Blind Willie McTell (1930)
19.Champagne & Reefer, by Muddy Waters
20.The Sky Is Crying, by Roy Rogers. (live)
21.Blue Railroad Train, by Doc Watson(Live)
22.Nagasaki, by Django Reinhardt (1936)
23.Katie Mae, by Lightnin’ Hopkins (1946)
24.Mojo Hand, by Lightnin’ Hopkins
25.My Starter Won’t Start This Morning, by Lightnin' Hopkins
26.Inhale Einstein, Exhale Hitler, by The Acoustinauts.
27.Frankie, by Mississippi John Hurt
28.Country Woman, by Will Batts
29.Big Road Blues, by Tommy Johnson
30.I’m A Guitar King, by Tommy McClennan
31.Bad Luck Dice, by Clifford Gibson
32.That’s No Way To Get Along, by Rev. Robert Wilkins
33.She’s A Hum Dum Dinger, by Jimmie Davis
34.Cocaine, by Dick Justice
35.I Hate A Man Like You, by Lizzie Miles (1929)
36.Sitting On Top Of The World, by Doc Watson (1964)
37.Step It Up And Go, by Blind Boy Fuller (1940)
38.Cigarette Blues, by Bo Carter.
39.Blue Guitars, by Lonnie Johnson (1929)
40.Long Black Train, by Lonnie Johnson (1930)
41.Whiskey-Head Woman, by Tommy McClennan (1939)
43.The Sun Is Shining, by Elmore James
44.Memphis Rounders Blues, by Frank Stokes
45.Driftin’ Blues, an old Charles Brown hit
46.All In My Dreams, by Boyd Gilmore
47.Little Delia, by Blind Willie McTell
48.Beale Town Bound, by Frank Stokes
49.Your Leg’s Too Little, by Black Ace (1937).
50.Blues Around Midnight, by Blind Willie McTell.
51.Little Boy Blue, by Robert Junior Lockwood
52.Sweet To Mama, by Frank Stokes
53.You Got To Die, by Blind Willie McTell. RIP David…
54.Take Five, by Hound Dog Taylor & The Houserockers.
55.I Let My Daddy Do That, Hattie Hart
56.Dying Crapshooter’s Blues, by Martha Copeland
57.On The Cooling Board, by Blind Willie McTell
58.Courtroom Blues, by Leroy Carr (vocals & piano) & Scrapper Blackwell (guitar).
59.Soon This Morning, by Blind Willie McTell.
60.Wah-wah Blues, by Earl Hooker
61.Mistreatin’ Blues, by Frank Stokes
62.Motherless Children Have A Hard Time, by Blind Willie McTell
63.Borrowed Love, by Irene Scruggs
64.Nehi Mamma Blues,by Frank Stokes
65.Voice of the Blues, by Irene Scruggs, 1930.
66.Money Blues, by Carolina Slim
67.Hell’s Highway, by Charlie Burse & His Memphis Mudcats, 1939
68.Death Letter Blues, by Son House
69.Yet another variation of the Elmore James classic Shake Your Moneymaker
70.A to Z Blues, by Blind Willie McTell
71.Lillie Mae Blues, by Alexander Moore, 1951
72.Doggone Mean Blues, by Gene Campbell
73.Death Valley, by Lonnie Johnson. Pre-Depression classic from a blues master.
74.Come On Back Home, by Roosevelt Sykes. (live)
75.Last Fair Deal Gone Down, by Robert Johnson
76.C C Rider, by Lonnie Johnson
77.Tip-Walk, by Roy Rogers live with Allen Toussaint on piano.
78.The Same Thing, by Muddy Waters
79.Seventh Son, by Willie Mabon.
80.Baby, What You Want Me To Do, by Sugar Pie deSanto with Billie Davis
81.I Wanna See My Baby, by T-Bone Walker.
82.I’m In Love, by T-Bone Walker
83.My Home Is In The Delta, live performance by Muddy Waters.
84.King Of The World, by John Lee Hooker.
85.If I Get Lucky, by J. B. Lenoir. Live performance in the UK, 1965.
86.Wish Me Well, by Memphis Slim
87.Careless Love, by Lonnie Johnson (live,1963)
88.Baby Please Don’t Go, by Lightnin’ Hopkins.
89.Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues, by Skip James
90.Sun To Sun, by Blind Blake
91.Night and Day, by Blind Blake
92.M & O Blues, by Willie Brown
93.Weak Brain, Narrow Mind, by Willie Dixon.
94.Built For Comfort, by Howlin’ Wolf.
95.Southern Can Is Mine, by Blind Willie McTell.
96.Too Many Ways To Fall, by The Arc Angels
97.Evil, by Howlin’ Wolf
98.I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom, by Robert Johnson.
99.Homework, by J. Geils (1972 live version)
100.Highway 61, by Mississippi Fred McDowell
101.Goin’ Down Slow, By Otis Spann. An early-1960s live version.
102.If You Don’t Give Me What I Want, by Blind Boy Fuller.
103.St. James Infirmary, by Joe Cocker
104.Matt’s Guitar Blues, by Matt “Guitar” Murphy
105.It’s Too Late To Cry, by Lonnie Johnson.
106.Ramblin’ On My Mind, by Robert Johnson.
107.Five Long Years, by Eddie Boyd.
108.Mellow Down Easy, by Little Walter
109.Take Them For A Ride, by David McCarn, 1930.
110.I’m Gonna Write You A Letter, by Jesse Thomas, 1948
111.Terraplane Blues, by Robert Johnson (public domain)The Roy Rogers killer version
112.Spoonful, by Howlin’ Wolf
113.Staggolee, by R. L. Burnside.
114.King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, by Crow
115.Ain’t It Sad, by Carolina Slim, a fine representative of the “Piedmont Blues.”
116.Dying Gambler, by Blind Willie McTell
117.Down South Blues, by Hannah Sylvester, 1923
118.Married Man Blues, by Irene Scruggs and Blind Blake (1931)
119.Clarksdale Moan, by Son House
120.Traveling Riverside Blues, by Robert Johnson
121.Slow Down, the Crow version
122.Black Snake Moan, by Brownie McGhee.
123.Got A Letter This Morning, by Mississippi Fred McDowell.
124.Man-Killing Broad, by Lonnie Johnson
125.Dying Crapshooter Blues, by Blind Willie McTell(Recorded by A. Lomax,1940) 126.Renton Highlands, by All Bets On Death
127.I Ain’t Superstitious, by Howlin’ Wolf.
128.Black Hills Dreamer, by Buddy Red Bow.
129.Paradise Cafe, by The Arc Angels.
130.Stop Breakin’ Down Blues, by Robert Johnson
131.You Need Love, by Muddy Waters
132.Walkin’ The Blues, by Willie Dixon
133.Terraplane Blues, by Robert Johnson
134.I Can’t Quit You Baby, by Little Milton
135.Cottage Cheese, by Crow
136.The Shape I’m In, by the Arc Angels
137.Love In Vain, by Robert Johnson
138.Brother of the Road, by Buddy Red Bow
139.Hoochie Coochie Man, by Muddy Waters
140.Sweet Nadine, by Arc Angels
141.Back Door Man, by Howlin’ Wolf
142.Whammer Jammer, J. Geils. 1972 Live performance
143.Come On In My Kitchen, by Robert Johnson
144.Dead Presidents, by Little Walter
145.Serves You Right To Suffer, J. Geils (live, 1972)
146.First I Look at the Purse, by J. Geils (live,1972)
147.Bring It On Home, by Sonny Boy Williamson
148.You Shook Me, by Muddy Waters
149.God Knows Your Pain, by All Bets on Death
150.The Third Degree, by Eddie Boyd
151.Hard Drivin’ Man, J. Geils 1972 Live version
152.Good Time by the Arc Angels
153.Buddy Red Bow, My Once-Indian Girl to buy whole CDs on the web.
154.Broke Down Engine, by Blind Willie McTell
155.Gone Gone Gone, by Crow
156.“All My Heroes Are In Hell,” by All Bets On Death ARCHIVE STARTED JUNE 2010.
