Various Artists - Masters Of The Delta Blues: The Friends Of Charlie Patton

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

016351020222

Description:

Producers: Richard Nevins, Don Kent, Stefan Grossman. This is a collection of early country blues tunes by guitarists and vocalists who were friends of, or were influenced by, Charlie Patton. Includes liner notes by Don Kent. Personnel: Bertha Lee (vocals). Audio Remasterer: Richard Nevins. Liner Note Author: Don Kent. Director: Stefan Grossman. Photographer: Ishman Bracey. As the most popular blues craftsman of the Mississippi Delta, Charley Patton had a resounding influence on many of the musicians that passed through the region during the `20s and `30s. Following his initial session for Paramount in 1929, he recommended both Son House and Willie Brown, as well as his mistress Louise Johnson and common-law wife Bertha Lee, to legendary talent scout H.C. Speir for recordings of their own. Furthermore, casual acquaintances like Tommy Johnson, Ishmon Bracey, and Kid Bailey acquired Patton themes, adopting them to suit their own style and playing ability, emerging with a handful of country blues classics in the process. Masters of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charley Patton focuses on Patton`s role as musical disseminator, gathering sides from all the above mentioned artists, along with a pair of recordings by admirer Bukka White. Patton`s legacy is unquestionable, but the works of his contemporaries are hardly examples of second-rate imitation. Though Brown made recordings for the Library of Congress during the 1940s, his commercial output was extremely limited -- an unfortunate fact, given the quality of his "Future Blues." Joining Brown, Patton, and Louise Johnson for a session at Paramount in the `30s, Son House cut a handful of the finest sides of his career. Though his music would retain an undeniable power into the 1960s, he arguably never topped the likes of "Walking Blues," "My Black Mama," "Dry Spell Blues," and "Preachin` the Blues," four explosions of raw Delta blues. Also exceptional are Kid Bailey`s "Rowdy Blues," Tommy Johnson`s "Button Up Shoes" and "Maggie Campbell Blues," and Bukka White`s "I Am in the Heavenly Way." Possibly the finest topical country blues compilation in Yazoo`s catalog, Masters of the Delta Blues is also essential listening for anyone with more than a casual interest in the genre. ~ Nathan Bush

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Rowdy Blues - Kid Bailey
2. Big Fat Mama Blues - Tommy Johnson
3. I Am in the Heavenly Way - Bukka White
4. Future Blues - Willie Brown
5. Brown Mama Blues - Ishman Bracey
6. On the Wall - Louise Johnson
7. Walking Blues - Son House (previously unreleased, take Unissued Test)
8. Canned Heat Blues - Tommy Johnson
9. Promise True and Grand - Bukka White
10. Mississippi Bottom Blues - Kid Bailey
11. Maggie Campbell Blues - Tommy Johnson
12. My Black Mama, Pt. 1 - Son House
13. My Black Mama, Pt. 2 - Son House
14. Yellow Bee - Bertha Lee
15. Long Ways from Home - Louise Johnson
16. M and O Blues - Willie Brown
17. Button Up Shoes - Tommy Johnson (previously unreleased, Take 1, Unissued Test)
18. Mind Reader Blues - Bertha Lee
19. Lonesome House Blues - Tommy Johnson (previously unreleased, Take 1, Unissued Test)
20. Dry Spells Blues, Pt. 1 - Son House
21. Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 2 - Son House
22. Preachin` the Blues, Pt. 1 - Son House
23. Preachin` the Blues, Pt. 2 - Son House

Album Information

Release Date:

01/01/1991

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Delta

Label:

Yazoo

Catalog Number:

2002

Original Release Year:

1991

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Mono

Runtime:

72 : 26

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