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Various Artists - Legends of Country Blues (1942)

Track listing:
CD1
  1. Devil Got My Woman Skip James 2:57
  2. Cypress Groove Blues Skip James 3:08
  3. Cherry Ball Blues Skip James 2:47
  4. Illinois Blues Skip James 3:00
  5. Four O'Clock Blues Skip James 2:48
  6. Hard Luck Child Skip James 3:00
  7. Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues Skip James 2:46
  8. Yola My Blues Away Skip James 3:09
  9. Jesus Is a Mighty Good Leader Skip James 2:58
  10. Be Ready When He Comes Skip James 2:52
  11. Drunken Spree Skip James 2:35
  12. I'm So Glad Skip James 2:47
  13. Special Rider Blues Skip James 2:59
  14. How Long Buck Skip James 2:50
  15. Little Cow and Calf Is Gonna Die Blues Skip James 2:50
  16. What Am I To Do Blues Skip James 2:59
  17. 22-20 Blues Skip James 2:47
  18. If You Haven't Any Hay, Get Down On the Road Skip James 2:51
  19. Walkin' Blues Son House 2:52
  20. My Black Mama (part 1) Son House 3:04
  21. My Black Mama (part 2) Son House 3:12
  22. Preachin' the Blues (part 1) Son House 3:01
  23. Preachin' the Blues (part 2) Son House 2:50
  24. Dry Spell Blues (part 1) Son House 3:07
  25. Dry Spell Blues (part 2) Son House 3:12
CD2
  1. Levee Camp Blues 3:39
  2. Government Fleet Blues 6:44
  3. Walking Blues (4780-b-2) 6:36
  4. Shetland Pony Blues 3:24
  5. Fo' Clock Blues 3:45
  6. Camp Hollers 2:26
  7. Delta Blues 5:18
  8. Special Rider Blues (test) 0:39
  9. Special Rider Blues 3:04
  10. Low Down, Dirty Dog Blues 4:54
  11. Depot Blues 2:52
  12. The Key of Minor 1:27
  13. American Defense 2:52
  14. Am I Right or Wrong 1:45
  15. Walking Blues (6607-B-3a) 2:56
  16. County Farm Blues 2:09
  17. The Pony Blues 4:11
  18. The Jinx Blues (part 1) 3:25
  19. The Jinx Blues (part 2) 4:21
CD3
  1. The New Frisco Train 2:58
  2. The Panama Limited 3:08
  3. I Am in the Heavenly Way 3:02
  4. Promise, True and Grand 3:03
  5. Pine Bluff, Arkansas 2:49
  6. Shake 'em on Down 2:59
  7. Sic 'em Dogs On 2:20
  8. Po' Boy 2:49
  9. Black Train 2:56
  10. Strange Place Blues 2:51
  11. When Can I Change My Clothes 2:58
  12. Sleepy Man Blues 2:50
  13. Parchman Farm Blues 2:36
  14. Good Gin Blues 2:22
  15. High Fever Blues 2:50
  16. District Attorney Blues 2:40
  17. Fixin' to Die Blues 2:48
  18. Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues 2:34
  19. Bukka's Jitterbug Blues 2:38
  20. Special Streamline 2:51
CD4
  1. Cool Drink of Water Blues 3:22
  2. Big Road Blues 3:09
  3. Bye, Bye Blues 3:01
  4. Maggie Campbell Blues 3:25
  5. Canned Heat Blues 3:35
  6. Lonesome Home Blues (45463-1) 3:18
  7. Lonesome Home Blues (45463-2) 3:14
  8. Big Fat Mama Blues 3:10
  9. I Wonder to Myself 3:02
  10. Slidin' Delta 3:01
  11. Lonesome Home Blues (L-230-2) 3:07
  12. Untitled (Morning Prayer Blues 3:18
  13. Untitled (Boogaloosa Woman) 3:09
  14. Black Mare Blues (L-245-1) 3:28
  15. Black Mare Blues (L-245-2) 3:16
  16. Ridin' Horse 3:22
  17. Alcohol & Jake Blues 3:18
CD5
  1. Stranger Blues 3:27
  2. Saturday Blues 3:26
  3. Left Alone Blues 3:27
  4. Leavin' Blues (45458-1) 3:24
  5. Leavin' Blues (45458-2) 3:26
  6. Brown Mama Blues (45459-1) 3:31
  7. Brown Mama Blues (45459-2) 3:03
  8. Trouble Hearted Blues (45460-1 3:29
  9. Trouble Hearted Blues (45460-2 3:19
  10. The Four Day Blues (45461-1) 3:15
  11. The Four Day Blues (45461-2) 3:20
  12. Jake Liquor Blues 3:26
  13. Family Starving 3:11
  14. Mobile Stomp 3:09
  15. Farish Street Rag 2:54
  16. Woman, Woman Blues 3:25
  17. Suitcase Full of Blues 3:01
  18. Bust Up Blues 2:51
  19. Pay Me No Mind 3:10
  20. Heavy Suitcase Blues 3:07
  21. Louisiana Bound 3:07
  22. Too Damp to Be Wet 3:04
  23. Where My Shoes At 3:02

Notes


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.