From: kai@sco.COM (Kai Christiansen)
Subject: Re: history of blues music
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 18:12:40 GMT


Since we've lately had some nice blues threads going, I'll toss in
some personal commentary (cheers to keeping BLUES within r.m.b.)

In article <71413@apple.Apple.COM> jjones@uiuc.edu writes:
>880139h@dragon.acadiau.ca (Rob Hutten) writes:
>>Man oh man, you have to get `Legends of the Blues.'  It's a perfect
>>primer on blues from 1925-1960.  It's got all the great old bluesmen
>>(and blueswomen): Bessie Smith, Blind Willie Johnson, Willie McTell,
>>Charlie Patton, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Son House,
>>etc...  Anyway, it's full of must-hears if you want to get into the
>>good old stuff.
>
>>I forget which label did this compilation, but they released quite
>>a number of blues recordings in the last couple years and they all
>>(from what I've heard and read) are quite good.  Ask at your local
>>record store.
>
>The Label was Columbia, "Legends of the Blues: Volume 1", CT46215.
>  Side 1
>    St. Louis Blues--Bessie Smith, 1925
>    Match Box Blues--Blind Lemon Jefferson, 1927

I am always amazed that Blind Lemon is so little mentioned in these
discussions. He was among the very few of the earliest recorded
'country' bluesmen (others? Papa Charlie Jackson (wierd but interesting),
Blind Blake (killer), Freddie Spruel, Lonnie Johnson (but he is really
in a different category)) and he was killer. Very distinctive guitar and
a great blues vocalist. His range of material is also interesting: it
provides a look at the "pre-bluesman" to an extent and offers some great
examples of earlier black folk music. "The blues came to Texas, loping
like a Mule . . .". Texas is surely another great cradle of early blues.
See Blind Willie Johnson and others. Blind Lemon has been frequently
cited as a big influence by many later blues musicians: Lightning Hopkins,
T-Bone Walker etc.

>    Ain't No Tellin'--Mississippi John Hurt, 1928
>    Lord, I Just Can't Keep From Cryin'--Blind Willie Johnson, 1928
>    Pigmeat Is What I Crave--Bo Carter, 1931
>    Southern Can Is Mine-- Blind Willie McTell as Blind Sammie, 1931
>    Low Down St. Louis Blues--Lonnie Johnson, 1931
>    Revenue Man Blues--Charley Patton, 1934
>    Stormy Night Blues--Leroy Carr, 1934
>    I Believe I'll Make a Change--Joshua White as Pinewood Tom, 1934
>  Side 2
>    Fort Worth And Dallas Blues-- Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), 1935
>    Sweet Home Blues--Peetie Wheatstraw, 1936
>    Stop Breakin' Down Blues--Robert Johnson, 1937
>    Truckin My Blues Away, #2--Blind Boy Fuller, 1937
>    Spreadin' Snakes Blues--Big Bill Broonzy, 1939
>    Nothing In Ramblin'--Memphis Minnie, 1940
>    Fixin' To Die Blues--Bukka White, 1940

Yes! A Delta musican, apparently a cousin of B.B. King. Yes yes yes.

>    Hard Day Blues--Muddy Waters, 1946
>    Don't You Leave Me Here--Big Joe Williams, 1947

Yet another Delta musician who was/is (alive? naw . .) vastly recorded. He
was an excellent blues musician in the deepest sense. But he also 
achieved some great "band" music with the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson
(right, John Lee). I was listening to some recordings of these guys
one night, recorded in the early 40's I believe, and I was startled to
hear the similarity to Muddy's earliest, e.g. "Gypsy Woman". Right down
to the vocal cadences, guitar riffs, and accomplished harp playing.
Some of best urban "string band" music and this was Chicago . . . 

>    Death Letter--Son House, 1965
>
>It also has short descriptions of the songs and the artists.