Track Listing

1. Jumper on the line - R. L. Burnside
2. Preaching blues (Up jumped the devil) - Robert Johnson
3. Done left here - Mississippi Fred McDowell
4. High water everywhere part one - Charley Patton
5. Walkin' blues - Son House
6. Sitting on top of the world - Mississippi Sheiks
7. Country blues - Muddy Waters
8. Goin' back to the bridge - Asie Payton
9. Last kind words blues - Geechie Wiley & Elvie Thomas
10. Catfish blues - Robert Petway
11. Cool drink of water blues - Tommy Johnson
12. Black Mattie - Robert Belfour
13. Outside woman blues - Blind Joe (Willie) Reynolds
14. Future blues - Willie Brown
15. On the wall - Louise Johnson
16. Stack O'Lee blues - Mississippi John Hurt
17. Mississippi swamp moan - Alfred Lewis
18. Aberdeen Mississippi blues - Bukka White
19. Meet me in the city - Junior Kimbrough
20. That's no way to get along - Robert Wilkins
21. The banker's blues - Big Bill Broonzy
22. Don't mash my digger so deep - Bo Carter
23. Baby please don't go - Big Joe Williams
24. I'm so glad - Skip James

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7960 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 71 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
It isn't often a CD conjures magic out of the past the way The Rough Guide to Delta Blues does, but as Johnathan Ogle puts it in his excellent sleeve notes, these sounds from the Deep South cotton fields really are the cornerstone of American popular music. One by one, in tracks that are blissfully uncleaned-up, the well-chosen voices take it in turns to assert their own particular brand of down-home beauty. There are murderers and preachers aplenty, sometimes blind, sometimes in possession of an alarming physical dexterity; the oldest recordings--like that of herbal medic Robert Wilkins--are the most intensely characterful. But there's an enormous range of styles represented here, from the nifty slide guitar and chameleon tones of Robert Johnson to the heavy rasp of Charley Patton and the unmistakeable timbre of Big Bill Broonzy. Every track has its own fascination, whether it's barrelhouse pianist Louise Johnson extolling the virtues of doing it standing up, Fred McDowell demonstrating his "slash and drone" guitar technique, or Alfred Lewis rapidly alternating between whoops, hollers and blasts on his harmonica. And in Tommy Johnson's deft falsetto we see where latter-day falsettist Bobby McFerrin got his inspiration. --Michael Church

Customer Reviews

Eclectic introduction to Delta Blues
I am not a lover of complilation blues albums - largely because there is so much dross out there - but this is fantastic. A wide range of blues and quality of recording but it all fits together beautifully. The album also contains many songs that have been covered (particularly by '60's rock bands)that are like old friends coming in from the cold.

Fantastic Collection
This compilation is out of this World...sequenced in a most pleasing fashion, you wont be reaching for the 'next track' button here...outstanding performances from the greats of the Delta Blues, plus newcomers who blend in so well as a whole. Great sound quality too, with a handsome booklet..and a price that is a joke, this disc you will treasure for a lifetime. This must be the best Blues bagain ever..you would be a complete fool to miss this!.