Henry's Worry Blues

• Artist: Henry Townsend & Friends
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 14, 2000
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

Henry Townsend has had an astoundingly long blues career, one that began in St. Louis in the 1920s and still continues eight-decades later in the 21st century. This interesting compilation, attributed to Henry Townsend & Friends, collects 17 of Townsend's early 78 sides from the 1920s and '30s, adding in five by J.D. Short from the same period, and two more by Joe Stone, who is probably Short working under a different name for contractual reasons. To call Townsend and Short friends might be stretching the meaning of the word a bit, since Short is rumored to have stabbed Townsend during an altercation, while Townsend, in turn, is said to have shot Short during a later dispute between the two. Definitions of friendship aside, the music here is country blues right at the cusp of turning into something more urban, particularly when Townsend abandons the guitar for piano on a couple of tracks. Short (who could also play piano, but doesn't on this collection) sounds like he may have been a more aggressive guitar player than Townsend, and his rhythms show a tense, staccato drive, where Townsend has a more laconic sound. There isn't a tremendous amount of variety here, though, as Townsend, in particular, seems to return to the same generic blues melody for several of his cuts. In the end, Henry's Worry Blues probably has the most appeal as an archival document, since both Short and Townsend went on to record more interesting material later in their careers. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Henry's Worry Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:07)
Mistreated Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:00)
Long Ago Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:56)
Poor Man Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:59)
Doctor, Oh Doctor	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:45)
Jack Of Diamonds Georgia Rub	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:18)
No Home Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:52)
Take a Chance	Henry Townsend, Ronnie Laws	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:13)
She's Got What I Want	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:44)
My Sweet Candy	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:50)
Sick With the Blues	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:52)
Don't Love That Woman	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:19)
She's Got a Mean Disposition	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:15)
Lose Your Man	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:29)
All I've Got's Gone	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:26)
A Ramblin' Mind	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:56)
Now I Stay Away	Henry Townsend	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:49)
Telephone Arguin' Blues	J.D. Short	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:13)
Lonesome Swamp Rattlesnake	J.D. Short	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:49)
Snake Doctor Blues	J.D. Short	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:23)
Barefoot Blues	J.D. Short	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:58)
Grand Daddy Blues	J.D. Short	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:14)
It's Hard Time	Joe Stone	Henry Townsend & Friends	(3:08)
Back Door Blues	Joe Stone	Henry Townsend & Friends	(2:58)

Credits

Henry Townsend (Vocals), Sonny Boy Williamson (Guitar), Keith Briggs (Liner Notes), Roosevelt Sykes (Piano), Joe Stone (Guitar), Henry Townsend (Guitar), Jaydee Short (Guitar), Jaydee Short (Vocals), Joe Stone (Vocals)