Legends of the Blues, Vol. 1

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: 1991 02
• Total Time: 57:53
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

This CD serves as a perfect introduction to pre-war blues for the novice since it contains fine examples of the music of 20 blues artists: Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie Johnson, Bo Carter, Blind Willie McTell, Lonnie Johnson, Charley Patton, Leroy Carr, Josh White, Leadbelly, Peetie Wheatstraw, Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Minnie, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams and Son House. Four selections are from the '20s, Son House's "Death Letter" is from 1965, and otherwise the music dates from 1931-1947. The who's who roster includes practically every early great (Tampa Red is missing but Washboard Sam and the first Sonny Boy Williamson appear as sidemen) and, with nine previously unreleased selections (both alternate takes and "new" performances), this CD is an essential purchase for both beginning and veteran collectors alike. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
St. Louis Blues (Lyrics)	W.C. Handy	Bessie Smith	(3:14)
Match Box Blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Blind Lemon Jefferson	(3:02)
Ain't No Tellin'	Mississippi John Hurt	Mississippi John Hurt	(2:56)
Lord, I Just Can't Keep from Crying	Blind Willie Johnson, Traditional	Blind Willie Johnson	(3:03)
Pig Meat Is What I Crave [#]	Bo Carter	Bo Carter	(2:52)
Southern Can Is Mine	Blind Willie McTell	Blind Willie McTell	(3:15)
Low Down St. Louis Blues [#]	Lonnie Johnson	Lonnie Johnson	(3:04)
Revenue Man Blues (Lyrics)	Charley Patton	Charley Patton	(2:42)
Stormy Night Blues [#]	Leroy Carr	Leroy Carr	(2:38)
I Believe I'll Make a Change	Josh White	Josh White	(2:55)
Fort Worth and Dallas Blues [#]	Leadbelly	Leadbelly	(3:04)
Sweet Home Blues [#]	Peetie Wheatstraw	Peetie Wheatstraw	(2:53)
Stop Breakin' Down Blues (Lyrics)	Robert Johnson	Robert Johnson	(2:20)
Truckin' My Blues Away, No. 2 [#]	Blind Boy Fuller	Blind Boy Fuller	(2:49)
Spreadin' Snake Blues [#]		Big Bill Broonzy	(2:42)
Nothing in Rambling	Memphis Minnie	Memphis Minnie	(2:45)
Fixin' to Die Blues	Bukka White	Bukka White	(2:48)
Hard Day Blues [#]	Muddy Waters	Muddy Waters	(2:46)
Don't You Leave Me Here [#]	Swamp Dogg	Big Joe Williams	(2:40)
Death Letter	Son House	Son House	(4:22)

Credits

Josh White (Guitar), Peetie Wheatstraw (Piano), Memphis Minnie (Vocals), Joshua Altheimer (Piano), Blind Lemon Jefferson (Vocals), Paul Oliver (Liner Notes), Son House (Performer), Big Joe Williams (Vocals), Blind Willie Johnson (Guitar), Mississippi John Hurt (Guitar), Bukka White (Guitar), Blind Willie Johnson (Performer), Leadbelly (Performer), James Clark (Piano), Big Bill Broonzy (Vocals), Bessie Smith (Performer), Blind Willie McTell (Performer), Leadbelly (Vocals), Lonnie Johnson (Guitar), Leroy Carr (Vocals), Blind Boy Fuller (Guitar), Sonny Boy Williamson (Harmonica), Blind Lemon Jefferson (Performer), Charley Patton (Guitar), Robert Johnson (Guitar), Robert Johnson (Vocals), Ransom Knowling (Bass), Memphis Minnie (Performer), Big Bill Broonzy (Performer), Bessie Smith (Vocals), Blind Lemon Jefferson (Guitar), Lonnie Johnson (Vocals), Washboard Sam (Washboard), Josh White (Performer), Peetie Wheatstraw (Vocals), Blind Boy Fuller (Vocals), Bukka White (Performer), Charley Patton (Vocals), Judge Riley (Drums), Big Joe Williams (Guitar), Leroy Carr (Piano), Mississippi John Hurt (Vocals), Bo Carter (Guitar), Bo Carter (Vocals), Bukka White (Vocals), Leroy Carr (Performer), Blind Willie Johnson (Vocals), Leadbelly (Guitar), Louis Armstrong (Cornet), Charley Patton (Performer), Big Joe Williams (Performer), Muddy Waters (Performer), Blind Sammie (Guitar), Big Bill Broonzy (Guitar), Blind Sammie (Vocals), Lonnie Johnson (Performer), Walter Roland (Piano), Fred Williams (Drums), Little Son Joe (Guitar), Mississippi John Hurt (Performer), Memphis Minnie (Guitar), Josh White (Vocals), McKinley Morganfield (Vocals), McKinley Morganfield (Guitar), John Hammond, Jr. (Performer), Fred Longshaw (Organ), Scrapper Blackwell (Guitar), Peetie Wheatstraw (Performer), Robert Johnson (Performer), Blind Boy Fuller (Performer), Bo Carter (Performer)