Texas Worried Blues: Complete Recorded Works 1927-1929

• Artist: Henry Thomas
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1989
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

These recordings, dating between 1927 and 1929, are a unique body of work: work songs, minstrel numbers, rags, and what we now define as the blues, all offered in an unpretentious form that would have been every bit as compelling had Henry Thomas cut them this way 40 years later. Songs such as "Arkansas," "Fox and the Hounds" (featuring the reed pipes that Thomas also excelled at playing), and "Little Red Caboose" represent a brand of upbeat dance music associated with late-19th century entertainment, a tradition already largely lost or becoming lost when Thomas cut these numbers. Yet Thomas, who was already in his 50s when he recorded these tracks, sings and plays them with a beguiling ease and honesty, not to mention a dexterity on the guitar that makes him sound every bit as vital and urgent as Big Bill Broonzy or any of the other up-and-coming blues legends just starting out at the time these sides were laid down. The blues numbers, including "Shanty Blues," "Woodhouse Blues," "Honey, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?," and "Bull Doze Blues" are compelling in their own right -- they display musical and lyrical virtuosity and, in the latter two cases, offer a chance to hear the sources for classic works by Bob Dylan and Canned Heat, respectively. Luckily for historians, Henry Thomas recorded for Vocalion and not for one of the truly lost labels like Paramount, and all 23 surviving sides of his work sound very good on this CD. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Fishin' Blues	Henry Thomas, Taj Mahal	Henry Thomas	(2:43)
Old Country Stomp	Henry Thomas	Henry Thomas	(2:52)
Charmin' Betsy		Henry Thomas	(3:03)
Lovin' Babe		Henry Thomas	(3:07)
Railroadin' Some	Henry Thomas	Henry Thomas	(3:17)
Don't Leave Me Here		Henry Thomas	(3:27)
The Little Red Caboose		Henry Thomas	(2:48)
Bob McKinney		Henry Thomas	(2:54)
Honey, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?	Traditional	Henry Thomas	(2:51)
Run, Mollie, Run		Henry Thomas	(2:52)
Shanty Blues		Henry Thomas	(2:56)
Woodhouse Blues		Henry Thomas	(2:48)
John Henry	Traditional	Henry Thomas	(2:46)
Cottonfield Blues	Traditional	Henry Thomas	(2:48)
Arkansas		Henry Thomas	(2:48)
The Fox and the Hounds		Henry Thomas	(2:37)
Red River Blues	Robert Johnson	Henry Thomas	(3:06)
Jonah in the Wilderness	Traditional	Henry Thomas	(2:55)
When the Train Comes Along		Henry Thomas	(2:57)
Bull Doze Blues	Henry Thomas	Henry Thomas	(3:25)
Don't Ease Me In		Henry Thomas	(3:00)
Texas Easy Street		Henry Thomas	(3:08)
Texas Worried Blues	Henry Thomas	Henry Thomas	(3:17)

Credits

Nick Perls (Mastering), Henry Thomas (Guitar), Henry Thomas (Vocals), Bernard Klatzko (Producer), Robert Vosgien (Digital Mastering), Stephen Calt (Liner Notes)