Time: 71:46
Size: 167.7 MB
Released: 2004
Styles: Traditional blues, Appalachian, Piedmont blues
Art: Front
1. Louie Bluie - State Street Rag (2:46)
2. Dallas String Band - Hokum Blues (3:25)
3. Phebel Wright - Lint Head Stomp (2:36)
4. Carolina Peanut Boys - You May Leave, But This Will Bring You Back (3:05)
5. The Blue Boys - Easy Winner (2:54)
6. John Estes - Milk Cow Blues (3:02)
7. John Estes - Watcha Doin' (3:03)
8. Dallas String Band - Dallas Rag (2:56)
9. Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers - Flop Eared Mule (2:57)
10. Arizona Dranes & Choir - I Shall Wear A Crown (3:26)
11. Mississippi Mud Steppers - Jackson Stomp (3:09)
12. Ishman Bracey - Brown Mama Blues (3:08)
13. The Two Poor Boys - Two White Horses In A Line (2:51)
14. Scottdale String Band - Carbolic Rag (3:16)
15. King David's Jug Band - Rising Sun Blues (3:09)
16. Johnson Boys - Prater Blues (3:11)
17. Carolina Peanut Boys - You Got Me Rollin' (2:31)
18. Nashville Washboard Band - Arkansas Traveller (2:08)
19. Nashville Washboard Band - Goin' Away To Make Me Lonesome (3:53)
20. Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers - Hawkins Rag (2:52)
21. Paul Warmack & His Gully Jumpers - The Little Red Caboose Behind The Train (2:55)
22. Al Miller & His Market Street Boys - Somebody's Been Using That Thing (2:47)
23. Arthur McClain & Joe Evans - Old Hen Cackle (2:43)
24. Blue Ridge Ramblers - Jug Rag (2:51)
This sprightly compilation from Document Records collects 24 vintage 78s recorded between 1927 and 1946 that feature the mandolin in a variety of settings, from blues to gospel, played by an assortment of jug, string, and hokum bands. There's a ton of energy here, and fans of the instrument will love this set, although the casual listener may find it a little repetitive.
Highlights include "State Street Rag" by the great Louie Bluie, a fluid version of "Lint Head Stomp" by Phebel Wright, the classic "Milk Cow Blues" (featuring the mandolin playing of Yank Rachell) by Sleepy John Estes, a jaunty "Jackson Stomp" by the Mississippi Mud Steppers, and the season-hopping "You Got Me Rollin'" by the Carolina Peanut Boys. Another gem is the wonderfully titled "Going Away to Make It Lonesome Here" by the Nashville Washboard Band, which features some particularly odd, cartoonish percussion. In essence Rags, Breakdowns, Stomps and Blues is a capsule history of early American mandolin playing, and the vitality and good humor of this collection should brighten any day. ~ Steve Leggett
Joe Evans & Arthur McClain, Arthur McClain (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Ishman Bracey, Sam Harris (vocals, guitar); Arizona Dranes (vocals, mandolin, piano); Coley Jones, Al Miller , Vol Stevens (vocals, mandolin); Sam Jones (vocals, pipe); Charlie "Bozo" Nickerson (vocals, harmonica); Marco Washington (vocals); Burt Hutcherson, Nap Hayes, Frank Dalton, Junior Morgan, Riley Puckett, Ted Bogan, Bo Carter, Charlie Burse (guitar); Roy Hardison, Gid Tanner (banjo); "Dude", Matthew Prater, James "Yank" Rachel, Charles Hurt, Paul Warmack, James Kelly, Louie Bluie, Phebel Wright (mandolin); Shelby David "Tex" Achinson (violin); Charley Arrington, Gordon Tanner (fiddle); Frank Melrose, Jab Jones (piano).
Highlights include "State Street Rag" by the great Louie Bluie, a fluid version of "Lint Head Stomp" by Phebel Wright, the classic "Milk Cow Blues" (featuring the mandolin playing of Yank Rachell) by Sleepy John Estes, a jaunty "Jackson Stomp" by the Mississippi Mud Steppers, and the season-hopping "You Got Me Rollin'" by the Carolina Peanut Boys. Another gem is the wonderfully titled "Going Away to Make It Lonesome Here" by the Nashville Washboard Band, which features some particularly odd, cartoonish percussion. In essence Rags, Breakdowns, Stomps and Blues is a capsule history of early American mandolin playing, and the vitality and good humor of this collection should brighten any day. ~ Steve Leggett
Joe Evans & Arthur McClain, Arthur McClain (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Ishman Bracey, Sam Harris (vocals, guitar); Arizona Dranes (vocals, mandolin, piano); Coley Jones, Al Miller , Vol Stevens (vocals, mandolin); Sam Jones (vocals, pipe); Charlie "Bozo" Nickerson (vocals, harmonica); Marco Washington (vocals); Burt Hutcherson, Nap Hayes, Frank Dalton, Junior Morgan, Riley Puckett, Ted Bogan, Bo Carter, Charlie Burse (guitar); Roy Hardison, Gid Tanner (banjo); "Dude", Matthew Prater, James "Yank" Rachel, Charles Hurt, Paul Warmack, James Kelly, Louie Bluie, Phebel Wright (mandolin); Shelby David "Tex" Achinson (violin); Charley Arrington, Gordon Tanner (fiddle); Frank Melrose, Jab Jones (piano).
Rags, Breakdowns, Stomps & Blues: Vintage Mandolin Music (1927-1946)