Blind Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:04
Size: 98.6 MB
Styles: Folk, Acoustic Blues
Year: 1961/1992
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Samson And Delilah
[3:09] 2. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
[2:54] 3. I Belong To The Band
[2:57] 4. Pure Religion
[4:03] 5. Great Change Since I Been Born
[4:42] 6. Death Don't Have No Mercy
[3:09] 7. Twelve Gates To The City
[2:55] 8. Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River
[3:46] 9. Tryin' To Get Home
[4:17] 10. Lo, I Be With You Always
[3:35] 11. I Am The Light Of This World
[3:29] 12. Lord, I Feel Just Like Goin' On

Recorded during a three hour session on August 24, 1960, Gary Davis laid down 12 of his most impassioned spirituals for Harlem Street Singer. Starting off the session with a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "If I Had My Way I'd Tear That Building Down," here renamed "Samson and Delilah," Davis is in fine form. His vocals are as expressive as Ray Charles' while similar in richness to Richie Havens' work. Harlem Street Singer features his inspired country blues fingerpicking as well. Many moods color the selections, from the gentle "I Belong to the Band" to the mournful "Death Don't Have No Mercy," only to be followed by the joyous shouting of "Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River." Overall, the collection is well worth the purchase and should be considered essential listening for fans of country blues or gospel. ~Matt Fink

Harlem Street Singer (Remastered) mc
Harlem Street Singer (Remastered) zippy

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VA - Rough Guide To Ragtime Blues

Size: 170,8 MB
Time: 72:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Ragtime Blues, Country Blues
Art: Front & Back

01 Blind Willie McTell - Southern Can Is Mine (3:08)
02 Willie Walker - South Carolina Rag (Take 2) (3:06)
03 Blind Boy Fuller - Piccolo Rag (2:48)
04 Luke Jordan - Cocaine Blues (3:14)
05 Robert Wilkins - Old Jim Canan's (2:56)
06 Blind Blake - Blind Arthur's Breakdown (2:59)
07 Papa Charlie Jackson - Drop That Sack (2:28)
08 Bo Carter - Your Biscuits Are Big Enough For Me (2:06)
09 Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe - Guitar Rag (3:06)
10 Dick Justice - Old Black Dog (2:55)
11 Beale Street Sheiks - Mr. Crump Don't Like It (2:38)
12 William Moore - Ragtime Millionaire (3:07)
13 Pillie Bolling - Shake Me Like A Dog (3:01)
14 Charlie McCoy - I've Been Blue Ever Since You Went Away (3:14)
15 Allen Brothers - Salty Dog Blues (3:05)
16 Blind Lemon Jefferson - Beggin' Back (2:49)
17 Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar Rag (2:52)
18 The Two Charlies - Pork Chop Blues (3:02)
19 Mississippi John Hurt - Got The Blues Can't Be Satisfied (2:49)
20 Charley Patton - Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama) (3:04)
21 Troy Ferguson - You Better Keep It At Home (3:02)
22 Reverend Gary Davis - Have More Faith In Jesus (2:59)
23 Buddy Boy Hawkins - Raggin' The Blues (2:26)
24 Geeshie Wiley & Elvie Thomas - Pick Poor Robin Clean (3:09)
25 Cannon's Jug Stompers - Money Never Runs Out (2:44)

Ragtime had a profound influence on many early blues performers who strived to reproduce its complicated piano sounds on the guitar. With its faster rhythm and good-time feel, this danceable style was performed with mesmerizing skill by blues greats such as Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis and Blind Boy Fuller.

Made famous by the legendary Scott Joplin, ragtime developed in African-American communities throughout the southern part of the Midwest during the last decade of the nineteenth century and had a profound influence on many early blues performers. Combining the structure of marches with African-American songs and dances such as the cakewalk, ragtime’s syncopated or ‘ragged’ rhythm was initially performed as dance music for the seedier side of society in areas where bars, dancehalls and brothels were located. Many blues guitarists attempted to reproduce the complicated piano sounds, as its faster rhythm created a more upbeat and lively feel, far removed from the typical intensity of early country blues. So, when ragtime went out of favour as jazz claimed the public's imagination, it had already entered the folk consciousness through the playing of blues greats such as Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis and Blind Boy Fuller.

Blind Blake was the first commercially successful performer of this style, whose intricate fingerstyle technique and diverse repertoire ranging from upbeat rags and hokum tunes to slow blues numbers influenced all who followed, including the likes of Blind Boy Fuller and Reverend Gary Davis, and modern-day guitarists Ry Cooder, John Fahey and Jorma Kaukonen.

Many of the featured artists hailed from the Eastern States where the influence of ragtime was instrumental in creating the unique and much loved ‘Piedmont’ guitar style. Typically, the Piedmont guitarist would create an alternating rhythmic bass accompaniment by moving the thumb of the picking hand between the different bass strings of the guitar, whilst one or more fingers of the same hand would pick out the melody on the higher strings. Essentially this approach gives the impression that the guitar is being played like a piano.

Little is known about many of these artists, none more so than Willie Walker who only ever recorded two sides in 1930, with ‘South Carolina Rag’ being one of the absolute masterpieces of ragtime guitar playing. Other highlights to listen out for include ‘Ragtime Millionaire’ by the barbershop owner William Moore which harks back to the glory years of ragtime as well as the cakewalk inspired ‘Money Never Runs Out’ by Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers.

Rough Guide To Ragtime Blues

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Rev. Blind Gary Davis - Meet You At The Station (The Vintage Recordings 1935-1949)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:13
Size: 131.0 MB
Styles: Ragtime guitar, Gospel, Country blues, Blues guitar
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. I'm Throwin' Up My Hands (Ain't Gonna Work Here No More)
[3:01] 2. Cross And Evil Woman Blues
[3:12] 3. I Am The True Vine
[3:08] 4. I Am The Light Of The World
[3:02] 5. O Lord, Search My Heart
[3:02] 6. I Saw The Light
[3:05] 7. You Can Go Home
[3:05] 8. Our Father
[3:00] 9. Have More Faith In Jesus
[3:15] 10. You Got To Go Down
[3:10] 11. I Belong To The Band-Hallelujah!
[3:15] 12. The Great Change In Me
[3:02] 13. Lord, I Wish I Could See
[3:05] 14. Lord, Stand By Me
[3:05] 15. The Angel's Message To Me
[5:25] 16. Civil War March
[2:49] 17. I Cannot Bear My Burden By Myself
[2:37] 18. Meet Me At The Station

When Gary Davis made his first records in New York in 1935, he'd been a guitarist for many years; born in Laurens, SC in 1896, by 1904 he owned his own guitar and was playing for dances. By 1911, he was a member of Willie Walker's string band in Greenville. At some point, probably during his first marriage, which lasted from 1919 to 1924, Davis moved to North Carolina, and when he came to record, he was an associate of Blind Boy Fuller, who was also to make his debut on disc on this occasion.

Davis was a guitar genius; that much is obvious from the first notes of this CD. He'd taught Fuller a good deal, but Fuller, though an excellent player, never approached Davis's total command of the instrument. He was not to be ordained until 1937, and in 1935 he was still prepared, albeit uneasily, to sing blues; but he undoubtedly saw himself as a guitarist for God. In later years, he became a god for guitarists, many of whom were made uneasy by his intense fundamentalism, and tried to persuade themselves that Davis performed a non-existent "holy blues". When he did sing the blues, he was a fine and distinctive executant, bringing to the form a much more introspective, personal vocal delivery than the one he used for his religious music. In that area, his singing and preaching are those of a street evangelist, determined both to make himself heard over competing noise, and to attract potential converts by the sheer fervour of his performance. His ferocity seems to have been daunting even to black record buyers of the day, for his 1935 discs do not appear to have sold widely.

At some time not long after his arrival in New York, Davis cut the instrumental showpiece Civil War March, which was un-issued for many years. Later recordings of it were usually called "Soldier's Drill", but it's likely enough that it dates back, if not to the Civil War, then to the turn of the century when Davis was learning to play. In 1949, Davis made his last issued recordings for a black audience, using a wooden bodied guitar which had a softer sound than the metal bodied National resonator guitar that he'd used, in 1935.

Meet You At The Station mc
Meet You At The Station zippy

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VA - Rough Guide To Gospel Blues

Size: 174,6 MB
Time: 74:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Gospel
Art: Front

01 Rev. Gary Davis - I Am The Light (2:59)
02 Blind Willie Johnson - I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole (3:00)
03 Mississippi John Hurt - Praying On The Old Camp Ground (2:34)
04 Bukka White - The Promise True And Grand (3:02)
05 Rev. Edward W. Clayborn - (Your Enemy Cannot Harm You (2:54)
06 Blind Roosevelt Graves - I'll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called) (2:26)
07 Blind Boy Fuller - Twelve Gates To The City (2:40)
08 Blind Joe Taggart - Scandalous And A Shame (2:53)
09 Mother McCollum - Jesus Is My Air-O-Plane (3:17)
10 Tallahassee Tight - Got Heaven In My View (3:03)
11 Skip James - Be Ready When He Comes (2:52)
12 Julius Daniels - Slippin' And Slidin' Up The Golden Street (3:09)
13 Blind Mamie Forehand - Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All (3:24)
14 Lil' McClintock - Mother Called Her Child To Her Dying Bed (3:08)
15 Bo Weavil Jackson - I'm On My Way To The Kingdom Land (2:58)
16 Memphis Minnie - Let Me Ride (2:56)
17 Blind Gussie Nesbit - I'll Just Stand And Wring My Hands And Cry (3:13)
18 Blind Willie McTell - Georgia Rag (3:09)
19 Blind Willie Davis - I've Got A Key To The Kingdom (3:10)
20 Henry Thomas - Jonah In The Wilderness (2:52)
21 Barbecue Bob - When The Saints Go Marching In (3:05)
22 Bessie Smith - On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual) (2:53)
23 Charley Patton - Jesue Is A Dying-Bed Maker (2:50)
24 Sam Collins - Lead Me All The Way (2:39)
25 Blind Lemon Jefferson - All I Want Is That Pure Religion (3:10)

The huge musical influence of the church has meant that gospel music and the blues have long been intertwined. From the true guitar evangelists such as Blind Willie Johnson and Reverend Gary Davis to blues legends Charley Patton and Skip James, these recordings illustrate how the line separating the Lord's song and 'the devil's music' was very thin.

Rough Guide To Gospel Blues

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Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer (Remastered Bonus Track Version)

Size: 187,9 MB
Time: 80:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1960/2016
Styles: Country Blues, Blues Folk, Blues Gospel
Art: Front

01. Samson And Delilah (4:02)
02. Let Us Get Together (3:09)
03. I Belong To The Band-Hallelujah! (2:54)
04. Pure Religion (2:56)
05. Great Change Since I Been Born (4:02)
06. Death Don't Have No Mercy (4:42)
07. Twelve Gates To The City (3:08)
08. Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River (2:54)
09. Tryin' To Get Home (3:46)
10. Lo I Be With You Always (4:17)
11. I Am The Light Of The World (3:34)
12. I Feel Just Like Goin' On (3:29)
13. Little Bitty Baby (Bonus Track) (4:29)
14. I Decided To Go Down (Bonus Track) (4:21)
15. Bad Company Brought Me Here (Bonus Track) (3:34)
16. Lord, I Looked Down The Road (Bonus Track) (4:15)
17. Motherless Children (Bonus Track) (4:11)
18. You Better Mind (Bonus Track) (3:28)
19. There's A Bright Side Somewhere (Bonus Track) (3:12)
20. I'll Fly Away (Bonus Track) (9:28)

Recorded during a three hour session on August 24, 1960, Gary Davis laid down 12 of his most impassioned spirituals for Harlem Street Singer. Starting off the session with a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "If I Had My Way I'd Tear That Building Down," here renamed "Samson and Delilah," Davis is in fine form. His vocals are as expressive as Ray Charles' while similar in richness to Richie Havens' work. Harlem Street Singer features his inspired country blues fingerpicking as well. Many moods color the selections, from the gentle "I Belong to the Band" to the mournful "Death Don't Have No Mercy," only to be followed by the joyous shouting of "Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River." Overall, the collection is well worth the purchase and should be considered essential listening for fans of country blues or gospel. ~by Matt Fink

Harlem Street Singer

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Reverend Gary Davis - Manchester Free Trade Hall 1964

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:39
Size: 93.1 MB
Styles: Acoustic blues
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. You Got To Move
[3:50] 2. If I Had My Way
[3:19] 3. The Sun Is Going Down
[1:52] 4. I'm A Soldier
[4:54] 5. I Got A Little Mama, Sweet As She Can Be
[2:46] 6. Sally, Please Come Back To Me (Worried Blues)
[4:44] 7. Cocaine Blues
[4:19] 8. Cincinnati Flow Rag
[3:33] 9. Children Of Zion
[3:19] 10. Coon Hunt
[3:14] 11. Maple Leaf Rag

Reverend Gary Davis (1896-1972) cut his first records during the '30s, established his early mature style with a new spate of records in the mid-'40s, doggedly persevered and was roundly "rediscovered" by the folk and blues revivalists of the late '50s and early '60s. On May 8, 1964 the Rev, on tour with something called the Blues and Gospel Caravan, was recorded in live performance with his Gibson guitar at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. In 2008 Document released a compact disc containing all of the music known to have been taped during that set. This is a revealing and wonderfully honest album of traditional songs, including "If I Had My Way," a ritual first recorded by Blind Willie Johnson decades earlier and lucratively covered by the Caucasian folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary. Also present at the Free Trade Hall was whoop-and-holler harmonica ace Sonny Terry, an expressive performer who exchanges words and blows up a duet with Davis on "The Sun is Going Down" and solos at length on "Coon Hunt." Davis alternately sang both sacred as well as bracingly worldly blues tunes, and also tapped into his own early roots with the "Cincinnati Flow Rag" and Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag," syncopated episodes that, along with everything else on this excellent album, link him directly to old time ragtime/blues guitar legends Henry Thomas, Blind Boy Fuller, and Blind Blake. ~arwulf arwulf

Manchester Free Trade Hall 1964

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Reverend Gary Davis - A Little More Faith

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1961
Styles: Blues
Time: 44:50
Size: 103,7 MB
Covers: Full

(3:22) 1. You Got to Move
(5:01) 2. Crucifixion
(3:04) 3. I'm Glad I'm in That Number
(3:33) 4. There's a Table Sittin' in Heaven
(4:15) 5. Motherless Children
(3:16) 6. There's a Bright Side Somewhere
(3:09) 7. I'll Be All Right Some Day
(3:33) 8. You Better Mind
(3:46) 9. A Little More Faith
(4:38) 10. I'll Fly Away
(3:40) 11. God's Gonna Separate
(3:29) 12. When I Die I'll Live Again

Gary Davis' second album for Prestige Records is a confusing affair, at least as far as its title -- Little More Faith is how it's listed in lots of reference sources, but its front cover calls it A Little More Faith, while its spine (at least for the CD issue) calls it Have a Little Faith. But by whatever name it's called, it's a masterpiece: its dozen songs recorded on one day in August of 1961 are nothing less than priceless. Davis presents an easy virtuosity on his solo guitar, and runs his voice across a surprisingly wide range in what is mostly gospel repertory. Not that any blues fans will mind his approach: Davis was one of those figures where the sound and feel of blues becomes indistinguishable from those of gospel. He was just doing what came naturally on this record, laying down 12 songs he knew well from across decades of performing, including a raw and affecting "Motherless Child" and the upbeat, inspiring "There's a Bright Side Somewhere." And his easy, unselfconscious approach demonstrates that he never once thought twice about his contributions to an already classic body of music. Included among the jewels here are some of the roots of the blues revival of the next generation, including Davis' rendition of "I'll Be All Right Some Day," a song that Jorma Kaukonen parlayed into a killer opening for his solo magnum opus, Quah, about 13 years later. And speaking of natural, the stereo mastering of this album works amazingly well, despite the fact that it puts Davis' voice on one channel and his guitar on another; mono sound might be more authentic, but this way you can fully appreciate his playing and his singing, each on its own terms. -- Allmusic.

A Little More Faith

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Reverend Gary Davis - Live at Newport

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2001
Styles: Blues
Time: 46:04
Size: 105,9 MB
Covers: Full

(3:36) 1. Samson & Delilah (If I Had My Way)
(3:42) 2. I Won't Be Back No More
(1:27) 3. Buck Dance
(3:14) 4. Twelve Sticks (The Dozens)
(4:06) 5. Death Don't Have No Mercy
(5:51) 6. You Got to Move
(4:34) 7. Lovin' Spoonful
(5:46) 8. She Wouldn't Say Quit
(3:37) 9. I've Done All My Singing for My Lord
(4:34) 10. Twelve Gates to the City
(5:32) 11. I Will Do My Last Singing in This Land Somewhere

This is one of the few handful of recordings to feature the Rev. Gary Davis in concert. As the name of the project suggests, the proceedings were documented at the Newport Folk Festival in July of 1965. The Reverend's solo vocal is accompanied by his own six- and twelve-string guitar(s) as well as mouth harp. The repertoire incorporates a wide range of secular blues and sacred gospel. Davis' material is derived from his own writings and notable interpretations of folk and blues standards such as "Lovin' Spoonful" and "I Won't Be Back No More." Also featured are insightful readings of some of his best-known and loved religious sides, namely "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Twelve Gates to the City." It is remarkable that although the Reverend was approaching 70, at the time of this recording, his driving passion and verve are of a man half his age. The frenetic "Samson & Delilah (If I Had My Way)," the haunting "You've Got to Move," the high-spirited "Buck Dance," and "Twelve Sticks" are among the most passionate and emotionally charged selections available in his canon. This set provides the platform for Davis to raise them to an even greater exceptionally potent level. The clean and nimble fret and fingering that became his signature sound has arguably never been as direct and forceful. The two instrumentals best reveal this facet of his performance. Unlike a majority of the garden-variety studio renditions of these songs, there is an almost palpable sense of salvation and urgency in the concert recordings, making them seminal installments of his musical catalog. In 2001, Vanguard reissued this title with "Soldier's Drill" and a rare duet vocal, with Barry Kornfeld, on the witty blues "Get Along Cindy." Get either, get both, just get it. -- Allmusic.

Live at Newport

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Reverend Gary Davis: Say No to the Devil / The Guitar & Banjo of Reverend Gary Davis

Album: Say No to the Devil
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1961
Styles: Blues
Time: 43:08
Size: 99,5 MB
Covers: Full

(4:01) 1. Say No to the Devil
(4:26) 2. Time Is Drawing Near
(4:35) 3. Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
(3:38) 4. Bad Company Brought Me Here
(4:25) 5. I Decided to Go Down
(4:20) 6. Lord, I Looked Down the Road
(4:33) 7. Little Bitty Baby
(3:40) 8. No One Can Do Me Like Jesus
(5:01) 9. Lost Boy in the Wilderness
(4:24) 10. Tryin' to Get to Heaven in Due Time

His second Prestige album of 1961 shows the Rev. Gary Davis not breaking stride for a second, even in the wake of the triumphant A Little More Faith. The repertory here is perhaps a little more traditional gospel in orientation, and the songs more cautionary in nature -- but that doesn't stop Davis from displaying some overpowering dexterity, and if anything his singing is even more exuberant here. And this time out, in addition to his six-string guitar, he treats us to his powerful 12-string playing on "Time Is Drawing Near" and "Lost Boy In The Wilderness," the latter a shimmering five-minute showcase for the instrument that's almost worth the price of admission by itself; and he also shows off his considerable harmonica dexterity -- of a distinctly old-school style -- on "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand" and "No One Can Do Me Like Jesus." The stereo mix on this album, when compared to its predecessor, is also a bit more naturalistic, without sacrificing any detail in the finely nuanced playing or singing, and the result is an album as fine as its predecessor, and an equally worthy part of any serious acoustic blues collection. -- Allmusic.

Say No to the Devil

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Album: The Guitar & Banjo of Reverend Gary Davis
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1964
Styles: Blues
Time: 37:50
Size: 87,8 MB
Covers: Full

(2:58) 1. Maple Leaf Rag
(2:27) 2. Slow Drag (Cincinnati Flow Rag)
(2:42) 3. The Boy Was Kissing the Girl (And Playing the Guitar the Same Time)
(2:54) 4. Candy Man
(6:32) 5. United States March (Soldier's Drill)
(3:50) 6. Devil's Dream
(3:33) 7. The Coon Hunt
(4:15) 8. Mister Jim (Walkin' Dog Blues)
(3:18) 9. Please Baby
(2:22) 10. Fast Fox Trot (Buck Rag)
(2:55) 11. Can't Be Satisfied

Because this is an all-instrumental recording, it's an offbeat entry into the catalog of a performer known both as an important guitarist and as a singer. Some might miss Davis' vocals on this 1964 recording, but on the other hand there are plenty of records with him singing around. This gives listeners a chance to hone in on his dexterous guitar skills, blending ragtime, folk, and blues, usually on guitar (though he plays banjo on a couple of songs, and harmonica on one). "Maple Leaf Rag" is a natural showcase for Davis' talents, and "Candy Man," which may be his most well-known song, is here presented without words, making for an interesting juxtaposition with more commonly heard versions on which he (or others) sings. As further evidence of his eclecticism, there's a version of "United States March aka Soldier's Drill" -- not the best format for his strengths, certainly, but an illustration of his ability to adapt his style to unexpected material. -- Allmusic.

The Guitar & Banjo of Reverend Gary Davis

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Blind Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1960
Styles: Blues;Gospel
Time: 43:31
Size: 100,9 MB
Covers: Full

(4:05) 1. Samson and Delilah
(3:11) 2. Let Us Get Together
(2:56) 3. I Belong to the Band-Hallelujah!
(2:59) 4. Pure Religion
(4:05) 5. Great Change Since I Been Born
(4:46) 6. Death Don't Have No Mercy
(3:11) 7. Twelve Gates to the City
(2:57) 8. Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River
(3:49) 9. Tryin' to Get Home
(4:20) 10. Lo I Be With You Always
(3:36) 11. I Am the Light of the World
(3:30) 12. I Feel Just Like Goin' On

Recorded during a three hour session on August 24, 1960, Gary Davis laid down 12 of his most impassioned spirituals for Harlem Street Singer. Starting off the session with a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "If I Had My Way I'd Tear That Building Down," here renamed "Samson and Delilah," Davis is in fine form. His vocals are as expressive as Ray Charles' while similar in richness to Richie Havens' work. Harlem Street Singer features his inspired country blues fingerpicking as well. Many moods color the selections, from the gentle "I Belong to the Band" to the mournful "Death Don't Have No Mercy," only to be followed by the joyous shouting of "Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River." Overall, the collection is well worth the purchase and should be considered essential listening for fans of country blues or gospel. -- Allmusic.
Gary Davis was born blind, black, and broke in South Carolina in 1896. Big obstacles, but he also was blessed with talent and got paid for his guitar-pickin' by the time he was a teen. Ordained as a minister at age 36, he changed his song inventory to Gospel and hymns exclusively. He ended up in NYC, performing at mostly Black churches and on the streets. In the late '50's, the "Folk Revival" of blessed memory provided him a brief celebrity beyond those venues. This album was recorded in 1960 at the Jersey jazz studio of the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Davis had not recorded anything in four years: in fact, he had only recorded in 1935, '54 and '56 prior to this August 24, 1960 session. On that day, Kennedy and Nixon were running for president but was doing something more important: preserving the Black church songs of early 20th century for posterity. -- Amazon.

Harlem Street Singer

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Rev. Gary Davis & Pink Anderson - Gospel, Blues and Street Songs

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: from LL
Released: 1961
Styles: Blues, Gospel
Time: 49:58
Size: 115,4 MB
Covers: Full

(5:28) 1. Pink Anderson - John Henry
(3:34) 2. Pink Anderson - Every Day in the Week
(3:18) 3. Pink Anderson - The Ship Titanic
(3:01) 4. Pink Anderson - Greasy Greens
(3:30) 5. Pink Anderson - Wreck of the Old '97
(3:09) 6. Pink Anderson - I've Got Mine
(3:46) 7. Pink Anderson - He's in the Jailhouse Now
(2:20) 8. Rev. Gary Davis - Blow, Gabriel
(3:28) 9. Rev. Gary Davis - Twelve Gates to the City
(3:57) 10. Rev. Gary Davis - Samson and Delilah
(3:08) 11. Rev. Gary Davis - Oh Lord, Search My Heart
(3:09) 12. Rev. Gary Davis - Get Right Church
(2:45) 13. Rev. Gary Davis - You Got to Go Down
(2:41) 14. Rev. Gary Davis - Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning
(2:37) 15. Rev. Gary Davis - There Was a Time That I Was Blind

Prior to the advent of the long-playing medium, the two collections presented here were available in separate packages. Stylistically, the works of both artists remain compelling evidence of the once fertile regional Piedmont Blues scene. In its late 19th and early 20th century heyday, the distinct folk-based music was a common presence throughout the Carolinas, stretching into Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. Tracks one through seven feature Pink Anderson (guitar/vocals) accompanying himself on vocals and guitar. Not only are his most notable songs given striking renderings, but also Anderson's utterly unique instrumentation is captured to great effect. What stands as most exemplary is the delivery, executed in a half-picking/half-sliding style, rumoured to have been accomplished by using a jack knife blade to bend and manipulate the strings. The derivation of the traditional "John Henry" examines this technique in perhaps the greatest detail. However, the robust tone -- from his trademark and inimitable well-worn Martin guitar -- is likewise capable of a more piercing precision as heard on "Every Day in the Week" and "Wreck of the Old 97." There are some prime examples of Anderson plying his sly wit and goodtime humor during "He's in the Jailhouse Now" and "I Got Mine." They also display otherwise lighthearted observations of the strictly enforced segregated communities in lyrics such as "I remember last election/The white folks was (sic) in action/Trying to get themselves a President...." Perhaps this was an attempt to redirect any anti-Caucasian sentiment, as Anderson's tale recounts a black man who is "in the jailhouse now" for attempting to vote "not once, but twice." Keen-eared listeners may even pick up on brief verbal inflections and asides thrown in between the lines, further adding to any surreptitiously racial implications.

Gospel, Blues and Street Songs

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Rev. Gary Davis - O, Glory: The Apostolic Studio Sessions

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996
Styles: Blues
Time: 52:08
Size: 120,5 MB
Covers: Full

(3:51) 1. Let Us Get Together
(5:18) 2. Sun Goin' Down
(2:52) 3. Slippin' Til My Gal Comes in Partner
(5:41) 4. Lo I Be With You Always
(3:21) 5. God Will Take Care of You
(3:50) 6. Mornin' Train
(3:29) 7. Out on the Ocean Sailing
(5:09) 8. Right Now
(3:39) 9. Birmingham Special
(5:51) 10. There's Destruction in That Land
(3:56) 11. O Glory
(5:05) 12. Soon My Work Will All Be Done

Recorded in 1969, O, Glory: The Apostolic Studio Sessions is the Rev. Gary Davis' final studio LP, but he went out in style, working under the most state-of-the-art studio conditions of his career. The result is perhaps the best-sounding record in his catalog, even if the performances don't quite capture all the fire of his peak period; equally interesting is another break in tradition -- rarely recorded with other artists (outside of a few early-'50s sides cut with Sonny Terry), here Davis is backed by vocalist Sister Annie Davis, harpist Larry Johnson and the Apostolic Family Chorus. Also worth noting is that Davis performs on a pair of instruments he'd never before recorded with, the piano and the five-string banjo. The cumulative result makes O Glory a must for historians, but casual fans will undoubtedly be better served by his earlier material. -- Allmusic.

O, Glory: The Apostolic Studio Sessions

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Lightnin' Hopkins - Prestige Profiles (2-disc set)

Prestige Profiles, Vol. 8 contains previously released tracks taken from Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins' short stint with the label. These 16 cuts feature both solo and small-combo sessions recorded between 1960 and 1964, and include tasteful versions of such Lightnin' favorites as "Mojo Hand," "Katie Mae," "I'm a Crawling Black Snake," and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl." Much like the discography of fellow bluesman John Lee Hooker, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the plethora of Hopkins material available, which is why both Prestige Profiles, Vol. 8 and Rhino's excellent Blues Masters: The Very Best of Lightnin' Hopkins are highly recommended collections by the legendary bluesman. ~Al Campbell

Album: Prestige Profiles (Disc 1)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 65:20
Size: 149.6 MB
Styles: Texas blues
Year: 2004

[3:18] 1. Back To New Orleans
[4:30] 2. Automobile Blues
[3:28] 3. Pneumonia Blues
[3:18] 4. Mojo Hand
[3:37] 5. Black Cadillac
[3:08] 6. You Is One Black Rat
[5:15] 7. Last Night Blues
[3:11] 8. Blues In The Bottle
[4:49] 9. Walkin' This Road By Myself
[4:00] 10. Got To Move Your Baby
[5:44] 11. Goin' Away
[5:20] 12. Happy Blues For John Glenn
[3:39] 13. Mean Old Frisco
[4:01] 14. Katie Mae
[4:48] 15. I'm A Crawling Black Snake
[3:05] 16. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

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Album: Prestige Profiles (Disc 2)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 40:03
Size: 91.7 MB
Styles: Texas blues
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. Wholesale Dealin' Papa (Feat Sonny Terry)
[2:29] 2. Built For Comfort (Feat Willie Dixon)
[3:43] 3. Goin' Down Swingin' (Feat Homesick James)
[2:45] 4. Money's Gettin' Cheaper (Feat Jimmy Witherspoon)
[3:55] 5. The Devil Is A Busy Man (Feat Sunnyland Slim)
[2:05] 6. Jake's Cha Cha (Feat Shakey Jake)
[3:11] 7. Big Leg Woman (Feat Lonnie Johnson)
[3:39] 8. The Blues Never Die (Feat Otis Spann)
[4:02] 9. Samson And Delilah (Feat Rev. Gary Davis)
[3:11] 10. Trouble Gonna Take Me To My Grave (Feat Big Joe Williams)
[3:03] 11. Mailman Blues (Feat Memphis Willie B)
[2:22] 12. Salty Dog (Feat Blind Willie Mctell)
[2:22] 13. Drivin' Wheel (Feat Roosevelt Sykes)

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Various - The Blues & Salvation (2-disc set)

As its title indicates, The Blues & Salvation, a two-disc anthology of previously unreleased masters lives at the cross section of classic roots blues and gospel. Filled with over two hours of music, the album features both giants of the past like the Rev. Gary Davis, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee as well as a number of artists not quite household names-Jemima James, Louisiana Red, and George Higgs-who clearly deserve to be. This is a collection of 38 gems, many reminiscent of the kinds of musical collations that were once available via Folkways Records that no blues enthusiast should ignore.

Recorded over a period extending from 1955 through 2008, the sound on some of the earlier pieces suffers from some surface noise, but it nonetheless seems appropriate for the content. Erratic sound quality is endemic to classic blues; it is a small price to pay for historic preservation. That said, the large majority of the tracks have no problem.

Album: The Blues & Salvation (Disc 1)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:22
Size: 170.2 MB
Styles: Blues-Gospel
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:04] 1. George Higgs - Who Told You Woman
[3:56] 2. Brownie McGhee - Rainy Day
[5:10] 3. Louisiana Red - Going Train Blues
[3:06] 4. George Higgs - Sweet Little Girl
[5:06] 5. Louisiana Red - Walk All Over Georgia
[4:34] 6. Gary Davis - If I Had My Way (Samson And Delilah)
[3:44] 7. Jemima James - There's Nothing Left To Say
[8:39] 8. Brownie McGhee - Baby Please Don't Go
[3:51] 9. Gary Davis - Blues In E
[4:39] 10. Gary Davis - Crucifixion
[6:09] 11. Gary Davis - Sermon
[3:40] 12. The Wooten Singers - His Name Is Jesus
[3:20] 13. Jemima James - Old Hippy
[2:45] 14. Gary Davis - Come Down And See Me Sometime
[3:16] 15. George Higgs - I Wonder What I Mean To You
[4:17] 16. Jemima James - I Wish I'd Gone To Birmingham
[3:56] 17. Gary Davis - Candy Man

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Album: The Blues & Salvation (Disc 2)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 70:18
Size: 160.9 MB
Styles: Blues-Gospel
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. Gary Davis - I Didn't Want To Join The Band
[5:01] 2. Gary Davis - When The Moon Goes Down
[3:18] 3. Jemima James - I Got Him Now
[2:37] 4. Louisiana Red - Tell Me Who
[3:43] 5. Gary Davis - Jesus Met The Woman At The Well
[3:00] 6. Jemima James - Rolling Into Town
[3:20] 7. George Higgs - Honey Good Honey
[2:35] 8. Gary Davis - There's Nothing Left To Say
[2:43] 9. Gary Davis - Steal Away And Pray
[3:01] 10. Jemima James - No Matter What You Do
[2:25] 11. Gary Davis - Let Us Get Together
[3:21] 12. Louisiana Red - Mayor Beame
[2:39] 13. Bob Malenky - One Woman Man
[4:22] 14. George Higgs - Shoes By The Door
[2:30] 15. Gary Davis - Can't Make This Journey By Myself
[2:51] 16. Gary Davis - I Feel Like My Time Is …
[3:25] 17. Jemima James - You've Gotten Over Me
[5:11] 18. Gary Davis - You Got To Move (You Gotta Move)
[3:17] 19. Jemima James - Another Skin
[5:12] 20. Gary Davis - Lost John
[2:43] 21. Gary Davis - Lost John (Instrumental)

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