Melotone began life in late 1930 as a budget record label issuing 78rpm discs in the US and Canada. The American Recording Corporation (ARC) bought out owners Warner/Brunswick and operated the label successfully during the Depression years. With its distinctive blue and silver label design, Melotone released popular music in a variety of genres such as jazz, country, dance and Mexican. Significantly it also issued early recordings by musicians who would go on to help define one of the most important musical movements of the 20th century - the blues.
Melotone was discontinued in 1938 when ARC went bankrupt and was later purchased by CBS Network founder William Paley; more recently, it was revived in 2010 as a division of Melotone Music LLC. The music industry has changed beyond all recognition since its heyday, but this compilation will transport you back to the highs and lows of the Depression era when singers as well-known as Josh White and as obscure as Washboard Sam and the Mississippi Jook Band helped popularise the blues. /Excerpt from the sleeve notes by Nigel Cross
Melotone was discontinued in 1938 when ARC went bankrupt and was later purchased by CBS Network founder William Paley; more recently, it was revived in 2010 as a division of Melotone Music LLC. The music industry has changed beyond all recognition since its heyday, but this compilation will transport you back to the highs and lows of the Depression era when singers as well-known as Josh White and as obscure as Washboard Sam and the Mississippi Jook Band helped popularise the blues. /Excerpt from the sleeve notes by Nigel Cross
Album: The Melotone Blues Story - CD 1
Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:13
Size: 144,0 MB
Styles: Blues, acoustic blues, country blues
Scans: Full
1. Blind Boy Fuller - Rag, Mama, Rag (3:07)
2. Big Bill Broonzy - Bricks In My Pillow (3:09)
3. Rev. Blind Gary Davis - The Great Change In Me (3:17)
4. Josh White - Good Gal (3:04)
5. Lucille Bogan (Bessie Jackson) - Changed Ways Blues (2:57)
6. Washboard Sam - I'm A Prowlin' Groundhog (3:35)
7. Peetie Wheatstraw - Remember And Forget Blues (3:11)
8. Sam Montgomery - Honey Dripper (3:06)
9. Mississippi Jook Band - Skippy Whippy (2:47)
10. Floyd 'Dipper Boy' Council - Working Man Blues (3:03)
11. Big Bill Broonzy - Match Box Blues (3:02)
12. Lil Johnson & Black Bob - Take It Easy Greasy (3:25)
13. Kid Prince Moore - Sign Of Judgement (2:57)
14. Walter Roland - 45. Pistol Blues (2:57)
15. Josh White - Did You Read That Letter (3:06)
16. George Noble - If You Lose Your Good Gal (2:57)
17. Charley Jordan - Don't Put Your Dirty Hands On Me (2:52)
18. Buddy Moss - Undertaker Blues (3:11)
19. Blind Boy Fuller - Evil Hearted Woman (3:05)
20. Leadbelly - Pig Meat Papa (3:16)
The Melotone Blues Story - CD 1 mc
The Melotone Blues Story - CD 1 zippy
Album: The Melotone Blues Story - CD 2
Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:01
Size: 139,0 MB
Styles: Blues, acoustic blues, country blues
Scans: Full
1. Josh White (Pinewood Tom) - No More Ball And Chain (3:01)
2. Leadbelly - Becky Deem, She Was A Gamblin' Girl (3:05)
3. Big Bill Broonzy - It's Too Late Now (3:08)
4. Leroy Carr - I Believe I'll Make A Change (2:58)
5. Blind Boy Fuller - Truckin' My Blues Away (3:06)
6. Walter Roland - Club Meeting Blues (3:06)
7. Sam Montgomery - Baby Please Don't Go (2:41)
8. Peetie Wheatstraw - Mistreated Love Blues (3:09)
9. Kid Prince Moore - Bug Juice Blues (2:43)
10. Lil Johnson - That Bonus Done Gone Thru (3:02)
11. Charley Jordan - Got Your Water On (2:49)
12. Blind Boy Fuller - I'm A Rattlesnakin' Daddy (3:06)
13. Josh White - Greenville Sheik (3:06)
14. Rev. Blind Gary Davis - I Belong To The Band, Hallelujah! (3:12)
15. George Noble - Seminole Blues (3:08)
16. Washboard Sam - Don't Tear My Clothes (2:55)
17. Big Bill Broonzy - Tell Me What You Been Doing (2:54)
18. Buddy Moss - Mistreated Boy (2:58)
19. Walter Roland - Bad Dream Blues (3:03)
20. Lucille Bogan (Bessie Jackson) - Lonesome Midnight Blues (2:41)
The Melotone Blues Story - CD 2 mc
The Melotone Blues Story - CD 2 zippy