Various Artists - Pye Blues Legends In London (3 CD)

Album: Pye Blues Legends In London
Size: 88,2+91,4+176,9 MB
Time: 37:58+39:27+75:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

In many respects, England was a more hospitable home for the blues in the mid-/late-1950's than America was - where even labels such as Chicago's Chess usually limited their blues LPs to collections of singles. In England it was possible for artists such as Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee to record entire LPs while touring. Pye/Nixa Records reissued these sides many times, but it wasn't until 2003 that the current owner of their library, Castle Communications, did a state-of-the-art digital remastering of their three classic U.K. albums, Broonzy's "Tribute to Big Bill" (1955), White's "Blues and ..." (1956), and Terry and McGhee's "Sonny, Brownie & Chris" (1958), with full annotation.

The music is a mix of virtuoso acoustic blues with some small jazz-style group accompaniment, from some top players, including Chris Barber and Phil Seamen, all of which is worth hearing and a lot of which is filled with surprises for all of us. /Bruce Eder, AllMusic

CD 1: Josh White - Blues And... (1956)
1. How Long Blues (3:07)
2. Careless Love (5:43)
3. Oh Lula (2:54)
4. St. Louis Blues (4:26)
5. Kansas City Blues (3:44)
6. I Had To Stoop To Conquer You (2:49)
7. I Know How To Do It (3:01)
8. Dink's Blues (4:37)
9. Mint Julep (3:04)
10. Good Morning Blues (4:27)

CD 2: Big Bill Broonzy - Tribute To Big Bill (1955)
1. It Feels So Good (2:44)
2. Southbound Train (3:17)
3. Southern Saga/Joe Turner Blues (8:10)
4. When The Sun Goes Down/Going Down This Road Feeling Bad (7:30)
5. Saturday Evening (3:28)
6. Glory Of Love (2:40)
7. St. Louis Blues (2:37)
8. Mindin' My Own Business (2:52)
9. When Do I Get To Be Called A Man (3:20)
10. Partnership Woman (2:44)

CD 3: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Sonny, Terry And Chris (1958)
1. Brownie's Blues (5:26)
2. Sonny's Blues (3:21)
3. Auto Mechanic Blues (3:42)
4. Wholesale And Retail (2:30)
5. Black Horse Blues (2:48)
6. I Love You Baby (2:01)
7. Just A Dream (4:43)
8. Hooray (This Woman Is Killing Me) (2:26)
9. Change The Lock On My Door (3:24)
10. You'd Better Mind (2:09)
11. Cornbread, Peas And Black Molasses (2:31)
12. Climbing On Top Of The Hill (3:02)
13. (I've Been) Treated Wrong (3:27)
14. Fox Chase (2:11)
15. Woman's Lover Blues (2:21)
16. Southern Train (2:44)
17. The Way I Feel (3:53)
18. Gone But Not Forgotten (2:31)
19. Betty And Dupree (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (5:16)
20. No Worries On My Mind (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (3:44)
21. This Little Light Of Mine (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (2:41)
22. Glory (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (2:19)
23. Custard Pie (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (2:11)
24. Key To The Highway (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (2:15)
25. If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again (w. Chris Barber's Jazz Band) (2:08)

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Josh White - Empty Bed Blues

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Time: 36:45
Size: 84.1 MB
Released: 1962/2003
Styles: Folk-Blues, Blues Revival
Art: front

1. Empty Bed Blues (3:18)
2. Mother On That Train (3:42)
3. Bottle Up And Go (2:25)
4. Backwater Blues (4:31)
5. Baby Baby Blues (5:30)
6. Lord Have Mercy (4:00)
7. Home In That Rock (2:37)
8. Paul And Silas (2:28)
9. His Eye On The Sparrow (5:27)
10. That Suits Me (2:45)

Empty Bed Blues was Josh White's farewell recording for Elektra, the record label that helped (re)introduce him to the mainstream during the height of the '60s folk revival. To look at the sexy -- and risqué for 1962 -- cover, one would think that half of the tunes, stately renditions of gospel songs, wouldn't be at home on the album. But considering that the ribald, innuendo-laden first side is belied by White's silky voice and mellifluous guitar, he almost makes the juke-joint rave-ups sound like show tunes. Given his role as elder statesmen of acoustic blues, you'd be forgiven for thinking that White didn't need to be rediscovered as such, but sadly he did. Although considering this album, "reinvented" might be a better word. From the man who popularized "Strange Fruit" -- perhaps the saddest, most poignant protest song ever -- one wouldn't necessarily expect such explicit sex songs. Whether it's a tune like the title track or "Backwater Blues," White reaches back to the lowdown, alpha-male origins of the blues, but comes off a little too much like a cabaret entertainer. His playing retains the delicate precision that found him oft-imitated, and the backing, mostly by just Bill Lee on upright bass, is always tasteful. Still, it's a mellow set, and one partly done with a wink -- considering it was among the last albums that White made before he died. It seems too minstrely of an end for someone who's scope and influence on modern blues can't be overstated. ~ Alex Stimmel

Empty Bed Blues

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Josh White - In Memoriam

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Time: 28:44
Size: 65.8 MB
Released: 1951/1970/2010
Styles: Blues-folk
Art: Front

1. Foggy Foggy Dew (3:09)
2. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirt (3:05)
3. Like A Natural Man (2:49)
4. Take A Gal Like You (2:52)
5. Molly Malone (2:55)
6. Call Me Darling (2:10)
7. The Lass With The Delicate Air (3:01)
8. Barbara Allen (3:07)
9. Waltzing Matilda (2:53)
10. Lonesome Road (2:40)

To many blues enthusiasts, Josh White was a folk revival artist. It's true that the second half of his music career found him based in New York playing to the coffeehouse and cabaret set and hanging out with Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, and fellow transplanted blues artists Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. In Chicago during the 1960s, his shirt was unbuttoned to the waist à la Harry Belafonte and his repertoire consisted of folk revival standards such as "Scarlet Ribbons." He was a show business personality -- a star renowned for his sexual magnetism and his dramatic vocal presentations. Many listeners were unaware of White's status as a major figure in the Piedmont blues tradition. The first part of his career saw him as apprentice to some of the greatest blues and religious artists ever, including Willie Walker, Blind Blake, Blind Joe Taggart (with whom he recorded), and allegedly even Blind Lemon Jefferson. On his own, he recorded both blues and religious songs, including a classic version of "Blood Red River." A fine guitar technician with an appealing voice, he became progressively more sophisticated in his presentation. Like many other Carolinians and Virginians who moved north to urban areas, he took up city ways, remaining a fine musician if no longer a down-home artist. Like several other canny blues players, he used his roots music to broaden and enhance his life experience, and his talent was such that he could choose the musical idiom that was most lucrative at the time. ~bio by Barry Lee Pearson

Josh White – Guitar, Vocals
Chick Laval – Guitar
Jack Fallon – Bass

Josh White In Memoriam

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Josh White - Josh White Comes A-Visitin'

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Time: 23:39
Size: 55.1 MB
Released: 1964/2012
Styles: Acoustic blues, Piedmont blues
Art: Front

1. Bonbons, Chocolate, And Chewing Gum (3:51)
2. You Know Baby (2:49)
3. She's Too Much For Me (2:56)
4. When The Dark Clouds Roll By (3:00)
5. Come Along, Charlie (2:35)
6. Bury Me High (2:53)
7. Evil Hearted Me (3:09)
8. Go Away From My Window (2:21)

Josh White is a sorely underrated artist who is often associated more with folk than the blues. Although White's approach on these tunes is poppier, he is clearly rooted in the acoustic blues tradition, as revealed on his lively "Evil-Hearted Me," which showcases his smooth croon.

Josh White Comes A-Visitin'

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Josh White - Free And Equal Blues

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Time: 73:55
Size: 170,7 MB
Released: 1998
Styles: Folk Blues, Piedmont Blues
Art: Full

1. One Meat Ball (3:11)
2. In My Time Of Dying (3:14)
3. Free And Equal Blues (4:29)
4. Number 12 Train (3:39)
5. Jim Crow (2:48)
6. Landlord (2:37)
7. Betty And Dupree (3:46)
8. Trouble (2:40)
9. Beloved Comrade (2:03)
10. Hold On (2:13)
11. Jelly Jelly (2:27)
12. When I Lay Down (2:36)
13. The House I Live In (2:31)
14. Fuhrer (3:10)
15. Minute Man (2:06)
16. Take A Gal Like You (3:10)
17. Whatcha Gonna Do (1:13)
18. Don´t Lie Buddy (2:21)
19. Motherless Children (2:30)
20. No More Blues (No More Blues Lines) (2:45)
21. Meam Mistreatin´ Woman (3:10)
22. Freedom Road (2:20)
23. Miss Otis Regrets (2:58)
24. Careless Love (3:22)
25. T B Blues (3:21)
26. Outskirts Of Town (3:02)

Josh White (1914-1969) was a brilliant musician whose vibrant guitar and rich vocals captivated audiences for decades.
The material on this album is from White's heyday in the mid-1940s, when he was one of folk music's most influential stars. An accomplished guitarist with a beautiful, warm voice, his topical protest and rallying songs anticipated the marriage of folk and social issues of the '50s and '60s. He blended the folk roots of Leadbelly with politics of Paul Robeson and Pete Seeger. In fact, on this album, he's accompanied by Burl Ives, Alan Lomax, Pete Seeger, Brownie McGee, Sonny Terry, and Leadbelly himself. But because the material is from the '40s, White was equally concerned about oppression by landlords, fascists, and segregationists. Free and Equal Blues is a fascinating snapshot that captures White's righteous dignity and stellar artistry. --Richard Price

Free And Equal Blues

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Various - Blues At Kerrville

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:03
Size: 132.9 MB
Styles: Assorted styles
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:10] 1. Dave Van Ronk - Another Time & Place
[9:04] 2. Gatesmouth Brown - Sometimes I Feel Myself Slippin
[2:50] 3. Roy Bookbinder - Kentucky Blues
[4:41] 4. Marcia Ball - My Man Is A Two Timer
[6:18] 5. Josh White Jr. - I Can Be Had
[4:55] 6. Angela Strehli - Telephone Blues
[5:16] 7. Marcia Ball With Band - Under Love's Spell
[4:10] 8. Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan - Honey Bee
[3:25] 9. Mance Lipscomb - Texas Blues
[3:50] 10. Robert Shaw - Put Me In The Alley
[3:30] 11. Juke Boy Bonner - I've Had The Blues
[2:29] 12. Spider John Koerner - Midnight Special
[3:20] 13. Kenneth Threadgill - Mississippi Delta Blues

Interesting cross section of live performances from this Texas blues festival. With performances aboard from Dave Van Ronk, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Juke Boy Bonner, Mance Lipscomb, Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, Roy Bookbinder, Kenneth Threadgill, Spider John Koerner, Josh White, Jr., Robert Shaw, and the duo of Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan, this is a wide and varied set of performances well played and decently recorded. ~Cub Koda

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Various - Classic African-American Ballads From Smithsonian Folkways

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:49
Size: 153.0 MB
Styles: Folk, Blues, Old Time
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. Warner Williams With Jay Summerour - Mouse On The Hill
[1:22] 2. K.C. Douglas - Casey Jones
[2:42] 3. Lead Belly - John Hardy
[3:33] 4. John Jackson - Railroad Bill
[3:32] 5. Memphis Slim And Willie Dixon - Stewball
[4:02] 6. Sonny Terry And Brownie Mcghee - John Henry
[2:22] 7. Snooks Eaglin - St. James Infirmary
[5:02] 8. John Cephas And Phil Wiggins - Staggerlee (Stackolee)
[4:53] 9. Convict Group, Ramsey And Retrieve State Farms - Lost John
[3:44] 10. Josh White - Betty And Dupree
[1:57] 11. Lead Belly - Old Riley
[2:26] 12. Jazz Gillum, Memphis Slim, And Arbee Stidham - The Race Of The Jim Lee And Katy Adam
[2:49] 13. Pink Anderson - The Titanic
[2:10] 14. Big Bill Broonzy - Frankie And Johnny
[1:58] 15. Earl Taylor And The Stony Mountain Boys - White House Blues
[3:17] 16. John Jackson - Louis Collins
[2:13] 17. Woody Guthrie - Bad Lee Brown
[2:24] 18. Bhorace Sprott - Luke And Mullen
[2:59] 19. Dave Van Ronk - Duncan And Brady
[2:44] 20. Lead Belly - Gallis Pole
[3:03] 21. Pink Anderson - Boll Weevil
[3:42] 22. Josh White Jr. - Delia's Gone

Classic African-American Ballads is a sampling of an important, historic, and engaging slice of America's Black music heritage. The heyday of the Black ballad tradition (1890-1920) left a lasting strain of creativity and a monument to African American life of the time. Ranging from songs created from the heritage of the English ballad, to social commentary vilifying abusive white authority figures, to "blues ballads," this album reminds us of the enormity and constant evolution of African American musical tradition.

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Various Artists - The Melotone Blues Story (2 CD)

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

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)

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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)

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Josh White - Blues Singer (1932-1936)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:48
Size: 139.2 MB
Styles: Pre-war gospel blues, Piedmont blues
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. New Milk Cow Blues
[3:03] 2. Milk Cow Blues
[3:02] 3. Black Man
[2:48] 4. Friendless City Blues
[3:23] 5. Lord, I Want To Die Easy
[3:04] 6. Did You Read That Letter
[2:58] 7. My Father Is A Husbandman
[2:59] 8. Paul And Silas Bound In Jail
[3:12] 9. Black And Evil Blues
[3:04] 10. Howling Wolf Blues
[3:04] 11. Greenville Sheik
[2:49] 12. Double Crossing Woman
[2:50] 13. Lazy Black Snake Blues
[3:14] 14. Downhearted Man Blues
[2:51] 15. Low Cotton
[3:23] 16. Welfare Blues
[2:59] 17. Stormy Weather No. 1
[2:57] 18. Silicosis Is Killin' Me
[3:10] 19. Badly Mistreated Man
[2:54] 20. Bed Springs Blues

The suave and debonair blues sex symbol in his earliest and purest period, when the Piedmont influence was at its peak in his playing. This is strong stuff, eons away from the collegiate crowd-pleasing folkie stuff he engaged in during the '60s: "Milk Cow Blues," "Lazy Black Snake Blues," and "Silicosis Is Killin' Me" are acoustic solo blues of a consistently high quality, and there are a few religious tunes thrown in to spotlight the other side of White's early recording activities. ~Bill Dahl

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