Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues - RCA

[J.A.W.]

When The Sun Goes Down - The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll, Vol.9:

Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues - RCA

This is one of the best discs in this wonderful RCA series. It features Blind Willie McTell's great songs and a few songs with others (which I don't like that much to be honest) from his Victor years (1927-1932) in beautiful sound. The shellac disc transfers were done by John R.T. Davies, the metal part transfers, audio restoration and CD mastering by Doug Pomeroy. Highly recommended for the McTell solo songs!

CDUniverse

Deep Discount CD

Edited September 17, 2003 by J.A.W.

[Adam]

Wasn't this originally a 4 volume compilation? What have they been adding?

[J.A.W.]

Wasn't this originally a 4 volume compilation?  What have they been adding?

This is the complete list:

Various - Walk Right In*

Various - The First Time I Met the Blues*

Various - That's Chicago's South Side*

Various - That's All Right*

Leadbelly - Take This Hammer

Various - Poor Man's Heaven

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Rock Me Mama

Sonny Boy Williamson - Blue Bird Blues

Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues

*These are included in the 4CD-set.

Edited September 17, 2003 by J.A.W.

[J.A.W.]

Sonny Boy Williamson I - Bluebird Blues

CDUniverse

Edited September 17, 2003 by J.A.W.

[danasgoodstuff]

There's also an Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup vol. This is indeed an excellent series; the only reason I haven't bought a bunch is 'cause I have most of the material in their early '90s(?) CD incarnations, what was that series called? I have heard the first 4 various artists vol's, courtesy of the library where I work and thought they were fine.

[J.A.W.]

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Rock Me Mama

CDUniverse

[Stan C]

This is a recommended blues series that has very good remastered sound. I've picked up the first 4 various artist compilations and the Sonny Boy Williamson and was very tempted to pick up the Blind Willie McTell CD. Like the Jazz Bluebird series many artists that were originally released on CD in the past have been released again with added material in a few cases. Hopefully there will be more to follow.

[Chuck Nessa]

I had avoided the anthologies, but this morning found the first three in the clearance section at Columbia House - going for $2.99. Vol. 4 was still going for full price.

[Chuck Nessa]

I wanted to come back and champion the previous Bluebird reissue series of early blues. They started a complete Sonny Boy set (2 volumes issued) and got 4 discs of Tampa Red out before it died. For me the crowning achievement was the 2 disc set of Tommy McClennan. These reissues were produced by Vince Caro and Michael Omansky. I don't know either of them, but love the work they did. The sound is amazing and I even liked the graphics, especially the color combinations used. I know these have all been deleted, but you should look for them. These guys did it right. I saw a list of future releases planned but the series was killed. What a loss.

Now back to your regular programming.

[John L]

I wanted to come back and champion the previous Bluebird reissue series of early blues. They started a complete Sonny Boy set (2 volumes issued) and got 4 discs of Tampa Red out before it died. For me the crowning achievement was the 2 disc set of Tommy McClennan. These reissues were produced by Vince Caro and Michael Omansky. I don't know either of them, but love the work they did. The sound is amazing and I even liked the graphics, especially the color combinations used. I know these have all been deleted, but you should look for them. These guys did it right. I saw a list of future releases planned but the series was killed. What a loss.

Now back to your regular programming.

Yes indeed. I agree that the Tommy McClennan was a crown jewel of that series. I play it quite often. But I would still reserve the supreme crown for the Robert Lee McCoy (Robert Nighthhawk). Before that disk, all reissues of that material were in absolutely terrible sound, with some tracks barely audible. That disk was like a dream come true for Robert Nighthawk lovers.

For Blind Willie McTell fans, also be advised that JSP just released McTell's complete known recordings from 1927-1940 on 4 disks at a very low budget price (about $21).

[J.A.W.]

I wanted to come back and champion the previous Bluebird reissue series of early blues. They started a complete Sonny Boy set (2 volumes issued) and got 4 discs of Tampa Red out before it died. For me the crowning achievement was the 2 disc set of Tommy McClennan. These reissues were produced by Vince Caro and Michael Omansky. I don't know either of them, but love the work they did. The sound is amazing and I even liked the graphics, especially the color combinations used.  I know these have all been deleted, but you should look for them. These guys did it right. I saw a list of future releases planned but the series was killed. What a loss.

Now back to your regular programming.

Yes indeed. I agree that the Tommy McClennan was a crown jewel of that series. I play it quite often. But I would still reserve the supreme crown for the Robert Lee McCoy (Robert Nighthhawk). Before that disk, all reissues of that material were in absolutely terrible sound, with some tracks barely audible. That disk was like a dream come true for Robert Nighthawk lovers.

For Blind Willie McTell fans, also be advised that JSP just released McTell's complete known recordings from 1927-1940 on 4 disks at a very low budget price (about $21).

The McClennan and Robert Lee McCoy were indeed crown jewels, and deserved much wider attention than they apparently got.

I assume the wonderful earlier Bluebird series was killed because of poor sales. Let's just hope this series will do better, even though the current reissue programme might not be as extensive as the earlier one promised to be. Anyway, I'm glad they released the Blind Willie McTell, which wasn't part of the earlier series.

[Adam]

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