CD-Charts Position 31
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The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Skip James

Release Date September 15, 1994
The 1931 recordings of Skip James are simply among the strangest and most chilling music in recorded history. I first heard some of them as a teenager in the 1980s, after I had already listened to James' younger contemporary Robert Johnson; Johnson's music is equally spooked in terms of lyrical content, but his music at any rate always has a solid rhythmic pulse. James' music was less celebrated (perhaps because, unlike Johnson, he had lived long enough to be rediscovered in the 1960s), but in retrospect it was far more scary. Less earthy and worldly than Johnson's, it seems to float in the air, an eerie keening sound emphasised by James' unorthodox approach to rhythm and blurry falsetto voice. (Johnson, by contrast, could sound positively ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 32
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Heroes of the Blues - The Very Best of Reverend Gary Davis

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Rev. Gary Davis

Release Date August 26, 2003
The Reverend Gary Davis is one of the exemplars of the blues. Many of his songs have been picked up by other artists and groups. For instance, the Grateful Dead took his rendition of Samson and Delilah and made it one of their concert favorites. There are also many other blues and gospel songs to enjoy listening to. He sure plays the banjo and guitar with aplomb that preceded other great guitar players of the rock & roll and country traditions.

CD-Charts Position 33
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The Best of Charlie Patton

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Charlie Patton

Release Date November 11, 2003
I agree with the other reviewers here. I've listened to this music for over twenty-five years on vinyl and on CD. This disc (and it's companion -"Primeval Blues, Rags and Gospel Songs") has by far the best sound. Given the available source material, I didn't think it was possible for these records to sound so good. Thanks Yazoo! (Now if you'd only start including discographies with your releases . . .)

CD-Charts Position 34
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John Lee Hooker: The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: John Lee Hooker

Release Date November 19, 1991
John Lee Hooker: The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 is one of the best, if not the best anthologies of the blues master early work and some of his later work.

Hooker, who because of legal entanglements, recorded under a lot of different names (John Lee Cooker, etc...), is one of the alltime greats, able to evoke haunting tones and moods on some songs, while kicking off a rocking boogie vibe in others. Just about all of the blues standards that he is known for are on this collection - Boogie Children, Crawling Kingsnake Blues, House Rent Boogie, One Bourbor, One Scotch, Onr Beer, and many others.

If you want to get the best representation of his early era, and pickup his later comeback material elsewhere, this is a great way ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 35
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King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Robert Johnson

Release Date August 10, 2004

I fell in love with the music of ROBERT JOHNSON in the late 1970s, and played it frequently during the early 1980s while hanging out with THE LEAGUE OF SOUL CRUSADERS in my "Liquidated Youth" (some people have a "drinking buddy" but I had a "drinking gang.") I owned both of the KING OF THE DELTA SINGERS albums, and though Vol. 1 has his most revered Blues masterpieces, including his great "devil" tunes, I always preferred Vol. 2 because I felt it contained more sonic variety. (Even my Ma loved "They're Red Hot" because of all the changes in pitch that Johnson's voice assumes in that cut.) I played the hell out of Robert Johnson in those days, and the other Soul Crusaders became infected with the Blues as a result. (They eventually learned the words ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 36
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Harlem Street Singer

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Rev. Gary Davis

Release Date March 11, 1993
The Reverend picks you up, makes you want to sing, and if you play guitar, this album will make you want to trade in the axe and let someone else play it! He sings and you want to sing...its got a really nice groove about it too, it moves along, chugs along...all by himself.....check him out on youtube, 'if i had my way' i love it.

CD-Charts Position 37
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Mississippi Fred McDowell

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Mississippi Fred McDowell

Release Date September 05, 1995
I love old Delta blues, but sometimes the poor sound quality of the early recordings puts me off. I just want to hear good music, not go on some sort of anthropological expedition, you know what I mean? This set of recordings, like the other reviewers say, was done with more modern equipment in the early 1960s, not the '30s or '40s. And, although they were made in Fred's house, and were certainly mono, the quality is pleasantly high, especially the guitar. They remind of the "house" recordings of blues mandolinist Yank Rachell: clear with a real sense of immediacy.

This disk is relatively inexpensive, and more than worth the money. If you enjoy Delta blues, soulful singing, and slide guitar, just buy it and enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 38
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Moodfood

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Moodswings

Release Date September 15, 1992
From beginning to end, Moodfood by Moodswings takes one on an incredible journey. In my humble opinion, it is one of the best compilations of music ever produced. It is indeed, as the subtitle states: "Aural medication for tired minds." I have listened to the entire album, from beginning to end many times, and I have learned something new about myself; spiritually, mentally and physically, everytime I hear it anew.

Edwin in Fort Lauderdale

CD-Charts Position 39
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Prison Songs (Historical Recordings From Parchman Farm 1947-48), Vol. 1: Murderous Home

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date September 28, 1997
As far as I can tell, the sound is nicer on this release than the old Legacy "Negro Prison Blues and Songs," but unfortunately there are six (really good) tracks at the end of that CD that aren't on vol. 1 or 2 in the Rounder set. I think it's worth it to get the older Legacy release, and then vol.2 from Rounder to have it all. These are astounding compilations.

CD-Charts Position 40
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The Chess Box

CD-Charts > Music > Delta Blues
by: Willie Dixon

Release Date October 25, 1990
Like many blues musicians, Willie Dixon had an interesting background. He was born, and spent his childhood, here in Vicksburg. He never had formal music education, but a local carpenter taught him harmony singing. Dixon sang bass in a local gospel quartet. Along the way, he served a couple stretches on Mississippi prison farms. He started his career as a heavyweight boxer in Chicago, but switched to music and played bass, part of the time as a house musician.

Dixon started out as a studio bass player with Chess Records when it was a fledgling company started by the Chess brothers. The present set includes 36 songs written by Dixon, and performed by a variety of artists in addition to Dixon including Muddy Waters (Hoochie Coochie Man, etc.), Howlin Wolf (I ... Read More: