Message Board Archive: Thread Number 161

First, I've got to say this place is great! Where else can I find
discussion about the music I love the best?

Mississippi Blues by Willie Brown is my favorite blues. Johnson, as a
whole, is my favorite blues man.

On the subject of Willie Brown, can anyone give me a suggestion, as to
where to get a CD of the Willie Brown of Future Blues fame? I'm getting
nowhere fast on the Internet.

My collection of country blues is getting quite deep but I have a gaping
hole by the name of Blind Lemon Jefferson. I see he's well recorded. If
one were intending to limit onself (for the next 5 years)to buying two
of his CDs, which would you suggest. I see previous posts on that either
Volume 3 (Document)or King of the Country Blues (Yazoo label)are
favorite albums. Are these the best two?

Thanks

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 22:00:09 -0500 (EST)
From: ari@secondmind.com (Ari Eisinger)
Subject: Feedback: Re: Blind Lemon Jefferson CDs? Willie Brown?
Message Number: 161.1

There's no CD of the Willie Brown who did "Future Blues" because he only
recorded two tunes, I believe. The other is "M & O Blues", which is
tremendous. They're both on "Masters of the Delta Blues: The Friends of
Charlie Patton" on Yazoo. It's a great album.

As for Jefferson, I'd rank the Document CDs in this order from best to
worst:

     Volume 2
     Volume 1
     Volume 3
     Volume 4

However, it's worth doing whatever you have to do to earn enough money
to get all of them!

The Yazoo Blind Lemon CD is great too and has better sound quality
overall. It's called King of the Country Blues. The problem is that
there's considerable overlap between it and volumes 1 and 2 of the
Document series.

I'm pleased to report that there is another forum for discussing this
music on the internet! It's the Prewar Blues mailing list. See message
number 159 on this board for info on how to subscribe.

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 10:49:32 -0500 (EST)
From: rob@hutten.org (Rob Hutten)
Subject: More: Wille Brown
Message Number: 161.1.1

> There's no CD of the Willie Brown who did "Future Blues"
> because he only recorded two tunes, I believe. The other is
> "M & O Blues", which is tremendous. They're both on "Masters
> of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charlie Patton" on Yazoo.
> It's a great album. 

Actually, Brown recorded three solo sides; the two 1930 Paramounts
mentioned above, and one 1940 ('41?) side for Alan Lomax from one of
those two sessions that gave us those great Son House field recordings.
Brown's selection from this session was "Make Me Down A Pallet On Your
Floor", played in a very John Hurt-esque style. Nice recording.

Brown also played second guitar on a number of Son House and Charlie
Patton recordings.

-Rob

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 15:59:50 -0500 (EST)
From: zeppa@earthlink.net (Frank Basile)
Subject: Feedback: Multiple Willie Browns
Message Number: 161.1.1.1

A case was made in Calt & Wardlow's Patton book for another Willie Brown
- that the WB that played on the 1941 sessions is not the same as the WB
that accompanied Charlie Patton. I can't recall the details of the
argument, but I do recall that there were conflicting physical
descriptions of the two men. I'm not sure I completely followed their
argument, now that I think about it, so I should probably take a look at
that chapter again.
f

Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 10:38:25 -0500 (EST)
From: mannbr@aol.com (Bradley R. Mann)
Subject: Feedback: RE: Multiple Browns
Message Number: 161.1.1.1.1

Gale Dean Wardlow has nine consistent descriptions of the Willie Brown
that played with Patton. All state that he was the same size or smaller
than Patton, weighing in at about 135 lbs. The Willie Brown recorded
later by Lomax was described consitently by three sources as being very
large. His complexion was very dark and estimated weight was at or above
200 lbs.

Recordings of the later Willie Brown were played for witnesses that had
seen Patton and Brown play together. None could attribute the lyrics to
any song they had heard the earlier Willie Brown sing. Of note, the
guitar playing was somewhat consistent.

B.R.

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 00:21:51 -0500 (EST)
From: zeppa@earthlink.net (Frank Basile)
Subject: Question: Re: Blind Lemon Jefferson CDs? Willie Brown?
Message Number: 161.2

> Johnson, as a whole, is my favorite blues man.
Don't keep me in suspense... which Johnson are we talking about? Lonnie?
Tommy? Robert?
There's a Johnson for every mood...
f

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 17:51:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Owner-HyperNews@ComCAT.COM
Subject: You Can Call Me Johnson...
Message Number: 161.2.1

Actually, I listen to all the Johnson's but I meant Robert.

I do listen to and think Lonnie was great. I have the Steppin on the
Blues album which has a few gems on it. I'm particularly fond of "Mean
Old Bedbug Blues" which I think is hilarious in its personification of
the bedbug. It's great. I do plan on working out the little rif on it
and trying to make it part of my repertoire.

On Lonnie, I suppose it's about time I spread for a little more of his
stuff and I see there's lots of him on CD. Any suggestions on what a
next good purchase would be? I see that on CDNOW each goes for about
$18. I'm a cheapskate: can I do better?

Right now I'm working on Terraplane Blues and a few other of Robert's.
All of his stuff is very soulful. The more I listen to him, the more I
see the use of a relatively few devices or runs. He peppers them
throughout his songs, though, in many inventive and evocative ways. I
find him to be very modern, very funky in his rhythms.

As for Tommy, though I have the Wolf Complete (1928-30) CD, I must admit
that I must listen to it a couple dozen more times to gain a full
appreciation. Cool Drink of Water Blues, Big Road Blues and Bye-Bye
Blues are all great. (I love Rory Block's covers of the latter two.)

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 21:52:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Owner-HyperNews@ComCAT.COM
Subject: Kevin P
Message Number: 161.2.2

What? No Blind Willie in your list? :-)

Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 11:33:29 -0500 (EST)
From: zeppa@earthlink.net (Frank Basile)
Subject: Ok: The bigger Johnson list...
Message Number: 161.2.2.1

That'll be eyeball snaps for me, no doubt!
There are 44 artists named Johnson listed in the Document catalog...
outnumbering the Smiths (29).
Pointless trivia dujour!
f

Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 19:32:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Owner-HyperNews@ComCAT.COM (Jeff Graf)
Subject: Blind Willie
Message Number: 161.2.2.2

OK, I admit it! I've got more bling guys here than the average braile
school but no Blind Willie Johnson.

Could someone give me the low-down on Blind Willie?

Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 23:24:58 -0500 (EST)
From: zeppa@earthlink.net (Frank Basile)
Subject: Feedback: Blind Willie Johnson
Message Number: 161.2.2.2.1

Blind Willie Johnson was a gospel singer and guitarist from Marlin,
Texas. He is best known for his incredibly fluid slide playing and his
gravelly vocals (achieved, I think, by forcing his voice into his lowest
register). You can hear him on two Yazoo releases (Praise God, I'm
Satisfied and Sweeter As The Years Go By) or the Complete Recorded Works
on Columbia's Roots N' Blues label (possibly out of print but I see used
copies pretty often).
f

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 22:59:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: gregt@prysm.net (Greg Taylor)
Subject: re:Blind Willie Johnson
Message Number: 161.2.2.2.1.1

Blind Willie Johnson was one of the most incredible guitarists ever. His
technique was stunning and his slide play is without peer. I know that
is a big statement, but buy the 2 CD set of his complete works and I
know you will agree. I bought it last summer and it still blows me away.
He was a true master.