Customer Reviews

Volume 1 1928-1934

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Based in Indianapolis, Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell were as responsible as anyone (along with Big Bill Broonzy) for the movement of blues music from the country to the city resulting in the sound T-Bone Walker brought us in the 40s and such artists as Bobby Bland, Junior Wells and Muddy Waters in the 50s and onward. While Carr and Blackwell weren't the only duo popular in the 20s and 30s (Tampa Red & Georgia Tom Dorsey come to mind), they were certainly the most enduring, endearing and emulated. Carr was an outstanding piano player and vocalist and Scrapper's guitar matched him perfectly forming one sweet and original sound. While many of their songs are about standard blues topics like women, whiskey and prison, there are quite a few about trains and the railroad in general, my favorite being "Alabama Women Blues". Fortunately, they recorded for Vocalion and not Paramount, so the sound, while not great is decent and a vast improvement over that on the Documents. If you like the blues at all, you must own this outstanding set by 2 wonderful, but largely forgotten musicians. Just one listen and you'll be hooked.

I'm so impressed that someone put together an amazing collection such as this. These guys' influence on popular music is immense but undervalued. Hopefully this set will help remedy the situation. Three cheers for JSP!