1937-1940 2 [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Big Bill Broonzy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Jsp Records
• ASIN: B0009HBEV8
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,270 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. You Do Me Any Old Way (Take 1)

2. You Do Me Any Old Way (Take 2)

3. Down In The Alley (Take 1)

4. Down In The Alley (Take 2)

5. Stuff They Call Money

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Good Boy

2. I Want You By My Side

3. Border Blues

4. Sweetheart Land

5. It's A Low Down Dirty Shame

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Flat-Foot Susie With Her Flat Yes Yes

2. Trucking Little Woman No.2

3. Hell Ain't But A Mile And A Quarter

4. Don't You Lay It On Me

5. Done Got Wise

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Please Be My So And So

2. I.C. Blues

3. Cotton Choppin' Blues

4. Hot Dog Mama

5. Dreamy Eyed Baby

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Bill Is In The House, November 21, 2008

By 

Alfred Johnson (boston, ma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1937-1940 2 (Audio CD)

I am in the process of reading and re-reading many of the books of oral history interviews collected by the recently departed Studs Terkel. As part of that process I have read his last work (published in 2007), a memoir of sorts but really a series of connected vignettes, that goes a long way to putting the pieces of Studs' eclectic life together. A fact that I did not know is that Studs' had radio and television music shows in the Chicago of the 1950's. On one of those shows he performed with the blues/jazz folk artist under review here, Big Bill Broonzy. That long ago reference was enough for this reviewer to scamper back to give a listen to the melodious voice of one of the best in these traditions. But that begs the question where to start?

That is not merely a rhetorical question here. My first exposure to Big Bill, back in the mists of times, was as a performer on a Sunday night folk program here in Boston. In that format he was presented as a folk singer in the style of a black Pete Seeger, including his singing of many leftist political songs dealing with the pressing questions of race and class. Later I found some more jazzy works by him and some more raucous material in the old country blues tradition. So I hope you can see my dilemma.

The hard fact is that certain musicians, certain very talented musicians, can work more than one milieu or can transform themselves (for commercial or other reasons) into more than one genre. Moreover, in Big Bill's case, the confluence of folk, blues and jazz at some points is fairly close. That surely is the case here on this CD compilation. So give a listen to that voice, that guitar and those wonderful songs. I might add that, although it seemed to be a given at the time, some of Big Bill lyrics are on point on racial segregation and other social issues. Think of the songs like "Brown, Black and White" or his version of "This Train" (that whipsaws Jim Crow). That is the real connection with old Studs, that is for sure.