Customer Reviews

King of the Delta Blues

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 26-track "Founder Of The Delta Blues" stood for decades as the ultimate Charlie Patton-compilation, until it was overtaken by newer compilations with better fidelity, and this is its sister volume, which contains another 23 songs (including some alternate takes that were for years thought to be lost).

The sound here is vastly superior to "Founder Of The Delta Blues", due to excellent remastering, and the highlights include "Mean Black Cat Blues", "Some Summer Day" (which is actually Charlie Patton's adaption of "Sitting On Top Of The World"), and both parts of "Prayer Of Death", originally issued under the pseudonym of Elder J.J. Hadley.

The only problem with this fine collection is that it really can't stand alone...too many of Patton's best songs are missing, and if you do want more than one Patton disc, go for Recall's double-disc "Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues", the British Catfish-label's excellent three-disc "The Definitive Charley Patton", or the even more comprehensive (and exquisitely remastered) JSP-collection "Complete Recordings 1929-34".

While this disc is not as consistant as Founder of Delta Blues--the other Yazoo release of Patton's work--it contains at least two of his best works: Jim Lee and Black Cat Blues. The disc is actually worthy of attention for just those song. Of course the extremely popular Revenue Man also appears. However, the gospel tunes are not as powerful as the blues work. For truly good gospel in the country blues, one need look no further that Blind Willie Johnson. But overall this makes a good companion to the other Yazoo release.

Forget about Robert Johnson...Charley Patton is THE King of the Delta Blues. The blues doesn't get any downer or dirtier than Charley Patton. This collection and it's companion piece, Founder of the Delta Blues, also on Yazoo, is a practically complete compilation of Patton's work between 1929 and 1934. His powerful voice, incomprehensible diction, guitar banging, and bass string slapping all add up to some of the rawest, spine-chilling American music ever made.

The reviewer below gave this 1 star because he/she couldn't play the audio samples!! What's that go to do with the CD!? The person doesn't even OWN the CD. Sheesh, ok, Charlie Patton is arguably the best delta blues musician. You bought Robert Johnson, because it was the "in" thing to do. Buy this one too.

While this disc is not as consistant as Founder of Delta Blues--the other Yazoo release of Patton's work--it contains at least two of his best works: Jim Lee and Black Cat Blues. The disc is actually worthy of attention for just those song. Of course, the extremely popular Revenue Man also appears. However, the gospel tunes are not as powerful as the blues work. For truly good gospel in the country blues style, one need look no further that Blind Willie Johnson. But overall this makes a good companion to the other Yazoo release.

I might buy this CD, but would like to hear samples first. I don't have Real Player because I prefer Windows Media Player. Please give us a choice.