Mountain Blues: Blues Ballads & String Bands [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 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: B0006FU4ZA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,687 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Match Box Blues - Larry Hensley

2. Black Snake Moan - Cobb & Underwood

3. Johnson City Blues - Clarence Green

4. Franklin County Blues - Dixie Ramblers

5. Blue Grass Twist - South Georgia Highballers

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Cocaine - Dick Justice

2. Brown Skin Blues - Dick Justice

3. Old Black Dog - Dick Justice

4. Poca River Blues - Justice & Jarvis

5. Bread Line Blues - Slim Smith

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Farm Girl Blues

2. Apron String Blues

3. I Don't Like the Blues No How

4. Cross Tie Blues

5. Pouring Down Blues

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Deep Elem Blues

2. Kentucky Blues

3. Go Easy Blues

4. V.B. Blues

5. Reno Blues

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country Music's Blues Roots, May 3, 2007

By 

A. Herrmann "guitar music addict" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mountain Blues: Blues Ballads & String Bands (Audio CD)

Another fantastic collection from JSP Records out of the UK. If you had any doubts that country music was hugely influenced by African American blues, this box set will assure you that despite societal segregation, cross pollination between musicians was rampant. Fans of steel guitar will find some gems in this compilation. Roy Smeck and King Benny Nawahi make appearances as well as lesser known players like Lemuel Turner. The early 20th century Hawaiian music craze obviously made its impact on old time string band players as well as the early blues slide guitarists. And wait until you hear Gene Autrey belting the blues! But historical interest aside, these four discs are filled with wonderful songs and instrumental and vocal performances. JSP Records deserves accolades for their preservation of early American folk and blues recordings.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluesy Hillbilly Music at its best!!, January 14, 2010

By 

Thelonious "music, philosophy and math" (West Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mountain Blues: Blues Ballads & String Bands (Audio CD)

Very much in the same vein as the earlier White Country Blues, 1926-1938: A Lighter Shade Of Blue (and possibly duplicating much of it - I haven't checked) this collects blues-influenced tracks cut by old-time country performers. You've got solo guitarist-singers, string bands, duets, harmonica solos (something I don't normally pursue, but there were some fantastic cuts on here) and lots of great fiddling.

Sound quality is very good given the source material - there were a few tracks that I might have omitted as being too badly beaten up, but only a very few. JSP really know their remastering - all of their releases can be trusted in this regard so far as I know and I have quite a few (Louis Armstrong's The Hot Fives & Sevens is a must-have)

The musical selection is very fine given the theme. One quibble is that they've sometimes included the one blues number by an artist who only recorded two or three tunes, so one wonders where the other cuts will turn up, but that's the completist/collector talking. For sheer enjoyment, this collection can't be beat!