Good Gal: Charlie Spand- Vocal, Piano; Blind Blake - Guitar 

This is the crème de la crème. A classic featuring superb guitar accompaniment by Blake and fine stride piano by Spand. 

South Carolina Rag: Willie Walker – vocal, guitar

Clearly a Piedmont style singer-guitar genius with few equals anywhere who made only one recording and died at the young age of 28.

Stop and Listen Blues #2: The Mississippi Shieks: Walter Vincson – vocals, guitar; Lonnie Chatmon - violin

In the 1930s, this string band was by far the most popular group in the deep south, but today they have been almost forgotten. Instead, many have made the false assumption that artists like the great Robert Johnson (a relative unknown in his time) were the most popular. 

Downtown Blues: Frank Stokes - vocals, guitar; Dane Sane – guitar

One of the most popular in his day, this Memphis artist is accompanied here by Dane Sane playing so beautifully, right on the money and deep in the pocket. Soooo good! 

Casey Blues: Casey Bill Weldon – vocals, lap steel guitar; Black Bob - piano

A splendid remake of Big Bill Broonzy’s Big Bill Blues, featuring Black Bob on piano and seldom heard in the blues, beautiful lap steele guitar by Casey Bill. 

Penniless Blues: Walter Roland – vocals, piano; Josh White – guitar

Wonderful low down Blues in key of A, featuring often overlooked Josh White playing killer accompaniment. 

Black Gal What Makes Your Head So Hard?: Joe Pullum – vocals; Robert Cooper – piano (RCA Bluebird Records)

The blues is truly all about great vocals and the story, and this Texas blues exemplifies just that! Sooo sweet! 

Tired of Your Lowdown Ways:Leroy Carr – vocals, piano; Scrapper Blackwell – guitar

This song has it all – great vocals, story and performance. This could very well be the blueprint for so many Chicago blues tracks of the 40s and 50s. 

Pickin My Tomatoes: Brownie McGee – vocals, guitar;Jordan Webb - harmonica (Columbia Records)

A 2-beat gem with McGee accompanied by almost never mentioned harmonica genius, Jordan Webb (this is pre Sonny Terry). 

Lead in My Pencil: Johnny Temple – vocal, guitar; Charlie McCoy – guitar

Temple plays what I like to call a “Donta, Donta, Donta” bass guitar line.  This pre Robert Johnson, double entendre 30s classic could very well be the blueprint for so many blues and rock ‘n roll songs, it would be impossible to mention them all. 

Got to Find My Baby: Doc Clayton – vocals; Blind John Davis – piano

The original of the song most people believe to be by Little Walter Jacobs. A real 30s gem both vocally and instrumentally! No wonder Walter covered it.

Going Up The Country: Barbeque Bob – vocals, 12 string guitar

One of my favorites! Beautiful, Atlanta, Georgia style blues. WOW!  Who sings and plays like this today? No one! 

Good Fellow Blues: Arthur Petties – vocals, guitar

This one is in C and you can hear where Big Bill Broonzy got his chops. Soooo good! 

Dough Roller Blues: Garfield Akers - vocals, guitar

Another amazing take on the classic Roll and Tumble Blues also done by the likes of Hambone Willie Newbern, Robert Johnson (If I Had Possession over Judgment Day), Baby Face Leroy with Muddy Waters and Little Walter and on and on and on. 

Big Legged Woman Gets My Pay: Blind Boy Fuller, vocals, guitar; Bull City Red - washboard

Like Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller was in one of the very last waves of solo country blues guitar players. The difference in the two is that Fuller was quite popular all over the south while Robert Johnson was only regionally popular. Tragically both died very young. 

Turpentine Camp Blues: Tampa Red – vocals, guitar 

He is so often overlooked today, but considered to be a true master in his time. This is where Robert Nighthawk and Earl Hooker's slide playing originated. What a voice, and what class as well! My man!