Intro to the American Basics Collection Click here for the discussion of the albums on the first shelf, in order.
Ma Rainey (1924-1928)--1992 Milestone Records The Essential Bessie Smith (1923-1933)(2 CDs)--1997 Columbia/Legacy Records The Best of Blind Lemon Jefferson (1925-1928)--2000 Yazoo Records Frank Hutchison Complete (1926-1929)--1997 Document Records The Best of the Memphis Jug Band (1927-1930)--2001 Yazoo Records The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (1927-1930)--1993 Columbia/Legacy Records Big Bill Broonzy in Chronological Order--Volume 1 (1927-1932)--1991 Document Records Mississippi John Hurt: Avalon Blues--1996 Columbia/Legacy Records Georgia Tom Dorsey early album not yet finalized Tampa Red early album not yet finalized The Best of Cannon's Jug Stompers--2001 Yazoo Records The Essential Leroy Carr--2002 Classic Blues Records The Virtuoso Guitar of Scrapper Blackwell--1991 Shanachie/Yazoo Records The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (1929-1933)--1994 Columbia/Legacy Records
Click here for the discussion of the albums on the second shelf, in order.
Charley Patton Complete (1929-1934)--2002 JSP Records Sleepy John Estes early album not yet finalized Memphis Minnie: Me and My Chauffeur (2 disks 1930-1941)--2003 Proper Records Skip James: The Complete Early Recordings--1994 Shanachie/Yazoo Records Memphis Minnie: Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937)--1991 Columbia/Legacy Records Anthology of American Folk Music (6 Disks)--1997 Smithsonian Folkways Records Anthology of American Folk Music (Ballads: Disks 1&2)--1997 Smithsonian Folkways Records Anthology of American Folk Music (Social Music: Disks 3&4)--1997 Smithsonian Folkways Records Anthology of American Folk Music (Songs: Disks 5&6)--1997 Smithsonian Folkways Records Harry Smith's Anthology of Am. Folk Music--Vol. 4 (2 disks)--2000 Revenant Records Deep River of Song: Alabama (Lomax Field Recordings 1934-40)--2001 Rounder Records Deep River of Song: Georgia (Lomax Field Recordings 1934-43)--2001 Rounder Records Complete Early Recordings of Rev. Gary Davis (1935)--1994 Yazoo Records Deep River of Song: Mississippi-The Blues Lineage (Lomax Field Recordings 1936-43)--1999 Rounder Records Deep River of Song: Mississippi-Saints & Sinners (Lomax Field Recordings 1936-42)--1999 Rounder Records Tampa Red: The Bluebird Recordings (2 Disks: 1936-1938)--1997 RCA Records Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (2 Disks)--1990 Columbia Records Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Gospel of the Blues (1938-1948)--2003 MCA Records
Some words about the pre-war/immediate post-war period issues and why we aren't nearly done. The Very Best of T-Bone Walker (1945-1957--2000 Rhino Records. The Very Best of Lightnin'Hopkins (1947-1961)--2000 Rhino Records. Muddy Waters: His Best (1947-1955)--1997 Chess/MCA Records. Muddy Waters: The Chess Box Set (1947-1972 [3 CDs]--1997 Chess/MCA Records. Very Best of John Lee Hooker (1948-1967)--1997 Chess/MCA Records. John Lee Hooker: Legendary Modern Recordings (1948-1954)--1993 Flair/Virgin Records. John Lee Hooker: His Best Chess Sides (1950-1952)--1997 Chess/MCA Records. Willie Dixon: The Chess Box Set (1951-1965 +2) [2 CDs]--1988 Chess/MCA Records. B.B. Kind: Classic Masters (1951-1956 +2)--2002 Virgin Records. The Very Best of Elmore James (1951-1962)--2000 Rhino Records.
Howlin' Wolf--His Best (1951-1964)--1997 Chess/MCA Records [Not Quite Yet] J B Lenoir: One of These Mornings--1986/2003 JSP Records [Not Quite Yet] Big Mama Thornton: Complete Vanguard Recordings (3 CDs)--2000 Vanguard Records [Not Quite Yet] The Very Best of Jimmy Reed--2000 Rhino Records [Not Quite Yet] The Best of Ray Charles: The Atlantic Years (1954-1960)--1994 Atlantic/Rhino Records [Not Quite Yet] Muddy Waters: His Best (1956-1964)--1997 Chess/MCA Records [Not Quite Yet] Champion Jack Dupree: Blues from the Gutter (1958)--1992 Atlantic Records [Not Quite Yet] Rev. Gary Davis: Demons and Angels-The Ultimate Collection (1958-1966)--2001 Shanachie Records [Not Quite Yet] Sonny Boy Williamson (1960-1963)--2002 Chess/MCA Records [Not Quite Yet] B.B. Kind: Live at the Regal (1964)--1997 MCA Records [Not Quite Yet]
Click here to jump to the annotated catalogue of our featured recording artist--John Stewart. Click here to jump to the complete recordings shelves.