Some of the names featured here will be familiar to the more seasoned collectors but generally these are artists who made little or no impact at the time that they recorded. Often musicians were not called back to the studio because whatever the A&R person had in mind as a 'winner' was not quite what the record buying public had in theirs. However, these CDs have not been compiled from recordings that meet the 'no good then, no good now' criteria. On the contrary, it is remarkable just how consistently good they are. Volume two begins with John Byrd and 'possibly' Mae Glover masquerading as 'Rev George Jones And Congregation'. Following a verse of 'Honey In The Rock', Sister Jones leads the congregation in prayer with the words; 'Our Father who art in Heaven, the white man owed me ten dollars and I didn't get but seven. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. I took that or I wouldn't a got none. Amen'. Much of this volume is taken up by John Byrd and Washboard Walter Taylor, producing between them a good, contrasting selection of blues, rags, and hokum pieces. Byrd uses a twelve-string guitar with which he plays some fine blues, including the interesting tribute to Blind Lemon Jefferson, 'Wasn't It Sad About Lemon', and the cautionary tale, 'Insurance Man Blues'. I do not want to appear as if I am trying to force my way into an epic Calt/Wardlow terminology assassination chapter on the validity of such ambiguous terms as 'country blues'. You know the sort of thing; A curse upon he who uttereth the words 'Folk Blues', may his camels never multiply etc. In fact, many of the artists featured on the four volumes of Document's 'Rare Country Blues' lived and played in urban locations such as Dallas, Atlanta, Jackson and Cincinnati, but until more specific, universally recognised adjectives can be found in the Oxford Dictionary, then it can be said that these volumes encompass everything that makes the music known as the 'country blues' great.

Track Listing

• Rev. George Jones And Congregation - That White Mule Of Sin (Honey In The Rock)
• Rev. George Jones And Congregation - The Heavenly Airplane (I've Been Buked)
• Washboard Walter And His Band - Narrow Face Blues
• Walter And Byrd - Wasn't It Sad About Lemon
• Washboard Walter - Insurance Man Blues
• Washboard Walter - Overall Cheater Blues
• Washboard Walter - Disconnected Mama
• John Byrd - Billy Goat Blues
• John Byrd - Old Timbrook Blues
• Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Thirty-Eight And Plus
• Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Deal Rag
• Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Corrine Corrine
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Yo-Yo Blues
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Broadcasting Blues
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - You Rascal, you
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Diamond Ring Blues
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Coal Camp Blues
• Jim Jam (The Singing Taylor): Walter Taylor acc. by Washboard Trio - Do You Love Me Blues
• Bob Campbell - Dice's Blues
• Bob Campbell - Shotgun Blues
• Bob Campbell - Starvation Farm Blues
• Bob Campbell - Worried All The Time
• Skoodle Dum Doo And Sheffield - Tampa Blues
• Skoodle Dum Doo And Sheffield - Gas Ration Blues
• Skoodle Dum Doo And Sheffield - Broome Street Blues
• Skoodle Dum Doo And Sheffield - West Kinney Street Blues

Additional Details

Label: Document Records

Genre: Blues

Run Time: 70 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 12/20/06

UPC: 714298564129