Roots 'n Blues: The Retrospective 1925–1950

Roots 'N Blues: The Retrospective 1925-1950 is a four-CD box set released on Columbia Records in 1992. The set features five hours worth of early blues, folk/country and gospel recordings from a variety of American artists. Many of these recordings had never previously been issued in any medium. The liner notes were written by Lawrence Cohn and Pete Welding.

Contents

Track listing

Disc one

  1. Charlie Poole with the North Carolina Ramblers - "Whitehouse Blues" (3:25) (recorded September 20, 1926 in New York City, New York)
  2. Aiken Country String Band - "High Sheriff" (2:53) (recorded September 19, 1927 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
  3. Frank Hutchison - "The Last Scene of the Titanic" (3:30) (recorded April 29, 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri)
  4. Hersal Thomas - "Suitcase Blues" (2:36) (recorded c. February 22, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois)
  5. The Reverend J.M. Gates - "Death's Black Train is Coming" (3:11) (recorded April 24, 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  6. Dora Carr - "Cow Cow Blues" (2:50) (recorded October 1, 1925 in New York City, New York)
  7. Vance's Tennessee Breakdowners - "Washington County Fox Chase" (2:57) (recorded September 22, 1927 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
  8. Fiddlin' John Carson - "I'm Going to Take the Train to Charlotte" (3:05) (recorded August 10, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  9. Ernest V. Stoneman's Trio - Untitled (3:01) (recorded January 1, 1927 in New York City, New York)
  10. Whistler and His Jug Band - "Low Down Blues" (2:56) (recorded April 29, 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri)
  11. Washington Phillips - "Paul and Silas in Jail" (2:42) (recorded December 2, 1927 in Dallas, Texas)
  12. Barbecue Bob - "Blind Pig Blues" (3:02) (recorded April 13, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  13. Austin and Lee Allen - "Chattanooga Blues" (3:04) (recorded November 4, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  14. Sherman Tedder - Untitled (2:57) (recorded February 25, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee)
  15. Dallas String Band with Coley Jones - "Hokum Blues" (3:25) (recorded December 8, 1928 in Dallas, Texas)
  16. Gladys Bentley - "Worried Blues" (2:45) (recorded August 8, 1928 in New York City, New York)
  17. Elizabeth Johnson - "Empty Bed Blues, Part One" (3:02) (recorded June 26, 1928 in New York City, New York)
  18. Elizabeth Johnson - "Empty Bed Blues, Part Two" (3:22) (recorded June 26, 1928 in New York City, New York)
  19. South Georgia Highballers - "Blue Grass Twist" (2:48) (recorded October 5, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  20. Charlie Bowman and His Brothers - "Moonshiner and His Money" (3:10) (recorded February 20, 1929 in New York City, New York)
  21. Clarence Horton Greene - "Johnson City Blues" (2:57) (recorded October 15, 1928 in Johnson City, Tennessee)
  22. The Reverend Johnny Blakey, assisted by the Sanctified Singers - "Warming By The Devil's Fire" (3:25) (recorded December 6, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois)
  23. Papa Too Sweet & Harry Jones - "(Honey) It's Tight Like That" (2:36) (recorded December 11, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois)
  24. Mississippi John Hurt - "Big Leg Blues" (2:51) (recorded December 21, 1928 in New York City, New York)
  25. Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers - "Hallelujah" (2:58) (recorded October 24, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia)

Disc two

  1. Herschel Brown and His Happy Five - "Liberty" (2:54) (recorded March 19, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  2. Mamie Smith - "My Sportin' Man" (2:58) (recorded March 30, 1929 in New York City, New York)
  3. Blues Birdhead - "Mean Low Blues" (3:13) (recorded October 13, 1929 in Richmond, Virginia)
  4. Pink Anderson and Simmie Dooley - "C.C. & O. Blues" (3:05) (recorded April 14, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  5. The OKeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers - "Ortonville" (3:11) (recorded March 18, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  6. Slim Doucet - "Dear Black Eyes (Chere Yeux Noirs)" (3:00) (recorded March 20, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  7. Roosevelt Sykes - "Roosevelt Blues" (2:47) (recorded November 16, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois)
  8. The Hokum Boys - "Gin Mill Blues" (3:27) (recorded November 16, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois)
  9. Joe Falcon, accompanied by Clemo and Ophy Breaux - "Osson" (2:56) (recorded April 18, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  10. W.T. Narmour & S.W. Smith - "Sweet Milk and Peaches (Breakdown)" (3:11) (recorded September 25, 1929 in New York City, New York)
  11. Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, with Riley Puckett & Clayton McMichen - "Soldier's Joy" (2:54) (recorded October 29, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  12. Whistlin' Alex Moore - "They May Not Be My Toes" (3:02) (recorded December 5, 1929 in Dallas, Texas)
  13. Mississippi Sheiks - "The Jazz Fiddler" (3:13) (recorded February 17, 1930 in Shreveport, Louisiana)
  14. Lonnie Johnson - "I Have To Do My Time" (3:09) (recorded August 5, 1930 in New York City, New York)
  15. Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarlton - "Lonesome Frisco Line" (3:17) (recorded October 31, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  16. Roy Harvey and Leonard Copeland - "Back to the Blue Ridge" (2:55) (recorded June 30, 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  17. Buster Carter and Preston Young - "Darn Good Girl" (2:51) (recorded June 26, 1931 in New York City, New York)
  18. Bo Carter - "West Jackson Blues" (3:17) (recorded June 10, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas)
  19. Lonnie Johnson and Clara Smith (as Violet Green) - "You Had Too Much" (3:19) (recorded October 31, 1930 in New York City, New York)
  20. Silver Leaf Quartet - "Oh! Glory Glory" (3:13) (recorded March 20, 1931 in New York City, New York)
  21. Freeny's Barn Dance Band - "Don't You Remember the Time" (3:16) (recorded December 16, 1930 in Jackson, Mississippi)
  22. Pelican Wildcats - "Walkin' Georgia Blues" (2:56) (recorded October 27, 1931 in Atlanta, Georgia)
  23. Peetie Wheatstraw (The Devil's Son-in-Law) - "Police Station Blues" (3:03) (recorded March 15, 1932 in New York City, New York)
  24. Tindley Quaker City Gospel Singers - "Hallelujah Side" (3:16) (recorded March 8, 1932 in New York City, New York)
  25. Will Batts - "Highway #61 Blues" (2:42) (recorded August 3, 1933 in New York City, New York)

Disc three

  1. W. Lee O'Daniel and His Light Crust Doughboys - "Doughboys Theme Song #1" (0:41) (recorded c. April 1934 in San Antonio, Texas)
  2. W. Lee O'Daniel and His Hillbilly Boys - "Ida (Sweet as Apple Cider)" (3:09) (recorded November 21, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas)
  3. W. Lee O'Daniel and His Light Crust Doughboys - "Doughboys Theme Song #2" (0:29) (recorded c. April 1934 in San Antonio, Texas)
  4. Blind Willie McTell & Partner - "Bell Street Lightnin'" (2:52) (recorded September 21, 1933 in New York City, New York)
  5. Charlie Patton - "Jersey Bull Blues" (3:04) (recorded January 30, 1934 in New York City, New York)
  6. Walter Roland - "Every Morning Blues" (2:44) (recorded August 2, 1934 in New York City, New York)
  7. Blue Ridge Ramblers - "D Blues" (2:48) (recorded February 14, 1935 in New York City, New York)
  8. Breaux Freres - "La valse des yeux bleu (Blue Eyes Waltz)" (3:11) (recorded October 9, 1934 in San Antonio, Texas)
  9. Lucille Bogan (as Bessie Jackson) - "Skin Game Blues" (2:57) (recorded March 8, 1935 in New York City, New York)
  10. Leroy Carr with Scrapper Blackwell - "Good Woman Blues" (2:57) (recorded December 14, 1934 in New York City, New York)
  11. Josh White (as Pinewood Tom) - "Sissy Man" (2:49) (recorded March 18, 1935 in New York City, New York)
  12. The Rhythm Wreckers - "Blue Yodel #2 (My Lovin' Gal Lucille)" (2:46) (recorded March 27, 1937 in Los Angeles, California)
  13. The Anglin Twins (Jack and Jim) - "Just Inside The Pearly Gates" (2:25) (recorded November 5, 1937 in San Antonio, Texas)
  14. Bumble Bee Slim (Amos Easton) - "Hard Rocks in My Bed" (2:40) (recorded February 6, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois)
  15. The Two Charlies - "Tired Feelin' Blues" (3:03) (recorded April 10, 1936 in New York City, New York)
  16. Eldon Baker with His Brown County Revellers - "One Eyed Sam" (2:51) (recorded June 5, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois)
  17. A'nt Idy Harper with The Coon Creek Girls - "Poor Naomi Wise" (3:36) (recorded June 30, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois)
  18. (Kid) Prince Moore - "South Bound Blues" (3:01) (recorded April 10, 1936 in New York City, New York)
  19. Big Bill Broonzy - "C & A Blues" (2:58) (recorded June 20, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois)
  20. George Curry - "My Last Five Dollars" (2:36) (recorded November 2, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois)
  21. The Nite Owls - "Memphis Blues" (2:21) (recorded June 12, 1938 in Dallas, Texas)
  22. The Alley Boys of Abbeville - "Pourquoi tu m'aime pas" (3:46) (recorded June 30, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee)
  23. Reverend Benny Campbell - "Have Mercy on Me" (2:32) (recorded November 8, 1938 in Columbia, South Carolina)
  24. Albert Ammons - "Shout For Joy" (2:25) (recorded December 30, 1938 in New York City, New York)
  25. Jack Kelly - "Flower Blues" (2:30) (recorded July 14, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee)
  26. Cliff Carlisle (as Bob Clifford) - "Onion Eating Mama" (2:54) (recorded August 29, 1934 in New York City, New York)
  27. Callahan Bros. - "Brown's Ferry Blues #2" (3:06) (recorded April 11, 1935 in New York City, New York)
  28. Little Buddy Doyle - "Slick Capers Blues" (2:35) (recorded July 1, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee)
  29. Bill "Jazz" Gillum (as Bill McKinley) - "Poor Boy Blues" (2:54) (recorded May 2, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)

Disc four

  1. Frank Edwards - "We Got To Get Together" (2:36) (recorded May 28, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)
  2. Sweet Violet Boys - "You Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mama At All)" (2:49) (recordcd February 15, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois)
  3. The Humbard Family - "I'll Fly Away" (2:49) (recorded April 17, 1940 in Dallas, Texas)
  4. Tony Hollins - "Cross Cut Saw Blues" (2:48) (recorded June 3, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)
  5. Peter Cleighton - "Black Snake Blues" (2:51) (recorded July 1, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)
  6. Black Cats and the Kitten - "Step It Up and Go" (2:48) (recorded October 21, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois)
  7. Bob and Randall Atcher - "Papa's Going Crazy, Mama's Going Mad" (2:38) (recorded June 13, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois)
  8. Adolf Hofner and His San Antonians - "Cotton-Eyed Joe" (2:29) (recorded February 28, 1941 in Dallas, Texas)
  9. Poor Boy Burke - "Old Vets Blues" (2:53) (recorded November 21, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)
  10. Little Son Joe - "Black Rat Swing" (2:52) (recorded December 12, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois)
  11. Big Maceo Merriweather - "Macy Special" (2:42) (recorded February 19, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois)
  12. Light Crust Doughboys, with J.B. Brinkley - "It's Funny What Love Will Make You Do" (2:47) (recorded March 3, 1941 in Dallas, Texas)
  13. Hank Penny and His Radio Cowboys - "Army Blues" (2:36) (recorded June 29, 1941 in Charlotte, North Carolina)
  14. James (Beale Street) Clark - "Who But You" (2:38) (recorded October 24, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois)
  15. Homer Harris - "Tomorrow May Be Too Late" (3:05) (recorded September 27, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois)
  16. Muddy Waters (as McKinley Morganfield) - "Burying Ground Blues" (2:30) (recorded September 27, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois)
  17. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys - "Goodbye Old Pal" (2:23) (recorded February 13, 1945 in Nashville, Tennessee)
  18. Gene Autry - "Dixie Cannonball" (2:40) (recorded September 9, 1946 in Hollywood, California)
  19. Bill Landford and The Landfordaires - "Run On For A Long Time" (2:34) (recorded December 15, 1949 in Memphis, Tennessee)
  20. Big Joe Williams - "Baby, Please Don't Go" (2:57) (recorded July 22, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois)
  21. Sister Myrtle Fields accompanied by Austin McCoy Trio - "I"m Toiling" (2:43) (recorded January 7, 1950 in Hollywood, California)
  22. Willie (Boodle It) Right - "Two By Four Blues" (2:56) (recorded October 7, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois)
  23. Bailes Bros. - "You Can't Go Halfway (And Get In)" (2:46) (recorded December 21, 1947, location not listed)
  24. Molly O'Day and the Cumberland Mountain Folks - "Heaven's Radio" (2:49) (recorded June 20, 1950 in Nashville, Tennessee)
  25. Rosetta Howard - "Plow Hand Blues" (2:46) (recorded December 20, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois)
  26. Memphis Seven - "Grunt Meat Blues" (2:47) (recorded October 4, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois)
  27. Deep South Boys - "Until I Found The Lord" (2:25) (recorded December 20, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee)
  28. Brother Porter and Brother Cook - "I Know My Jesus Won't Deny Me" (2:41) (recorded July 11, 1950 in New York City, New York)