Recordings compilled by Allan Evans, chiefly drawn from the Harry Smith Archive in The New York Public Library, along with previously unpublished recordings by Rev. Gary Davis & Leadbelly.

Compact disc.

Program notes by Allan Evans, including transcriptions of sung texts, and matrix & issue numbers of the commercial recordings (p. 4), & a conversation of Elizabeth Lyttleton Harold with Rev. Gary Davis from 1951, inserted in container.

The Davis recordings are home recordings made in 1956-1957 by Fred Gerlach & Tiny Robinson. The Leadbelly tracks were recorded from a radio broadcast of Feb. 14, 1941; the remainder are from commercial 78 rpm discs recorded between 1926 & 1929.

Earliest blues guitarists

Subtitle on container: First bluesmen

Leadbelly. Sermon on pancakes (1:11) ; The blood's done signed your name (1:09)

Rev. Gary Davis. Come down to see me sometime (1:20) ; Lost John (2:40) ; Soldier's drill (5:32)

Leadbelly. Gallows pole (1:30) ; Leaving blues (1:44)

Rev. Gary Davis. Slow blues in E (4:01)

Big Bill Broonzy (ca. Oct. 1928) . Starvation blues (3:17)

Leola B. Wilson & Blind Blake (ca. Nov. 1926). Black biting bee blues (2:46)

Rev. Gary Davis. Mountain Jack (6:58) ; I didn't want to join the band (3:39)

Buddy Boy Hawkins [Walter Hawkins] (June 14, 1929). A rag (2:58)

William Moore (ca. Jan. 1928). Raggin' the blues (2:57) ; Old country rock (2:59)

Gus Cannon & Blind Blake (ca. Nov. 1927). Poor boy (3:08)

Ramblin' Thomas [Willard Thomas] (ca. Nov. 1928). Poor boy (3:08)

Charley Patton (June 14, 1929). Mississippi bo weevil blues (3:06) ; Screamin' and hollerin' the blues (3:04)

Reubin Lacy (Mar. 1928). Mississippi jail house groan (3:20) ; Ham hound crave (2:56)

Edward Thompson (Oct. 23, 1929). Seven sisters blues (2:54))

Ramblin' Thomas (ca. Nov. 1928, ca. Feb. 1928). Hard Dallas blues (3:02) ; Back gnawing blues (3:01) ; Going crazy (2:54).

Blues (Music) > To 1931.