Hard Times Come Again No More Vol. 1

Early American Rural Songs Of Hard Times And Hardships

Yazoo – 2036

Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1998
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country Blues, Hillbilly
[Tracklist]
01 Down On Penny's Farm: The Bentley Boys (02:47)
02 How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live: Blind Alfred Reed (03:15)
03 Hard Time Blues: Lane Hardin (03:18)
04All I Got's Gone: Ernest V. Stoneman (02:53)
05 Bread Line Blues: "Slim" Smith (03:22)
06 Miss Meal Cramp Blues: Alec Johnson (02:59)
07 My Name Is John Johanna: Kelly Harrell (03:13)
08 Serves 'Em Fine: Dave McCarn (03:00)
09 It's Hard Time: J.D. Short (03:11)
10 All In Down and Out: Uncle Dave Macon (02:32)
11 Richmond Blues: Rutherford & Foster (03:02)
12 Hard Times: Elder Curry (03:17)
13 Georgia Hobo: Cofer Brothers (03:19)
14 One Dime Blues: Blind Lemon Jefferson (02:46)
15 Dixie Boll Weavil: Fiddlin' John Carson (02:56)
16 See the Black Clouds A'Breakin' Over Yonder: Chubby Parker (03:04)
17 Down and Out Blues: Scrapper Blackwell (02:55)
18 Starving To Death On A Government Claim: Edward L. Crain (02:56)
19 We Sure Got Hard Times: Barbecue Bob (03:24)
20 Georgia Blues: Samantha Bumgarner (02:58)
21 Blue Harvest Blues: Mississippi John Hurt (02:53)
22 Weaver's Life: Dixon Brothers (03:24)
23 Hard Times Come Again No More: Graham Brothers (02:50)
[Credits]
Producer: Richard Nevins, Liner Notes: Don Kent, Designer: Joan Pelosi
[Notes]
Another fine Yazoo collection of vintage American recordings of the '20s and '30s. The theme here of first-hand hardship experience makes for some amazing music, whether by white or black artists. The buoyant "Down on Penny's Farm" is beautifully offset by Blind Alfred Reed's baleful complaint "How Can a Poor Man Stand," complete with fragile fiddle work and loping guitar work. And that's just the first two tracks. It's amazing stuff: part oral history, part entertainment and all priceless, though both volumes together may make for more hard times than you want to experience.-- AllMusic Review by Tim Sheridan

The Country Blues: Edited by Samuel B. Charters

RBF Records RF1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Blues
Style: Country Blues, Memphis Blues, Delta Blues
[Tracklist]
A1 Matchbox Blues: Blind Lemon Jefferson (2:54)
A2 Careless Love: Lonnie Johnson (2:58)
A3 Walk Right In: Cannon's Jug Stompers (2:57)
A4 Low Down Rounder's Blues: Peg Leg Howell (2:53)
A5 Statesboro Blues: Blind Willie McTell (2:35)
A6 Stealin', Stealin': Memphis Jug Band (3:01)
A7 You Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond: Blind Willie Johnson (3:12)
B1 Alabama Woman Blues: Leroy Carr (2:53)
B2 Special Agent: Sleepy John Estes (2:53)
B3 Key to the Highway: Big Bill Broonzy (3:02)
B4 Fixin' to Die: Bukka White (2:51)
B5 I'm A Guitar King: Tommy McClennan (2:51)
B6 Preachin' Blues: Robert Johnson (2:54)
B7 I Been Treated Wrong: Washboard Sam (3:22)
[Notes]

The Country Blues features a range of styles and a collection of recordings not included in other Folkways compilations. This selection—mostly recorded between 1927 and 1931—includes such gems as a test pressing of Robert Johnson's "Preaching Blues" and local releases from the 1920s.