Format: 4 x CD, Compilation, Box Set
Country: United States
Released: 2011
Genre: Jazz, Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: African American, Blues, Cajun & Zydeco
[Disk One]
01 Hump in My Back: Jesse Fuller (2:46)
02 Brother Low Down: Jesse Fuller (2:41)
03 Berkeley’s Junco Partner: Skid Band (4:04)
04 Tight like That: Skid Band (3:38)
05 Moose March: Bob Mielke's Bearcats (3:22)
06 Highway 49: Big Joe Williams (3:49)
07 Oakland Blues: Big Joe and Mary Williams (2:46)
08 Greystone (Alameda County Jail) Blues: Big Joe Williams (2:32)
09 I Know You Didn’t Want Me: K.C. Douglas (2:15)
10 Night Shirt Blues: K.C. Douglas (2:07)
11 Stop Time: K.C. Douglas (1:26)
12 Hear Me Howling: K.C. Douglas (2:10)
13 Stand Alone Blues: Lonnie Johnson (3:24)
14 Brenda: Lonnie Johnson (4:12)
15 Changed the Lock on My Door: Sonny Terry (3:14)
16 Bald Eagle Train (Take 1): Bukka White (11:44)
17 Tom Moore’s Farm: Lightnin' Hopkins (5:12)
18 Up on Telegraph (Avenue): Lightnin' Hopkins (3:13)
19 Lady Luck: Mercy Dee (2:47)
[Disk Two]
01 I Feel like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag: Country Joe and the Fish (2:58)
02 You Turned Your Back: Toni Brown (2:19)
03 How Could I Stand It: Toni Brown (2:42)
04 Don’t Forget Me, Love: Toni Brown (2:03)
05 Charles Giteau: Crabgrass (3:32)
06 Midnight Blues: The Joy of Cooking (4:08)
07 Depression Gone from Me: T.A. Talbott (2:57)
08 Mr. Brakeman: T.A. Talbott (3:52)
09 Who’s Going to Be My Man?: Debbie Green (4:21)
10 Come See: Bob Neuwirth (4:26)
11 Lady Gay: Janet Smith (3:16)
12 Talking Protest Blues: Merritt Herring (2:37)
13 Black Jack David: Alice Stuart (2:05)
14 Eventually: Perry Lederman (2:20)
15 Impressions of John Henry: Perry Lederman (6:27)
16 Deportees: Barbara Dane (5:50)
17 Big Texas (Grand Texas): Hackberry Ramblers (3:50)
18 Jolie Blonde: Hackberry Ramblers (3:50)
19 Turtle Tail: Hackberry Ramblers (2:18)
20 The Beatles Are in Town: The Fondettes (2:02)
[Disk Three]
01 Willie Poor Boy: Mance Lipscomb (3:25)
02 The Titanic: Mance Lipscomb (3:34)
03 Mean Boss Man: Mance Lipscomb (2:55)
04 Sugar Babe: Mance Lipscomb (3:20)
05 Working on a Building: Rev. Louis Overstreet (6:38)
06 The Old Ship of Zion: Rev. Louis Overstreet (3:40)
07 I’m a Soldier: Rev. Gary Davis (6:09)
08 Floor Sweepin’ Rag: Rev. Gary Davis (5:07)
09 Courtin’ Boy: Rev. Gary Davis (5:42)
10 Shake 'Em on Down: Fred McDowell (3:11)
11 Louise: Fred McDowell (6:06)
12 Write Me a Few of Your Lines: Fred McDowell (3:18)
13 Low Down Dirty Things: Skip James (4:04)
14 22-20 Blues (Mr. Kress): Skip James (3:37)
15 Sea Walking Jesus: Skip James (4:07)
16 No Special Lover: Skip James (4:57)
17 Peace in the Valley: Skip James (4:29)
[Disk Four]
01 Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong: Vern and Ray (2:34)
02 The Touch of God’s Hand: Vern and Ray (2:59)
03 ’Fore Day in the Mornin’: Big Mama Thornton (5:00)
04 Ball and Chain: Big Mama Thornton (5:34)
05 Hound Dog: Big Mama Thornton (4:55)
06 Monsieur Leonard: John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (3:08)
07 Chi Ca Nai (Slow Drag): John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (2:56)
08 Bye Bye Rosa: John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (2:32)
09 Mr. Charlie: Clifton Chenier (3:22)
10 Louisiana Rock: Clifton Chenier (2:54)
11 What Am I Doing Here?: Notes From The Underground (2:19)
12 To Be a Thief: Stanley Willis (4:39)
13 Pretty Good: Now Creative Arts Jazz Ensemble (8:31)
14 In the Breeze: Jerry Hahn (5:39)
15 To 'Trane (Two Trains): Smiley Winters (9:21)
16 The Beauty of Isis: Sonny Simmons (6:52)
[Credits]
Producer and Photographer: Chris Strachwitz, Producer: Tom Diamant, Editor: Haley Ausserer, Artwork:John Seabury, Illustrator: Robert Armstrong, Designer: Hugh Brown, Engineer: Bay Records
[Notes]
Founder of Arhoolie Records Chris Strachwitz recorded music wherever he found it: in coffee houses, music clubs, living rooms, festival stages, and recording studios. To celebrate Arhoolie’s 50th anniversary, Strachwitz released a box set of recordings he made during his early years in the record business. Of the 72 tracks of music in the set, spread over 4 CDs, over half (38) had previously been unreleased by Arhoolie. The music is a true representation of Strachwitz's eclectic musical interests and span the spectrum from raw country blues and folk to gospel and free-form jazz. This anniversary collection includes versions of "Ball and Chain" and "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton, "Tom Moore's Farm" by Lightnin’Hopkins, "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, "Shake ʼEm On Down" by Mississippi Fred McDowell, "Deportee" by Barbara Dane, "Highway 49" by Big Joe Williams, and "Changed the Lock on My Door" by Mance Lipscomb, Lonnie Johnson, Brownie McGhee, and Sonny Terry. The box set captures a time and provides a template that Arhoolie would follow for 50 years in presenting and preserving Americana roots music.
