The Blues: The Best of 1920–1996

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

▶ CD 1: Pre‐War Blues
▼ CD 2: Pre‐War Blues
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Welfare Blues
Josh White3:26
2Mister Tom Hughes’ Town
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
Lead Belly3:05
3Cross Road Blues
recorded in:
San Antonio, Texas, United States (on 1936-11-27)
recording engineer:
Vincent Liebler
executive producer:
Art Satherly
producer:
Don Law
guitar:
Robert Johnson (1930s blues legend) (on 1936-11-27)
vocals:
Robert Johnson (1930s blues legend) (on 1936-11-27)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Soul Jam Records (in 2015)
recorded at:
Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, United States (on 1936-11-27)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1986) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 481)
recording of:
Cross Road Blues (a/k/a “Crossroads”) (on 1936-11-27)
lyricist and composer:
Robert Johnson (1930s blues legend)
publisher:
Encore Music (US label), King of Spades Music, Lehsem II, LLC, MPCA King of Spades, Noma Music Inc., Paul Rodriguez Music Ltd., Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
Robert Johnson52:41
4Boogie Woogie Prayer, Part 1
piano:
Albert Ammons (on 1938-12-30), Pete Johnson (US Boogie-woogie pianist) (on 1938-12-30) and Meade Lux Lewis (on 1938-12-30)
The Boogie Woogie Boys2:22
5Roll ’Em Pete
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1938-12-30)
piano:
Pete Johnson (US Boogie-woogie pianist) (on 1938-12-30)
vocals:
Joe Turner (on 1938-12-30)
recording of:
Roll ’em Pete (on 1938-12-30)
writer:
Pete Johnson (US Boogie-woogie pianist) and Big Joe Turner
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd.
Pete Johnson & Big Joe Turner2:50
6I’m a Stranger Here
recorded in:
Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1939-07-12)
guitar:
Blind Boy Fuller (on 1939-07-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Terry (on 1939-07-12)
vocals:
Blind Boy Fuller (on 1939-07-12)
publisher:
Wabash Music Co. (BMI-affiliated)
recording of:
I’m a Stranger Here (on 1939-07-12)
lyricist and composer:
Fulton Allen
Blind Boy Fuller2:56
7Parchman Farm Blues
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1940-03-07)
guitar and lead vocals:
Bukka White (on 1940-03-07)
washboard:
Washboard Sam (on 1940-03-07)
vocals:
Bukka White (on 1940-03-07)
recording of:
Parchman Farm Blues (on 1940-03-07)
lyricist and composer:
Bukka White
recording of:
Parchman Farm (in 1940)
lyricist and composer:
Mose Allison
publisher:
Jazz Editions
Bukka White2:39
8Death of Blind Boy Fuller
Brownie McGhee2:59
9Key to the Highway
guitar:
Big Bill Broonzy (on 1941-05-02)
harmonica:
Jazz Gillum
washboard:
Washboard Sam (on 1941-05-02)
vocals:
Big Bill Broonzy (on 1941-05-02)
recording of:
Key to the Highway
writer:
Big Bill Broonzy and Charles Segar
publisher:
Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated), MCA Duchess Music Corporation, Songs of Universal, Inc., Universal Duchess Music Corp. and Wabash Music Co. (BMI-affiliated)
Big Bill Broonzy43:01
10Cross Cut Saw Blues
recording of:
Cross Cut Saw Blues
writer:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
publisher:
Irving Music, Inc.
Tony Hollins2:51
11Junker Blues
recording of:
Junker’s Blues
lyricist and composer:
Willie “Drive ’Em Down” Hall
Champion Jack Dupree2:42
12Macy Special
Big Maceo Merriweather2:43
13Hard Day Blues
recording of:
Hard Day Blues
writer:
Muddy Waters (blues musician)
Muddy Waters2:51
14If the Sea Was Whiskey
recording of:
If the Sea Was Whiskey
writer:
Leonard Caston (father of Leonard "Lenny" Caston jr.) and Willie Dixon
Big Three Trio3:04
15Baby Please Don’t Go
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1941-12-12)
bass and washtub bass:
Alfred Elkins (on 1941-12-12)
guitar and lead vocals:
Big Joe Williams (American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter) (on 1941-12-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, 1914–1948) (on 1941-12-12)
vocals:
Big Joe Williams (American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter) (on 1941-12-12)
recording of:
Baby, Please Don’t Go
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Big Joe Williams (American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music, Leeds Music Corp., MCA Music (not for release label use! this is a music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated), MCA Music Ltd. and Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!)
version of:
Another Man Done Gone
Big Joe Williams2:49
16Contrary Mary
recorded in:
Houston, Texas, United States (in 1952)
bass:
Donald Cooks
guitar:
Lightnin’ Hopkins
vocals:
Lightnin’ Hopkins
recording of:
Contrary Mary
lyricist and composer:
Robert Ellen (alias of Robert Shad)
Lightnin’ Hopkins2:40
▶ CD 3: Women Got the Blues
▶ CD 4: The Blues Revival to the Present