Country Blues Troubadours contains 125 tracks, spread out over five CD's, tracing blind harpist Sonny Terry and guitarist Brownie McGhee's earliest recordings between 1938 and 1948. Recorded in New York and Chicago, the Piedmont duo encounter, both separately and collectively, blues, jazz, and R&B veterans including Washboard Slim, Baby Dodds, Curley Russell, Hal "Cornbread" Singer, Gene Ramey, Big Chief Ellis, Blind Boy Fuller, Stick McGhee, and Champion Jack Dupree.
Disc A 1938-1941 - Getting started and getting around
01 - Mountain Blues (3:09)
02 - The New John Henry (3:32)
03 - Fox Chase (3:16)
04 - Lost John (3:16)
05 - Train Whistle Blues (2:48)
06 - New Love Blues (2:44)
07 - Harmonica Blues (2:42)
08 - Harmonica and Washboard Breakdown (2:37)
09 - Harmonica Stomp (2:48)
10 - Harmonica and Washboard Blues (2:54)
11 - Forty-Four Whistle Blues (2:50)
12 - Blowing the Blues (2:54)
13 - Touch It Up and Go (2:24)
14 - Picking My Tomatoes (2:45)
15 - Me and My Dog Blues (2:44)
16 - Born for Bad Luck (2:53)
17 - I'm Callin' Daisy (2:38)
18 - Step It Up and Go (2:34)
19 - My Barkin' Bulldog Blues (2:36)
20 - Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Baby (2:41)
21 - Poison Woman Blues (2:36)
22 - Back Door Stranger (2:43)
23 - Be Good to Me (2:48)
24 - Not Guilty Blues (2:37)
25 - Coal Miner Blues (2:44)
Disc B 1941 - Blind Boy Fuller and what followed
01 - Step It Up and Go No. 2 (2:46)
02 - Money Spending Woman (2:51)
03 - Death of Blind Boy Fuller [Alt. TK] (3:00)
04 - Death of Blind Boy Fuller (2:42)
05 - Got to Find My Little Woman (2:32)
06 - I'm a Black Woman's Man [Alt. TK] (2:51)
07 - I'm a Black Woman's Man (2:51)
08 - Dealing With the Devil (2:36)
09 - Double Trouble [Take 1] (2:35)
10 - Double Trouble [Take 2] (2:42)
11 - Woman I'm Done (2:55)
12 - Key to My Door (2:48)
13 - Million Lonesome Women (2:34)
14 - Ain't No Tellin' (2:53)
15 - Try Me One More Time (3:02)
16 - I Want to See Jesus (2:31)
17 - Done What My Lord Said (2:33)
18 - I Want King Jesus (2:59)
19 - What Will I Do (Without the Lord) (2:36)
20 - Key to the Highway 70 [Take 1] (2:41)
21 - Key to the Highway 70 [Take 2] (2:42)
22 - I Don't Believe in Love (3:03)
23 - So Much Trouble (2:44)
24 - Goodbye Now (2:51)
25 - Jealous of My Woman (2:49)
Disc C 1941-1946 - Library of Congress and living with Leadbelly
01 - Unfair Blues (2:48)
02 - Barbecue Any Old Time (2:48)
03 - Workingman's Blues (2:47)
04 - Sinful Disposition Woman (2:35)
05 - Back Home Blues (2:56)
06 - Deep Sea Diver (2:40)
07 - It Must Be Love (2:54)
08 - Swing, Soldier, Swing [Take 1] (2:24)
09 - Swing, Soldier, Swing [Take 2] (2:43)
10 - John Henry (2:28)
11 - Fox Chase (1:33)
12 - Fox Chase (2:16)
13 - The Red Cross Store (3:22)
14 - Sweet Woman (3:06)
15 - Fox Chase (2:06)
16 - That's the Stuff (Watch Out) (2:56)
17 - Knockabout Blues (Carolina Blues) (3:07)
18 - Easy Ridin' Buggy (2:53)
19 - Women Lover Blues (2:46)
20 - Run Away Woman (2:46)
21 - Shake Down (2:52)
22 - Movin' to Kansas City (3:08)
23 - Railroad Bill (2:53)
24 - Rocks in My Bed (2:49)
25 - Tennessee Shuffle (2:58)
Disc D 1946-1947 - New York residents and established artists
01 - Precious Lord Hold My Hand (3:04)
02 - If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again (2:50)
03 - Rum Cola Papa (2:28)
04 - Mean Old Frisco (2:41)
05 - Sportin' Life Blues (2:57)
06 - Worried Life Blues (2:31)
07 - Brownie's Guitar Boogie (2:38)
08 - Lovin' With a Feeling (2:27)
09 - Night Time Is the Right Time (3:13)
10 - Bad Blood (2:56)
11 - I Don't Care (2:55)
12 - Big Legged Woman (2:42)
13 - B.M. Blues (3:02)
14 - Evil but Kindhearted (2:42)
15 - Seaboard and Southern (2:47)
16 - Dissatisfied Woman (3:15)
17 - How Can I Love You (3:19)
18 - Hello Blues (2:17)
19 - Whoopin' the Blues (2:44)
20 - Leavin' Blues (2:59)
21 - Riff and Harmonica Jump (2:49)
22 - All Alone Blues (3:07)
23 - Me and My Dog (2:49)
24 - Pawn Shop Blues (3:11)
25 - The Way I Feel (2:53)
Disc E 1947-1948 - Mainly Brownie and an interlude with Champion Jack
01 - Go on Blues (2:39)
02 - Auto Mechanic Blues (2:58)
03 - I'm Talking About It (2:44)
04 - Dollar Bill (2:57)
05 - Country Boy Boogie (2:52)
06 - Harmonica Rag (2:27)
07 - Screamin' and Cryin' Blues (2:50)
08 - Beer Garden Blues (2:46)
09 - Worried Man Blues (2:43)
10 - Aunt Jane's Blues (2:45)
11 - Ma Belle (2:54)
12 - So Long Baby (2:34)
13 - Poor Boy Blues (2:51)
14 - Custard Pie Blues (2:59)
15 - Early Morning Blues (2:50)
16 - Crow Jane Blues (2:35)
17 - Hot Headed Woman (3:13)
18 - Wrong Man Blues (3:01)
19 - Married Woman Blues (3:07)
20 - Robbie-Doby Boogie (2:22)
21 - My Fault (2:44)
22 - Brown Mule Blues (2:33)
23 - Hard Bed Blues (2:54)
24 - My Bulldog Blues (2:46)
25 - Gin Headed Woman (2:26)
Disc A 1938-1941 - Getting started and getting around
01 - Mountain Blues (3:09)
02 - The New John Henry (3:32)
03 - Fox Chase (3:16)
04 - Lost John (3:16)
05 - Train Whistle Blues (2:48)
06 - New Love Blues (2:44)
07 - Harmonica Blues (2:42)
08 - Harmonica and Washboard Breakdown (2:37)
09 - Harmonica Stomp (2:48)
10 - Harmonica and Washboard Blues (2:54)
11 - Forty-Four Whistle Blues (2:50)
12 - Blowing the Blues (2:54)
13 - Touch It Up and Go (2:24)
14 - Picking My Tomatoes (2:45)
15 - Me and My Dog Blues (2:44)
16 - Born for Bad Luck (2:53)
17 - I'm Callin' Daisy (2:38)
18 - Step It Up and Go (2:34)
19 - My Barkin' Bulldog Blues (2:36)
20 - Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Baby (2:41)
21 - Poison Woman Blues (2:36)
22 - Back Door Stranger (2:43)
23 - Be Good to Me (2:48)
24 - Not Guilty Blues (2:37)
25 - Coal Miner Blues (2:44)
Disc B 1941 - Blind Boy Fuller and what followed
01 - Step It Up and Go No. 2 (2:46)
02 - Money Spending Woman (2:51)
03 - Death of Blind Boy Fuller [Alt. TK] (3:00)
04 - Death of Blind Boy Fuller (2:42)
05 - Got to Find My Little Woman (2:32)
06 - I'm a Black Woman's Man [Alt. TK] (2:51)
07 - I'm a Black Woman's Man (2:51)
08 - Dealing With the Devil (2:36)
09 - Double Trouble [Take 1] (2:35)
10 - Double Trouble [Take 2] (2:42)
11 - Woman I'm Done (2:55)
12 - Key to My Door (2:48)
13 - Million Lonesome Women (2:34)
14 - Ain't No Tellin' (2:53)
15 - Try Me One More Time (3:02)
16 - I Want to See Jesus (2:31)
17 - Done What My Lord Said (2:33)
18 - I Want King Jesus (2:59)
19 - What Will I Do (Without the Lord) (2:36)
20 - Key to the Highway 70 [Take 1] (2:41)
21 - Key to the Highway 70 [Take 2] (2:42)
22 - I Don't Believe in Love (3:03)
23 - So Much Trouble (2:44)
24 - Goodbye Now (2:51)
25 - Jealous of My Woman (2:49)
Disc C 1941-1946 - Library of Congress and living with Leadbelly
01 - Unfair Blues (2:48)
02 - Barbecue Any Old Time (2:48)
03 - Workingman's Blues (2:47)
04 - Sinful Disposition Woman (2:35)
05 - Back Home Blues (2:56)
06 - Deep Sea Diver (2:40)
07 - It Must Be Love (2:54)
08 - Swing, Soldier, Swing [Take 1] (2:24)
09 - Swing, Soldier, Swing [Take 2] (2:43)
10 - John Henry (2:28)
11 - Fox Chase (1:33)
12 - Fox Chase (2:16)
13 - The Red Cross Store (3:22)
14 - Sweet Woman (3:06)
15 - Fox Chase (2:06)
16 - That's the Stuff (Watch Out) (2:56)
17 - Knockabout Blues (Carolina Blues) (3:07)
18 - Easy Ridin' Buggy (2:53)
19 - Women Lover Blues (2:46)
20 - Run Away Woman (2:46)
21 - Shake Down (2:52)
22 - Movin' to Kansas City (3:08)
23 - Railroad Bill (2:53)
24 - Rocks in My Bed (2:49)
25 - Tennessee Shuffle (2:58)
Disc D 1946-1947 - New York residents and established artists
01 - Precious Lord Hold My Hand (3:04)
02 - If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again (2:50)
03 - Rum Cola Papa (2:28)
04 - Mean Old Frisco (2:41)
05 - Sportin' Life Blues (2:57)
06 - Worried Life Blues (2:31)
07 - Brownie's Guitar Boogie (2:38)
08 - Lovin' With a Feeling (2:27)
09 - Night Time Is the Right Time (3:13)
10 - Bad Blood (2:56)
11 - I Don't Care (2:55)
12 - Big Legged Woman (2:42)
13 - B.M. Blues (3:02)
14 - Evil but Kindhearted (2:42)
15 - Seaboard and Southern (2:47)
16 - Dissatisfied Woman (3:15)
17 - How Can I Love You (3:19)
18 - Hello Blues (2:17)
19 - Whoopin' the Blues (2:44)
20 - Leavin' Blues (2:59)
21 - Riff and Harmonica Jump (2:49)
22 - All Alone Blues (3:07)
23 - Me and My Dog (2:49)
24 - Pawn Shop Blues (3:11)
25 - The Way I Feel (2:53)
Disc E 1947-1948 - Mainly Brownie and an interlude with Champion Jack
01 - Go on Blues (2:39)
02 - Auto Mechanic Blues (2:58)
03 - I'm Talking About It (2:44)
04 - Dollar Bill (2:57)
05 - Country Boy Boogie (2:52)
06 - Harmonica Rag (2:27)
07 - Screamin' and Cryin' Blues (2:50)
08 - Beer Garden Blues (2:46)
09 - Worried Man Blues (2:43)
10 - Aunt Jane's Blues (2:45)
11 - Ma Belle (2:54)
12 - So Long Baby (2:34)
13 - Poor Boy Blues (2:51)
14 - Custard Pie Blues (2:59)
15 - Early Morning Blues (2:50)
16 - Crow Jane Blues (2:35)
17 - Hot Headed Woman (3:13)
18 - Wrong Man Blues (3:01)
19 - Married Woman Blues (3:07)
20 - Robbie-Doby Boogie (2:22)
21 - My Fault (2:44)
22 - Brown Mule Blues (2:33)
23 - Hard Bed Blues (2:54)
24 - My Bulldog Blues (2:46)
25 - Gin Headed Woman (2:26)
