In the world of music, there was never anyone quite like ARTHUR 'BIG BOY' CRUDUP. Rooted in the Mississippi Delta, his style was propulsive, melodic, original, and profoundly soulful. If he wasn’t 'The Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll', as one LP proclaimed, there’s no doubt that rock ‘n’ roll owes a debt to his songs, including That’s All Right Mama, My Baby Left Me, Rock Me Mamma, So Glad You’re Mine, and Mean Ol’ Frisco Blues, as much as to his tight, swinging brand of rural blues.& ,
Arthur Crudup was in his thirties when he made his first recordings in 1941 and recorded prolifically until his death in 1974. This set includes his complete recordings from 1941 until 1962, including every extant song from RCA and its associated labels, as well as his sides for Trumpet, Checker, Ace, and Fire. Over one hundred recordings in all. An expressive singer and a true poet of the blues, Arthur Crudup certainly deserves to be known as the guy who wrote three songs that Elvis Presley recorded during the Fifties, but he was a towering musician in his own right. His influence didn’t end at Elvis Presley. In addition to all those that Elvis influenced, countless other blues and rock musicians adapted his songs and his sweet, lyrical style.
CD1
01. Black Pony Blues - 03:24
02. Death Valley Blues - 03:16
03. Kind Lover Blues - 03:09
04. If I Get Lucky - 03:09
05. Standing At My Window - 02:52
06. Gonna Follow My Baby - 02:56
07. Give Me A 32-20 - 02:58
08. My Mama Don't Allow Me - 03:13
09. Mean Old 'Frisco Blues - 02:43
10. Raised To My Hand - 03:14
11. Cool Disposition - 03:12
12. Who's Been Foolin' You - 03:21
13. Rock Me Mamma - 03:02
14. Keep Your Arms Around Me - 02:36
15. Dirt Road Blues - 03:07
16. I'm In The Mood - 03:10
17. That's Your Red Wagon - 03:23
18. She's Gone - 03:12
19. Ethel Mae - 03:14
20. So Glad You're Mine - 02:47
21. Boy Friend Blues - 03:03
22. No More Lovers - 02:48
CD2
01. You Got To Reap - 03:03
02. Chicago Blues - 03:19
03. Crudup's After Hours - 03:03
04. I Want My Lovin' - 03:04
05. That's All Right - 03:01
06. I Don't Know It - 02:56
07. Cry Your Blues Away - 03:13
08. Crudup's Vicksburg Blues - 03:22
09. Gonna Be Some Changes Made - 02:47
10. Train Fare Blues - 02:51
11. Katie May - 03:11
12. Hey Mama - Everything's All Right - 02:58
13. Hoodoo Lady Blues - 03:05
14. Lonesome World To Me - 03:21
15. Roberta Blues - 02:53
16. Just Like A Spider - 03:22
17. Someday - 03:03
18. That's Why I'm Lonesome - 03:13
19. Tired Of Worry - 02:54
20. Dust My Broom - 02:40
21. Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - 02:51
22. Shout, Sister, Shout - 02:42
23. Come Back Baby - 02:37
24. You Know That I Love You - 02:48
25. Mercy Blues - 02:46
26. She's Just Like Caledonia - 02:52
CD3
01. Mean Old Santa Fe [Take C] - 02:34
02. Behind Closed Doors [Take A] - 02:46
03. She Ain't Nothing But Trouble [Take A] - 03:14
04. Oo Wee Darling (Love Me With A Thrill) [Take B] - 03:07
05. Anytime Is The Right Time [Take C] - 03:04
06. My Baby Left Me [Take B] - 02:31
07. Nobody Wants Me [Take B] - 03:01
08. Star Bootlegger [Take B] - 02:43
09. Too Much Competition [Take B] - 03:02
10. Second Man Blue [Take A] - 02:59
11. Pearly Lee [Take A] - 03:00
12. Love Me Mama [Take A] - 03:17
13. Never No More [Take A] - 03:04
14. Why Did You Leave Me [Take A] - 03:10
15. Where Did You Stay Last Night [Take A] - 02:54
16. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole [Take B] - 03:07
17. Goin' Back To Georgia [Take B] - 02:47
18. Mr. So And So [Take B] - 02:46
19. Do It If You Want To [Take B] - 02:53
20. Keep On Drinkin' [Take B] - 02:48
21. Worried 'Bout You Baby [Take A] - 03:16
22. Late In The Evening [Take A] - 03:07
23. Lookin' For My Baby [Take C] - 02:39
24. Nelvina [Take B] - 03:03
CD4
01. Open Your Book (Daddy Wants To Read With You) - 02:43
02. Tears In My Eyes - 02:45
03. My Baby Boogies All The Time - 03:04
04. I Wonder - 02:16
05. Baby I've Been Mistreated - 03:05
06. You Didn't Mean A Word (Mean Old World) - 03:00
07. She's My Baby - 02:14
08. The Moon Is Rising - 02:16
09. Gonna Find My Baby - 02:59
10. Make A Little Love With Me - 03:08
11. I Love My Baby - 02:51
12. My Wife And Woman - 02:34
13. The War Is Over - 03:01
14. Fall On Your Knees - 03:06
15. If You've Ever Been To Georgia - 02:36
16. Help Me To Bear This Heavy Load - 02:45
17. I Love You - 02:49
18. She's Got No Hair - 02:19
19. She Ain't Nothing But Trouble [Take B] - 02:58
20. Oo Weee Darling (Love Me With A Thrill) [Take A] - 03:00
21. My Baby Left Me [Take A] - 02:37
22. Nobody Wants Me [Take A] - 03:24
23. Star Bootlegger [Take A] - 02:57
24. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole [Take A] - 03:21
25. Goin' Back To Georgia [Take A] - 02:55
26. Mr. So And So [Take A] - 03:17
27. Do It If You Want To [Take A] - 02:56
28. Nelvina [Take A] - 02:41
CD5
01. Katie Mae - 02:52
02. Dig Myself A Hole - 02:25
03. Rock Me Mama - 02:27
04. Mean Ole Frisco - 02:35
05. That's All Right Mama - 02:22
06. Too Much Competition - 02:40
07. Coal Black Mare - 02:52
08. Look On Yonder Wall - 02:23
09. Ethel Mae - 02:25
10. Standing At My Window - 02:17
11. Greyhound Bus - 02:37
12. So Glad You're Mine - 02:50
13. The Moon Is Rising - 02:13
14. Death Valley Blues - 02:43
15. If I Get Lucky - 02:33
16. Angel Child - 05:32
17. My Mama Don't Allow Me - 02:25
18. I'm In The Mood For You - 02:23
19. Looka There, She Got No Hair - 01:56
20. I Love Her Just The Same - 02:15
21. Angel Child [Alternative take] - 02:53
22. Tears In My Eyes [Alternative take] - 03:00
23. Gonna Find My Baby [Alternative take 1] - 03:15
24. Gonna Find My Baby [Alternative take 2] - 02:44