Blind Willie McTell - Complete Recorded Works Vols.1-3 (1927-1931) [FLAC]

 Willie Samuel McTell was one of the blues' greatest guitarists, and also one of the finest singers ever to work in blues. A major figure with a local following in Atlanta from the 1920s onward, he recorded dozens of sides throughout the '30s under a multitude of names -- all the better to juggle "exclusive" relationships with many different record labels at once -- including Blind Willie, Blind Sammie, Hot Shot Willie, and Georgia Bill, as a backup musician to Ruth Mary Willis. And those may not have been all of his pseudonyms -- we don't even know what he chose to call himself, although "Blind Willie" was his preferred choice among friends. Much of what we do know about him was learned only years after his death, from family members and acquaintances. His family name was, so far as we know, McTier or McTear, and the origins of the "McTell" name are unclear. What is clear is that he was born into a family filled with musicians -- his mother and his father both played guitar, as did one of his uncles, and he was also related to Georgia Tom Dorsey, who later became the Rev. Thomas Dorsey. 

Volume 1 (18 October 1927 To 23 October 1931)

01. Writin’ Paper Blues – 3:11
02. Stole Rider Blues – 3:09
03. Mama, ‘Tain’t Long Fo’ Day – 2:58
04. Mr. McTell Got The Blues #1 – 2:21
05. Mr. McTell Got The Blues #2 – 2:26
06. Three Women Blues – 2:44
07. Dark Night Blues – 2:52
08. Statesboro Blues – 2:31
09. Loving Talking Blues – 2:37
10. Atlanta Strut – 3:11
11. Travelin’ Blues – 3:16
12. Come On Around To My House Mama – 3:03
13. Kind Mama – 2:58
14. Teasing Brown – 2:43
15. Drive Away Blues – 3:15
16. This Is Not The Stove To Brown Your Bread – 2:33
17. Love Changing Blues – 3:11
18. Talkin’ To Myself – 3:12
19. Razor Ball – 3:17
20. Southern Can Is Mine – 3:15
21. Broke Down Engine Blues – 3:09
22. Stomp Down Rider – 3:09
23. Scarey Day Blues – 3:00

Personnel:
Blind Willie McTell – vocals, guitar
Blind Sammie (William Samuel McTier) – vocals & guitar (10-13, 18-21)
William Shorter – banjo (14, 16)
Harris & Harris (Alfoncy Harris, Bethenea Harris) – vocals (14, 16)
Georgia Bill (William Samuel McTier) – vocals & guitar (22, 23)

Volume 2 (23 October 1931 To 19 September 1933)

01. Rough Alley Blues
02. Experience Blues
03. Painful Blues
04. Low Rider’s Blues
05. Georgia Rag
06. Low Down Blues
07. Rollin’ Mamma Blues
08. Lonesome Day Blues
09. Mamma, Let Me Scoop For You
10. Searching The Desert For The Blues
11. Warm It Up To Me
12. It’s Your Time To Worry
13. It’s A Good Little Thing
14. You Was Born To Die
15. Lord Have Mercy If You Please
16. Don’t You See How This World Made A Change
17. Savannah Mamma
18. Broke Down Engine
19. Broke Down Engine No. 2
20. My Baby’s Gone
21. Love-Makin’ Mamma
22. Death Room Blues
23. Death Cell Blues
24. Lord, Send Me An Angel

Personnel:
Blind Willie McTell – vocals, guitar
Ruth Mary Willis – vocals (01-03, 06)
Georgia Bill (William Samuel McTier) – vocals & guitar (04, 05)
Ruby Glaze & Hot Shot Willie – vocals (07-10)
Curley Weaver – guitar & vocals (04, 05, 11, 13, 14, 16), second guitar (06)

Volume 3 (21 September 1933 To 25 April 1935)

01. B And O Blues No. 2 (Take 1) – 3:02
02. B And O Blues No. 2 (Take 2) – 2:50
03. Weary Hearted Blues – 3:03
04. Bell Street Lightnin’ – 2:55
05. Southern Can Mama – 2:57
06. Runnin’ Me Crazy – 3:07
07. East St. Louis Blues (Fare You Well) – 2:55
08. Ain’t It Grand To Be A Christian – 3:11
09. We Got To Meet Death One Day (Take A) – 3:00
10. We Got To Meet Death One Day (Take B) – 2:54
11. Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around – 2:47
12. I Got Religion, I’m So Glad – 3:13
13. Dying Gambler – 3:01
14. God Don’t Like It – 2:47
15. Bell Street Blues – 2:51
16. Let Me Play With Yo’ Yo-Yo – 3:08
18. Ticket Agent Blues – 3:21
19. Cold Winter Day – 3:10
20. Your Time To Worry – 2:43
21. Cooling Board Blues – 3:20
22. Hillbilly Willie’s Blues – 2:43

Personnel:
Blind Willie McTell – vocals, guitar
Curley Weaver (01-07, 15, 18)
Kate McTell (08, 11-14)