Downhome Blues 1959 contains 46 tracks, spread out over two CDs, tracing the rural blues guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell’s earliest recordings. The sessions take place on the front porch of his Como, MS farm between September 21-25, 1959 and recorded by folk researcher Alan Lomax with assistance from Shirley Collins. On the first disc, McDowell is heard playing acoustic guitar and is occasionally joined by guitarist Miles Pratcher with Fannie Davis on kazoo and comb, with vocals by McDowell’s wife Annie Mae, James Shorty, Sidney Carter, and Rose Hemphill. The second disc includes one McDowell track, “Shake ‘Em on Down,” with the remaining cuts spotlight other Lomax recordings from the same time by bluesmen Forrest City Joe, Boy Blue, Willie Jones and the fife and drum duo of Ed Young and G.D. Young. Although this material has been reissued over the years, JSP not only does an admirable job remastering the tracks but providing recording dates, personnel, and a bit of history that is easily accessible in individual jewel cases as opposed to a bulky booklet. As far as budget blues sets are concerned, this is one of the best.
CD A
Mississippi Fred McDowell
01 - When You Get Home, Write Me A Few Lines
02 - Drop Down Mama
03 - Shake 'Em On Down
04 - Fred McDowell's Blues
05 - Goin' Down To The River
06 - You Gonna Be Sorry
07 - You Done Tol' Everybody
08 - Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On Jesus
09 - Soon One Mornin'
10 - Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
11 - Wished I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
12 - Germany Blues
13 - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
14 - Freight Train Blues
15 - Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
16 - Been Drinkin' Water Out Of A Hollow Log
17 - I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
18 - 61 Highway Blues
19 - Lord Have Mercy
20 - Worried Man
21 - What's The Matter Now
22 - Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (instr)
Mississippi Fred McDowell tracks rec. September 21, 1959 in Como, Miss. by Alan Lomax with the assistance of Shirley Collins
CD B
Mississippi Fred McDowell
01 - Shake 'Em On Down
John Dudley
02 - Cool Water Blues
03 - Po' Boy Blues
04 - Clarksdale Mill Blues
Ed Young, Lonnie Young, G.D. Young
05 - Jim And John
06 - Hen Duck
07 - Chevrolet
08 - Oree
09 - Sittin' On Top Of The World
Miles Pratcher & Bob Pratcher
10 - All Night Long
11 - I'm Gonna Live Anyhow 'Til I Die
12 - Buttermilk
Forrest City Joe
13 - Levee Camp Reminiscence
14 - Train Time
15 - Red Cross Store
16 - You Gotta Cut That Out
17 - Stop Breaking Down
18 - Drink On Little Girl
19 - She Lived Her Life Too Fast
20 - She Don't Love Me That Way
21 - Forrest City Jump
Boy Blue
22 - Boogie Children
23 - Joe Lee's Rock
Willie Jones
24 - You Got Dimples In Your Jaw
