T-Bone Walker was the Charlie Christian of the blues. A fluent guitarist who was one of the first important electric guitarists in the blues, Walker had the facility of a jazz musician and often recorded with jazz-oriented combos while sticking largely to the blues. His influence was so strong that in some of his 1940s recordings, he plays phrases that would be picked up and popularized by Chuck Berry a decade later.
Born in Texas in 1910, Walker first recorded two selections in 1929 and cut a few titles during 1940-44 but did not really get going as a recording artist until 1945.
His Quadromania release is a four-CD set that begins with the 1929 numbers and the early performances before mostly concentrating on the 1945-54 period. While only one of Walker's originals became a hit (Stormy Monday which is heard here in its original version), his performances with his sextet (which usually included tenor-saxophonist Bumps Myers) are infectious and joyful. The blues was never a downbeat music when T-Bone Walker was playing.
This four-CD set shows why T-Bone Walker is considered an influential blues giant even today.
Goodbye Blues (Disk 1) - time: 01:11:00
01. Trinity River Blues [03:09]
02. Wichita Falls Blues [03:10]
03. T-Bone Blues [03:17]
04. I Got A Break Baby [03:18]
05. Mean Old World [02:55]
06. Low Down Dirty Shame [02:37]
07. Sail On Boogie [02:39]
08. Mean Old World Blues [02:52]
09. You Don't Love Me Blues [02:37]
10. T-Bone Boogie [03:03]
11. I'm Still In Love With You [02:54]
12. Evening [03:29]
13. My Baby Left Me [02:54]
14. Come Back To Me Baby [03:07]
15. She's Going To Ruin Me [02:56]
16. I Can't Stand Being Away From You [03:10]
17. No Worry Blues [02:43]
18. Don't Leave Me Baby [02:49]
19. Bobby Sox Blues [02:39]
20. I'm Gonna Find My Baby [02:55]
21. I Know Your Wig Is Gone [02:45]
22. T-Bone Jumps Again [02:43]
23. Call It Stormy Monday [03:01]
24. She Had To Let Me Down [03:08]
Goodbye Blues (Disk 2) - time: 01:09:15
01. She's My Old Time Used-To-Be [02:39]
02. Dream Girl Blues [02:40]
03. Midnight Blues [02:45]
04. Long Lost Lover Blues [02:55]
05. Triflin' Woman Blues [03:04]
06. Long Skirt Baby Blues [02:51]
07. Goodbye Blues [03:09]
08. Too Much Trouble Blues [02:44]
09. I'm Waiting For Your Call [03:01]
10. Hypin' Woman Blues [02:48]
11. So Blue Blues [03:08]
12. On Your Way Blues [02:53]
13. The Natural Blues [03:05]
14. That's Better For Me [02:38]
15. First Love Blues [03:09]
16. Lonesome Woman Blues [02:39]
17. Vacation Blues [02:55]
18. Inspiration Blues [02:48]
19. Description Blues [03:06]
20. T-Bone Shuffle [02:59]
21. No Worry Blues [02:43]
22. Don't Leave Me Baby [02:49]
23. Bobby Sox Baby [02:40]
24. I'm Gonna Find My Baby [02:53]
Goodbye Blues (Disk 3) - time: 01:09:45
01. I'm In An Awful Mood [02:44]
02. It's A Lowdown Dirty Deal [02:55]
03. Don't Give Me The Runaround [03:03]
04. Hard Pain Blues [03:02]
05. I Know Your Wig Is Gone [02:45]
06. T-Bone Jumps Again [02:43]
07. Call It Stormy Monday [03:02]
08. She Had To Let Me Down [03:10]
09. She's My Old Time Use-To-Be [02:40]
10. Dream Girl Blues [02:40]
11. Midnight Blues [02:45]
12. Long Lost Lover Blues [02:56]
13. Triflin' Woman Blues [03:04]
14. Long Skirt Baby Blues [02:50]
15. Goodbye Blues [03:10]
16. Too Much Trouble Blues [02:44]
17. I'm Waiting For Your Call [03:02]
18. Hypin' Woman Blues [02:48]
19. So Blue Blues [03:08]
20. On Your Way Blues [02:53]
21. Natural Blues [03:05]
22. That's Better For Me [02:39]
23. First Love Blues [03:09]
24. Lonesome Woman Blues [02:37]
Goodbye Blues (Disk 4) - time: 01:01:34
01. Vacation Blues [02:54]
02. Inspiration Blues [02:48]
03. Description Blues [03:07]
04. T-Bone Shuffle [02:59]
05. That Old Feelin' Is Gone [02:54]
06. The Time Seems So Long [02:46]
07. Prison Blues [02:50]
08. Hometown Blues [02:57]
09. Wise Man Blues [03:00]
10. Misfortune Blues [03:00]
11. I Wish You Were Mine [02:54]
12. I'm Gonna Move You Out [02:58]
13. She's The No-Sleepin'est Woman [03:05]
14. Pain Old Down Home Blues [03:05]
15. Born To Be No Good [03:12]
16. Go Back To The One You Love (old) [02:28]
17. Go Back To The One You Love [03:04]
18. I Want A Little Girl [02:46]
19. I'm Still In Love With You [02:56]
20. You're My Best Poker Hand [02:55]
21. West Side Baby [02:45]
