A collection of classic recordings fromthe 1920s and 30s featuring many all-time great performances of early American traditional music. This series is a fascinating overview of traditional American musical styles from the Civil War to the 1920s, including fiddle tunes, rags banjo songs, religious selections, old ballads, blues, etc.
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.1These are 23 rare 78s from the 1920s and 1930s, chosen to illustrate the wide range of "early American rural music" that made its way onto disc in the early days of the recording industry. This will not get nearly as much press as Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music box, yet it's on par with that ballyhooed re-release as an overview of the roots of American roots music, so to speak. Styles vary from country blues and fiddle hoedowns to banjo music and jug bands. The Memphis Jug Band is the only name here that might be familiar to more than the most well-versed folk historians. Highlights include J.P. Nestor and Norman Edmonds' "Train on the Island," a frenetic string band gallop; the Four Wanderers' eerie gospel tune, "The Fault's in Me"; and Ken Maynard's "Fannie Moore," a direct predecessor of country music in its vocal phrasing.
1. Prince Albert Hunt / Blues In A Bottle
2. Charlie Jordan / Dollar Bill Blues
3. Bascom Lamar Lundsford / Lost John Dean
4. A.A. Gray & Seven Foot Dilly / Streak of Lean, Streak of Fat 5. Richard "Rabbit" Brown / Sinking Of The Titanic
6. Dykes Magic City Trio / Tennessee Girls
7. Bob Campbell / Shotgun Blues
8. J.P. Nestor & Norman Edmonds / Train On The Island
9. The Four Wanderers / The Fault's In Me
10. Happy Hayseeds / The Tail Of Halley's Comet
11. Oaks Family / Wake Up You Drowsy Sleeper
12. Louie Lasky / How You Want Your Rollin' Done
13. Frank Blevins & His Tar Heel Rattlers / Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
14. Memphis Jug Band / On The Road Again
15. Buell Kazee / The Dying Soldier
16. Buddy Boy Hawkins / Voice Throwin' Blues
17. Wilmer Watts & The Lonely Eagles / Been On The Job Too Long
18. Ken Maynard / Fannie Moore
19. Nugrape Twins / I Got Your Ice Cold Nugrape
20. Carson Brothers & Sprinkle / The Old Miller's Will
21. Winston Holmes & Charlie Turner / Skinner
22. Southern Moonlight Entertainers / How To Make Love
23. Grayson & Whitter / Old Jimmie Sutton
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.2
Like volume One, this presents 23 examples of early American rural music, mastered from rare 78s of the 1920s and 1930s. And like volume one, the names here will challenge the expertise of all but the most fanatical collector; only Uncle Dave Macon, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Henry Thomas, and maybe Blind Alfred Reed will be familiar. It's a valuable sampler of non-urban sounds as captured in the early days of the recording industry, when primitive technology and marketing naivete ensured that the music was virtually unadulterated. Fiddles, banjos, and plaintive, spirited vocals abound. Bobby Leecan's jugband romp "Washboard Cut Out" is the most exuberant track; Rev. D.C. Rice's gospel number "Lord Keep Me with a Mind" starts off in a more somber mood, but soon evolves into a jubilant New Orleans-styled arrangement.
1. Earl Johnson & His Dixie Entertainers / John Henry Blues
2. Allen Shaw / Moanin' the Blues
3. Ernest Stoneman & Kahle Brewer / Lonesome Road Blues
4. Bobby Leecan & His Need More Band / Washboard Cut Out
5. Henry Thomas / Bob McKinney
6. Fiddling John Carson & His Virginia Reelers / Swanee River
7. Richard "Rabbit" Brown / James Alley Blues
8. Uncle Dave Macon & His Fruit Jar Drinkers / Sail Away Ladies 9. Cannon's Jug Stompers / The Rooster's Crowing Blues
10. A.A. Grey & Seven Foot Dilly / Tallapoosa Bound
11. The Shelor Family / Billy Grimes the Rover
12. The Massey Family / Brown Skin Girl Down the Lane
13. Joe McCoy / You Know You Done Me Wrong
14. Sid Harkreader & Gradey Moore / Old Joe
15. Blind Alfred Reed / Beware
16. Wilmer Watts & The Lonely / Knocking Down Casey Jones
17. Tommy Bradley / Four Day Blues
18. Georgia Crackers / Riley the Furniture Man
19. Emmett Lundy & Ernest Stoneman / Piney Woods Girl
20. Louie Blue / State Street Rag
21. Tweedy Brothers / Sugar In The Ground
22. Southern Moonlight Entertainers / Then I'll Move To Town
23. Rev. D.C. Rice / Lord Keep Me With A Mind
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.3
Another one of Yazoo's superb and essential old time anthologies, this one taking in all kinds of styles and genres, but having in common the fact that every track is a musical gem and all are presented with the best possible sound. Taken from 78s of the 1920s & 30s, the 23 tracks include cuts by Luke Highnight, Uncle Dave Macon, Oscar Harper, East Texas Serenaders, Son House, Wilmer Watts, Frank Hutchison, Fruit Jar Guzzlers, Skip James, Lowe Stokes, and Sleepy John Estes among others
1.Blind Willie Johnson / I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole
2.Ashleys Melody Men/ Bath House Blues
3.Frank Hutchinson / Worried Blues
4. Jelly Jaw Short / Snake Doctor Blues
5. East Texa Serenders / Acorn Stomp
6. Carlisle Brothers / Sal Got A Meatskin
7. Sleepy John Estes / Streetcar Blues
8. Luke Highnight& His Ozark Strutters / Fort Smith Breakdown
9. Wilmer Watts & His Lonely Eagles / Sleepy Desert
10. Son House / Walking Blue
11. Allison's Sacred Harp Singers / Sweet Rivers
12. Williamson Brothers & Curry / Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand
13. Charlie Patton / Mean Black Cat
14. Lowe Stokes / Billy In The Lowground
15. Jelly Roll Anderson / Good Time Blues
16. Fiddling John Carson & His VirginiaI Reelers / Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over
17. Fruit Jar Guzzlers / Steel Driving Man
18. Skip James / I'm So Glad
19. Uncle Dave Macon & His Fruit Jar Drinkers /Rock About My Sara Jane
20. Cap, Andy, and Flip / I'm Taking My Audition To Sing Up In The Sky
21. Buster Johnson & James Cole's Washboard Band / Undertaker Blues
22. Oscar Harper’s Texas String Band / Sally Johnson
23. Fa Sol La Singers / I'll Stay On The Right Road Now
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.4
1. Lowe Bonnie - Jimmie Tarlton
2. Early Morning Blues - William Harris
3. Billy In The Lowground - Burnett & Rutherford
4. Rambling Gambler - Dixon Brothers
5. Every Day In The Week Blues - Pink Anderson/Simmie Dooley
6. I Got A Bulldog - Sweet Brothers
7. Tom Cat Blues - Cliff Carlisle
8. Preacher Blues - Hi Henry Brown
9. Salt River - Kessinger Brothers
10. Blushing Bride - Golden Melody Boys
11. Kiss Me Quick - Georgia Yellow Hammers
12. Magnolia Blues - Charlie Patton
13. Perrodin Two Step - Angelas Le Jeunne
14. Bachelor's Hall - Fiddling John Carson
15. Walking Shoes (Button Up Shoes) - Tommy Johnson
16. Wolves Howling - Stripling Brothers
17. Mistreated The Only Friend You Had - James Cole & His Washboard Band
18. Havana River Glide - Martin & Hobbs
19. I Want Two Wings To Veil My Face - Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers
20. Make Down The Bed And We'll All Sleep Together - Jess Hillard & His West Virginia Hillbillies
21. Special Rider Blues - Skip James
22. Walk Right In Belmont - Watts & Wilson
23. Leaving All To Follow Jesus - Rev. Rice & Congregation
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.5
Vol. 5 includes such gems as Sam McGee's bright "Railroad Blues," Skip James' classic and striking "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues," a breakneck version of "Black-Eyed Susie" by string band great J.P. Nestor, and a unusually hopeful blues treatment of "Some Happy Day" from Charley Patton. Since everything is drawn from exceedingly rare 78s, many of which were played to death by their original owners, there is a fair amount of ambient needle noise on several of these tracks, but that only adds to the overall feel of history actually coming alive that is inherent to these kinds of compilations. Well selected, varied, and artfully sequenced, Times Ain't Like They Used to Be, Vol. 5 is yet another welcome addition to a hopefully never-ending series.
01. Sam McGee – Railroad Blues
02. Floyd County Ramblers – Step Stone
03. Skip James – Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues
04. Weems String Band – Greenback Dollar
05. Jimmie Davis – Doggone That Train]
06. Eli Framer – Framer’s Blues
07. Roy Harvey & Jess Johnston – No Room for a Tramp
08. Garland Brothers & Grinstead – Just Over the River [2:49]
09. Ben Covington – Mule Skinner Moan
10. Reaves White County Ramblers – Shortening Bread
11. J.P. Nestor & Norman Edmonds – Black-Eyed Susie
12. Buddy Boy Hawkins – A Rag Blues [3:00]
13. Roy Harvey & Jess Johnston – Railroad Blues
14. Grayson County Railsplitters – Way Down in North Carolina 15. The Swamp Rooters (A.A. Gray & Lowe Stokes) – Citaco
16. Unknown Artist – Pistol Blues [3:02]
17. Murphy Brothers Band – Boat Song March
18. Frank Blevins & His Tar Heels Rattlers – I’ve Got No Honey Babe Now
19. Wilmer Watts and The Lonely Eagles – Bonnie Bess
20. Blind Joe Reynolds – Cold Woman Blues
21. Wyzee, Tucker & Lecroy – Hamilton’s Special Breakdown 22. Bull Mountain Moonshiners – Johnny Goodwin
23. Charley Patton – Some Happy Day
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.6
Each volume in Yazoo Records' Times Ain't Like They Used to Be series collects 1920s and '30s commercial 78s, and taken together they project a vital and energetic early-20th century rural America of jug and string bands, country blues players, fiddlers, banjoists, sacred singers, and musical roustabouts of every conceivable rustic style imaginable. This process makes each volume remarkably similar even as the particular artists and songs included on each may be tremendously different. Vol. 6 includes such rare gems as Isaiah Nettles' (listed here under his moniker "the Mississippi Moaner") quirky "It's Cold in China Blues," Skip James' haunting "Cherry Ball Blues," an energetic "Davy" by the Weems String Band, and the second part of Charley Patton's two-part 78-rpm recording of "Prayer of Death."
01. Birkhead & Lane - Robinson County
02. Floyd County Ramblers - Aunt Dinah’s Quilting Party
03. Mississippi Moaner - It’s Cold in China
04. Parker & Dodd - Sail Away Lady
05. Uncle Dave Macon and his Fruit Jar Drinkers - I’m Going Away in the Morn
06. Tenderfoot Edwards - Seven Sister Blues [2:55]
07. Virginia Mountain Boomers - Cousin Sally Brown
08. Girls of the Golden West - Whoopee Ti-Yi-Yo Git Along Little Dogies
09. Skip James - Cherry Ball Blues
10. Roy Harvey & Jess Johnston - Milwaukee Blues
11. Weems String Band - Davy
12. Eli Framer - God Didn’t Make Me No Monkey Man
13. Eck Robertson - Sally Gooden
14. Jess Johnston & Byrd Moore - My Trouble Blues
15. Charley Patton - Prayer of Death, Part 2
16. Red Headed Fiddlers - Cheat ’Em
17. Dewey & Gassie Bassett - Jesus Paved the Way
18. Louis Lasky - Caroline
19. The Swamp Rooters - Swamp Cat Rag
20. Reaves White County Ramblers - Ten Cent Piece
21. Blind Joe Reynolds - Ninety Nine Blues
22. Jess Hillard and his West Virginia Hillbillies - Rolling River
23. Turney Brothers - At the Cross
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.7
Volume 7 includes such rare gems as Jimmie Tarlton's impressive "Dixie Mail," Skip James' haunting "Hard Luck Child," an unhinged fiddle and banjo duet by Ben Jarrell and Francis Jenkins on "Jack of Diamonds" and the first part of Son House's classic two-part 78 rpm recording of "Dry Spell Blues."
1. Dilly & His Dill Pickles - Bust Down Stomp
2. Jimmie Tarlton - Dixie Mail
3. King Solomon Hill - Times Has Done Got Hard
4. East Texas Serenaders - Meneola Rag
5. Sheffield Male Quartet Christ Arose
6. "Gitfiddle Jim" - Rainy Night Blues
7. Three Tobacco Tags - Good Gal Remember Me
8. Red Headed Fiddlers - Texas Quickstep
9. Ed Bell - Ham Bone blues
10. David Miller _ Cannonball Rag
11. Fiddlin John Carson & His Virginia Reelers - Little More Sugar in the
12. Bo Weavil Jackson - Devil and my Brown Blues
13. Stripling Brothers - Horseshoe Bend
14. Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers - Primrose Hill
15. Skip James - Hard Luck child
16. Uncle Dave Macon & Sam McGee - Go On, Nora Lee
17. Dennis McGee - Jeunes Gens Campagnard
18. Jay Bird Coleman - I'm Gonna Cross The River Of Jordon Some Of These Days
19. Uncle Pete & Louise - Only A Tramp
20. Ben Jarrell & Frank Jenkins - Jack of Diamnds
21. Son Houe - Dry Spell Blues - Park 1
22. "Ted" Sharp, Hinman & Sharp - Pike's Peak
23. Old Southern Sacred Singers - I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go
Various Artists - Times Ain't Like They Used to Be Vol.8
Volume 8 is a little heavier on the blues side of things and includes such rare gems as Dock Boggs' banjo blues set piece "Sugar Baby," Skip James' haunting rendering of "4 O'Clock Blues" (made especially precious by sounding like it was recorded in a hail storm), Frank Hutchison's sleek and timeless "The Train That Carried My Girl from Town," and Francis Jenkins' ancient sounding fiddle ballad, "Roving Cowboy," which sounds a bit like an inland sea shanty
1. Vaughan Quartet - It's Just Like Heaven
2. Red Headed Fiddler - The Steeley Rag
3. "Gitfiddle Jim" - Paddllin' Blues
4. Dilly & His Dill Pickles - Sand Mountain
5. Dock Boggs - Sugar Baby
6. King Solomon Hill - My Buddy Blind Papa Lemon
7. Stripling Brothers - The Lost Child
8. Frank Hutchison - The Train That Carried My Girl From Town
9. Bo Weavil Jackson - You Can't Keep No Brown
10. Wright Brothers Quartet - Mother Is With The Angels
11. Dick Reinhart - Rambling Lover
12. Skip James - 4 O'Clock Blues
13. Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters - Yellow Rose of Texas
14. Johnny Barfield - Gonna Ride Till The Sun Goes Down
15. Ed Bell - Mamlish Blues
16. "Ted" Sharp, Hinman and Sharp - Robinson County
17. Dennis McGee - Vaise Des Vachers
18. David Miller - Jailhouse Rag
19. Tommy Johnson - I Want Someone To Love Me
20. Uncle Dave Macon & McGee Bros. - Tennessee Tornado
21. Frank Jenkins - Roving Cowboy
22. Shelor Family - Big Bend Gal
23. Rev. W.M. Mosely - Yes! Tis Me
46 super rarities - classic performances of early blues and old country music from the 1920s and 30s, including 2 never heard before selections by Son House.
