Mississippi John Hurt - The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt (1967)

John Smith Hurt (1892 - 1966), better known as Mississippi John Hurt was an influential country-blues guitar player and singer. Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, John taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. His first recording sessions were in 1928 for Okeh Records, but after these were a commercial failure, he continues his work as a farmer. After a couple of his early recordings were released on Harry Smith's Anthology Of Folk Music, there was a interest in his music in the folk revival scene. When an Australian man found a recording of "Avalon Blues" there became an increased interest in finding Mississippi John Hurt himself. in 1963, folk musicologist Tom Hoskins, was able to locate Mississippi John Hurt in Avalon, Mississippi, using the lyrics to "Avalon Blues". While in Avalon, Tom Hoskins encouraged Mississippi John Hurt to move to Washinton D.C. and continue to perform. During the final years of his life, Mississippi John Hurt performed extensively, including a performance at 1964's Newport Folk Festival and recorded three albums for Vanguard records.

One of the rediscovered Mississippi John Hurt's 1960's albums, and one of the best country-blues albums ever recorded. One of the most honestly gentle recordings I've ever heard.

Tracklist:
1. Since I've Laid My Burden Down
2. Moaning The Blues
3. Buck Dance
4. Lazy Blues
5. Richland Women Blues
6. Tender Virgins
7. Hop Joint
8. Monday Morning Blues
9. I've Got The Blues And I Can't Be Satisfied
10. Keep On Knocking
11. Chicken
12. Stagolee
13. Nearer My God To Thee

Download: megaupload

Leadbelly & Woody Guthrie - Folkways: The Original Vision (1988)

In 1988, Folkways records released the grammy winning tribute album to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly titled "Folkways: A Vision Shared", which featured covers of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly recorded by popular artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, and more. Along with that release, they also released this album, which contains the original recordings by Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. However, one song that was on the tribute album is absent from this album due to the fact that there's no known recording of it, but instead they've added 6 bonus tracks that aren't on the tribute album.

Tracklist:
1. Leadbelly - Sylvie
2. Woody Guthrie - Pretty Boy Floyd
3. Woody Guthrie - Do Re Mi
4. Woody Guthrie - I Ain't Got No Home
5. Woody Guthrie - Jesus Christ
6. Leadbelly - Rock Island Line
7. Leadbelly, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee - 4, 5, and 9
8. Will Geer - Will Geer Reading Guthrie
9. Woody Guthrie - Hard Travelling
10. Leadbelly - Fannin Street
11. Woody Guthrie - Philadelphia Lawyer
12. Woody Guthrie - Hobo's Lullaby
13. Leadbelly - The Bourgeois Blues
14. Leadbelly - Gray Goose
15. Leadbelly - Goodnight Irene
16. Woody Guthrie - Vigilante Man
17. Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land
18. Woody Guthrie - Woody's Rag (Hard Work)
19. Leadbelly - The Midnight Special
20. Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Houston, and Sonny Terry - We Shall Be Free

Downloaded: mediafire

This post's dedicated to G.K.

Various Artists - The Rain Don't Fall On Me: Country Blues 1927 - 1952 (2010)

It's not secret that I'm a huge fan of old country blues music, so when I found this album, released on Mississippi Records, I didn't have to think twice about picking it up. Many of the artists here can also be found on Harry Smith's Anthology Of American Folk Music.

Tracklist:
1. Gary Davis - You Got To Go Down
2. Sam Hopkins - Needed Time
3. Henry Thomas - Bull Doze Blues
4. Bukka White - The Panama Limited
5. Willie Mae Williams - Don't Want To Go There
6. William More - One Way Gal
7. Sonny Boy And His Pals - Don't You Leave Me Here
8. Eddie Head - Down On Me
9. Memphis Minnie - Frankie Jean
10. Texas Alexander - Levee Camp Man
11. Bayless Rose - Black Dog Blues
12. Garfield Akers - Cottonfield Blues Pt. 1
13. Lulu Jackson - You're Going To Leave The Old Home Jim
14. Willie Johnson - The Rain Don't Fall On Me

Download: mediafire