The Blues: The Best of 1920–1996

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▶CD: Pre‐War Blues
2▼CD: Pre‐War Blues
#TitleArtistLength
1Welfare Blues
Josh White3:26
2Mister Tom Hughes’ Town
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1935-02-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Lead Belly (on 1935-02-05)
Lead Belly3:05
3Cross Road Blues
recorded in:
San Antonio, Texas, United States (on 1936-11-27)
recording engineer:
Vincent Liebler
executive producer:
Art Satherly
producer:
Don Law
guitar:
Robert Johnson (on 1936-11-27)
vocals:
Robert Johnson (on 1936-11-27)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Soul Jam Records (in 2015)
recorded at:
Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, United States (on 1936-11-27)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1986) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 481)
recording of:
Cross Road Blues (a/k/a “Crossroads”) (on 1936-11-27)
lyricist and composer:
Robert Johnson
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty. Limited, Encore Music, King of Spades Music, Lehsem II, LLC, MPCA King of Spades, Noma Music Inc., Paul Rodriguez Music Ltd., Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner Chappell Music Ltd.
Robert Johnson2:41
4Boogie Woogie Prayer, Part 1
piano:
Albert Ammons (on 1938-12-30), Pete Johnson (on 1938-12-30) and Meade Lux Lewis (on 1938-12-30)
The Boogie Woogie Boys2:22
5Roll ’Em Pete
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1938-12-30)
piano:
Pete Johnson (on 1938-12-30)
vocals:
Joe Turner (on 1938-12-30)
recording of:
Roll ’em Pete (on 1938-12-30)
writer:
Pete Johnson and Big Joe Turner
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd.
Pete Johnson & Big Joe Turner2:50
6I’m a Stranger Here
recorded in:
Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1939-07-12)
guitar:
Blind Boy Fuller (on 1939-07-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Terry (on 1939-07-12)
vocals:
Blind Boy Fuller (on 1939-07-12)
publisher:
Wabash Music Co.
recording of:
I’m a Stranger Here (on 1939-07-12)
lyricist and composer:
Fulton Allen
Blind Boy Fuller2:56
7Parchman Farm Blues
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1940-03-07)
guitar and lead vocals:
Bukka White (on 1940-03-07)
washboard:
Washboard Sam (on 1940-03-07)
vocals:
Bukka White (on 1940-03-07)
recording of:
Parchman Farm Blues (on 1940-03-07)
lyricist and composer:
Bukka White
recording of:
Parchman Farm (in 1940)
lyricist and composer:
Mose Allison
publisher:
Jazz Editions
Bukka White2:39
8Death of Blind Boy Fuller
Brownie McGhee2:59
9Key to the Highway
guitar:
Big Bill Broonzy (on 1941-05-02)
harmonica:
Jazz Gillum (on 1941-05-02)
washboard:
Washboard Sam (on 1941-05-02)
vocals:
Big Bill Broonzy (on 1941-05-02)
recording of:
Key to the Highway (on 1941-05-02)
writer:
Big Bill Broonzy and Charles Segar
publisher:
Duchess Music Corporation, MCA Duchess Music Corporation, Songs of Universal, Inc., Universal Duchess Music Corp. and Wabash Music Co.
Big Bill Broonzy3:01
10Cross Cut Saw Blues
recording of:
Cross Cut Saw Blues
writer:
[unknown]
publisher:
Irving Music, Inc.
Tony Hollins2:51
11Junker Blues
recording of:
Junker’s Blues
lyricist and composer:
Willie “Drive ’Em Down” Hall
Champion Jack Dupree2:42
12Macy Special
Big Maceo Merriweather2:43
13Hard Day Blues
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1946-09-27)
bass:
possibly Ransom Knowling (on 1946-08-27)
drums (drum set):
probably Judge Riley (on 1946-08-27)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (on 1946-08-27) and possibly Leroy Foster (on 1946-08-27)
piano:
James Clark (on 1946-08-27)
vocals:
Muddy Waters (on 1946-08-27)
recording of:
Hard Day Blues (on 1946-08-27)
writer:
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters2:51
14If the Sea Was Whiskey
recording of:
If the Sea Was Whiskey
writer:
Leonard Caston and Willie Dixon
Big Three Trio3:04
15Baby Please Don’t Go
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1941-12-12)
bass, washtub bass and washtub bass [imitation bass]:
Alfred Elkins (on 1941-12-12)
guitar and lead vocals:
Big Joe Williams (on 1941-12-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (on 1941-12-12)
vocals:
Big Joe Williams (on 1941-12-12)
recording of:
Baby, Please Don’t Go
lyricist and composer:
[traditional]
arranger:
Big Joe Williams
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music, Leeds Music Corp., MCA Music, MCA Music Ltd. and Universal/MCA Music Ltd.
version of:
Another Man Done Gone
Big Joe Williams2:49
16Contrary Mary
recorded in:
Houston, Texas, United States (in 1952)
bass:
Donald Cooks
guitar:
Lightnin’ Hopkins
vocals:
Lightnin’ Hopkins
recording of:
Contrary Mary
lyricist and composer:
Robert Ellen
Lightnin’ Hopkins2:40
3▶CD: Women Got the Blues
4▶CD: The Blues Revival to the Present