Search - Blind Willie Mctell :: Classic Years 1927-1940

Exceptionally thorough box set

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 02/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Statesboro Blues", anyone? No, it's not an Allman Brothers original, although they've always done well by it.



Unlike the Allmans, William Samuel McTell never had a hit record, and even people who know a little bit about the blues sometimes tend to forget about him when they talk about the greatness of Robert Johnson, Son House or Big Bill Broonzy.



But he deserves better than that. Blind Willie McTell a wonderful singer, not a raspy powerhouse vocalist like Charlie (sic!) Patton, sure, but a clear, expressive tenor, and one of the finest acoustic blues guitarists you're ever likely to hear. You'll be looking for the name of the second guitarist on several of these waxings and realize that McTell is doing it all on his own.



And he was much more than just a one-trick pony, too; "Statesboro Blues" may be the best known song here, but there are plenty of other truly memorable numbers, including the beautiful slide guitar blues "Mama, 'Tain't Long Fo' Day" and the crisp "Writin' Paper Blues".



This box set looks a bit cartoonish, sure, the kind of low-budget stuff of dubious provenance that you buy at your local Wall-mart. But it's not. It is a thoroughly assembled, well annotated set, and the asking price is exceedingly reasonable.



If you've listened to a lot of 20s blues recordings you'll know that the sound quality usually isn't all that impressive eighty-some years later. It frequenty sucks, in fact.

But these carefully selected masters are a pleasant surprise. Only a few of the mid-'30s sides and the relatively primiive non-commercial Lomax-sides have some surface noise; otherwise the sound quality is very good, the equal of any pre-war McTell compilation on the market for sure, and perhaps more than that. And all four discs are well annotated, including thorough recording information. Nice job, JSP, as always.



Unlike Catfish's otherwise excellent three-disc compilation "The Definitive Blind Willie McTell", this set includes McTell's religious sides, too, as well as several minutes of very interesting interview snippets conducted by John Lomax during the 1940 session. (Willie McTell sounds strikingly urbane, more so than the 73-year-old John Lomax, who adresses him in a condescending manner, and seemingly doesn't understand or appreciate McTell's elegant, sophisticated brand of blues.)



McTell's sides with vocalist Ruth Willis are here as well, and plenty of sides with fellow guitarist Curly Weaver, making this the definitive overview of the music of Blind Willie McTell at the height of his abilities. This is the one to go for if you want anything more than just a sampler."

A True Poet of The Blues

D. B Pepper | Plainview, NY United States | 12/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blind Willie McTell was a true poet of the blues and also a master guitar player. Songs like "Statesboro Blues," "Writin' Paper Blues," "Ticket Agent Blues," "Talkin' To Myself," "Love Changin' Blues," "Lay Some Flowers On My Grave" and "Teasin' Brown" are all magnificent highlights of this 4 cd set. The only drawbacks are the lousy vocals of the female singers whom McTell backs on some of the tracks, and the extremely racist views that Lomax holds, and demonstrates on disc 4. Otherwise, this is a wonderful buy."

Brilliant,get it.

foomum | Swansea,Wales,U.K. | 07/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I came to this box set having heard nothing of the music of Blind Willie McTell,I just thought I'd take a chance.I do not regret it for one solitary second,the whole set is brilliant.Unlike some more famous blues artists,Mr.McTell sang in a soft voice that displays his regional accent.He sang clear and he sang sweet.His guitar playing is fantastic,it's hard to believe that there is only one player on a lot of these recordings,but's that indeed how it is,and thanks to the clarity of the vast majority of the recordings,I would recommend this set without reserve."