Essential Delta Blues / Various

I'm glad I got these three before they fell of the radar. I see the Chess compilation already has and this will almost certainly be next.The packaging is flawless, the recording quality is as good as could possible be hoped for and they just about exhausted the limits of each and every CD cramming them full of familiar (and mostly not so familiar) musicAs a Son House fanatic you can bet that "Walking Blues" is among my absolute favorites (listen to the train pass by in the background) but who cares: I have 50 top rate songs to pick from at less than $10. I will bet this set will be far above $10 in a year.

Let me be upfront and clear - I love Delta Blues guitar work and the integrity of emotion that can only come from living a life trapped in the hard situation found during the birth of these blues. This is a time that is past and will most likely never be recreated again - thankfully for those involved. That said, these times did create an intense state of music and lyrics that I am most thankful were captured for me to appreciate and empathize with.These two discs do capture many of the great delta bluesmen performing many of there best works. I feel it is a fine compilation of the works from the era.I tend to like the songs with a spiritual bent and those expressing the deep lonesomeness of hopelessness associated with being trapped in a hard and uncaring society with no way out. My favorite song by far is "Dark Was The Night - Cold Was The Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson. The guitar actually speaks to you in blue words while the lyrics are only spiritual moans - a deep powerfully sad and blue emotion. No amount of money could ever produce such a song. Listening to these blues it is easy to see how musicians who have a deep love of what music can emote were attracted to the Delta Blues era. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Eric Clapton, amongst many others, were all fascinated with the sound and emotion created in this era. The stories in the songs run from the standard male/female relations, spirituals, death and down and out hopelessness.If you are looking for smooth voices and songs to dance to, don't think about these recordings. These recordings are deep sadness and expressions of human emotions which help all survive rough times.The recordings go all the way back to the late 1920's and many are surprisingly good for the era and situation in which they were recorded.If you appreciate raw talent and deep emotion - enjoy it all!!!

A good collection of older blues music. Wish it had some real liner notes on the artists. That's why I didn't give it 5 stars... Some of the music is a little scratchy, but hey, some of this stuff was recorded 80 - 90 years ago. We like it because it shows us where the blues came from.

If you'er curious about the Delta blues, this is a good starting point.

ok

Is a great item and a great price and fast service, Thanks

good collection

The music is excellent, however, it is my belief that these are bootlegs. When ripping to disk, Windows Media Player identifies the tracks completely differently.

The music is excellent and is a must for anyone interested in the history of the blues. Unfortunately the case was damaged inside the sellophane packing.

god quality!

Outstanding genuine brilliance.

50 original tracks to enjoy... i love how the 2 discs look like tiny vinyl records!

Sounding like they were meant to be - not tampered with to any degree and evocative of the period - bluesy !