here is the NFO file from Indietorrents
Anthology info
Winner of three 2003 Grammy awards.
“If I made records for my own pleasure, I would only record Charley Patton songs.” – Bob Dylan
Historical revisionism has writ large the name of Robert Johnson in blues annals while according Charley Patton a comparative footnote. One of the founders of Mississippi Delta blues, Patton (1891-1934) was already the long-reigning kingpin of Delta bluesmen when Johnson was still in short pants. Take a listen and hear why many consider Patton the best there ever was.
Possessor of a driving, percussive guitar style, a gravel-encrusted holler, often improvisatory lyrics, complex rhythmic dynamics, an unequalled ‘talking’ bottleneck and a deep reservoir of melodic hooks, Patton conjured up songstuffs that gave vent to both a restless artistic temperament and a palpable, lingering rage. Hear why John Fahey posits him as a pilgrim of the ominous, one of the earliest progenitors of Fire Music, powered by something wholly other which Patton himself did not understand. And, though less romantic than the oft-trod portrait of Patton as an ego-ruled sociopath, David Evans’ painstaking new research into Patton’s personality reveals why folks like Bukka White and Pops Staples considered Patton a “great man.”
A 7-CD primer on Mississippi Delta blues with Charley Patton as the central, generative figure, this set features 5 CDs with all issued and unissued recordings by Patton and sessionmates Son House, Willie Brown, Louise Johnson, Henry ‘Son’ Sims, Bertha Lee, Delta Big Four, Buddy Boy Hawkins, Edith North Johnson, and even talent scout HC Speir; a 6th CD of artists in Charley’s “orbit” like Ma Rainey, Howlin’ Wolf, Poor Boy Lofton, Kid Bailey, Walter Rhodes, Rube Lacy, Blind Joe Reynolds (newly discovered track!), Tommy Johnson and Pops Staples; and a 7th CD of interviews with Patton associates Staples, Wolf, Speir and Patton protégé Booker Miller. All tracks are fully remastered and pitch-corrected from the best possible sources, resulting in the definitive versions of this material.
Allmusic:
Perhaps the most sumptuous, nay incredible, box set package ever devised for a blues artist, this lavish production contains seven CDs that not only contain everything Patton recorded as a soloist, but a ton of peripheral tracks to which he contributed or was associated. Yes, this has all 54 known extant Patton performances (including four unissued alternate takes), but that is, quite literally, not the half of it. There are also cuts recorded by other acts at Patton’s sessions, including Walter Hawkins, Edith North Johnson, Henry Sims, Willie Brown, Son House, Louise Johnson, the gospel quartet the Delta Big Four, and Bertha Lee. Some of these he played on; some of them he might have played on; and some of them he didn’t play on, though he knew (or might have known, anyway) the musicians. There are even a couple of test recordings of Paramount talent scout H.C. Speir reading headlines, which takes even this sort of fanaticism to the extreme, but why not the whole nine yards, right? Then there’s an entire disc of tracks by other blues artists, spanning 1924 to 1957 (though mostly weighted toward the early years of that period), spotlighting songs that were related to Patton’s repertoire, or inspired in some way by songs in his discography. That CD includes some pretty big names, like Ma Rainey, Furry Lewis, Tommy Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, Son House, Joe Williams, and even the Staple Singers, though room’s also made for unknowns, including one “Blues” by Unidentified Convict. And then there’s an entire disc of interviews about Patton with Howlin’ Wolf, Rev. Booker Miller, H.C. Speir, and Pops Staples; the Rev. Booker Miller portion is more entertaining than most such spoken recordings, as he occasionally plays some guitar himself to illustrate points. Patton’s own tracks are consistently inspired Delta blues, though the sound quality inevitably varies widely, sometimes coming through quite clearly, at other times fighting a wall of static. One’s interest in the non-Patton selections, other than those on the solid CD of Patton-related tunes and Patton-inspired performers, might vary. Certainly the Son House 1930 recordings (including “Preachin’ the Blues”) are classic Delta blues songs in any setting, as are the far more obscure ones by Willie Brown. However, others, such as the ones by Edith North Johnson and the Delta Big Four, bear vaudevillian jazz and gospel influences that Delta blues fans might not take a shine to. The non-Patton tracks, too, sometimes suffer from unavoidably poor sound quality due to the extremely rough shape of the only surviving original copies.
On top of all this, the packaging is extraordinary by any measure, and would take a lengthy review in itself to even cursorily summarize. Suffice it to say that if you’re a serious Patton fan (and it’s hard to imagine you’ll get this if you’re not), you’re in for several hours of entertainment even when the CDs aren’t in the stereo. The set is packaged like a vintage, full-sized photo album, in the manner “albums” of discs were assembled prior to the invention of the 33 1/3 RPM LP, with slots for each of the seven CDs. There are 128 pages of portfolio-sized liner notes, including essays on Patton and his records, transcriptions of all of the lyrics, stories behind most of the songs/tracks, a “thematic catalogue” of Patton’s music, photos, reproductions of old advertisements for 78s, repros of the labels on the original 78s, even an interview with a noted bluesologist about collecting original releases from the artist. Thrown in is the complete 112-page book that John Fahey wrote about Patton in 1970 (an actual book, separate from the liner notes) as part of a series of monographs for Blues Paperbacks, and a reprint of the liner notes Bernard Klatzko wrote for the first Patton compilation, The Immortal Charlie Patton.
Due to the expense and zealous completism of this release, most blues fans will be content to limit themselves to an intelligent single-CD compilation of Patton’s work, such as Yazoo’s Founder of the Delta Blues. If you have any serious hunger to go beyond that, though, and are wondering whether to splurge on this museum-quality piece — do it. It truly is the last word, and one of the most impressively packaged box sets in all of popular music.
tracks: disc 1
1 Pony Blues Charley Patton 3:00
2 A Spoonful Blues Charley Patton 3:11
3 Down the Dirt Road Blues Charley Patton 2:59
4 Prayer of Death, Pt. 1 Charley Patton 3:07
5 Prayer of Death, Pt. 2 Charley Patton 2:52
6 Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues Charley Patton 3:09
7 Banty Rooster Blues Charley Patton 3:04
8 Tom Rushen Blues Charley Patton 3:08
9 It Won’t Be Long Charley Patton 3:28
10 Shake It and Break It (But Don’t Let It Fall Mama) Charley Patton 3:07
11 Pea Vine Blues Charley Patton 3:05
12 Mississippi Boweavil Blues Charley Patton 3:10
13 Lord, I’m Discouraged Charley Patton 3:09
14 I’m Goin’ Home Charley Patton 3:14
15 Snatch It and Grab It Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins 3:07
16 A Rag Blues Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins 3:01
17 How Come Mama Blues Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins 3:07
18 Voice Throwin’ Blues Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins 3:01
tracks: disc 2
1 High Water Everywhere, Pt. 1 Charley Patton 3:00
2 High Water Everywhere, Pt. 2 Charley Patton 2:59
3 I Shall Not Be Moved Charley Patton 3:05
4 Rattlesnake Blues Charley Patton 2:47
5 Going to Move to Alabama Charley Patton 3:01
6 Hammer Blues Charley Patton 3:16
7 Joe Kirby Charley Patton 3:09
8 Frankie and Albert Charley Patton 3:09
9 Devil Sent the Rain Blues Charley Patton 2:57
10 Magnolia Blues Charley Patton 3:03
11 Runnin’ Wild Blues Charley Patton 2:56
12 Some Happy Day Charley Patton 3:09
13 Mean Black Moan Charley Patton 3:17
14 Green River Blues Charley Patton 3:15
15 That’s My Man Edith North Johnson 3:39
16 Honey Dripper Blues No. 2 Edith North Johnson 3:10
17 Eight Hour Woman Edith North Johnson 2:47
18 Nickel’s Worth of Liver Blues No. 2 Edith North Johnson 2:38
tracks: disc 3
1 Jim Lee, Pt. 1 Charley Patton 3:05
2 Jim Lee, Pt. 2 Charley Patton 3:01
3 Mean Black Cat Blue Charley Patton 2:54
4 Jesus Is a Dying Bed Maker Charley Patton 2:52
5 Elder Greene Blues Charley Patton 3:03
6 When Your Way Gets Dark Charley Patton 3:08
7 Some These Day’s I’ll Be Gone Charley Patton 3:08
8 Heart Like Railroad Steel Charley Patton 2:50
9 Circle Round the Moon Charley Patton 2:33
10 You’re Gonna Need Somebody When You Die Charley Patton 2:59
11 Be True Be True Blues Henry “Son” Sims 3:02
12 Farrell Blues Henry “Son” Sims 3:07
13 Tell Me Man Blues Henry “Son” Sims 3:13
14 Come Back Corrina Henry “Son” Sims 3:07
tracks: disc 4
1 Some Summer Day Charley Patton 3:03
2 Bird Nest Bound Charley Patton 3:20
3 Future Blues Willie Brown 3:00
4 Mando Blues Willie Brown 3:18
5 Walkin Blues Son House 2:56
6 My Black Mama, Pt. 1 Son House 3:07
7 My Black Mama, Pt. 2 Son House 3:14
8 Preachin’ the Blues, Pt. 1 Son House 3:04
9 Preachin’ the Blues, Pt. 2 Son House 2:54
10 Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 1 Son House 3:11
11 Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 2 Son House 3:24
12 All Night Long Blues Louise Johnson 3:12
13 On the Wall Louise Johnson 3:04
14 All Night Long Blues Louise Johnson 3:03
15 By the Moon and Stars Louise Johnson 2:53
16 Long Ways from Home Louise Johnson 3:27
tracks: disc 5
1 Dry Well Blues Charley Patton 3:20
2 Moon Going Down Charley Patton 3:25
3 We All Gonna Face the Rising Sun Delta Big Four 3:39
4 Moaner Let’s Go Down in the Valley Delta Big Four 3:01
5 Jesus Got His Arms Around Me Delta Big Four 3:10
6 God Won’t Forsake His Own Delta Big Four 3:22
7 I’ll Be Here Delta Big Four 3:09
8 Where Was Eve Sleeping? Delta Big Four 3:17
9 I Know My Time Ain’t Long Delta Big Four 3:13
10 Watch and Pray Delta Big Four 3:10
11 Paramount Test 1 – 4/19/30 Headlines H.C. Speir 3:42
12 Paramount Test 2 – 4/12/30 Headlines H.C. Speir 3:13
13 High Sherrif Blues Charley Patton 3:13
14 Stone Pony Blues Charley Patton 2:54
15 Jersey Bull Blues Charley Patton 3:10
16 Hang It on the Wall Charley Patton 2:46
17 34 Blues Charley Patton 2:59
18 Love My Stuff Charley Patton 2:58
19 Poor Me Charley Patton 3:00
20 Revenue Man Blues Charley Patton 2:53
21 Troubles ‘Bout My Mother Charley Patton feat. Bertha Lee 2:57
22 Oh Death Charley Patton feat. Bertha Lee 3:00
23 Yellow Bee Bertha Lou 2:54
24 Mind Reader Blues Bertha Lou 2:53
tracks: disc 6
1 Booze and Blues Ma Rainey 3:11
2 The Crowing Rooster Walter Rhodes 3:25
3 I Will Turn Your Money Green Furry Lewis 3:11
4 Ham Hound Crave Reverend Rubin Lacy 2:58
5 Bye Bye Blues Tommy Johnson 3:04
6 Maggie Campbell Blues Tommy Johnson 3:28
7 Big Road Blues Tommy Johnson 3:13
8 Kansas City Blues William Harris 3:04
9 Rowdy Blues Kid Bailey 3:06
10 Mississippi Bottom Blues Kid Bailey 2:57
11 Cold Woman Blues Blind Joe Reynolds 2:59
12 Sitting on Top of the World Mississippi Sheiks 3:04
13 Just a Spoonful Charley Jordan 2:41
14 Banty Rooster Charley Patton feat. Blind Pete, George Ryan 2:17
15 My Grey Pony Big Joe Williams 3:11
16 Dark Road Blues Willie Lofton 3:04
17 Blues Charley Patton 2:56
18 Sic ‘Em Dogs On Bukka White 2:23
19 Po’ Boy Bukka White 2:51
20 Make Me a Pallet on the Floor Willie Brown 3:26
21 County Farm Blues Son House 2:12
22 Saddle My Pray Howlin’ Wolf 2:34
23 Forty-Four Howlin’ Wolf 2:49
24 Too Close Roebuck “Pops” Staples 5:22
tracks: disc 7
1 The Howlin’ Wolf Pete Welding 2:05
2 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:45
3 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:59
4 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:50
5 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 2:59
6 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:09
7 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:46
8 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 2:27
9 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:14
10 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:47
11 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 6:31
12 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:08
13 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:22
14 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 7:13
15 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 2:49
16 Booker Miller Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:31
17 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 4:40
18 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:51
19 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 2:35
20 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:10
21 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:11
22 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 1:30
23 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 0:36
24 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 2:08
25 HC Speir Gayle Dean Wardlow 4:18
26 Roebuck “Pops” Staples Chris Strachwitz 1:59