Founder of the Delta Blues
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 March, 1995)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $17.98
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Editorial Review

Although the title of founder might not be exactly accurate, Patton does cast a giant shadow over Mississippi blues. His background as a medicine show entertainer made him more than the typical brooding bluesman. Much of his repertoire was upbeat and just plain fun. Take, for instance, his rendition of "Shake It and Break It": the gravelly voiced Patton snaps his strings and taps out the rhythm on his guitar while not missing a beat. His slide numbers like "High Sheriff" and "When Your Way Gets Dark" are beautiful melodic pieces seldom matched by his peers. He was also an early mentor of Robert Johnson, who probably picked up his trademark descending bass run from Patton. Charley was one of the true greats and is required listening for Delta blues fans. --Lars Gandil ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A classic album, but not the best available sound quality
This one was considered THE Charlie Patton-compilaton for many long years. Originally released in 1969, "Founder Of The Delta Blues" includes almost all of Patton's best songs, from "Pony Blues" to "High Sheriff Blues", and it is still a very fine overview of Charlie Patton's recording career. But it has now been overtaken, fidelity-wise, by the magnificent JSP box set "The Complete Recordings 1929-34", and the single-disc retrospective "Pony Blues: His 23 Greatest Songs" from the Austrian Wolf label, as well as a couple of other recent compilations.

Where it all begins
Charlie Patton has been described by some as probably the first artist to record and popularize the delta sound. Whether that's true or not, this CD still contains the most amazing collection of musical styles and techniques - Patton attacks and taps his bass strings like a fusion jazz bassist, plays rhythmic sections that can later be heard in '70s dance music,and of course prepares the listener for the emergence of rock, country and folk styles. This is really pre-blues, and is an absolutely critical album in understanding the roots of everyone from Son House to Taj Mahal. If I had been wearing socks when I first listened to it, you can bet they would have been knocked off...

Dirt-poor acoustics, but great Charlie Patton
If you were listening to this disc with headphones, you'd probably go nuts -- the sound quality is that primitive (about as primitive as it gets!). But once you get used to it, and if you can listen to it on a stereo, I guarantee you'll have a totally different experience. This recording was done over four years (1929-34), so the track quality varies. Generally, though, there's such a deep, lazy, and magnetic ambience to Charlie Patton's music that it shines right through poor LP acoustics and seventy years of history. Good luck figuring out what Patton is actually saying (his enunciation is right up there with Bob Dylan's), but the music is what counts, right?! A rich and unique recording. Recommended. ... Read more

Asin: B000000G8M

Complete Recordings 1929-34
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 September, 2002)
list price: $28.98 -- our price: $25.99
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Reviews (7)

The best!
The JSP label's blues box sets featuring Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell and Big Bill Broonzy are among the best-sounding prewar blues compilations on the market, and this is without a doubt the best Patton-collection of all. Just look at the price! All of Charlie Patton's awesome recordings, as well as several sides featuring him as a sideman, and a number of recordings by Patton-associates like Willie Brown, Louise Johnson and Son House (all of House's 1930 Paramount singles are included). And this music have never sounded better than it does on this exquisitely remastered and well-annotated collection.
Patton and Son House were the two most important and certainly most influential prewar blues singers, as well as being two of the most impressive. All serious blues lovers should have this fine boxed set in their collection.

POOR RECORDING BUT GOOD
ITS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY WHAT PATTON IS SAYING BUT ITS THERE SO WITH THAT BEING SAID I HAVE TO SAY IT IS A GOOD RECORDING. THAT DARK HAUNTING AND EERIE SOUND IS PART OF THE BLUES AND NO ONE DID IT BETTER FOR HIS TIME THAN CHARLEY PATTON HIMSELF. HE WAS THE BEST AND THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWD AFTER HIM INCLUDING ROBERT JOHNSON SHOW HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IVE WALWAYS SAID IF ANY ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO MUSIC THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO THE GREATONES AND CHARLEY WAS JUST THAT SO ILL GIVE 3 1/2 STARS TO A VERY GOOD COLLECTION. OH AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO BUY OTHER RECORDINGS OF HIS WORK FORGET IT THIS IS THE BEST REMASTERD AND RESTORED COLLECTION OF HIS WORK ON THE MARKET.

nice, for the price.
i have another 5-disc compilation from this same company, and both were 25 bucks for 5 cds. very nice.

the mastering is decent, and the liner notes tell the story of charley patton in five parts. since describing the tracks or music that is actually contained on the cd is nearly impossible, i will spare you a lengthy bunch of confusion. i can tell you that charley patton was doing blues before most people were doing blues. he was one of the first recorded artists in this style, which is why these cds say he is the "acknowledged king of the delta blues" all over them. ... Read more

Asin: B00006BIO0
Sales Rank: 8027
Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop   

Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 October, 2001)
list price: $169.98 -- our price: $152.99
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Editorial Review

Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton is the musical equivalent of a limited-edition, fine-press book, and it's easily one of the most beautiful collections of recorded music ever assembled. Exquisitely designed, this 78-album-inspired, seven-CD package contains a wealth of information and music, featuring not only the Delta blues pioneer's complete recorded works, but the music of peripheral players (including Son House, Howlin' Wolf, and Henry "Son" Sims), a disc of fascinating audio interviews with Patton associates, and hours of reading material on the enigmatic songster.

It's hard not to romanticize the music contained within this set as you open its retro-looking slipcase, but Patton (1887-1934) doesn't let you down. Under the haze of 78 rpm record hiss, his 50-odd preserved recordings spellbind with great guitar playing and moving lyrics about love, loss, and catastrophes. Who cares if his life lacked the mystique of Robert Johnson, or his low, growling voice wasn't the creepy falsetto of Skip James? Patton's repertoire was unparalleled; his guitar playing--punctuated by striking syncopated, percussive beats--is always in tune and precise; and his slide playing is full subtle whines and flourishes. These remastered tracks sound better than ever, but there's still plenty of hiss (for some tunes, just one abused and poorly pressed record has survived). Copious, scholarly (and, at times, a little arcane) liner notes debate and survey Patton's mysterious life and tunes; the complete lyrics to his songs are included, too--no small feat. But it's the music--utterly raw, striking, and influential blues--that steals the show here.

Revenant Records has outdone itself--this is a poignant dream project that label cofounder/guitar great John Fahey didn't live long enough to see completed--and it's well worth every penny. Only a handful of musical artists deserve this lavish a treatment; as evidenced here, Patton--the first great Delta blues musician on record--is certainly one of them. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (20)

This Has To Be Seen (and Heard) To Be Believed
"Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton" is without a doubt the most impressive box set I have ever seen. The astronomical cost is justifiable once you see the craftsmanhip, love and pride that has been put into this overwhelming set.
The attention to detail is so phenomenal that this will be the box set by which all others are judged (and believe me, they will come up short). Presented in reproduction of the original 78 rpms (the exterior covers, album sleeves and cardboard reproduction of the vinyl on which the CDs are mounted) helps to bring back the feel of a time long gone.
There are biographies, advertising poster reproductions, album label reproductions and the sound quality is perhaps the best I've heard for this sort of transfer. This set even has the music and reminiscences of Patton's contemporaries.
If I could find one thing wrong with it that would be that I am now disappointed with all my other "Complete Works of..." and other box sets. All other recording labels should look at this and hang their heads in shame.

The Most Phenomenal Box Set Packaging in Human History
Charley Patton was the most important bluesman of his day. He was a guitar hero. He was a model of excellence. He chronicled his era in song. Today, unfortunately, he is all but forgotten outside of the cult of historic blues lovers.
I am so happy that a tribute of this scope and enormity has been paid to Charley Patton. This box set is a work of art. The set resembles a folio of 78 r.p.m. records, and includes 2 books,one of which was authored by the late, great John Fahey(this set was his dream),regularly sells on Ebay for in excess of $100, 7 CDs which are attached to cardboard 78s in folio sleeves, reproduction stickers of the labels of all of Charley Patton's records,the cloth portions of the cover are embossed ,it's absolutely beautiful. All commentary is by noted blues scholars, Dick Spottswood, David Evans, and the afforementioned angel, John Fahey. There may be more, I'm still pouring over this amazing accomplishment and relishing all it's intricacies, it's a shame John Fahey did not live to see it's completion, but I'm sure he's looking down smiling, and proud. Revenant has always been a great label, and this is it's crowning achievement. When I die I want this set right in the coffin with me!

Best. Album. EVER.
This is the musical equivalent of a family Bible. You will pass it down from children to grandchildren. It cannot be likened to any other boxed set I have ever seen - not even the lavish and fantastic Bear Family country and rockabilly sets from Germany. The Folkways reissue of the Anthology of American Folk Music comes close in look and feel, but it's still 100 miles behind.

There are three points that I would make to a potential purchaser that may not be totally obvious:

1. These recordings sound really, really good for those on the old Paramount label - where the recordings were done poorly, no metal parts exist, and all extant CDs are dubbed from 78 RPM shellac pressings, some of which are in pretty bad shape (at one point the only existing copy of Willie Brown's "Future Blues" was broken in half!). I have not heard JSP's Patton boxed set, which would seem to be a great substitute at $25 for somebody who does not want to pay $150. However, I do have JSP's "Legends of the Country Blues," which has the 1930 Son House Paramount recordings that are on disc 4 of this set. This sounds much better. The JSP sounds more No-Noised to me, while this sounds more alive on the high end. I say that as someone who has bought a lot of the JSP sets, and who would have no hesitation recommending their work generally.

2. This is not 7 CDs of just Charley Patton. This is a really good introduction to pre-Robert Johnson Delta blues. You get all the Paramount recordings of Son House, Willie Brown and Louise Johnson, two of whom were seminal figures, and the last of whom was just fun. (Somebody ought to make a movie about the roadtrip Patton, House, Brown and Johnson took to Wisconsin to record these tracks. They could get Charles Dutton to play the guy from the Delta Big Four who drove them.) You get a CD of some pretty essential stuff by various artists, including Tommy Johnson. You get the Delta Big Four, Son Sims and some others. You get a CD of interviews.

3. It's bittersweet to say, but this set may get overtaken by future discoveries. It's criminally ironic that a full-body, first-generation photo of Charley Patton finally surfaced a year after this box came out. Also, it's known that there are other Patton recordings for which 78s have yet to be found; they may turn up if they haven't already.

You KNOW you want to buy it. Don't you? ... Read more

Asin: B00005QD75