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NotRevGDavis:
Homework for my blues guitar lessons is to listen to as much Country Blues as possible and many different types to recognize different styles of playing.
There aren't many people here that listen to CB to get direction from (although people that happen to hear the music I listen to, stop and ask what or who I am listening to).

Here are just a few of the many questions I have.

I've been looking for an all acoustic Mississippi Fred McDowell recording does one exist?
Does "Cat-Iron" record under a different name and are there recordings available from this artist?
Is the JSP Charley Patton a good recording or is there something better I should purchase?
And finally would you consider Roscoe Holcomb Country Blues or Bluegrass? I'm just curious what others opinion is of his style is.

Thanks for your help,
Gary

Johnm:
Hi Gary,
I can't answer all of your questions, but I can answer a couple, I think.  There is a Fred McDowell CD on Fat Possum on which he is joined by the harmonica player Johnny Woods that is all acoustic, I think, and that is really good.  Cat Iron did one album in the late '50s for Folkways Records.  It is not currently available, but the Folkways catalog now belongs to Smithsonian Folkways Records, and my understanding is that they will burn discs for you (for a fee) of items in the Folkways catalog which are not currently available.  I would consider Roscoe Holcomb an Old-Time musician, with a very strong element of Country Blues in his music.  He was an amazing singer and player.
All best,
Johnm

frankie:

--- Quote from: NotRevGDavis on September 01, 2004, 09:14:00 AM ---to listen to as much Country Blues as possible

--- End quote ---

Excellent advice!


--- Quote from: NotRevGDavis on September 01, 2004, 09:14:00 AM ---Does "Cat-Iron" record under a different name and are there recordings available from this artist?

--- End quote ---

Can't help with this one - something in my memory says that this guys' real name was recently figured out by somebody on the prewarblues list... ?unless I'm getting that mixed up with someone else. ?If I am remembering that right, Cat-Iron turned out to be a garbling of his name as he stated it...


--- Quote from: NotRevGDavis on September 01, 2004, 09:14:00 AM ---Is the JSP Charley Patton a good recording or is there something better I should purchase?

--- End quote ---

It's essentially a bootleg of the Revenant set (minus the interview disc), which is undoubtedly the best. ?Expensive, though.


--- Quote from: NotRevGDavis on September 01, 2004, 09:14:00 AM ---And finally would you consider Roscoe Holcomb Country Blues or Bluegrass? I'm just curious what others opinion is of his style is.

--- End quote ---

Old-time!

uncle bud:
NotRGD:

For Fred McDowell, the releases on Arhoolie, Testament and Rounder are acoustic. Watch out for live albums on odd labels (they're often electric). The self-titled Rounder disc is great as are the Testament CDs IMO. I notice Arhoolie has a Best of disc you may want to consider. It looks excellent. The First Recordings disc is important as well for Fred-heads.

Cat-Iron - I will bow to John Miller on this one...

Charley Patton - Unless you want to splurge for the Revenant set, JSP will be good. I believe they just copied the Revenant, no?

Roscoe Holcomb is Appalachian/old-time, I think.

This reminds me - we should revive our recommended recordings list.

Edited to add: quick replies, fellas. BTW, Gary, you are doomed. Save money, listen to the Juke. ;)  Also, adding that I'm not 100% certain about all the Arhoolie material being acoustic. The stuff I have is.

waxwing:
JohnM, I thought you told us what Cat Iron's real name was in your class at PT in '03, no? I could check my MD. I think I remember you saying that Cat Iron was a mishearing by the recording engineer.
All for now.
John C.

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