Topic: Highest fidelity/quality country blues recordings?

[cc132]

Back in 1997 or so RCA/BMG did a series of reissues of artists who originally recorded for Victor and Bluebird.  While some of these were necessarily taken from records, when possible these were remastered from the original metal masters.  The songs remastered from metal sound simply stunning, by far the best reproduction I've heard of music from the 78 era.  My only regret is that, though it was announced several times, the Willie McTell disc never saw the light of day. 

Any idea what that album is called?  I'd love to track it down.

I thought of another one this morning: Willie Walkers three cuts are all absolutely fantastic quality. 

[banjochris]

The series was called When the Sun Goes Down, if memory serves.

[dj]

Any idea what that album is called?  I'd love to track it down.

The series I'm thinking of was called <Artist Name> The Bluebird Recordings 19xx - 19xx.

I know they released the following recordings (all a single chronological CD unless otherwise noted):

Jazz Gillum
Tommy McClennan (one double CD)
Memphis Slim
Big Maceo (tow single CDs)
Robert Lee McCoy
Tampa Red (two double CDs)
Sonny Boy Williamson (two single CDs)

There may have been others that I missed on my shelves or never got.  As I said in my previous post, the Willie McTell Victor Recordings disc was announced several times but never actually released.
 

[banjochris]

I'll have to look out for those -- the When the Sun Goes Down series, which was 4 volumes, definitely had some stuff from metal parts as well -- I remember hearing Panama Limited (might have been New Frisco Train but I think it was Panama) on this set and being amazed by the sound quality.

[Blind Arthur]

^^I have the Tommy McClennan one and it?s a single CD

[uncle bud]

The McTell disc in the When the Sun Goes Down Series, called Statesboro Blues, is worth it for McTell nuts. Somewhat cleaner versions of Drive Away Blues, Stole Rider, and a couple others, even compared to Yazoo's Best of, plus significantly improved takes of Mr. McTell Got the Blues. Plus informative notes by David Evans, as I recall.

[dj]

I have the Tommy McClennan one and it?s a single CD

Interesting.  I have it sitting in front of me.  Tommy McClennan: The Bluebird Recordings 1939 - 1942.  RCA 07863 67430-2.  Copyright 1997 BMG Entertainment.  This one has two discs.

[Blind Arthur]

Excuse me. I made a mistake.
The one I have is not at all from RCA... It?s EMP Blues Collection 158702 "A Guitar King 1939/42".