Mississippi Blues - Vol. 3-Catfish Blues 1936-42 (CD)

Robert Petway is famous recording the first version of 'Catfish Blues', which has provided the template for innumerable versions ever since. The fourteen titles here reveal a strongly rhythmic approach, a growling voice, and those little self-encouraging asides - all trademarks of Tommy McClennan. There are, at times, traces of contemporary Chicago, and particularly Bluebird, sounds in numbers like 'Rockin' Chair Blues', which has a writer's credit to 'McClennan - Broonzy'. McClennan even crops up in person on 'Boogie Woogie Woman', a dynamic performance which Chris Smith so accurately describes as "as close as we shall ever get to Saturday night at the Three Forks juke". Matilda Witherspoon is a fascinating singer, though with a meagre legacy of just three songs, 'Peel Your Banana' remaining unissued. On 'Hard Working Woman' her voice almost has the timbre of a New Orleans Jazz trumpeter, whilst 'Happy Home Blues' uses the melody of '44 Blues'. She is accompanied on guitars by her partner (musical and otherwise) Eugene 'Sonny Boy Nelson' Powell and his musical buddy Willie Harris; the latter sings on the memorable 'Low Down' and is accompanied by Bo Carter of The Mississippi Sheiks. 'Pony Blues', the final number of the session and not related to any of the more famous songs of the same name is a powerful, driving track and something of a minor classic. Nelson's recordings of later years, following his 'rediscovery' do little more than hint at the accomplished playing on these sides.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Catfish Blues
2. Ride 'Em on Down
3. Rockin' Chair Blues
4. My Little Girl
5. Let Me Be Your Boss
6. Left My Baby Crying
7. Sleepy Woman Blues
8. Don't Go Down Baby
9. Bertha Lee Blues
10. Boogie Woogie Woman
11. Hollow Log Blues
12. In the Evening
13. My Baby Left Me
14. Cotton Pickin' Blues
15. A ; V Blues - Mississippi Matilda
16. Hard Working Woman - Mississippi Matilda
17. Happy Home Blues - Mississippi Matilda
18. Long Tall Woman - Sonny Boy Nelson
19. Low Down - Sonny Boy Nelson
20. Lovin' Blues - Sonny Boy Nelson
21. Street Walkin' - Sonny Boy Nelson
22. If You Don't Believe I'm Leaving Baby - Sonny Boy Nelson
23. Pony Blues - Sonny Boy Nelson