Times Ain't Like They Used to Be, Vol. 1 (1997)

About this title: These are 23 rare 78s from the 1920s and 1930s, chosen to illustrate the wide range of "early American rural music" that made its way onto disc in the early days of the recording industry. This will not get nearly as much press as Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music box, yet it's on par with that ballyhooed re-release as an overview of the roots of American roots music, so to speak. Styles vary from country blues and fiddle hoedowns to banjo music and jug bands. The Memphis Jug Band is the only name here that might be familiar to more than the most well-versed folk historians. ... read more

Tracks:

1. Blues in a Bottle
2. Dollar Bill Blues
3. Lost John Dean
4. Streak of Lean, Streak of Fat
5. Sinking of the Titanic
6. Tennesse Girls
7. Shotgun Blues
8. Train on the Island [Nestor]
9. The Fault's in Me
10. The Tail of Haley's Comet
11. Wake up You Drowsey Sleeper
12. How You Want Your Rollin' Done
13. Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
14. On the Road Again [Shade]
15. The Dying Soldier [Carter]
16. Voice Throwin' Blues
17. Been on the Job Too Long
18. Fannie Moore
19. I Got Your Ice Cold Nugrape
20. The Old Miller's Will
21. Skinner
22. How to Make Love
23. Old Jimmie Sutton

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.