Broke, Black and Blue [Box] (1999)

About this title: This four-disc, 100-track box set differs from most blues compendiums on a number of fronts. For openers, it focuses on the first 20 years of blues recordings, from 1924's "Barrelhouse Blues" by Ed Andrews to 1946's "Rhythm Mama" by Johnny Temple. Second, even though there are entries from artists like Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Big Joe Williams, Bukka White, and Lonnie Johnson, the box is not overloaded with big-name artists. Instead, the set leans toward more obscure names, like Big Boy Cleveland, Kid Brown, Chicken Wilson, Skeeter Hinton, "Mooch" Richardson, ... read more

Tracks:

1. Barrel House Blues [Andrews]
2. Georgia Stockade Blues [Delaney]
3. Sun Brimmers Blues [Weldon/Shade]
4. Going to Leave You Blues [Unknown]
5. Dry Bone Shuffle [Blind Blake]
6. Up Country Blues [Bailey]
7. Dead Drunk Blues [Thomas]
8. Original Stack O'Lee Blues [P.D.]
9. Easy Rider Don't You Deny My Name [Hicks]
10. Bo-Lita [Brown]
11. Everybody Help the Boys Come Home [Unknown]
12. Church Bells Blues [Jordan]
13. Two Ways to Texas [Unknown]
14. It Won't Be Long Now [Hicks/Lincoln]
15. Bottleneck Blues [Weaver/Beasley]
16. Rock Island Blues [Unknown Composer]
17. Midnight Blues [Moore]
18. Fare Thee Blues, Pt. 1 [Head]
19. My Monday Woman Blues [Jackson]
20. What's the Matter Blues [Stokes]
21. School Girl Blues [Unknown Composer]
22. Cool Drink of Water Blues [Johnson]
23. Left Alone Blues [Bracey]
24. T and T Blues [Richardson]
25. T.C. Johnson Blues [Johnson]
26. Ham Hound Crave [Lacey]
27. No More Women Blues [Alexander]
28. How Long, How Long Blues [Jackson]
29. Unknown Blues [Traditional]
30. Chicken Wilson Blues [Wilson]
31. Stack O' Lee Blues [Hurt/Traditional]
32. Broke and Hungry Blues [Howell]
33. Funny Feathers [Spivey/Ford]
34. Pitchin' Boogie [Ezell]
35. Mr. Devil Blues [Davenport]
36. Mississippi Bottom Blues [Unknown]
37. Weary Heart Blues [Wiggins]
38. Poor Man Blues [Townsend]
39. Framer's Blues [Framer]
40. Trinity River Blues [Walker]
41. Heavy Suitcase Blues [Taylor]
42. Traveling Mama Blues [Akers]
43. Jumpin' and Shoutin' Blues [Akers]
44. Bedside Blues [Thompkins]
45. Walking Blues [House]
46. Future Blues [Brown]
47. Long Ways from Home [Johnson]
48. Frisco Blues [Rose]
49. Good Boy Blues [Unknown]
50. No Special Rider Blues [Montgomery]
51. Married Man Blues [Reynolds]
52. Dupree Blues [Walker]
53. 22-20 Blues [James/Johnson]
54. Lonesome Road Blues [Traditional]
55. Midnight Hour Blues [Carr]
56. Fat Mama Blues [Williams]
57. Never Mind Blues [Unknown]
58. The Twelves (Dirty Dozens) [P.D.]
59. Little Leg Woman [Williams]
60. That's What My Baby Likes [Bogan]
61. Good Whiskey Blues [Bunch]
62. Strut That Thing [Lofton]
63. Teasin' Brown Blues [Lasky]
64. Cold Blooded Murder, No. 2 [Bumble Bee Slim/Eas]
65. Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind [Fuller]
66. Ashes in My Whiskey [Davis]
67. It's Cold in China Blues [Unknown Composer]
68. Jockey Blues [Public Domain]
69. Prisoner Blues [Watson]

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