The Blues: A Smithsonian Collection of Classic Blues Singers

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Disc 1, Mirrored): DIDP-079962 3
Mould SID Code (Disc 1): IFPI 5089
Matrix / Runout (Disc 2, Mirrored): DIDP-079963 3
Mould SID Code (Disc 2): IFPI 5069
Matrix / Runout (Disc 3, Mirrored): DIDP-079964 2
Mould SID Code (Disc 3): IFPI 5087
Matrix / Runout (Disc 4, Mirrored): DIDP-079965 1

Annotation last modified on 2025-08-09 12:47 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD
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4▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Louisiana Blues
bass:
Ernest "Big" Crawford
guitar and vocal:
Muddy Waters (blues musician)
harmonica:
Little Walter (blues performer and songwriter)
washboard:
Elgin Evans
recording of:
Louisiana Blues
writer:
Muddy Waters (blues musician)
Muddy Waters2:57
2Honey Bee
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1950-10-23)
double bass [bass]:
Ernest "Big" Crawford (on 1951-01-23)
guitar:
Little Walter (blues performer and songwriter) (on 1951-01-23) and Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1951-01-23)
vocals:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1951-01-23)
recording of:
Honey Bee (on 1951-01-23)
writer:
Muddy Waters (blues musician)
Muddy Waters33:24
3Reconsider Baby
guitar:
Lowell Fulson (on 1954-09-27)
membranophone:
Harold “Chick” Booth (on 1954-09-27)
piano:
Paul Drake (blues pianist) (on 1954-09-27)
saxophone:
Julian Beasley (on 1954-09-27), Choker Campbell (on 1954-09-27), Leroy Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1954-09-27) and David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1954-09-27)
trombone:
Fats Morris (trombonist) (on 1954-09-27)
trumpet:
Phil Gibeau (on 1954-09-27)
vocals:
Lowell Fulson (on 1954-09-27)
recording of:
Reconsider Baby (on 1954-09-27)
lyricist and composer:
Lowell Fulson
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
Lowell Fulson3:13
4Eyesight to the Blind
recorded in:
Jackson, Mississippi, United States (on 1951-03-12)
recording engineer:
Bill Holford (on 1951-03-12)
producer:
Lillian McMurry
double bass:
Henry Reed (US blues bassist) (on 1951-03-12)
drums (drum set):
Joe Dyson (US blues drummer and bandleader) (on 1951-03-12)
guitar:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1951-03-12)
piano:
Willie Love (American Delta blues pianist) (on 1951-03-12)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1951-03-12)
recording of:
Eyesight to the Blind (on 1951-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
publisher:
Algonquin Music Inc., Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI)
Sonny Boy Williamson3:03
5Monkey Woman Blues
bass:
Israel Crosby
piano:
Jimmy Yancey
recording of:
Monkey Woman Blues
writer:
Jimmy Yancey and Mama Yancey
Jimmy and Mama Yancey4:08
6Hound Dog
recorded in:
Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1952-08-13)
recording engineer and mixer:
Joel Moss
assistant engineer:
Tom Hardisty (film score engineer), Brandon Harris (US engineer) and Sue McLean
producer:
Hummie Mann, Johnny Otis and Marc Shaiman (American score composer and lyricist)
editor:
Curtis Roush
double bass [bass]:
Albert Winston (R&B bassist) (on 1952-08-13)
drums (drum set):
Leard Bell (R&B drummer) (on 1952-08-13)
guitar:
Pete Lewis (on 1952-08-13)
piano:
Devonia Williams (US R&B pianist/singer) (on 1952-08-13)
vibraphone [vibes]:
Johnny Otis (on 1952-08-13)
vocals:
Big Mama Thornton (on 1952-08-13)
orchestra:
Johnny Otis & His Orchestra (on 1952-08-13)
conductor:
Artie Kane
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2006)
recording of:
Hound Dog (on 1952-08-13)
lyricist:
Jerry Leiber (on 1952-08-12)
composer:
Mike Stoller (on 1952-08-12)
previously attributed to:
Johnny Otis
publisher:
Chappell Morris Ltd., Cherry Lane, Cherry Lane Music, Cherry Lane Music Publishing, Elvis Presley Music, Gladys Music, Lion Publishing Co., MCA Music Inc. (US-based music publishers), MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country‐specific information is available), Universal/MCA Music (music publisher; do not use as release label!), Williamson Music Company and Williamson Music, Inc.
Big Mama Thornton4.652:52
7Mystery Train
drums (drum set):
John Bowers (drummer)
guitar:
Pat Hare and Floyd Murphy
piano:
Bill Johnson (blues pianist)
tenor saxophone:
Raymond Hill
vocal:
Junior Parker
Junior Parker2:25
8Hoodoo Man
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1953-06-08)
bass guitar:
Dave Myers
drums (drum set):
Fred Below
guitar:
Elmore James and Louis Myers (Blues musician, 1929-1994)
harmonica:
Junior Wells
piano:
Johnnie Jones (Chicago blues pianist)
vocals:
Junior Wells
recording of:
Hoodoo Man Blues
writer:
Junior Wells
publisher:
The Bluesharp Music Co.
Junior Wells3:08
9Every Day I Have the Blues
vocal:
Joe Williams (US jazz vocalist)
orchestra:
The Count Basie Orchestra
recording of:
Everyday I Have the Blues
lyricist, composer and revised by:
Peter Chatman
writer:
Memphis Slim, Aaron ‘Pinetop’ Sparks (1930s blues & boogie-woogie pianist) (in 1935) and Milton Sparks (in 1935)
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), BMG Platinum Songs, Fort Knox Music Co, Fort Knox Music Inc., Golden State Songs, Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Trio Music Co., Inc., Trio Music Company and Tristan Music Ltd.
Joe Williams5:29
10Smokestack Lightnin'
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1956-01)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1956-01)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (in 1956-01)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (in 1956-01) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1956-01)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1956-01)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1956-01)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 285)
recording of:
Smokestack Lightning (in 1956-01)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Howlin’ Wolf33:08
11The Sky Is Cryin'
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1959-11)
bass guitar:
Homesick James (in 1959-11)
drums (drum set):
Odie Payne (American Chicago blues drummer) (in 1959-11)
guitar:
Elmore James (in 1959-11)
piano:
Little Johnny Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (in 1959-11)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1959-11) and J.T. Brown (saxophonist) (in 1959-11)
lead vocals:
Elmore James
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1991)
recording of:
The Sky Is Crying (in 1959-11)
lyricist and composer:
Elmore James
publisher:
Longitude Music Co.
Elmore James4.52:51
12Woman Blues Boogie
piano and vocal:
Memphis Slim
recording of:
Woman Blues Boogie
writer:
Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim3:11
13Farther Up the Road
drums (drum set):
Sonny Freeman
guitar:
Pat Hare
tenor saxophone:
Bill Harvey (saxophone)
vocal:
Bobby “Blue” Bland
recording of:
Farther Up the Road
writer:
Deadric Malone and Joe Veasey
publisher:
Duchess Music Corp. and Universal Duchess Music Corp.
Bobby “Blue” Bland33:00
14I'll Take Care of You
bass:
Hamp Simmons
drums (drum set):
John Starks
guitar:
Wayne Bennett (blues guitarist)
oboe and piano:
Teddy Reynolds
vocal:
Bobby “Blue” Bland
recording of:
I’ll Take Care of You
lyricist and composer:
Brook Benton
publisher:
Clyde Otis Music Group, Inc. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Leosong Copyright Service Ltd., MCA Music (not for release label use! this is a music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated) and Sony/ATV Melody
Bobby “Blue” Bland2:22
15The First Time I Met the Blues
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Donald Hankins (Saxophonist) (on 1960-03-02)
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1960-03-02)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1960-03-02)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1960-03-02)
piano:
Little Brother Montgomery (on 1960-03-02)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Jarett Gibson (on 1960-03-02), Jarrett Gibson (Blues tenor saxophonist) (on 1960-03-02) and Bob Neely (on 1960-03-02)
vocals:
Buddy Guy (on 1960-03-02)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1960)
recorded at:
Chess Studios in Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1960-03-02)
recording of:
First Time I Met the Blues (on 1960-03-02)
composer:
Eurreal Montgomery
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Flomont Music, Flomont Music Publishing Co. and Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
cover recording of:
First Time I Met the Blues
composer:
Eurreal Montgomery
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Flomont Music, Flomont Music Publishing Co. and Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Buddy Guy32:22
16Rooster Blues
drums (drum set):
Kenneth Sample
guitar and vocal:
Lightnin’ Slim (blues)
harmonica:
Lazy Lester
recording of:
Rooster Blues
writer:
Lightnin’ Slim (blues)
Lightnin’ Slim2:35
17So Many Roads, So Many Trains
bass:
Willie Dixon
drums (drum set):
Odie Payne (American Chicago blues drummer)
guitar:
Matt Murphy (US blues guitarist) and Otis Rush
piano:
Lafayette Leake
tenor saxophone:
Bob Neely
vocal:
Otis Rush
recording of:
So Many Roads
writer:
Otis Rush
Otis Rush33:14
18Big Boss Man
double bass [acoustic bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1960-03-29)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Earl Phillips (on 1960-03-29)
guitar:
Lefty Bates (on 1960-03-29), Lee Baker (US blues singer and guitarist, aka Lonnie Brooks) (on 1960-03-29) and Jimmy Reed (blues musician) (on 1960-03-29)
harmonica:
Jimmy Reed (blues musician) (on 1960-03-29)
vocals:
Mama Reed (on 1960-03-29) and Jimmy Reed (blues musician) (on 1960-03-29)
cover recording of:
Big Boss Man (on 1960-03-29)
writer:
Luther Dixon and Al Smith (US blues artist)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Conrad Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Conrad Publishing Co. Inc., EMI Unart Catalog Inc., EMI United Partnership Ltd., Mijac Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK), Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Tristan Music Ltd., フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ロックンロール ミュージック (Rock ’n’ Roll Music)
Jimmy Reed2:51
19I Got a Woman
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1954-11-18)
bass:
Jimmy Bell (jazz bassist) (on 1954-11-18)
drums (drum set):
Glenn Brooks (on 1954-11-18)
guitar:
Wesley Jackson (US R&B guitarist) (on 1954-11-18)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1954-11-18)
solo tenor saxophone:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1954-11-18)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1954-11-18) and Charles "Clanky" Whitley (on 1954-11-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1954-11-18)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
WGST Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, United States (on 1954-11-18)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2019) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 235)
recording of:
I Got a Woman (on 1954-11-18)
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) and Renald Richard
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd., Mijac Music, Progressive Music Pub. Co., Unichappell Music, Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner/Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Ray Charles4.52:54
20Join the Army
guitar and vocal:
Henry Johnson (East coast blues singer and guitarist)
recording of:
Join the Army
writer:
Henry Johnson (East coast blues singer and guitarist)
Henry Johnson3:39
21Let's Straighten It Out
bass:
Willie “Beaver” Hale
drums (drum set):
H‐Bomb Ferguson
electric piano and vocal:
Latimore (US blues/R&B singer, songwriter and pianist)
Latimore3:29
22Dog Days of August
guitar and vocal:
John Cephas
harmonica:
Phil Wiggins
recording of:
Dog Days of August
writer:
John Cephas and Phil Wiggins
Cephas & Wiggins5:14

Credits

Release

liner notes:W. K. McNeil (liner notes related)
producer:Dennis Britton
W. K. McNeil (liner notes related)
Bruce Talbot
mastering:John Tyler (American engineer)
manufactured by:Sony Music Special Products
copyrighted (©) by:Smithsonian Institution
phonographic copyright (℗) by:Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP)
glass mastered at:DADC
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/12076013 [info]