Charley Patton: Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 2 (2013) [1929]
Charley Patton’s death on April 28, 1934 -- my birthday, but not my birth DATE! -- started me writing about the legendary bluesman’s complete discography, as reissued by Document Records through Jack White’s Third Man label, last year, so I figured it was time to dig into volume two.
Born near the farming town of Edwards, Mississippi, on a date long lost to historical record (but estimated to be 1891), Patton would live out much of his life within a one-hundred mile radius, including the famous Dockery Plantation -- pretty much the epicenter of the Delta blues.
It was there that young Charley did all he could to avoid working the cotton fields and applied himself, instead, to learning the art of blues guitar from several, never-recorded and thus, almost literally “pre-historic” forefathers, including one Henry Sloan.
Before long, Patton had graduated from apprentice to master, playing along with or inspiring other future icons like Son House, Tommy Johnson, Fiddlin' Joe Martin, McKinley Morganfield and Chester Burnett -- the latter two later known as Muddy Waters and the Howlin’ Wolf.
But, in his lifetime, Charley was probably the biggest star of the era, after cutting several hits (and eventual blues standards) for the Paramount label, in June of 1929, prompting them to invite him back to the company’s Wisconsin facilities before year’s end.
All sixteen of these sides were recorded in November and December of ‘29, and I’d be lying if I told you they are as good as the roll-call of classics found on volume one, but they do showcase a different side of Patton, not raising hell, but moaning his grief, always with his trademarked throaty howl.
The somber, sinister highlights include “Devil Sent the Rain Blues” (one of several tracks backed by Henry Sims, on violin), “Mean Cat Blues,” “Hammer Blues,” and “When Your Way Gets Dark” -- all of them possible templates for Charley’s most famous, ‘hell-bound’ disciple, Robert Johnson.
But you’ll also glimpse a few, frail rays of sunshine coming through the likes of “Elder Greene Blues,” “Some of These Days I'll Be Gone,” “Green River Blues” and the poetic “Heart Like Railroad Steel,” even though audio fidelity is especially patchy on this collection.
So consider volume two of these chronological works a proper trial-by-fire for those who would dare face the complete set’s daunting challenge, which is obviously best suited to more experienced Charley Patton and country blues enthusiasts than first time explorers.
I’ll see you again next year to talk about volume three ...
More Charley Patton: Complete Recorded Works Volume 1, Complete Recorded Works Volume 3, Complete Recorded Works Volume 4.
