[.ca] Blind Lemon Jefferson

From Amazon.com:
Jefferson is considered to be the father of Texas blues, and with good reason. Unlike many early blues legends that lived and died in relative obscurity, Lemon was highly popular during his lifetime. Not only did he influence other bluesmen, but he also left quite an impression on country music father Jimmie Rodgers and western swing pioneers Bob Wills and Milton Brown. As a guitarist, Jefferson had few peers. His capability to throw off unexpected and complex phrases was legendary. Lemon's playing was accompanied by a high and lonesome voice that complemented his formidable songwriting skills. This CD is a reissue of a '70s double vinyl disc set, and it contains most of his best work including his only slide piece "Jack O' Diamonds," one of his many versions of "Matchbox Blues," and the amazing "Rabbit Foot Blues." One would be hard-pressed to find a bluesman of greater depth and skill than Mr. Jefferson. --Lars Gandil

Superb sound, imperfect track list:
Milestone's Blind Lemon Jefferson-collection gathers 25 of the seminal Texas bluesman's best songs, including the eerie "Black Snake Moan", the macabre "Hangman's Blues", and the classic "Jack O' Diamonds Blues", and the sound is surprisingly good. (Yes, I wish it had been better, too, but the original masters are long lost, and compared to other Blind Lemon-compilations, this one is actually very impressive.) The only downside is that the song selection is not as good as it could have been...several of Lemon's best songs are missing, including "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and "'Lectric Chair Blues". But the sound? Really good.

• Jack O' Diamonds Blues
• Chock House Blues
• Stocking Feet Blues
• That Black Snake Woman
• Shuckin' Sugar Blues
• Rabbit Foot Blues
• Bad Luck Blues
• Broke and Hungry
• Easy Rider Blues
• Match Box Blues
• Rising High Water Blues
• Teddy Bear Blues
• Lonesome House Blues
• Sunshine Special
• Change My Luck Blues
• Prison Cell Blues
• Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues
• Lock Step Blues
• Hangman's Blues
• Mosquito Moan
• Southern Woman Blues
• Baker Shop Blues
• Pneumonia Blues
• Long Distance Moan
• That Growling Baby Blues