Reissue of 1949 release. McTell’s influence is wide: his ‘Statesboro Blues’ was done by the early Allman Brothers Band, Bob Dylan penned a song entitled ‘Blind Willie McTell’ with the lyrics ‘nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell’, and the White Stripes covered ‘Southern Can Mama’ on their album DeStijl. McTell played country blues with elements of Piedmont Blues, jazz stylings and some ragtime (much of side 2 here is in these styles). Many of these songs are gospel, which was rare for him to play in his earlier days. A very fine collection. All worth a play. No FCC’s.

*My Favorites*: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Side 1
1. *Mid. Upbeat w/ strong guitar.
2. *Mid. Jazzy w/ a driving beat.
3. Mid. Nice vocal delivery w/ trills.
4. Mid. Take 2 of song #3 above. Different w/ high register humming of a backing singer.
5. *Mid. Another w/ backing singing. McTell’s voice soars. Nice guitar.


Side 2
6. *Slow / Mid. A bit jazzy w/ really nice guitar work and soaring vocal.
7. *Mid. Title track. Upbeat w/ driving guitar and backing vocals.
8. *MId. Upbeat jazzy song w/ backing vocal. Great stuff.
9. *Mid / Fast. Upbeat w/ backing vocal, great guitar w/ McTell egging on his partner.
10. *MId. Backing vocal, guitars ablaze, great harmonizing.
11. *Slow / Mid. Dirge w/ steady guitar beat, great singing.