Compiled from rare 78s, newly remastered. Includes liner notes by Stephen Calt and Don Kent.
Personnel: Charley Patton (vocals, guitar); Willie T. Brown (guitar); Henry "Son" Sims (violin).
Liner Note Authors: Don Kent; Stephen Calt.
Charlie Patton is one of the originators, innovators, and undisputed masters of the Delta Blues. Often overlooked in favor of Robert Johnson (who was heavily influenced by Patton), Patton is stylistically unique and seems to have no antecedents. With a highly imaginative and percussive guitar technique, an almost overpoweringly strong, guttural baritone, and a raw, exuberant energy that sometimes borders on punk, Patton barrels through the 23 tracks on this Yazoo compilation with ferocious intensity.
Featured here are some of his finest sides, including "Revenue Man Blues," "Pea Vine Blues," and the ragtime-inflected "Hang It On The Wall." Though many tracks feature the accompaniment of a second guitar, a violin, or harmony vocals, it is Patton's astounding guitar attack that fills the space. By varying dynamics, plucking strings, and banging on the guitar, Paton's playing echoes vocal phrases, displays thumb-work, and accentuates beats and counter-rhythms. His voice--fierce, sensitive, and deeply soulful--packs an unbelievable punch. This is especially clear on such gospel-based tunes as "Oh Death," a chilling, call-and-response duet with his wife, Bertha Lee Patton, that is arguably the highlight of the set. KING is an essential purchase for anyone remotely interested in the blues. minimize