Big Bill Broonzy – In Chronological Order, Volume 1, 1927-1932 – Document DOCD-5050 

Document Records, the superb collector’s label whose mission it remains to retrieve, recondition, and re-release in sequential order the comprehensive recorded works of the majority of Black artists beginning in the 1890s to the mid-20th century, provides a great service to those whose desire it is to fully understand the complete efforts of individual performers.  Document primarily specializes in the blues, gospel, sermons, spiritual, and jazz genres.  The label’s tireless efforts are to be applauded by fans of all these categories of recorded works.

Here we find the early mastery of Big Bill Broonzy in Volume one of 12 total in this Document Records series.  These earliest recordings represent a man of whom it is alleged to have devoted himself and his life to having a grand time, and to be a guide for up-and-coming blues artists.  These vital cuts find Broonzy solo, or with various aggregations including the likes, and strong support, of Georgia Tom Dorsey, Steele Smith, and John Thomas.  Here, Broonzy’s blues teem with the rough-hewn characteristics of acoustic country blues adjoined with the more polished sounds of the budding urban blues.  Broonzy eventually achieved abundant acclaim in Europe later in his celebrated career, but these initial sides are highly worthy exemplars of his blues proficiencies. 

Below are the CD’s running song titles.  Bravo, Document Records!

Song Titles

• House Rent Stomp
• Big Bill Blues (20373)
• Down In The Basement Blues
• Starvation Blues
• I Can’t Be Satisfied
• Grandma’s Farm
• Skoodle Do Do
• Tadpole Blues
• Skoodle Do Do
• Saturday Night Rub
• Pig Meat Strut
• Papa’s Getting’ Hot
• Police Station Blues
• They Can’t Do That
• State Street Woman
• Meanest Kind Of Blues
• I Got The Blues For My Baby
• The Banker’s Blues
• How You Want It Done?
• Too Too Train Blues
• Mistreatin’ Mamma
• Big Bill Blues
• Brown Skin Shuffle
• Stove Pipe Stomp
• Beedle Um Bum
• Selling That Stuff

Essential blues right here!