Definitive Charley Patton CD

The story of Delta blues starts with Charley Patton's slashing slide style, hoarse and gruff vocals, and unerring ability to enliven and enlarge even the most mundane blues lyric. Patton's 78s have been collected in several fine packages, including the JSP box called Complete Recordings: 1929-1934, Catfish's nifty three-disc budget box called The Definitive Charley Patton (this is a straight reissue of that set via Recall), and the last word in all this, the impressive (and expensive) seven-disc Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues from Revenant Records. For those without deep pockets, though, this package really has everything at a decent price, including Patton's best-known songs like "Pony Blues," the two-part "High Water Everywhere," "Down the Dirt Road Blues," "High Sheriff Blues," "A Spoonful Blues," and "Revenue Man Blues." Since Patton's rhythms and overall approach can be repetitive at times, casual listeners wondering what all the fuss is about might be better served with a single-disc release (there are several on the market), but Patton's work is both the big bang and the epicenter of country blues, so going a little deeper and springing for this one makes perfect sense. ~ Steve Leggett

The digital remastering on this compilation is just as superior to any previous attempts to transcribe Patton's marginally recorded and preserved legacy as that of the Document discs. And as it is only slightly less thorough -- the Document discs include extra takes on "Elder Green Blues," "Hammer Blues," and "Some of these Days I'll Be Gone" -- this compilation seems the likely choice for anyone with an interest in pre-war Delta blues. Both affordable and handsomely packaged, the three-disc box includes extensive liner notes written by blues historians Keith Briggs and Alex Van Der Tuuk, with reminiscences by Patton crony Son House. ~ Travis Drageset

Three CD set that compiles the 58 tracks he recorded between 1929 and his death in 1934.Charley Patton was the godfather of the Delta Blues with his style of playing inspiring the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Son House and Robert Johnson. Charly. 2007.Uncut (p.115) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[T]he intensity in his voice is self-evident."
The Wire (6/01, p.67) - "...It's not often that a budget price reissue deserves the tag indispensable..."
Living Blues (7-8/01, p.82) - "...The sound is excellent....the perfect Patton set for those who can live without the handful of unissued tracks."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/02, p.71) - Included in Mojo's "Best Blues Albums of 2001".
Mojo (Publisher) (6/01, p.118) - "...This is the 1st time those battered old 78s have been remastered to a standard which actually renders them listenable....He wasn't built to last, but his music was."