Blind Boy Fuller – Step It Up And Go: The Collection 1935-40 – 2CD

Blind Boy Fuller, born in 1904 in North Carolina, was one of the noted bluesmen of the Piedmont school of blues, alongside the likes of Blind Blake, Josh White and Buddy Moss. As a songwriter, singer and guitarist with a formidable fingerpicking style he occupies a significant niche in the history of blues during the late 1930s and into the 40s, prior to his untimely demise in 1941. His songs had honesty and integrity, reflecting his poor background, but also with a hokum humour redolent with double entendres. This 51-track 20CD collection comprises selected sides from the releases across his career on the Vocalion and Okeh labels, with tracks taken from as many of his sessions as possible in order to provide as representative an overview of his recorded output as we could, with notable titles featured including “Rag Mama Rag”, “Get Your Ya Yas Out” (borrowed by the Rolling Stones for an album title), "Lost Lover Blues” and “Step It Up And Go”. It includes recordings with some of his noted collaborators, including harmonica luminary Sonny Terry, guitarist Brownie McGhee and washboard player Bull City Red (aka George Washington. His music is listenable and entertaining, and this collection is an enlightening showcase for a noted bluesman.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Blind Boy Fuller: 1. Baby, I Don't Have To Worry -   2. Ain't It A Crying Shame -   3. Somebody's Been Playin' With That Thing -   4. Evil Hearted Woman -   5. Mama Let Me Lay It On You -   6. Rag Mama Rag -   7. Truckin' My Blues Away -   8. When Your Gal Packs Up And Leaves -   9. Keep Away From My Woman -   10. If You Don't Give Me What I Want -   11. Mamie -   12. My Baby Don't Mean Me No Good -   13. Boots And Shoes -   14. My Best Gal Gonna Leave Me -   15. Snake Woman Blues -   16. Throw Your Yas Yas Back In Jail -   17. Worried And Evil Man Blues -   18. I'm Going To Move (To The Edge Of Town) -   19. Mistreater, You're Going To Be Sorry -   20. Hungry Calf Blues -   21. Why Don't My Baby Write To Me? -   22. You Can Never Tell -   23. Corrine, What Makes You Treat Me So -   24. Some Day You're Gonna Be Sorry -   25. Walking And Looking Blues -

CD2:
Blind Boy Fuller: 1. Looking For My Woman #2 -   2. Mean And No Good Woman -   3. I'm A Good Stem Winder -   4. You've Got To Move It Out -   5. Mama Let Me Lay It On #2 -   6. Georgia Ham Mama -   7. Get Your Yas Yas Out -   8. You're Laughing Now -   9. Screaming And Crying -Blues -   10. Long Time Trucker -   11. Jivin' Woman Blues -   12. Jitterbug Rag -   13. Big Leg Woman Gets My Pay -   14. You've Got Something There -   15. Woman You Better Wake Up -   16. Jivin Big Bill Blues -   17. I Don't Care How Long -   18. Black Bottom Blues -   19. Three Ball Blues -   20. Step It Up And Go -   21. Crooked Woman Blues -   22. Shake It Baby -   Blind Boy Fuller & Sonny Terry: 23. I Don't Want No Skinny Woman -   24. Bye Bye Baby -   Blind Boy Fuller: 25. Lost Lover Blues -   Blind Boy Fuller & Sonny Terry: 26. Bus Rider Blues -