Recognisable by his plaintive, crying, singing style and "broken" voice, Sleepy John Estes was one of the great Country Blues pioneers. Estes recorded a memorable body of work, much of it during the 1930s, which earned him a mighty reputation, always retaining a traditional, down-home sound despite recording variously in Memphis, Chicago and New York. His songs, lyrically, were sharply observed vignettes, often dealing with social commentary. And although he was little more than an adequate rhythmic guitarist himself, he recorded extensively with men like guitarist/mandolin player Yank Rachell, and harmonica player Hammie Nixon. This 2-CD set ranges from his first session in 1929, to an unreleased session at Sun Records in 1952. Estes has been namechecked as an important early influence by Bob Dylan and Led Zepp's Robert Plant.

Tracklist:

The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair
Broken-Hearted, Ragged and Dirty Too
Divin' Duck Blues
Black Mattie Blues
Milk Cow Blues
Street Car Blues
Whatcha Doin'?
Poor John Blues
Stack O' Dollars
My Black Gal Blues
Down South Blues
Stop That Thing
Someday Baby Blues
Who's Been Telling You Buddy Brown Blues
Married Woman Blues
Drop Down Mama
Government Money
I Wanna Tear It All the Time
Vernita Blues
I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More
Floating Bridge
Need More Blues
Jack and Jill Blues
Poor Man's Friend (T Model)
Hobo Jungle Blues
Airplane Blues
Everybody Oughta Make a Change
Liquor Store Blues
Easin' Back to Tennessee
Fire Department Blues (Martha Hardin)
Clean Up at Home
New Someday Baby
Brownsville Blues
Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)
Mailman Blues
Time Is Drawing Near
Mary Come on Home
Jailhouse Blues
Tell Me How About It (MR. Tom's Blues)
Drop Down (I Don't Feel Welcome Here)
Don't You Want to Know
You Shouldn't Do That
When the Saints Go Marching in
Lawyer Clark Blues
Little Laura Blues
Working Man Blues
Harlem Bound
Stone Blind
Registration Day Blues
Policy Man
Rats in My Kitchen
Runnin' Around

UPC: 604988328721
Label: Jasmine Records
Release Date: 9.20.24
Format: CD

Sleepy Estes John - Working Man Blues 1929-1952 (Uk) (CD)