Bull Cow

This 52-disc (no, that is not a typo) comp, ABC of the Blues: The Ultimate Collection from the Delta to the Big Cities, may just indeed live up to its name. There are 98 artists represented , performing 1,040 tracks. The music begins at the beginning (though the set is not sequenced chronologically) with Charlie Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson, and moves all the way through the vintage Chicago years of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, with stops along the way in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, New York, and all points in between. Certainly, some of these artists are considered more rhythm & blues than purely blues artists: the inclusion of music by Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Bo Diddley, and others makes that clear…

The Best Of The Blues - 6 CD Collection. Presenting… Big Bill Broonzy - stamped Arkansas country blues onto Chicago's urban style. Presenting… T-Bone Walker - blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, he had a profound effect on blues guitar. Presenting… Josh White - working as 'eyes' for visually challenged street singers led him to great success. Presenting… Robert Johnson - he died before his recordings brought him fame, and classed him as one of 'The Greats'. Presenting… Bessie Smith - one of the all time great stars of the gramophone record with her big, beautiful voice. Presenting… Dinah Shore - A long and successful career punctuated with numerous TV shows and awards.

Louisiana delta native Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter is the master of twelve-string blues guitar. His story is one of high-highs and low-lows, from serving stints in prison after killing a man in a fight for a woman’s heart, but then eventually earning early release by entertaining his fellow prison-mates and penning a song for the governor, thus cementing his reputation of singing his way out of prison. Folklorists John and Alan Lomax were early supporters that brought Lead Belly to the attention of Ivy Leaguers as well as a European audience. His songs have been widely covered by artists such as Elvis, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, and the Grateful Dead.