Big Joe WILLIAMS – The Original Ramblin’ Bluesman, 1945-1961

Big Joe Williams was the epitome of the rambling, wandering itinerant bluesman so romanticised in the early days of blues discovery and record collecting. He rambled across the United States from coast to coast in the 1920s and '30s.

This 2CD collection features many of his most famous recordings in the post war years.

His most famous composition was 'Baby Please Don't Go' eventually a major pop hit for Belfast's blues rockers, Them in the UK and later for Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes in America.

The really exciting attraction of this compilation is the CD debut of the 8 tracks he recorded with Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer in 1957. These 8 tracks only ever appeared on two very rare UK Eps on the Collector label.

This overview of Joe's career goes on to embrace his career in the 60s when he became a popular performer on the global blues network.

Fully detailed liner notes.

Track Listing

Disc 1

1. HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON
2. BABY PLEASE DON'T GO
3. STACK OF DOLLARS
4. MELLOW APPLES
5. WILD COW MOAN
6. P VINE BLUES
7. BAD AND WEAK HEARTED BLUES
8. KING BISCUIT STOMP
9. I'M A HIGHWAY MAN
10. BANTA ROOSTER BLUES
11. MEAN STEPFATHER BLUES
12. HOUSE LADY BLUES
13. DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE
14. JIVIN' WOMAN
15. SHE'S A MARRIED WOMAN
16. MAMA DON'T ALLOW ME
17. DELTA BLUES
18. OVER HAULING BLUES
19. WHISTLING PINES
20. FRIENDS AND PALS
21. JUANITA
22. SHE LEFT ME A MULE
23. BAD HEART BLUES
24. BABY PLEASE DON'T GO
25. RIDE IN MY NEW CAR WITH ME
26. RATHER BE SLOPPY DRUNK
27. COTTAGE GROVE BLUES

Disc 2

1. GOIN' BACK
2. MY BABY LEFT
3. KING'S HIGHWAY
4. LULA MAE
5. ALL I WANT IS MY TRAIN FARE HOME
6. I'M TALKIN' ABOUT YOU
7. JOE WILLIAMS' BLUES
8. DON'T LEAVE ME HERE
9. COW COW BLUES
10. CRAWLIN' KING SNAKE
11. I MAY BE WRONG
12. KEEP A-KNOCKIN'
13. COTTAGE GROVE
14. MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM
15. BESSEMER BABY
16. BABY PLEASE DON'T GO (HIGHWAY 49)
17. SHAKE YOUR BOOGIE
18. JUMP BABY JUMP
19. MEAN MISTREATER
20. PRISON BOUND
21. WHISTLIN' PINES
22. BLUEBIRD BLUES
23. ELEVATE ME BABY
24. T.B. BLUES
25. KING BISCUIT STOMP No 2
26. ROOTIN' GROUND HOG