Mississippi String Bands & Associates 1928 - 1931

Alec Johnson
Mississippi Mud Steppers
Mississippi Blacksnakes
Sam Hill From Louisville

with contrinbutions by; Alec Johnson, vocal; Bo Carter, violin, guitar, vocal; Charlie McCoy, mandolin, banjo; Joe McCoy, guitar, Walter Vincson, vocal guitar; Sam Hill, vocal, guitar; and others...

Genre: Mississippi Country Blues.

Informative booklet notes by Chris Smith.
Detailed discography.

This CD contains some of the recorded fruits of the relationship between the McCoy and the Chatmon families of Mississippi, beginning with the one session made by Alec Johnson, who was backed by Bo Carter on violin, and the McCoy brothers; guitar (Joe) and mandolin (Charlie), with possibly an under recorded piano. Johnson was evidently, judging by both his voice and repertoire, an older singer than his accompanists, and probably a veteran of the medicine shows. Continued...

Charlie McCoy Complete Recorded Titles 1928-1932.

Charley McCoy (also as "Papa" Charlie McCoy), vocal, guitar, mandolin.
With contributions by: Walter Vincson, vocal, guitar; Bo Chatmon (Carter); And others.

Genre: Mississippi Country Blues.
Informative booklet notes by Teddy Doering.
Detailed discography.
 
The first recordings of Charlie McCoy show him as an accompanist with his mandolin. They were cut at the beginning of the famous session that produced the Johnson/ Bracey recordings, as a "warming up" so to speak. (The fourth title can be found on Bracey's CD - Document DOCD-5049.) The subsequent recording career of Charlie McCoy can be divided in two groups, the first one lasting till the end of 1930. In this period he played with members of the Mississippi Sheiks (Walter Vincson and Bo Chatman mostly) and he appeared under different names like Mississippi Mud Steppers or Mississippi Blacksnakes. Most of these recordings were made in Memphis, only one last session took place in his home town of Jackson, Mississippi. Continued...

Rags, Breakdowns, Stomps & Blues - Vintage Mandolin Music (1927-1946)

Keith Briggs of Blues & Rhythm Magazine writes; "These days the mandolin is almost exclusively identified with Bluegrass music but for decades it had maintained a regular showing in mainstream old time music, ragtime and blues (both urban and rural). This is illustrated to the dates appended to the title of this CD which refer at one end to Dallas Rag and Carbolic Rag, various display pieces, one each from the black and white traditions, and at the other Lint Head Stomp, a track often considered to be proto-Bluegrass. The mixture is maintained throughout but is weighted in favor of black artists. Care has also been taken to present the mandolin in a supporting role or as a part of an ensemble.

The secret weapon for many a string band was and still is the mandolin. This compilation brings together some wonderful blues, jazz, bluegrass and country performances, built around this small but potent instrument. Continued...