Stefan Grossman

The Blues of Blind Blake

Blind Blake was the greatest ragtime blues guitarist to record during the 1920s. His guitar playing was unique. It captured the pulsating rhythms of the blues, ragtime, and jazz music of the period. Rev. Gary Davis went as far as to say: “I ain’t never heard anybody on a record yet beat Blind Blake on guitar. I like Blake because he played right sporty.”

Modern fingerstyle guitarists such as Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder, David Bromberg, Leon Redbone, Dave Van Ronk, Paul Geremia and Ari Eisinger, have all recorded Blind Blake songs i.e., Too Tight Rag, Diddie Wa Diddie, Police Dog Blues, Tootie Blues, That Will Never Happen No More, Chump Man Blues and Righteous Blues. These have all become staples of today’s acoustic blues scene.

Blake’s guitar arrangements are both a challenge to play as well as transcribe. This collection presents 26 blues that will keep your fingers very busy. Also included are downloads of the original Paramount recordings. In some cases, there exists only one copy of a recording and this might be in worn-out shape. The results present a combination of incredible guitar playing intertwined with static surface noise. We have also added downloads of these recordings without the vocals courtesy of vocalremover.org. These downloads will be of great help in hearing what Blake plays behind his singing.

Titles include: Key of C Home Town Skiffle, Leavin’ Gal Blues, Guitar Chimes, Righteous Blues, Ice Man Blues, Early Morning Blues, Black Dog Blues, Goodbye Mama Moan, Baby Lou Blues, Walkin’ Across the Country, Tootie Blues, Rope Stretchin’ Blues/Part One, That Lonesome Rave, Worried Blues, What a Lowdown Place the Jailhouse Is Key of G Cold Hearted Mama, Hard Road Blues, Tampa Bound, Steel Mill Blues, Stonewall Street Blues, Wilson Dam, Night & Day Blues Key of D Back Biting Blues, Chump Man Blues Key of A Sun to Sun, One Time Blues