Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell, & Mississippi Sheiks
Document Reissues Volume 4
(Third Man Records)
It’s hard being a music fanatic. No, I’m kidding of course. It’s actually really great. If you’re hardcore enough then you start wondering about the history and links in your music. Who begat what? What are the influences in your favorite band? If you’re serious about your music, you’ll want to know where it came from.
Music has become just that for me — it’s work. Half of the music I listen to consists of the current and modern stuff. After all, no one wants to become that out of touch grouch who only likes old music. But the other half of my playlist consists of homework: the older stuff I want to experience to better connect with my music. Music nowadays is better than it ever has been before and we need to know where it came from. So listening to current independent music will lead you to punk, to rock n roll and all the way to the beginning of modern music and the delta blues. So, this stuff is important.
The world of music is vast and complicated, but Third Man Records has gone out on a limb and done all the hard work for us. They’ve collected three noteworthy and essential delta blues musicians and rereleased their entire catalog in their Document records collection. This series focuses on Charley Patton, The Mississippi Sheiks, and Blind Willie McTell and their entire recorded works. I have listened to these records in their entirety and it’s startling how relevant and interesting they sound all these years later. It sounds like nothing else today yet its influence is felt everwhere. The Mississippi Sheiks with their guitar and fiddle, Blind Willie McTell telling the history of folk songs and blues, and my favorite Charley Patton and his deep growl and sliding guitar.
Third Man has not just reissued and remastered these recordings but also reworked the artwork. Brian Jones’ art arguably is in stark contrast to the music contained in these records. It’s loud and in your face while the music is calm and nuanced. A bold choice right there.
So, Third Man Records hits another one out of the park and I for one am excited for what they’re going to do next. This material is so strong that it resists the tests of time.
Get your vinyl from Third Man.
