Two representatives of Depression Era Delta Blues are represented on this two disc, 50 song anthology. 75 percent of the music is led by Tommy McClennan (1905-61), with the rest being filled by one of his regular associates Robert Petway (1903-41). Both are deliverers of the folk blues from Mississippi, with similar styles in voice (Petway’s a bit rougher) and earthy finger picking style. It’s music like this that influenced artist like Albert King, who covered McClennan’s “Cross Cut Saw Blues” and “My Baby’s” Gone” whiel Petway’s finger work was an influence on gents like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and even Jimi Hendrix.
Most of McClennan’s songs have him unaccompanied, but once in awhile he’s joined by Ransom Knowling, Alfred Elkins or Joe McCoy, but the result is the same, with back porch presentations of “Bottle It Up And Go” and “New Highway No. 51. McClennan joins Petway on the rollicking “Boogie Woogie Woman” while his own “Catfish Blues” and “My Baby Left Me” are pure red clay between the fingers. Barefootin’ blues.