Bluesmaster extension project

The Matchbox Bluesmaster extension project

Below is the original provisional list of projected sets and contents of each. Subsequent programming suggestions from Tony Russell and Ian A. Anderson, added to a few transcription problems along the way, means that this list is now well outdated but has been left purely for interest. See the New releases since publication page for information on the sets as released as and when pre-release copies arrive with me.

MSESET8 - Set 8, all early folk blues transcribed from 78s
SDR 143 - Blind Boy Fuller On Down Vol. 1
SDR 168 - Blind Boy Fuller On Down Vol. 2
SDR 169 - Sonny Boy and His Pals
SDR 182 - Those Cakewalking Babies from Home
SDR 199 - Skoodle Um Skoo
SDR 206 - Hometown Skiffle

MSESET9 - Set 9, mostly all early folk blues transcribed from 78s
SDR 191 - Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 1
SDR 192 - Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 2
SDR 163 - Kokomo Arnold
SDR 146 - Blues Piano
SDR 213 - Little Brother Montgomery (compendium of recordings from 1930 to 1969)
SDM 223 - Little Brother Montgomery: Home Again (more recent recordings)

MSESET10 - Set 10, combination of contemporary folk blues, plus early spirituals/gospel music transcribed from 78s
SDR 190 - Furry Lewis in Memphis (informal live recording)
SDM 224 - Tommy Johnson (field recordings)
SDM 225 - Big Road Blues (field recordings - previously unreleased)
SDM 226 - Blues from the Delta (field recordings)
SDX 207 - Black Diamond Express to Hell 1 (spirituals/gospel)
SDX 208 - Black Diamond Express to Hell 2 (spirituals/gospel)

MSESET11 - Set 11, Library of Congress field recordings transcribed from 78s
SDM 230 - Mississippi River Blues (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 1)
SDM 250 - Fort Valley Blues (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 2)
SDM 257 - Out in the Cold Again (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 3)
SDM 258 - Boot that Thing (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 4)
SDM 264 - Two White Horses Standing In Line (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 5)
SDM 265 - Jack O'Diamonds (Library of Congress Series, Vol. 6)

MSESET12 - Set 12, contemporary British folk blues, ragtime and hokum
SDM 142 Blues Like Showers of Rain Vol. 1
SDM 167 Blues Like Showers of Rain Vol. 2
SDM159 The Inverted World
British Blues Miscellany (new compilation from the Saydisc and Village Thing catalogues)
British Hokum Miscellany (new compilation from the Saydisc and Village Thing catalogues)
British Ragtime Miscellany (new compilation from the Saydisc and Village Thing catalogues)

Set 12 looks to be an exceptionally exciting part of the project. Apart from the three contemporary British blues LPs that Matchbox released in 1968/69, the set will comprise recordings from others that released blues on the Saydisc group of labels, such as Mike Absalom and Strange Fruit, along with those who worked their way through blues to come out the other side into what is now described as psych-folk/acid-folk. Although these people, such as Wizz Jones, Dave Evans, Hunt & Turner, Steve Tilston and Al Jones, had left the blues behind, they hadn't abandoned it altogether and there are some excellent blues or blues-inspired tracks dotted throughout the Village Thing catalogue. Then, of course, there's the hokum, goodtime, ragtime and stomps of Dave Peabody and the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra. In fact almost everyone at Village Thing seemed to think that their LPs were incomplete without a digit-daunting rag or two. And then, of course, you also had Fred Wedlock (with a little help from the Deaf Clifton Sunflower and 'Stefan') giving his most sincere advice on how to play blues and ragtime...