Blind Willie McTell – The Complete 1940 Library of Congress Recordings.

This album presents what must be one of the most historic recordings in African-American history .A fascinating insight into the man who inspired among others the Allman Brothers, Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan and many others.  The history of these Library of Congress, Archive of American Folk Song, recordings is rooted in a visit made by John and Ruby Lomax to Atlanta, Georgia during November 1940. It is reported that Ruby spotted a “Negro man with a guitar” entertaining at a pig n whistle stand. Stopping their car to enquire, they discovered that the individual was Blind Willie McTell. The next morning in their hotel room he “sang and played his 12-string guitar vigorously for two hours”, forty or so minutes of which were committed to tape.  Blind Willie discusses his life, recording career and the history behind his music. Twelve excellent performances including blues, spirituals, ballads and rags can be heard. His skills as a 12-string guitarist, including some beautiful bottleneck / slide guitar, underline his reputation as being one of the finest musicians from Georgia.

NOTE: Blind Willie McTell’ s early, commercial recordings (1927 – 1935) are available on the triple CD album, with seventy-four tracks and twenty page illustrated booklet, Document DOCD-5677 “Blind Willie McTell – Statesboro Blues – the Early Years 1927-1935”.

His 1949 solo recordings and duets with Curley Weaver recorded for the Regal label, along with four solo, Curley Weaver recordings, released on the Sitting In With label (1949 & c. 1950) can be found on Document BDCD-6014.