Bo Carter

Complete recorded Works c. November/December 1928 – 12 February 1940

Vol. 3: 27th March 1934 to 20th February 1936

Featuring the recordings of

Bo Carter, vocal / guitar. Bo Carter, vocal / guitar; Harry Chatmon, piano on 13, 14.

Genres; Blues, Country Blues, Mississippi Blues, Country Blues Guitar, Blues Piano, National Guitar

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes The first Bluebird sessions in March of 1934 marked a return to the studio for Bo after a two and a half year absence. Tastes in blues had changed and the record companies could no longer afford to take chances on untested acts or untried material. A more disciplined approach was applied in the studio and this sometimes led to records that sounded formulaic or unexciting. Bo Carter’s records at this time showed as much or more diversity as any of his recording rivals and his regular trips to the studio attested to his popularity. The twelve titles cut at the January 1935 session further consolidated his position. More than four-fifths of the tracks were finger picked blues and the two that fell outside of this category were piano-guitar duets where considerations of volume may have dictated a change in style. Blue Runner Blues was a remake of his own Okeh recording and Mashing That Thing was a reworking of Papa Charlie Jackson’s best-selling “Shake That Thing”. Bo Carter must have been doing something right because the following five years would see him double his recorded output.

Ken Romanowski Copyright 1991 & 2008 Document Records.

DOCD-5080