That new blues reissue project between Jack White’s Third Man Records and Document Records announced last year has finally begun to surface: Blind Willie McTell, Charley Patton, and the Mississippi Sheiks will have their complete recorded works remastered and re-released with original artwork by Rob Jones and liner notes by music journalist Mick Middles, beginning with Volume 1 available now individually or as a bundle on 180-gram vinyl. The influence of these artists on White’s work has been well-documented in interviews and through covers (the White Stripes’ live-favorite take on “Boll Weevil,” et al.), but even more so, their impact on all of 20th century music and culture cannot be understated. This is one of Third Man’s most ambitious and important archival efforts yet — I for one will be picking up the McTell set. Hear a track from each below:
Blind Willie McTell – “Stole Rider Blues”
Charley Patton – “Mississippi Boweavil Blues”
The Mississippi Sheiks – “Jake Leg Blues”