{"product_id":"henry-thomas-guitar-vocals-ragtime-texas-1927-1929-cd","title":"Henry Thomas (Guitar\/Vocals) - Ragtime Texas: 1927-1929 [CD]","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany versions of \"John Henry\" exist, but Henry Thomas's version, because of his use of reeds, is unique. The reeds have a light, radiant air that lifts this song to something joyous. Thomas was born in Texas in 1874 and didn't record his first sessions until he was in his early fifties. His music incorporated blues and patched together songs (\"rags\") that seemed to come from earlier traditions, including nine pieces on which he uses reeds. The use of them may point to an earlier African-American tradition that had nearly vanished by the time he was recording. These pieces represent the best songs on this collection, with standouts like \"The Little Red Caboose\" and \"Bull-Doze Blues.\" The later song sounds very similar to Canned Heat's \"Goin' Up the Country,\" including the reed solo that sets the song in motion. Songs like \"Don't Ease Me In,\" would later be performed by the Grateful Dead and many others, while \"Honey, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?\" is lyrically related to an early Bob Dylan song with almost the same title. The songs gathered here have been taken from five recording sessions between 1927 and 1929 and are ordered chronologically. The liner notes explain the origins of reeds\/quills in African-American music, and help place Thomas in a historical context. The fidelity on certain cuts is scratchy, but his voice and instrumentation are still always discernible. This is a good collection of an early-Texas songster, especially valuable because of Thomas' unique use of reeds.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cdiv data-bt-autogen\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJohn Henry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCottonfield Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArkansas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFox and the Hounds, The\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLittle Red Caboose, The\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBob McKinney\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed River Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHoney, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRun, Mollie, Run\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShanty Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoodhouse Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJonah in the Wilderness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen the Train Comes Along\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBull Doze Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon't Ease Me In\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTexas Easy Street\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTexas Worried Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFishin' Blues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld Country Stomp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCharmin' Betsy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLovin' Babe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailroadin' Some\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon't Leave Me Here\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 714298566529\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Document\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.17.00\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e CD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Broadtime","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42114336915531,"sku":"505350","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/7223\/1499\/files\/155856-2716875.jpg?v=1770188940","url":"https:\/\/rockbandmerch.com\/products\/henry-thomas-guitar-vocals-ragtime-texas-1927-1929-cd","provider":"Rock Band Merch","version":"1.0","type":"link"}