When a new and original artist emerges on the scene and provides inspiration for all around him, there is often a desperate need to identify the source of such genius. In the case of Bob Dylan, as the young man in the peaked cap sang his own folk style songs, the world was transfixed. The purpose of this compilation is to celebrate the many other great artists who - it could be argued - laid the foundations for his work. Certainly the richly varied performers on this double disc set represent the best in American music. There are ballad singers, Blues men, R&B, Folk and Country artists, Jazz men and women. Among the 45 diverse tracks, we find artists ranging from Muddy Waters to Bing Crosby and from Leadbelly to Chuck Berry and Louis Armstrong.

• - 1 -

  • 1. Odetta - Another Man Done Gone
  • 2. Sam Lightnin' Hopkins* - Automobile Blues
  • 3. Muddy Waters - Rollin' Stone
  • 4. Johnny and Jack* - Uncle John's Bongo
  • 5. Slim Harpo - Shake Your Hips
  • 6. Tommy Duncan - Daddy Loves Mommy-O
  • 7. Chuck Berry - Too Much Monkey Business
  • 8. Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky
  • 9. Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Diamond Joe
  • 10. Bert Jansch - Nottamun Town
  • 11. Karen Dalton - Ribbon Bow
  • 12. Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mountain Boys - Man of Constan
  • 13. Hank Williams - Alone and Forsaken
  • 14. Frankie Laine - That Lucky Old Sun
  • 15. Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions - People Get Ready
  • 16. B.B. King - the Thrill is Gone
  • 17. Graham Brothers - Hard Times (Come Again No More)
  • 18. The Ink Spots - We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)
  • 19. Gene Austin - the Lonesome Road
  • 20. Josh White - the House of the Rising Sun
  • 21. Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
  • 22. Louis Armstong & His Savoy Ballroom Five - St. James Infirma

• - 2 -

  • 1. Woody Guthrie - 1913 Massacre
  • 2. Lonnie Johnson (2) - Tomorrow Night
  • 3. Tampa Red - It Hurts Me Too
  • 4. Bing Crosby - Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of
  • 5. Leadbelly - In the Pines
  • 6. Curtis Jones - Highway 51 Blues
  • 7. Mississippi John Hurt - Stack-O-Lee
  • 8. Hank Williams With Audrey Williams* - the Pale Horse and His
  • 9. Bukka White - Fixin' To Die Blues
  • 10. Muddy Waters With the Son Simms Four* - Rosalia
  • 11. Blind Willie McTell - Delia
  • 12. Muddy Waters - Rollin' and Tumblin', Pt. 1
  • 13. Reverend Gary Davis* - Baby, Let Me Lay It On You
  • 14. Richard "Rabbit" Brown - James Alley Blues
  • 15. Sam Lightnin' Hopkins* - Someday Baby
  • 16. Charley Patton - High Water Everywhere Pt. 2
  • 17. Robert Johnson - Little Queen of Spades
  • 18. Billie Holiday - Having Myself a Time
  • 19. Blind Arthur Blake* - You Gonna Quit Me Baby Blues
  • 20. Mississippi John Hurt - Louis Collins
  • 21. Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band* - Highway 61 Blues
  • 22. The Mississippi Sheiks* - Sitting On Top of the World
  • 23. Josh White - Barbara Allen