Skip to main content

Hear Me Howling: Blues, Ballads, & Beyond

Various Artists
Hear Me Howling: Blues, Ballads, & Beyond

Founder of Arhoolie Records Chris Strachwitz recorded music wherever he found it: in coffee houses, music clubs, living rooms, festival stages, and recording studios. To celebrate Arhoolie’s 50th anniversary, Strachwitz released a box set of recordings he made during his early years in the record business. Of the 72 tracks of music in the set, spread over 4 CDs, over half (38) had previously been unreleased by Arhoolie.

The music is a true representation of Strachwitz’s eclectic musical interests and span the spectrum from raw country blues and folk to gospel and free-form jazz. This anniversary collection includes versions of “Ball and Chain” and “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton, “Tom Moore’s Farm” by Lightnin’ Hopkins, “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, “Shake ʼEm On Down” by Mississippi Fred McDowell, “Deportee” by Barbara Dane, “Highway 49” by Big Joe Williams, and “Changed the Lock on My Door” by Mance Lipscomb, Lonnie Johnson, Brownie McGhee, and Sonny Terry.

The box set captures a time and provides a template that Arhoolie would follow for 50 years in presenting and preserving Americana roots music.

Track Listing

101
Hump in My Back Jesse Fuller  
102
Brother Low Down Jesse Fuller  
103
Berkeley’s Junco Partner Skid Band  
104
Tight Like That Skid Band  
105
Moose March Bob Mielke's Bearcats  
106
Highway 49 Big Joe Williams  
107
Oakland Blues Big Joe Williams & Mary Williams  
108
Greystone (Alameda County Jail) Blues Big Joe Williams  
109
I Know You Didn’t Want Me K.C. Douglas  
110
Night Shirt Blues K.C. Douglas  
111
Stop Time K.C. Douglas  
112
Hear Me Howling K.C. Douglas  
113
Stand Alone Blues Lonnie Johnson  
114
Brenda Lonnie Johnson  
115
Changed the Lock on My Door Sonny Terry  
116
Bald Eagle Train (Take 1) Bukka White  
117
Tom Moore’s Farm Lightnin' Hopkins  
118
Up on Telegraph (Avenue) Lightnin' Hopkins  
119
Lady Luck Mercy Dee  
201
I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag Country Joe and the Fish  
202
You Turned Your Back Toni Brown  
203
How Could I Stand It Toni Brown  
204
Don’t Forget Me, Love Toni Brown  
205
Charles Giteau Crabgrass  
206
Midnight Blues The Joy of Cooking  
207
Depression Gone From Me T.A. Talbott  
208
Mr. Brakeman T.A. Talbott  
209
Who’s Going to Be My Man? Debbie Green  
210
Come See Bob Neuwirth  
211
Lady Gay Janet Smith  
212
Talking Protest Blues Merritt Herring  
213
Black Jack David Alice Stuart  
214
Eventually Perry Lederman  
215
Impressions of John Henry Perry Lederman  
216
Deportees Barbara Dane  
217
Big Texas (Grand Texas) Hackberry Ramblers  
218
Jolie Blonde Hackberry Ramblers  
219
Turtle Tail Hackberry Ramblers  
220
The Beatles Are in Town The Fondettes  
301
Willie Poor Boy Mance Lipscomb  
302
The Titanic Mance Lipscomb  
303
Mean Boss Man Mance Lipscomb  
304
Sugar Babe Mance Lipscomb  
305
Working on a Building Rev. Louis Overstreet  
306
The Old Ship of Zion Rev. Louis Overstreet  
307
I’m a Soldier Rev. Gary Davis  
308
Floor Sweepin’ Rag Rev. Gary Davis  
309
Courtin’ Boy Rev. Gary Davis  
310
Shake 'Em On Down Fred McDowell  
311
Louise Fred McDowell  
312
Write Me a Few of Your Lines Fred McDowell  
313
Low Down Dirty Things Skip James  
314
22-20 Blues (Mr. Kress) Skip James  
315
Sea Walking Jesus Skip James  
316
No Special Lover Skip James  
317
Peace in the Valley Skip James  
401
Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong Vern & Ray  
402
The Touch of God’s Hand Vern & Ray  
403
’Fore Day in the Mornin’ Big Mama Thornton  
404
Ball And Chain Big Mama Thornton  
405
Hound Dog Big Mama Thornton  
406
Monsieur Leonard John Simien & The Opelousas Playboys  
407
Chi Ca Nai (Slow Drag) John Simien & The Opelousas Playboys  
408
Bye Bye Rosa John Simien & The Opelousas Playboys  
409
Mr. Charlie Clifton Chenier  
410
Louisiana Rock Clifton Chenier  
411
What Am I Doing Here? Notes From The Underground  
412
To Be a Thief Stanley Willis  
413
Pretty Good Now Creative Arts Jazz Ensemble  
414
In the Breeze Jerry Hahn  
415
To 'Trane (Two Trains) Smiley Winters  
416
The Beauty of Isis Sonny Simmons