Hear Me Howling: Blues, Ballads, and 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 and 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 and Ray
402	The Touch of God’s Hand Vern and 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 and The Opelousas Playboys
407	Chi Ca Nai (Slow Drag) John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys
408	Bye Bye Rosa John Simien and 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