Country Blues and Ditties

American Piedmont blues musician and songster John Jackson (1924–2002) lived in suburban Washington, DC, most of his adult life, supporting his wife and family by working as a grave digger. Jackson’s musical influences included both black and white blues, folk, and country musicians. Although a shy individual, his distinctive guitar style and musical repertoire got him invitations to play at local house parties. “Discovered” in the early 1960s, Jackson recorded three albums for Arhoolie between 1965 and 1969; this collection contains material from those recordings. Jackson was named a National Heritage Fellow in 1986.

Track Listing

101	Diddy Wa Diddy	John Jackson	02:45
102	Matchbox Blues	John Jackson	03:00
103	Roll on Buddy	John Jackson	02:01
104	T. B. Blues	John Jackson	02:20
105	Guitar Rag	John Jackson	02:30
106	Railroad Bill	John Jackson	02:38
107	Waiting for a Train	John Jackson	03:05
108	Cindy	John Jackson	02:10
109	Steamboat Whistle	John Jackson	02:56
110	I'll Step Aside	John Jackson	02:40
111	John's Guitar Boogie	John Jackson	03:11
112	Brown Skin Mama	John Jackson	03:27
113	Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning	John Jackson	02:04
114	Screaming and Crying	John Jackson	02:40
115	He's in the Jailhouse Now	John Jackson	03:52
116	Red Sea Blues	John Jackson	03:09
117	Kneel at the Cross	John Jackson	02:37
118	Going Up North	John Jackson	02:03
119	Lay Down My Old Guitar	John Jackson	03:04
120	Too Tight	John Jackson	02:49
121	Just a Closer Walk with Thee	John Jackson	03:45
122	Deep in the Bottom Blues	John Jackson	03:04
123	That'll Never Happen No More	John Jackson	03:31
124	I'm A Bad, Bad Man	John Jackson	03:06
125	Why I Quit Playing Guitar	John Jackson	01:41