AMERICAN EPIC: The Collection gathers 100 of these original recordings from the 1920s and 1930s in one five-disc set, restored to unprecedented levels of sonic fidelity. For this box set, compiled by Director Bernard MacMahon, engineer Nicholas Bergh refined a transfer process using a mix of both modern and vintage equipment in order to extract the remarkable resolution from the records that is often missed. This reverse engineering approach to the transfer process enabled the restoration team of Grammy Award-winning engineer Peter Henderson, Duke Erikson and Joel Tefteller to get the resulting audio closer to the original performance than ever before. This is not "remastering," in the normal sense, but something closer to fine art restoration. The intent is not for people to marvel at the antiquity of these discs, but rather to experience them as vital, immediate performances that speak to us as directly as they did on the day they were recorded not simply great art for their time, but great art for all times. It includes a 100-page book filled with stunning unpublished photographs, quotes from the artists, their friends and families, lyrics for every song, essays and recording notes. Among the artists included are Mississippi John Hurt, The Carter Family, Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers, Lydia Mendoza, Nelstone's Hawaiians, Big Chief Henry's String Band, Robert Johnson and many others.
1 The Coo Coo Bird (The Cuckoo) Ashley, Clarence 2:58
2 On the Road Again Memphis Jug Band 2:51
3 The Panama Limited White, Bukka 3:12
4 Indian War Whoop Ming, Hoyt and His Pep Steppers 3:11
5 'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do, Pt. 1 Stokes, Frank 3:17
6 K. C. Railroad Blues Baxter, Andrew and Jim 3:30
7 I Am Bound for the Promised Land Karnes, Alfred G. 3:12
8 Cottonfield Blues, Pt. 2 Akers, Garfield 3:21
9 I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground Lunsford, Bascom Lamar 3:20
10 Down on Penny's Farm Bentley Boys 2:49
11 1Foldin' Bed Whistler's Jug Band 2:58
12 Greenback Dollar Weems String Band 3:10
13 Tallahatchie River Blues Delaney, Mattie 2:49
14 Walk Right in Cannon's Jug Stompers 2:57
15 Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow Carter Family, the 3:00
16 Old Dog Blue Jackson, Jim 3:04
17 Bayou Teche Fruge, Columbus 2:55
18 Cool Drink of Water Blues Johnson, Tommy 3:35
19 Train on the Island Nestor, J. P. 3:02
- Disc 2 -
1 My Heart Keeps Singing Elder J.E. Burch 3:11
2 Ninety-Nine Year Blues Daniels, Julius 3:07
3 I Get My Whiskey from Rockingham Earl Johnson and His Clodhoppers 3:03
4 Death's Black Train Is Coming Gates, Rev. JM 3:14
5 Waiting for a Train Rodgers, Jimmie 2:48
6 Darling, Where Have You Been So Long? Tenneva Ramblers 3:24
7 Rocky Road Alabama Sacred Harp Singers 2:46
8 Ma Blond Est Partie Breaux, Amadie, Ophey Breaux & Cleoma Breaux 2:51
9 Peg and Awl Carolina Tar Heels 2:57
10 Chocolate to the Bone Barbecue Bob 2:55
11 1Down on Me Head, Eddie and Family 3:10
12 Prenez Courage Breaux, Cleoma with Joseph Falcon and Ophy Breaux 2:58
13 Pickin' Off Peanuts Dilly and His Dill Pickles 3:30
14 Just Because Hawaiians, Nelstone's 2:54
15 Dupree Blues Walker, Willie 3:31
16 Ladies on the Steamboat Burnett & Rutherford 3:16
17 Mamma, 'Tain't Long Fo' Day McTell, Blind Willie 3:13
- Disc 3 -
1 Cecilia Cuarteto Flores 3:12
2 La Coquetera los Borinquenos 3:03
3 Coconito Guty Cárdenas y Lencho 3:02
4 Lovesick Blues Miller, Emmett 2:52
5 Long Tall Mama Broonzy, Big Bill 2:52
6 John Henry Blues Two Poor Boys 2:49
7 Mr. Tom Hughes' Town Belly, Lead 3:08
8 Louis Collins Hurt, Mississippi John 3:02
9 I Am the Light of the World Davis, Blind Gary 3:04
10 Fifty Miles of Elbow Room McGee, Rev. F.W. 2:43
11 1Chant of the Eagle Dance Hopi Indian Chanters 2:29
12 Hilo Hula Mike Hanapi & the Ilima Islanders 3:21
13 If the River Was Whiskey Poole, Charlie 3:11
14 Stackalee Hutchison, Frank 3:07
15 The Wreck of the '97 Stoneman, Ernest 2:50
16 Faded Coat of Blue Kazee, Buell 3:12
17 Country Blues Boggs, Dock 3:03
18 Sail Away Ladies Uncle Dave Macon and His Fruit-Jar Drinkers 3:01
19 Sail Away Lady Stephens, Uncle Bunt 3:01
20 Sally Gooden Robertson, Eck 3:11
21 Arkansas Traveller Richardson, Don 3:07
- Disc 4 -
1 Hard Time Blues Hardin, Lane 3:21
2 Down the Dirt Road Blues Patton, Charley 2:57
3 Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home Banjo Joe 3:12
4 Hastings Street Blind Blake & Charlie Spand 3:15
5 See That My Grave's Kept Clean Jefferson, Blind Lemon 2:55
6 Gonna Have 'Lasses in the Morning Golden Melody Boys 2:44
7 New Orleans Stop Time Memphis Minnie & Bumblebee Slim 2:59
8 Prove It on Me Blues Rainey, Ma 2:43
9 Gonne Die with My Hammer in My Hand Williamson Brothers & Curry 3:26
10 Last Kind Words Blues Wiley, Geeshie 3:04
11 1Banjoreno Dixieland Jug Blowers 3:15
12 It's a Good Thing Beale Street Sheiks 3:01
13 Trust in God and Do the Right Davis, Blind Willie 2:50
14 Someday Baby Blues Estes, Sleepy John 3:03
15 Lonesome Road Blues Collins, Sam 3:07
16 Future Blues Brown, Willie 2:58
17 Bull Doze Blues Thomas, Henry 3:29
18 Brown Skin Gal (Down the Lane) Massey Family 2:47
19 Henry Lee Aka Young Hunting Justice, Dick 3:26
20 Old Country Rock Moore, William 3:02
21 La Danseuse Delma Lachney & Blind Uncle Gaspard 2:56
22 My Black Mama, Pt. 1 & 2 Son House 6:24
23 Cypress Grove Blues James, Skip 3:16
- Disc 5 -
1 Cross Road Blues Johnson, Robert 2:33
2 Mal Hombre Mendoza, Lydia 3:32
3 Sunshine Special Frenchy's String Band 3:11
4 Old Jim Canan's Wilkins, Robert 2:55
5 Les Blues de Voyage Ardoin, Amédé & Dennis McGee 2:57
6 The Lost Child Stripling Brothers 3:07
7 I'm Gonna Cross the River Jordan Some of These Days Coleman, Jaybird 3:07
8 Tomi Tomi Bright, Sol K., with the Aloha Serenaders 2:43
9 Sittin' on Top of the World Mississippi Sheiks 3:16
10 James Alley Blues Rabbit Brown, Richard 3:09
11 1The Indian Tom Tom Big Chief Henry's Indian String Band 2:37
12 Blues in a Bottle Hunt's Texas Ramblers, Prince Albert 3:25
13 Je Me Suis en Alle Montet, Bartmon & Joswell Dupuis 2:53
14 Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground Johnson, Blind Willie 3:27
15 E Mama Ea Hoopii, Sol & His Novelty Quartette, 3:12
16 Ghost Dance Truett & George 3:03
17 Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind on Jesus) Roosevelt Graves & Brother 2:52
18 Allons a Lafayette Falcon, Joseph 2:58
19 Corrido de Joaquin Murrieta, Pt. 1 & 2 Madrugadores, los 5:55
20 Denomination Blues (Part 1 & 2) Phillips, Washington 5:40
AMERICAN EPIC: The Collection gathers 100 of these original recordings from the 1920s and 1930s in one five-disc set, restored to unprecedented levels of sonic fidelity. For this box set, compiled by Director Bernard MacMahon, engineer Nicholas Bergh refined a transfer process using a mix of both modern and vintage equipment in order to extract the remarkable resolution from the records that is often missed. This reverse engineering approach to the transfer process enabled the restoration team of Grammy Award-winning engineer Peter Henderson, Duke Erikson and Joel Tefteller to get the resulting audio closer to the original performance than ever before. This is not "remastering," in the normal sense, but something closer to fine art restoration. The intent is not for people to marvel at the antiquity of these discs, but rather to experience them as vital, immediate performances that speak to us as directly as they did on the day they were recorded not simply great art for their time, but great art for all times. It includes a 100-page book filled with stunning unpublished photographs, quotes from the artists, their friends and families, lyrics for every song, essays and recording notes. Among the artists included are Mississippi John Hurt, The Carter Family, Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers, Lydia Mendoza, Nelstone's Hawaiians, Big Chief Henry's String Band, Robert Johnson and many others.
