Customer Rating: 
Summary: Incredible Sound
Comment: I agree with the other reviewers here. I've listened to this music for over twenty-five years on vinyl and on CD. This disc (and it's companion -"Primeval Blues, Rags and Gospel Songs") has by far the best sound. Given the available source material, I didn't think it was possible for these records to sound so good. Thanks Yazoo! (Now if you'd only start including discographies with your releases . . .)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential
Comment: Though I like Robert Johnson, this collection shows that all the superlatives heaped on him should probably be heaped on Patton instead. The blues don't get more powerful or essential than this. Listen to Patton's deep raspy voice and you hear the essence of what makes the blues work.
As far as the sound, I don't own a slew of different Patton recordings but from the brief bits I've heard from other collections (JSP), Yazoo seems to be the best out there.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Charlie Patton and the History of the Blues
Comment: Charlie Patton was one of the great early blues legends, along with others such as Son House. His recordings were of low quality, with a lot of noise that obscured his artistry, as I understand it. This CD, remastered by Yazoo, still has noise, but the voice and instrumental playing emerges, for the most part, cleanly, revealing the artistry of Patton.
The liner notes summarize his importance (page 2): "Charlie Patton (1891-1934) was the most powerful blues recording artist of all time, as well as the most subtle. He was, and remains, a figure of immense significance in blues history." The first sentence may be a bit of hyperbole, but the CD does show us why he is so important. His guitar playing is cleanly done; he provides some of his own rhythm by foot stomping and guitar slapping; his voice is a great blues voice, ranging from softly sung songs to great "exuberation." He established a series of themes, which he would use as the basis for many songs after he began recording, by 1910.
Some illustrative cuts:
"Down the Dirt Road" is a nice example of Patton creating his own percussion effects by foot stomping and guitar tapping. His raw voice does well by the blues song here. This is one of his three best-known themes.
"High Water Everywhere" focuses on a flood in the late 1920s. What a raw powerful voice, as he nearly shouts out the tune at times. The guitar playing is rather simple, but effective. There are some nice backing vocals and the song is taken at a sprightly pace.
"Pony Blues" is perhaps "Patton's signature song. . ." It represents one of his few key themes that he varied as time went on into other songs. The background noise is among the most annoying on the CD, but it does not obscure the work of Patton. Voice and instrumentation change throughout the song. As liner notes say, "Patton's vocal dynamics usually kept his blues from being predictable and boring."
This is a "must buy" for those who want to understand where the blues came from; it represents a key point in understanding the evolution of the blues.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best sounding Patton on disc
Comment: I've heard four other discs of Charlie Patton's music and this new Yazoo re-remaster is by far the best sounding. Other Charlie Patton discs sound just plain muddy with too much high-end removed, others are nearly unlistenable, but not this one.
According to the liner notes, this is the first disc allowing the listener to hear "High Sheriff" and "Jersey Bull" at the correct speed. This is the only Patton disc with sound quality earning a five-star review as far as I'm concerned.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best available quality, a must own cd!!
Comment: If you want to learn the true roots of Rock n roll, this cd is it!! Patton was a true master of the blues, and his influence changed music forever. Yazoo has done the best job at restoring his music. Do not by any other labels for early blues; Yazoo only deals with the best quality 78 rmp records that exsist.
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