VA - The Great Tomato Blues Package (45 Classic Blues Selections) [1989] (2 x CDs)

BLUES

VA - The Great Tomato Blues Package (45 Classic Blues Selections) [1989] (2 x CDs)

The Great Tomato Blues Package, released in 1989 on Tomato Records as a two‑CD anthology, offers a generous and carefully assembled survey of mid‑century blues recordings drawn from the label’s deep catalogue. Issued under catalogue number R2 70737, the set gathers forty‑five tracks originally released between the late forties and early seventies, presenting a broad view of electric blues, acoustic traditions and regional styles that shaped the genre’s evolution. Tomato had long been known for licensing important material from artists whose work often sat between folk, blues and early roots music, and this compilation reflects that archival commitment.

The first disc leans into classic electric blues, with performances that highlight strong guitar phrasing, steady rhythm sections and vocals shaped by lived experience. Many tracks were originally issued on small labels, later reissued by Tomato in LP or CD form, making their appearance here valuable for listeners who follow catalogue histories. The mastering preserves the warmth of the original tapes, allowing the grit and nuance of each performance to come through clearly.

The second disc expands the frame, bringing in acoustic sides, regional variations and lesser known artists whose recordings rarely appear in mainstream anthologies. Several selections originate from albums Tomato released during the seventies, often drawn from field recordings or studio sessions that documented musicians with long histories but limited commercial exposure. These tracks add depth, showing how blues traditions persisted outside major label structures.

What makes The Great Tomato Blues Package notable is its balance of familiarity and discovery. Well‑known artists anchor the set, yet the rarities and deeper cuts provide insight into the genre’s breadth. The sequencing moves smoothly, creating a listening experience that feels both historical and immediate. For collectors, the anthology stands as a thoughtful document of Tomato’s role in preserving essential blues recordings, presented with care, clarity and respect for the original sources. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Johnny Shines - Too Wet to Plow 4:24

02 Mississippi Fred McDowell - You Got to Move 2:52

03 Peg Leg Sam - Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho 3:20

04 Louisiana Red - Sweet Blood Call 3:00

05 Lightnin' Hopkins - Cryin' Shame 2:33

06 Sonny Terry - Playing With the Thing 2:39

07 Sonny Boy Williams - Fattening Frogs for Snakes 2:24

08 Roosevelt Sykes - Music is My Business 2:41

09 Jelly Roll Morton - Dead Man Blues 3:17

10 Louis Armstrong - St. Louis Blues 3:05

11 Bessie Smith - Alexander's Ragtime Band 3:03

12 Champion Jack Dupree - Shake Baby Shake 2:29

13 Willie Mabon - Poison Ivy 2:54

14 Billie Holiday - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 1:56

15 Charlie Parker - Parker's Mood 3:05

16 Big Mama Thornton - Ball and Chain 7:00

17 Little Walter - Juke 2:45

18 Howlin' Wolf - Little Red Rooster 2:27

19 Buster Brown - Fanny Mae 2:59

20 Elmore James - The Sky is Crying 2:45

21 Aretha Franklin - There is a Fountain Filled With Blood 4:28

22 Ray Charles - Blues is My Middle Name 3:08

CD2

01 Ike & Tina Turner - Poor Fool 2:36

02 B.B. King - The Other Night Blues 3:37

03 Brownie McGhee - The Blues Had a Baby 2:54

04 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley 2:29

05 Little Richard - Lucille 2:28

06 Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind 2:37

07 Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City 2:25

08 Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy 2:56

09 Jimmy Reed - Take Out Some Insurance 2:26

10 Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle 3:02

11 Chuck Berry - In the Wee, Wee Hours 3:05

12 Fats Domino - Blue Monday 2:44

13 Dee Dee Ford; Don Garner - I Need Your Lovin' 2:17

14 Irma Thomas - Wish Someone Would Care 2:14

15 Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman 2:59

16 Carl Perkins - Honey Don't 2:51

17 Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 5:04

18 John Lee Hooker - Tupelo 7:25

19 Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - That's All Right 5:54

20 Johnny Winter; Rocky Hill - Bad Girl Blues 2:49

21 Townes Van Zandt - Nothin' 2:51

22 Mississippi John Hurt - Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight 2:53

23 Lead Belly - Midnight Special 2:53

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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