Wow, I never even knew about Charley Patton. I guess I don't have all my facts straight but I still think Robert Johnson was the most influencial blues guitarist. Everybody covers his songs. I'm not saying he invented the blues, I'm just saying he played a huge part in making it what it is today.

Well if you haven't heard about the King of the Delta Blues, Charley Patton I would suggest this thread. Patton is one of Bob Dylan's favorite musicians. Dylan even includes a song for Patton on his last record, Love & Theft. Dylan even uses the title of one of Patton's songs as part of the title of his song, High Water (For Charley Patton).

Dylan even went so far and said, that if only had one choice to listen to music for his enjoyment, it would be Charley Patton.




http://www.radiomute.com/musicthread16870.html




Patton, Son House and Lonnie Johnson were all influences on Robert Johnson. Johnson is the man, but I don't think he is the most influential. A lot of it has to do with the myth that was wrongly attached to him, as well as the whole Eric Clapton thing. Does he ever record anything, which isn’t Robert Johnson related anymore?

Robert Johnson became the King of the Delta Blues after Patton.

Just a few of the essential recordings.

Lead Belly - Library of Congress, Vol. 1-6
Son House - Delta Blues
Son House - Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions
Charley Patton - Founder of the Delta Blues
Charley Patton - King of the Delta Blues
Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings
Sonny Boy Williamson II - The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson
Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night
Howlin' Wolf - His Best
Blind Lemon Jefferson - King of the Country Blues
Blind Blake - Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker
Lonnie Johnson - Steppin' on the Blues
Blind Willie McTell - The Classic Years 1927-1940
Skip James - The Complete Early Recordings of..., 1931 - (Yazoo)
OR
Skip James - The Complete 1931 Recordings - (Body & Soul)

Charley Patton - Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues - Revenant (7CD-set) **


** One of the greatest box sets of in any genre of music and a must have! If you get this boxset, you will have everything he recorded, so, you can skip the other Charley Patton which were mentioned on the list.

after buying some box sets, im adding charley patton and blind willie mctell to my meager list.

Blah: If you can find a used copy of this box, you won't be disappointed. It has to be one of the best box sets, that have ever been released for any musician, in any genre.


http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...stvadskl8wj~T1



YO!!!!

Duane Allman could play some blues when the mood was upon him.

This is what I would recommend for McTell, and it shouldn't cost much.


http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...y1ibks9sakq~T1

If you can't find the Revenant box for Patton at a reasonable price, I would than look for this one. It's the same music, but the excellent liner notes and book. JSP basically took the Revenant box and "remastered" what Revenant remastered, so to avoid being sued. It doesn't sound as good as the Revenant box, but it's a lot cheaper!


http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...7tvadokq8w5~T1

That's cool. But I generally like Lead Belly's 12-string sound over Johnson's (though Johnson's six-string slide is mean). Just the same, Johnson is my favourite between the two.
The songs where each of these geniuses shine are:
for Johnson, 'Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)'
for Huddie, 'John Hardy'

'Mean Ol' World', with Clapton, is a fine example. Stellar slide.

thats funny, both of those box sets you gave the link to are the ones i have. (downloaded)