Lately I have taken an interest in old country, folk and blues music but I do not really know where to start as far as getting into it goes. Some music I already know of from these genres include Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Henk Williams, the music featured on the Oh Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack, and such later outlaw country artists such as Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

Well, that's a pretty good start (Lead Belly, not Leadbelly, and Hank not Henk). Much of the older music can be found quite easily, but much of it is on compilations. One of my favourite compilations is 'The Slide Guitar: Bottles, Knives & Steel'. There are a lot of great musicians on here: Tampa Red, Bukka White, Blind Boy Fuller.
If you want individual artist compilations, then you must have Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, among others.
I suggest giving the Blues Shouters and Jump Blues a try. It's not Blues in the fashion you are looking for but is nonetheless great music. Pick up some Wynonie Harris, Jimmy Rushing (especially his work with Count Basie), Joe Liggins and his little brother Jimmy Liggins (whose music, of the two, I prefer), and that should be a good enough start. After that, research into the kind of Blues you want/like will be easy. Read up on the artists as well to help increase your search.

http://www.radiomute.com/22030-best-...es-albums.html

Anthology of American Folk Music (Edited by Harry Smith)


The Bristol Sessions: Historic Recordings from Bristol, Tennessee


WTF? Are The Bristol Sessions OOP??? Amazon only has it for sell through sellers.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

Come on satch! You ruined the thread!! finally a thread, related to what I like, and you spoil it by just giving him all the answers at once!!

Why man? Why??!!



And plasticfantasy, check out Charley Patton, and anything from the Alan Lomax files. If you dig honest, pure music, go with that guy!!

And, offcourse, if you want great country:

Jimmie Rodgers (make sure to have the right one, there's a terrible countryguy with the same name.) It's the one who was active around the 20's and 30's.

Also try the Monroe Brothers, über-bluegrass.

Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys-->> Country swingin'! Absolutely fabulous!

Once you explored all the old blues, jazz and country, and you're "big" enough for rockabilly, please come knocking again. I'll enlighten you! *lol*

Hey, at least I left the Country portion of the question for you....although, I could have covered that....but I wanted to leave something for DA GOOZEMAN.



I will say this though, and leave the rest for you.....


Johnny Cash aka DA MAN IN BLACK.


End of Transmission.



YO!

I wanted to save Cash, to make the link to rockabilly, for when he/she is "big".

Speaking of Alan Lomax, this should be read by anyone who is interested about some of the truth about Lomax.


http://tinyurl.com/ru3fu

http://tinyurl.com/qq9jp

Well, Lomax may have been in search of black music, but it was still 1930's/40's America.