Angels on the Backroads Vol. 2 -- Robinsonville to the Valley Store

Released December 3, 2002

Angels on the Backroads Vol. 2

Robinsonville to the Valley Store

Volume 2—Robinsonville to the Valley Store (~Avalon, MS)

We’re in the Delta now, and will be throughout most of albums 2 & 3. It’s a different kind of place... Flat... a rich land populated by folks with a rich history, hard with work. This album begins with Willie Brown’s tune... “Can’t tell my future, Lord can’t tell my past.” People here were tied to this land and yet looking for their future in other lands.

In the Delta the songs have names like “Bullfrog,” “Ham Hound,” “Little Red Rooster,” Shetland Pony,” Yellow Dog,” “Catfish,” and Mule Ridin’.” It’s not hard to get the idea of where these folks were from, but then there’s that future thing with all the roads and trains and ways out to other lands... “Crossroads,” “M & O,” “Depot,” “Special Streamline,” “Pea Vine” and in the first album there was “61 Highway” and “Big Road Blues.” These were restless people, on the move, and then there is “Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home.”

This is a story packed full with life, and what a trip!

RECORDING LOCATIONS

1. Future Blues - Willie Brown - Alleyway off Old Commerce Road in Robinsonville <LISTEN>

2. Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson - Main Street, Robinsonville

3. Cross Road Blues - Robert Johnson - the crossroads

4. Hollywood Rag - Gus Cannon - On top of old railroad bed, Hollywood <LISTEN>

5. Born Blind - Sonny Boy Williamson - Pearl Street Studio, Iuka

6. M & O Blues - Willie Brown - On top of railroad cars beside Old Highway 61 south of Coahoma, MS <LISTEN>

7. Country Blues - Muddy Waters - In barn on Stovall Farms

8. Bring It On Home to Me - Sam Cooke - Pearl Street Studio, Iuka, MS

9. Ham Hound Crave - Rubin Lacy - On concrete foundation of old building in Mattson, MS <LISTEN>

10. Depot Blues - Son House - In Mattson, moments after Ham Hound

11. Bullfrog Blues - William Harris - Beside Dublin Break, Dublin, MS <LISTEN>

12. Poor Boy Long Ways from Home - Gus Cannon - Depot foundation, Tutwiler <LISTEN>

13. Special Streamline - Bukka White - Beside abandoned store, Swan Lake, MS

14. Little Red Rooster - Howlin' Wolf - Bridge site on Tallahatchie River near Swan Lake

15. Pea Vine Blues - Charlie Patton - Inside cotton gin, Dockery Farms

16. Avalon Blues - John Hurt - On front porch of Valley Store, Avalon, MS

Goto Notes for Album #3