Big Maceo Merriweather was a blues pianist, singer and songwriter, born in Georgia in 1905, who moved to Detroit in the 1920s, to start playing professionally, and then to Chicago in 1941, where he met the influential singer and guitarist Tampa Red, who introduced him to Lester Melrose at RCA-Victor – he became a regular collaborator of Tampa Red. Over the next decade or so he recorded around ten sessions at which he recorded under his own name rather than as an accompanist. 

This 44-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings which were released under his own name on the Bluebird, RCA-Victor, Columbia, Specialty and Fortune labels from this era, plus some unreleased material. It includes his 1945 No. 4 R&B hit “Things Have Changed”. It also includes one recording with Tampa Red on which he shares the vocals with him. 
He plays with a number of noted blues musicians from the era on these sessions, including guitarists Tampa Red and John Brim, bassists Ransom Knowling, Alfred Elkins and Ernest Crawford, and drummers Clifford Jones, Tyrell Dixon, Melvin Draper, Charles Sanders and Alonzo Tucker. His style influenced many post-war blues pianists, and songs like “Worried Life Blues” have become staples of the blues repertoire. 

It’s a substantial overview of his career recordings and a thorough showcase for his distinctive style of blues.

Tracks

CD 1
1. CAN'T YOU READ Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8772) 1941 
2. SO LONG BABY Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8772) 1941 
3. RAMBLIN' MIND BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8798) 1941 
4. COUNTY JAIL BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8798) 1941 
5. WORRIED LIFE BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8827) 1941 
6. TEXAS BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8827) 1941 
7. I GOT THE BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8939) 1941 
8. WHY SHOULD I HANG AROUND Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8939) 1941 
9. TUFF LUCK BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8973) 1941 
10. ITS ALL UP TO YOU Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 8973) 1941 
11. POOR KELLY BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 9012) 1941 
12. BYE BYE BABY Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 9012) 1941 
13. ANYTIME FOR YOU Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0703) 1942 
14. SINCE YOU BEEN GONE Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0703) 1942 
15. SOME SWEET DAY Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor Unissued) 1942 
16. MY LAST GO ROUND Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor Unissued) 1942 
17. FLYIN' BOOGIE Big Maceo Merriweather (Columbia Unissued) 1945 
18. KID MAN BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0735) 1945 
19. THINGS HAVE CHANGED Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0735) 1945 
20. BETTER LET MY GAL ALONE Tampa Red (Bluebird 34-0740) 1945 
21. WINTERTIME BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0743) 1945 
22. CHICAGO BREAKDOWN Big Maceo Merriweather (Bluebird 34-0743) 1945

CD 2
1. WON'T BE A FOOL NO MORE Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-1870) 1945 
2. BIG ROAD BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-1870) 1945 
3. MACEO'S 32-20 Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2028) 1945 
4. TEXAS STOMP Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2028) 1945 
5. COME ON HOME Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2173) 1945 
6. DETROIT JUMP Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2173) 1945 
7. MY OWN TROUBLES Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2353) 1945 
8. I LOST MY LITTLE WOMAN Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2353) 1947 
9. I'M SO WORRIED Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2505) 1945 
10. IT'S ALL OVER NOW Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2505) 1947 
11. BROKE AND HUNGRY BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2687) 1947 
12. IF YOU EVER CHANGE YOUR WAYS Big Maceo Merriweather (RCA-Victor 20-2910) 1947 
13. BIG CITY BLUES Big Maceo (Specialty 320) 1949 
14. DO YOU REMEMBER Big Maceo (Specialty 320) 1949 
15. ONE SUNDAY MORNING Big Maceo (Specialty 346) 1949 
16. JUST TELL ME BABY Big Maceo (Specialty 346) 1949 
17. LEAVING BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune 137) 1950 
18. HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT IT? Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune 137) 1950 
19. WORRIED LIFE BLUES NO. 2 Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune 805) 1950 
20. STRANGE TO ME BLUES Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune 805) 1950 
21. WITHOUT YOU MY LIFE DON'T MEAN A THING Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune Unissued) 1950 
22. ELOISE, DON'T PLAY ME FOR A FOOL  Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune Unissued) 1950