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Tommy McLennan and Robert Petway were blues singers, guitarists and songwriters from Mississippi, who were active during the 1930s and ‘40s and both made records around the same time for the Bluebird label from 1939 to 1942, some of which were early precursors of rock ‘n’ roll. They often performed together, but only collaborated on a couple of titles that they recorded. McLennan released around 40 titles during his career, and Petway released 14, so this 50-track 2-CD collection comprises the majority of their career output, mostly, as noted above, recording solo or with an improvised bass, but with McLennan joining Petway on his recording of “Boogie Woogie Woman”. It features some important songs, most notably McLennan’s “Bottle It Up And Go”, “Baby, Don't You Want To Go”, “Shake ‘Em On Down” and  “New Highway No. 51”, plus “Cross Cut Saw” and “My Baby’s Gone”, both covered by other artists in later years, plus Robert Petway’s “Catfish Blues”, adapted by Muddy Waters as “Rollin’ Stone”. They were both relatively obscure figures of the blues, not featuring in the burgeoning of the genre during the late ‘40s and 1950s, but they were distinctive Delta performers, with this collection offering a comprehensive insight into their music.

CD!
1    You Can Mistreat Me Here    Tommy McClennan
2    New Shake Em On Down    Tommy McClennan
3    Whiskey Headed Woman    Tommy McClennan
4    Bottle It Up And Go    Tommy McClennan
5    Baby, Don't You Want To Go    Tommy McClennan
6    Cotton Patch Blues    Tommy McClennan
7    Baby, Please Don't Tell On Me    Tommy McClennan
8    Brown Skin Gal    Tommy McClennan
9    I'm Goin' Don't You Know    Tommy McClennan
10    New Highway No. 51    Tommy McClennan
11    She's A Good Lookin Mama    Tommy McClennan
12    My Baby's Doggin' Me    Tommy McClennan
13    She's Just A Good Huggin' Size    Tommy McClennan
14    My Little Girl    Tommy McClennan
15    It's Hard To Be Lonesome    Tommy McClennan
16    My Baby's Gone    Tommy McClennan
17    Katy Mae Blues    Tommy McClennan
18    Love With A Feeling    Tommy McClennan
19    Drop Down Mama    Tommy McClennan
20    Black Minnie    Tommy McClennan
21    Down To Skin And Bones    Tommy McClennan
22    Elsie Blues    Tommy McClennan
23    New Sugar Mama    Tommy McClennan
24    Dese My Blues    Tommy McClennan
25    Classy Mae Blues    Tommy McClennan
26    You Can't Read My Mind    Tommy McClennan

CD2
1    Cross Cut Saw Blues    Tommy McClennan
2    I'm A Guitar King    Tommy McClennan
3    Travelin' Highway Man    Tommy McClennan
4    It's A Crying Pity    Tommy McClennan
5    Mr So And So Blues    Tommy McClennan
6    Mozelle Blues    Tommy McClennan
7    Blues Trip Me This Morning    Tommy McClennan
8    Bluebird Blues    Tommy McClennan
9    Blue As I Can Be    Tommy McClennan
10    Roll Me, Baby    Tommy McClennan
11    Shake It Up And Go    Tommy McClennan
12    I Love My Baby    Tommy McClennan
13    Let Me Be Your Boss    Robert Petway
14    Rocking Chair Blues    Robert Petway
15    Sleepy Woman Blues    Robert Petway
16    Don't Go Down, Baby    Robert Petway
17    My Little Girl    Robert Petway
18    Ride Em On Down    Robert Petway
19    Catfish Blues    Robert Petway
20    Boogie Woogie Woman    Robert Petway
21    Bertha Lee Blues    Robert Petway
22    In The Evening    Robert Petway
23    My Baby Left Me    Robert Petway
24    Cotton Pickin' Blues    Robert Petway