Mississippi John Hurt - The Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2 (2025)

The second half of an epic recording session Mississippi John Hurt cut for the Library of Congress on July 15th-23rd, 1963 (the first half is available on D.C. BLUES–THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RECORDINGS VOL. 1), VOL. 2 reveals all the delights of this legendary bluesman. Though his most essential recordings were waxed in the late '20s for OKeh, Hurt's complex, fleet fingerpicking style and gentle, conversational singing were little diminished when the artist was "rediscovered" during the folk and blues revival of the '60s. Over two discs and 37 tracks, Hurt delivers versions of some of his best-known songs ("Nobody's Dirty Business," Stackolee"), spirituals ("Will the Circle Be Unbroken"), and popular songs ("You Are My Sunshine"). Hurt's soothing, pleasant style of rural blues wears particularly well here; VOL. 2 makes an excellent companion to the first Library of Congress set, and would make a fine addition to any blues collection.

Tracklist:
01 Monday Morning Blues
02 Nobody's Dirty Business
03 If You Don't Want Me
04 Spike Driver (John Henry)
05 Salty Dog
06 My Creole Belle
07 Casey Jones
08 Beulah Land
09 Waiting for You (I Forgive You Before I Go)
10 Stakolee (Alternate Version)
11 Walking the Floor Over You
12 Camp Meeting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
13 Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
14 When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
15 Blind Man Sit in the Way and Cried
16 Glory to His Name
17 I'll Fly Away
18 The Ten Virgins (When the Bridegroom Comes)
19 Avalon Blues
20 Cow Hooking Blues
21 I'm Satisfied
22 Ain't Nobody but You Babe
23 Shortnin' Bread
24 Redwing
25 Four O'clock Blues
26 See See Rider
27 I Got Mine
28 Good Morning Miss Carrie
29 Alabama Bound
30 Looking This Way
31 God's Unchanging Hand
32 Poor Boy a Long Way from Home
33 Frankie No. 2
34 Chicken Song
35 You Are My Sunshine
36 Will the Circle Be Unbroken
37 You Got to Get Ready