Henry Thomas’ name may not be familiar to many modern listeners, but he was an important and unique historical figure, a songster whose broad repertoire included reels, rags, spirituals, minstrel tunes, pop and folk songs, and primal Texas blues. One of the first generation of African American singer-guitarists to record, Thomas was also one of the oldest, with a birth date of 1874. He recorded for the Vocalion label from 1927 to 1929, with the nickname ‘Ragtime Texas’ appearing below his name on the records. All of the issued Vocalion sides were collected on a double LP by Herwin Records in 1975 and repackaged by the Yazoo label in 1989. Thomas accompanied himself strumming sprightly, rhythmic guitar and blowing the ‘quills’ (panpipes made from cane). In his informative Herwin liner notes, Houston folklorist Mack McCormick explores the evolution of the blues and the significance of Thomas’ music in our understanding of that history. McCormick describes Thomas as a hulking, hoboing bard who played the across Texas and wherever the railroad took him, although few concrete details of his life (and death) have surfaced. Despite Thomas’ obscurity, his music has been widely heard, through songs such as ‘Fishing Blues,’ covered by the Lovin’ Spoonful and Taj Mahal, and especially via the Canned Heat hit ‘Going Up the Country,’ which was based on Thomas’ ‘Bull Doze Blues,’ with a flute imitating Thomas’ quills.
Tracks: John Henry/Cottonfield Blues/Arkansas/The Fox And The Hounds/Red River Blues/The Little Red Caboose/Bob McKinney/Honey, Won’t You Allow Me One More Chance?/Run, Mollie, Run/Shanty Blues/Woodhouse Blues/Jonah In The Wilderness/When The Train Comes Along/Bull Doze Blues/Don’t Ease Me In/Texas Easy Street/Texas Worried Blues/Fishing Blues/Old Country Stomp/Charmin’ Betsy/Lovin’ Babe/Railroadin’ Some/Don’t Leave Me Her
Released as a double LP on Herwin 209 in 1975 and Yazoo 1080/81 in 1989, and as Yazoo CD 1080/81 in 1993.