Pony Blues — Charley Patton (Paramount, 1929)

Of the 14 tracks Charley Patton recorded at his 1929 debut session, Paramount chose ‘Pony Blues’ and ‘Banty Rooster Blues,’ as the two sides of his first single, which proved to be his biggest hit and the one most widely remembered by other blues singers. Patton’s sandpaper vocals and deft guitar drive ‘Pony Blues,’ Patton’s takeoff on fellow Paramount bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson’s ‘Black Horse Blues.’ Howlin’ Wolf, a onetime student of Patton, recorded it as ‘Saddle My Pony.’

CHARLEY PATTON
Charley Patton, vocal and guitar. Recorded June 14, 1929, Richmond, Indiana. Released as Paramount 12792 (78 rpm single) in 1929.

Discographical details from Blues & Gospel Records 1890-1943, by Robert M.W. Dixon, John Godrich & Howard W. Rye.