Before The Blues: The Early American Black Music Scene (Volumes 1-3)

'Before The Blues: The Early American Black Music Scene' is a three-volume compilation series released by Yazoo Records in 1996.  The series explores the diverse roots of African American music, featuring classic recordings from the 1920s and 1930s that preceded the standardization, of The Blues, e.g., 8-bar, 12-bar, 16-bar blues, 32-bar, and minor blues forms. 

Produced by Richard Nevins and Don Kent, this collection highlights an era when blues had not yet fully separated from related genres like ragtime, religious music, and breakdown dances. 

Historical aspects aside, this collection is ridiculously entertaining, and all things considered, the audio is pretty terrific.

Volume 1: Focuses on ragtime, modal songs, and early religious music. Key tracks include "Bamalong Blues" by Andrew and Jim Baxter, "Stack O'Lee Blues" by Mississippi John Hurt, and "Run Mollie Run" by Henry Thomas.

Volume 2: Explores jug bands and country blues roots. Key tracks include Charley Patton ("Mississippi Boweavil Blues"), Blind Willie Johnson ("Nobody's Fault But Mine"), and Geeshie Wiley ("Last Kind Words Blues").

Volume 3: Continues the exploration with key tracks from Memphis Minnie ("Frisco Town"), Blind Blake ("Champaign Charlie Is My Name"), and Barbecue Bob ("Black Skunk Blues").

For the freeload, tell us what music you listen to that isn't Blues, Jazz, or Rock.