...RHYTHM & BLUES (THE PRE-WAR YEARS 1025-1942)' - Rhythm & Blues has become one of the most identifiable musical art-forms of the 20th Century, with an enormous influence on the development of both the sound and attitude of modern music. The History of Rhythm and Blues series of CDs investigates the accidental synthesis of jazz, gospel, blues, ragtime, latin, country, and pop into a definable form of black music, which in turn would influence pretty well all popular music from the 1950s to the present. This condensed single disc version of the 4CD box set contains 25 of the most representative tracks with an analysis of relevant stylistic and musical innovations. It is the first attempt to chronicle from a historical perspective, the rise of Rhythm & Blues by showcasing its most important and influential records. The end of the 19th century was a period of major social upheaval for the black population of the southern states. One of the initial by-products of the abolition of slavery was a huge number of itinerant workers. Musicians who had previously been maintained on plantations were no longer required. Furthermore, the restrictions brought about by the introduction of segregation in 1896 and the ensuing Jim Crow laws, indirectly led to a cultural revolution within Afro-American society. New forms of music all arose at this time: spirituals, ragtime, barrelhouse, jazz, black ballad form. Over the years, these distinctive sounds would come to merge into a recognisably new musical style. Country blues, spirituals, hokum, boogie-woogie, jazz, gospel, after hours, urban blues, swing and jive. TRACKS: 01. My Soul Is A Witness - Austin Coleman 1934 02. It's Nobody's Fault But Mine - Blind Willie Johnson 1927 / 03. Train Whistle Blues - Jimmie Rodgers 1928 04. Roll And Tumble Blues - Hambone Willie Newbern 1929 05. Backwater Blues - Bessie Smith 1927 06. Cow Cow Blues - Cow Cow Davenport 1928 07. Sweet Miss Stella Blues - Rufus & Ben Quillian 1929 08. Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra 1931 09. Midnight Hour Blues - Leroy Carr 1932 10. Press My Button - Lil Johnson 1936 11. Teasin' Brown Blues - Louie Lasky 1935 12. Lead Pencil Blues - Johnnie Temple 1935 13. Holy Mountain - Elder Otis Jones 1936 14. Preachin' Blues - Robert Johnson 1936 15. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson 1937 16. Don't You Lie To Me - Tampa Red 1940 17. Rockin' Chair Blues - Big Bill Broonzy 1940 18. Mean Ol' Frisco - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup 1942 19. Ain't No Business We Can Do - Doctor Clayton 1942 20. Boogie-Woogie - Count Basie 1936 21.Roll'em Pete - Big Joe Turner & Pete Johnson 1938 22. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - The Cats & The Fiddle 1939 23. Confessin' The Blues - Jay McShann 1941 24. Flying Home - Lionel Hampton Orchestra 1942 25. Mean Old World - T-Bone Walker 1942