[2] Reissue compilations of 78s had also been undertaken by both Riverside and Folkways, but they were few, and indeed Charters complained in 1959 that companies owning various country blues masters were interfering with any attempts to bring the music back on the market.

[4] Charters undertook this fourteen-song compilation to accompany his ground-breaking study also published as The Country Blues, both to illustrate the styles and artists referenced, and to bring back more of this music into circulation.

[3] "Preachin' Blues" is one of the two recordings John Hammond played at his Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938 to represent the work of the recently deceased Johnson.

Bob Dylan included "Fixin' to Die" on his debut album, and "Matchbox Blues" had been handed down through Billie Holiday and Carl Perkins to end up on the Long Tall Sally extended play single by The Beatles.

[9] "Key to the Highway" would appear on Eric Clapton's Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, and "Statesboro Blues" would be a concert staple for the Allman Brothers, issued on their At Fillmore East live album.