Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues

1	Freight Train Blues 2:47
2	Hobo Bill's Last Ride 3:46
3	Mississippi Heavy Water Blues 2:55
4	Did You Hear John Hurt? 2:31
5	John Henry/Worried Blues 2:26
6	I'm a Stranger Here 3:17
7	Talking to Casey 2:30
8	Blue Ridge Mountain Blues 2:53
9	Any Old Time 2:27
10	Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues 3:14
11	Stormy Weather 3:56
12	How Long Blues 2:49
13	Honey Babe Blues 3:29
14	St. Louis Blues 3:10
15	Carroll County Blues 2:58
16	California Blues 3:24
17	Going to Chicago Blues 4:07
18	Jailhouse Blues 2:51
19	Windy and Warm 2:13
20	Deep River Blues Live 3:22

Barnes & Noble

An encapsulation in Doc and Merle Watson's broad definition of the blues, and a case study of gifted musicians working wonders with stringed instruments, Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues was originally released on the Flying Fish label in 1985 and sees expanded reissue with eight bonus tracks drawn from the Watsons' Flying Fish catalogue. Doc, on guitar and vocals, and his gifted son, the late Merle, on slide guitar are supported throughout by T. Michael Coleman on bass and, on most cuts, by the estimable Sam Bush on fiddle and mandolin. The additional tracks include the likes of Mark O'Connor, Herb Pedersen, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvis Presley's drummer Ron Tutt, and even Tom Scott on clarinet (adding a delightful solo on a swinging rendition of Jimmie Rodgers's "Any Old Time"). These fellows can do no wrong here. The instrumental interplay is as vibrant and soulful as it is flawlessly executed, and Doc's earthy baritone delivers the emotional content in spades. When Bush and O'Connor join the festivities, their fiddle sorties wending through the hot picking transport the feel of the songs from the Appalachian backwoods to the Hot Club of France. These blues come in all shades, though -- from a faithful rendition (yodeling included) of Rodgers's "Hobo Bill's Last Ride" to a down-and-dirty take on the Sonny Terry–Brownie McGhee song "I'm a Stranger Here" (with Doc blowing some low-down harp) to a slow, grinding reading of the Ted Koehler–Harold Arlen chestnut "Stormy Weather." Doc goes it solo for a tasty version of W. C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," and he and Merle get into some stimulating guitar dialogue, abetted only by Coleman's bass, on the pop-ish instrumental "Windy and Warm." This classic just got a whole lot better. David McGee

All Music Guide

While many folk-country artists have long since severed their connections with the blues, guitarist Doc Watson has never forgotten his. Watson's commitment to the blues deepened as his son, the late Merle Watson, picked up the guitar and joined him on-stage and in the studio. Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues reaches back to several Doc and Merle Watson albums recorded for Rounder in the early- to mid-'80s, including the classic Pickin' the Blues. All of the 20 cuts emphasize the bluesy side of country music, from founding father Jimmie Rodgers to the Piedmont picking style of John Hurt to favorite standards like "How Long Blues." As with most of Watson and son's efforts, they surround themselves with good musicians -- Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, and T. Michael Coleman -- and rely on straightforward arrangements that allow everyone a chance to solo. Perhaps the greatest treat, though, is the guitar playing. On a number of cuts -- including "Freight Train Blues," "Hobo Bill's Last Ride," and "Mississippi Heavy Water Blues" -- Merle Watson plays slide, while Doc Watson brings his distinct fingerpicking style to each cut. Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues also offers a few nice surprises, like versions of "Stormy Weather" and "St. Louis Blues." This is a superb collection, sure to please Watson fans, guitar players, and anyone who enjoys honest acoustic music. Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.