The third volume in the series opens with a pair of mid-1928 tracks featuring
Blind Blake in the role of sideman, lending his brilliant guitar leads in support of
Elzadie Robinson on "Elzadie's Policy Blues" and "Pay Day Daddy Blues."
Blake's next session, from later that same year, returns him to the fore, yielding the mesmerizing "Notoriety Woman," one of the most menacingly violent tracks he ever cut; the same date also produced the comparatively lighthearted "Sweet Papa Low Down," a seeming attempt to cash in on the Charleston dance craze. The real jewel of the set, however, is a 1929 session teaming him with pianist
Charlie Spand; "Hastings St." is a lively, swinging guitar and piano duet, while "Police Dog Blues" is among
Blake's most vividly lyrical efforts, further galvanized by his haunting instrumental work. ~ Jason Ankeny