Illustrated Backwards Sam Firk (Michael Stewart) discography

M I C H A E L S T E W A R T; source: front cover of
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxNVvZJFiH0

Michael Stewart
a/k/a 'Backwards Sam Firk'
Michael Addison Stewart
b. September 18, 1943 in Asheville, North Carolina
d. October 11, 2007 in Mill Spring, North Carolina
discography
Michael Stewart and Memphis Piano Red visit Sleepy John Estes & family at home in Brownsville, Tennessee; source: http://www.adelphirecords.com/video/YankSleepy.html

#	year of release	title / label / notes
*10 inch 78 rpm*
1	1962	B. Sam Firk - Delta Moodish Blues - Old Country Rock * @ youtube * rec. March 24, 1961 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; Backwards Sam Firk, g, sp 10 inch single acetate Fonotone 6421 William Moore discography
1a	1962	B. Sam Firk - Barefoot Mamlish Blues - No Special Rider Blues - Money Green No. 2 - ??? rec. in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; Backwards Sam Firk, g, sp 10 inch single acetates Fonotone
1b	1962	The Mississippi Swampers - Black Swamper's Blues Part 1 (6219) @ youtube (0:00) - Black Swamper's Blues Part 2 (6219) @ youtube (3:10) rec. June 15, 1962 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; John Fahey, g; Backwards Sam Firk, g 10 inch single Fonotone Joe Bussard: An Oral History of Fonotone Records
1c	1962	The Mississippi Swampers - Green Blues (6220) # @ http://thewire.co.uk/... (30:30) - Stone Pony (6220) rec. June 15, 1962 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; John Fahey, g, # voc; Backwards Sam Firk, g 10 inch single Fonotone Joe Bussard: An Oral History of Fonotone Records
1d	1962	The Mississippi Swampers - Some Summer Day No. 2 (6221) - Dark And Lonely Night Blues (6221) rec. June 15, 1962 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; John Fahey, g, # voc; Backwards Sam Firk, g 10 inch single Fonotone Joe Bussard: An Oral History of Fonotone Records
		About 12 songs were recorded, the titles of which are unknown at present source: http://www.johnfahey.com/pages/v3note.html#18 rec. Summer 1962 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; John Fahey, g; Backwards Sam Firk, g Fonotone unissued
*LP / CD compilations*
2	1968	Backwards Sam Firk: The True Blues And Gospel - I'm Glad Blues - East St. Louis Dry Land Blues - Hey Hey Hey - Cigarette - Candy Man Blues - If You Don't Want Me That Freight Train Whistle's Gonna Blow, Momma - Old Reliable One-Way Gal [One Way Gal] # @ youtube - Be Ready When He Comes - Old Country Dump [Old Country Rock] - Get Back Old Devil - Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home - West Side Blues - I Be's Troubled - Babe's Piece - Fixin' To Die - The Unbroken Circle additional CD tracks from Adelphi AD 1006: - 1951 Blues - Spanish Flangdang previously unissued additional CD track - Saturday Night Friction Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart), voc, g; # Fang (Tom Hoskins), voc, g; # Delta X (Stephan Michelson), spoons; prod. by Gene Rosenthal cover art by Joel Slotnikoff notes (4-page leaflet) by Backwards Sam Firk & Willum de Hartgarden Adelphi AD 1001 (US 1968) (=) Stella STCD 002 = Prospect CD 1103 Adelphi Records discography
3	1969	Little Brother Montgomery with Jeanne Carroll: No Special Rider - No Special Rider - Prisoner Bound Blues - You Gotta See Your Mama Every Night - Cow Cow Blues - Gin House Blues - New Vicksburg Blues - London Shout - Oh, Daddy - Little Brother's Early Pieces and History - No Special Boogie - Farrish Street Jive * - Muleface Blues * * on CD only rec. Chicago Sept. 1, 1969; L. Br. Montgomery, p, voc; Jeanne Carroll, voc; B. Sam Firk, National steel g notes by Mike Stewart Adelphi AD 1003S (US 1969) (=) Adelphi GCD 9913 (US 1999) Adelphi Records discography Little Brother Montgomery discography
4	1970	George And Ethel McCoy: Early In The Morning - Mary - Late Hours At Midnight - Way Down South - Rocky Mountain Blues - Santa Fe Blues - Rainy Day Blues - Juanita Stomp - Miss Baker's Blues - Meningitis Blues - Early In The Morning - Going Down Slow - Childhood Dream Blues rec. September 9 & 12, 1969 in East St. Louis; George McCoy, voc, g; Ethel McCoy, voc, g; Jimmie Brown, bass can; Catherine McCoy, rub-board; B. Sam Firk, g; prod. by Gene Rosenthal notes by Gene Rosenthal Adelphi AD 1004 (US 1970) Adelphi Records discography
5	1969	Really Chicago Blues@ youtube (full album playlist) LP 1: Johnny Shines/Sunnyland Slim/Backwards Sam Firk - Two Long Freight Trains @ youtube John Lee Granderson/Big Joe Williams/Firk - Girl At The Bottom @ youtube Slim/Shines/Firk - Rolling And Tumbling @ youtube Honeyboy Edwards/Firk - Hot Springs Blues # @ youtube Williams/Granderson/Firk - If You Can't Shimmy-She-Wobble @ youtube Shines/Slim/Firk/Williams - As Long As The World Stands @ youtube Shines/Edwards/Walter Horton - For The Love Of Mike [sic] (aka "Love Of Mine") @ youtube Honeyboy Edwards - Jersey Bull Blues @ youtube Williams/Granderson/Firk - You're An Old Lady @ youtube Shines/Slim/Firk/Williams - Poor Man's Tonic @ youtube Horton/Edwards/Shines - Way 'Cross Town @ youtube Williams/Shines/Slim - Jook House Blues @ youtube LP 2: Slim/Shines/Firk - Cuttin' Out Blues @ youtube Honeyboy Edwards/Firk - Howling Wind # @ youtube Shines/Slim/Williams/Firk - Evening Sun @ youtube Granderson/Williams/Firk - Going 'Round The World @ youtube Williams/Slim/Shines/Firk - Mama Don't Allow Me @ youtube Slim/Shines/Firk - She Got A Thing Going On @ youtube Granderson/Williams/Firk - Stop Breaking Down @ youtube Honeyboy Edwards - Sweet Home Chicago @ youtube Granderson/Williams/Firk - Yellow Box Blues @ youtube Slim/Williams/Shines/Firk - Bye Bye Baby @ youtube all tracks rec. September 1969 in Chicago, IL; prod. by Gene Rosenthal DLP notes by G.L. Moore Adelphi AD 1005 (US 1969) = Echo ECB 803 (US 1985) "Blues Anthology Vol. 3" "Real Chicago Blues" = Echo ECB 804 (US 1985) "Blues Anthology Vol. 4" "More From Chicago" # Genes GCD 9914 Adelphi Records discography Johnny Shines discography David 'Honeyboy' Edwards discography John Lee Granderson discography Big Walter Horton discography Big Joe Williams discography
6	1969	Backwards Sam Firk & Delta X: Deadly Duo - Preacher Blues - Drunken Barrel-House Blues - Roll And Tumble Blues - Sweet Jivin' Mama - Spanish Flangdang # - Nineteen Fifty-One Blues # - Ain't But Sweet Sixteen - Downtown Stomp - Crazy Crying Blues - Rolling Log Blues - Candy Men # reissued on Stella STCD 002 Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart), g, voc; Delta X (Stephan Michelson), g, voc, washboard; Fang (Tom Hoskins), g, voc; prod. by Gene Rosenthal front cover photograph by Joel Slotnikoff; back cover photograph by Gene Rosenthal Adelphi AD 1006 (US 1969) # (=) Stella STCD 002 Adelphi Records discography
7	1970	Furry Lewis with Bukka White and Gus Cannon: On The Road Again - On The Road Again (Lewis) - My Wife Is Getting Old (White) - Why Don't You Come Home Blues (Lewis) - Lela (Cannon) - Oh! Babe (Lewis) - I've Got A Bird To Whistle (Lewis) - Give Me an Old Lady (White) - Furry's Worried Blues (Lewis) - Gibson Hill (White) - Goin' Back (To Memphis, TN) (Cannon) * * on CD only rec. in Memphis, October 7 & 10, 1969; Furry Lewis, voc, g; Bukka White, voc, g; Gus Cannon, voc, banjo; Dewey Corley, kazoo, bass can; B. Sam Firk, g; prod. by Gene Rosenthal Adelphi AD 1007 (US 1970) (=) Adelphi GCD 9918 (US 1999) Adelphi Records discography Furry Lewis discography
8	1971	The Memphis Blues Again Vol. 1 Nathan Beauregard - Nobody's Business But My Own - Lonesome To Myself Sam Clark & Dewey Corley and Richard Harney - Sunnyland Train Blues Earl Bell & Marshall "Memphis Sonny Boy" Jones - Catfish Blues Mose Vinson & Backwards Sam Firk and Dewey Corley - You Ain't Too Old Mose Vinson & Backwards Sam Firk - Bullfrog Blues Sweet Charlene Peeples & Mose Vinson - Tin Pan Alley - Scood Up Be Doop Day Furry Lewis - Natural Born Eastman No. 2 Furry Lewis & Willie Morris and Dewey Corley - New Turn Your Money Green Joe Dobbins & Backwards Sam Firk - Basin Street Blues - Sweet Patricia Gus Cannon - Mule Gallop Dewey Corley & Willie Morris and Furry Lewis - Dewey's Walkin' Blues Dewey Corley & Walter Miller - Step It Up And Go rec. October 1969 in Memphis, TN and June 1970 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN; prod. by Gene Rosenthal Adelphi AD 1009 cover drawing by Dick Bangham notes by Stephan Michaelson and Steve LaVere with assistance by Nick Perls and Michael Stewart Adelphi AD 1009 (US 1971) notes by Stephan Michaelson = Echo Music 801 (UK 1985) "Blues Anthology Vol. 1" "Memphis Blues" Adelphi Records discography
9	1973	Henry Townsend: Henry T. Music Man Henry Townsend and Backwards Sam Firk with Henry Brown and Vernell Townsend - Cairo Blues °° - Tired Of Being Mistreated °° - Biddle Street Blues - She Walked Away - Every Day of My Life - Sloppy Drunk Again - Why Do We Love Each Other - Deep Morgan Stomp - Buzz, Buzz, Buzz - Heart Trouble - Doing Better in Life - Do You Remember Me? - Now or Never! °° on CD only Adelphi AD 1016 (US 1973) = Adelphi CD 9916 (US 1999) "Cairo Blues" Adelphi Records discography Henry Townsend discography
9a	1973	Yank Rachell - Tappin' That Thing * [] - Pack My Clothes And Go # - Skinny Woman Blues # - Matchbox Blues # - Texas Tony * [] - Des Moines, Iowa # - Shotgun Blues * [] - Sugar Farm Blues # - Diving Duck Blues * [] - Wadie Green # - Peach Tree Blues * rec. 1973 in Indianapolis, IN; James Rachell, voc, # g, * mand; [] Backwards Sam Firks (Michael Stewart), g Blue Goose BG 2010 (US 1973) = Random Chance RCD-2 (US 1999) [Label owner Rick Congress: "Unfortunately, the licenses I bought for two Yank Rachell albums have long expired."] Blue Goose Records discography
10	198?	John Fahey / The Mississippi Swampers John Fahey - Guitar Solo's - titles unknown - from 7002 The Mississippi Swampers six blues tracks: - Black Swamper's Blues Part 1 * - Black Swamper's Blues Part 2 * - Boweavil * - Some Summer Day No. 2 * - Dark And Lonely Night Blues * - Stone Pony * master ## 6219, 6220, 6221 (these are the numbers given to the Mississippi Swampers singles) * rec. June 15, 1962 in Joe Bussard Jr.'s home studio in Fredrick, Maryland; "The Mississippi Swampers" are John Fahey and Backwards Sam Firk 12 inch LP acetate Fonotone 4
11	2001	Backwards Sam Firk & Delta X: What You Think This Is - Sugar Lou Stomp - Pat That Thing - Success Blues - Be Da De Dum - Umis Majola - Maybe I Have The Blues - Son Of A Gun - What You Think This Is? - Don't Want That Junk - Hoodai - You Can't Buy It - That's Why I Live Alone - Dazed & Confused - Hawaiian Hotel - Naggy Sakki - House Rent Stomp - Right String, Wrong Yo Yo - St. Louis Blues The Physical World PWCD-P102 (US 2001)
12	2005	Fonotone Records 1956 - 1969 disk 1 - Chinese Breakdown - Oscar Myers - Power In The Blood - Frank Stuart - Wanda Russell's Blues - Blind Thomas (John Fahey) - Foggy Bottom Shuffle - Danville Dan (Bob Coltman) - I Love You Mama - Tennessee Joe - Solider's Joy - Guitar Rascals - Carry Me Back To The Mountains - Blue Ridge Partners - Fox Chase - W. R. Barnes - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Lucky Ozark Mountain Boys Chatman - Baker's Breakdown - Adcock Family - Alley Strut - Back Alley Boys - Boweavil - Mississippi Swampers - Bugle Call Banjo - Bluegrass Travelers - Tator Patch Blues - Tennessee Mess Arounders - We Need More Rattlesnakes - Blind Robert Ward - Jug In The Shade - Jolly Joe's Jug - Lost Indian - Milo Way - Love Old Memphis - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Old Country Rock - Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart) - The Death Of John Kennedy - Joe Bussard - Onions - Tennessee Mess Arounders - Paint Brush Blues - Blind Thomas (John Fahey) - Helter Skelter - Welch Brothers - Green Blues - Mississippi Swampers - Hannah Open The Door - Gabriel's Holy Testifiers - Wildwood Flower - Happy Johnny - Down On The Delaware - Welch Brothers disk 2 - Crazy Arms - Hillbilly Boys - Bluegrass - Lucky Ozark Mountain Boys Chatman - Rome Georgia Bound - Georgia Jokers - Blind Blues - Blind Thomas (John Fahey) - Bluegrass Shuffle - Bluegrass Travelers - Cider Time Rag - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Sugar Babe - Happy Johnny - Tearing Down The Laurel - Welch Brothers - Up Jumped The Devil - Mason Obavion - Fox Chase - Clarence Fross - Virginia Ramble - Two Black Jacks - Sow Good Seeds - Joe Bussard - Nobody's Darling But Mine - Beachley Sisters - Everlasting Joy - Brother Smith - Backlander's Hornpipe - Backlanders - Jokin' Georgia Rag - Georgia Jokers - Stir It Now - Jackson Jug Jumpers - Kid Future's Blues - Kid Future (Stefan Grossman) - R. G. Chimes - Possum Holler Boys - Back Alley Wiggle - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Pig Tail Fling - Possum Holler Boys - Down Where The River Bends - Rocky Ridge Ramblers - The Flight Of Astronaut John Glenn - Oscar Myers - Hillbilly's Guitar - Hillbilly Boys - Memphis Hambone Blue - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Mandolin Blues - Tennessee Mess Arounders - Cheat Mountain - Welch Brothers disk 3 - Shady Grove - Adcock Family - Cumberland Gap - Birmingham Bill (Mike Seeger) - Fisher's Hornpipe - Coltman & Taylor - Cackling Hen - Joe Birchfield - Barefoot Mamlish Blues - Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart) - Black Jack Rag - Three Blues Boys - Hot Corn Cold Corn - Adcock Family - Tear It Down - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Father Put The Cow Away - Happy Johnny - Whitacre's Hornpipe - Whitacre Family - Banjo Stretch - Bluegrass Travelers - Coal Tipple Blues - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Some Summer Day No. 2 - Mississippi Swampers - Hopalong Peter - Mash Mountain Boys - The Crowing Rooster - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Little Boy Stole My Jacket - Whitacre Family - Black Cat Blues - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Frankie - Sunny Side Sacred Singers - Striped Stockings - Whitacre Family - Short String Strut - Georgia Jokers - The Voyage Of Apollo 8 - Virginia Ramblers - Black Jack Drag - Two Black Jacks - Rory Mae - Kid Future (Stefan Grossman) - Silver Bells - Coltman & Taylor - Weissman Blues - Blind Thomas (John Fahey) disk 4 - Sara Jane - Adcock Family - What She's Got - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Susie - Georgia Jokers - Round Town Gals - Rocky Ridge Ramblers - Ramblin' Blues - W. E. Barnes - Pretty Little Girl - Sizemore - Scattin' Rag - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Please Love Me - Joe Bussard - Delta Moodish Blues - Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart) - Busted Boiler Blues - Oscar Myers - Big Legged Mama - Ted Kreh - Leather Breeches - Happy Johnny - Dark And Lonely Night Blues - Mississippi Swampers - Borrow Love And Go - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - I Don't Love Nobody - Blue Ridge Partners - Hen Pecked Man - Birmingham Bill (Mike Seeger) - Treastle Blues - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Train To Danville - Danville Dan (Bob Coltman) - No Special Rider Blues - Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart) - Basement Blues - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Drunk Song No. 2 - T. Damien - If You Don't Love Me Mama - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Stone Pony - Mississippi Swampers - The Pueblo's Crew - Blind Robert Ward - Confessin' - Whitacre Family - Poor Boy Blues - Blind Thomas (John Fahey) disk 5 - Cripple Creek - Frank Stuart - Put My Little Shoes Away - Lucky Ozark Mountain Boys Chatman - Hoppin' The Frets - Adcock Family - John Henry Take 1 - Oscar Myers - Nine Pound Hammer - Adcock Family - Birmingham Tickle - Birmingham Bill (Mike Seeger) - Atlanta Rag - Georgia Jokers - Old Hypocrite - Clarence Fross - Sugar In The Gourd - Bald Knob Chicken Snatchers - I Hear Mother Calling - Lee Moore - It's Only The Wind - Beachley Sisters - Maple Sugar - Whitacre Family - Preach The Gospel - Brother Smith - My Savior Died For Me - W. R. Barnes - Sunflower Strut - Danville Dan (Bob Coltman) - Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - Oscar Myers - Lay My Armor Down - Clarence Fross - The Old Folks Started It - Jolly Joe's Jug Band - Done Gone - Whitacre Family - Got To Get A Little More - Bob Coltman - Wild Mountain Ramble - Wild Mountain Boys - Money Green No. 2 - Backwards Sam Firk (Mike Stewart) - Didn't The Crucify My Lord - Sunny Side Sacred Singers - I'm Rollin' On - Carolina Pine Knots - Delta Crapation - Kid Future (Stefan Grossman) - Sugar Tree Stomp - Possum Holler Boys 5 CD set Dust To Digital CD
Additional information appreciated !!!

Sources / Further reading:
- own record collection
- eBay auctions
- diverse internet resources

thanks to Carl Bludts and Peter Brown for additional info / label scans

07/11/2018)