Forest City Joe was born Joe Bennie Pugh in Hughes, Arkansas close to the town of Forrest City  He taught himself harmonica and played locally impersonating his idol John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson. Rambling around the south with Big Joe Williams he eventually ended up in Chicago where he signed for Aristocrat Records. Only one 78 was released from this session and sales were not sufficient for a follow up session.

He eventually returned to Hughes performing music in the evening until 'rediscovered' in August 1959 by Alan Lomax on one of his field trips. After an evening session at the 'Old Whiskey Store' Atlantic issued two LPs 'Roots of the Blues' & 'Blues Roll On' introducing Joe to a wider audience which would have been his comeback had not an automobile accident ended his life.

This CD presents the Chess session including those not issued at the time. They appeared all together on an album in 1984, odd tracks being issued in the meantime. All Joe's titles from both Atlantic LPs are included as is 'You Gotta Cut That Out' which Lomax thought too modern for the two LPs. Added to these are the two Boy Blue titles issued by Atlantic that were recorded at the same session plus two Little Son Joe tracks recorded for J.O.B. but not issued at the time.

1. MEMORY OF SONNY BOY
2. SPECIAL DELIVERY MAN
3. SHADY LANE WOMAN
4. A WOMAN ON EVERY STREET
5. SAWDUST BOTTOM
6. ASH STREET BOOGIE
7. MEAN MISTREATIN' WOMAN
8. LONESOME DAY BLUES
9. LEVEE CAMP REMINISCENCE
10. TRAIN TIME
11. DRINK ON LITTLE GIRL
12. SHE LIVED HER LIFE TOO FAST
13. SHE DON'T LOVE ME THAT WAY
14. STOP BREAKING DOWN
15. RED CROSS STORE
16. FOREST CITY JUMP
17. YOU GOTTA CUT THAT OUT
BOY BLUE (Roland Hayes)
18. BOOGIE CHILDREN
19. JOE LEE'S ROCK
LITTLE SON JOE (Ernest Lawlars)
20. ETHEL BEA
21. A LITTLE TOO LATE (I'D WRITE A LETTER)