The Post War Blues
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Mike Rowe |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Products | Blues music reissues |
The Post War Blues was a record label established in 1965 by Mike Rowe. Its primary focus was on reissuing lesser-known postwar blues tracks through LP sampler releases.
This label was a pioneer in systematically compiling and issuing collections featuring post-war blues musicians such as Big Walter Horton, Joe Hill Louis, Willie Love, Levi Seabury, Charley Booker, Harmonica Frank, Junior Brooks, Driftin' Slim, Luther Huff, Boyd Gilmore, Dan Pickett, Doug Quattlebaum, Skoodle Dum Doo & Sheffield, Leroy Dallas, Carolina Slim, Curley Weaver, Julius King, Jesse Thomas, Alex Moore, Manny Nichols, Soldier Boy Houston, Buddy Chiles, Andy Thomas, Country Jim, Nat Terry, Harvey Hill & His String Band, L.C. Green, Henry Smith & His Blue Flames, Sylvester Cotton, Slim Pickens, Baby Boy Warren, Bobo Jenkins, and Andrew Durham. During the 1960s blues revival period, the label addressed the increasing demand from white audiences seeking access to these artists’ recordings without having to locate rare 78 rpm discs.
In 1986, blues authority and Blues & Rhythm co-editor Keith Briggs observed that The Post War Blues issued only five albums—namely 'Chicago', 'Memphis and the Delta', 'Detroit', 'East Coast States', and 'Texas'—which continue to be highly regarded. While most selections on the Chicago volume have since become widely accessible, the other four albums contain unique tracks that remain unavailable on LP elsewhere. Initially released with basic 'bootleg' style sleeves, the label later upgraded to professionally laminated covers featuring photographs and comprehensive liner notes. The sound quality across these releases was notably superior, enhancing their appeal to collectors and researchers alike. Phil Turton later highlighted Mike Rowe’s Post War Blues as groundbreaking and indispensable for bringing attention to neglected artists and musical styles overlooked by major record companies.
Mike Rowe, the label’s founder, is acknowledged for his work with Blues Unlimited and various other blues journals, contributing album liner notes and authoring the book Chicago Blues: The City and the Music (Da Capo Paperback). This publication was originally released in 1973 under the title Chicago Breakdown and remains available today.
Discography
- Chicago - The Post-war Blues Volume 1 (1965)
- Memphis ....On Down - The Post-war Blues Volume 2 (1966)
- Eastern and Gulf Coast States - The Post-war Blues Volume 3 (1966)
- Texas - The Post-war Blues Volume 4 (1968)
- Detroit - The Post-war Blues Volume 5 (1968)
- Hobos & Drifters (EP 1966)
Liner notes were written by Paul Oliver, Charles Radcliffe, and Mike Rowe.