The Essential Doc Watson

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Bruce Eder gave the compilation 5 of 5 stars and wrote of the album "As for the music itself, it's about as wide and varied a body as one could wish for... Although it's not as thorough an account of his musicianship as the four-CD Vanguard Years compilation, this disc does give any neophyte a good look at what he's about, and the music is excellent on its own terms."

Track listing

All songs Traditional unless otherwise noted.

1. "Tom Dooley" – 3:13
2. "Alberta" (Lead Belly) – 2:40
3. "Froggie Went A-Courtin'" – 4:02
4. "Beaumont Rag" – 1:37
5. "St. James Hospital" (James "Iron Head" Baker) – 3:25
6. "Muskrat" – 2:51
7. "Down in the Valley to Pray" – 1:57
8. "Blue Railroad Train" (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore) – 2:41
9. "Rising Sun Blues" (Ashley) –4:17
10. "Shady Grove" – 2:55
11. "My Rough and Rowdy Ways" (Elsie McWilliams, Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:28
12. "The Train That Carried My Girl from Town" – 3:45
13. "Black Mountain Rag" – 1:30
14. "I Was a Stranger" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 3:05
15. "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" – 2:20
16. "Country Blues" (Dock Boggs) – 3:05
17. "Ground Hog" – 1:40
18. "Little Orphan Girl" – 2:50
19. "Blackberry Blossom" – 1:50
20. "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" – 2:05
21. "Rambling Hobo" – 0:56
22. "Omie Wise" – 4:05
23. "Handsome Molly" – 2:00
24. "White House Blues" – 1:30
25. "I Want to Love Him More" – 2:05
26. "Way Downtown" – 2:00

Personnel