The Complete Package

How surprised and pleased I was to see the piece on the new Charley Patton boxed set (“Debate in the Delta,” by Robert Hilburn, Jan. 27). This happened to be my Christmas present to my husband this year (after he dropped a not-so-subtle hint by leaving the Revenant Records’ ad from Rhythm and Blues News magazine where I couldn’t miss it).

I applaud Hilburn’s profile on the man and the set, but what I found to be missing was any indication that the package itself is a work of art.

The set is magnificently and artistically put together with absolute perfection and attention to detail.

The box is a re-creation of a box for old 78s, complete with inside book binding and tasteful cover. Inside, everything from the paper stock to the sepia-toned photos to the replicas of the labels on the discs is a collector/archivist/historian’s dream.

This complete package makes the world of Charley Patton come alive.

Please, someone nominate this for a Grammy next year.

MAGGIE MAYALL

Tarzana

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It would have been nice if the article about Delta great Charley Patton had mentioned Dean Blackwood, the guiding light of Revenant and the man fairly solely responsible for the great projects that the label issues, particularly the realization of the magnificent Patton set.

LAWRENCE COHN

West Hollywood

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I read the “Debate in the Delta “ article with great interest until Hilburn decided to infuse the race card comments of David Evans. In case the author didn’t know, if Mr. Patton had 1/32 of African American blood in his veins, he was considered black during that period. Using Evans’ rationale, why not label Mr. Patton’s blood lines as “Heinz 57”?

ROBERT FORTSON

Covina

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I couldn’t agree more with Hilburn’s opening statement that everything in pop music is subject to debate--and in particular his remark about the never-ending argument over the first true rock ‘n’ roll hit.

Please add this comment to your list. The late Terry Southern, writing in the radical ‘60s-’70s magazine Ramparts, described the Rolling Stones’ “(Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” as “perhaps the only true rock ‘n’ roll song ever recorded,” a sentiment I happen to agree with.

GEOFF CASE

Los Angeles