 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
BARGAIN BASEMENT
COMPACT
DISCS - Blues & Gospel
Big Boy Teddy
Edwards
-> Eddie Kirkland
| BIG BOY TEDDY EDWARDS | Document DOCD 5440 | Complete Recorded Works, 1930-1936 | ● CD |
| The complete recordings of this obscure blues performer -
one of very few to play the tiple on record. Edwards was a fine singer
though his earliest solo sides from 1930 are rather boring because of his
limited strumming accompaniment. His later sides are more enjoyable where he
is accompanied by musicians like pianist Black Bob, guitarist Big Bill
Broonzy and banjo player Papa Charlie Jackson. Some tracks are from very
worn 78s but most of the performances are quite listenable. BIG BOY TEDDY EDWARDS: Alcohol Mama/ Dancing The Blues Away/ Family Troubles/ Good Doing Daddy (take A)/ Good Doing Daddy (take B)/ Hoodoo Blues/ I Ain't Gonna Give You None/ I'm Gonna Tell My Mama On You/ If I Had A Girl Like You/ It Was No Dream/ Louise (80608)/ Louise (c-708)/ Louisiana/ Love Will Provide For Me/ Lovin' Blues/ Run Away Blues/ Them Things/ W-p-a-blues/ Who Did You Give My Barbecue To? - Part 1 (80605)/ Who Did You Give My Barbecue To? - Part 2 (80606)/ Who Did You Give My Barbecue To? -1 (c-752)/ Who Did You Give My Barbecue To? -2 (c-753)/ Wild Woman Blues |
|||
| BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON | Charly SNAP 224 | Move, Baby Move | ● CD |
| 29 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended Repackaging of Charly 8276 in handsome digipack format with a picture of Billy on the label and two bonus alternate takes. Billy Emerson was a very talented performer whose lack of success is surprising - he was a powerful singer and an exceptional songwriter whose songs were covered by the likes of Elvis Presley (When It Rains It Pours), Billy Lee Riley (Red Hot), Ry Cooder (Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout Autombiles)) and others. These songs are here along with a whole lot more recorded for Sun and Vee-Jay between 1954 and 1957. The earliest Sun recordings find him accompanied by members of Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm (Billy was a member of the band at the time) and subsequent sessions found him with other fine groups including some songs with hot guitar from Calvin Newbern. The Vee-Jay sides have a more polished sound with larger groups but are equally fine with sidemen like Red Holloway, Lefty Bates, Lucious washington and others. This collection includes at least one take of every song he recorded for Sun and Vee-Jay (except for two Vee-Jay titles that have gone missing) and includes some songs not originally issued and some alternate takes. Good sound and informative notes from Adam Komorowski but no discographical info. (FS) |
|||
| SLEEPY JOHN ESTES | Delmark 619 | On The Chicago Blues Scene | ● CD |
| 13 tracks, very good Originally issued on LP and CD as "Electric Sleep" as a dig at Muddy's "Electric Mud" this album has been remixed and remastered from the original mastertapes and given a new name. I'm not sure that they should have bothered. Whatever way you look at it this is a fairly dull album featuring the great country bluesman with a small electric band with Sunnyland Slim on piano, Jimmy Dawkins on guitar, Carey Bell on harp and others. Sleepy John has no problem fitting in the band framework but the band sounds underrehearsed and Sunnyland's piano and Dawkins' guitar are too busy for John's basic style. It was an interesting concept which John was all in favor of `and it certainly doesn't harm John's legacy and with the right musicians and arrangements might have been a real gem. As it stands it's a flawed experiment. (FS) SLEEPY JOHN ESTES: Airplane/ Drop Down Mama - Let Your Papa See/ Easin' Back To Tennessee/ Everybody's Got To Change Sometime/ How To Sing The Blues/ I Ain't Gonna Sell It/ If The River Was Whiskey/ Laura Had A Dream/ May West/ Needmore Has Harmed Many A Man/ Newport Blues/ Sweet Little Flower/ Walking Down Beale Street |
|||
| BLIND BOY FULLER | Document DOCD 5091 | Complete Chronological Recordings, Vol. 1 (1935-1936) | ● CD |
| The first of six volumes presenting the complete recordings
of one of the most popular and influential country bluesmen of the 30s.
Between 1935 and 1940 he recorded 129 songs - this first disc presents 14
tracks cut at four sessions in July 1935 and 10 from 2 sessions in April,
1936. Fuller was a wonderful engaging singer and skilful and adept guitarist
who was equally at home with the uptempo Rag, Mama, Rag or the slower
more intense Walking My Troubles Away. His playing is consistently
fluid with a strong ragtime flavor. One track here Homesick And Lonesome
Blues features an all too rare example of his lovely slide guitar
playing. Most of the tracks here are Fuller alone with his guitar - on three
cuts he is joined by Blind Gary Davis on second guitar (Davis was apparantly
quite an influence on Fuller) and washboard player Bull City Red. There are
two takes of several songs and while the alternates are not very different
they are different enough to be worthy of includion. This set includes many
Fuller classics, that were often covered by other bluesmen including I'm
A Rattlesnakin' Daddy/ Ain't It A Crying Shame (recorded in the 1950 by
Chicago bluesman Jimmy Rogers) / Rag, Mama, Rag/ Baby, You Gotta Change Your
Mind/ My Brownskin Sugar Plum/ Black And Tan/ Babe You Got To Do Better/
Truckin' My Blues Away and more. With a couple a couple of exceptions the
sound is excellent and there are good notes by Ken Romanowki and full
discographical information. (FS) BLIND BOY FULLER: (I Got A Woman Crazy For Me)/ Ain't It A Crying Shame?/ Babe You Got To Do Better/ Baby, I Don't Have To Worry/ Baby, You Gotta Change Your Mind/ Big Bed Blues/ Black And Tan/ Cat Man Blues (take 1)/ Evil Hearted Woman/ Homesick And Lonesome Blues/ I'm A Rattlesnakin' Daddy/ I'm Climbin' On Top Of The Hill/ Keep Away From My Woman (take 1)/ Keep Away From My Woman (take 2)/ Log Cabin Blues (take 1)/ Log Cabin Blues (take 2)/ Looking For My Woman/ My Brownskin Sugar Plum/ Rag, Mama, Rag (take 1)/ Rag, Mama, Rag (take 2)/ She's Funny That Way/ Somebody's Been Playing With That Thing/ Truckin' My Blues Away/ Walking My Troubles Away (take 1)/ Walking My Troubles Away (take 2) |
|||
| LOWELL FULSON | Night Train 7001 | Back Home Blues | ● CD |
| Bay area blues guitar legend Lowell Fulson cut his first
sides in 1946 for the late Bob Geddins' Big Town label out of Oakland. When
Geddins' company fell on hard times (and it often did), Lowell switched to
Swing-Time which not only recorded him, but reissued many Big Time masters.
Some fine straight ahead blues was recorded at this time (circa 1946-49).
Leadbitter and Slaven indicate that Lowell cut in many different formats
during this period - some had him with simple trio backings, others with his
brother Martin, the Lloyd Glenn unit, Que Martin Orch., and Jay McShann
Orch. to name but a few. The fourteen sides presented here probably feature
some of the above. Great down home blues including I Love My Baby,
the previously unissued alternates of Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home/
Sinners Prayer/ Back Home Blues, plus ten other gems. Minor duplication
on wax with B&E 1012 and Crown Prince 407/8, but none with Arhoolie 2003.
Highly recommended. (OLN) LOWELL FULSON: Back Home Blues/ Cold Hearted Mama/ Don't Be So Evil/ Fulson Boogie (instrumental)/ I Love My Baby/ Let's Live Right/ Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home (alternate take)/ My Baby Can't Be Found/ Rock This House/ Sinner's Prayer (alternate take)/ The Day Is Passing On (instrumental - unissued)/ Trying To Find My Baby/ Upstairs/ Want To See My Baby |
|||
| LEE GATES | Music Maker 60 | Black Lucy's Deuce | ● CD |
| Tough electric down home blues from singer/ guitarist from
Pontoto, Mississippi - cousin of the legendary Albert Collins. With Cool
John Ferguson on second guitar. Mostly original songs. |
|||
| REV. J. M. GATES | Document DOCD 5414 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1926 | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, 70 min., recommended How popular was Baptist preacher G. M. Gates? Well, the first 3 of his 9 volume collected works only cover April to November of 1926! His total of 200-plus sides equals more than a fourth of all sermons recorded up to 1943--and Gates dies around 1941. The catch is that the good Reverend recorded for a bus load of labels and often re-recorded titles such as Death's Black Train Is Coming and Goin' To Die With The Staff In My Hand many times. Identified as sermons with singing, these are more properly singing with spoken introductions resembling sermons. Gates is variously accompanied by two unknown females, his congregation, or mixed voices; about half the time he goes it alone. Essential to fans of the genre, of limited interest to the average human. (JC) |
|||
| REV. J. M. GATES | Document DOCD 5483 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 8 : 1930-1934 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 74 min., recommended The 8-song 1930 OKeh session that begins this volume was his last for that label and marked a 4-year recording hiatus for Gates -- and most other gospel and blues acts -- thanks to the Great Depression. (His These Hard Times Are Tight Like That and Pray For Better TImes To Come take the Depression for their subject.) The intriguingly titled Kinky Hair Is No Disgrace takes the position that a "black face and kinky hair" are nothing to be ashamed of because God looks inwardly, and yet Gates agrees with his congregation that kinky hair is "bad," a sad comment, it would seem, on the effect of racist attitudes. In '34 he began his Bluebird career with a return to singing and some familiar subjects, including another in his Xmas series, Will You Have Christmas Dinner In Jail? and Don't Hide From Your Furniture Man, another homage to A. W. Nix's Pay Your Honest Debts. Other titles of interest include Hell Ain't Half Full, No Bread Line In Heaven,Born To Die, and a pair of laudatory sermons about the recently-elected FDR. (JC) |
|||
| ROSCO GORDON | Charly SNAP 222 | Rosco's Rhythm | ● CD |
| 30 tracks, highly recommended Great collection by one of the most distinctive of urban bluesmen featuring 28 tracks recorded for Sam Phillips between 1952 and '57 and 2 recorded for Vee-Jay in 1959. Only a handful of these recordings were originally issued by Sun in the 50s - most of them are unissued songs or alternate takes that have turned up in the various excavations of the Sun vaults over the past 50 years and reveal just what a talented performer Gordon was. He had a flair for novel lyrics and rhythm - some consider him the father of ska/ bluebeat! Roscoe is accompanied by fine bands with a couple of horns and some of the tracks rock like crazy. Includes sides like T Model Boogie/ I Wade Through Muddy water/ Just Love Me Baby/ Do The Chicken/ That's What You Do For Me/ I Don't Like It/ Hard Headed Woman, etc. Though not quite as raucus, his Vee-Jay sides include some fine cuts including his most famous song - Just A Little Bit. Includes informative notes by Adam Komorowski. However the lack of discographical information is regretted. (FS) ROSCO GORDON: Booted/ Cheese and Crackers/ Decorate the Counter/ Do the Bop/ Do the Chicken (Dance with You)/ Hard Headed Woman/ Hey Little Girl/ I Don't Like It/ I Found a New Love/ I Love You Better Than I Love Myself/ I Wade Through Muddy Water (Dream on Baby)/ I'm Gonna Shake It/ If You Don't Love Me Baby/ Just Love Me Baby/ Just a Little Bit/ Let's Get High/ Love With Me Baby/ Love for You Baby/ My Chick/ New Orleans, Louisiana/ Nineteen Years/ No More Doggin'/ Real Pretty Mama/ Sally Jo/ Shoobie Oobie/ T-Model Boogie/ That's What You Do to Me/ Tired of Living/ Torro/ Weeping Blues |
|||
| ROSCO GORDON | Varese Vintage 63852 | I'm Gonna Shake It! The Sun Recordings | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended Rosco Gordon's Sun recordings remain classic and timeless regardless of how much time passes. Jumping blues, boogie, and ballads are generously sprinkled throughout the set as Gordon's piano fronts small, yet powerful bands with plenty of bootin' sax and potent drums. From the stomping grooves of Decorate The Counter and Just Love Me Baby to the hilarious and painfully slow Weeping Blues or Tired Of Living, Rosco was in great form when recording for Sam Phillips. Bill Dahl hands in strong liner notes and offers insight into Rosco's drunken rooster, Butch, but session details are sadly absent. Incredible music. (CR) ROSCO GORDON: Bop With Me Baby/ Cheese And Crackers/ Decorate The Counter/ I Don‘t Like It/ I Found A New Love/ I Wade Through Muddy Water/ If You Don‘t Love Me Baby/ I‘m Gonna Shake It/ Just Love Me Baby/ Let‘s Get High/ Love For You Baby/ Love With Me Baby/ New Orleans, La/ Nineteen Years/ Real Pretty Mama/ Sally Jo/ Shoobie Oobie/ T-model Boogie/ That‘s What You Do To/ The Chicken (dance With You)/ Tired Of Living/ Weeping Blues |
|||
| JOHN LEE GRANDERSON | Testament TCD 5031 | Hard Luck John | ● CD |
| Only full length album of this excellent down home Chicago
singer/ guitarist. Recorded by Pete Welding in mid 60s and all previously
unissued it includes solo performances, duets, trios and small electric
combos with accompanying musicians like Prezs Thomas, Jimmy Walker, Johnny
Young and others - Minglewood Blues/ Flora Blues/ Death Valley Blues/
Rock Me All Night Long/ County Farm Blues/ This Is Your Last Chance,
etc. |
|||
| COOT GRANT & KID WILSON | Document DOCD 5563 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 - March 1925 to Novem ber 1928 | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 65 mins, recommended Great collection of black vaudeville and blues featuring the talented Leola B. "Coot" Grant and "Kid" Wesley Wilson. The duo pieces are witty and humorous and the duo are accompanied by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Buster Bailey, Shirley Clay, Rex Stewart and others as well as Wesley's own piano playing. There are a number of excellent solo blues by Grant issued under her married name of Leola B. Wilson - several featuring the beautiful guitar work of Blind Blake. Musically and historically this deserves a higher rating than recommended but the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired on many of the tracks. Several of the performances have such a high level of surface noise as to make for very difficult listening and many of the others have that shrill thin sound of acoustic recordings which could possibly be improved with sophisticated equqlization but, as it stands, is pretty tiring to listen to after more than a few songs. It's too bad as the music is great! (FS) GRANT & WILSON: (take 1)/ (take 2)/ Ashley St. Blues/ Black Biting Bee Blues/ Come On Coot Do That Thing/ Crying Won't Make Him Stay/ Dishrag Blues/ Down The Country/ Ducks/ Dying Blues/ Find Me At The Greasy Spoon (if You Miss Me Here)/ Find Me At The Greasy Spoon (if You Miss Me Here)/ Have Your Chill, I'll Be Here When Your Fever Rises/ Key Hole Blues/ Mama Didn't Do It And Papa Didn't Do It/ Rasslin' 'till The Wagon Comes/ Rock, Aunt Dinah, Rock/ Rollin' Mill Blues/ Scoop It/ Speak Now Or Hereafter Hold Your Peace/ State Street Men Blues/ Stevedore Man/ When Your Man Is Going To Put You Down (you Never Can Tell)/ Wilson Dam/ You Dirty Mistreater |
|||
| GUITAR SHORTY | Alligator 4911 | We The People | ● CD |
| Tough album of high energy electric blues from 67 year old
blues veteran featuring powerful vocals and searing electric guitar licks. A
number of the songs are originals including the typical title song. Other
songs including I Got Your Number/ Down That Road Again/ Can't Get
Enough/ Who Needs It/ Cost Of Livin', etc. |
|||
| THE HARLEM HAMFATS | Document DOCD 5272 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 2 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 68 min., recommended Most of these excellent tracks retain the group's original line up, including Pearlis Williams on drums, Horace Malcolm on piano, Herb Morand playing trumpet like Louis Armstrong, Joe McCoy (gtr/vc), Charlie McCoy (gtr/mand), Ransom Knowling (sb), and Odell Rand (cl). The brief "religious" period between Joe McCoy's split with Memphis Minnie and his joining the Hamfats is represented and laughed at in the the winning Hallelujah Joe Ain't Preachin' No More. But, generally, the subjects explored in these songs remain wine and women, though not necessarily in that order. Some of the most striking numbers, however, show off vocalist Rosetta Howard on her first recordings, including her paean to marijuana, If You're A Viper, its flip Rosetta's Blues, a cover of Bessie Smith's Empty Bed Blues and Let Your Linen Hang Low, featuring an anything but subtle lyric shared with with Joe. Liner notes contain mini bios. (JC) THE HARLEM HAMFATS: Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes/ Down In Shady Lane/ Empty Bed Blues/ Hallelujah Joe Ain't Preachin' No More/ Hoodooin' Woman/ I Don't Want You Loving Me/ I Feel Like Going To Town/ I Love That/ I'm Cuttin' Out/ I'm So Glad/ If You're A Viper (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ It Was Red/ It's Your Turn (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ Jam Jamboree/ Keep It Swinging Round And Round/ Let Your Linen Hang Low (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ Let's Fall In Love Again (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ My Old Lady Blues/ Ooh-Wee Babe/ Rosetta Blues (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ She's A Mellow Mother For You/ What's My Baby Doin'?/ Worried Mind Blues (Rosetta Howard, vcl)/ You Drink Too Much |
|||
| THE HIGHWAY Q.C'S | Charly SNAPCD 189 | Where He Leads Me | ● CD |
| 27 tracks, 72 mins, essential Indispensable collection of songs recorded by this superb Chicago quartet for Vee Jay between 1955 and 1964. It includes six tracks from the group's first two session which featured Johnny Taylor. His great Sam Cooke inspired lead vocals are featured to great effect on the sublime Somewhere To Lay My Head and I Dreamed Heaven Was Like This. Most of the subsequent leads are by the very fine Spencer Taylor (no relation) who is at his peak on songs like Something On My Mind/ Working On The Building/ The Way Up The Hill and the fabulous I Heard. With the Collectables series of Vee-Jay gospel reissues now deleted this is the best available collection of this wonderful group. (FS) THE HIGHWAY QCS: Amazing Grace/ Child Of God/ Do You Love Him/ Every Man,womn And Child/ Golden Bells/ Great Trumpet/ He Lifted My Burdens/ He Said/ Heavenly Father's Children/ I Dreamed Heaven Was Like This/ I Heard/ I Used To Wonder/ I Used To Wonder/ I'll Be Satisfied/ I'll See Jesus Too/ I'll Trust His Word/ Jesus, I'm Waiting/ Lord I'll Go/ Nobody Knows/ Oh What A Beautiful Day/ Pray/ Sad How They Done My Lord/ Something On My Mind/ Somewhere To Lay My Head/ The Milky White Way/ The Way Up The Hill/ Where He Leads Me/ Working On The Building |
|||
| JOHN DEE HOLEMAN | Music Maker 705 | Bull Durham Blues | ● CD |
| 13 tracks, recommended John Dee Holeman is a fine country
blues singer and guitarist from North Carolina and this album was recorded
in 1999. Holeman's repertoire is pretty derivative (Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind
Boy Fuller, Jimmy Reed, etc) but his singing and playing are excellent and
he does have a few worthwhile originals. A few tracks feature Taj Mahal on
bass or piano or guitar or hambone. Includes Give Me Back My Wig/ Little
Country Gal/ Hello Central/ Crow Janes/ Big Boss Man/ Hambone/ Chapel Hill
Boogies, etc. |
|||
| JOHN LEE HOOKER | Vanguard 79703 | Live At Newport | ● CD |
| 13 acoustic tracks recorded live at the Newport Folk
Festival in 1960 and '63. The 1960 sides are solo and the '63 tracks are
with stand up bass player Bill Lee. John Lee is in fine form on a selection
of some of his most famous songs along with a few lesser known items Hobo
Blues (two versions)/ I Can't Quit You Baby/ Tupelo/ Bus Station Blues/
Great Fire Of Natchez/ Boom Boom (two versions), etc. JOHN LEE HOOKER: Boom Boom/ Boom Boom/ Bus Station Blues/ Great Fire of Natchez/ Hobo Blues/ Hobo Blues/ I Can't Quit You Baby/ Let's Make It/ Maudie/ Sometimes You Make Me Feel So Bad/ Stop Now Baby/ Tupelo/ You're Gonna Need Another Favor |
|||
| LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS | Collectables 5143 | From The Vaults Of Everest, Part 1 : Drinkin' In The B lues | ● CD |
| 16 tracks recorded for Tradition and Society in 1959 and '60 LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Ball Of Twine/ Big Black Cadillac Blues/ Brand New Car/ Coffee House Blues/ Drinkin' In The Blues/ Early In The Mornin' Blues/ Fugitive Blues/ G String Blues/ Goin' To Dallas/ Grandma Told Grandpa/ I've Been Buked And Scored/ Last Night/ Rain/ Shake It Baby/ Shining Moon/ Stool Pidgeon |
|||
| LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS | Collectables 5145 | From The Vaults Of Everest, Part 3 : Mama & Papa Hopki ns | ● CD |
| LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: 75 Highway/ Bottle Up And Go/ Bunion Stew/ Don't Wake Me/ Get Off My Toe/ Go Down Old Hannah/ Hear My Black Dog Bark/ In The Evening, The Sun Is Going Down/ Mama And Papa Hopkins/ Short Haired Woman/ That Gambling Life/ The Food Race Is On/ Trouble In Mind/ What Did I Say/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ You Got To Work To Get Your Pay | |||
| WALTER HORTON/ THE KING BISCUIT BOYS | Sequel 285 | Well All Right! Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival, Vol. 4 | ● CD |
| 17 tracks, 60 min., recommended Recorded at the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival, the Big Walter Horton set features John Nicholas' band & should please all you harmonica fans. The highlights include Trouble In Mind (with just John Nicholas' guitar helping out), Tampa Red-Elmore James' It Hurts Me Too (with Nicholas' slide guitar) and the hard hitting Hard Hearted Woman. The Joe Willie Wilkins & The King Biscuit Boys featuring Houston Stackhouse performance was one I still remember, maybe because the lineup that Sunday afternoon included Victoria Spivey, Ornette Coleman, and the Johnny Otis Show! Stackhouse's version of Sweet Black Angel features his wonderful slide playing, while I believe it was Wilkins' who played the slide on his own version of Sonny Boy's Mr. Downchild. As for their harmonica player, Clennon Lee Sonny Blake, he's featured on his own composition Down So Long. (EL) |
|||
| SON HOUSE | Document DOCD 5663 | Live At The Gaslight Cafe | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, 58 mins, recommended The master of Mississippi Delta blues recorded live at the Gaslight Cafe in New York on January 3, 1965 not too long after his rediscovery. Son is in good, if not great, form on a collection of mostly familiar pieces - Pony Blues/ Preachin' The Blues/ Son's Blues/ Death Letter Blues/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ Empire State Express/ Louise McGhee and others. Son's performances on the first set seem a little tentative but are stronger and more assured on the second. A couple of the songs are cut short (presumably recorder ran out of tape) and there is noticeable tape hiss on the quiter moments but this is a worthwhile if not essential addition to recordings available of this great artist. (FS) SON HOUSE: Death Letter Blues./ Empire State Express/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ Levee Camp Moan/ Louise McGhee/ Motherless Children/ Pearline/ Pony Blues/ Preachin' The Blues/ Son's Blues/ This Little Light Of Mine/ Yonder Comes My Mother (When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder) |
|||
| HOWLIN' WOLF | Chess (UK) 11073 | The Genuine Article | ● CD |
| 25 classic Chess sides Moanin' At Midnight/ Baby How
Long/ Smokestack Lightnin'/ Who's Been Talkin'/ Howlin' For My Baby/
Spoonful/ I Ain't Superstitious/ Killing Floor/ The Red Rooster, etc. |
|||
| HOWLIN' WOLF | Fuel 2000 61220 | Moanin' At Midnight | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, recommended Wolf's most violent and primal period was without question while he was recording in Memphis. Aided by the brutal attack of Willie Johnson's crushing and distorted guitar and a cast of players as determined as Wolf was to leave their mark, the remastered sound has plenty of kick and his Memphis sessions show distinct differences to his later recordings in Chicago. House Rockin' Boogie/ Keep What You Got/ I'm The Wolf and the rest of these cuts never sounded better. Bill Dahl's liner notes are informative, as usual, and while there's nothing new or previously unissued (these tracks were previously reissued on Ace 333), remain as stellar examples from one of the most powerful performers in the history of blues. (CR) |
|||
| LONG JOHN HUNTER | Alligator 4861 | Ride With Me | ● CD |
| 10 tracks, 51 min., recommended Reissue of 1993 Spindletop album. If you've heard the handful of singles he recorded for the tiny Yucca label in the early 1960's, reissued some year ago on a Double Trouble LP, you know how talented this Texas singer/guitarist is. And at 62, he hasn't lost his edge, turning in this fine set of originals that includes El Paso Rock/ West Texas Homecoming, just in case anyone should doubt where his heart is. On the latter cut Hunter is joined by T. D. Bell and his guitar; throughout, saxophonists Mark Kazanoff and Red Rails give the backing band distinction and heat. Pianist Erbie Bowser is no slouch either. Solid. (JC) |
|||
| MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT | Fuel 2000 61149 | Revisited | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, 60 min., highly recommended Mississippi John Hurt played the melody and bass line at the same time, sang, and made the whole thing sound as simple as tapping your foot. His fluid, relaxed style was first dedicated to wax in 1928, and he sounded like no one else in the world. Only 35 years later he was "rediscovered" and recorded again. This live show is drawn from an April 15, 1965, performance at Oberlin College in Ohio. His sound, essentially unchanged over the years, is as pleasing as ever, as he moves through some of his old classics, including I'm Satisfied, Rich Woman Blues, Candy Man, My Creole Belle, and others. Highlights include Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me, The Angels Laid Him Away and the children's ditty C-H-I-C-K-E-N. Great fun. (JC) |
|||
| MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT | Fuel 2000 61495 | D.C. Blues - The Library Of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2 | ● CD |
| Two CDs, 37 tracks, highly recommended he second volume of Library Of Congress recordings is not quite as strong as the first - there is a higher proportion of songs John had not recorded elsewhere and it seems that he was not as familiar with some of the songs here and he occasionally stumbles over lyrics or guitar parts. Nevertheless there are some fine performances here and John's singing and playing are almost always a delight. Includes Monday Morning Blues/ Salty Dog/ Waiting For You/ Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord/ I'll Fly Away/ I'm Satisfied/ Four O'Clock Blues/ Alabama Bound/ Frankie No. 2/ You Got To Get Ready, etc. (FS) |
|||
| BILL JACKSON | Testament 5014 | Long Steel Rail | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, 51 min., recommended Vocalist & 12-string guitarist Bill Jackson was one of a group of artists - including Carl Hodges, Doug Quattlebaum, Blind Connie Williams, Clarence Clay & William Scott - that Peter John Welding discovered in 1961/62, reissuing their sides on his own Testament label & on Bluesville, Milestone and Storyville Records. This CD was Welding's first album, and should entice fans of Pink Anderson, John Jackson and Mississippi John Hurt. Born in Maryland, his versions of tunes like Careless Love, Trouble In Mind, Blood Red River & Key To The Highway are earnest attempts at Piedmont blues but it's his original tunes like Long Steel Rail, You Ain't No Woman, Old Rounder Blues that I'm impressed with. Fans of new artists like Eric Bibb & Guy Davis should also give this set a listen. (EL) |
|||
| BULL MOOSE JACKSON | King Blues KSCD 1409 | Greatest Hits | ● CD |
| 8 cuts - I Love You, Yes I Do/ Little Girl, Don't Cry/
All My Love Belongs To You/ I've Had A Hard Way To Go/ I Want A Bowlegged
Woman/ Don't Ask Me Why/ I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya/ Big Fat Mamas
Are Back In Style Again. |
|||
| ELMORE JAMES, JR. | JSP 8809 | Daddy Gave Me The Blues | ● CD |
| 14 tracks, 50 min., recommended It would hardly be fair to compare Elmore James Jr. to his innovative, god-like father. Of course his real first name is Earnest, and he used to bill himself as "Earnest Jr.--Mr. Soul," so he is sort of asking for comparisons, what with the title of his album and all. But Elmore James he ain't. And that's fine. He does happen to be a decent blues singer with a hot backing band that includes guys with such names as Cadillac Zack and Oakland Red. How cool is that. But James only plays guitar on three tracks, and ironically the title track isn't one of them. So while this is a satisfying blues workout with plenty of stinging guitar, it doesn't soar above a common bound, as it were, at least not often enough. (JC) |
|||
| LARRY JOHNSON | Biograph BCD 138 | Midnight Hour Blues | ● CD |
| 1971 album by this fine bluesman with John Hammond on harp
and National steel guitar. LARRY JOHNSON: Blood Red River/ Mama-Less Rag/ Midnight Hour Blues/ Nobody's Biz-ness/ One Room Country Shack/ Peace Breakin' People/ Red River Dam Blues/ Saturday Evening Blues/ Tell Me Mama/ Walking Blues/ When Things Go Wrong |
|||
| LONNIE JOHNSON | Blues Magnet 1001 | The Unsung Blues Legend | ● CD |
| 17 tracks, 56 min, highly recommended Something about this set I find beautiful. This was recorded at the home of Bernie Strassberg, who had become friends with Lonnie during the 60s after Lonnie's "rediscovery". An informal recording in a Forest Hills living room in '65, Lonnie accompanies himself on guitar on what is a long string of pop, jazz & blues tunes & standards. His single string runs still sound great as he fluidly goes from tune to tune. Interestingly, he starts off with 2 songs which, in '65, were associated with Frank Sinatra - This Love Of Mine & September Song. From there it's everything from Duke's Solitude, early classics likr St. Louis Blues/ Back Water Blues/ Careless Love and Prisoner of Love, Earl Hine's Jelly Jelly, his own New Orleans Blues & There's Been Some Changes Made, even a solo guitar version of Danny Boy. (GM) |
|||
| LONNIE JOHNSON | RCA Bluebird 66064 | He's A Jelly Roll Baker | ● CD |
| If you're not ready for the 10 CD's of Lonnie on Document &
Blues Documents, try this for an appetizer. 20 cuts from the WWII-era,
mostly in his pleasing song style with dazzling guitar plus piano and bass
accompaniment from the likes of Lil Armstrong, John Davis and Ransom
Knowling. Songs are varied including the vitriolic attack on a woman stealer
Nothing But A Rat, pop ballad stylings like The Loveless Blues,
a remake of one of his most famous songs the insightful Crowing Rooster
Blues , the risque title song and other fine performances like Why
Women Go Wrong/ Jersey Belle Bluews/ I'm Just Dumb/ That's Love/ Lazy Woman
Blues,D>, etc. Lonnie had a long and extremely productive career and this a
typically fine selection. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Baby Remember Me/ Chicago Blues/ Crowing Rooster Blues/ Get Yourself Together/ He's A Jelly Roll Baker/ I Did All I Could/ I'm Just Dumb/ In Love Again/ Jersey Belle Blues/ Lazy Woman Blues/ Nothing But A Rat/ Rambler's Blues/ Somebody's Got To Go/ That's Love/ The Last Call/ The Loveless Blues/ The Victim Of Love/ Watch Shorty/ When You Feel Low Down/ Why Women Go Wrong |
|||
| LUTHER "GUITAR JUNIOR" JOHNSON | Bullseye Blues 9546 | Country Sugar Papa | ● CD |
| 13 tracks, 55 min., recommended A member of the Muddy Waters Band in the '70s, Johnson plays Chicago blues guitar West Side style a la Magic Sam. His 3rd Bullseye release is solid as usual, and several cuts, namely his own Walkin' With You Baby/ I'm Going Back, Back, Back/ Can't Come Home, are downright hot. The songs that work the best do not attempt to force the guitar down the listener's throat just for the sake of guitar, opting instead for the inclusion of tasty harp solos or horns and back-up singers. And so on. When producer Ron Levy lets the guitar become more important than the song, the results are competent blues without the flair necessary to make them stand out. Fortunately, Johnson and Levy hit much more often than they miss. (JC) |
|||
| JO ANN KELLY | Mooncrest CRESTCD 063 | Tramp 1974 | ● CD |
| The third collection of rare and unissued recordings by this
wonderful British blues singer features studio and live cuts from 1974 with
the excellent band she worked with on an occasional basis. The material is
mostly R&B including covers and a couple of fine originals by Jo Ann and
band members. JO ANN KELLY: Baby What You Want Me To Do/ Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home/ Help Me Through The Night/ It’s Too Late For That Now/ Jump Steady Daddy/ Love Blind/ Nicki Hoeky/ Put A Record On/ Put A Record On/ Til My Back Ain’t Got No Bone/ Travellin’ Mood/ What You Gonna Do/ You Don’t Love Me Baby/ You Got To Move |
|||
| VIVIAN VANCE KELLY | Wolf 120.812 | Hit Me Up | ● CD |
| Debut album from the daughter of fine Chicago bluesman Vance
Kelly. Vivian is an excellent singer though her material is overly familiar
(Got My Mojo Working/ Down Home Blues/ Stand By me/ Proud Mary/ Proud
Mary, etc.). Some titles are performed acoustic and some electric and
several songs are presented twice in acoustic and electric versions. |
|||
| ALBERT KING | Collectables 2887 | The Complete King & Bobbin REcordings | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended Compares to the "More Big Blues" CD Ace 827 ($18.98), which shares 22 tracks with this collection. The main differences would then be that there are two tracks on this that don't appear on the Ace collection: This Funny Feeling, and Had You Told It Like it Was. Also this CD is cheaper than the Ace version, but the Ace version is cooler, better put together, has better notes and although this sounds totally fine, I would bet (without having done a track by track comparison) that the Ace set has slightly superior sound. This material certainly represents a fine period for Albert King, so I would recommend getting it all in some form or another. Recorded between 1959 and 1964, and covering his earliest recordings on Bobbin, over to King, and leading up to his departure for Stax records and the real big time. Stand out tracks from this period like Ooh-Ee Baby/ I Walked All Night Long/ Blues at Sunrise/ Don't Throw Your Love on Me so Strong/ I Get Evil, and Dyna Flow, to name a few. (JM) |
|||
