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BARGAIN BASEMENT
COMPACT
DISCS - Blues & Gospel
Willie Love -> Cootie Stark
| WILLIE LOVE & HIS THREE ACES | Purple Pyramid 832 | Greenville Smokin' | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, 50 mins, essential We've managed to turn up a few more copies of this fabulous out of print set. Mississippi juke joint blues at its finest. This album reissues all 18 cuts recorded by this fine Mississippi piano player for Trumpet between 1951 and 1953 - four of them never issued on 78 rpm. Love is accompanied by a small group and the resulting sound has a rough juke joint quality to it with declamatory vocals and barrelhouse piano by Willie and loose but exciting backup by the band. Love's material is mix of originals and raucous variations of traditional blues songs. Among the guitarists featured on these sessions are Elmore James, Joe Willie Wilkins and Little Milton Campbell! A few of the cuts feature some appropriately down home tenor sax work. Sound quality is excellent and there are informative notes by Marc Ryan (if you can raed them!). (FS) |
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| TONY MATTHEWS | HMG 5502 | Condition: Blue | ● CD |
| Reissue of album originally issued on Alligator in 1981 by
original bluesman. Interesting mixture of blues, soul, jazz and funk with
emphasis on the blues - good singing and guitar by Matthews and very varied
arrangements. CD has bonus track previously only available in Japan. |
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| CHARLIE & JOE MCCOY | Blues Documents BDCD 6019 | The McCoy Brothers, Vol 1 1934-36 | ● CD |
| Brother Charlie opens this collection with four fine blues
songs including Candy Man Blues/ Baltimore Blues, which may have
inspired Robert Johnson's Sweet Home Chicago. But Joe, who had more
aliases than fingers, takes the bulk of the selections. His gospel preaching
sides as "Hallelujah Joe" are interesting enough, but 8 in a row may be
pushing it. It's also hard to believe they were anything but attempts to
cash in on the religious market. After all, he recorded the suggestive
One More Greasing just 6 days before If I Be Lifted Up, then
promptly returned to the devil's music. This volume ends with 2 from "Papa
Charlie's Boys", including a take of Too Long that's substantially
different from the 1932 version. (JC) CHARLIE MCCOY: Baltimore Blues/ Candy Man Blues/ Charity Blues/ Motherless And Fatherless Blues/ JOE MCCOY: Don't Need No Doctor When I Come To Die/ Dry Bones In The Valley/ Greyhound Blues ('bill' Wilber, Vcl)/ Highway 61/ Hundred/ If I Be Lifted Up/ Look Who's Coming Down The Road/ Main Key To Heaven/ My Babe My Babe ('bill' Wilber, Vcl)/ One In A/ One More Greasing/ Please Baby/ Something Gonna Happen To You/ That Great Love/ The Prodigal's Return/ The World Is A Hard Place To Live In/ Twenty Minutes To Hell (take B)/ Well, Well/ PAPA CHARLIE'S BOYS: Let My Peaches Be/ Too Long |
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| VIOLA MCCOY/ JULIA MOODY | Document DOCD 5418 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 : 1926-1929 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 71 min., recommended This, the final volume of Viola McCoy's recordings has our lady accomanied by stellar players like cornetist Rex Stewart (Fortune Teller), Canadian-born pianist Louis Hooper (Slow Up Papa) and pianist Cliff Jackson (Git goin'). But it's the songs again that (should) win you over : her version of Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues (with Louis Hooper) holds up against Martha Copeland's original version, and those of us who only know versions by Blind Willie McTell/David Bromberg, should listen up and check out these great classic blueswomen. Also included are versions of Victoria Spivey's Black Snake Blues, and Rosa Henderson's Gay-Catin Daddy. The CD is completed with 13 titles by one Julia Moody, including her original versions of Cootie Crawl (with the awesome cornetist Joe Smith), Good Man Sam and Mad Mama's Blues. It's a shame we know nothing about her as nearly all of these 13 songs were only recorded by her. (EL) VIOLA MCCOY: 'git' Goin' (take C)/ Back Water Blues/ Black Snake Blues/ Body And Soul (he Belongs To Me)/ Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues/ Fortune Teller Blues (tak A)/ Gay-catin Daddy/ I Want A Good Man (and I Want Him Bad)/ If You Really Love Your Baby/ Mama Is Waitin' For You/ Slow Up Papa (take A)/ Some Day You'll Come Back To Me (take B)/ JULIA MOODY: Broken Busted, Can't Be Trusted Blues/ Don't Forget, You'll Regret/ Good Man Sam/ He'll Do You Wrong/ Jada Blues/ Last Night Blues/ Mad Mama's Blues/ Midnight Dan/ Police Blues/ Strivin' Blues/ That Chicago Wiggle/ The Cootie Crawl/ Worried Blues |
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| MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL | Testament TCD 6007 | Levee Camp Blues | ● CD |
| Reissue of Fred's OJL album from 1968 featuring mostly songs
he hadn't recorded elsewhere. This CD includes two previously unissued
outtakes from other sessions. |
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| CHARLIE "SPECKS" MCFADDEN | Blues Documents BDCD 6041 | Complete Chronological Recordings 1929-37 | ● CD |
| 20 tracks, 62 mins, recommended I bet you never expected to see a whole CD of Charlie "Specks" McFadden? No neither did I? But here we have a collection of 20 songs performed by this fine but utterly obscure performer. Apart from the fact that he was from St. Louis and got his nickname from the glasses he wore not much else is known. He was a fine singer with a high, expressive voice and recorded for a number of labels between 1929 and 1937 and on most of his recordings was accompanied by the brilliant piano of Roosevelt Sykes. Aprt from two 78s that have never been found this disc presents his entire output. He was best known for his songs Groceries On The Shelf (about an early supermarket chain) and People People and he recorded four versions of the former and three of the latter. There are other good songs here including Gambler's Blues/ Weak-Eyed Blues, the always topical Times Are Tight and Lonesome Ghost Blues but it's all worth a listen. Don't let the obscurity put you off. Sound is generally good and there are notes by Mike Rowe. (FS) CHARLIE "SPECKS" MCFADDEN: Broken Down Blues/ Don't Bite That Thing/ Friendless Man/ Gambler's Blues/ Groceries On My Shelf (91208)/ Groceries On The Shelf (l-155)/ Groceries On The Shelf No. 2/ Harvest Moon Blues/ Hold It Where You Got It/ Last Journey Blues/ Lonesome Ghost Blues/ Low Down Rounders Blues/ Misunderstood Blues/ People People (91209)/ People People Blues (l-154)/ People, People (76832)/ Piggly Wiggly Blues/ Times Are So Tight/ Weak-eyed Blues/ Yellow Woman Blues |
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| BROWNIE MCGHEE | Magnum MCCD 005 | Not Guilty Blues | ● CD |
| 18 sides from 1940/41 with Jordan Webb or Sonny Terry on
harp and Oh Red or Washboard Sam on washboard - Pickin' My Tomatoes/ My
Barkin' Bulldog Blues/ Step It Up And Go/ Death Of Blind Boy Fuller/
Workingman's Blues/ I'm A Black Woman's Man #2 and others. |
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| MEMPHIS MINNIE | Document DOCD 5029 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 2 : | ● CD |
| The second collection features 23 songs recorded between
June, 1930 and January, 1931. All but two of the tracks feature the
exquisite dual guitars of Joe and Minnie - 10 solo vocals by Minnie
(including two with a jug band), 9 solo vocals by Joe and 4 vocal duets. The
performances are consistently superb with the highlight being Joe's
rendition of My wash Woman's Gone with both Joe and Minnie playing
slide guitar - they rarely played slide. Other songs include Memphis
Minnie-Jitis Blues/ Plymouth Rock Blues/ Bumble Bee No. 2/ New Bumble Bee/
She Put Me Outdoors/ Grandpa & Grandma Blues/ North Memphis Blues/ Shake
Mattie, etc. Wonderful! (FS) KANSAS JOE: Beat Lt Right/ I Called You This Morning/ My Mary Blues/ My Wash Woman's Gone/ Pile Drivin' Blues/ Preachers Blues/ Shake Mattie/ She Put Me Outdoors/ What's The Matter With The Mill?/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Botherin' That Thing/ Bumble Bee No. 2/ Cherry Ball Blues/ Frankie Jean (that Trottin' Fool)/ Garage Fire Blues/ Georgia Skin Blues/ Good Girl Blues/ Grandpa And Grandma Blues/ I'm Talking 'bout You No. 2/ Memphis Minnie-jitis Blues (take A)/ New Bumble Bee/ New Dirty Dozen/ North Memphis Blues/ Plymouth Rock Blues |
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| MEMPHIS MINNIE & KANSAS JOE | Document DOCD 5030 | In Chronological Order Vol. 3, 1931 - 1932 | ● CD |
| The third volume in this series is another magnificent
collection - all but one track featuring the twin guitars of Minnie and Joe.
The duo seem to be at its peak here and there are some incredibly powerful
vocals by Minnie, particularly on the intense Crazy Cryin' Blues with
it's "crying" verse endings and moaned choruses. There are two rare
instrumentals including the churning Let's Go To Town and the slide
piece Pickin' The Blues. Good sound and informative notes by Alan
Balfour make for another essential collection. (FS) KANSAS JOE & MEMPHIS MINNIE: Let's Go To Town/ Pickin' The Blues/ Somebody's Got To Help You/ MEMPHI MINNIE: After While Blues/ Fishin' Blues/ Jailhouse/ Joliet Bound/ Kind Treatment Blues/ Outdoor Blues/ Socket Blues/ Soo Cow Soo/ Stranger's Blues/ Trouble Blues/ Where Is My Good Man/ You Know You Done Me Wrong/ You Stole My Cake/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Crazy Cryin' Blues/ Don't Bother It/ Hard Down Lie/ I Don't Want That Junk Outa You/ Lay My Money Down (if You Run Around)/ Today Today Blues/ Tricks Ain't Walking No More |
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| LUELLA MILLER | Document DOCD 5183 | Complete Recordings In Chronological Order (1926-28) | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 70 min., good A largely unknown performer, the St. Louis-raised Miller performs in a style generally unlike her classic blues contemporaries. Her voice is nasal, powerful, and suited to her choice of material. But the material itself, in spite of support from James Johnson and Lonnie Johnson, is rather unimaginative, with little variance in tempo. Over an hour of her material in one sitting can feel pretty monotonous. Specific tracks include Dago Hill Blues/ Down the Alley/ Peeping at the Rising Sun Blues and Tornado Groan. Generally good sound quality, brief notes, and typical Document graphics. (DH) LUELLA MILLER: Brick House Blues/ Carrier Pigeon Blues/ Chicago Blues/ Dago Hill Blues/ Down The Alley (-40)/ Down The Alley (-41)/ Dreaming Of You Blues/ East St. Louis Blues/ Frisco Blues/ Jackson's Blues/ Muddy Stream Blues/ North Wind Blues/ Peeping At The Rising Sun Blues/ Pretty Man Blues (548)/ Pretty Man Blues (549)/ Rattle Snake Groan/ Smiling Rose Blues/ Through And Through Blues/ Tombstone Blues/ Tornado Groan/ Triflin' Man Blues/ Twelve O'clock Blues/ Walnut Street Blues/ Wee Wee Daddy Blues |
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| MITCHELL'S CHRISTIAN SINGERS | Document DOCD 5495 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 : 1938-40 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 67 mins, essential After a slight drop in quality in the recordings featured on volume 2 the Mitchell's are back on form and actually better than ever. Their harmonies are rich and creative and there are some stunning performances here including an amazing The Saints Go Marching which is a far cry from the hoary old jazz standard most of us are familiar with. There is also an incandescent version of Thomas Dorsey's Precious Lord which they retitled Take My Hand. There are also a couple of songs from their appearance at the "Spirituals To Swing" concert in 1938. It's all wonderful - acapella gospel of the highest order. (FS) MITCHELL'S CHRISTIAN SINGERS: Ain't Gonna Lay My Receiver Down/ Are You Living Humble?/ Brother Come On In/ Drinkin' Of The Holy Wine/ I Got A Letter From Jesus/ I Have A Home In Yonder City/ I Heard The Preachin' Of The Elder/ I Need To Be More Like Jesus/ I Want Jesus To Be Around/ I'm Gonna Do What My Lord Said/ Jesus Goin' Make Up My Dyin Bed/ Judgment Is Coming/ Lead Me On/ Lead Me To That Rock/ Mother Dies A-shoutin' (concert)/ My Poor Mother Died Ashouting/ Rock My Soul/ Take My Hand/ The Bridegroom's Coming/ The Saints Are Marching/ Up On The Mountain (with My Lord)/ Way Down In Egypt Land/ What More Can My Jesus Do? (concert)/ Won't I Be Glad/ You Got To Stand Judgement |
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| MITCHELL'S CHRISTIAN SINGERS | Document DOCD 5496 | Vol.4 :1940 /WRIGHT BROTHERS GOSPEL SINGERS, 1940-48 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended The first 7 tracks here complete the reissue of the recordings of Mitchell's Christian Singers and find them in typically fine form on songs like Don't Drive Them Away/ Famine In The Land/ Kneel Down & Pray and others. The rest of the disc is devoted to the Wright Brothers a splendid group from Texas who settled in California in the late 40s and were active until the 80s. Their sound was, to some extend, inspired by the Golden Gate Singers though with a harder edge and with frequent use of soaring falsetto lines. Their first session of 9 songs from May 1940 is particularly fine with wonderful performances of the moving Walk Around, the Golden Gate inspired Gospel Train and the intense He's My Rock. There is also a fine session from 1941 and a slightly less interesting session from 1948 with a slightly different line up. (FS) MITCHELL'S CHRISTIAN SINGERS: Don't Drive Them Away/ Don't You Want That Stone?/ Famine In The Land/ Go Where I Send Thee/ Jesus Is Everything To Me/ Kneel Down And Pray/ Walk With Me/ THE WRIGHT BROTHERS GOSPEL SINGERS: After A While/ Blessed Quietness/ Cool Down Here/ Gospel Train (take 1)/ Gospel Train (take 2)/ Gospel Train (tr)/ He's My Rock/ Heavenly Father's Children/ I Go Where You Want Me To Go/ Jonah/ Jordan's Stormy Banks/ Mother Is Your Friend/ Shadows Of The Cross/ Shady Green Pastures/ Some Day/ Wake Me, Shake Me, Don't Let Me Sleep Too Long/ Walk Around |
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| MONKEY JOE | Document DOCD 5412 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1935-1939 | ● CD |
| 26 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended Jesse "Monkey Joe" Coleman was an outstanding performer - an excellent and distinctive singer and a powerful and flexible piano player. His first session of four songs from 1935 with guitarist Walter Vincson is as good as piano blues gets - Gonna Beat It Back To Memphis Tennessee is particularly fine. His next few sessions are almost as good though the presence of a bass or drum on these takes a little away from the looseness of the performances. He also provides sterling accompaniments to two songs by Lulu Scott. The last two sessions here from September, 1938 and March, 1939 add Buster Bennett on sax on a number of performances giving them a more urban feel and the 1939 session replaces Joe's own piano accompaniments with the ubiquitous Blind John Davis - a fine player but without Joe's light and loose touch. Nevertheless the singing and performances here are still fine. (FS) GEORGE JEFFERSON: Blues For Six Nights/ Honey Bee/ MONKEY JOE: Ever Dream You Was Lucky?/ Gonna Beat It Back To Memphis, Tennessee/ Good Business No. 2/ Hair Parted In The Middle/ Hard Time Blues/ I Knocked Upon Your Door/ I Was Laying 'Em Down/ Just Out The Big House/ Monkey Joe Got The Blues/ Must I Break 'Em On Down?/ New York Central/ O.K. With Me Baby/ Preach, Pray And Moan/ Rabbit Foot Blues/ Some Sweet Day/ Sweet Patunia Stomp/ Tailor Made Woman/ Taxes On My Pole/ Three O'Clock Blues (take 1)/ Three O'Clock Blues (take 2)/ Trouble Comin' On/ Wise To The Jive/ LULU SCOTT: Everybody Do The Shag/ Baby Can I Holler |
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| GATEMOUTH MOORE | Westside WESF 100 | Hey Mr. Gatemouth | ● CD |
| The complete recordings of Kansas blues shouter/ crooner cut
for King in 1947 including 9 previously unissued sides. GATEMOUTH MOORE: After Loving A Woman/ Christmas Blues/ Did You Ever Try To Cry/ Don't You Know That I Love You/ East Of The Sun/ Evil's Gal's Jockey/ Gamblin' Woman/ Gotta Walk/ Graveyard Disposition/ Hey Mr. Gatemouth/ Highway 61 Blues/ Hincty Chick Blues/ I Ain't Mad At You/ I'm A Fool To Care/ I'm A Man/ It Hurts My Heart/ Let Me Be Your Man/ Lucinda/ My Woman Blues/ Satisfying Papa/ She Wants Me To Move/ Something I'm Gonna Be/ Teasin' Brown/ Think It Over Baby/ Willie Mae Blues/ You're Having Hard Luck Blues/ You're My Speciality Baby |
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| KID PRINCE MOORE | Document DOCD 5180 | Complete Chronological Recordings (1936-38) | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 67 mins, recommended Kid Prince Moore is an utterly obscure but fine singer and guitarist - probably from the Carolinas. The first 11 tracks (two takes of two songs) recorded in 1936 are solo and are particularly fine. Though clearly influenced by people like Blind Lemon Jeffersob, Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller his performances are so strong that the comparisons become irrelevent. There are 6 tracks from 1938 on which he is accompanied by pianist Shorty Bob Parker. These are not as interesting due to Parker's somewhat heavy handed piano. The last six tracks from 1938 feature Moore accompanying Parker and these are excellent. Parker had a distinctive high voice and sings some unusual songs. Many of these tracks were previously on the LP Wolf LP 126 but this reissue represents the complete recordings of these two mysetry men. (FS) KID PRINCE MOORE: Bear Meat Blues/ Bite Back Blues/ Bug Juice Blues/ Church Bells/ Ford V-8 Blues/ Honey Dripping Papa/ Market Street Rag (tk. 1)/ Market Street Rag (tk. 2)/ Mississippi Water/ Pickin' Low Cotton (tk. 1)/ Pickin' Low Cotton (tk. 2)/ Sally Long/ Sign Of Judgement/ Single Man Blues/ South Bound Blues/ Talkin' 'bout The Snuff/ That's Lovin' Me/ SHORTY BOB PARKER: Death Of Slim Green/ I'm Through With Love/ Rain And Snow/ Ridin' Dirty Motorsickle/ So Cold In China/ Tired Of Being Drug Around |
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| BUDDY MOSS | Document DOCD 5123 | Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 1 - 1933 | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 70 mins, recommended The first of three volumes presenting the complete recordings of this outstanding singer and guitarist from Georgia. Moss had a rich, warm vocal style and was a flowing guitarist in the East Coast Piedmont style. This superb disc presents 21 songs recorded between January and September, 1933 with two takes of Back To My Used To Be and Can't Use You No More. The first tracks features Moss accompanied by guitarist Fred McMullen who I assume is responsible for lovely, lyrical slide work on Bye Bye Mama. The remaining tracks feature Buddy solo, or with Curley Weaver - another superb guitarist who also plays slide on a few cuts. The interweaving of the guitars on the tracks where there are two guitarists is a joy to hear but the musicianship is outstanding throughout. A few tracks are from very worn 78s but, for the most part, the sound is excellent and there are brief, informative notes by Alan Balfour. (FS) BUDDY MOSS: Bachelor's Blues/ Back To My Used To Be (take 1)/ Back To My Used To Be (take 2)/ Best Gal/ Broke Down Engine/ Bye Bye Mama/ Can't Use You No More (take 1)/ Can't Use You No More (take 2)/ Cold Country Blues/ Daddy Don't Care/ Hard Road Blues/ Hard Times Blues/ Jealous Hearted Man/ Married Man's Blues/ Midnight Rambler/ Prowlin' Gambler Blues/ Prowling Woman/ Red River Blues/ Restless Night Blues/ Somebody Keeps Calling Me/ T.B.'s Killing Me/ Travelin' Blues/ When I'm Dead And Gone |
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| BUDDY MOSS | Document DOCD 5124 | Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 2 - 1933-34 | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, 63 mins, essential The first 5 tracks continue the feel of volume 1 featuring Moss with second guitarist Curley Weaver recorded in September, 1933. The rest of the disc features 17 songs recorded in late July and early August, 1934 and features Moss alone with his guitar. These are my favorite Moss recordings - as good as the accompanied sides are there is something really magical about these solo performances. Moss's vocals are more intense and introspective and his guitar playing is truly beautiful and imaginatice full of dazzling, but not flashy, runs. The mood is often somber as in When The Hearse Roll Me From My Door/ Insane Blues or Jinx Man Blues but there are also more upbeat ragtimey pieces like his version of the East Coast standard Tricks Ain't Walking No More and Shake It All Night Long. A few tracks are from pretty worn 78s but, on the whole, the sound is excellent and the music is superb. (FS) BUDDY MOSS: B & O Blues No. 2/ Broke Down Engine No. 2 (take 1)/ Broke Down Engine No. 2 (take 2)/ Dough Rolling Papa/ Evil Hearted Woman/ Insane Blues/ Jinx Man Blues/ Love Me, Baby, Love Me/ Misery Man Blues/ New Lovin' Blues/ Oh Lordy Mama/ Shake It All Night Long/ Sleepless Night/ Some Lonesome Day (14065-1)/ Some Lonesome Day (14065-2)/ Some Lonesome Day (15552)/ Someday Baby/ Stinging Bull Nettle/ Too Dog Gone Jealous/ Tricks Ain't Walking No More/ Unkind Woman/ When The Hearse Roll Me From My Door |
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| HAMMIE NIXON | High Water/HMG 6509 | Tappin' That Thing | ● CD |
| Reissue of High Water LP 1003 from the mid 80s by this
veteran singer, harmonica, kazoo and jug player. The CD adds two tracks
previously only available on a single and three previously unissued tracks.
Hammie is featured with various groups with David Evans (guitar & vocals),
"Big Lucky" Carter (guitar & vocal), William "Boogie Man" Hubbard (piano &
one string bass), Toma "Jazzbo" Janzen (drums) and others. |
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| THE NORFOLK JAZZ & JUBILEE QUARTET | Document DOCD 5382 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol 2 : 1923-1925 | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 68 min., recommended By 1924, for the second of the three sessions reissued here, the Norfolk Quartet had shifted to a primarily spiritual repertoire and, for all three sessions, to a new record company, Paramount. And their popularity continued to grow, with bass singer Len Williams and his swinging arrangements serving as the group's anchor. Program highlights include Father Prepare Me, Dixie Blues, Where Shall I Be, Crying Holy Unto the Lord, Roll Jordan Roll, Jelly Roll's First Cousin, and Get on Board Little Children, Get on Board. Sound quality still leaves a bit to be desired on some tracks, but, even on the tougher-to-listen-to numbers, the merits of the music make the aural battle worth fighting. Brief but worthwhile notes, again by Ray Funk, solid discographical information, and Document's typical minimalist graphics. NORFOLK JAZZ QUARTET: Aint It A Shame (take 2)/ Dixie Blues (take 2)/ Jelly Roll's First Cousin/ Pleading Blues/ Raise R-U-K-U-S Tonight/ NORFOLK JUBILEE QUARTET: Crying Holy Unto The Lord (take 2) /Roll Jordan Roll/ Every Time I Feel The Spirit/ Ezekiel Saw De Wheel (1813-2)/ Father Prepare Me (1367)/ Get On Board, Little Children, Get On Board/ I'm A Pilgrim/ I'm Going To Meet My Mother/ I'm Gonna Build Right On Dat Shore (1808)/ I'm Gonna Make Heaven My Home/ My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race (1368)/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot (1812)/ Throw Out The Lifeline/ What You Going To DO When The World's On Fire (take 2)/ What You Going To Do When The World's On Fire (take 1)/ When I Was A Moaner/ Where Shall I Be (1803-1)/ Where Shall I Be (1803-2) |
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| DAN PICKETT | Collectables 5311 | 1949 Country Blues | ● CD |
| CD issue of Krazy Kat 811. Back in the 60s some of the most
highly prized 78s among blues collectors were the rare Gotham records of Dan
Pickett. These were valued, not only for their rarity but for the fact that
they were among the finest commercial recordings of country blues in the
post war era. At that time no one could have imagined that there would be an
album available of Pickett's recordings but, here it is and not only do we
get all of Pickett's sides issued on 78 rpm but four previously unissued
titles and most of it from original master tapes thanks to Gotham's
foresight in recording on to tape as early as 1948. Pickett, whose real name
was apparently James Founty was a stunning performer. A distinctive vocalist
he had a remarkable vocal technique in which he sometimes compressed an
amazing amount of syllables into one line. He was also a stunning guitar
player performing in either a rhythmic percussive picking style or a lovely
melodic slide style stunning accentuating his playing with rapping on the
guitar. The songs are mostly versions of songs originally recorded in the
30s including Leroy Carr's How Long , Buddy Moss's Ride To A
Funeral In A V-8 , Blind Boy Fuller's Let me Squeeze Your Lemons
(which Pickett calls Lemon Man and others including a spellbinding
version of 99 1/2 Won't Do Pickett's only gospel performance. Pickett
transforms the songs into totally unique ones. The unissued songs are every
bit as good as the issued ones. Album has excellent sound and informative
notes by Chris Smith. A special hand of thanks to Bruce Bastin whose
foragings in the Gotham vaults has turned up this gem. All these tracks plus
some additional Pickett material and tracks by Tarheel Slim are available on
Flyright 25. (FS) |
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| BIG WALTER PRICE | Edsel-Diablo 8018 | Git To Gittin' - The Crazy Cajun Recordings | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, 32 mins, very good 12 sides recorded by this fine Texas bluesman for Huey Meaux's Crazy Cajun label in the late 60s. Half the tracks are with a band and were mostly issued on small Meaux labels and the rest are solo demos with just Price and his piano. Most of the band sides are relatively undistinguished novelty items with the exception of the fine slow blues If Blues Was Money. The solo sides are very nice ineed and get us a chance to hear how good a piano player Price was - it's a pity the sound of the piano isn't better. (FS) |
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| DOUG QUATTLEBAUM | Testament TCD 6003 | If You've Ever Been Mistreated | ● CD |
| Previously unissued recordings from 1961 by excellent singer
and guitarist from Philadelphia. Quattlebaum is a superb singer and an
original guitarist and his material includes original songs and traditional
blues, gospel and R&B songs. |
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| MA RAINEY | Document DOCD 5156 | Complete 1928 Sessions In Chronological Order | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 69 min., recommended Rightfully known as The Mother Of The Blues, Rainey's recording career began in '23 for Paramount. These sides from '28 (still for Paramount) are the last she recorded; after that she apparently went into theater promotion. Nine tracks are with Her Tub Jug Washboard Band, which featured Georgia Tom Dorsey on piano. The latter also appears with Ma on several other cuts with Tampa Red's guitar assistance. The last 2 songs find Rainey in a duet with Papa Charlie Jackson. This collection includes original and unissued versions of Sleep Talking Blues/ Black Eye Blues. And while Ma was still in top form, the going is sometimes slow here and the sound quality is sometimes less than ideal. Includes the biographically interesting Prove It On Me Blues, ostensibly about Ma's bisexuality. (JC) MA RAINEY: Big Feeling Blues (duet With Papa Charlie Jackson)/ Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues/ Black Dust Blues/ Black Eye Blues (take 1)/ Black Eye Blues (take 2)/ Blame It On The Blues/ Daddy Goodbye Blues/ Deep Moaning Blues (take 1)/ Deep Moaning Blues (take 2)/ Hear Me Talking To You/ Hustlin' Blues/ Leaving This Morning/ Log Camp Blues/ Ma And Pa Poorhouse Blues (duet With Papa Charlie Jackson)/ Prove It On Me Blues/ Runaway Blues/ Screech Owl Blues/ Sleep Talking Blues (take 1)/ Sleep Talking Blues (take 2)/ Sweet Rough Man/ Tough Luck Blues/ Traveling Blues (take 1)/ Victim Of The Blues |
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| JIMMY ROGERS | Capitol 33916 | Chicago Blues Masters, Vol 2 - Complete Shelter Recordi | ● CD |
| We have limited quantities in stock of this out of print
album. 1973 recordings originally issued on Shelter as "Gold Tailed Bird".
This set features 18 tracks in all including previously unreleased cuts by
this Chicago blues master. Among the musicians accompanying Jimmy are Louis
Myers, David Myers, Fred Below, Bob Riedy, Freddie King, Richard "Hubcap"
Robinson, etc. and others. Includes Information PLease/ That's All Right/
Gold Tailed Bird/ Sloppy Drunk/ Brown-Skinned Woman/ You're The One/ You're
Sweet/ Act Like You Love Me/ Live At Ma Bees/ Lonesome Blues/. |
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| THE SALEM TRAVELERS | Nashboro 4514 | The Best Of The Salem Travelers | ● CD |
| 14 tracks, 59 min., recommended The Salem Travelers didn't sign with Nashboro until 1981, after Talmon Thomas and Bill Ford had been replaced by Jessie McDaniel and Paul Smith/Joe Ocean. (One hopes the groups Halo sides will find the laser light of compact disc someday.) Still, these sides show them to be an outstanding gospel quartet is the best tradition of the term. The Stranger opens with a reference to the hostages in Iran, only to end up with the chant "Jesus will fix it for you." The excellent I Just Can't Make It By Myself gains power from the irony of a man claiming to be needy (of the Lord, of course) while at the same time singing so forcefully. Not every cut is a winner, but enough of them are. (JC). |
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| THE SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS | Document DOCD 5499 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1939-1941 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended According to gospel expert Ray Funk, who wrote the liner notes here, the Selahs were the preeminent New York jubilee quartet of the 30's. They had been together for over a decade before they actually recorded, so their style, which focuses on slow harmony singing, owes a greater debt to the groups of the 20's and early 30's than it does to the syncopated sound of groups like the Golden Gate Quartet. Featured numbers here include Royal Telephone, How Happy I Am, I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside, They Kicked the Devil Out of Heaven, I'll Fly Away, Leak in the Building, How Will You Feel When You Come Out of the Wilderness, and Have You Any Time for Jesus. Soulful and often solemn music, beautifully rendered by this important early quartet. And music that I wouldn't miss for the world, but do note that the listening does get a little rough on a few tracks. (DH) |
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| THE SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS | Document DOCD 5500 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1939-1945 | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 65 min., highly recommended Volume two of Document's Selah retrospective finds leader Thurmon Ruth carefully strengthening his group's sound by replacing departing members with outstanding veterans of other polished ensembles. New members during this period include bass J. B. Nelson and former members of the Norfolk Jubilees, baritone Melvin Colden and tenor Norman "Crip" Harris. So, the early numbers here - like I Saw the Light, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Let Us All Run to Jesus, and King Jesus Is a Rock in the Weary Land - are solid examples of jubilee harmony, but the latter part of the program - featuring Let the World See Jesus in My Life, Jesus Prayed Just Before He Died, I'll Fare Better in That Land, and When Was Jesus Born - is both stronger and more complex. Even with the variable sound quality that such a set as this presents, this is definitely not a disc to miss. (DH) |
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| ROBERT SHAW | Document 1014 | The 1971 Party Tape | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 74 mins, recommended Delightful set of performances by this outstanding Texas singer and piano recorded at a house party at Ben Conroy's home in January, 1971. Shaw, who died in 1985, was one of the last of the great Texas piano players - member of an itinerant cluster of pianists loosely known as "the Santa Fe group" which included musicians like Pinetop Burks, Rob Cooper, Buster Pickens and many other unrecorded performers. Shaw was an immensely engaging performer and this informal set capture him in a relaxed and loose mood performing a wide range of material from his repertoire - Piggly Wiggly/ Black Gal/ Hattie Green #1/ Jim Nappy/ melody In E Flat/ Wood In My Woodhouse, etc. Sound quality is generally very good though the continual background chatter does get annoying. Set comes with an excellent 20 page booklet with lots of black and white and color photos from the session, a complete discography and an in depth discussion of Shaw's repertoire. (FS) |
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| JOHNNY SHINES | Biograph BCD 121 | Traditional Delta Blues | ● CD |
| 14 tracks, 48 mins, highly recommended Reissue of Biograph 12044 from 1972 with two bonus cuts from Biograph 12048 issued in 1974. Johnny is in fine form on this all acoustic set - several cuts featuring him with National steel guitar. The material includes a couple of remakes of his old 78s (Ramblin' Blues/ Dynaflow Blues), traditional blues songs (Sitting On Top Of The World/ Bumble Bee Blues/ Milk Cow Blues, etc) and several recent compositions by Johnny including the superb topical Glad Rags on the subject of drugs. It also includes the song Tell Me Mama which was, apparently, a Robert Johnson song that Johnson never recorded. Johnny's singing and playing are superb throughout. (FS) |
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| JOHNNY SHINES | Labor 7011 | Worried Blues Ain't Bad | ● CD |
| 13 tracks, 47 mins, good According to the cover this is all previously unissued but I think these tracks have been out before on Stony Plain. Recorded in Canada in 1974 with occasional added accompaniments it's mostly just Johnny and his acoustic guitar. Songs include Slavery Time Breakdown (an interesting evocation of the field holler roots of the blues)/ Country Blues/ Devil's Daughter/ About My Wish/ I Thought I Heard A Tone/ Worried Blues Ain';t Bad/ Goodbye, etc. It's not really bad but Johnny's vocals are not as passionate as usual and his guitar playing is, at times, quite sloppy. (FS) |
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| JOHNNY SHINES | Testament TCD 5002 | Masters Of Modern Blues | ● CD |
| 10 tracks, 34 min., recommended Straight reissue of Testament 5002 - a rare full band Chicago session featuring this great "rediscovered" Delta bluesman. The first number Rollin' And Tumblin' starts a little tentatively, but midway through turns into a swirling blues torrent, powered by Fred Below's remarkable drumming. From there on out Shines and Co. (that's Big Walter Horton on harp, pianist Otis Spann, bassist Lee Jackson, and Below) can do no wrong. A look at the song titles brings Robert Johnson and Muddy to mind, but Johnny takes the standards Sweet Home Chicago/ Walkin' Blues/ Two Trains Runnin' and makes them completely his own. His vocals are truly spine-chilling throughout, tinged with a little studio echo for maximum potency, whether on the spooky Mr. Tom Green's Farm or the full-throttle rocker What Kind Of Little Girl Are You?. And his Delta-bred electric slide guitar blends easily with the sinuous work of this marvelous backing band, inviting very positive comparison to the magic of Muddy's peak performances. Get it! (MB) |
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| CLARA SMITH | Document DOCD 5369 | Vol. 6 : 1930-1932 | ● CD |
| Recommended The final volume in this series covers the period from July 1930 to March 1932, when the Depression finished Smith's recording career. Once again though there are many excellent performances, especially when Clara's vaudeville training and talent as a comedienne combine to brilliant effect. There are two duets with Lonnie Johnson which echo his work with Victoria Spivey, but my personal favourites are Ol' Sam Tages (a man who liked his women under ages) and For Sale (Hannah Johnson's Jack Ass) about a big black ass that needs to be sold to see its owner through the Depression . It is a pity that Document felt the need to fill out this CD with four 'bonus tracks' by another singer, from the opposite end of the talent spectrum, who also billed herself as Clara Smith. Incredibly it is the label from one of these discs which is reproduced on the cover of the CD! Sound quality, as in the other volumes, varies but is generally quite good. The booklet notes by John Henry Vanco record Clara Smith's death just three years after her last session, at the age of 40. Even by the time of her death she was largely forgotten, but she had been the main rival to Bessie Smith in the twenties. The second half of this reissue series provides ample evidence that she was one of the major talents of the 'classic blues' era, and deserves to be more widely acknowledged as such today. (DPR) |
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| CLARA SMITH | Retrieval 79030 | The Essential Clara Smith, 1924-1929 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 77 mins, essential Great collection of sides by this outstanding pre war singer. While maybe not the equal of that other great Smith, Bessie, she was not too far behind with a powerful and expressive style and great accompaniments from the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Green, Fletcher Henderson, Joe Smith, Bob Fuller, James P. Johnson and others. She also had some particularly fine songs like Freight Train Blues/ Done Sold My Soul To The Devil (And My Heart's Done Turned To Stone)/ Nobody Knows The Way I Feel Dis Morning/ Shipwrecked Blues and the wonderful Look Where The Sun Done Gone written by Stanley who composed eight of the songs on this compilation and is freuqnetly featured in the piano seat. Sound quality on these rare sides has never been better thanks to the technical wizardry of the late John R.T. Davies. (FS) CLARA SMITH: Black Cat Moan/ Broken Busted Blues/ Court House Blues/ Deep Blue Sea Blues/ Done Sold My Soul to The Devil (And My Heart's Done Turn To Stone)/ Freight Train Blues/ Hot Papa/ It Won't Be Long Now/ Let's Get Loose/ Look Where The Sun Done Gone/ My John Blues/ Nobody Knows The Way I Feel Dis Morning/ Oh! Mr. Mitchell/ Papa I Don't Need You Now/ Race Track Blues/ Rock, Church, Rock/ Shipwrecked Blues/ Sobbin' Sister Blues/ Steamboat Man Blues/ Strugglin' Woman's Blues/ Texas Moaner Blues/ Tired Of The Way You Do/ Where Is My Man?/ You Can't Stay Here No More/ You Don't Know Who's Shakin' Your Tree |
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| TRIXIE SMITH | Document DOCD 5332 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1 : 1922-24 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 78 min., recommended Trixie Smith (1895-1943), "The Southern Nightingale", was one of two most successful artists who recorded for the black-owned Black Swan label (the other was Ethel Waters). The titles she recorded during this time is quite impressive, including the original versions of Trixie's Blues (covered by Lizzie Miles), Pensacola Blues (covered by Edith Wilson), I'm Through With You (covered by Esther Bigeou, Josie Harley), I'm Gonna Get You (covered by Mamie Smith), and the wonderful My Man Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll). Once on Paramount Records, her success continued with again original songs like Freight Train Blues, Don't Shake It No More and Ride Jockey Ride. Given her popularity, resulting in the deplorable state of her early 78s, the remastering for this CD is quite acceptable. (EL) |
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| IVY SMITH & COW COW DAVENPORT | Blues Documents BDCD 6039 | Complete Chronological Recordings (1927-30) | ● CD |
| 20 tracks, 59 min., recommended Most cuts feature Ivy (Iva) Smith's fine singing with only Davenport's bluesy/boogie-woogie-flavored piano as accompaniment--and it's enough. The 8 Paramount sides are, predictably, a bit noisy, and it's tough to make out the words at times, but excellent songs such as Barrel House Mojo and My Own Man Blues, which features Leroy Pickett on violin, make up for the aural imperfections. Other highlights include Milkman Blues/ Got Jelly On My Mind/ Wringin' And Twistin' Papa/ Mistreated Mamma Blues, all about that same familiar subject. (JC) |
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| THE SOUTHERNAIRES | Document 5610 | Complete Recordings, 1938-1941 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks from Harlem based gospel group including five from
a 1938 radio program |
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| CHARLIE SPAND | Document DOCD 5108 | Complete Paramounts In Chronological Order, 1929-31 | ● CD |
| Spand was a very talented Detroit pianist/ singer who
probably came from Georgia, where he teamed up with Blind Blake. Blake's
ragtimey guitar is an excellent complement to Spand's style, as heard on
some of the earlier cuts here, including Spand's first effort Soon This
Morning Blues and the amusing Hastings St.. The booklet author
speculates that the guitar on Good Gal/ Ain't Gonna Stand For That is
by Josh White. Most of the time, though, it's just Charlie and his piano
facing hard times and harder women. Everything he recorded for Paramount is
given chronologically - 25 sides in all - including the unissued
Breakdown and an unreleased take of Got To Have My Sweetbread.
Sound quality is usually adequate. (JC) CHARLIE SPAND: 45th St. Blues/ Ain't Gonna Stand For That/ Back To The Woods Blues/ Big Fat Mama Blues (take 1)/ Breakdown (Levee Camp Man, -6 test)/ Dreamin' The Blues/ Evil Woman Spell/ Fetch Your Water/ Georgia Mule Blues/ Good Gal/ Got To Have My Sweetbread (take 3)/ Got To Have My Sweetbread (take 4)/ Har | |||