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SUMMER SUPER SALE
COMPACT
DISCS - Blues & Gospel
Various Artists - 1
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | ABM 1089 | West Coast Down Home Blues | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 71 mins, highly recommended This is a collection of wonderful and incredibly rare music with sub-par sound. However very little of this material is available elsewhere and the recordings are so rare that this may be the only way to get this great material for quite a while. This is a collection of the other side of West Coast blues - we're familiar with the polished and sophisticated sounds of Charles Brown, Roy Milton, T-Bone Walker and many others who helped form the foundation of modern blues and R&B but there were also a number of performers who performed in an older more rural style. Only a small number of recordings were made of these artists for tiny labels like Jaxyson, Octive, Murray, Elko and others and this collection features many of them. Much of the music recorded here between 1945 and '53 harks back to the blues of the 30s. Among the highlights, Slim Green does a version of Curtis Jones' Tin Pan Alley as Alla Blues - a song that was to become a West Coast blues standard, Sonny Boy Johnson and his very down home group do a fine version of Baby Please Don't Go and his Desert Blues features some nice slide guitar. Black Diamond is a superb country blue singer and guitarist and does two songs, Smokey Hogg is featured on possibly his best side - the great Penitentiary Blues. We also have a couple of the earliest sides by Jimmy McCracklin plus sides by Mac Willis, John Hogg (Smokey's brother), Beverley SCott, James Tisdom and others. Booklet has notes by Mike Rowe. Fabulous music, lousy sound - what can you do?! (FS) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | BGO BGOCD 464 | Rural Blues, Vol. 3 - Down Home Stomp | ● CD |
| Reissue of 1970 Imperial LP. 14 great down home and country
blues tracks from Aladdin & Imperial - some originally unissued - Papa
Lightfoot, Boogie Bill Webb, J.D. Edwards, Lowell Fulson, Roosevelt Sykes,
Manny Nichols, Country Jim and Lil' Son Jackson. COUNTRY JIM: Good Lookin' Women/ Sad And Lonely/ J.D. EDWARDS: Hobo/ Playboy Blues/ LOWELL FULSOM: Stormin' And Rainin'/ LITTLE SON JACKSON: Rock & Rollin' #2/ Sad Letter Blues/ PAPA LIGHTFOOT: Jump The Boogie/ Mean Old Train/ MANNY NICHOLS: No One To Love Me/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Hush On Hush/ I'm Tired/ BOOGIE BILL WEBB: Bad Dog/ Boogie |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Black Top 1073 | Black Top Blues-A-Rama Volume 6 | ● CD |
| Like previous volumes, #6 was recorded live at Tipitina's in
New Orleans. These 1989 mini-sets feature Texas favorites Anson Funderburgh
& The Rockets with Sam Myers, New Orleans singer/ guitarist Snooks Eaglin,
and Chicago's Hubert Sumlin. The Rockets sound solid on Feel So Bad/ 20
Miles, but Myers doesn't play much harmonica, and is not the most
inspiring of vocalists. Eaglin's set is the best, with the instrumental
Apache as a high point; Certainly Y'all/ I Cry, Oh! are also fun
thanks to some fine guitar. Sumlin doesn't fare as well on Howlin' Wolf's
Howlin' For My Darling; his best performance is on the up-tempo Honey
Dumplins. (JC) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Boulevard Vintage 4001 | The R&B Years - 1953 | ● CD |
| 4 CDS, 100 tracks, highly recommended Like the 1952 set there is some overlap with the Indigo set devoted to 1953 (Indigo 2540) - this time 37 duplications. Among the remaining 63 titles are tracks by Amos Milburn,Fats Domino, The Clovers, The Crows, Percy Mayfield, Jimmy Nelson, Mitzi Mars, Roy Milton,Paul Gayten, Wynonie Harris, Ray Charles, Willie Mabon, Christine Kittrell, Linda Hayes, The Four Blazes, Clarence Garlow and others. (FS) JOHNNY ACE: The Clock/ FAYE ADAMS: I'll Be True/ Shake A Hand/ ANNISTEEN ALLEN: Baby I'm Doin' It/ LAVERN BAKER: Soul On Fire/ HANK BALLARD & THE ROYALS: Get It/ BIG MAYBELLE: Gabbin' Blues/ My Country Man/ Way Back Home/ OTIS BLACKWELL: Daddy Rollin' Stone/ BOBBY BLAND: No Blow, No Show/ TINY BRADSHAW: Heavy Juice/ Soft/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Gate Walks The Board/ ROY BROWN: Grandpa Stole My Baby/ Hurry Hurry Baby/ RUTH BROWN: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean/ The Tears Keep Tumbling Down/ Wild Wild Young Men/ RAY CHARLES: Heartbreaker/ Mess Around/ THE CLOVERS: Crawlin'/ Good Lovin'/ JIMMY COE: After Hours Joint/ THE CROWS: Gee/ MARGIE DAY: Snatchin' It Back/ VARETTA DILLARD: Mercy Mr. Percy/ FLOYD DIXON: Hole In The Wall/ FATS DOMINO: Going To The River/ Nobody Loves Me/ Please Don't Leave Me/ Rose Mary/ THE DOMINOES: Pedal Pushin' Papa/ You Can't Keep A Good Man Down/ THE DRIFTERS: Money Honey/ THE DU DROPPERS: I Found Out/ I Wanna Know/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Shake Baby Shake/ FRANKIE ERVIN WITH JOHNNY MOORE'S BLAZERS: Dragnet Blues/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Baby Don't Do It/ Help Me Somebody/ Too Much Lovin'/ EARL FOREST: Whoopin' And Hollerin'/ THE FOUR BLAZES: Perfect Woman/ CLARENCE GARLOW: Route 90/ PAUL GAYTEN: Cow Cow Blues/ WYNONIE HARRIS: Rot Gut/ Wasn't That Good/ LINDA HAYES: Take Me Back/ CHUCK HIGGINS: Pachuko Hop/ JOE HOUSTON: Cornbread And Cabbage/ JESSE & MARVIN: Dream Girl/ BUDDY & ELLA JOHNSON: Hittin' On Me/ LITTLE JOHNNY JONES: Dirty By The Dozen/ LOUIS JORDAN: I Want You To Be My Baby/ KID KING: Banana Split/ B.B. KING: Please Hurry Home/ Please Love Me/ Woke Up This Morning/ CHRISTINE KITTRELL: Every Day In The Week/ SONNY KNIGHT: But Officer!/ SMILEY LEWIS: Big Mamou/ JIMMY LIGGINS: Drunk/ JOE LIGGINS: The Big Dipper/ LITTLE ESTHER: Cherry Wine/ LITTLE RICHARD: Ain't That Good News/ LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD: K.C. Loving/ WILLIE MABON: I'm Mad/ You're A Fool/ MITZI MARS: I'm Glad/ MARVIN & JOHNNY: Baby Doll/ PERCY MAYFIELD: Lost Mind/ The River's Invitation/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: She Felt Too Good/ STICK MCGHEE: Whiskey, Women And Loaded Dice/ OSCAR MCLOLLIE: The Honey Jump (Parts 1/2)/ MEMPHIS SLIM: The Come Back/ AMOS MILBURN: Let Me Go Home, Whiskey/ One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer/ Rock Rock Rock/ ROY MILTON: Early In The Morning/ BOBBY MITCHELL: Rack' Em Back/ JIMMY NELSON: Meet Me With Your Black Dress On/ DANNY OVERBEA: Forty Cups Of Coffee/ Train, Train, Train/ PIANO RED: Your Mouth Got A Hole In It/ LLOYD PRICE: Ain't It A Shame/ THE PRISONAIRES: Just Walkin' In The Rain/ AL SAVAGE/JOE MORRIS ORCH.: I Had A Notion/ THE SPANIELS: Baby It's You/ RUFUS THOMAS: Bear Cat/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog/ THE TRENIERS: Rockin' Is Our Bizness/ JOE TURNER: Honey Hush/ EDDIE VINSON: Person To Person/ T-BONE WALKER: Party Girl/ DINAH WASHINGTON: TV Is The Thing This Year/ CHUCK WILLIS: Don't Deceive Me/ JIMMY WITHERSPOON: Move Me, Baby/ BILLY WRIGHT: After Awhile |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Cass 70107 | Big Boss Men | ● CD |
| 17 tracks from various sources - Earl Hooker, Jimmy Reed,
Big Joe Williams, Lightnin' Hopkins, Homesick james, Roosevelt Sykes. EARL HOOKER: Blues for Dancers/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Louisiana Woman/ War Is Starting Again/ JIMMY REED: Big Legged Woman/ Cry Before I Go/ Down at the Corner Grocery Store/ Hard Walkin' Hanna/ Xmas Present Blues/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Bad News/ Bird Nest on the Ground/ Hey Woman/ I'm Gonna Get Even With You/ BIG JOE WILLIAMS: Blues on Decoration Day/ My Troubles/ What You Gonna Do for Me/ HOMESICK JAMES WILLIAMSON: Lonesome Road/ Woman I Love (My Home Is in Georgia) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Charly CDGR 143 | Chicago Blues - The Golden Era | ● CD |
| Two CD set - 44 classic tracks from Ora Nelle, Old
Swingmaster, J.O.B., Chance, Cobra, Chief, Vee Jay and other important
Chicago labels covering the period 1947 to 1964 - Little Walter, Floyd Jones, Johnny Shines, Willie Nix, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor, Sunnyland Slim,
Magic Sam, Shakey Jake, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Lillian Offitt, Homesick James, etc. Wonderful music
though just about everything here is available on other albums including
other Charly albums. BILLY BOY ARNOLD: I Was Fooled/ BIG MAC: Rough Dried Woman/ EDDIE BOYD: Five Long Years/ OTHUM BROWN: Ora Nelle Blues/ CHARLES CLARK: Row Your Boat/ BUDDY GUY: This Is The End/ EARL HOOKER: Blues In D Natural/ WALTER HORTON: Have A Good Time/ J.B. HUTTO: Combination Boogie/ Things Are So Slow/ LEE JACKSON: Fishing In My Pond/ ELMORE JAMES: Dust My Broom/ It Hurts Me Too/ FLOYD JONES: Dark Road/ Stockyard Blues/ J. B. LENOIR: Mojo Boogie/ LITTLE HUDSON: I'm Looking For A Woman/ LITTLE WALTER: Blue Baby/ I Just Keep Loving Her/ ROBERT LOCKWOOD: Aw Baby (sweet Home Chicago)/ MAGIC SAM: All My Whole Life/ All Your Love/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Wish Me Well/ WILLIE NIX: Just Can't Stay/ LILLIAN OFFITT: Will My Man Be Home Tonight?/ SNOOKY PRYOR: Judgement Day/ JIMMY REED: Baby, What You Want Me To Do/ You Don' Have To Go/ OTIS RUSH: Checkin' On My Baby/ Double Trouble/ I Can't Quit You Baby/ SHAKEY JAKE: Call Me If You Need Me/ JOHNNY SHINES: Brutal Hearted Woman/ Evening Sun/ SNOOKY & MOODY: Boogie/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: It's You Baby/ TAMPA RED: Please, Mister Doctor/ EDDIE TAYLOR: Bad Boy/ Big Town Playboy/ JUNIOR WELLS: Little By Little/ Messin' With The Kid/ Prison Bars All Around Me/ HOMESICK JAMES WILLIAMSON: Crossroads/ JOHNNY YOUNG: My Baby Walked Out |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Charly CDGR 145 | Chicago Blues - The Vee-Jay Era | ● CD |
| Two CD set featuring 50 sides recorded for Vee-Jay between
1953 and 1965 mixing old favorites from Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker and
Eddie Taylor with less frequently reissued sides from Big Joe Williams,
Memphis Slim (including some great Matt Murphy/guitar), L.C. McKinley, Floyd
Jones, Billy Emerson, Snooky Pryor and others. Some cuts never before on CD.
BILLY BOY ARNOLD: Don't Stay Out All Night/ Don't Stay Out All Night/ Here's My Picture/ Here's My Picture/ Kissin' At Midnight/ Kissin' At Midnight/ Prisoner's Plea/ Prisoner's Plea/ BILLY EMERSON: (Do)The Chicken/ (Do)The Chicken/ Do Yourself A Favor/ Do Yourself A Favor/ Don't Be Careless/ Don't Be Careless/ Don't Start Me Lyin'/ Don't Start Me Lyin'/ Every Woman I Know/ Every Woman I Know/ If You Won's Stay Home/ If You Won's Stay Home/ Somebody Show Me/ Somebody Show Me/ The Pleasure Is All Mine/ The Pleasure Is All Mine/ Tomorrow Never Come/ Tomorrow Never Come/ BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON: You Never Miss Your Water/ BILLY EMERSON: You Never Miss Your Water/ ROSCOE GORDON: Just A Little Bit/ Just A Little Bit/ No More Doggin'/ No More Doggin'/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Crawlin' Black Spider/ Crawlin' Black Spider/ Wheel And Deal/ Wheel And Deal/ FLOYD JONES: Ain't Time Hard/ Ain't Times Hard/ Any Old Lonesome Day/ Any Old Lonesome Day/ Floyd Blues/ Floyd's Blues/ Schooldays (On My Mind)/ Schooldays (On My Mind)/ J.B. LENOIR: Oh Baby/ Oh Baby/ L.C. MCKINLEY: Blue Evening/ Blue Evening/ Down With It/ Down With It/ I'm So Satisfied/ I'm So Satisfied/ Lonely/ Lonely/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Blue & Lonesome/ Blue & Lonesome/ Gotta Find My Baby/ Gotta Find My Baby/ Lend Me Your Love/ Lend Me Your Love/ Messin' Around/ Messin' Around/ Mother Earth/ Mother Earth/ My Gal Keeps Me Crying/ My Gal Keeps Me Crying/ Rockin' The House (Beer Drinkin' Woman)/ Rockin' The House (Beer Drinkin' Woman)/ Sassy Mae/ Sassy Mae/ Slim's Blues/ Slim's Blues/ Steppin' Out/ Steppin' Out/ The Comeback/ The Comeback/ Wish Me Well/ Wish Me Well/ SNOOKY PRYOR: Judgement Day (alternate)/ Judgement Day (alternate)/ Someone To Love Me (Alternate)/ Someone To Love Me (Alternate)/ You Tried To Ruin Me Baby/ You Tried To Ruin Me Baby/ JIMMY REED: Going By The River, Part 1/ Going By The River, Part 1/ Going By The River, Part 2/ Going By The River, Part 2/ EDDIE TAYLOR: Ride 'Em On Down/ Ride 'Em On Down/ You'll Always Have A Home/ You'll Always Have A Home/ BIG JOE WILLIAMS: Baby Left Town/ Baby Left Town/ Eula Mae/ Eula Mae/ Goin' Back (Goin' Back Home)/ Goin' Back (Goin' Back Home)/ King's Highway/ King's Highway |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 5308 | Brown Gal | ● CD |
| CD issue of Krazy Kat 808. This volume of Gotham masters
features female boogie pianists. The first 6 tracks feature Miltone
recordings from 1946 by Roy Milton & His Solid Senders with Camille Howard
on piano and a few vocals. The credits are as originally issued, so
Camille's name is only on the When I Grow Too Old To Dream/ Sometimes I'm
Happy coupling, though Roy sings the 1st and Jimmy Grissom the 2nd one.
Also includes Milton's re-recordings of RM Blues & Milton's Boogie
, plus Camille's own vocals on Mr. Fine/ Groovy Blues/ If I Had You .
Lil Hardin Armstrong, Louis's wife and pianist during the 20s, is heard on
fine R & B sides from 1950 with unknown backing featuring a fine bluesy
guitar. The title tune was later a hit for The Jive Bombers as Bad Boy
, plus this inc. previously unissued takes of Baby Daddy & Rock It
. Finally there's 2 fine boogie instrumentals from Donnegan. (GM) LIL ARMSTRONG: Baby Daddy/ Baby Daddy (Previously Unreleased)/ Brown Gal/ Joogie Boogie/ Rock It/ Rock It (Previously Unreleased)/ DOROTHY DONEGAN: If I Had You/ Piano Player's Blues, The/ CAMILLE HOWARD: Groovy Blues/ Mr. Fine/ Sometime's I'm Happy/ When I Grow To Old To Dream/ ROY MILTON: Milton's Boogie/ R. M. Blues |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 5312 | Gotham Gospel, Vol. 1 | ● CD |
| CD reissue of Krazy Kat 812. Gotham Records was an immensely
important label in gospel recording in the 50s and although much of their
gospel holding were sold off there is enough left in the vaults to produce a
series of fine album of which this is the first. This album features 14
sides by 6 different quartets recorded between 1949 and 1958, much of it
probably recorded by Detroit's indefatigable Joe Von Battle and most of it
previously unissued. There are three intense sides by the most well known
group here The Violinaires. There is one excellent acapella track by The
National Clouds Of Joy and three fine tracks from 1958 by the Zion
Harmonizers from Detroit. Side two is all Detroit groups and includes two
lovely sides by The Mid-South Singers. The rest of side two features an
unknown female group and an unknown male group - both very good but not
exceptional. Excellent sound and informative notes by British gospel expert
and discographer Bob Laughton. (FS) MID-SOUTH SINGERS: God Can Use You/ I'll Meet You In The Morning/ THE NATIONAL CLOUDS OF JOY: Don't Cry/ UNKNOWN DETROIT FEMALE GROUP: Are You Ready?/ UNKNOWN DETROIT MALE GROUP: Come On Over Here/ UNKNOWN DETROIT FEMALE GROUP: Draw Me Nearer/ UNKNOWN DETROIT MALE GROUP: I Must Tell Jesus/ Lonesome For Mother's Prayer/ THE VIOLINAIRES: My Work Will Be Done/ Sign Of Judgement/ Someone Is Waiting For Me/ THE ZION HARMONIZERS: Every Day Will Be Sunday/ The Other Shore/ Working The Road |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 5314 | Big Band Blues | ● CD |
| CD issue of Krazy Kat 814. 14 tunes from the Gotham vaults
recorded in the early 50's. Mostly Jimmy Rushing and Ernie Fields, with a
cut by J.B. Summers and 3 by Tiny Tim (no, not that one!). Rushing does
Lotsa Poppa/ Fool's Blues plus 3. ERNIE FIELDS: Butch's Blues/ Butch's Blues/ Frustrated Woman/ My Prince/ Untitled Blues(Previously Unreleased)/ JIMMY RUSHING: Ain't It Lonesome/ Fool's Blues/ Hey Miss Bessie, 1/ Hey Miss Bessie, 2/ Lotsa Poppa/ J.B. SUMMERS: Merry-Go-Round(Previously Unreleased)/ TINY TIM: Do The Bump, Part 1/ Do The Bump, Part 2/ Worst Old Feeling(Previously Unreleased) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 5325 | Gotham Gospel, Vol. 2 | ● CD |
| CD reissue of Krazy Kat 825. A second treasury of mainly
unissued and alternate takes featuring gospel quartet groups from the Gotham
archives spanning years 1948 thru 1953 on labels Gotham, Gospel, Apex and
Regal. Aggregations include S. Carolina's Harmony Kings of radio station
WTNO, whose style resembles that of early Selah Jubilee's material, the
impressive Gospel Vocalaires of Norfolk led by E.T. "Nick" Carter who sounds
remarkably like Joe Van Loan, The Mt. Eagle Quartet who greatly influenced
The Sensational Nightingales, plus two recently unearthed gems by Allen Bunn
(Tarheel Slim). Most of the singing here is accompanied only by guitar,
others are acapella. Informed sleeve notes by English gospel researcher Bob
Laughton. (OLN) ALLEN BUNN: Get On The Road To Glory/ I Have Found No Friend/ THE CAPITAL CITY QUARTETTE: Lord, Send Mother Back To Me/ No Jim Crow In Heaven/ THE GOSPEL VOCALAIRES: Call Him Anytime/ I'll Be Satisfied/ THE HARMONY KINGS OF WTND: Do You Know Him/ Down On My Knees/ Gospel Train/ I'm A Pilgrim/ Jesus Is My Only Friend/ THE MOUNT EAGLE QUARTET: He's A Friend To Us All/ When I Take My Vacation In Heaven/ THE VOCALAIRES OF NORFOLK: Jezebel Gospel |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 5336 | Amazing Grace | ● CD |
| CD issue of Krazy Kat 836. 14 gospel gems from the Gotham
label vaults including two previously unissued acapella tracks by the great
Dixie Hummingbirds from 1949 plus recordings by The Harmonizing Four, Edna
Gallmon Cook, Rugged Cross Singers Of Baltimore, The Davis Sisters and
others. EDNA GALLMON COOK: Glory To His Name/ I've Been Redeemed/ THE DAVIS SISTERS: Get Away Jordan/ If Jesus Is Near/ THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS: Born To Die/ Dear Lord Look Down Upon Me/ THE ECHO GOSPEL SINGERS OF BALTIMORE, MD.: I Want Jesus To Walk With Me/ I'm Gonna Have A Happy Time/ THE EVENING STAR QUARTET: Lord Take My Hand/ My Time Ain't Long/ THE HARMONIZING FOUR: Amazing Grace/ Come Over Here/ I Found The Lord/ THE RUGGED CROSS SINGERS OF BALTIMORE, MD.: Try God |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Collectables 6076 | Old Town Records Presents City Blues | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended Great collection of New York blues recorded for Hy Weiss's Old Town label in the 50s and early 60 including quite a few tracks not originally issued. Many of these tracks appeared on a series of Ace CD some years back but those are now out of print. Includes Hal Paige & The Wailers with tough guitar by Larry Dale who also has two fine sides under his own name. There are tracks by the venerable Buddy & Ella Johnson plus sides by Ursula Reed, Guitar Crusher (his What About Me is not blues but is a superb deep soul performance), Herman Dunham, wonderful singer and piano player Bob Gaddy (with Larry Dale or Jimmy Spruill providing some dynamite guitar), Wild Bill Moore (two honking instrumentals with tough Larry Dale guitar on Slow Drag) and Lester Young. Excellent sound and brief but useful notes by Peter Grendysa. (FS) LARRY DALE: Big Muddy/ What Your Love Means To Me/ HERMAN DUNHAM: Fine Little Thing/ VICKI EVANS: It Was Just For Laughs/ BOB GADDY: Early One Morning/ Girl Who Promises, The/ Operator/ Woe Woe Is Me/ You Are The One/ GUITAR CRUSHER: What About Me/ BUDDY & ELLA JOHNSON: Don't Be Messin' With My Man/ I Got To Talk To Somebody/ Keep On Lovin' You/ Like You Do/ WILD BILL MOORE: Big Bubbles/ Slow Drag/ HAL PAIGE & THE WAILERS: Guitar Blues/ Guitar Shuffle/ My Angel Chile/ Rock This Joint This Morning/ URSULA REED: Fool About The Man I Love/ Have A Good Time Baby/ Ursula's Blues/ You're Laughin' 'Cause I'm Cryin'/ LESTER YOUNG: Down To The River |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Columbia 52831 | Messed Up In Love & Other Tales | ● CD |
| 16 tracks, 46 min., recommended A most entertaining sequel to the 1991 set Raunchy Business : Hot Nuts & Lollypops (Legacy 46783) but with no x-rated material - just perfect for the entire family. Ok, a few double entendre lyrics can be heard from country blues guitarists like Barbecue Bob (Beggin' For Love), Bo Carter (I Love That Thing), Blind Willie McTell (Love Makin' Mama) and Blind Boy Fuller (Lost Lover Blues). As for the blueswomen's point of view, we have titles from Merline Johnson (Love Shows Weakness with guitarist George Barnes), Memphis Minnie (When You Love Me), Mamie Smith (U Need Some Lovin') and the Bessie Smith masterpiece (It Makes My Love Come Down with James P. Johnson). Other highlights include Buddy Moss (Love Me, Baby, Love Me), and Lonnie Johnson's awesome Careless Love, in all likelihood the first country blues version of this W. C. Handy composition, and a rare example of Johnson's 12-string guitar playing. (EL) BARBECUE BOB: Beggin' For Love/ BIG JOE & HIS WASHBOARD BAND: I Love You Baby/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Messed Up In Love/ BO CARTER: I Love That Thing/ PETER CLEIGHTON: Love Is Gone/ BLIND BOY FULLER: Lost Lover Blues/ BILL GAITHER: Love Trifling Blues/ LONNIE JOHNSON: Careless Love/ MERLINE JOHNSON: Love Shows Weakness/ CURTIS JONES: Moonlight Lover Blues/ BLIND WILLIE MCTELL: Love Makin' Mama/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: When You Love Me/ EMMETT MILLER: Lovesick Blues/ BUDDY MOSS: Love Me, Baby, Love Me/ BESSIE SMITH: It Makes My Love Come Down/ MAMIE SMITH: U Need Some Lovin' |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 1004 | Vocal Blues & Jazz, 1921-1930 | ● CD |
| The complete recorded works in chronological order of Inez
Richardson (1921), Kitty Irvin (1924) and Alberta Jones (1925-1930) plus 4
sides from 1927 by Alma Henderson. |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 1012 | Vocal Blues & Jazz, Alternates & Remaining Titles, V#2 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks including newly discovered titles by Sara Martin
(1926) and Lizzie Miles (1930) along with alternates takes from Ethel Waters
(1921-24), Lillian Harris (1923), Lizzie Miles (1923), Rosa Henderson
(1923/24), Viola Bartlette (1926), Betty Gray (1927), Laura Bryant (1929)
and Tiny Mayberry (1938). |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5104 | St. Louis Barrelhouse Piano, 1929-34 | ● CD |
| The booklet notes talk about the controversy of whether
Wesley Wallace is the pianist on Sylvester Palmer's songs here. Anyhow,
Palmer's 4 cuts are quite good, as good as Wallace's 8 sides for Paramount -
his complete catalog - with the notable exception of the remarkable No.
29. Bessie Mae Smith (St. Louis Bessie) sings on St. Louis Daddy/
Farewell Baby Blues, Wallace's earliest numbers. And Henry Brown's 13
sides are excellent, especially Blues Stomp/ Screenin' The Blues,
which feature Ike Rodgers' trombone, as does the prohibition lament Malt
Can Blues and the great Throw Me In The Alley with Peetie
Wheatstraw on vocals. Sound is adequate. (JC) HENRY BROWN: All Men Blue/ Beef Man Blues (Tee McDonald, vcl)/ Blind Boy Blues/ Blues Stomp/ Deep Morgan Blues/ Eastern Chimes Blues/ Henry Brown Blues/ It Hurts So Good/ Malt Can Blues (Ike Rodgers & His Biddle Street Boys)/ Screenin' The Blues/ Stomp 'Em Down To The Bricks/ Throw Me In The Alley (Peetie Wheatstraw & His Blue Blowers)/ Twenty First St. Stomp/ SYLVESTER PALMER: Broke Man Blues/ Do It Sloppy/ Lonesome Man Blues/ Mean Blues/ WESLEY WALLACE: Dying Baby Blues (Robert Peeples, vcl)/ Fanny Lee Blues/ Farewell Baby Blues (Bessie Mae Smith, vcl)/ Fat Greasy Baby (Robert Peeples, vcl)/ Mama's Boy (Robert Peeples, vcl)/ No. 29/ St. Louis Daddy (Bessie Mae Smith, vcl)/ Wicked Devil's Blues (Robert Peeples, vcl) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5110 | Georgia Blues 1928-1933 | ● CD |
| Depression-era guitar blues may be the bottomless pit of
pre-War country blues: every time you turn around, there's more top-rank
stuff to hear. This is another excellent collection of the place and the
period, largely because of the participation of Curley Weaver, who sings
and/or plays guitar on 15 of the 24 cuts here, most of them recorded not in
his hometown of Atlanta but in New York City and Long Island City studios.
Weaver never reached the heights of fellow Atlantans Blind Willie McTell or
Barbecue Bob Hicks, but his easy, rolling style made him a favorite of
crowds and other performers. "Georgia Blues" offers a fine mix of secular
blues variations; aside from those tracks that feature Weaver, there are
also songs here by Eddie Mapp, Guy Lumpkin, Slim Barton, and Eddie Mapp.
Those in search of more Curley Weaver should check out Document 5111 and
Blues Documents 6014. (JG) SLIM BARTON & EDDIE MAPP: Careless Love/ Fourth Avenue Blues/ I'm Hot Like That/ It's Tight Like That/ Wicked Treatin' Blues/ EDDIE MAPP: Riding The Blinds/ Decatur Street Drag/ MAPP-MOORE-LUMPKIN: Where You Been So Long/ FRED MCMULLEN: DeKalb Chain Gang/ I'm Still Sloppy Drunk (Ruth Willis, vcl)/ Just Can't Stand It (Duet with Ruth Willis)/ Man Of My Own (Ruth Willis, vcl)/ Poor Stranger Blue(Duet with Curley Weaver)/ Rolling Mama/ Wait And Listen/ JAMES MOORE: Poor Convict Blues/ CURLEY WEAVER: Dirty Deal Blues/ It's The Best Stuff Yet/ No No Blues (147305)/ No No Blues (with Eddie Mapp - 464)/ Sweet Petunia/ Ta Ta Blues/ Baby Boogie Woogie/ Wild Cat Kitten |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5159 | Memphis Blues (1927-1938) | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 75 min., recommended A nice collection of relatively obscure pre-war, Memphis-associated artists. Of the 9 performers here, Hattie Hart stands out on I'm Missing That Thing/ I Let My Daddy Do That and 2 others cut in '34 and featuring guitar work from Willie Borum and Allen Shaw. Count both of George Torey's excellent sides, Married Woman Blues/ Lonesome Man Blues, as highlights too, with enviable guitar work and strong vocals. Other blues practitioners include Sam Townsend, John Henry Barbee, Pearl Dickson, Ollie Rupert, Walter Rhodes, Charlie "Bozo" Nickerson, and Madelyn James. Decent sound and notes by Memphis music scholar Kip Lornell. (JC) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5160 | Georgia Blues & Gospel (1927-31) | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 77 min., recommended This set opens with 11 cuts -- the 7 issued titles and 4 alternate takes -- by the superb guitarist/singer Julius Daniels. Daniels, as obscure as he was talented, works in various styles, and includes a pair of fine religious numbers in Slippin' And Slidin' Up The Golden Street/ I'm Goin' To Tell God How You Doin', the latter featuring some sharp bottleneck work. The complete works of Lil' McClintock, George Carter, and Lillie Mae, and are also offered. The unknown Carter recorded 4 sides of competent if unspectacular blues, as does Mae, who turns in a Ma Rainey impression on Buggy Jail House Blues. McClintock produced a brace of noteworthy if similar sounding gospels in Sow Good Seeds/ Mother Called Her Child To Her Dying Bed, and some lesser secular sides. A nice collection with Daniels as the standout. (JC) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5169 | Country Blues Collector's Items (1924-28) | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 74 min., recommended The cover boasts that this CD features the complete recorded works of Ed Andrews, Lewis Black, Kid Brown, Sammy Brown, Emery Glen, Johnny Head, T.C. Johnson, "Blue Coat" Tom Nelson, "Mooch" Richardson, and somebody named Porkchop. If you note that none of these names are regularly invoked by fans, you're getting the idea. Recorded between 1924 and 1928, these rarities are a hodgepodge of blues, rag, and songster styles. None are immediate knockouts, but the cumulative effect of hearing these forgotten performers 60-odd years after the fact is the feeling that the breadth of pre-war blues, especially the Memphis variety espoused by Richardson (with Lonnie Johnson) is a long way from being exhausted. All these performers are mysteries; all these performances are spooky in one way or another. Sound quality is adequate. (JG) ED ANDREWS: Barrel House Blues/ Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay/ LEWIS BLACK: Corn Liquor Blues/ Gravel Camp Blues/ Rock Island Blues/ Spanish Blues/ KID BROWN: Bo-Lita/ SAMMY BROWN: Barrel House Blues/ The Jockey Blues/ EMERY GLEN: Back Door Blues/ Blue Blazes Blues/ Fifth Street Blues/ Two Ways To Texas/ JOHNNIE HEAD: Fare Thee Blues, Part 1/ Fare Thee Blues, Part 2/ T. C. JOHNSON & "BLUECOAT" TOM NELSON: Blue Coat Blues/ G. Burns Is Gonna Rise Again/ In The Mornin'/ T. C. Johnson's Blues/ MOOCH RICHARDSON: 'Mooch' Richardson's Low Down Barrel House Blues, Part 1/ 'Mooch' Richardson's Low Down Barrel House Blues, Part 1/ Big Kate Adams Blues/ Burying Ground Blues/ Helena Blues/ T And T Blues |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5191 | Chicago Piano, 1929-36 | ● CD |
| 24 track, 74 mins, highly recommended This album presents the complete recordings of three fine but obscure singer/ piano players John Oscar, Eddie Miller and George Noble. Miller is thought to be from St Louis and has a relaxed flowing piano style and a smokey soulful voice. In addition to accompanying himself he also accompanies the excellent Willie Mae McKenzie on Miller's theme song I'd Rather Drik Muddy water. There are 6 sides by John Oscar - some where he is thought to be accompanied by Miller and some accompanying himself - either way they are fine. There are also two tracks by Eddie Morgan who is thought to be Miller under a pseudonym though to my ears he sounds more like Oscar than Miller! The piano stylings on his 1929 recordings are very different from those at his 1930 and '34 recordings which leads one to assume that there is more than one piano player in question. As good as Miller and Oscar are pride of place goes to the superb George Noble whose 8 sides feature churning, rolling piano underneath dark, expressive and immediately gripping vocals. Some of his songs are based on familiar themes like Milk Cow Blues or T.B. Blues but all are given his unique stamp. (FS) EDDIE MILLER: Freight Train Blues/ Get Business On Your Mind (Willie Mae McKenzie, vcl)/ Good Jelly Blues/ I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (Willie Mae McKenzie, vcl)/ I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (tk. 1)/ I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (tk. 2)/ School Day Blues/ Whoopie/ EDDIE MORGAN: My Gal Blues/ Rock House Blues/ GEORGE NOBLE: Bed Springs Blues/ Dozing Blues/ If You Lose Your Good Gal, Don't Mess With Mine/ New Milk Cow Blues/ On My Death-Bed/ Sissy Man Blues/ T. B. Blues/ The Seminole Blues/ JOHN OSCAR: Dyin' Mother Blues/ In The Gutter/ Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here/ Mistreatment Blues/ Other Man Blues/ Whoopee Mama Blues |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5193 | Barrelhouse Piano Blues & Stomps, 1929-1933 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 71 mins, highly recommended The complete recordings of three (or four) very obscure but very fine piano players. Herve Duerson is featured on two sessions from 1929 and is an amazing performer whose playing inclues blues, boogie, stride and even pop (on Evening Chimes Waltz). He is featured on four stunning solo instrumental pieces as well as providing stellar accompaniments to vocalists Alura Mack, Teddy Moss and Harry Campbell. Teddy Moss is also featured accompanied by pianist Turner Parrish who is not as versatile as Duerson but plays some very fine blues piano. Parrish also does some fine vocals on his own and is featured on two stunning instrumentals Trenches and FIves. Finally we have the enigmatic Kingfish Bill Tomlin who may very well be two different performers. The piano playing on two of the sides is relatively unexceptional but the other two have lovely lyrical piano accompaniments, possibly by Louise Johnson. It's hard to tell for sure if the vocalists are different but whether they are or not they are excellent and his Army Blues is a fascinating song. This album is one of the hidden treasures in the Document catalog. (FS) HARRY CAMPBELL: You'll Be Sorry Some Day/ HERVE DUERSON: Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog No More/ Avenue Strut/ Easy Drag/ Evening Chimes Waltz/ Fives/ Graveyard Blues/ Naptown Special/ Trenches/ ALURA MACK: I'm Busy, You Can't Come In/ TEDDY MOSS: Back-biter Blues/ Dyin' In The Electric Chair/ Easy Papa/ Heart-breaker Blues/ Ocean Wave Blues/ Sympathizin' Blues/ Texas Dream Blues/ You Broke My Heart Baby/ TURNER PARRISH: Wake Up In The Morning Blues/ Western Traveler Blues/ KINGFISH BILL TOMLIN: Army Blues/ Dupree Blues/ Hot Box/ Mean And Unkind Blues |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5221 | Country Gospel | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 70 min., recommended The presumed link between these two black acts is that they both once seemed to belong in the country gospel category and even had recordings released in the hillbilly/country numbering series for the respective companies. Fair enough. But there are some significant differences as well. The Two Gospel Keys, who recorded for r&b labels such as Apollo and Red Robin Records, put out a relatively tame, country-inflected sound on their 17 tracks here, including Charity/ I Want My Crown, and Every Man Got to Lay Down and Die. But Sister O. M. Terrell positively rocks the joint with her intense vocals and Sister Rosetta Tharpe flavored guitar work. Her intense but minimal repertoire of eight recorded works, from the Playboy and Columbia labels, includes Life Is a Problem/ The Bible's Right, and I'm Going to That City. Not music to miss out on. Sound is generally good as are the brief notes. And there's a rather fuzzy cover photo of the Gospel Keys which provides the cover art. (DH) SISTER O. M. TERRELL: God's Little Birds/ How Long/ I'm Going To That City/ Life Is A Problem/ Lord I Want You To Lead Me On/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ The Bible's Right/ The Gambling Man/ THE TWO GOSPEL KEYS: Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down/ Charity/ Every Man Got To Lay Down And Die/ I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (alt. take)/ I Can't Tarry/ I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore/ I Don't Want To Go Down There Pt. 1/ I Don't Want To Go Down There Pt. 2/ I Love Traveling/ I Want My Crown/ Jesus Met The Woman At The Well/ Precious Lord (C-2083)/ Precious Lord (D-713)/ This Heart Of Mine/ We're Gonna Have A Good Time/ You've Got To Move (D-714)/ You've Got To Move (When The Lord Gets Ready) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5233 | Deep South Blues Piano | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 71 min., recommended Rhythmic pianist Harry Chatmon, of the famous Chatmon/ Carter bros. (see Mississippi Sheiks), takes the first 8 tracks (two with brother Bo on guitar) and delivers competent if unspectacular performances marred at times by poor sound quality. Kid Stormy Weather's only two sides reveal his fast right hand and, on Bread And Water Blues, a probable prison record. But what makes this collection worthwhile is the all but forgotten Blind Mack (Rhinehart) whose 14 cuts -- 12 with Brownie Stubblefield on guitar -- display a first rate talent on impressive versions of Rootin' Ground-Hog Blues/ Keep Your Good Woman A Home/ If I Leave Here Running/ Dirty No Gooder, and others. (JC) BLIND MACK: Keep Your Good Woman Home/ Rootin' Ground-Hog Blues/ HARRY CHATMON: Black Ants Blues/ Deep Blue Ocean Blues/ Hoo Doo Blues/ Letter From Texas/ Please Don't Do It No More/ Quarrelin' Mama Blues/ Smoke-Stack Blues/ These Jackson Women Will Not Treat You Right/ KID STORMY WEATHER: Bread And Water Blues/ Short Hair Blues/ MACK RHINEHART & BROWNIE STUBBLEFIELD: Blues After Sundown/ Broke And Hungry/ Clay County Blues/ Dirty No Gooder/ I Can't Take It Anymore/ If I Leave Here Running/ Lonesome House Blues/ Lost Woman Blues/ Open Back Door Blues/ T.P.N. Moaner/ Uptown Blues/ You Don't Know My Mind |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5300 | Memphis Sactified Jug Bands | ● CD |
| 21 tracks, 66 mins, recommended This is an expanded version of the old LP Matchbox 222. The Sanctified churches, unlike other black churches were willing to have musical accompaniments to the singing and services and in the South this accompaniment often took the form of a jug band or similiar with jug, harmonica, guitar, piano, etc. This album gives us a sampling of what that exciting music must of been like featuring 13 tracks by Elder Richard Bryant (1928), two by Rev. E.S. (Shy) Moore, two by Brother Williams Memphis Sanctified Singers and four by The Holy Ghost Sanctified Singers. Half the Bryant sides and the Moore cuts are essentially sermons with brief musical passages at the end. The music is consistently exciting and vibrant, sound is good and there are interesting notes from legendary collector Bernard Klatzko who first reissued some of these sides on his pioneering Herwin label. (FS) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5314 | Piano Blues, Vol 3 | ● CD |
| 26 tracks, 75 mins, recommended A bit of a mixed bag with the first third of this disc well worth the "recommended" rating. The disc starts off with two excellent instrumental cuts from black Canadian Millard G. Thomas - a player who is probably more of a jazzman but who is eminently listenable. There are seven tracks by the wonderful singer Nolan "Barrelhouse" Walsh in three different settings - four of the cuts feature piano accompaniments by the relatively tame Richard M. Jones - two of them with Louis Armstrong and two with fiddle player Clarence Black. The remaining three feture his own piano accompaniment showing he deserves the sobriquet "Barrelhouse". There are 9 songs from the dreary George Hannah whose often salacious lyrics are occasionally given interesting accompaniments by Lonnie Johnson on fiddle or Meade Lux Lewis on piano. Lewis also accompanies the even duller Rob Robinson whose litany of obvious sexual metaphors is broken only by a deservedly unissued version of Sitting On Top Of The World (the pop song, not the blues). The disc ends with an unknown performer with two instrumentals from ane arly 40s private acetate - interesting, if not earthshaking. Still the Millard Thomas and Nolan Welsh sides make this disc worthwhile. (FS) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5320 | Mississippi Blues & Gospel : 1934-52 Field Recordings | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 65 mins, recommended An exciting collection of field recordings made for the Library Of Congresss by Mississippi blues and gospel artists recorded between 1934 and 1942. It includes the two magnificent sides by Bukka White which have been reissued before but apparently this is the first time they have been remastered at the correct speed. The disc opens with some incredibly exciting gospel music recorded in church - some by Rev. McGhee who may be the same Rev McGhee who recorded commercially for Victor. There are a couple of unaccompanied field hollers from Charles Berry - a beautiful singer who also recorded with Muddy Waters on his Library Of Congress recordings and three tracks by William Brown - a truly outstanding singer and guitarist - what a shame he only recorded these three tracks. Also featured on this disc are Willie "61" Blackwell, George Boldwin, Lucious Curtis, Willie Ford, The Frazier Family and Blind Pete & Partner. Lots of good music though the sound quality on some of these deteriorating acetates is pretty grim. (FS) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5336 | Piano Blues, Vol 4 : 1923-1928 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended Excellent collection of piano blues by mostly obscure piano players. The set opens with two lovely solos by Q. Roscoe Snowden and is followed by four fine vocals by Tiny Robinson accompanied by George W. Thomas. Texas pianist Thomas is an important figure in the history of piano blues - his composition The Rocks recorded by Clay Custer (thought to be a pseudonym for Thomas) in early 1923 is the first recording featuring a walking bass which is associated with boogie woogie and he uses this walking bass in Franklin's Shorty George Blues. Thomas was also the brother of Sippie Wallace and Hersal Thomas and the father of Hociel Thomas! Another Texan, Jack Erby, is featured on four varied vocals with solid piano accompaniment. Sugar Underwood is featured on his only two solo performances - the fine Davis Street Blues and the dazzling Dew Drop Alley Stomp. Vocalist Stovepipe Johnson is accompanied by pianist Georgia Tom Dorsey on three songs including the superb Devilish Blues. Other artists include Ray Logan, Hermes Zimmerman ( the least interesting performer here), Lucious Hardy, Skeet Brown, Yodeling Kid Brown and Keghouse. The latter's Canned Heat Blues is brilliant and includes the line "she's in the jailhouse for drinking embalming fluid" - no doubt they had her dead to rights! (FS) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5337 | Piano Blues, Vol 5 : 1929-1936 | ● CD |
| The complete recordings in chronological order of Bill
Pearson, George Allison & Willie White with Henry Brown, Andy Chatmon,
George Ramsey, Sophisticated Jimmy La Rue and others. |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5342 | Fletcher Henderson & The Blues Singers, Vol 1 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 75 min., recommended Henderson's first recording opportunity came with the birth of Black Swan - the first black-owned record label - where he was the musical director and backed most of the artists early on, either with orchestra or solo. The glut of female blues singers on wax in the early '20s (nine of whom are represented here) may be explained by the desire to repeat the financial success enjoyed by Mamie Smith's recording of Crazy Blues. Still, several of the blues singers here (Katie Crippen, Lulu Whidby, Essie Whitman, Maude De Forrest for four) could as accurately be described as vaudeville singers, or vaudeville blues singers. And yet Etta Mooney and others sound pretty damn good no matter how they're categorized. Extremely accessible. (JC) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5343 | Fletcher Henderson & The Blues Singers, Vol 2 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 75 min., recommended The second of two volumes presents 6 more unknown blues singers - several of whom spent more time singing Tin Pan Alley and vaudeville tunes than anything - with Fletcher Henderson as the unifying thread. But despite the artists' obscurity (Inez Wallace is the only one about whom anything is known), the performances are quite entertaining, more so perhaps than Henderson's often unexciting contributions - his greatness was still ahead of him. Hannah Sylvester has by far the greatest number of cuts at 11, and deservedly so. And on her Down South Blues and I Want My Sweet Daddy, a young Coleman Hawkins can be heard. Like the material of Vol. 1, these songs all were recorded in NYC, thus this collection also offers some insight into that city's recording scene in the early 1920s. (Note: Fletcher Henderson's instrumental work is collected on Classics CDs.) (JC) |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5354 | Swingin' The Blues | ● CD |
| 26 tracks, 74 min., good Not so much blues as jazz and jazzy-pop (read: black music for white audiences), these recordings are at the very least derivative of folks like Louis Armstrong and more often that not imitative. That said, this is still a fun listen. And to be fair, some of the session men are excellent. Albert Ammons takes a nice piano solo on John Oscar's sexual admonition, You Can't Last Long Like That. And that's probably Charlie McCoy on Jimmy McLain's pair of cuts. Other interesting or odd moments can be heard on Laura Rucker's popish ode to homophobia, Something's Wrong, on Ramona Hicks' Evil And Black, and on most of Mattie Hardy's five tracks. Nothing here is great -- nothing -- but most of this is worth hearing. (JC) MATTIE HARDY WITH JOE WILLIAMS AND HIS CHICAGO: He's Gone Away/ I Declare This Will Be The End/ Striped Ape Blues/ You Tore Up My Heart/ You're Alright With Me/ RAMONA HICKS: Don't Be Like Me/ Evil and Blue/ I Must Have It/ Ramona Blues/ Tell My Mama On You/ Where The Eagle Builds His Nest/ JUSTINE LAMAR: Always Mine/ That'll Never Work With Me/ EMMET MATHEWS: St. James Infirmary/ Upside Down/ JIMMY MCLAIN: Keep Your Fly-Trap Closed/ Tailor Made Blues/ JOHN OSCAR WITH BANKS CHESTERFIELD'S ORCHESTR: Got To Be Worried Now/ You Can't Last Long Like That/ LAURA RUCKER: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter/ Something's Wrong/ Swing My Rhythm/ JIMMY STRANGE: Yas Yas Yas/ Yas Yas Yas No.2/ ELSIE WILLIAMS: Bring It Back/ You Got Something There |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5355 | The Earliest Negro Vocal Groups, Vol 3 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 73 min., recommended This continuing series now focuses on the varied quartet singing of the Southern Negro Quartette, the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartette, and the Kentucky Trio, all of whom originally recorded for Columbia or its Okeh subsidiary. Sounding like seasoned performers themselves, part of the repertoire of the Southerns is drawn from the vaudeville performances of the "classic" female blues singers, including cross gender numbers like He Took It Away From Me, and My Man Rocks Me. Three of the four numbers by the Florida ensemble are spiritual evergreens such as Dis Train and The Welcome Table. And the Kentucky Trio features an effective female lead and a six song program that is entirely religious in nature. Highlights include Mother's Religion, God Gonna Set This World on Fire, and Do You Want to Go There. An interesting and enjoyable program, with sound quality that varies considerably, as you might expect. (DH) FLORIDA NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE: Dis Train/ Oh! My Soul Is A Witness/ The Tree/ The Welcome Table/ THE KENTUCKY TRIO: Do You Want To Go There?/ God Gonna Set This World On Fire/ Lord, I Want To Be A Christian/ Mother's Religion/ Shine For Jesus/ The Old Account Was Settled/ SOUTHRN NEGRO QUARTETTE: Anticipatin' Blues/ Gonna Raise Ruckus Tonight/ Hampton Road Blues/ Hard Trials And Great Tribulations/ He Took It Away From Me/ Hey Hey And Hee Hee/ I Ain't Givin' Nothin' Away/ I'll Be Good But I'll Be Lonesome/ I'm Wild About Moonshine/ Lullaby Blues/ Moanin' Groanin' Blues/ My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race/ My Man Rocks Me/ Sweet Mamma |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5450 | Alabama & The East Coast, 1933-1937 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, highly recommended A beautiful collection of country blues recorded in 1933 and 1937 by some fine but obscure Alabama country bluesmen. The most well known name here is Sonny Scott who is featured on nine of the tracks he recorded in 1933 (the remainder are on the, now out of print Document 5144) who seems to have worked regularly with the great Walter Roland. Scott was an excellent and distinctive vocalist and a varied guitarist whose style at times brings to mind Mississippi guitarists with it's churning rhythm and at other times has a more melodic cast. The songs are mostly unique to Sonny though many are based on traditional themes. There are two cuts by Charlie Campbell accompanied by a small group with washboard, four cuts by the wonderfully named Peanut the Kidnapper who sounds a lot like Peetie Wheatstraw. There are two cuts by Guitar Slim including Katie May - Katie May which is very similar to the song recorded by Lightnin' Hopkins some 10 years later. The album end with 6 tracks by singer/ guitarist Georgia Slim who also sounds as bit like Peetie Wheatstraw. (FS) CHARLIE CAMPBELL: Goin' Away Blues/ Pepper Sauce Mama/ GEORGIA SLIM: Evil Hearted Woman/ I've Been Mistreated/ New Root Man Blues/ Ocean Wide Blues/ Separatin' Blues/ Sweet Woman Blues/ GUITAR SLIM: Ain't It A Shame?/ Katie May - Katie May/ PEANUT THE KIDNAPPER: Eighth Avenue Blues/ Silver Spade Blues/ Suicide Blues/ Swagger Woman Blues/ SONNY SCOTT: Black Horse Blues/ Coal Mountain Blues/ Fire Wood Man/ Hard Luck Man/ Highway No. 2 Blues/ Naked Man Blues/ Red Cross Blues/ Red Cross Blues No. 2/ Red Rooster Blues/ Try Me Man Blues |
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Document DOCD 5468 | Jazzin' The Blues, Vol. 2 : 1939-1946 | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 72 min., recommended What a pleasure to finally have pioneer electric guitarist Jimmy Shirley's very first recordings, as a member of trumpeter Wingy Carpenter's group. Recorded before joining the Clarence Profit Trio, his guitar solos are heard on Carpenter's Put Me Back In The Alley ('40) and Creole Geor | |||