| ELDER J.E.
BURCH/ REV. BEAUMONT |
Document DOCD 5329 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1927-1929 |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 72 min., good With Burch you get sermons from a
Sanctified preacher and singing with bass, guitar, snare drum,
tambourine(s), and female accompaniment, all recorded during one October
day in 1927. As is common with preachers recorded in the period, nothing
is known of Burch; he may even have been white. He preaches and sings with
urgency, always slightly out of control, seemingly as concerned with
cleanliness as godliness, seeing them as one and the same. An older style
of sermon is represented by Rev. Beaumont, aka Rev. Johnson, aka Rev.
Walsh, who mis-cites his Biblical references as often as not. Beaumont's
sermons feature familiar Bible stories of Noah and Lazarus and such. As
with Burch, a total lack of biographical info is made up for somewhat by
excellent booklet notes from David Evans. Interesting, though not for all
ears. (JC)
|
| DAN BURLEY |
Wolf WBJ 008 |
South Side Shake 1945-1951 |
● CD $14.98 |
23 tracks, 76 mins, recommended. Lexington-born "State
St. Yancey Style" pianist Dan Burley's career started in the 30's,
but his known recordings date back to 1945 (A Suite In 4 Comfortable
Quarters with Leonard Feather and Tiny Grimes on Continental Records).
Burley also worked as sports and entertainment writer for a number of
major tabloids. His music, a mixture of boogie and stride spiced with
Harlem swing, became a part of the shuffling-jive that preceded the birth
of R&B. CD includes extremely rare recordings made between 1945 and
1951 for Continental, Circle, Exclusive, and Arkay featuring such notables
as Lionel Hampton, Hot Lips Page, Tyree Glenn, Baby Dodds, Pops Foster,
Brownie & Sticks McGhee. Fine vocal rendition of They Raided The
Joint by Vanita Smythe. Booklet contains rare pics, clippings,
articles, painstakingly detailed biography, discography, plus extracts
from Burley's "Jiver's Bible". Also includes soundtrack and
broadcast material, plus a Soundie transcription - all extremely fine
barrelhouse-inspired piano. (OLN)
|
| DAN
BURLEY/ BROWNIE & STICKS MCGEE |
Southland 9 |
Circle Blues SEssion |
● CD $13.98 |
17 tracks, highly recommended Not a new release but one we
havn't reviewed before. Features 17 tracks recorded for Rudi Blesh's
Circle label in June, 1946 - 8 previously unissued. 11 tracks feature
vocalist/ piano player/ author/ journalist Dan Burley accompenied by his
Skiffle Boys (Brownie McGee, Sticks McGee and Pops Foster). Burley was a
fine and expressive singer and piano player who was influenced by the
great Hersal Thomas whom he dedicates one of his tunes to. 6 of the tracks
are by the McGee brothers and are particularly nice with great interplay
between the two guitars, Brownie sings on four of them, Sticks on one and
they do an excellent instrumental Tennessee Shuffle. (FS)
|
| REV. J.C. BURNETT |
Document DOCD 5557 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1, 1926-1927 |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 67 mins, recommended First of two volumes
featuring the recordings of this outstanding and very popular preacher.
Most of the performances start off with an excerpt from a long meter hymn
by Burnett and Sisters Ethel Garinger and Odette Jackson and then moves
into Burnett's exposition of a biblical text which he builds into a
ferocious and almost incoherent climax urged on by ths shouts and
declamations of the sisters. A couple of the performances are simply hyms
sung with little or no preaching. They are usually joined on piano or
organ by Porter Garinger and one session features organ accompaniment by
Fats Waller! This set includes his most famous recording The Downfall
Of Nebuchadnezzer plus others like Drive And Go Forward/ Hebrew
Children In The Fiery Furnace/ Daniel In The Lion's Den/ It's You Turn Now
But My Time After Awhile and others including the particularly
powerful I Will Stay here And Send The News To Town. Generally
excellent sound plus informative notes by Chris Smith. (FS)
|
| REV. J.C. BURNETT |
Document DOCD 5558 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2, 1927-1945 |
● CD $14.98 |
|
|
| EDDIE BURNS BLUES BAND |
Evidence 26024 |
Detroit |
● CD $12.98 |
11 tracks, good. Reissue of Blue Suit 103 by this legend of
Motor City blues.
|
| JIMMY BURNS |
Delmark 694 |
Leaving Here Walking |
● CD $14.98 |
|
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
Fat Possum 80301 |
Mr. Wizard |
● CD $13.98 |
| R.L. BURNSIDE: Alice Mae/ Georgia Women/ Highway 7/ Out on the Road/ Over
the Hill/ Rollin' & Tumblin'/ Snake Drive/ Tribute to Fred/ You Gotta
Move
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
Fat Possum 80307 |
Too Bad Jim |
● CD $13.98 |
10 tracks, 41 mins, highly recommended R.L. Burnside may not have too much original material and
may not be a guitar virtuoso but he certainly lays done some of the
funkiest low down blues you are likely to hear in the 90s. Drawing on
traditional Mississippi songs (Shake 'Em On Down/ Old Black Mattie/
Going Down South) plus songs from John Lee Hooker (When My First
Wife Left Me), Lightnin' Hopkins (Short Haired Woman/ .44 Pistol
and others he accompanies his rough hewn vocals with wonderfully nasty
sounding electric guitar, sometimes playing slide. Most cuts feature solid
accompaniments from drummer Calvin Jackson and guitarist Kenny Brown who
really help kick things along. Kudos to producer Robert Palmer for doing
such a great job in capturing the real essence of down home blues and
providing some illuminating liner notes though his references to chaos
theory may be a little over the top! (FS)
R.L. BURNSIDE: .44 Pistol/ Death Bell Blues/ Fireman Ring The Bell/ Goin'
Down South/ Miss Glory B./ Old Black Mattie/ Peaches/ Shake 'Em On Down/
Short-Haired Woman/ When My First Wife Left Me
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
Genes 9917 |
My Black Name A-Ringin' |
● CD $14.98 |
Previously unissued recordings from 1969 - some with Red
Ramsey/ harmonica and/or guitarist Jesse Vortis.
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
High Water/HMG 6501 |
Sound Machine Groove |
● CD $13.98 |
Reissue of 1980 album originally on the French Vogue label
plus 3 previously unissued cuts from this currently much in demand
Mississippi bluesman accompanied by his sons Joseph & Daniel on
guitars and bass plus Calvin Jackson on drums.
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
Matador 214 |
Ass Pocket Full Of Whiskey |
● CD $16.98 |
New album features Mississippi bluesman accompanied by
blues-rock band The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
|
| R.L. BURNSIDE |
M.C. Records 34 |
Acoustic Stories |
● CD $13.98 |
All acoustic album by this very popular Delta stylist.
|
| RURAL L. BURNSIDE |
Arion 60397 |
Mississippi Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
11 tracks, 39 mins, very good Enjoyable set of performances
- mostly recorded live in France in 1983. Most of the songs are versions
of traditional Mississippi pieces like
Poor Black Mattie/ Rolling and Tumbling, etc. along with some Lightnin'
Hopkins songs. Burnside sings well and plays some good acoustic guitar but
the record suffers from overly familiar material and a very restrained
approach. (FS)
|
| ARON BURTON |
Delmark 727 |
Good News To You |
● CD $14.98 |
Newest by Chicago blues singer/bassist with his brother
Larry, Billy Branch, Lester Davenport and others.
|
| ARON BURTON |
Earwig 4927 |
Past, Present & Future |
● CD $14.98 |
|
|
| ARON BURTON |
Earwig 4935 |
Live! |
● CD $14.98 |
13 tracks recorded live in early 1995 by bassist Burton who
also contributes some vocals. The rest of the band includes Michael
Dodson, Lester Davenport and others. Mostly old favorites like Little
Red Rooster/ Fever/ River's Invitation/ Hoochie Coochie Man, etc.
|
| GEORGE
"WILD CHILD" BUTLER |
Black Magic 9015 |
Keep On Doing What You're Doing |
● CD $16.98 |
Reissue of Butler's rare 1970 Mercury album recorded in
November, 1969 with a band which included Jimmy Dawkins, Lafayette Leake,
Mighty Joe Young and others. Having now had a chance to hear this I think
it is justifiably rare. In spite of the impressive line-up it is a rather
apathetic effort with unexceptional vocals and harp playing and sloppy
accompaniments. The chief problem seems to be a lack of cohesiveness which
points to inadequate rehearsal and/or poor direction by the producers. If
you are thinking of laying out big bucks for the LP you might want to
think again! (FS)
|
| GEORGE
"WILD CHILD" BUTLER |
Bullseye Blues 9518 |
These Mean Old Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
Despite past praise from bluesmen like Willie Dixon and
Lightnin' Hopkins, George "Wild Child" Butler has largely
escaped public notice. Butler has been recording since the mid-sixties
when he cut a few sides for the Shaw label and many more for
Shreveport-based Jewel Records. But during
his lengthy career, he has made only two previous albums (in 1969 and
1976). These Mean Old Blues is a strong, strong set of 11
originals, featuring Butler's tremendous country-style harmonica (just
listen to Walkin' The Little Girl Home!) and rugged vocals. Songs
like Crack House Woman show Howlin' Wolf's influence, and mix
traditional blues with a timely lyric. Likewise, the slow blues It's A
Pity makes reference to the Gulf War, among other things. His
harmonica style is reminiscent of Sonny Boy Williamson #2 and Hammie
Nixon, without being derivative. Recommended.
[JC]
|
| GEORGE
"WILD CHILD" BUTLER |
M.C. Records 36 |
Lickin' Gravy |
● CD $14.98 |
Reissue of album originally issued on Roots in 1976 and then
reissued on Rooster Blues in 1986 with overdubs and now on CD for the
first time.
|
| THE BUTLER TWINS |
JSP 257 |
Not Gonna Worry About Tomorrow |
● CD $14.98 |
Detroit based blues duo.
|
| PAUL BUTTERFIELD |
Rhino 70877 |
Paul Butterfield's Better Days |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of Bearsville 2119 from 1973. The best of the lot.
After breaking up the Blues Band, Butter headed to Woodstock and formed
this all-star band, kind of a folkie version of the Blues Band, with Amos
Garrett, Geoff Muldaur, Ronnie Barron, with Billy Rich & Chris Parker
on bass & drums. Technically, the band is incredible but the LP seems
to snooze, aided by the inclusion of such war horses as Baby Please
Don't Go , (New) Walkin' Blues/ Nobody's Fault But Mine & Please
Send Me Someone To Love . Vocals by Butter, Geoff & Ronnie, guests
include Maria Muldaur and a 5 piece Howard Johnson-led horn section with
old Blues Band mates Gene Dinwiddie & David Sanborn. (GM)
|
| PAUL BUTTERFIELD |
Rhino 70878 |
It All Comes Back |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of Bearsville 2170 from 1974. After a promising
start with a blazing version of Smokey Hogg's Too Many Drivers , it
goes downhill rather quickly. The overdone blues standards are replaced by
new material written by Butter, Barron & Bobby Charles, with lots of
not really successful funk and New Orleans R&B experiments, the best
being the Barron-Dr. John-penned Louisiana Flood . Most songs,
especially the ones with vocal chorus, sound real dated. Also includes a
bad version of Mose Allison's If You Live (GM)
|
| PAUL BUTTERFIELD |
Rhino/ Elektra 73505 |
The Original Lost Elektra Sessions |
● CD $15.98 |
19 previously unissued sides including his first recordings
from 1964 that were originally intended to be his first album and outtakes
from the 1965 session that resulted in their first official release.
PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND: Ain't No Need To Go No Further/ Everything's
Gonna Be All Right/ Goin' Down Slow/ Good Morning Little School Girl/ Hate
To See You Go/ Help Me/ It Hurts Me Too/ Just To Be With You/ Love Her
With A Feeling/ Lovin' Cup/ Mellow Down Easy/ Nut Popper #1/ Our Love Is
Driftin'/ Piney Brown Blues/ Poor Boy/ Rock Me/ Spoonful/ Take Me Back
Baby/ That's All Right
|
| THE PAUL
BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND |
Elektra 7294 |
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band |
● CD $11.98 |
CD issue of Elektra 7294 from 1965. When every other white
kid played the blues as loud rock'n'roll or reverential folk, Butterfield
had the first major white fronted powerful Chicago blues band, a move that
would spark the great late 60s Blues Revival. Butter originally had U of
Chi buddy Elvin Bishop on guitar, with Howlin' Wolf rhythm Jerome Arnold
& Sam Lay. Added Naftalin, & to round out the recording, future
legend Mike Bloomfield. These recordings still sound fresh & alive,
& incl the classic Nick Gravinites tune Born In Chicago, Elmore
James' Shake Your Moneymaker & Look Over Yonders Wall, Little
Walter's Mellow Down Easy/ Blues With A Feeling/ Last Night, &
originals Screamin' & Thank You Mr. Poobah (GM)
PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND: Blues With A Feeling/ Born In Chicago/ I Got
My Mojo Working/ Last Night/ Look Over Yonders Wall/ Mellow Down Easy/
Mystery Train/ Our Love Is Drifting/ Screamin'/ Shake Your Money-maker/
Thank You Mr. Poobah
|
| THE PAUL
BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND |
Elektra 7315 |
East West |
● CD $11.98 |
CD issue of the 1966 classic. If Butter's 1st LP was to be a
classic in white & electric blues, he transcended that by his 2nd LP,
with the same lineup except drummer Billy Davenport replacing Sam Lay. The
Blues covers are down to a minimum, incl Walkin' Blues & Two Trains
Running (AKA Still A Fool), along with covers of Lee Dorsey's Get
Out Of My Life Woman, even The Monkees' Mary Mary. But what
really set this apart are the two long tracks, a hard harp workout on
Cannonball Adderly's Work Song, & the 13 minute title track
that experimented in modal playing & turned Mike Bloomfield into a
Superstar. (GM)
PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND: All These Blues/ East-West/ Get out of my
Life, Woman/ I Got a Mind to Give Up Living/ Mary, Mary/ Never Say No/ Two
Trains Running/ Walkin'Blues/ Work Song
|
| THE PAUL
BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND |
Elektra 74015 |
The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw |
● CD $11.98 |
CD reissue of the original album with Pity The Fool, Born
Under A Bad Sign, Drivin' Wheel, Tollin' Bells, 9 in all. A must for
Butterfield fans.
PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND: Born Under a Bad Sign/ Double Trouble/
Driftin' and Driftin'/ Drivin' Wheel/ Droppin' Out/ One More Heartache/
Pity the Fool/ Run Out of Time/ Tollin' Bells
|
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