| CAREY BELL |
Alligator 4828 |
Deep Down |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 52 min., recommended Chicago blues veteran Carey
Bell is on the short list of Greatest Living Blues Harp Blowers -- not bad
for a guy who used to pay his bills playing bass. A disciple of Little
Walter -- a familiar refrain, to be sure -- Bell's style is by no means
merely derivative and embraces the elements many styles, including country
& western and funk. His Low Down And Dirty is 4:29 of
aptly-titled funky blues coolness that could fill a dance floor faster
than you can say "I've been listening to this guy for years."
Ably backed on this outing by Carl Weathersby and Lurrie Bell (Carey's
son) on guitar, the multi-talented Lucky Peterson on piano, Buddy Guy's
Drummer Ray "Killer" Allison, and Johnny B. Gayden (from Albert
Collins' band) on bass, Bell's proves himself a decent singer and
songwriter too. So how come this guy isn't more famous? (JC)
|
| CAREY BELL |
Alligator 4854 |
Good Luck Man |
● CD $14.98 |
|
| CAREY BELL &
TOUGH LUCK |
Blind Pig 4291 |
Mellow Down Easy |
● CD $14.98 |
First U.S. release in quite a while by Chicago singer/
harmonica player Carey Bell. On this disc he is accompanied by his road
band of the last three years - Tough Luck, a Maryland based blues quintet.
Bell is a good singer and an outstanding harmonica player who performs on
both regular harp and chromatic. His playing has a crisp horn like quality
which brings to mind the people who influenced him - Walter Horton and
Little Walter. Six of the tracks here were written or co-written by Bell
including a fine instrumental tribute to his mentor Walter Horton in Big
Walter Strut plus other good songs like Just Like You and One
Day. There are also covers of Little Walter's Mellow Down Easy,
Muddy's Walkin' Through The Park, Jimmy Rogers Walkin' By Myself
and others. The band provides solid, tasteful accompaniments with some
nice guitar by Steve Jacobs. Excellent. (FS)
|
| CAREY BELL |
Delmark 622 |
Carey Bell's Blues Harp |
● CD $14.98 |
On these 1969 recordings brilliant harmonica player Bell is
heard in the company of such fine musicians as Eddie Taylor or Jimmy
Dawkins/ guitar, Pinetop Perkins/piano, and others. The songs are a
mixture of originals along with songs from Willie Dixon, Elmore James, and
Little Walter.
CAREY BELL: Blue Monday At Kansas City Red's/ Carey Bell's Blues Harp./
Come On Over Here/ Everything's Up Tight/ I Cry So Much/ I Got To Find
Somebody/ I Wanna Will My Love To You/ I'm Gonna Buy Me A Train Ticket/
I'm Gonna Buy Me A Train Ticket (alternate)/ I'm Ready/ Last Night/
Rocking With A Chromatic/ Sad Dreams/ Walking In The Park/ You Know It
Ain't Right
|
| CAREY BELL |
Delmark 666 |
Heartaches And Pain |
● CD $11.98 |
8 tracks, 38 min., recommended. Recorded in 1977 by veteran
R&B/blues producer Ralph Bass, these tracks effectively capture the
studio live feel and go a long way towards showing off Bell as the
incredible harp talent that he is. His backup band includes son Lurrie
Bell on guitar - his first studio work, apparently - Alabama Jr. Pettis
(rhythm gtr.), Aron Burton (b.), Sam Lay (d.), and the nimble fingers of
Rob Riedy on piano.As good as any harp blower in Chicago, maybe better.
The guy is hot. Songs include Heartaches And Pain/ Black - Eyed Peas/
Stop That Train, Conductor/ So Hard To Leave You Alone/ and 4 others. (JC)
|
| CAREY BELL |
JSP 264 |
Harpslinger |
● CD $14.98 |
Recorded in England with British band.
|
| CAREY BELL |
JSP CD 802 |
Came Up The Hard Way |
● CD $12.98 |
|
| ED BELL |
Document DOCD 5090 |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order, 1927-30 |
● CD $14.98 |
| The complete works of Alabama singer/ guitarist Ed Bell, who
also recorded as Barefoot Bill and Sluefoot Joe, consists of these 24
tracks for Paramount, QRS, and Columbia. Unfortunately, half of the QRS
tracks were taken from very rare and very worn 78's, and House Top
Blues actually skips a lot. But Bell is talented enough to make you go
back and listen to these again. Luckily, the other sides are remarkably
good sounding, all things considered. His two duets with Pillie Bolling (I
Don't like That/ She's Got A Nice Line) are excellent, and along with
the two bonus Bolling cuts not mentioned on the cover, constitute that
artist total catalog as well. (JC)
|
| LURRIE BELL |
Delmark 700 |
700 Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
New album from fine Chicago singer/ guitarist.
|
| LURRIE BELL |
Delmark 724 |
Kiss Of Sweet Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
|
LURRIE BELL: After Hours./ Bad Dog/ Blues And Black Coffee/ Bring Yourself
Back To Me/ Build Myself A Mansion/ Don't Ask Me Why/ Drivin' Through The
Darkness/ Hiding In The Spotlight/ Kiss Of Sweet Blues/ Lonesome Guitar
Man/ Lurrie's Funky Groove Thing/ Lurrie's Guitar Boogie/ Somebody Help
Me/ Wicked Hearted Woman/ You're Gonna Be Sorry
|
| LURRIE BELL
& BILLY BRANCH |
Evidence 26114 |
Chicago's Young Blues Generation |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of 1982 album originally on the German L+R label. It
features good singing and playing by guitarist Lurrie Bell (son of Carey
Bell) and harmonica player Billy Branch with solid backup from the band.
The main drawback to the album is the overly familiar material.
|
| D.C. BELLAMY & AMW |
Rooster Blues 2640 |
Water To Wine |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, recommended Excellent debut album from singer/
guitarist originally from Chicago but currently based in the Kansas City
area. Accompanied by his tough band he performs a selection of mostly
original songs along with a few well chosen covers. Bellamy is a powerful
and soulful singer - sort of a cross between Joe Louis Walker and Larry
davis - and plays some fine, clean and economical guitar solos. His songs
are well constructed examples of modern blues writing highlighted by the
title song and the hard driving I Ain't Gettin' What I Used To Get.
The covers include a thoughtful minor key rendering of John Lee Hooker's Dimples
and Marvin Gaye's Hitch Hike. Very nice. (FS)
|
| THE BELLEVILLE A
CAPELLA CHOIR |
Rounder 1711 |
Southern Journey, Vol. 11 : Honor The Lamb |
● CD $14.98 |
13 tracks, 44 mins, recommended Recorded by Alan Lomax in
1960. A beautiful collection of acapella gospel by members of Church of
Gods and Saints in Christ - a Virginia based church that traces its
origins to the lost tribes of Israel and whose customs share certain
aspects with Judaism. Most of the songs are unique to this particular
church (Keep Me As The Apple Of Thine Eye/ What A Time/ None But the
Righteous/ The House Of The Lord, etc) but they also do a superb
version of the popular The Gospel Train and a medley of familiar
spirituals (Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ Steal Away/ Oh Them Golden
Slippers, etc) (FS)
THE BELLEVILLE A CAPELLA CHOIR: Come On Israel/ David Was A Shepherd Boy/
Down By The Riverside/ Great Camp Meeting In The Wilderness/ Honor The
Lamb/ Honor, Honor/ I'm A Soldier In The Heavenly Choir)/ Keep Me As The
Apple Of Thine Eye/ None But The Righteous/ On The Battlefield For My
Lord/ On Them Golden Slippers/ Steal Away/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ Swing
Low, Sweet Chariot #2/ The Creation/ The Gospel Train/ The House Of The
Lord/ The Lord Is My Strength & Song/ What A Time/ What Kind Of Shoes
You Gonna Wear
|
| THE BELMONT
SILVERTONE JUBILEE SINGERS |
Document DOCD 5371 |
PLUS SOUTHERN WONDER QUARTET : Complete
Recorded Works |
● CD $14.98 |
26 tracks, 70 min., essential
Superlative tight quartet
harmony. The first 16 cuts belong to the obscure Belmont Silvertone
Jubilee Singers, who probably hail from somewhere in North Carolina. They
feature a high mournful tenor who haunts his way through such fine numbers
as I Don't Know What I'd Do Without The Lord. But if the BSJS shine
brightly, the Southern Wonder Quartet (perhaps of Cleveland) throw off a
blinding light. Their 10 sides, models of control, beautifully restrained
expressions of joy and melancholy, make this disc essential. The stunning
Joe Davis cuts stand as some of the finest examples of the form. Not to be
missed. (JC)
THE BELMONT SILVERTONE JUBILEE SINGERS: Brother My Way Seems Cloudy/ Don't
Feel No Ways Tired/ Fire Down Yonder/ God Don't Like It/ How We Got Over/
I Don't Know What I'd Do Without The Lord/ I Want Two Wings/ I Wonder If
My Name Is Written/ I'm Moving Up Home Someday/ I'm The Light Of The
World/ In My Dying Room/ My Lord's A Rock In The Weary Land/ Somebody's
Knockin' At Your Door/ Wade In The Water And Be Baptised/ Were You There
When They Crucified My Lord/ When I Grow Old And Feeble/ THE SOUTHERN
WONDER QUARTET: Go Wash In The Beautiful Stream/ He Will Remember Me/ His
Eyes On The Sparrow/ I Will Ever Stand/ I'm A Pilgrim/ I've Anchored My
Love/ Raphael/ Ride On King Jesus/ Shady Green Pastures/ When The Love
Comes Twinklin' Down
|
| BUSTER BENTON |
Evidence 26030 |
Blues At The Top |
● CD $12.98 |
15 tracks, 74 mins, good. Reissue of French issue Blue
Phoenix 59.001 recorded in France in 1983 and 1985 by Chicago singer/
guitarist Benton and previously issued on LPs Blue Phoenix 33.728 and
33.730. Benton is decent, if unexceptional performer and is accompanied by
a couple of different groups. The 1983 session includes John Littlejohn
and Lafayette and the '85 session includes Billy Branch on harp. Mostly
original songs though all are pretty derivative. Nothing really special
here. (FS)
|
| CLYDE BERNHARDT |
Blue Moon BMCD 6016 |
The Complete Recordings Vol. 1, 1945-1948 |
● CD $15.98 |
25 tracks featuring this excellent and underrated urban
blues shouter and trombone player. Accompanied by the likes of Dud Bascomb,
Tab Smith, Leonard Feather, Pete Brown, Sam Price, Charlie Parker, Jay
McShann and others he performs Somebody's Knockin'/ Blues In The Red/
Blues Behind Bars/ Sweet Jam jam/ My Little Dog Got Kittens/ Jail House
Blues/ Pretty Mama Blues/ Lay Your Habits Down, etc.
|
| CLYDE BERNHARDT
& OTHERS |
Blue Moon BMCD 6017 |
Complete Recordings Vol. 2, 1949-1953 Plus |
● CD $15.98 |
Completes the reissue of Bernhardt's recorded from 6016 and
also featured the complete recordings of Ike Lloyd, Sylvester Mike and
Freddie Strong.
|
| CHUCK BERRY |
Ace CDCH 397 |
On The Blues Side |
● CD $16.98 |
21 tracks, 55 min., recommended
A different and interesting
view of the career of this rock 'n' roll pioneer, but one that doesn't
always play to the artist's strengths. That is, Berry is quite convincing
as a blues/ballad performer on his early original cuts like Wee Wee
Hours and Blues for Hawaiians. But when he covers the sides of
better known and more accomplished bluesmen, for example with his version
of Guitar Slim's The Things That I Used to Do or Joe Turner's Sweet
Sixteen, he is pretty clearly out of his depth. Fortunately, even
though there are no real Chuck Berry hits here, most of the numbers are
worthy originals. Otherwise, this disc features typical Ace quality
throughout with fine graphics, sound, and notes. (DH)
CHUCK BERRY: Ain't That Just Like A Woman/ Blue Feeling/ Blue On Blue/
Blues For Hawaiians/ Confessin' The Blues/ Deep Feeling/ Don't You Lie To
Me/ Down The Road Apiece/ Driftin' Blues/ I Got To Find My Baby/ I Just
Want To Make Love To You/ I Still Got The Blues/ Merry Christmas Baby/ No
Money Down/ Run Around/ Stop And Listen/ Sweet Sixteen/ The Things That I
Used To Do/ Wee Hour Blues/ Wee Wee Hours/ Worried Life Blues
|
| THE BESSEMER SUNSET
FOUR |
Document DOCD 5379 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1928-1930 |
● CD $14.98 |
24 tracks, 66 min., recommended
Formed in 1925 when the
legendary yet unrecorded Rolling Mill Four disbanded, allowing tenor Sam
Riley to join vocal forces with Dave Brown (lead), Wash Ivey (baritone),
and Pat Gaines (bass), the Sunset Four recorded many an excellent a
cappella side during their 3 year career on wax. That Brunswick recorded
them in 5 sessions during that time argues for the probable popularity of
the outfit. The minor surface noise from the original rare 78's does
almost nothing to mar the uniformly outstanding performances. Cuts include
Heaven Is My View/ I'm Going Home To Rest/ Mighty Day/ I've Got A New
Name/ My Lord's Coming Soon/ Are You Ready? and many others. Nearly
essential (JC)
THE BESSEMER SUNSET FOUR: Are You Ready?/ Climbing Jacob's Ladder/ Don't
You Want That Stone?/ Ham And Eggs/ He Brought Joy To My Soul/ Heaven Is
My View/ I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long/ I Want To Go Home To See My Lord/
I Will Ever Stand/ I'm A Child Of God/ I'm Climbing Up Zion Hill/ I'm
Going Home To Rest/ I've Got A New Name/ In The Valley Of Peace/ Lord I'm
Troubled/ Mighty Day/ My Lord's Coming Soon/ Rollin' Down To Jordan/ Take
This Ring With You/ That Wonderful Love The Father Has/ The Lord's Been
Good To Me/ We're Going To Walk The Golden Streets/ When I Lay My Burden
Down/ You're Going To Need That Pure Religion
|
| THE BIDDLEVILLE
QUINTETTE |
Document DOCD 5361 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1 : 1926-1929 |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 66 min., recommended
Named, apparently, after a
black community on the north side of Charlotte, North Carolina, the Biddleville Quintette (led, apparently, by a laborer named Adam Brown) has
long been admired by the few souls fortunate enough to have found the rare
78 rpms. Their collected works on CD are an overdue joy. And though little
biographical information is known about this a cappella aggregation, your
ears will educate you. Volume 1 (of 2) features group harmony as well as
numbers approximating the church experience (Show Pity Lord/Oh Why Not
To-night). Their Coming To Christ/ Receiving The Message are
absolutely stunning and stand as the "first recordings of black shape
note singing" in the pre-war era, according to gospel pundit Ray
Funk. Also of interest is the BQ's version of This Train Is Bound For
Glory, which is among the earliest on wax. A treasure. (JC)
THE BIDDLEVILLE QUINTETTE: Coming To Christ/ Didn't It Rain?/ Fight On
Your Time Ain't Long (take 1)/ Heaven Is My View/ Holy Is My Name/ I Heard
The Voice Of Jesus Say/ In The Garden Of Gethsemane/ Jacob Sent Joseph/
Jesus Gonna Shake My Righteous Hand/ Jesus Is The Rock/ Oh Why Not
To-night (take 2)/ Prodigal Son/ Receiving The Message (take 1)/ Receiving
The Message (take 2)/ Show Pity Lord/ The Day Is Past And Gone/ This Train
Is Bound For Glory/ Wasn't That A Mighty Day (2693)/ Wasn't That A Mighty
Day (422)/ Way Down In Egypt Land (2690)/ Way Down In Egypt Land (427-a)/
Whosoever Will May Come
|
| THE BIDDLEVILLE
QUINTETTE |
Document DOCD 5362 |
Vol 2 + Birmingham Jubilee Singers, Siler
Leaf Qt. |
● CD $14.98 |
21 tracks, 65 min., recommended
Volume 2 offers the last 16
sides (all from 1929) from this talented fivesome, blessed, if the ears
may judge, with genuine religious fervor. The group sounds a touch
smoother without giving up an ounce of the spontaneous exhortations of
spiritual excitement that mark their performances. Titles include Pharaoh's
Army Got Drowned/ Blessed Be The Tie That Binds/ I Stretch My Hand To Thee,
and 13 others. The gang at Document has cleaned a little house here too,
tacking on the 4 remaining Birmingham Jubilee Singers sides and the final
Silver Leaf Quartette Of Norfolk number, worthy efforts all. Another
winner. (JC)
THE BIDDLEVILLE QUINTETTE: As I Live Let Me Live In Love/ Blessed Be The
Tie That Binds/ Coming To Christ/ Dip In The Beautiful Stream/ Goin' To
Heaven Anyway/ Got The Heaven In My View/ Handwriting On The Wall/ I Heard
The Voice Of Jesus Say/ I Stretch My Hand To Thee/ I Wan't God's Bosom To
Be Mine/ I'm Going To Serve God Till I Die/ I'm Going To Sit At The
Welcome Table/ I'm Going Up To Live With God/ I'm Tormented In The Flame
(gex-2294)/ Jesus Is A Rock In The Weary Land/ Jesus Is Gonna Shake My
Righteous Hand (437-a)/ Join The Band/ Judas And Jesus Walked Together/
Pharaoh's Army Got Drowned/ The Lord Giveth/ THE SILVER LEAF QUARTETTE OF
NORFOLK: Oh! Glory Glory
|
| BIG BOY HENRY |
New Moon Blues NMC 9508 |
Poor Man's Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
|
| BIG JOE & THE
DYNAFLOWS |
Severn 09 |
All Night Long |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, very good Jump Blues by a guy who looks like Paul
Whiteman? Big Joe has been a DC institution for years, before it was cool.
On this his 4th CD, Joe & The 'Flows again have a stellar guest horn
section including Kaz Kazinoff on tenor, veteran of Denny Freeman &
Angela Strehli's bands. Nost of the tunes are band originals except for
covers of The Gardenia's My Baby's Tops & Honey Bee (not
the Muddy tune). Originals include Move It Or Lose It/ Ham Hocks
& the jumpin' title tune (GM)
|
| BIG MACEO |
Arhoolie Folklyric 7009 |
The King Of Chicago Blues Piano |
● CD $12.98 |
25 tracks, 71 mins, essential. My only complaint about this
set is that it should have been two CDs and included everything this
magnificent performer recorded since nothing he did was less than
excellent and much of it was superlative. Maceo was a wonderful piano
player with distinctive rolling style that has influenced many subsequent
performers. He was also blessed with one of the great voices in blues - a
gloriously smoky and expressive instrument. Joining him on almost all his
recordings was the astringent guitar of Tampa Red and later on bass and
drums. The songs here recorded between 1941 and '45 features one classic
after another including the defintive version of Worried Life Blues,
the achingly moving Cunty Jail Blues, the romping Chicago
Breakdown and so much more. Sound is generally very good, though a
little muzzy, and there are in-depth notes by Mike Rowe. I can say no more
- this one will give you joy for a long time to come! (FS)
BIG MACEO: Anytime For You/ Big Road Blues/ Bye Bye Baby/ Can't You Read/
Chicago Breakdown/ County Jail Blues/ Detroit Jump/ I Got The Blues/ I'm
So Worried/ Kidman Blues/ Maceo's 32-20/ My Last Go Round/ My Own
Troubles/ Poor Kelly Blues/ Ramblin' Mind Blues/ Since You Been Gone/ So
Long Baby/ Some Sweet Day/ Texas Blues/ Texas Stomp/ Things Have Changed/
Tuff Luck Blues/ Winter Time Blues/ Won't Be A Fool No More/ Worried Life
Blues
|
| BIG MACEO |
Document DOCD 5673 |
Volume 1: 1941-1945, Flying Boogie |
● CD $15.98 |
21 tracks, 61 mins, essential
The first of two volumes
featuring the complete recordings of this utterly superb singer,
songwriter and piano player. Nothing Maceo recorded was less than
excellent and much of it was superlative. Maceo was a wonderful piano
player with a distinctive rolling style that has influenced many
subsequent performers. He was also blessed with one of the great voices in
blues - a gloriously smoky and expressive instrument. Joining him on
almost all his recordings was the astringent guitar of Tampa Red and later
on bass and drums. The songs here recorded between June, 1941 and February
1945 features one classic after another including the definitive version of
Worried Life Blues, the achingly moving County Jail Blues,
the romping instrumental Macy Special (Flying Boogie), the
tremendously exciting Kid Man Blues and more. The 12 page
illustrated booklet includes extensive notes by Gillian George including
the results of recent research. Sound quality is superb. If you missed out
on the RCA Bluebird CDs of some years ago now's your chance to get some of
the greatest piano blues ever recorded including tracks not issued by RCA.
(FS)
|
| BIG MACEO |
Document DOCD 5674 |
Volume 2: 1945-1950, Big City Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
The rest of Maceo's great recordings including his post
Bluebird recordings for Specialty and Fortune.
|
| BIG MAYBELLE |
Columbia 53417 |
The Complete Okeh Sessions, 1952-1955 |
● CD $11.98 |
Features all the sides recorded by this outstanding blues
shouter for Okeh between 1952 and 1955. Accompanied by great New York
session musicians like Sam "The Man" Taylor, Lee Anderson,
Mickey Baker, Panama Francis she wraps her gravel voice around the
original recording of Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On plus Just
Want Your Love/ Gabbin' Blues/ Rain Down Rain/ Stay Away From My Sam/
Maybelle's Blues/ You'll Never Know, etc.
|
| BIG MAYBELLE |
Savoy (Japan) 262 |
Candy |
● CD $12.98 |
28 tracks, 75 min., recommended The digital reissue in their
entirety of both of the Big Maybelle reissue LPs from the late 80's,
complete with the original worthwhile liner notes by Dan Nooger, reduced,
of course, from their original 12 by 12 format down to CD booklet size - a
good test for your new reading glasses. What the heck. Skip the notes and
just listen to the lady's voice; she, like many another in her profession,
led a tragic life, but made utterly wonderful music as one of the great
female blues shouters of all time. Selections of that music here include
the title track, plus Blues Early Early, That's a Pretty Good
Love, Ramblin' Blues, A Good Man is Hard to Find, So
Long, Goodnight Wherever You Are, White Christmas, and I
Got It Bad. And the sound quality is just fine. (DH)
|
| BIG TIME SARAH |
Delmark 659 |
Lay It On 'em Girls |
● CD $11.98 |
Featuring 4 tunes written by Willie Dixon for this mainstay
of the Chicago blues scene
|
| BIG TIME SARAH |
Delmark 692 |
Blues In The Year One-O-One |
● CD $14.98 |
13 tracks, 64 min., recommended Chicago blues from a lady
who sounds like she'll slam you right up against the wall when she gets
her hips shakin'. She can belt 'em out with anybody on the current scene.
Non-straight forward covers of Hound Dog, Little Red Rooster
and Z.Z.Hill's Down Home Blues are three of the highlights of this
release that cooks from the beginning and doesn't stop. The BTS Express is
top shelf.... one of the reasons to like the CD is that the horns,
keyboards and guitar all get featured and all of the players are up to the
task (guitarist Emery Williams, to whom the disc is dedicated, gets to
stretch out on the only instrumental track). The recording session only
took two days and the spontaneity shows in a very positive way. (RS)
|
| ESTHER BIGEOU |
Document DOCD 5489 |
Plus Lillyn Brown, Alberta Brown and Ada
Brown |
● CD $14.98 |
The complete recordings of Esther Bigeou (1921-23), Lillyn
Brown (1921) and Alberta Brown (1928) and the remaining titles of Ada
Brown.
|
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|
