| DADDY MACK BLUES BAND |
Inside Memphis 506 |
Fix It When I Can |
$15.98 |
Solid blues combo from Memphis led by singer/ guitarist
"Daddy" Mack Orr who also composed most of the songs here. Members of the
group were all members of the famed Memphis group The Fieldstones in the
early 90s.
|
|
BARBARA
DANE & LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS |
Arhoolie 451 |
Sometimes I Believe She Loves Me |
$12.98 |
17 tracks, 64 min., recommended Singer & guitarist
Barbara Dane first recorded with clarinetist George Lewis in 1957
(including a version of Lead Belly's Good Mornin' Blues), soon
followed by her 1st album on Barbary Coast Records, and a 1959 Dot album
with pianist Earl Hines. Other albums followed on Capitol ('61), Horizon
('61), and this, her long awaited Arhoolie album. Five of the tracks on
this CD were first issued as the 2nd side of a Lightnin' Hopkins album -
the remaining 12 tracks have remained unissued until now. Of the 4 new
tracks with Hopkins, Don't Push Me (Til You Find Out What I want)
is the strongest track, with Ms. Dane referring to him as Mr. Hipkins! As
this is a Barbara Dane release, the balance of the CD is made up of her
solo set that afternoon in 1964 (with tasty piano overdubs), including her
versions of Careless Love, Tampa Red's Love Her With A Feeling,
Memphis Slim's Mother Earth and Woody Guthrie's Deportees
(with only her guitar accompaniment). (EL)
BARBARA DANE: Betty Told Dupree/ Bury Me In My Overalls/ Careless Love/
Deportees (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)/ Don't You Push Me Down/ Hold On/
Love Her With A Feeling/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS & BARBARA DANE: Baby Shake
That Thing/ Don't Push Me/ I'm Going Back, Baby/ Jesus Will You Come By
Here/ Let Me Be Your Rag Doll/ Lonesome Town/ Mama Told Papa/ Mother
Earth/ Sometimes I Believe She Loves Me/ You Got Another Man
|
| OLU DARA |
Atlantic 83077 |
In The World - From Natchez To New York |
$15.98 |
Intriguing album from Dara, originally from Mississippi he
went to New York and became a highly respected avant gard jazz cornetist
and played blues on the side. On his debut album he sings 11 original
songs which are a blend of blues, jazz, African and Caribbean music that
all comes together as a seamless whole. Dara sings and plays cornet and on
a few cuts some very funky electric blues guitar. He is accompanied by
groups ranging from a trio to a fairly large band. Not always interesting
but definitely worth checking out. (FS)
|
| BLIND TEDDY DARBY |
Blues Documents BDCD 6042 |
Complete Chronological Recordings 1929-37 |
$15.98 |
20 tracks, 61 min., recommended. "I drive my spike in
your fat pine and your rosin begin to run," sings Darby on Spike
Driver, just in case anybody thought the song wasn't really about
trees. Yeah, he could do the risque blues things quite well (I'm Gonna
Wreck Your Vee Eight/ She Thinks She's Slick/ Don't Like The Way You Do),
but he was equally skilled at a more personal brand of blues, as heard on Heart
Trouble Blues/ My Laona Blues/ The Girl I Left Behind, and others,
where he is often accompanied by Roosevelt Sykes, Ike Rodgers, Peetie
Wheatstraw and other top notch talent. Darby mourns the lack of profit in
illegal liquor sales on Bootleggin' Ain't No Good No More; of
course, he cut that in 1937 and Prohibition ended in '33, so that might be
a partial explanation. Completely enjoyable. (JC)
|
| COW COW DAVENPORT |
Blues Documents BDCD 6040 |
The Accompanist 1924-29 |
$15.98 |
22 tracks, 66 min., recommended A veteran vaudeville
performer and staff writer for Vocalion, Davenport is here featured as a
vocal accompanist with Dora Carr, a piano accompanist with Hound Head
Henry, Jim Towel, Memphis Joe, and Lovin' Sam Theard, and as both with the
Southern Blues Singers. There's enough stylistic variety on the program to
round out a mid-20s tent show. Featured numbers include Carr's Black
Girl Gets There Just The Same, Henry's sound effect-laden Freight
Train Special, Towel's turn-of-the-century minstrel number, Buckwheat
Cakes, and Theard's practical The Lover And The Beggar. The
emphasis throughout is on the lighter side of the blues. Sound quality
varies considerably; brief but informative notes. (DH)
|
| COW COW DAVENPORT |
Document DOCD 5142 |
Complete Chronological Recordings, Vol. 2
(1929-45) |
$15.98 |
22 tracks, 56 mins, good. This disc opens with 4 fine sides
from May and June 1929 - 4 brilliantly inventive instrumentals - one with
spoken comments. This is followed by five dullish hokum pieces including
duets with Ivy Smith and Sam Tarpley. During the 30s Davenport experienced
several misfortunes described in Mike Rowe's notes including a period of
time when he lost the use of his right arm due to arthritis. He didn't
return to the studio until 1938 when he only sang and was accompanied by a
group of New York studio musicians including Sam Price on piano and Teddy
Bunn on guitar. These performances are enjoyable enough but nothing out of
the ordinary. He recorded for the final time in 1945 for the small Comet
label by which time he had regained the use of his arm. These eight,
mostly instrumental sides, are excellent but lack the fervor of his
earlier recordings. (FS)
|
| COW COW DAVENPORT |
Document DOCD 5586 |
Vol. 3 : The Unissued 1940s Acetate
Recordings |
$15.98 |
16 previously unissued and unknown tracks taken from
acetates recorded by this great piano player and singer sometime in the
40s including several with vocals by his then wife Peggy Taylor. There are
two bonus cuts featuring vocals by Mama Yancey accompanied by husband
Jimmy recorded in Jimmy's apartment in 1951.
|
| LESTER DAVENPORT |
Earwig 4923 |
When The Blues Hit You |
$14.98 |
12 tracks, 60 min., recommended. Though he's spent the last
7 years blowing harp for Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report, Lester
Davenport got his first call up to the big leagues in '55, playing and
recording with Bo Diddley. Hit You, with Sunnyland Slim and his
rhythm section, and noteworthy guitarist John Primer, is Davenport's first
LP as boss. The harmonica playing is excellent, but Lester's singing and
songwriting, while adequate, aren't up to the same high level. Maybe
that's why the instrumental Mad Dog On The Loose is the best cut
here.
[JC]
|
| DEBBIE DAVIS |
Blind Pig 5004 |
Picture This |
$14.98 |
| 12 tracks, 53 min., recommended She plays guitar like she
cut her teeth on Freddy King 45s--she slashes out crisp versions of Sidetracked/
Sha-Ho-Zay. And she sings with just enough rasp in her throat to
convince the skeptics. Maybe that's because she spent three years in
Albert Collins' Icebreakers. Maybe that's why he makes a little guest
appearance on I Wonder Why (You're So Mean To Me). Refreshingly,
her own Livin' On Lies/ 24 Hour Fool/ How Long Till I Win Your Love?
provide some of the best moments. Covers, including Delbert McClinton's Better
Off With The Blues/ Buzz Me and Don Nix's Going Back To Iuka,
reveal somewhat eclectic blues taste. One to watch. (JC)
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Original Blues Classics 519 |
Say No To The Devil |
$11.98 |
| REV. GARY DAVIS: Bad Company Brought Me Here/ Hold To God's Unchanging
Hand/ I Decided To Go Down/ Little Bitty Baby/ Lord, I Looked Down The
Road/ Lost Boy In The Wilderness/ No One Can Do Me Like Jesus/ Say No To
The Devil/ Time Is Drawing Near/ Tryin' To Get To Heaven In Due Time
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Original Blues Classics 547 |
Harlem Street Singer |
$11.98 |
12 tracks, 44 mins, recommended. Reissue of Bluesville 1015
from 1960. Rev Davis was in terrific form on this collection of gospel
songs including Samson And Delilah/ I Belong To The Band/ Great Change
Since I Been Born/ Twelve Gates To The City/ Tryin' To Get Home/ I Am The
Light Of This World, etc. Expressive vocals and endlessly inventive
guitar playing. Recording quality and remastering are superb and there are
high qaulity notes by Larry Cohn. One not to miss. (FS)
REV. GARY DAVIS: Death Don't Have No Mercy/ Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks
Of The River/ Great Change Since I Been Born/ I Am The Light Of This
World/ I Belong To The Band/ Let Us Get Together Right Down Here/ Lo, I Be
With You Always/ Lord, I Feel Just Like Goin' On/ Pure Religion/ Samson
And Delilah/ Tryin' To Get Home/ Twelve Gates To The City
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Original Blues Classics 588 |
A Little More Faith |
$11.98 |
| 12 tracks, 45 mins, highly recommended Reissue of the good
Reverend's second Bluesville album (1032) from 1962. Davis is in fine form
vocally and instrumentally on a collection of familiar and unfamiliar
gospel songs - You Got To Move/ I'm Glad I'm In That Number/ Motherless
Children/ I'll Be All Right Some Day/ A Little more Faith/ God's Gonna
Separate, etc.
|
| REVEREND GARY DAVIS |
Original Blues Classics 592 |
The Guitar & Banjo Of Reverend Gary
Davis |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of Prestige Folklore 14033 from 1964. A great all
instrumental set with six guitar pieces (Maple Leaf Rag/ The Boy Was
Kissing The Girl (And Playing The Guitar At The Sam Time)/ United States
March plus 3), two banjo pieces (Devil's Dream/ Please Baby)
and one harmonica piece (The Coon Hunt).
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Shanachie 97024 |
Blues & Ragtime |
$14.98 |
16 tracks, 71 min., essential. With the possible exception
of Blind Blake, Rev. Gary was simply the best of the authentic blues/
ragtime guitar pickers, and this mid-60's collection (originally on
Kicking Mule) is an essential pick. Devotee Stefan Grossman followed Davis
around New York, capturing the blind master at the peak of his revived
powers on banjo, 6 and 12-string guitars; his 6-string versions of Walkin'
Dog Blues/ Cincinnati Flow Rag/ Buck Rag/ C-Rag are fingerpicking
masterpieces. The Rev. gets hot on the 12-string for the flashy Twelve
Sticks/ Buck Dance, and balances the spiritual inclinations of Children
Of Zion with "profane" repertoire like Hesitation Blues/
Baby Let Me Lay It On You. Guitarists will fret for weeks over the
detailed tab transcriptions included in the booklet - anyone else will
just love the rough-hewn honesty of these well-recorded workshop and
concert settings. (MB)
REV. GARY DAVIS: Baby, Let Me Lay It On You/ Buck Dance/ Buck Rag/ C-Rag/
Candyman/ Children Of Zion/ Cincinnati Flow Rag/ Cocaine Blues/ Hesitation
Blues/ Little Boy, Little Boy Who Made Your Britches/ She's Funny That
Way/ Twelve Sticks/ Walkin' Dog Blues/ Wall Hollow Blues/ Whistlin' Blues/
Whoopin' Blues
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Shout Factory 30257 |
Heroes Of The Blues - The Very Best Of Rev.
Gary Davis |
● CD $13.98 |
16 tracks, 61 minutes, recommended
Of the numerous guitar
evangelists who have crossed into the blues field, perhaps none have the
amount of respect Rev. Gary Davis has. Although dead for more than three
decades, his name is still mentioned with awe and admiration while his music
lives on through others. Blinded as a youngster, Davis played mostly
religious titles (and the occasional blues although he wouldn't sing the
lyrics) and throughout his lengthy career recorded a number of masterpieces.
Of the 16 tracks here, a few are from his initial 1935 session for ARC (Cross
& Evil Woman Blues and I Belong To The Band - Hallelujah! are
stellar) while the remainder date from the late-1950s to the early 1970s.
His banjo playing on Out On The Ocean Sailing is a reminder what a
wonderful instrument this is in the hands of a master. A fine introduction
to the music of Rev. Gary Davis compiled by Frank Scott. (CR)
REV. GARY DAVIS: Bad Company (brought Me Here)/ Can't Be Satisfied/ Candy
Man/ Cocaine Blues/ Cross & Evil Woman Blues/ Crucifixion/ Death Don't Have
No Mercy/ How Happy I Am/ I Belong To The Band - Hallelujah!/ Lord I Wish I
Could See/ Out On The Ocean Sailing/ Samson & Delilah/ Soon My Work Will All
Be Done/ Twelve Gates To The City/ Whistlin' Blues/ You Got To Move
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Smithsonian Folkways 40035 |
Pure Religion And Bad Company |
$15.98 |
Reissue of the third Davis long-player, recorded in 1957. As
with most of his recordings, this is a rough diamond of hard, pure country
gospel expression, at odds with the earthly concerns of the blues and yet
entwined with the devil's rhythms. By this time, the street preacher's
repertoire included a few favorites - Candy Man/ Hesitation Blues/
Cocaine Blues etc. - as well as variants on material by Blind Boy
Fuller, Blind Blake and other itinerant East Coast bluesmen. But Davis was
no mere copyist; listen to the splendid Moon Goes Down, the
skittering guitar figures on Bad Company and classic ragtime of I
Didn't Want To Join The Band for confirmation of his brilliant
originality. 17 cuts total, including a couple of unreleased items.
(MB)
REV. GARY DAVIS: Bad Company/ Buck Dance/ Candy Man/ Cocaine Blues/
Crucifixion/ Devil's Dream/ Evening Sun Goes Down/ Hesitation Blues/ I
Didn't Want To join The Band/ Moon Goes Down/ Mountain Jack/ My Heart is
Fixed/ Pure Religion/ Right Now/ Runnin' To The Judgement/ Seven Sisters/
Time Is Drawing Near
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Yazoo 2011 |
Complete Early Recordings |
$15.98 |
Same as Document 5060.
REV. GARY DAVIS: Cross And Evil Woman Blues/ Have More Faith In Jesus/ I
Am The Light/ I Am The True Vine/ I Belong To The Band/ I Can't Bear My
Burden By Myself/ I Saw The Light/ I'm Throwin' Up My Hand/ Lord, Stand By
Me/ Meet Me At The Station/ O Lord, Search My Heart/ The Angel's Message
To Me/ The Great Change In Me/ Twelve Gates To The City/ You Can Go Home/
You Got To Go Down
|
| REVEREND GARY DAVIS |
Catfish KATCD 115 |
Live At Cambridge |
$13.98 |
| A previously unissued live concert featuring five songs plus
lots of Gary's sermonizing, philosophizing and anecdotes between the
songs. This is for the Davis completist since the material is all songs he
had recorded a number of times before, the performances are not among his
best (he was getting frail and sick by this time) and coupled with poor
sound quality is not particularly rewarding listening.
|
| REVEREND GARY DAVIS |
Genes 9908 |
The Apostolic Studio Sessions |
$14.98 |
12 tracks, 52 mins., recommended The Reverend Gary Davis
rarely recorded with other musicians until this beautifully recorded
session in 1969, his last in a studio. He sings, growls, shouts, plays
guitar, and picks up two instruments that he had not recorded with before,
a piano and a 5-string banjo. The high point of "O Glory" is Right
Now, a rousing, call and response, holiness shouting, admonition to
"Make up your mind, make up your mind, Let your savior bless your
soul right now." For the occasion of this and other songs, we are
graced by the appearance of the Apostolic Family Chorus, Sister Annie
Davis on vocals, and Larry Johnson on Harmonica. There are many great
moments on this CD, including a travelin' solo harmonica piece called Birmingham
Special that will summon up images of days gone by and make you want
to go out and hit the road immediately. This is definitely the real thing.
(
SM)
|
| REVEREND GARY DAVIS |
Just A Memory JAM 9133 |
Live & Kickin' |
$12.98 |
| 10 tracks, 58 mins, recommended Fine live set recorded in
Montreal, Canada in 1967. Rev. Gary is in good form on a selection of his
gospel classics (Samson & Delilah/ Mind How You're Living/ How Much
We Can Bear, etc), guitar instrumentals (Make Believe Stunt/ Buck
Dance, etc) and one harmonica solo (Coon Chase
|
| REV. GARY DAVIS |
Vanguard VMD 73007 |
At Newport |
$13.98 |
| REV. GARY DAVIS: Buck Dance/ Death Don't Have No Mercy/ I Will Do My Last
Singin' In This Land Somewhere/ I Wont't Be Back No More/ I've Done all My
Singin' For My Lord/ Lovin' Spoonful/ Samson and Delilah (If I Had My
Way)/ She Wouldn't Say Quit/ Twelve Gates to the City/ Twelve Sticks/ You
Got To Move
|
| GUY DAVIS |
Red House 113 |
You Don't Know My Mind |
$14.98 |
|
|
| BLIND JOHN DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5647 |
Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 : 1938-1952 |
$15.98 |
22 track collection by this fine and important performer
including blues, boogie and pop tunes.
|
| BLIND JOHN DAVIS |
Evidence 26056 |
Blind John Davis |
$12.98 |
Reissue of L+R album with one bonus cuts.
|
| LARRY DAVIS |
Bullseye Blues 9511 |
Sooner Or Later |
$15.98 |
Arkansas blues singer/ guitarist Larry Davis doesn't make
many albums, but when he does, he makes them right. His voice, sometimes
reminiscent of a Duke-era Bobby "Blue" Bland, never sounded more
soulful, as one listen to the wonderful You'll Need Another Favor
or Davis' own Goin' Out West will demonstrate. His guitar work is
excellent as always, and his sidemen are top notch, including James Rudy,
whose piano runs haunt their way through song after song, and the Memphis
Horns. Outstanding selections include Letter From My Darling/ I'm
Workin' On It/ Little Bluebird/ Little Rock and a cover of Howlin'
Wolf's How Long. Recommended.
(JC)
LARRY DAVIS: 102nd St. Blues/ Goin' Out West (Parts I & 2)/ Help The
Poor/ How Could You Do It To Me/ How Long/ I'm Workin On It/ Letter From
My Darling/ Little Bluebird/ Little Rock/ Penitentiary Blues/ You'll need
another favor
|
| LARRY DAVIS |
Evidence 26016 |
I Ain't Beggin' Nobody |
$12.98 |
9 tracks, 40 min., recommended. Unlike some over-recorded
performers, St. Louis singer/ guitarist Larry Davis' records are few and
far between, and worth waiting for. Like the critically acclaimed Rooster
album Funny Stuff, this album was produced by Oliver Sain, who also
wrote most of the songs here and plays sax and keyboards. Larry is a
splendid gospel flavored singer and an excellent guitarist. The songs are
fine and intelligent, and in addition to the Sain compositions there is
one by Larry plus a couple of totally original covers of B.B.'s Sneaking
Around, Chuck Willis' Please Don't Go and Little Walters' Last
Night. Larry's music is not of the high energy, blast you into
submission school, but is beautifully crafted, subtle, soulful and a joy
to listen to. Originally on Pulsar LP 1001.
|
| LARRY DAVIS |
P-Vine PCD 5402 |
Sweet Little Angel - Virgo & Kent
Recordings, 1968-69 |
$21.98 |
15 tracks, 52 mins, essential Larry Davis was one of the
finest of the soul-blues singers with a lovely expressive vocal style.
Unlike some of his contemporaries his recorded output was fairly meagre so
this collection of 1969 recordings is particularly welcome. Produced for
B.B. King's production company, a couple of cuts were issued on B.B.'s
Virgo label, some were issed on Kent and six tracks were never issued
before. Sessions were cut in St. Louis (then Larry's home) under the
guidance of Oliver Sain and in Los Angeles by producer Maxwell Davis.
There's a fine selection of songs including one of the best versions of
the wonderful The Years Go Passing By originally recorded by his
former boss Fenton Robinson - the combination of Larry's aching vocals and
Wesley Farmer's lyrical guitar is simply spine chilling. The previously
unissued Something About You is another superb minor key slow
burner along the lines of Passing. There are a number of fine
original songs written by Larry (What They Do To Me/ I've Been Hurt So
Many Times/ It Can Only Hurt For So Long, etc.) and, not surprisingly,
a number of B.B. King songs (You Upset Me Baby/ Sweet Sixteen/ Woke Up
This Morning, etc) which Larry makes his own. He is accompanied by
fine small groups - the guitar player on the St. Louis sessions, Wesley
farmer, is particularly impressive. An exciting and important release.
(FS)
LARRY DAVIS: A Letter To My Darling/ Driving Wheel/ For Five Long Years/
I've Been Hurt So Many Times/ It Can Only Hurt For So Long/ Rock Me Baby/
Something About You/ Sweet Little Angel/ Sweet Sixteen/ The Years Go
Passing By/ Three O'Clock Blues/ What They Do To Me/ Whole World Down On
You/ Woke Up This Morning/ You Upset Me Baby
|
| LITTLE SAMMY DAVIS |
Delmark 682 |
I Ain't Lyin' |
$14.98 |
14 tracks, 54 min., recommended These are Sam Davis' first
sides since recording for Trix Records in 1971/72 (one accompanying Eddie
Kirkland). Old timers will recognize his name from the Nighthawk albums
which contained his 1953 Rockin' Recordings with Earl Hooker. On this set,
Little Sam Davis is accompanied by guitarist Fred Scribner's band
(Midnight Slim) with special guest, the late bassist Brad Lee Sexton. All
the songs are originals except for a clever version of Lucky Millinder's Shorty's
Got To Go. The instrumentals (Devil's Trail, I-Man Stomp),
and acoustic tracks (That's My Girl,Hey Little Girl) offer a nice
variety to what is a solid set of original blues. (EL)
|
| MAXWELL STREET JIMMY
DAVIS |
Wolf 120.857 |
Chicago Blues Session, Vol 11 |
$14.98 |
11 tracks, 43 tracks, good Mississippi singer/ guitarist
Jimmy Davis was one of the last of the bluesmen who played for crowds
thronging Chicago's fabled Maxwell Street market. He is an intense singer
and acoustic guitarist with a tendancy to shout (presumably to help being
heard on a busy street!) and tends to overdo the Howling Wolf imitations.
These tracks were recorded in 1988 and 1989 and are mostly variations on
Chicago blues standards. A few tracks feature the drumming of Kansas City
Red or Timothy Taylor and four feature nice harmonica by Lester Davenport.
(FS)
|
| MARTHA DAVIS |
Classics 5123 |
The Chronological Martha Davis, 1946-1951 |
● CD $14.98 |
The complete early recordings of this fine and exuberant
singer and piano player who learned piano from Fats Waller. It includes solo
sides as well as sides with a rhythm section and includes Martha Boogie/
I'm Fer It/ It's Time For The Postman's Ring/ When I Say Goodbye/ Ooh-Wee/
Trouble Is A Man/ Get Out Those Old Records/ You're The Doctor/ What Good Am
I Without You, etc.
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Blues Collection 159 492 |
Please Remember Me, 1930-1947 |
$13.98 |
22 track retrospective of the recordings of this magnificent
singer and piano player including accompaniments to Sonny Boy Williamson
and Booker T. Washington.
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5282 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1933-1952 : Vol 2,
1935-37 |
$15.98 |
24 tracks, 77 mins, essential By July 1935 when the first
tracks on this CD were recorded Walter had now hit his stride. The
brilliant but sometimes overly fussy piano playing of his mentor Roosevelt
Sykes was replaced by his own piano playing. Deceptively simple yet full
of interesting rhythmic ideas it was a perfect backup for Davis's own
beautiful and melancholy vocals. Guitarist Henry Townsend provides
suitably pungent guitar accompaniments. The disc, featuring recordinsg
made between July 1935 and May 1937 is full of wonderful songs - one often
hears elemnts of Davis's songs in the work of a number of post war
bluesmen. His songs are full of evocative images and and such performances
as Moonlight Is My Spread/ Ashes In My Whiskey/ Fallin' Rain/ West
Coast Blues/ Angel Child are masterpieces. There are some wonderful
risque songs which gain a new dimension thanks to Walter's soulful
delivery which take them out of the novelty category. His imagery in songs
like I Can Tell By The Way You Smell/ Carpenter Man and Think
You Need A Shot is pretty explicit. Well Diggin' Papa has the
provocative line "Sometimes I Dig The Little Boys/ And Sometimes I
Dig The Girls". Sound quality is generally very good and there are
informative notes by Julian though they often seem more concerened with
musical structure than the songs themselves and the influence of Davis on
other blues artists. (FS)
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5283 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1933-1952 : Vol 3,
1937-1938 |
$15.98 |
23 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended More wonderful sides
from this brilliant performer. There was not a lot of variety in Davis's
approach but the heartfelt directness of his music and the straightforward
yet never mundane lyrics are continually appealing. His piano playing,
though deceptively simple was full of subtle nuances as in the quotes from
Jabo Williams Pratt City Blues in his own My Babe and the
subtle boogie undertow in I Hear My Baby Crying. There are some
wonderful raunchy songs like Guiding Rod/ Candy Man and If You
Only Understand which J.B. Hutto reworked nearly 20 years later as Pet
Cream man. The opening cut Good Gal is a rarity for Davis an
almost hokum song sung as duet with Robert Lee McCoy (aka Nighthawk)
accompanied by two guitars - no piano in sight. Lots of other great stuff
like Streamline Woman/ Big Jack Engine Blues/ Million-Dollar Baby/ 13
Highway/ Love Will Kill You and more. Most of the cuts feature Davis
accompanied by the guitar of Henry Townsend or Yank rachell - the later
occasionally on mandolin. Another indispensable collection. (FS)
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5284 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1933-1952 : Vol 4,
1938-1939 |
$15.98 |
23 tracks, 74 mins, highly recommended More splendid sides.
The 12 cuts from 1938 feature him with either mandolin or guitar
accompaniment while the rest are completely solo which was to remain the
format of his recordings for the next few years. Even on the tracks here
where he is accompanied, the accompaniment is so far in the background
that these are, to all extent and purposes, solo cuts. In the solo setting
one can really appreciate the uniqueness of his instrmental style. His
vocals are as usual mournful and the lyrics are frequently interesting.
Includes Just Tell Me Your Trouble/ Cuttin' Off My Days/ Smoky Mountin/
Troubled And Wearied/ Corrine/ Airplane Blues, etc. (FS)
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5285 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1933-1952 : Vol 5,
1939-1940 |
$15.98 |
24 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended More wonderful
recordings from the talented Walter Davis including eight accompaniments
to the very fine vocalist Booker. T. Washington. The only accompaniment on
all these recordings is Davis's piano playing which is now at it's peak --
fluid and full of imaginative yet understated flourishes. His singing is
equally fine and his songs, if somewhat formulaic, are down to earth tales
of everyday life and includes several songs which have been covered by
post war singers like Come Back Baby and Hello Blues.
Washington is a very interesting singer with some imaginative lyrics. His
moving Death Of Bessie Smith is a stunning performance both
lyrically, vocally and instrumentally featuring some of Davis's most
haunting playing. Julian Yarrow's fine notes puts Davis' playing into a
technical perspective. (FS)
|
| WALTER DAVIS |
Document DOCD 5286 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1933-1952 : Vol 6,
1940-1946 |
$15.98 |
24 tracks, 73 mins, essential This disc features some of the
very finest work of this brilliant performer. All but one track feature
only his own piano accompaniment and the result is some of his very finest
piano work - deceptively simple on the surface but full of complex ideas.
It features his only two instrumental recordings - the magnificent Frisco
Blues and Biddle Street Blues. His songs are vivid tableaux of
life in the urban ghetto including the wonderful minor key song The
Only Woman, a suicide story, that was covered ten years later by Blue
Smitty (as Sad Story. He reworks a couple of his older songs Santa
Claus and Come Back Baby and does his own unique treatment of
the Sweet Home Chicago theme as Don't You Want To Go. It's
all wonderful and worth adding to your collection. (FS)
| |
