| GEORGIA TOM DORSEY |
Blues Documents BDCD 6021 |
Complete Chronological Recordings, Vol. 1
1928-1930 |
● CD $15.98 |
See below.
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| GEORGIA TOM DORSEY |
Blues Documents BDCD 6022 |
Complete Chronological Recordings, Vol. 2
1930-1934 |
● CD $15.98 |
These two CDs take in 49 tracks cut by Thomas A. Dorsey
under his own name and in certain accompanist gigs during his uproarious
pre-gospel career. (Dorsey's work with Tampa Red, Kansas City, and the
Famous Hokum Boys can be found on Document DOCD-5073 through 5077, Blues
Documents BDCD-6023, and Wolf WBCD 001/012, respectively.) Dorsey's
sprightly piano lines always danced between the strings of the great
guitarists with which she duetted, folks like Scrapper Blackwell and Big
Bill Broonzy, but these recordings are worth hearing more than half a
century down the road thanks to their sly assurance and absurd double
entendres. There's an abrupt change toward the end of the second disc,
when Dorsey turns to sacred music, but both sides of Dorsey were full of
life and spirit. The sources for these recordings are somewhat scratchier
than most Document reissues. (JG)
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| K.C. DOUGLAS |
Arhoolie 475 |
Mercury Blues |
● CD $12.98 |
22 tracks, 74 mins, recommended
Reissue of Arhoolie 1073
(recorded between 1960 and 1974) with 12 previously unissued tracks added!
Mississippi bluesman Douglas, who settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in
1945 was a one time associate of the great Tommy Johnson and Johnson's
influence can be heard on a number of the selections here. Douglas was a
warm expressive singer and a good guitarist. Most of Douglas's recordings
feature him as a country bluesman playing acoutsic guitar and 8 of the
tracks here find him in that context. But the other 14 tracks takes us to
a Mississippi juke joint with Douglas playing tough electric guitar,
accompanied by a small combo with fellow Mississippian Richard Riggins on
harp, Ron Thompson on guitar and Jim Marshall on drums. Most of the songs
are Douglas originals though strongly rooted in traditional elements. His
introspective My Mind's Going Back To 1929 is particularly nice. It
also includes a remake of his 1948 classic Mercury Boogie which was
a number one country hit for Alan Jackson in 1992. (FS)
K.C. DOUGLAS: Black Cat Bone/ Black Cat Bone/ Canned Heat/ Catfish Blues/
Country Girl/ Fanny Lou/ Fanny Lou/ Good Lookin' Women/ Good Looking
Women/ High Water Rising/ I Don't Want No Woman To Love Me/ I'm Gonna
Build Me A Web (Like A Spider)/ Make Your Coffee (Cut Your Kindlin' &
Build Your Fire)/ Married Woman Blues/ Mercury Blues/ My Mind's Going Back
To 1929/ Night Shift Blues/ Richard's Ride/ Somebody Done Stole My Gal/
Woke Up This Morning/ You Hear Me Howling/ Your Crying Won't Make Me Stay
|
| K.C. DOUGLAS |
Original Blues Classics 533 |
K.C's Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of Bluesville 1023 from 1961. Mississippi singer/
guitarist K.C Douglas moved from Mississippi to the San Francisco Bay Area
in 1945 but until the folk revival of the 60s performed and recorded
infrequently. K.C. had an engaging warm voice and his guitar playing was
similarly warm and flowing. His material is mostly based on traditional
themes and includes Broken Heart/ Wake Up Workin' Woman/ Meanest Woman/
Love Me All Night Long/ No More Cryin'/ You Got A Good Thing Now, etc.
|
| K.C. DOUGLAS |
Original Blues Classics 569 |
Big Road Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
11 tracks, 40 mins, very good
Reissue of Bluesville 1050
from 1961. Mississippi singer/ guitarist K.C Douglas moved from
Mississippi to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1945 but until the folk
revival of the 60s performed and recorded infrequently. K.C. had an
engaging warm voice and his guitar playing was similarly warm and flowing.
His material is mostly familiar and includes two songs he learned from the
great Mississippi bluesman Tommy Johnson - Big Road Blues and Canned
Heat. Other songs include Move To Kansas/ Tore Your Playhouse Down/
Whiskey Headed Woman/ Key To The Highway. Though K.C.'s music is
lacking in intensity it is enjoyable to listen to. (FS)
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| DRIFTIN' SLIM |
Original Blues Classics OBCCD 590 |
Somebody Hoo-Doo'd The Hoo-Doo Man |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of 1967 Milestone by fine down-home bluesman
originally from Arkansas and relocated to Los Angeles in the late 50s.
Some of the cuts feature him as a one-man band (guitar, harmonica &
drum) as well as solo harmonica cuts and some cuts with a down home
electric band.
|
| JOHNNY DRUMMER |
Earwig 4948 |
Unleaded Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 62 mins, recommended
Why would a keyboardist
named Thessex Johns would call himself Johnny Drummer? He started out as a
drummer! Johnny has been a fixture on Chicago's south side for some time.
This is his 3rd CD, 2nd for Earwig, & is named for the club he holds
residence at, Lee's Unleaded Blues. Johnny's in a R&B blues bag, &
wrote all the songs, some with traditional blues (Stop Cheating/ I Feel
So Good/ Born In The Delta), with some fine lead guitar work by both
Luther "Slim" Adams & Chuck Kramer. But it's the opener
& closer that I love I'm Gonna Sell My Cadillac/ Buy Myself A Mule,
& especially Somebody Please Give Me a Job ("Tell me what
can a man do/ When I'm not very well educated?/You know I tried to operate
that computer/ but that darn thing is just too complicated")! (GM)
|
| MARY DUKES
& THE 32-20 BAND |
South Side 6 |
Introducing The Divine Ms Mary |
● CD $13.98 |
Decent contemporary blues featuring tough L.A. based
vocalist Mary Dukes and her band. The songs are all from the pen of Jerry
Rosen who also produced and plays some nice lead guitar on the set. South
Side Slim guests on guitar on several tracks but his rock blues stylings
are too over the top for my taste.
|
| LITTLE ARTHUR DUNCAN |
Delmark 733 |
Singin' With The Sun |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 65 mins, recommended
Fine set of down home
Chicago blues from fine singer/ harmonica player Duncan. He has been
around for a while but has recorded very infrequently. He is a fine singer
and a solid if not flashy harmonica player. He cites his influences as
Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and Howling Wolf and it shows in his singing and
playing though he is certainly no slavish imitator. He is accompanied by a
good band which includes guitarists Rockin' Johnny and Billy Flynn who
occasionally get a little too busy but never tasteless. On his medley of
Jimmy Reed songs he is joined on guitar by Eddie Taylor Jr. who puts in
some nice licks derived from his dad. Most of the songs are originals
though often are based on songs originated by his heroes. A most
worthwhile effort. (FS)
|
| JOHNNY DUNN
& EDITH WILSON |
RST Records JPCD 1522 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1921-22 |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks including 16 with vocals by Edith Wilson. See JAZZ
section for second volume.
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Bullseye Blues 9502 |
Back Home In New Orleans |
● CD $15.98 |
|
CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Broken Hearted/ Calcutta/ Freedom/ I Don't Know/
Lonesome Bedroom/ My Woman Left Me/ No Future/ The Blind Man/ Way Down/
When I'm Drinkin'
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Bullseye Blues 9512 |
Forever And Ever |
● CD $15.98 |
The recent death of Champion Jack Dupree at the age of 81
marked the passing of yet another great legend of the blues. In his prime
Dupree was an outstanding piano player and a powerful singing with a
distinctive, slightly lecherous style. After living in Europe for some 30
years he returned to the USA in 1990 and '91 to visit and perform again
and these recordings were made in '91 with a small band assembled by
producer Ron Levy including Dupree's long time associate Kenn Landing on
guitar. Although Jack's piano playing was not quite as fluid as it once
was he still sang with the same verve and the band provide sympathetic
backup - the use of a couple of saxes on the upbeat numbers is
particularly effective. Jack Dupree will be greatly missed but he left
behind a substantial musical legacy to which these last recordings can be
added. (FS)
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| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Bullseye Blues 9522 |
One Last Time |
● CD $15.98 |
10 tracks, 45 min., good
These last recordings, made
between Dupree's return from Europe and his demise in Jan. 1992, show that
this ex-New Orleans barrelhouse pianist could still come up with the
goods. Backed by alto vet Earl Turbington Jr., guitarist Kenn Lending, drummer
Kerry Brown, and seasoned bass Walter Payton Jr., Jack projects his
familiar wry witticisms and down-home homilies. Contains lively treatments
of Somebody Done Changed The Lock On My Door/ Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/
Early In The Morning. The highlight on this collection is the 5-minute
School Days, a slow blues sung and played with flair and
conviction. Good solid, mostly swinging blues music without frills and
fancy instruments. Fine, concise liner notes by Bob Porter. (OLN)
CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Bad Blood/ Big Leg Emma/ Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/
Early In The Morning/ Give Me Flowers While I'm Livin'/ Hey Mary/ School
Days/ She's Jail Bait/ Somebody Done Changed The Lock On My Door/ You Can
Make It
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Collectables 6818 |
Natural & Soulful Blues/ Champion Of The
Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
This CD reissues two Atlantic albums from 1960 & '61
featuring this great bluesman recorded in Europe. The first was recorded
in London with bassist Jack Fallon and, on some tracks, guitarist Alexis
Korner - the second is a completely solo set recorded in Copenhagen. Jack
is in typically fine form with his powerful vocals and rolling New Orleans
piano playing on a selection of excellent songs - some original and some
blues favorites which Dupree made his own. As always, Jack's wit is
strongly in evidence. Includes Seafood Blues/ Don't Leave Me, Mary/ How
Long Blues/ Mother-In-Law Blues/ Dennis Rag/ I Had A Dream/ Reminiscin'
With Champion Jack/ Daybreak Stomp/ Snaps Drinking Woman/ New Vicksburg
Blues/ Johnson Street Boogie Woogie and others.
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Flyright 22 |
The Joe Davis Sessions |
● CD $16.98 |
Reissue of all 20 sides recorded by this outstanding singer
and piano for the Joe Davis label in 1945 and '46. These are the only
commercial recordings Jack made in his heyday that were completely solo
and Jack is in great form on a superb selection of blues, boogies, some
very raunchy risqué songs (Wet Deck Mama/ Fisherman's Blues) and a
couple of touching tributes to the recently deceased Franklin D.
Roosevelt. Sound from original acetates is excellent, there are
informative notes by Ray Templeton and discographical information. (FS)
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Krazy Kat 08 |
Champion Jack Dupree 1945-1953 |
● CD $16.98 |
22 classic jumping tracks recorded in NYC by that toothless,
mush-mouthed, New Orleans-style piano-pounding recently departed humorist
of the Blues/R&B. Dupree is here backed by small combos including
Brownie and Sticks McGhee, and on several cuts, Sonny Terry. Sound quality
is merely acceptable, but music like this doesn't grow on trees nowadays.
(Never did, either.) Stumbling Block/ Deacon's Party/ Rub a Little
Boogie/ Somebody Changed the Lock, more. No duplication with Flyright
CD 22.
(RS)
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Magpie PYCD 53 |
1960 - New Orleans Barrelhouse |
● CD $18.98 |
19 tracks, 73 min., recommended
The first half-dozen of
Magpie's CD reissues of its much-heralded Piano Blues series have
concentrated on pre-war styles; this entry jumps forward three decades. It
finds barrelhouse master Champion Jack Dupree, recorded over two days in
September 1960 by Francis Wilford-Smith. The sound quality is of course
far purer than that of hoary Paramount and Vocalion sides, but what's most
striking here is that nearly all of this material could have been recorded
pre-war. Dupree became a star late in his life, but he did so with a style
that went back to even before he began performing. And he does this
without being anachronistic. There's great warmth in his voice as he
declaims the influence of the New Orleans pianist known as Drive 'Em Down,
and his broad repertoire ranges from straight blues to proto-R&B: in
an earlier iteration, Tee-Na-Na provided the antecedent for Fats
Domino's The Fat Man. This is pleasant and sometimes challenging
stuff, a worthy member to Magpie's fine series. (JG)
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Rondolette 10645 |
Shake Baby Shake |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
This great album
features all 17 songs recorded by Jack Dupree for Vik and Groove in 1956
and '57 including eight songs not originally issued plus five alternate
takes. Dupree had a long career starting in the late 30s and continuing
unbroken up to his death in 1992. These are some of his most energetic
performances - in addition to his great vocals and powerhouse piano he is
joined by the brilliant Larry Dale on guitar, Al Lucas on bass, Willie
Jones or Gene Moore on drums and Pete Brown/ts on a few cuts. The songs
are mixture of slow intense blues (Down The Lane/ Story Of My Life/ My
Baby's Like A Clock, whismsical semi novelty items (Just Like A
Woman/ Woman Trouble Again/ Rocky Mountain) and a lot of hard driving
rockers (Old Time Rock 'n Roll/ Shake Baby Shake/ You're Always Crying
The Blues/ The Wrong Woman and even a country & western flavored
piece Lollipop Baby. On a couple of the cuts he is joined on vocals
by the gruff voiced Mr. Bear (Teddy McRae) for some witty repartee. Great
music, excellent sound but, unfortunately, shoddy packaging. (FS)
|
| BIG JOE DUSKIN |
Arhoolie 422 |
Cincinnati Stomp |
● CD $12.98 |
18 tracks, 64 mins, recommended
Cincinnati based singer/
piano player Big Joe Duskin is one of the vanishing breed of old style
blues and boogie piano players and this collection of recordings (an
expanded version of the LP Arhoolie 1080) from 1977 & '78 captures him
in fine form. His playing is solid, assured and imaginative and though not
a great singer he does a good job. Two thirds of the tracks are solo and
the rest (recorded in Chicago) find him with a small combo which included
veteran blues drummer S.P. Leary and legendary jazz bassist Truck Parham.
His material is mostly blues and boogie standards like Roll 'Em Pete/
Little Red Rooster/ Down the Road Apiece/ Honky Tonk Train/ Yancey
Special/ Boogie Woogie Prayer, etc along with a few nice originals. A
most worthwhile release. (FS)
BIG JOE DUSKIN: Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar/ Betty And Dupree/ Boogie
Woogie Prayer/ Cincinnati Stomp/ Dollar Bill Boogie/ Down The Road Apiece/
Honky Tonk Train/ I Met A Girl Named Martha/ Little Red Rooster/ Mean Old
Frisco/ Roll 'Em Pete/ Slidell Blues/ Stoop Down Baby/ Stormin' In Texas/
Tender Hearted Woman/ The Tribute/ Well, Well Baby/ Yancey Special
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