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BLUES
& GOSPEL
Jazz Gillum
-> Lil Greenwood
| JAZZ GILLUM | Document DOCD 5197 | Complete Recorded Works, 1936-49; Vol 1 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 23 Tracks, 68 Mins, good The first of four CDs featuring the complete 30s and 40s recordings of this popular singer/ harmonica player. Originally from Mississippi he went to Chicago in the 20s and in the 30s became a member of the coterie of artists assembled by the ubiquitous Lester Melrose. Gillum was a pleasant, warm, if somewhat inexpressive singer and an unexceptional harmonica player with a shrill reedy tone which gets wearing in large doses. The first six tunes from 1936 with accompaniments by Big Bill Broonzy and a bass player have a nice loose country dance feel to them - the opener Sarah Jane is particularly entertaining. Later recordings expand the group with piano and washboard and the sound becomes much more rigid and predictable though the six cuts from March 1938 feature some nice early electric guitar work from George Barnes. The last seven tracks really drag - all have pretty much the same tempo, are in the same key and only a few have memorable lyrics. Jazz Gillum made some fine records and a "Best Of" would be most worthwhile - this comprehensive approach for such a limited artist seems really unnecessary. (FS) JAZZ GILLUM: Alberta Blues/ Birmingham Blues/ Boar Hog Blues/ Don't You Scandalize My Name/ Gillum's Windy Blues/ Good Old 51 Highway/ I Want You By My Side/ I Went To The Gypsy/ I'm Gonna Get It/ I'm That Man Down In The Mine/ Jockey Blues/ Just Like Jesse James/ Mule Blues/ My Old Lizzie/ My Old Suitcase/ New 'sail On, Little Girl'/ Reefer Head Woman/ Sarah Jane/ She Keeps On Rickin'/ Sweet Sweet Woman/ Uncertain Blues/ Worried And Bothered/ You're Laughing Now |
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| JAZZ GILLUM | Document DOCD 5198 | Complete Recorded Works, 1936-49; Vol 2 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 25 tracks, 72 min., very good In this, the 2nd of four volumes, singer/harmonica player William McKinley Gillum (1904-1966) is accompanied on all tracks by Big Bill Broonzy (gtr) and a bassist, with an occasional pianist (Joshua Altheimer) and washboard player (Washboard Sam, Amanda Sorter). All produced by the legendary Lester Melrose (1891-1968), it contains one of the earliest blues standards, Key To The Highway, recorded on May 9/1940, and it's answer record, I'm Still Walking The Hi-Way, which surely must have prompted Big Bill to 'shadow' this important song (available on Document 5133 - $16.98) - a song recently covered by Eric Clapton. Also included along with all the Bluebird recordings are 2 unissued Vocalion recordings, with Poor Boy Blues making it's first appearance on CD. (EL) JAZZ GILLUM: Against My Will/ Big Katy Adams/ Get Away Old Woman/ Get Your Busines/ Got To Reap What You Sow/ Hard Drivin' Woman/ I'll Get Along Somehow/ I'm Still Walking The Hi-way/ Is That A Monkey You Got?/ It Sure Had A Kick/ Key To The Highway/ Keyhole Blues/ Let Her Go/ Little Woman/ Longest Train Blues/ Muddy Pond Blues/ One Time Blues/ Poor Boy Blues/ Riley Springs Blues/ She Belongs To Me/ She Won't Treat Me Kind/ Somebody Been Talking To You/ Stavin' Chain/ Straight/ Talking To Myself |
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| JAZZ GILLUM | Document DOCD 5199 | Complete Recorded Works, 1936-49; Vol 3 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 25 tracks, 74 mins, recommended The third volume of Gillum's recordings features 20 tracks from 3 sessions in 1941 and '42 and 5 from two sessions in 1945 and '46 after Gillum's return from army service. The first session has four songs featuring the overbearing washboard and percussion of Amanda Sorter who seems to determined to drown out everybody else at the session. The rest of the tracks are much better and although Gillum's harmonica work is still woefully dull his singing has become warmer and more expressive. His December 1941 session features the wonderful topical song War Time Blues which includes the line "It ain't gonna be no peace in Europe 'til we chop off Hitler's head"! Other fine performances include You Drink Too Much Whiskey/ I Couldn't Help It Blues/ Deep Water Blues/ Afraid To Trust Them and his version of the popular I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town. Guitar work is handled in his usual exemplary fashion by Big Bill Broonzy and the piano honors are mostly divided among Horace Malcolm, Blind John Davis and Roosevelt Sykes. On the February, 1946 session to be continued on Volume 4 the piano seat is taken by the magnificent Big Maceo. Excellent sound and interesting and amusing notes by Keith Briggs. (FS) JAZZ GILLUM: Afraid To Trust Them/ Deep Water Blues/ Down South Blues/ Five Feet Four/ From Now On/ Go Back To The Country/ I Couldn't Help It Blues/ I Got Somebody Else/ I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town/ It Looks Bad For You/ It's All Over Now/ Maybe You'll Love Me Too/ Me And My Buddy/ My Big Money/ No Friend Blues/ One Letter Home/ Reckless Rider Blues/ Tell Me, Mama/ War Time Blues/ Water Pipe Blues/ Whiskey Head Buddies/ Woke Up Cold In Hand/ You Are Doingme Wrong/ You Drink Too Much Whiskey/ You're Tearing Your Playhouse Down |
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| JAZZ GILLUM | Document DOCD 5200 | Complete Recorded Works, 1936-49; Vol 4 | ● CD $15.98 |
| JAZZ GILLUM: A Lie Is Dangerous/ All In All Blues/ Can't Trust Myself/ Chauffer Blues/ Country Woman Blues/ Fast Woman/ Gonna Be Some Shooting/ Gonna Take My Rap/ Hand Reader Blues/ I'm Gonna Train My Baby/ I'm Not The Lad/ Jazz Gillum's Blues/ Keep On Sailing/ Long Razor Blues/ Look On Yonder Wall/ Look What You Are Today/ Roll Dem Bones/ Signifying Woman/ Take A Little Walk With Me/ Take One More Chance With M/ The Blues What Am/ The Devil Blues/ What A Gal/ You Got To Run Me Down/ You Should Give Some Away | |||
| JAZZ GILLUM | Fremeaux & Associes FQ2CD 260 | Harmonica Chicago Blues, 1934-1947 | ● CD $31.98 |
| Two CD set - 36 tracks. Nicely chosen survey of the
recording career of this popular performer. It includes some of his best
songs like Sarah Jane/ Key To The Highway/ War Time Blues/ Look On
Yonders Wall and others. Gillum's fine vocals and limited harmonica
playing are accompanied by Big Bill Broonzy, Washboard Sam, Blind John
Davis, Roosevelt Sykes, Willie Lacey, Ransom Knowling and othees. 24 page
booklet with notes in English and French plus discographical info and
photos. JAZZ GILLUM: Afraid To Trust Them/ All In All Blues/ Can't Trust Myself/ Country Woman Blues/ Don't You Scandalize My Name/ Down South Blues/ Five Feet Four/ Gillum's Windy Blues/ Go Back To The Country/ Good Old 51 Highway/ Hand Reader Blues/ Harmonica Stomp/ I'll Get Along Somehow/ I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town/ I'm Gonna Train My Baby/ I'm Still Walking The Highway/ It Sure Had A Kick/ It's All Over Now/ Jazz Gillum's Blues./ Keep On Sailing/ Key To The Highway/ Longest Train Blues/ Look On Yonder's Wall/ Me And My Buddy/ Poor Boy Blues/ Reckless Rider Blues/ Riley Springs Blues/ Roll Dem Bones/ Sarah Jane/ Signifying Woman/ Tell Me Mama/ The Blues What Am/ The Devil Blues/ War Time Blues/ Water Pipe Blues/ You Got To Run Me Down |
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| LILLIAN GLINN | Document DOCD 5184 | Complete Recordings In Chronological Order (1927-29) | ● CD $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 68 min., good Discovered as a singer of spirituals, this native Texan recorded secular material for only the two year period indicated above, during which she did six sessions for Columbia. Her powerful contralto recorded well, but her accompanists - Willie Tyson, Octave Gaspard, Pete Underwood, and Taylor Flanagan - tended to be solid rather than inspired. And most of her numbers feature the same slow tempo. Her repertoire here includes All Alone and Blue/ Doggin' Me Blues/ The Man I Love Is Worth Talking About/ I'm a Front Door Woman with a Back Door Man, and the key-as-phallus or vice versa Wobble It a Little Daddy. Good sound for the time period, brief but informative notes, and typical Document label graphics. (DH) LILLIAN GLINN: All Alone And Blue/ All The Week Blues/ Atlanta Blues/ Best Friend Blues/ Black Man Blues/ Brown Skin Blues/ Cannon Ball Blues/ Come Home Daddy/ Cravin' A Man Blues/ Doggin' Me Blues/ Don't Leave Me Daddy/ I Love That Thing/ I'm A Front Door Woman With A Back Door Man/ I'm Through (shedding Tears Over You)/ Lost Letter Blues/ Moanin' Blues/ Packing House Blues/ Shake It Down/ Shreveport Blues/ The Man I Love Is Worth Talking About/ Where Have All The Black Men Gone/ Wobble It A Little Daddy |
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| MAE GLOVER | Document DOCD 5185 | Complete Recordings In Chronological Order (1927-31) | ● CD $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 61 mins, recommended Mae Glover is a totally obscure singer but a very fine one with an expressive and soulful vocal style. The first 6 tracks from April 1927 and were issued as by May Armstrong but are almost certainly the same singer who later recorded as Glover. She is accompanied by a fine piano player (possibly Lonnie Johnson) plus violin or mandolin. The four tracks from August 1927 by Side Whel Sally Duffie with Will Ezell are less obviously Glover but are nice. The best sides here are the four terrific performances from July, 1929 where Glover is accompanied by Misissippi guitarist John Byrd who was possibly the only Mississippi bluesman to record with 12 string guitar. It includes the amazing Pig Meat Papa where she emulates the yodeling of white bluesman Jimmie Rodgers and the wonderful risque dialogue with Byrd on Gas Man Blues. The final 8 tracks from 1931 are generally less interesting with rather sedate performances by Glover and lackluster accompaniments by pianist Charle O'Neil and trumpet player James Parker. Generally good sound interesting notes by Ken Romanowski. (FS) MAY ARMSTRONG: Don't Beg Your Man Back/ Joe Boy Blues/ Lonesome Atlanta Blues/ Nobody Can Take His Place/ Sweetest Man Blues/ Woodchopping Blues/ SIDE WHEEL SALLY DUFFIE: Kid Man Blues/ Kind Papa Blues/ Thinking Blues/ Treat 'em Right Blues/ MAY GLOVER: Forty-four Blues/ Gas Man Blues/ Good Hearted Woman/ Grasshopper Papa/ Hoboken Prison Blues/ I Ain't Givin' Nobody None/ My Man Blues/ Pig Meat Mama/ Shake It Daddy/ Skeeter Blues/ The County Farm Blues/ Two Timin' Woman |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Acrobat 173 | Rock My Soul | ● CD $10.98 |
| 20 tracks, 53 mins, recommended .Excellent inexpensive
introduction to the music of this brilliant and influential group from
Alabama. Includes many of their most popular sides recorded between 1937 and
1943 including Golden gate Gospel Train/ Go Where I Send Thee/ Massas In
The Cold Cold Ground/ Noah/ Job/ Stlin Wasn't Stallin'/ Dip Your Fingers In
the waters/ Didn't It Rain/ Blind Barnabas/ Comin' In On A Wing And A Paryer,
etc. (FS) |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Blue Moon BMCD 3015 | The Early Years, 1937-39 | ● CD $16.98 |
| 32 great tracks though all available elsewhere - Golden
Gate Gospel Train/ Bedside Of A Neighbor/ Born Ten Thousand Years Ago/
Massa's In The Cold Cold Ground/ Travelin' Shoes/ Lead Me On And On/ Take
Your Burdens To God/ Let That Liar Alone/ Saints Go Marching In/ To The
Rock/ Packing Up-Getting Ready/ Ol' Man Mose/ If I Had My Way/ 'Way Down
In Egypt Land/ You Better Mind/ Every Time I Feel The Spirit and many
more. |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Blue Moon BMCD 3016 | Greatest Hits, 1946-1950 | ● CD $16.98 |
| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Buda 3017799 | Hommage | ● CD $17.98 |
| Two CD set with 45 tracks by this great and influential
gospel quartet drawing on 60 years of recordings ranging from their first
recording in 1937 through 11 tracks recorded at a church in France in
1997. Songs from different eras are mixed and show a remarkable
consistency in their sound over the years. Many of the songs are performed
acapella but there are also songs with piano and/or rhythm accompaniment.
Though the group's personnel changed over the years bass singer Orlandus
Wilson is featured here on every track having been with the group since
their formation in 1934 up to his death in 1998. A bonus track recorded in
1980 features Wilson talking about the history of the group. Set comes
with a 36 page copiuously illustrated booklet with notes on the history of
the group in French and English. |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Document DOCD 5658 | In Chronological Order, Vol. 6 : 1949-1952 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 60 mins, recommended 22 cuts from after the heyday of this group. It includes more fine sides in their distinctive jubilee style but often with unnecessary instrumental accompaniment. Other tracks find them trying the harder edged contemporary gospel style and doing it very well but in contrast there are uninteresting "pop" oriented performances. Still, there's enough satisfying tracks here to make it worth a listen. Includes Seven Angels & Seven Trumpets/ Religion Is A Fortune/ There's A Man Going 'Round Taking Names/ Ride On Moses/ Hold The Wind/ Mother's Love/ I Just Telephone Upstairs/ The General Jumped At Dawn, etc. (FS) THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET: Bones, Bones, Bones/ Didn't That Man Believe/ Hit The Road To Dreamland (film Soundtrack With Dick Powell & Mary Martin)/ Hold The Wind/ I Just Telephone Upstairs/ Listen To The Lambs/ Look Up!/ Lord I Want To Be A Christian/ Lord I Want To Walk With Thee/ Mother's Love/ Nicodemus/ On Top Of Old Smokey/ Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels/ Religion Is A Fortune/ Ride On Moses/ Same Train/ Satisfied/ Seven Angels And Seven Trumpets/ There's A Man Going round Taking Names/ You Ain't Got Faith (till You Got Religion)/ You Better Mind |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Fremeaux & Associates 002 | Gospel 1937-41 | ● CD $34.98 |
| 2 CD's, 36 tracks, 90 min., essential A fantastic package for those who enjoyed the recent Gates reissue and want more. This set improves on the double LP of years ago with pristine fidelity and a wider span of time. Several of the best 1930's tracks appear, with the unsurpassed Golden Gate Gospel Train/ Go Where I Send Thee/ I Looked Down The Road/ My Walking Stick/ Whoa Babe, more outstanding vocal effects, and tight jubilee singing. Their high standards carry through to six rare sides from 1940-41, with the uplifting Jezebel, a mournful Anyhow and two uptempo songs with Leadbelly. Not all are gospel, but their popular and jazz-inspired numbers are rendered with equal polish and humor in the Gates' influential "human orchestra" style. (MB) |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | Goldies 25435 | Rock My Soul & Other Gospel Favorites | ● CD $19.98 |
| Three CD set with 42 songs. GOLDEN GATE QUARTET: Anyhow/ Behold The Bridegroom Cometh/ Born Ten Thousand Years Ago/ Carolina In The Morning/ Daniel Saw The Stone/ Didnt It Rain/ Every Time That I Feel The Spirit/ Everything Moves By The Grace Of God/ Gabriel Blows His Horn/ Go Where I Send Thee/ Golden Gate Gospel Train/ Hide Me In Thy Bosom/ I Heard Zion Moan/ I Looked Down The Road And Wondered/ Im A Pilgrim/ Jezebel/ John The Revelator/ Jonah And The Whale/ Lead Me On And On/ Lord Am I Born To Die/ Motherless Child/ My Lord Is Waiting/ My Walking Stick/ Noah/ Ol Man Mose/ Our Father/ Packing Up - Getting Ready To Go/ Pick A Bale Of Cotton/ Precoius Lord/ Remember Me/ Rock Island Line/ Rock My Soul/ Saints Go Marching In/ Sampson/ Sweet Adeline/ Take Your Burdens To God/ Timber/ Travelin Shoes/ Troubles Of The World/ What Are They Doing In Heaven Today/ When They Ring The Golden Bells/ Whoa Babe |
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| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET | MSI CDMS 1194 | Voices Of Legend | ● CD $29.98 |
| Four CD set featuring recordings made in the 90s by this
veteran gospel quartet. The first CD features a live concert from the early
90s with lead by Carl Riddick - they are accompanied by large group as well
as a French choir and it's pretty horrible. The other three CDs are from the
late 90s and features the lead singing of the excellent Frank Davis. On
these they are accompanied by various small groups. These performances are
appealing but a far cry from the sound that made them gospel pioneers. Set
comes with a nice 40 page booklet with a chronology of the groups career in
English, French and Spanish plus about 30 photos of the group taken
throughout their lengthy career. |
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| JIMMIE GORDON | Document DOCD 5648 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 1, 1934-1936 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 68 tracks, recommended First of three discs presenting the complete recordings of this fine singer and piano player who has been overlooked by most blues researchers. Although he recorded more than 60 sides between 1934 and '41, and so must have been fairly popular, his life is a total mystery. He has generally been associated with St. Louis but liner note writer Dave Evans makes a good case for Gordon being based in Chicago. He was a good singer in the vein of Bumble Bee Slim or Bill Gaither but a bit more intense. He played his own piano on some of his recordings or was accompanied by the piano of Charles Segar, Horace Malcolm or Dot Rice. Other musicians featured include Charlie McCoy, Scrapper Blackwell, Carl Martin, John Lindsey and others. His songs are a mixture of popular songs of the day and some good originals like Louise Louisa Blues/ Yo Yo Mama Blues/ Graveyard Blues/ Mother Blues and the topical Don't Take Away My P.W.A. Sound on a few tracks is a bit rough but most sound good and there are excellent notes by David Evans. (FS) JIMMIE GORDON: Baker Man/ Bed Springs Blues/ Bed Springs Blues No. 2/ Big Four Whistle Blues/ Black Gal Blues (what Makes Your Head So Hard)/ Bye Bye Baby Blues/ Don't Take Away My P.w.a./ Drive Me Away Blues/ Drunken Woman Blues/ Gone Gal Blues/ Graveyard Blues (dead And Gone Blues)/ I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water/ I'll Take You Back/ Little Red Dress (mary Usta Wear)/ Louise, Louisa Blues/ Mean Mistreatin' Blues/ Mother Blues/ Neck Bone Blues/ She Sells Good Meat/ Soon In The Morning/ Sweet Jelly Rollin'/ Yo Yo Mama Blues |
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| JIMMIE GORDON | Document DOCD 5649 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 2, 1936-1938 | ● CD $15.98 |
| JIMMIE GORDON: Alberta Alberta/ Bleeding Heart Blues/ C. C. & St. Louis Blues/ Crying My Blues Away/ Fast Life/ Good As I Been To You/ I Believe I Been Hoodooed/ Jacksonville - Part 1/ Jacksonville - Part 2/ Keep Your Nose Out Of Other People's Business/ Lonesome Bedroom Blues/ Me And My Gin/ Number Runner's Blues/ Playing In The Grass/ Plenty Trouble On Your Hand/ Rattlesnake Bite/ Sail With Me/ She Wants To Rattle Me All The Time/ She's Doin' It Now/ Think You Need A Shot/ Whip It To A Jelly/ You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey (when You Get Old) | |||
| JIMMIE GORDON | Document DOCD 5650 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, 1939-1946 | ● CD $15.98 |
| JIMMIE GORDON: (roll 'em Dorothy)/ Actions Speak Louder Than Words/ Beer Drinking Woman/ Boogie Woogie Blues/ Daddy Bear Blues/ Delhia/ Do That Thing/ Ease It To Me/ Fast Life/ Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter/ Henpecked Man/ I'm Gonna Cut Out/ If The Walls Could Talk/ It Ain't Like That No More/ Jumpin' At The Club Blue Flame/ L & N Blues/ Let 'em Jump For Joy/ Lookin' For The Blues/ Nobody Knows The Trouble I See/ Rock That Boogie/ St. Peter Blues/ The Boogie Man/ The Mojo Blues/ Trigger Slim Blues | |||
| ROSCO GORDON | Ace CDCHD 694 | Bootin' - The Best Of The RPM Years | ● CD $18.98 |
| 24 RPM sides from the early 50s by this distinctive Memphis vocalist. ROSCOE GORDON: A New Remedy For Love/ Blues For My Baby/ Booted/ City Woman/ Cold Cold Winter/ Dime A Dozen/ Dream Baby aka Dream On Baby/ I Remember Your Kisses/ I'm In Love/ Just In From Texas/ Lucille (Looking For My Baby)/ Maria/ New Orleans Wimmen/ No More Doggin'/ Ouch! Pretty Baby/ Roscoe's Boogie/ Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse)/ Throwin' My Money Away/ Tomorrow May Be Too Late/ Trying/ Two Kinds Of Women/ We're All Loaded (Whiskey Made Me Drunk)/ What You Got On Your Mind/ Why Do I Love You Baby? |
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| ROSCO GORDON | JSP JSPCD 4210 | Let's Get High - The Man-About-Music From Memphis | ● CD $23.98 |
| Great two CD retrospective with 54 tracks of the early
recordings (1951-1956) of this fine and idiosyncratic Memphis bluesman. It
includes his hits Saddle The Cow/ Booted and No More Doggin'
- the latter a frequently covered songs along with lots of other fine
sides - quite a few not originally issued but all of high quality. Also
includes She Rocks Me/ That Gal Of Mine/ Dime A Dozen/ Cold, Cold
Winter/ I Remember Your Kisses/ T-Model Boogie (two different versions
from different sessions)/ Dream Baby/ I'm In LOve/ Throwing My Money
Away/ I Wade Through Muddy Water/ That's What You Do To Me/ Just My
Memories Of YouHey Hey Girl, etc. ROSCO GORDON: Blues for My Baby/ Booted/ Bop with Me Baby/ Chicken (Dance with You)/ City Woman/ Cold, Cold Winter/ Decorate the Counter/ Dime a Dozen/ Don't Have to Worry 'Bout You No More/ Don't Take It out on Me/ Dream Baby/ Hey Fat Girl/ Hey Hey Girl/ I Don't Like It/ I Remember Your Kisses/ I Wade Through Muddy Water/ I'm Gonna Shake It/ I'm in Love/ If You Want Your Woman/ Just Love Me Baby/ Just My Memories of You/ Just in from Texas/ Let's Get High/ Love for You Baby/ Lucille (Looking for My Baby)/ Maria/ Mean Woman/ Miserable Old Feeling/ New Orleans Wimmen/ New Remedy for Love/ No More Doggin'/ Ouch! Pretty Baby/ Real Pretty Mama/ Roscoe's Boogie/ Run to Me Baby/ Saddled the Cow (And Milked the Horse)/ She Rocks Me/ She's My Baby/ So Tired/ T Model Boogie (Version 1)/ T Model Boogie (Version 2)/ That Gal of Mine/ That's What You Do to Me/ Three Cent Love/ Throwing My Money Away/ Tired of Living/ Tomorrow May Be Too Late/ Too Many Women/ Two Kinds of Women/ We're All Loaded (Whiskey Made Me Drunk)/ Weeping Blues/ What You Got on Your Mind/ Why Do I Love You Baby/ You Figure It Out |
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| ROSCO GORDON | Official 5555 | T-Model Boogie | ● CD $17.98 |
| THE GOSPEL HUMMINGBIRDS | Blind Pig 74691 | Steppin' Out | ● CD $16.98 |
| Writer, lead singer, producer, promoter Roy Tyler and
Oakland's own Gospel Hummingbirds Quintet have come a long way these past
22 years. The original Gospel Hummingbirds dispersed in 1970, then shortly
after Joe Thomas Sr. and his son formed a new group. The guys' first wax
outing came in 1975 on Randy Strickland's Strickland-and-son label. One of
the songs recorded at that time, Swing Low, is done on this 12-song
set with fully original arrangements. The outfit's sound borrows
harmonically from The Violinaires, but is best likened overall to Willie
Banks & The Gospel Messengers (which is compliment indeed). My
favorite workout, Change, could well have been cut by Willie. The
music, which leans heavy on rhythm, borrows from soul, disco and jazz and
can jam up a storm. Members include Roy, Clarence Nichols, Joe Thomas,
James Gibson Jr., and Josh Lowery. Solid stuff from our very own
award-winning quintet. (OLN) |
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| COOT GRANT & KID WILSON | Document DOCD 5563 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 - March 1925 to November 1928 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 23 tracks, 65 mins, recommended Great collection of black vaudeville and blues featuring the talented Leola B. "Coot" Grant and "Kid" Wesley Wilson. The duo pieces are witty and humorous and the duo are accompanied by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Buster Bailey, Shirley Clay, Rex Stewart and others as well as Wesley's own piano playing. There are a number of excellent solo blues by Grant issued under her married name of Leola B. Wilson - several featuring the beautiful guitar work of Blind Blake. Musically and historically this deserves a higher rating than recommended but the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired on many of the tracks. Several of the performances have such a high level of surface noise as to make for very difficult listening and many of the others have that shrill thin sound of acoustic recordings which could possibly be improved with sophisticated equalization but, as it stands, is pretty tiring to listen to after more than a few songs. It's too bad as the music is great! (FS) GRANT & WILSON: (take 1)/ (take 2)/ Ashley St. Blues/ Black Biting Bee Blues/ Come On Coot Do That Thing/ Crying Won't Make Him Stay/ Dishrag Blues/ Down The Country/ Ducks/ Dying Blues/ Find Me At The Greasy Spoon (if You Miss Me Here)/ Find Me At The Greasy Spoon (if You Miss Me Here)/ Have Your Chill, I'll Be Here When Your Fever Rises/ Key Hole Blues/ Mama Didn't Do It And Papa Didn't Do It/ Rasslin' 'till The Wagon Comes/ Rock, Aunt Dinah, Rock/ Rollin' Mill Blues/ Scoop It/ Speak Now Or Hereafter Hold Your Peace/ State Street Men Blues/ Stevedore Man/ When Your Man Is Going To Put You Down (you Never Can Tell)/ Wilson Dam/ You Dirty Mistreater |
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| COOT GRANT & KID WILSON | Document DOCD 5564 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 - November 1928 to Aug 1931 | ● CD $15.98 |
| GRANT & WILSON: Ain't Going To Give You None/ Big Trunk Blues/ Boop-poop-a-doop/ Can I Get Some Of That?/ Can You Do That To Me/ Deceiving Man Blues/ Dem Socks Dat My Pappy Wore/ Do It Right/ Get Off With Me/ Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter/ Hard Times/ Honey You Done Gone Too Far/ My Friend John/ Old Age Is Creeping Upon You/ On Our Turpentine Farm/ Our Family Doctor/ Rockin' Chair Mary/ She Shake's A Mean Ash Can/ Stevedore Blues/ The Gin Done Done It/ Uncle Joe (349)/ You Need A Woman Like Me/ You Rascal You/ You'se My Friend | |||
| COOT GRANT & KID WILSON | Document DOCD 5565 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 - September 1931 to May '38 | ● CD $15.98 |
| GRANT & WILSON: Blue Monday On Sugar Hill/ Daddy What You Done To Me/ Dirty Spoon Blues/ Do It Again/ Do Your Duty/ Hot Papa, That Out/ I Am A Woman/ I Can't Get Enough/ I Don't Want That Stale Stuff/ Jive Lover/ Keep Your Hands Off My Mojo/ Lay Your Racket Down/ Lollypop/ Meat Cuttin' Blues/ Save A Little Bit For Me/ Take It Outa Here/ Take Me For A Buggy Ride/ Toot It, Brother Armstrong (12824)/ Toot It, Brother Armstrong (63875)/ Uncle Joe (63873)/ Water Trough Blues/ Whippin' The Wolf/ You Can't Do That To Me | |||
| BLIND ROOSEVELT & UAROY GRAVES | Document DOCD 5105 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order | ● CD $15.98 |
| Roosevelt Graves was a Ms. guitarist/ singer who, along with
his harmonizing, tambourine-playing brother Uaroy, was at home in juke
joints and churches. The first 16 were all recorded during one day in
1929, and include I Shall Not Be Moved/ Take Your Burdens To The Lord
which are every bit as convincing as songs like Crazy About My Baby/
Low Down Woman. Also included are both somewhat noisy sides of the
recently uncovered Paramount 12913: Happy Sunshine/ I'm Pressing On.
The disc ends with 6 fine sides from July '36 - 3 of which feature Cooney
Vaughn on piano - again containing a mix of the secular (Hittin' The
Bottle Stomp) and religious (I'll Be Rested When The Roll Is Called).
Overall, the sound is usually decent, except on Sad Dreaming Blues
and St. Louis Rambler Blues, which comes from the only known 78. (JC) BLIND ROOSEVELT GRAVES: Barbecue Bust/ Bustin' The Jug/ Crazy About My Baby/ Dangerous Woman/ Guitar Boogie/ Happy Sunshine/ Hittin' The Bottle Stomp/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ I'll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called)/ I'm Pressing On/ Low Down Woman/ New York Blues/ Sad Dreaming Blues/ Skippy Whippy/ St. Louis Rambler Blues/ Staggerin' Blues/ Take Your Burdens To The Lord/ Take Your Burdens To The Lord (tk. A)/ Telephone To Glory/ When I Lay My Burdens Down/ Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind On Jesus) |
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| LEOTHUS "LEE" GREEN | Document DOCD 5187 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 1 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 24 tracks, 75 minutes, recommended First of two volumes presenting the complete recordings of this excellent singer and piano player from Mississippi. Green was a warm singer with a rich vibrato in his singing. He was a fluid and expressive piano player who is reputed to have originated the "44s" on the piano though Little Brother Montgomery claims to have taught him the tune and Green in turn taught it to Roosevelt Sykes. The 24 tracks here recorded between July, 1929 and January, 1930 are a diverse and consistently rewarding and includes his first recording of Number Forty-Four Blues - a truly wonderful performance. His songs frequently have interesting lyrics and some of his songs can be heard in the recordings of later performers. On some of his earliest recordings he flirts with a raggy stride style though he later abandoned this approach to concentrate on a straight ahead blues style. Two tracks feature him accompanying singer George "Hambone" Ruthers (aka F.T. Thomas) together with an unknown and quite effective alto sax player. Except for a few cuts the sound is very good and the booklet has interesting notes by William Westcott. (FS) LEE GREEN: All My Money Gone Blues/ Bad Man Napper/ Bootleggin' My Jelly/ Death Bell Blues/ Down On Death Alley Blues/ Down On The Border/ Dud-low Joe/ Five Minute Blues/ Gambling Man Blues/ I Don't Care If The Boat Don't Land/ If I Get Drunk Who's Gonna Carry Me Home?/ Little Eddie Jones/ Lonesome Man Blues/ Memphis Fives/ Number Forty-four Blues/ Pork Chop Stomp/ Railroad Blues/ Running Drunk/ She Walks Like A Maltee Cat/ The Way I Feel Blues/ Wash Day And No Soap/ Washboard Rub/ F. T. THOMAS: Moanin' Piano Blues/ Street Walkin' Blues |
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| LEOTHUS "LEE" GREEN | Document DOCD 5188 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 2 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 66 mins, good Another collection from singer & piano player Green featuring 6 songs from 1930, 6 from 1934 and 10 from 1937. It includes a couple of remakes of his most popular songs 44 Blues and Memphis Blues along with a varied collection of other material. Some of the later tracks feature him accompanied by a guitar and on two he is joined by Hammie Nixon on jug. Although there is a lot of good material here, much of it is rather plodding and his distinctive vocal vibrato seems to have become something of a affectation. Decent sound and the same notes as on volume 1. (FS) LEE GREEN: 'round The World Blues/ (good Morning Susie)/ 44 Blues/ Better Bring It Right Away/ Blues About My Black Gal/ Country Gal Blues/ Death Alley Blues/ Doctorin' Fool Blues/ Five Minute Blues/ I'm Gonna Beat Your Bread/ Lookin' Up To Down/ Maltese Cat Blues/ Memphis Fives/ My Best Friend/ Pork Chop Blues/ Sealskin Black Woman/ Southern Blues/ The Way I Feel/ Train Number 44/ Whip It Up And Down/ You May Be Beautiful But You Got To Die/ PERRY WESTON: Border Blues/ Nightime Is The Right Time |
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