BLUES & GOSPEL
Rosie
Ledet -> Joe Liggins
ROSIE LEDET |
Maison De Soul 1052 |
Sweet Brown Sugar |
● CD $15.98 |
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ROSIE LEDET |
Maison De Soul 1077 |
Show Me Something |
● CD $15.98 |
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BONNIE LEE |
Delmark 676 |
Sweetheart Of The Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
13 tracks of rompin' jump & Chicago blues by this fine
singer , returning from retirement after working with, among others,
Sunnyland Slim in the '70s. Backed up by 2 basic (with additions) bands, one
led by guitarist former Slim guitarist Steve Freund, and by Delmark's own
Willie Kent & The Gents. Though there's a few originals by Kent & Lee, most
of the tunes are covers, ranging from Jimmy Rogers' That's All Right
to Millie Jackson's Breakin' Up Somebody's Home, though my faves are
the 2 featuring Johnny B. Moore on guitar, Willie Mae Thornton's Walkin'
Blues & Jr. Parker's Next Time You See Me. (GM)
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BRYAN LEE |
Justin Time 185 |
Six String Therapy |
● CD $16.98 |
12 tracks, recommended
While capable of an over-the-edge
approach, with Duke Robillard producing, Bryan Lee settles into his most
authentic groove yet. Sax Gordon, Doug James, Bruce Katz, Jesse Williams and
Mark Teixeira provide backing. From a second-line bounce on Go On Fool,
to the relaxed swing of Just Like A Fish, or the Dave Bartholomew
drive in Bumpity Bump, Lee is right at home. He takes on a Jody
Williams gem in You May and lets the devil out of the closet for the
ten-minute title track. B.B. King gets a nod with Beautician Blues,
and Lee closes with a torch song, Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
Those familiar with Bryan Lee know his voice has the perfect amount of grime
and on Six String Therapy he's sounding better than ever. (CR)
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JULIA LEE |
Bear Family BCD 15770 |
Kansas City Star |
● CD $119.98 |
5 discs, 109 tracks, over 5 hrs, recommended
Heavy set,
effervescent, and raunchy in a knowledgeable, fun-loving way, Julia Lee is
certainly best known for the double entendre numbers featured on her 10 and
12 inch Party Time LPs from the mid-50s. And make no mistake, she did
those numbers - King Size Papa, Snatch and Grab It, I
Didn't Like It The First Time, and Boy Does My Man Stand Out -
with particular verve and style. But, as this definitive Bear Family set
reveals, she also sang supper club blues, less risque novelty numbers, and
even straight pop ballads. And, even more surprisingly, she began her
recording career much earlier than her 1944 start with Capitol. She actually
began recording in 1927 with the George E. Lee Orchestra (her brother's
band) and Jay McShann's Kansas City Stompers. Sadly, after only eight
surviving tracks, included here, she retired as a youthful star in 1929.
When she reemerged as a thoroughly adult recording star on Capitol, she was
42 years old and already a 20 plus years veteran of the Kansas City
entertainment scene. Disc one here features her 1920's numbers - including
Meritt Stomp, Paseo Street, Ruff Scufflin', and St.
James Infirmary - plus her first Capitol number, Come on Over to My
House, her subsequent cuts for the Premier label - including If It's
Good and her first version of Lotus Blossom - and a previously
unreleased eight song rehearsal session from 1946. All of discs two, three,
and four, plus the majority of disc five offer the complete picture of Lee's
issued and unissued Capitol recordings. All of her risque numbers are here,
in addition to Doubtful Blues, Pagan Love Song, I'm Forever
Blowing Bubbles, Until the Real Thing Comes Along, Charmaine,
and When Your Lover Has Gone. Disc five closes with her four mid-50's
cuts for the Damon label, including Keep 'em Barefoot and Busy and
Scat You Cats, and two of her last four tracks for the Foremost label
where she tries to adjust to the popularity of rock 'n' roll with Bop and
Rock Lullaby. The music, from start to finish is exuberant rather than
bluesy. There's no angst here. The accompanying booklet is lavish,
well-written, and full of session photographs. And sound quality, packaging,
and general production standards are all up to this impressive label's
normal high standards. (DH)
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THE LEE BOYS |
Arhoolie 516 |
Say Yes |
● CD $12.98 |
11 tracks, 56 minutes, highly recommended
Similar to Robert
Randolph & The Family Band, The Lee Boys are another outfit consisting of
three brothers; Alvin on guitar with Keith and Derrick on providing vocals,
plus nephews Emanuel Roosevelt Collier on pedal-steel, Alvin Cordy Jr. on
bass, and Kenneth Earl Walker's drumming, all providing another fine look at
the continuing "sacred steel" tradition. Collier's pedal-steel work soars on
Joyful Sounds/ Come On Help Me Lift Him Up/ Tribute To Calvin Cooke,
and a rousing version of You've Got To Move. Adding funk, hip-hop,
and R&B flavors make for some wonderfully exciting listening. Perfectly
suitable for driving to and from church, weekend barbeques, and any other
day of the week, The Lee Boys deliver with all cylinders wide open. (CR)
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BOBBY LEECAN
& ROBERT COOKSEY |
Document DOCD 5279 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1: 1924-1927 |
● CD $15.98 |
24 tracks, 74 min., very good
This guitar (sometimes banjo)
& harmonica duo first recorded together for Victor Records in 1926. The
sides include Black Cat Bone Blues and as members of The South Street
Trio, Need More Blues. Bruce Bastin, in his 1986 book Red River
Blues, suggests that they were of southeastern origin, with a possible
base in the NY-Philadelphia area. The CD is rounded out with their duo or
individual recordings, accompanying Viola McCoy (1), Sara Martin (3),
Elizabeth Smith (2), Helen Baxter (2) and Margaret Johnson (3). Volume 2
(1927-1928) contains further sides with The South Street Trio, Dixie Jazzers
Washboard Band and Bobbie Leecan's Need-More Band. (EL)
HELEN BAXTER: I Wants A Real Man/ Scrubbin' Blues/
MARGARET JOHNSON: Dead Drunk Blues/ Good Woman Blues/ Second-Handed Blues/
BOBBY LEECAN & ROBERT COOKSEY: Black Cat Bone Blues/ Dirty Guitar Blues/
SARA MARTIN: Forget Me Not Blues/ Give Me Just A Little Of Your Time/ Nobody
Knows And Nobody Cares Blues/ MARTIN & ROBERT: Dollar Blues/ Hock My Shoes/
Maxwell And Peoria Blues/ South Street Blues/ VIOLA MCCOY: West Indies
Blues/ ELIZABETH SMITH & SIDNEY EASTON: Talk 'Bout Something That's Gwine To
Happen/ When My Wants Run Out/ THE SOUTH STREET TRIO: Big Four/ Need More
Blues (tk. 1)/ Need More Blues (tk. 2)/ South Street Stomp (tk. 1)/ South
Street Stomp (tk. 2)/ Whiskey And Gin Blues (tk. 1)/ Whiskey And Gin Blues (tk.
2)
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KERI LEIGH |
Waldoxy WCD 2806 |
No Beginner |
● CD $15.98 |
KERI LEIGH & THE BLUE DEVILS: All Aboard/ Don't Tease Me/
Full Moon Blues/ Georgia Crawl/ Green River/ I Was Just Thinking/ If You
Love Me/ Lightning Strikes The Ground/ Locomotive Blues/ No Beginnner At The
Blues/ Stone Cold In Love/ Tell Mama/ The Houserocker/ Wild Women Don't Get
The Blues
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KERI LEIGH |
Waldoxy WCD 2810 |
Arrival |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 51 min. very good
On Keri's 3rd CD, she leaves
the Blue Devils' rhythm section behind & takes guitarist Mark Lyon down to
the Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama (Waldoxy/Malaco happens to own the
studio!). With backing by the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (including
Roger Hood & Clayton Ivey) & the Muscle Shoals horns, the band slinks &
grooves reminiscent of the classic female led horn bands of the 60s (Cold
Blood/ Ten Wheel Drive). Keri picks some good covers including Sugar Pie
DeSanto's Use What You Got & Koko Taylor's Voodoo Woman and a
couple of surprises including The Allman Bros. Don't Keep Me Wonderin
& Sly & The Family Stone's I Ain't Got Nobody, & some strong
originals including the acoustic country blues-ish Hobo Train. (GM)
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J.B. LENOIR |
Evidence 26068 |
Vietnam Blues - The Complete L+R Recordings |
● CD $15.98 |
24 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
Long-time J. B. fans
will know what to expect from this recorded-in-Chicago- for-Europeans
acoustic set, as they'll already have both the German L & R albums. This CD
contains both of these albums, all 24 tracks, with Willie Dixon and Fred
Below helping out on a few cuts. Some of the tracks - Move This Rope,
Born Dead - are very powerful, in contrast to his good time numbers
like Mojo Boogie, I Feel So Good, How Much More, and
Round And Round. A few collectors will have the Polydor "Crusade" album
compiled by John Mayall, which was essentially the 2nd L & R album plus 3
extra 1962 'audition' tracks & interviews with Willie Dixon & Mrs. Lenoir.
(EL)
J.B. LENOIR: Alabama/ Alabama March/ Born Dead/ Down In
Mississippi/ Feelin' Good/ God's Word/ Good Advice/ How Much More/ I Feel So
Good/ I Want To Go/ If I Get Lucky/ Leavin' Here/ Mississippi Road/ Mojo
Boogie/ Move This Rope/ Round And Round/ Shot On James Meredith/ Slow Down
Woman/ Talk To Your Daughter/ Tax Payin' Blues/ The Whale Has Swallowed Me/
Vietnam/ Vietnam Blues/ Voodoo Music
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J.B. LENOIR |
JSP JSPCD 2154 |
One Of These Mornings |
● CD $16.98 |
16 tracks, 49 mins, recommended
Reissue of LP JSP 1105 with
five bonus cuts. This is a fascinating album of previously unissued
recordings. The first seven tracks are from a demo tape made by Willie Dixon
in 1962 and features Willie and J.B. chatting and singing songs. J.B.
accompanies himself on acoustic guitar and includes a few old songs that he
hadn't recorded elsewhere. The music is enjoyable and the repartee between
J.B. and Dixon is delightful. Most of the remaining nine tracks are from a
live concert with J.B. and his acoustic guitar (plus occasional drums from
Fred Below) and include some of his more intensely personal and political
songs - Alabama Blues/ The Whale/ Remove The Rope, etc. The last
three tracks seem to be from a different source and are of lower quality
than the rest but are worthwhile performances. (FS)
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J.B. LENOIR |
Relic 7020 |
The Parrot Sessions |
● CD $14.98 |
J.B. Lenoir was born in 1929 down in Monticello, MS. Played
guitar and harp during the 40's in New Orleans before heading north for
Chicago in 1951. He signed with Al Benson's Parrot label in 1954, where he
cut many of his most memorable sides - Mama Talk To Your Daughter (45
rpm version)/ Eisenhower Blues/ Fine Girls - all included here.
Accompanists include Lorenzo Smith, tenor sax; Joe Montgomery, piano; and Al
Galvin, drums. Lenoir sings in warm, high-pitched, effeminate style (I have
met people who thought that J.B. was a female blues guitar stylist). An
essential collection by one of the champions of post-war Chicago blues, who
died in an auto wreck on April 29. 1967. (OLN)
J.B. LENOIR: Eisenhower Blues/ Fine Girls/ Give Me One
More Shot/ I Lost My Baby/ I'm Gonna Die Someday/ I'm In Korea/ Mama, Talk
To Your Daughter/ Mama, Your Daughter's Going To Miss Me/ Man, Watch Your
Women/ Sittin' Down Thinkin'/ We've Both Got To Realize/ What Have I Done
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HOSEA LEVY |
Fedora 5002 |
You Gotta Move |
● CD $16.98 |
New recordings of down home Arkansas bluesman
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FURRY LEWIS |
Document DOCD 5004 |
Complete Recorded Works 1927 - 1929 |
● CD $15.98 |
25 wonderful sides by outstanding Memphis based singer and
guitarist.
FURRY LEWIS: Big Chief Blues/ Billy Lyons And Stack O'lee/
Black Gypsy Blues/ Cannon Ball Blues/ Creeper's Blues/ Dry Land Blues/
Everybody's Blues/ Falling Down Blues/ Furry's Blues/ Good Looking Girl
Blues/ I Will Turn Your Money Green (tk. 1)/ I Will Turn Your Money Green (tk.
2)/ Jelly Roll/ John Henry (the Steel Driving Man) -1/ John Henry (the Steel
Driving Man) -2/ Judge Harsh Blues (tk. 1)/ Judge Harsh Blues (tk. 2)/
Kassie Jones - Part 1/ Kassie Jones - Part 2/ Mean Old Bedbug Blues/
Mistreatin' Mama/ Mr. Furry's Blues/ Rock Island Blues/ Sweet Papa Moan/ Why
Don't You Come Home Blues
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FURRY LEWIS |
Fantasy 24703 |
Shake 'Em On Down |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 72 minutes, recommended
Re-release of 2-LP set,
comprised of two original Prestige/ Bluesville LP's from 1961. For some
reason, perhaps his preference for folk blues numbers like this set's
John Henry/ St. Louis Blues/ Casey Jones/ Frankie And Johnnie, Furry has
never been regarded as a blues heavyweight. But these revival-era recordings
sure sound good, filled with highly individual Deep South vocal stylings
that can't be measured by the dominant Delta or Texas standard. His
ever-steady acoustic guitar accompaniment is never hurried or overdone.
Several numbers, including When My Baby Left Me/ I'm Going To
Brownsville/ Roberta, feature beautifully languid slide work in addition
to Lewis' fine fingerpicking. Nice resonant recording, excellent latter-day
country blues. (MB)
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FURRY LEWIS |
Fat Possum 80374 |
Good Morning Judge |
● CD $15.98 |
10 tracks, 42 minutes, highly recommended
Originally
recorded by George Mitchell in Memphis, Furry cut Don't You Come Home
Blues and Furry Lewis Rag in 1962, while the remaining eight
tracks were done in 1967. Considering he was near and beyond 70 when these
were done, his spirit and performing capabilities are alarming with stunning
guitar playing and full, passionate vocals. He offers great slide on the
title track, romping rhythmic sense on Worried Blues, and decades-old
bass string snaps on Blues Around My BedFurry
Lewis Rag
(with washtub bass by Dewey Corley - though not credited). His
interpretation of Roll And Tumble Blues is a standout, and more than
a few steps from the time-tested version most of us are used to. Sound
quality is excellent throughout.(CR)
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FURRY LEWIS |
Shout Factory 30248 |
Heroes Of The Blues - The Very Best Of Furry
Lewis |
● CD $11.98 |
16 tracks, 62 minutes, recommended
While Furry Lewis gained
far more exposure than most of his contemporaries with an appearance on
Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, a film with Burt Reynolds, and an interview in
Playboy magazine, he lived no better a life than his friends, working as a
Memphis street sweeper to feed his family. His recordings (in a perfect
world) should have brought him millions due to his wonderful slide guitar
style and natural vocals, but like many others, his comeback period helped
him considerably only to see him leave this world destitute. The first three
tracks stem from Furry's late-1920s sessions for RCA Victor while the
remainder come from Aldelphi, Biograph, and Fantasy recordings in the 1960s.
A few have Lee Baker, Jr. assisting. Masterful. (CR)
FURRY LEWIS: Baby That's All Right/ Baby You Don't Want
Me/ Cannon Ball Blues/ Furry's Blues/ I'm Going To Brownsville/ If You
Follow Me Babe/ John Henry/ Judge Boushé/ Judge Harsh Blues/ Long Tall Gal
Blues/ Natural Born Eastman/ Shake 'em On Down/ St. Louis Blues/ Take Your
Time/ When I Lay My Burden Down/ Why Don't You Come Home Blues
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FURRY LEWIS |
Yazoo 1050 |
In His Prime 1927 - 1928 |
● CD $16.98 |
Like Henry Thomas and Frank Stokes, Lewis is a performer
whose repertoire and style is deeply rooted in the mannerisms of the 19th
century artists from whom he learned. For example, his most important
influence was "Blind Joe", a Memphis musician who was in his 40's or 50's
when Lewis was a child. Thus, many of his songs are pre-blues numbers,
deriving from folk and ragtime sources. Nonetheless, his bottleneck playing
and imaginative arrangements make him a compelling performer. Titles here
include Good Looking Girl Blues/ I Will Turn Your Money Green/ Furry's
Blues/ Kassie Jones Pts. 1 and 2/ Rock Island Blues. A reissue of the
earlier Yazoo LP, with good sound considering the age of the material, one
photo from the late 60's, and worthwhile notes by Steve Calt. (DH)
FURRY LEWIS: Cannonball Blues/ Everybody's Blues/ Falling
Down Blues/ Furry's Blues/ Good Looking Girl Blues/ I Will Turn Your Money
Green/ Jellyroll/ Judge Harsh Blues/ Kassie Jones Part 1/ Kassie Jones Part
2/ Mean Old Bedbug Blues/ Mistreatin' Mamma/ Rock Island Blues/ Why Don't
You Come Home Blues
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FURRY LEWIS & OTHERS |
Genes 9918 |
On The Road Again |
● CD $14.98 |
Reissue of Adelphi 1007 featuring 10 tracks recorded in
Memphis in 1969 - five by Furry, two by Gus Cannon and three by Bukka White.
Mike Stewart adds second guitar to a number of tracks and veteran of The
Memphis Jug Band, Dewey Corley, plays washtub bass and kazoo on one track
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FURRY LEWIS
WITH LEE BAKER, JR. |
Genes 9911 |
Take Your Time |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 48 mins, highly recommended
Delightful collection
of previously unissued recordings of legendary Memphis bluesman Lewis from
1969 featuring him accompanied by guitarist Lee Baker who worked with Furry
for a number of years. Furry is in excellent form - his voice is very strong
and his guitar work is terrific, both on slide and finger picked. Baker's
accompaniments are generally sympathetic and mostly
unobtrusive though they
occasionally get in the way. Among the many fine songs here are Judge
Boushe/ East St. Louis Blues/ See That My Grave Is Kept Clean/ If You Follow
Me Babe/ Natural Born eastman and others. (FS)
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FURRY
LEWIS, BUKKA WHITE & FRIENDS |
Arcola 1001 |
Party! At Home |
● CD $14.98 |
Fine set recorded informally, mostly at Furry's apartment,
in Memphis in 1968. Many of these tracks were issued on an obscure 1972 LP
on the Asp label. This CD reissue features four additional musical
performances plus various segements of chatter. Both artists are in good
form and the friends who turn up provide enthusiastic encouragement.
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GEORGE LEWIS/ JIMMY
YANCEY |
Collectables 6272 |
Jazz At Preservation Hall/ Pure Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
Two rare Atlantic LPs combined. The George Lewis album was
originally issued as Atlantic 1411 in 1963 and features the great New
Orleans clarinetist recorded in the early 60s with "Kid" Howard, Jim
Robinson and others. The Yancey sides were originally recorded in 1951 and
released on Atlantic 1283 in 1958. The blues piano giant is in superb form,
accompanied on most sides by the discreet bass playing of Israel Crosby and
joined by Mama Yancey on four lovely vocals.
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JOHNIE LEWIS |
Arhoolie 9007 |
Alabama Slide Guitar |
● CD $9.98 |
18 tracks, 59 mins, recommended
A fine collection of country
blues and spirituals recorded in Chicago in 1970 and '71 by Alabama born
singer/ guitarist Lewis. Lewis is a strong singer and effective guitarist
who often plays with a slide. His material is mostly traditional songs
though Johnie usually gives them an original twist - two of the spirituals
You Gonna Miss Me and I Got To Climb A High Mountain become
tributes to Martin Luther King. Johnie also plays harmonica on one cut and
kazoo on another and Charlie Musselwhite lends a helping harmonica hand on
My Little Gal. Although no great original, Johnie is good enough to
make one wonder why he didn't have more of a career as bluesman but when he
was discovered there were a lot of great artists active and the blues scene
at the time was smaller so maybe he got lost in the shuffle. Then again
maybe he was satisfied with the more predictable rewards of his career as a
highly regarded house painter. Whatever the reason we can at least enjoy
this small smapling of his talents. (FS)
JOHNNY LEWIS: Baby, Listen To Me Howl/ Can't Hardly Get
Along/ Comb My Baby's Hair/ Guitar Blues (Hound Dogs On My Track)/ He Met Me
On A Thursday Morning/ Hobo Blues/ I Got To Climb A High Mountain (About Dr.
Martin JOHNNY/ I'm Gonna Quit My Baby/ Jumpin' Jive/ Lewis' Little Girl Done
Stole A Black Cat Bone/ Mistake In Life (Handsome Stranger)/ My Little Gal
(With Charlie Musselwhite)/ My Mother Often Told Me/ North Carolina Blues/
Oh Lord, Tell Me Right From Wrong/ Poor Boy/ Uncle Sam Ain't No Woman/ You
Gonna Miss Me (About Dr. Martin Luther King)
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MEADE "LUX" LEWIS |
Document DOCD 5561 |
Alternate Takes, Live Performances,
Soundies, etc. |
● CD $15.98 |
31 tracks from 1939 to the late 40s.
MEADE LUX LEWIS: Be Ba Ba Le Ba Boogie (BW 250)/ Blues
(private live recording)/ Boogie Tidal (Jubilee No. 87)/ Boogie Woogie
(Soundie 16308)/ Cow Cow Blues (private live recording)/ Fast Boogie (D267)/
Honky Tonk Train Blues (D269)/ Honky Tonk Train Blues (Jubilee No. 41)/
Honky Tonk Train Blues (picture soundtrack)/ Introduction - Roll 'Em (Camel
Caravan broadcast)/ Introduction - Six Wheel Chaser (Jubilee No. 87)/
Introduction - Yancey Special (Command Performance No. 14)/
Introduction/Honky Tonk Train Blues (Camel Caravan broadcast)/ Low Down Dog
(Soundie 16508)/ Lux's Boogie (piece in G) (731)/ Medium Boogie (D266)/
Profoundly Blue No. 2 (R3461-2)/ Roll 'Em (Soundie 16008)/ Six Wheel Chaser
(live recording)/ Slow Boogie (D268)/ Spirit Of Boogie Woogie (Soundie
8103)/ Squeeze Me (private live recording)/ Untitled Fragment (picture
soundtrack)/ Untitled Phrases (cartoon soundtrack)/ V-Disc Stomp (Part One)
(VP383 V-Disc unissued)/ V-Disc Stomp (Part Two) (VP383 V-Disc unissued)/
Whistlin' Blues (private live recording)
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MEADE "LUX" LEWIS |
Jasmine 417 |
Gliding From Glendale To Chicago |
● CD $15.98 |
Fine two CD set featuring 46 tracks by this great blues and
boogie pianist. There are no recording details provided but, as far as I can
tell, most of the recordings are from the 40s and early 50s. Most f the
tracks are solo though a few feature a small group with nice electric
guitar. On a few tracks he is featured playing celeste.
MEADE "LUX" LEWIS: Albert‘s Blues/ Bass On Top Boogie/
Bear Cat Crawl/ Birth Of The Blues/ Blues Whistle/ Bugle Call Rag/ Celeste
Blues/ Chicago Flyer/ Closing Hour Blues/ Cow Cow Blues/ Darktown Strutters‘
Ball/ Deep Fives/ Denapa Boogie/ Doll‘s House Boogie/ Far Ago Blues/ Fast
And Blues/ Fast Boogie/ Freakish Man Blues/ Glendale Glide/ Honky Tonk Train
Blues/ Honky Tonk Train Blues/ How Long Blues/ I Ain‘t Gonna Give/ I‘m In
The Mood For Love/ Jumpin‘ For Pete/ Lux Boogie/ Meade‘s Boogie/ Medium
Boogie/ Mr. Freddy Blues/ No. 1 Boogie/ Pinetop‘s Boogie Woogie/ Randini‘s
Boogie/ Rising Tide Blues/ Rockin‘ The Clock/ Six Wheel Chaser/ Slow Boogie/
Someday, Sweetheart/ St. Louis Blues/ Suitcase Blues/ Tell Your Story/ Tidal
Boogie/ Two And Fews/ Whistlin‘ Blues/ Yancey Special/ Yancey‘s Pride/ deed
I Do
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MEADE "LUX" LEWIS |
Jasmine 2536 |
Barrel House Piano |
● CD $11.98 |
16 tracks, 42 min., good
There is no indication in the notes
here as to when these numbers were recorded, but they are primarily
conventional honky tonk styled piano solos or similarly styled numbers with
small combo backup. The sound quality is decent, so these are certainly not
among Lewis' earliest recordings. Featured titles include Six Wheel
Chaser/ How Long Blues/ Bugle Call Rag/ I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My
Jelly Roll/ Tidal Boogie, and Tisho Mingo Blues. Appreciative,
but not very informative, notes. Though, from my perspective, he has neither
the stateliness of Jimmy Yancy nor the the majestic drive of either Pete
Johnson or Albert Ammons, he does produce appealing and energetic music
here. (DH)
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MEADE "LUX" LEWIS |
Original Jazz Classics OJCCD 1759 |
The Blues Piano Artistry Of Meade Lux Lewis |
● CD $15.98 |
Meade Lux Lewis was one of the pioneer and foremost
exponents of boogie woogie piano and this fine disc is reissue of Riverside
9402 recorded in 1961 and are some of his last recordings. The material is
varied and in addition to his exemplary boogies Lux also plays some blues
and jazz. Several cuts feature him performing on the celeste. (FS)
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SMILEY LEWIS |
Bear Family BCD 15745 |
Shame, Shame, Shame |
● CD $99.98 |
102 tracks, 3 hours 58 mins, essential
This superb box not
only features all 87 of Smiley's his Imperial recordings but his four pre
Imperial recordings for DeLuxe in 1947 and his post-Imperial recordings for
Okeh, Dot and Loma. Smiley (Overton Amos Lemon) was one of the best singers
in New Orleans with a powerful expressive vocal style. His Imperial
recordings were mostly produced (and written) by the great Dave Bartholomew
and Smiley was accompanied by the top musicians in New Orleans including
Ernest McClean, "Tuts" Washington, Earl Palmer, Lee Allen, Fats Domino,
Justin Adams, Herb Hardesty, Frank Fields, Salvador Doucette and many
others. The set has one romping upbeat number after another with occasional
breaks for an intense slow blues and the occasional pop standard which
Smiley was very fond of but were not really his strong suit. The 36 page LP
size booklet is outstanding with detailed notes by Rick Coleman, lots of
interview material with Smiley's contemporaries and family, photos, posters,
ads, session sheets, press clippings, his death certificate and photos of
the boarding houses Smiley and his band stayed at in the 50s! Sound is
impeccable. Sometimes I wish Bear Family would be responsible for all the
reissues of vintage music! (FS)
SMILEY LEWIS: Ain't Goin' There No More/ Ain't Goin' There
No More/ Ain't Gonna Do It/ Baby Please/ Bad Luck Blues/ Bee's Boogie/ Big
Mamou/ Blue Monday/ Bumpity Bump/ By The Water/ Calsonia's Party/ Can't Stop
Loving You/ Come On/ Crazy/ Dirty People/ Don't Jive Me/ Down The Road/ Down
Yonder We Go Ballin'/ Farewell/ Go On Fool/ Goin' Down The Road/ Goin' To
Jump & Shout/ Growing Old/ Gumbo Blues/ Gypsy Blues/ Here Comes Smiley/ Hey
Girl/ How Long/ I Can't Believe It/ I Hear You Knocking/ I Love You For
Sentimental Reasons/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ I Wake Up Screamin'/ I Want To Be
With Her/ I Wonder/ I'm Coming Down With The Blues/ If You Ever Loved A
Woman/ It's Music/ It's So Peaceful/ Jailbird/ Last Night/ Lil Liza Jane/
Lillie Mae/ Little Fernandez/ Lonesome Highway/ Lookin' For My Woman/ Lost
Week End/ Lowdown/ Lying Woman/ Mama Don't Like/ My Baby/ My Baby Was Right/
My Love Is Gone/ No Letter Today/ No, No/ Nobody Knows/ Nothing But The
Blues/ Oh Baby/ Oh Red!/ Oh Red!/ One Night/ One Night Of Sin/ Ooh La La/
Play Girl/ Please Listen To Me/ Queen Of Hearts/ Real Gone Lover/ Rootin' &
Tootin'/ Sad Life/ School Days Are Back Again/ Shame, Shame, Shame/ Shame,
Shame, Shame!/ She's Got Me Hook, Line & Sinker/ Show Me The Way/ Slide Me
Down/ Someday You'll Want Me/ Sometimes/ Standing On The Corner/ Stormy
Monday Blues/ Sweeter Words (have Never Been Told)/ Tee-nah-nah/ Tell Me
Who/ That Certain Door/ The Bells Are Ringing/ The Bells Are Ringing/ The
Jump (instrumental)/ The Rocks/ The Sheik Of Araby/ These Bones/ To The
River/ Tomorrow Night/ Too Many Drivers/ Tore Up/ Turn On Your Volume, Baby/
Walkin' The Girl (instrumental)/ When Did You Leave Heaven/ Where Were You/
You Are My Sunshine/ You're Gonna Miss Me/ You're Not The One
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CARL SONNY LEYLAND |
Solo Art SACD 117 |
Boogie And Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
18 Tracks, 61 min., highly recommended
Carl Sonny Leyland sittin' in front of the piano performing what he terms his "own special
brand of murder on the 88's". He sings on 6 tunes, but mostly he's inviting
the listener to sit back and relax.... or jump up and shout for joy....or do
whatever it is that great boogie woogie piano playing does for you. As the
title indicates, it's not all boogies, there's other stuff thrown in also.
Good notes from Leyland himself. Ten of the tracks are originals and he
tells about his inspiration for each one. He also provides good information
about the covers which include Down The Road Apiece, House Of Blue Lights
and Yancey's Bugle Call. A cookin' CD. (RS)
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JOE LIGGINS |
Purple Pyramid 965 |
The Essential Recordings |
● CD $6.98 $0.00 |
Another of the great West Coast R&B pioneers recorded for
Johnny Otis's Blues Spectrum label in the early 70s - this time singer/
songwriter/ pianist Joe Liggins. It's mostly remakes of some his mid/ late
40s classics like The Honeydripper/ Pink Champagne/ I've Got A Right To
Cry/ Tanya and others. Arrangements are pretty close to the originals
but with a smaller group and some tracks feature some tasty guitar work from
Shuggie Otis.
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JOE LIGGINS |
Specialty 7006 |
Legends Of Specialty - Joe Liggins & The
Honeydrippers |
● CD $14.98 |
Singer, pianist, songwriter, bandleader Joe Liggins was one
of a handful of early Post-War exponents of California-type blues and
rhythm. Born in Oklahoma, Joe started out by writing charts for big bands in
the early 1930s. This album features many of his best known jumping sides
like Pink Champagne, the 1950 remake of The Honeydripper,
Frankie Lee and the unstoppable Rag Mop. Contains three unissued
sides including the frantic Flying Dutchman and which tenor saxman
Maxwell Davis blows the roof off. With fascinating notes by Billy Vera.
(OLN)
JOE LIGGINS: Blues For Tanya/ Brand New Deal In Mobile/ Do
You Love Me, Pretty Baby?/ Don't Miss That Train/ Frankie Lee/ Freight Train
Blues/ Going Back To New Orleans/ I Just Can't Help Myself/ I've Got A Right
To Cry/ Little Joe's Boogie/ Louisiana Woman/ One Sweet Letter/ Pink
Champagne/ Rag Mop/ Rain, Rain, Rain/ Ramblin' Blues/ Rhythm In The
Barnyard/ Shuffle Boogie Blues/ Tanya/ The Big Dipper/ The Flying Dutchman/
The Honeydripper/ Trying To Lose The Blues/ Whiskey, Gin And Wine/ Whiskey,
Women And Loaded Dice
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