BLUES & GOSPEL
Little
Sonny ->
Barbara Lynn
| LITTLE SONNY |
Stax 8533 |
New King Of The Blues Harmonica |
$12.98 |
Reissue of Enterprise album originally issued in early 70s.
Aaron `Little Sonny' Willis is a fine Detroit singer and harmonica player
though most of this album is instrumental with only two vocals by Sonny -
the old standby
Baby What You Want Me To Do and his own fine
Don't Ask Me Know Questions. The accompaniments are a solid hard driving
rhythm section with the sound filled out by an electric organ which, for the
most part, is quite effective.
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| LITTLE SONNY |
Stax 8575 |
Black & Blue |
$12.98 |
11 tracks, 38 min., recommended. Limited stock of this items
with hole punched in jewel box at a reduced price. This is the third Little
Sonny (Aaron Willis) album which has come to my attention, and I have to
admit I'm becoming a fan of this 70's harpman. His singing and harmonica
style owe a lot to Magic Sam and Sonny Boy respectively (but that's not so
bad), and the arrangements are pumped full of Stax magic. Al Bell produced 4
of these for Enterprise Records, and the Bar-Kays contribute Memphis soul to
every cut. The covers Honest I Do/ I Found Love are right on target,
and I could hear many of these originals being covered with ease today by R.
Cray or Joe Louis Walker (without the wah-wah guitar). The 3 instrumentals
share a brash funkiness with The Meters. Check this out for something a
little different in southern blues. (MB)
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| LITTLE SONNY |
Stax 8599 |
Hard Goin' Up |
$12.98 |
9 tracks, 41 min., recommended Originally recorded in
Detroit & released on Enterprise ('73), singer/harmonica player Aaron Willis
introduces 6 of his original songs, including the excellent funk-based
instrumental "Sure Is Good", and an early 8 minute tribute to his wife
Maggie Stevenson Willis (1933-1996), "You Made Me Strong". The other 3
titles were written by longtime Stax writer Bettye Jean Barnes Crutcher,
including the title track. This CD is a must for those of you who like
funk-based harmonica blues. (EL)
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| LITTLE WALTER |
Chess CHD 9384 |
His Best |
$15.98 |
20 harmonica blues classics - Juke/ Mean Old World/ Tell
Me Mama/ Blues With A Feeling/ It Ain't Right/ Last Night/ Mellow Down Easy/
Roller Coaster/ Boom, Boom, Out Goes The Light/ Just Your Fool, etc.
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| LITTLE WALTER |
Delmark 648 |
The Blues World Of Little Walter |
$11.98 |
13 tracks, 38 minutes, essential. This disc is short but oh
so sweet! The first 8 tracks are from a January 1950 session cut for Monroe
Passis's label Parkway in Chicago which is one of the most exciting of all
blues sessions. It featured members of the Muddy Waters band of the time -
Little Walter, Baby Face Leroy Foster, Jimmy Rogers and Muddy himself who
was under contract to Aristocrat at the time. The group sound like they
might have had a nip or two before the session and the result is a loose,
exciting, urban but primitive sound with the group frequently yelling out
words of encouragement to each other. The highlight of this session is the
incredible two part reworking of the Mississippi blues standard Rolling &
Tumbling - in the first part Baby Face takes the lead vocal with the
rest of the group singing behind him and in the second part the whole group
chant wordlessly producing a ferociously original sound that will not leave
you unmoved. Little Walter was still finding his sound as a harmonica player
and on three tracks he plays some uniquely distinctive guitar which
indicates that if he had not concentrated on the harp he would have been a
guitarist to reckon with. Digitally remastered from the original sources the
sound on these tracks is the best it's ever been. The remaining tracks are
gilding on the lily featuring 3 fine J.B. Lenoir performances cut from JOB
with Snnyland Slim and two tracks by the ubiquitous Sunnyland Slim in great
form with some beautiful guitar work by Robert Lockwood. The disc comes with
informative notes by Jim O'Neal. This is one release that you owe it to
yourself to hear! (FS)
J.B. LENOIR: I Wanna Play A Little While/ Louise/ People Are Meddilin' In
Our Affairs/ LITTLE WALTER & BABYFACE LEROY: Bad Acting Woman/ Boll Weevil/
I Just Keep Loving Her/ Moonshine Blues/ Muskadine Blues/ Red Headed Woman/
Rollin' And Tumblin' (part 1)/ Rollin' And Tumblin' (part 2)/ SUNNYLAND
SLIM: I Done You Wrong/ Low Down Sunnyland Train
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|
A.C.
LITTLEFIELD & THE ORIGINAL BELLS OF JOY |
Dialtone 0001 |
Second Time Around |
$14.98 |
11 tracks, 43 mins, recommended The Texas based Bells Of Joy
were among the top gospel groups of the 50s and 60s, recording for, among
others, Peacock, Checker and Nashboro and having a hit with their version of
Let's Talk About Jesus. A few years ago the groups leader A.C.
Littlefield decided to reform the group with another original member A.D.
Watson and the addition of several other fine singers. The result is a fine
collection of old time gospel quartet singing with accompaniments by guitars
and drums. The excellent Littlefield is featured on lead on five songs
including a remake of Let's Talk About Jesus and other tracks feature
leads by Alton Cyphers or Al Brown. Fine leads with strong harmony work
making for an enjoyable collection. (FS)
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| LITTLE WILLIE
LITTLEFIELD |
Ace CDCHD 503 |
Going Back To Kay Cee |
$18.98 |
19 tracks, 52 mins, recommended
Out of print for a couple of
years this excellent CD has been reissued due to public demand. Excellent
collection featuring all the Federal recordings of this Texas singer and
piano player cut in 1952 and '53 including two duets with the wonderful
Little Esther and one with the not so wonderful Lil Greenwood. Littlefield
was the first to record Kansas City as K.C. Lovin', a popular
title and several of his subsequent titles like Miss K.C.'s Fine and
Goofy Dust Blues were in the same vein. When Wilbert Harrison had a
#1 hit in 1959 with the song Federal overdubbed additional bass and drums
and reissued it - the overdubbed version is also included here. Other fine
performances include the doomy minor key blues Blood Is Redder Than Wine
with wonderful baritone sax from Jewel Grant, the intense The Midnight
Hour Was Shining (two takes) and the hot boogie instrumental Jim
Wilson's Boogie. Only his last session is a disappointment with the
weird vocal effects on (Please Don't Go) O-O-O-O and the dreary pop
ballad Don't Take My Heart Little Girl. A most worthwhile collection
with superb sound. (FS)
LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD: Blood Is Redder Than Wine/ Falling Tears/ Goofy
Dust Blues/ Jim Wilson's Boogie/ K C Loving/ Kansas City/ Last Laugh Blues/
Miss K C's Fine/ Monday Morning Blues/ My Best Wishes And Regards/ Pleading
At Midnight/ Please Don't Go-O-O-Oh/ Rock-A-Bye Baby/ Sitting On The
Curbstone/ Striking On You Baby/ Take My Heart Little Girl/ The Midnight
Hour Was Shining/ The Midnight Hour Was Shining/ Turn The Lamp Down Low
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| LITTLE WILLIE
LITTLEFIELD |
Ace CDCHD 736 |
Kat On The Keys |
$18.98 |
25 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended Another welcome
reissue of sides from the Modern label this time featuring the talents of
Texas singer & piano player Little Willie Littlefield. Willie was only 18
when he made the first of the recordings here (It's Midnight cut in
Houston in 1949 and a #3 Billboard R&B hit) but his singing and piano
playing are solid and assured. The rest of the tracks were cut in Los
Angeles between 1950 and '52 in the company of top L.A. musicians like
Maxwell Davis on sax, Chuck Norris or Johnny Moore on guitar, Al "Cake"
Wichard on drums and others. The music is a mixture of blues, blues ballads
and boogies - Willie is a superb boogie woogie piano player. A couple of
cuts are duets with female singer Little Lora Wiggins including the minor
hit I've Been Lost. This fine collection includes several previously
unissued alternate takes and a couple of unissued titles as well as quite a
few tracks that were not originally issued on 78. Sound quality is stunning
and there are decent notes by compiler Ray Topping who, as usual, refrains
from providing discographical info. (FS)
LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD: 'Long About Midnight/ Ain't A Better Story Told/
Cheerful Baby/ Happy Pay Day/ Hit The Road/ I Like It/ I've Been Lost/ It's
Midnight (No Place To Go)/ Life Of Trouble/ Love Me Tonight/ Lump In My
Throat (Tears In My Eyes)/ Mean Mean Woman/ Money Hustlin' Woman/ Nakite
Stomp (Inst)/ Real Fine Mama/ Rockin' Chair Mama/ The Nights Are So Long/
The Sun Is Shining In Your Front Door/ Til We Meet Again/ Too Late For Me/
Train Whistle Blues (aka Train Whistle Blowing)/ Trouble Around Me/ Trouble
Around Me/ You Never Miss A Good Woman Till She's Gone/ Your Love Wasn't So
|
| JOHN LITTLEJOHN |
Arhoolie 9019 |
Slidin' Home |
$9.98 |
Previously issued as Arhoolie 1043 - now reissued in
Arhoolie's budget line series. CD issue of LP 1043 with two previously
unissued tracks by this excellent singer and guitarist recorded in 1968 with
a tough small band and produced by Chris Strachwitz and Willie Dixon. The
material is varied an includes the intense What In The World You Goin' To
Do, the lyrical slide guitar outing on Dream, the traditional
sounding, and previously unissued, Nowhere To Lay My Head and a
bluesy version of the Brook Benton pop/R&B hit Kiddeo. (FS)
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| JOHN LITTLEJOHN |
Wolf 120.859 |
Blues Party - Chicago Blues Session Vol. 13 |
$15.98 |
A collection of 9 tracks recorded in 1989. There are 6 songs
performed by singer/ slide guitarist John Littlejohn. John is in good form,
though most of the songs he has recorded previously. There's one song by
Taildragger, a rather mediocre Howlin' Wolf imitator, which is worthwhile
for the fine accompaniments of Luther Adams & John Primer/ guitars, Billy
Branch/ harp (some really intense playing), Willie Kent/ bass and Timothy
Taylor/ drums. There is a similar line up on the two vocals by Willie Kent -
a powerful and effective singer. (FS)
|
| ROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD |
Bullseye Blues 9623 |
Just The Blues |
$11.98 |
Mid-price collection of songs drawn from Lockwood's two
Rounder albums with Johnny Shines - Hangin' On/ Razzmadazz/ For You My
Love/ Rockin' Free/ Blues On The Hour/ I Gotta Find My Baby, etc.
|
| ROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD |
Delmark 630 |
Steady Rollin' Man |
$11.98 |
14 tracks, 41 min., good. Lockwood's first LP session (from
1970) is a little tentative, but many a blues fan will want to revisit it on
CD anyway. Backed by the ever-steady Aces - Louis and Dave Myers, and Fred
Below - he mines the Robert Johnson/ Muddy Waters lode in typical fashion,
making up in competence what he might lack in confidence. Many of these
sound like first takes, but Ramblin' On My Mind kicks in nicely, and
Robert is less restrained on the few original songs. To these ears he sounds
best on on the instrumentals Steady Groove/ Lockwood's Boogie/ Tanya,
where The Aces' jazzy talents come through strongly. Two alternate takes are
tagged on to the end. (MB)
ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR.: Blues And Trouble/ Can't Stand The Pain/ Kind-hearted
Woman/ Lockwood's Boogie (alternate)./ Lockwood's Boogie (instrumental)/
Mean Red Spider/ Rambling Oh My Mind/ Steady Groove (instrumental)/ Steady
Rollin' Man/ Take A Walk With Me/ Tanya (instrumental)/ Western Horizon/
Worst Old Feeling/ Worst Old Feeling (alternate)
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| ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR. |
Savoy Jazz 17312 |
The Complete Trix Recordings |
$18.98 |
25 tracks, 2 CDs, 90 minutes, excellent This two-CD set
consists of both "Contrasts" and "Does 12", two projects recorded between
1973 and 1975 for Peter Lowry's Trix imprint. Although there's nothing in
the way of unreleased material, the sound is exceptional as Lockwood works
his way through some Robert Johnson songs (Dust My Broom/ Mr. Downchild/
Walkin' Blues/ Terraplane Blues/ Little Queen Of Spades), jazzy
instrumentals (Red Top/ Down Home Cooking/ Half Steppin' and more),
originals and a few other treats (Just A Little Bit/ King Biscuit Time,
and Driving Wheel). With a soulful voice and ridiculously good guitar
skills, Lockwood is in fine form. A nice addition to any CD library.
Includes updated liner notes. (CR)
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| CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON |
Blues Documents BDCD 6006 |
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 1 1935-39 |
$15.98 |
The first of two discs presenting the complete recordings of
this brilliant boogie and blues and piano player. He was an energetic and
expressive player and a fine vocalist with a distinctive husky style.
However he was at his best when playing instrumentals or accompanying
another singer and could devote all his attention to his piano work. His
four accompaniments from 1936 to the brilliant singer Red Nelson are
particularly outstanding. This set also includes his first recordings from
1935 where his vocals and piano playing are joined by the guitar of Big Bill
Broonzy. There are six fine sides from a private party in 1939 and 3 from a
1939 sessions including the beautiful Had A Dream and the tune that
seems to have been his theme song - Streamline Train which was a
variation of Cow Cow Blues. Sound is satisfactory and there are
informative notes by Keith Briggs. (FS)
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| CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON |
Blues Documents BDCD 6007 |
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 2 1939-43 |
$15.98 |
The second of two discs presenting the complete recordings
of this brilliant boogie and blues piano player features 10 tunes from 1939
and 10 from 1943. These tracks include quite a few reworkings of previously
recorded titles like I Don't Know & Streamline Train but his
playing is always a joy to listen to with their flowing and inventive melody
lines. The famed Pinetop's Boogie Woogie takes on new life in his
hands. There are only a couple of vocals here on the remakes of Policy
Blues and I Don't Know - a shame as his husky vocal renditions
are most appealing. Excellent! (FS)
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| LONESOME SUNDOWN |
Ace CDCHD 556 |
I'm A Mojo Man |
$18.98 |
| LONESOME SUNDOWN: Don't Go/ Don't Say A Word/ Hoo Doo Woman Blues/ I Got A
Broken Heart/ I Stood By/ I Woke Up Crying (Oh What A Dream)/ I'm A Mojo
Man/ I'm A Samplin' Man/ I'm A Young Man/ I'm Glad She's Mine/ I'm Gonna
Stick To You Baby/ It's Easy When You Know How/ Learn To Treat Me Better/
Leave My Money Alone/ Lonely, Lonely Me/ Lonesome Lonely Blues/ Lonesome
Whistler/ Lost Without Your Love/ My Home Ain't Here/ My Home Is A Prison/
Sundown Blues/ What You Wanna Do It For/ When I Had, I Didn't Need (Now I
Need, Don't Have A Dime)/ You Know I Love You
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| LONESOME SUNDOWN |
Hightone HCD 8031 |
Been Gone Too Long |
$16.98 |
This is the third incarnation of this outstanding album
(previously on Joliet and Alligator) and the first time on cassette and
compact disc. Lonesome Sundown (Cornelius Green) was one of the best of the
Louisiana bluesmen to be recorded by Jay Miller with his wonederful warm,
smokey and expressive voice and rolling guitar. He retired from music in the
60s and returned briefly to record in 1977 and these recordings show that he
was as good as ever and the fact that he did not continue his resurrected
career is greatly regretted. These recordings were made in Los Angeles where
he was backed with a band of West Coast musicians including guitarist
Phillip Walker who was a protege of Sundown's in the 50s. The accompaniments
are completely sympathetic, the songs are mostly new ones by Sundown, David
Amy or Dennis Walker and production by Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker
brings out the best in everybody. This was no idle recreation of past
glories but a brilliant album that, while true to Sundown's roots, was also
contemporary in the best sense of the word. (AK)
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| BIG JOE LOUIS |
Ace CDCHD 833 |
Big Joe Louis/ Stars In The Sky |
$18.98 |
Two CD set at a single CD price featuring two albums from
late 80s/ early 90s by popular British bluesman plus previously unissued
bonus cuts from the same sessions.
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| JOE HILL LOUIS |
Ace CDCHD 803 |
Boogie In The Park |
$18.98 |
28 track compilation of sides by this
wonderful one-man band recorded for Modern, Meteor and other Bihari labels
in the early 50s.
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| JOE HILL LOUIS |
Bear Family BCD 15524 |
The Be-Bop Boy With Walter Horton And Mose
Vinson |
$19.98 |
Self-taught bluesman (guitar, harmonica, drums) Joe Hill
Louis never took the world by storm, or lived to see the age of 36. But he
did make some damn fine blues records, some with producer Sam Phillips at
the controls. This disc collects 26 sides recorded for Phillips between
March '52 and Sept. '53, when Louis was either leading the sessions or
playing his guitar for Walter Horton or Mose Vinson. For low-down, no frill
blues She Treats Me Mean And Evil is tough to beat, though
Sweetest Gal In Town/ Got A New Woman/ I'm A Poor Boy give it a shot. A
few songs benefit from famous Sidemen Jack Kelly (pno) and Willie Nix (dms),
Dorothy Mae being one of the best. The cuts by Vinson and Horton are
frequently wonderful too, especially Little Walter's Boogie/ My Love Has
Gone. Usual flawless packaging from Bear Family. (JC)
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|
BIG JOE
LOUIS & HIS BLUES KINGS |
Ace CDCHD 622 |
Big Sixteen |
$18.98 |
New album from popular British blues band.
BIG JOE LOUIS & HIS BLUES KINGS: 3-6-9/ Another Married Woman/ Back Door
Slam/ Catfish/ Christmas Eve 1993/ Down Jamaica Way/ Ella Mae/ I Can Tell/ I
Took Care Of My Homework (but Jody Got My Girl And Gone)/ I've Got To Be
More Selective/ Leaving On My Mind/ Rock'n'roll Baby/ She Was All The World
To Me/ The Way I Feel For You/ Treat Your Daddy Right/ Wine Head
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| LOUISIANA RED |
Collectables 5419 |
The Lowdown Back Porch Blues |
$13.98 |
Although Iverson Minter aka Louisiana Red has been
over-recorded in the past 10 years, these recordings from 1962 and '64 are
his best, featuring Red on vocals, electric guitar and harmonica accompanied
by bass and drums. Red sings and plays with passion and conviction on witty
topical songs like Red's Dream and Ride On Red, Ride On,
intense slow blues like Working Man Blues and Sad News (the
latter with some nice slide guitar) and upbeat items like I'm Louisiana
Red and Two Fifty Three. 12 tracks originally issued on Roulette,
and reissued on Vogue LP & CD with additional cuts. The sound quality won't
win any awards, but since the original recordings were excellent the sound
here is perfectly acceptable.(FS)
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| LOUISIANA RED |
JSP 240 |
Always Played The Blues |
$14.98 |
Louisiana Red is one of the most prolific of the
second
string bluesmen and the sheer volume of his recorded work makes it hard to
judge his talents. He is certainly very capable as a singer, guitarist and
harmonica player but his music, though fine in small doses, often seems to
lack focus. This is brought out here most cogently on this 13 song, 78
minute set of recordings with a small band. Red is accompanied here by an
band of mostly British musicians who provide solid, and tasteful
accompaniment. Over half the songs are more than 6 minutes long and there is
just not enough substance or variety to warrant the length. In his somewhat
self serving notes producer John Stedman points out that this amout of music
would have fit on to two LPs in the good old vinyl days. 20 years ago the 13
songs here would have been half as long and would fit nicely onto one LP.
What is all this waffling about? Well this is by no means a bad disc but
with a bit of judicious editing or restraint it could have been one of Red's
best! (FS)
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| LOUISIANA RED |
Severn 0016 |
A Different Shade Of Red - The Woodstock
Sessions |
$15.98 |
11 tracks, 44 minutes, very good. Had Iverson Minter, or
Louisiana Red ceased recording after a few seminal sides in the 1950's, his
position would still be secure among the ranks of blues masters. This set,
recorded at Levon Helm's Barn in 2000, pairs Red with Brian Bisesi and Jimmy
Vivino on guitar, Steve Gomes on bass, Helm's solid drums, and a long list
of guests including David Maxwell and Ola Dixon. From the funk backing and
horn-laced Take Your Time, to the bristling Alabama Train, or
the simple and lowdown acoustic slide featured in Laundromat Blues, everyone
plays their part well. Red is in nice form throughout and his guitar work
has lost none of its flash or brilliance to blend seamlessly with his
distinct and, at times, harrowing vocals. The effortless string band sound
in Phillipa delivers mandolin, acoustic bass, and more of Red's timeless
guitar. (CR)
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|
WILLIE LOVE &
HIS THREE ACES |
Purple Pyramid 832 |
Greenville Smokin' |
$13.98 |
18 tracks, 50 mins, essential Mississippi juke joint blues
at its finest. This album reissues all 18 cuts recorded by this fine
Mississippi piano player for Trumpet between 1951 and 1953 - four of them
never issued on 78 rpm. Love is accompanied by a small group and the
resulting sound has a rough juke joint quality to it with declamatory vocals
and barrelhouse piano by Willie and loose but exciting backup by the band.
Love's material is mix of originals and raucous variations of traditional
blues songs. Among the guitarists featured on these sessions are Elmore
James, Joe Willie Wilkins and Little Milton Campbell! A few of the cuts
feature some appropriately down home tenor sax work. Sound quality is
excellent and there are informative notes by Marc Ryan (if you can raed
them!). (FS)
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| PROFESOR EDDIE LUSK |
Delmark 650 |
Professor's Blues Revue |
$11.98 |
First solo effort by this Chicago blues keyboardist, now on
CD. Features vocalist Karen Carroll and guitarist Joey Woolfalk.
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| JOE LUTCHER |
Classics 5075 |
The Chronological Joe Lutcher, 1947 |
$14.98 |
20 tracks, 54 mins, recommended A fine collection of rocking
jump blues featuring bandleader, alto sax player and vocalist Joe Lutcher -
brother of the better known Nellie Lutcher. Lutcher led a fine swinging band
which included trumpet player Kar George, tenor saxist Bill Ellis, pianist
L.H. Morrow and others. The tracks are divided between instrumentals with
Lutcher himself doing most of the vocals plus there are vocal contributions
from William Copper and Cliff Holland. Solid unpretentious music. Joe's
equally fine 1949/50 recordings for Modern are available on Ace 753
($16.98). (FS)
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| NELLIE LUTCHER |
Collectables 2788 |
Real Gone/ Our New Nellie |
$15.98 |
Two rare Capitol albums on one CD featuring
this fine jazz flavored blues vocalist.
NELLIE LUTCHER: (all Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings/ Alexander's Ragtime Band/
Blue Skies/ Come And Get It, Honey/ Do You, Or Don't You Love Me/ Fine Brown
Frame/ Have You Ever Been Lonely/ He's A Real Gone Guy/ Hurry On Down/ It
Had To Be You/ Let Me Love You Tonight/ My Little Boy/ My Mother's Eyes/
Nearness Of You/ Ole Buttermilk Sky/ Rose Colored Glasses/ So Nice To See
You, Baby/ Someone To Watch Over Me/ Sunny Side Of The Street/ That's A
Plenty/ The Lady's In Love With You/ This Can't Be Love/ Three Little Words/
You Made Me Love You
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