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BLUES & GOSPEL
 David Maxwell -> Stick(s) McGhee

DAVID MAXWELL Tone-Cool 51108 Maximum Blues Piano ● CD $18.98
11 tracks, 66 min., highly recommended
This 1997 album features this veteran of the blues piano on his first solo CD - this after nearly 30 years of touring with the likes of Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt and Otis Rush! A complete instrumental set (except for "Heart Attack" which features vocalist Darrell Lynn Nulisch), 47 year-old David Maxwell is joined by a stellar cast, including guitarists Duke Levine & Ronnie Earl, saxophonists Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff & Gordon Beadle, and Duke Robillard's rhythm section. The highlights are many, and include "Deep into It" (slow blues with Ronnie Earl), a 7 minute solo version of Meade Lux Lewis' "Honky Tonk Train", the very Otis Spann-ish "Walk The Walk", and "Take Me On Home" (slow blues with Ronnie Earl & Gordon Beadle). A perfect CD for those of you who are desperately seeking that "rollin' & thunderin'" piano sound that you associate with Otis Spann's playing. Sound recording is outstanding, with excellent notes by Dick Shurman. (EL)

 
BROTHER JOE MAY Specialty 7033 Thunderbolt Of The Middle West ● CD $13.98
27 tracks, 72 min., recommended
Brother Joe, the baritone belter from Macon, MS., could, without much effort, move a church through the power of his voice. On these recordings culled from 1952-55 sessions, Joe is ably supported by the vocalizing of The Sallie Martin Singers, Sister Wynona Carr, Annette May, and The Pilgrim Travelers. 17 lung-splitting solo outings, 10 previously unissued. Includes hits Search Me Lord/ I'm Gonna Live The Life I Sing About In My Song. The Caruso of post-war gospel. (OLN)
 
PERCY MAYFIELD Acadia 8021 Walking On A Tightrope ● CD $16.98
11 tracks, 34 mins, recommended
A most welcome reissue of Percy's 1968 Brunswick album. Although his greatest recordings were made for Specialty in the 50s he continued to record excellent sides up to his death in 1984. This was made after Percy ended his relationship with Ray Charles for whom he wrote many songs, including the #1 hit Hit The Road Jack and recorded some brilliant sides for Ray's Tangerine label (how about releasing them, Ray?). Apart from his classic Please Send Me Someone To Love and his own version of Danger Zone which he wrote for Charles this is all new material full of his intelligent observations of the world around him and suffused with his dry wit including the title songMay Pain Is Here To Stay/ P.M. Blues/ "Sho Gonna Leave You Alone/ To Me Your Name Is LoveD> and others. There is some fine guitar work by Wayne Bennet on these sides though the rest of the fine band is unknown. A splendid snapshot of a one of a kind performer. (FS)

 
PERCY MAYFIELD Acrobat 4044 Live In San Francisco ● CD $13.98
5 tracks, 29 minutes, very good
Although a disappointingly short set from the remarkable blues poet, Percy Mayfield still had strong moments late in his life. Recorded sometime in the early '80s (as with other recent live offerings on Acrobat - it's short on details) Mayfield hands in decent readings of Cried Last Night/ Baby Please/ Two Years Of Torture/ Strange Things Happening, and Please Send Me Someone To Love while Charles Houff hands in the vocals on a strong Three O' Clock In The Morning. Pee Wee Crayton (listed as Clayton) and Ron Thompson tackle guitar duties with Mark Naftalin on piano. A sonic masterpiece it's not but it has some strong points. (CR)

 
PERCY MAYFIELD Classics 5114 The Chronological Percy Mayfield, 1947-1951 ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, 67 mins, essential
It's not without reason that Percy Mayfield is called "The Poet Of The Blues" with his beautifully crafted, witty and intelligent, but never pretentious, lyrics that can strike at many nerves. Although his songs have been recorded by many singers few could equal Percy's own smokey voiced renditions. This is the first volume in a series documenting his recording career in chronological order and includes some of his greatest performances. It starts with his four earliest recordings for the obscure GruVtone label in 1947 - fine sides marred by the fact that Percy's voice is buried in the mix and is almost inaudible - it does include a recording of one of his most famous songs Two Years Of Torture. That same year he cut four sides for Supreme where the recording balance is much better and includes another version of Two Years Of Toture. After a three year hiatus he was signed to Specialty where he remained for several years and this CD includes all his Specialty hits includes including his first recording for that label - the monumental Please Send Me Someone To Love - one of the great blues songs of the 50s with Percy praying to God for peace and racial equality and, if he's not too busy, could he fix him up with a girl to love - truly brilliant. This set also includes lots of other great songs like Strange Things Happening/ Praying For Your Return/ Lost Love/ What A Fool I Was/ Two Hearts Are Greater Than One/ Advice (For Men Only) and others. Percy was accompanied by some great musicians like Maxwell Davis, Eddie Beal, Gene Phillips, Jack McVea, Willard McDaniel and others. Excellent sound and brief notes by Dave Penny and discographical details. (FS)
PERCY MAYFIELD: Advice/ Cry baby/ Get way back/ Half awake/ Hopeless/ How wrong can a good man be/ I dare you baby/ Jack, you ain't nowhere-part 1/ Jack, you ain't nowhere-part 2/ Leary blues/ Life is suicide/ Lost love/ Lost mind/ My blues/ Nightless lover/ Nightless lover/ Please send me someone to love/ Praying for your return/ Strange things happening/ The big question/ Two hearts are greater than one/ Two years of torture (GruVTone version)/ Two years of torture (Supreme Version)/ What a fool I was

 
PERCY MAYFIELD Classics 5150 The Chronological Percy Mayfield, 1951-1954 ● CD $14.98
25 more brilliant sides by this wonderful singer and songwriter recorded between July, 1951 and March, 1954. Although only one of the songs here was a hit - The Big Question - there are lots of other fine songs here worthy of note including the first recording of the wonderful the River's Invitation (later a hit for him on Tangerine) plus How Deep Is The Well/ Louisiana/ The Lonely Dream/ Memory Pain/ Advice (for Men Only) and others. Includes quite a few tracks not originally issued on 78 rpm.
 
PERCY MAYFIELD Raven 219 Blues Laureate - The RCA Years ● CD $18.98
Fabulous 25 track collection drawn from the sides recorded for RCA between 1969 and 1971 by this great singer and songwriter. All new songs from Percy including the great Highway Is Like A Woman and several witty topical songs (You Wear Your Hair Too Long/ Right On Young Americans). Percy is accompanied by top New York session musicians like Eric gales, Seldon Powell, Richard Tee, Chuck Rainey and others.
 
PERCY MAYFIELD Specialty 7001 The Legends Of Specialty - Percy Mayfield: Poet Of The ● CD $13.98
This compilation aptly subtitled "Poet Of The Blues" has 25 cuts,and is essential listening for any blues & R&B collector. Tracks includes his most well known songs like Please Send Me Someone To Love/ Strange Things Happening/ What A Fool I Was/ Lost Love and others along with the propehtic previously unissued sizzler Advice (For Men Only), the beautiful Life Is Suicide and Memory pain and others. 24 page booklet with notes, discographical information, photos, memorabilia, etc. (OLN)
PERCY MAYFIELD: Advice/ Baby, You're Rich/ Bachelor Blues/ Cry Baby/ Get Way Back/ Hopeless/ I Dare You, Baby/ Life Is Suicide/ Loose Lips/ Lost Love/ Lost Mind/ Louisiana/ Memory Pain/ My Heart Is Cryin'/ Nightless Lover/ Nightmare/ Please Send Me Someone To Love/ Prayin' For Your Return/ Strange Things Happening/ The Big Question/ The Hunt Is On/ The River's Invitation/ Wasted Dream/ What A Fool I Was/ You Don't Exist No More

 
PERCY MAYFIELD Specialty 7027 Vol. 2 - Memory Pain ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 65 min., essential
Since Percy's death (Aug. 84), his reputation as exceptional songwriter and blues-poet has grown by leaps and bounds, and rightly so. The Tangerine and Specialty sides are a testimony to his extraordinary ability to portray pain, joy, and anguish in sad-song format. Memory Pain duplicates, in part, Specialty LP 7000 and Ace CD 153. Much of the remainder has seen reissue on various 45's. Knockouts here include angst-driven Nightless Lover/ Lonesome Highway/ Does Anyone Care For Me/ The Voice Within/ Please Believe Me. Musical perfection delivered by The Maxwell Davis Orch. with a host of luminaries. Material recorded between 1950 and 1957. Includes the excellent demo made for Ray Charles, Hit The Road Jack. Nice artwork from Billboard ads, and fine remastering. (OLN)
PERCY MAYFIELD: Advice (For Men Only)/ Diggin' The Moonglow/ Does Anyone Care For Me/ Hit The Road Jack/ How Deep Is The Well?/ I Ain't Gonna Cry No More/ I Need Love So Bad/ It's Good To See You Baby/ Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/ Lonesome Highway/ Memory Pain/ My Blues/ My Heart/ Nightless Lover/ Please Believe Me/ Please Send Me Someone To Love/ Ruthie Mae/ Stranger Things Happening/ Sugar Mama, Peachy Papa/ The Big Question/ The Lonely One/ The Voice Within/ Two Hearts Are Greater Than One/ You Are My Future/ You Were Lyin' To Me

 
PERCY MAYFIELD Winner 445 Live ● CD $15.98
11 tracks, 52 mins, highly recommended
Available again. It's not without reason that Percy Mayfield is called "The Poet Of The Blues" with his beautifully crafted, witty and intelligent, but never pretentious, lyrics that can strike at many nerves. In the last few years of his life he was no longer crafting new songs but his vocal skills were still strong with a great warmth. In those last years he frequently performed in the Bay Area and was a regular guest on Mark Naftalin's live radio show "Blue Monday Party" and the recordings on this excellent disc are drawn from shows over a two year period. Percy performs some of his most famous songs - River's Invitation/ Strange Things Happening/ Loose Lips/ The Highway Is Like A Woman and other, including of course, his most famous composition Please Send Me Someone To Love. Percy sounds relaxed and enjoying himself with frequent chucckles and asides. He is accompanied by top notch musicians, mostly Bay Area locals including Naftalin on piano, Pee Wee Crayton, Bobby Murray or Ron Thompson/ guitar, Dr Wild Willie Moore, Julian Vaught or Bobbie Webb/ sax and others. Recording quality is excellent and these last recordings by a blues legend are a sublime ending to a career that was often fraught with misfortune. (FS)

 
NORRIDGE MAYHAMS & THE BLUES CHIPS Document DOCD 5488 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, 1936 ● CD $15.98
NORRIDGE MAYHAMS & THE BLUE CHIPS: 'tain't No Use/ Ace In The Hole/ Ash Haulin' Blues/ Chippin' The Rock Of Blues/ Crying Holy Unto The Lord/ Drunk Woman/ Enuff To Run You/ Froggy Bottom/ Give Me That Old Time Religion/ I Want A Girl - Medley. Intro 'let Me Call You Sweetheart'/ I'm A Rattlesnakin' Daddy/ If I Had My Way/ Let's Get Drunk And Truck/ My Gal Sal/ My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race/ Nit Wit Serenade/ Nobody's Darling But Mine/ Oh! Monah/ Over, Children/ Pray For Me Sometime/ Sloppy/ Stay On The Right Side Of The Road/ Why Don't You/ Winter Soon Be/ Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

 
JERRY MCCAIN Music Maker 34 Boogie Is My Name ● CD $15.98
Recent recordings by this veteran singer and brilliant harmonica player. Accompanied by a small group he performs a selection of new songs and tunes. The band is relatively pedestrian but Jerry's singing and playing is top notch.
 
TOMMY MCCLENNAN Document DOCD 5669 The Complete Recordings, Volume 1: 1939-1940 ● CD $15.98
TOMMY MCCLENNAN: Baby, Don't You Want To Go?/ Baby, Please Don't Tell On Me/ Bottle It Up And Go/ Brown Skin Girl/ Cotton Patch Blues/ Down To Skin And Bones/ I'm Goin, Don't You Know/ It's Hard To Be Lonesome/ Katy Mae Blues/ Love With A Feeling/ My Baby's Doggin Me/ My Baby's Gone/ My Little Girl/ New Highway No. 51/ New Shake Em On Down/ New Sugar Mama/ She's A Good Looking Mama/ She's Just Good Huggin Size/ Whiskey Head Man/ Whiskey Head Woman/ You Can Mistreat Me Here

 
TOMMY MCCLENNAN Document DOCD 5670 The Complete Recordings, Volume 2: 1940-1942 ● CD $15.98
TOMMY MCCLENNAN: Black Minnie/ Blue As I Can Be/ Bluebird Blues/ Bluebird Blues (alternate)/ Blues Trip Me This Morning/ Classy Mae Blues/ Cross Cut Saw Blues/ Cross Cut Saw Blues (alternate)/ Deep Blue Sea Blues/ Des E My Blues/ Drop Down Mama/ Elsie Blues/ I Love My Baby/ I'm A Guitar King/ It 's A Cryin Pity/ Mozelle Blues/ Mr. So And So Blues/ Roll Me, Baby/ Shake It Up And Go/ Travelin Highway Man/ You Can't Read My Mind

 
CHARLIE MCCOY Blues Documents BDCD 6018 Complete 1928-1932 Recordings In Chronological Order ● CD $15.98 $11.98
Charlie McCoy was a fine MS. singer/ guitarist/ mandolin player, and this disc presents his complete recordings from 1928-32, except for 4 "undiscovered" sides from '32. The earliest cuts feature McCoy's guitar backing Rosie Mae Moore as she belts out Ha Ha Blues and 2 others. But a lot of the time Charlie is accompanied by one or more of The MS. Shieks (esp. Bo Carter and Walter Vincson), sometimes recording as The Jackson Blue Boys or The MS. Mud Steppers. Among the best tracks are Last Time Blues (#8, not #7 as listed) which features some excellent slide work from Mr. McCoy, the plaintive I've Been Blue Ever Since You Went Away/ You Gonna Need Me/ That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away - 24 songs in all, with usually decent sound. (JC)
THE JACKSON BLUE BOYS: Hidin' On Me/ Sweet Alberta/ CHARLIE MCCOY: Always In Love With You/ Blue Ever Since You Went Away/ Blue Heaven Blues/ Glad Hand Blues/ I've Been/ It Ain't No Good - Part I/ It Ain't No Good - Part Ii/ It Is So Good - Part 1/ It Is So Good - Part 2/ It's Hot Like That/ Last Time Blues/ Mississippi I'm Longing For You/ That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away/ The Northern Starvers Are Returning Home/ Times Ain't What They Used To Be/ Too Long/ You Gonna Need Me/ Your Valves Need Grinding/ THE MISSISSIPPI MUD STEPPERS: Sunset Waltz/ Vicksburg Stomp/ ROSIE MAE MOORE: Ha-ha Blues/ School Girl Blues/ Staggering Blues

 
CHARLIE & JOE MCCOY Blues Documents BDCD 6019 The McCoy Brothers, Vol 1 1934-36 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
Brother Charlie opens this collection with four fine blues songs including Candy Man Blues/ Baltimore Blues, which may have inspired Robert Johnson's Sweet Home Chicago. But Joe, who had more aliases than fingers, takes the bulk of the selections. His gospel preaching sides as "Hallelujah Joe" are interesting enough, but 8 in a row may be pushing it. It's also hard to believe they were anything but attempts to cash in on the religious market. After all, he recorded the suggestive One More Greasing just 6 days before If I Be Lifted Up, then promptly returned to the devil's music. This volume ends with 2 from "Papa Charlie's Boys", including a take of Too Long that's substantially different from the 1932 version. (JC)
CHARLIE MCCOY: Baltimore Blues/ Candy Man Blues/ Charity Blues/ Motherless And Fatherless Blues/ JOE MCCOY: Don't Need No Doctor When I Come To Die/ Dry Bones In The Valley/ Greyhound Blues ('bill' Wilber, Vcl)/ Highway 61/ Hundred/ If I Be Lifted Up/ Look Who's Coming Down The Road/ Main Key To Heaven/ My Babe My Babe ('bill' Wilber, Vcl)/ One In A/ One More Greasing/ Please Baby/ Something Gonna Happen To You/ That Great Love/ The Prodigal's Return/ The World Is A Hard Place To Live In/ Twenty Minutes To Hell (take B)/ Well, Well/ PAPA CHARLIE'S BOYS: Let My Peaches Be/ Too Long

 
CHARLIE & JOE MCCOY Blues Documents BDCD 6020 The McCoy Brothers, Vol 2 1936-44 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
The brothers McCoy recorded extensively with The Harlem Hamfats during the mid-to-late 30's, and though none of those sides are here, the 4 by The Palooka Washboard Band are essentially the same lineup. Most of these 24 sides swing gently, as Charlie and Joe prove themselves to be two of the more versatile pre-war blues musicians. The excellent If You Take Me Back, by Big Joe And His Washboard Band, features some fine harmonica from Robert Nighthawk, as do 3 more. Washboard Sam shows up for the 1942 sessions when 6 sides were cut, including It Ain't No Lie/ Sleeping By Myself. And the last 2 songs from '44 feature Little Brother Montgomery on piano. More fun than volume 1, and sound quality is usually pretty good. (JC)
JOE MCCOY: Bessie Lee Blues/ Come Over And See Me/ Got To Go Blues/ I Love You Baby/ I'll Get You Off My Mind/ I'm Alright Now/ I'm Through With You/ If You Take Me Back/ It Ain't No Lie/ Let's Try It Again/ Myself/ Oh Red's/ Sleeping By/ Twin Brother/ We Can't Agree/ What Will I Do?/ When You Said Goodbye/ Your Money Can't Buy Me/ PALOOKA WASHBOARD BAND: Back Door/ Save Me Some/ We Gonna Move/ You Done Tore Your Pants With Me/ PAPA CHARLIE'S BOYS: Gypsy Woman Blues/ You Can't Play Me Cheap/ TAMPA KID: Baby Please Don't Go/ Keep On Trying

 
ROBERT MCCOY Delmark 759 Bye Bye Baby ● CD $14.98
21 tracks, 69 mins, essential
Fabulous collection of barrelhouse piano blues from Birmingham, Alabama singer & piano player Robert McCoy. McCoy started his musical career in the mid 20s inspired by the playing of his older brothers as well such artists as Clarence "Pinetop" Smith, "Cow Cow" Davenport, Jabo Williams and Leroy Carr. He performed regularly and although he never recorded under his own name he played on recordings by the likes of "Jaybird" Coleman, "Peanut The Kidnapper" and Guitar Slim. Like many others, economic conditions put an end to his musical careerin the 30s. He was discovered by 14 years old blues enthusiast Pat Cather in 1961 who recorded him on a number of occasions over the next few years and issued two now extremely rare albums on his own Vulcan label. The first 14 cuts here are beautifully recorded studio sides, five of them previously unissued, and the remaining seven tracks (6 of them previously unissued) were recorded "on location" and have inferior sound though featuring fine performances. On the basis of these recordings McCoy was a major talent - a wonderful and expressive singer and a sensational piano player with a rolling style that is both energetic and sensitive - you can hear the influences of some of the people he associated with but he is very much an original. His material is a fine mix of traditional based originals and original takes of songs from the repertoire of St. Louis Jimmy, Leroy Carr, Pinetop Smith and others. The opening cut Bye Bye Baby is a real stunner as is his take on Luke Jordan's Church Bell Blues and Leroy Carr's Gone Mother Blues. That McCoy didn't become a regular on the blues circuit is a real shame. A second CD of McCoy's recordings for Cather is in the works for which I can only say "hallelujah"! (FS)

   
ROBERT LEE MCCOY (ROBERT NIGHTHAWK) Wolf WBCD 02 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, 1937-4 ● CD $11.98
This compact disc combines the LPs Wolf 120 and 121 and reissues all the pre-war recordings of McCoy who was later to change his name to Robert Nighthawk. This disc features his 13 recordings from 1937 with second guitar by Joe Williams, harmonica by Sonny Boy Williamson and occasional piano by Walter Davis. There is little opportunity to hear much of his trademark single string slide though it is present on the very fine G-Man Blues. There are also 8 recordings from 1938 and 4 from 1940. The 1938 tracks feature him with Sonny Boy Williamson (hca) and probably Speckled Red (p). 2 of the 4 sides from 1940 feature rather terrible vocals by Robert's then wife Ann Sortier who also plays washboard. The final 2 sides are the best featuring Robert alone with his guitar and includes the superb Friar's Point Blues with lovely slide and was the finest thing that Robert recorded until his magnificent late 40s recordings for Aristocrat. (FS)

 
VIOLA MCCOY Document DOCD 5416 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1923 ● CD $15.98
24 tracks, 69 min., recommended
Vaudeville blues have not been favored by reissue companies, and now with this 1st volume (of 3), Document Records has offered the (near) complete recordings of Viola McCoy except for a few undiscovered titles. The late critic Derrick Stewart-Baxter was of the opinion (as I am) that she scarcely ever made a bad record. If it wasn't for the fact that we know very little about her, I'm sure her recordings would be better known. Until this series, all that was available was one track on Rosetta Records, and the rare Bateau Chinois/Ristic album. Accompanied mostly by pianist Porter Grainger, this volume contains the 1st recordings of Just Thinkin' (covered by both Edna Hicks & Sara Martin), Sad And Lonely Blues (covered by both Alberta Hunter & Edna Hicks) Strut Long Papa, Tain't No Telling What The Blues Will Make You Do (covered by Lena Wilson) and Wish I Had You (And I'm Gonna Get You Blues) (covered by both Fletcher Henderson and Hazel Meyers). As was the custom, she also recorded titles (dare I say, returning a favor!) associated with Ida Cox, Josie Miles, Monette Moore, Trixie Smith and Ethel Waters. (EL)
VIOLA MCCOY: Bama Bound Blues/ Bleeding Hearted Blues/ Chirpin' The Blues (8371-b)/ Chirping The Blues (80991)/ Gulf Coast Blues/ If You Want To Keep Your Daddy Home (11661)/ If You Want To Keep Your Daddy Home (8268)/ Just Thinkin' (a Blues) (8370-a)/ Just Thinkin' (blues) (11656)/ Laughin' Cryin' Blues (80912)/ Laughin' Cryin' Blues (8269-b)/ Long Lost Mama/ Michigan Water Blues/ Midnight Blues (a Wee Hour Chant)/ Mistreatin' Daddy (12029)/ Sad And Lonely Blues/ Strut Long Papa/ Taint No Telling What The Blues Will Make You Do/ Tired O' Waitin' Blues (81033)/ Tired O' Waitin' Blues (8355-a)/ Triflin' Blues (80990)/ Triflin' Blues (8329-b)/ Wish I Had You (and I'm Gonna Get You Blues) (8390)/ Wish I Had You (and I'm Gonna Get You Blues)(12032)

 
VIOLA MCCOY Document DOCD 5417 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1924-1926 ● CD $15.98
24 tracks, 66 min., recommended
Continuing from volume 1, this set contains her original versions of I Don't Want Nobody That Don't Want Me, Mamma, Mamma (Don't Love Her Papa No More), Stomp Your Blues Away, and her two masterpieces, Ive Got The World In a Jug and If Your Good Man Quits You, Don't Wear No Black (with Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five). As with the previous volume, McCoy also recorded titles associated with other singers of the day, including You Don't Know My Mind (with guitarist Charlie Dixon, and originally recorded by Virginia Liston) and How Come You Do Me Like You Do (originally recorded by Marjorie Royce). (EL)
VIOLA MCCOY: Buzzin' Around (take 2)/ Charleston Blues/ Clearing House Blues (take 2)/ Get Yourself A Monkey Man And Make Him/ How Come You Do Me/ I Ain't Gonna Marry, Ain't Gonna Settle Down/ I Don't Want Nobody That Don't Want Me (12946)/ I Don't Want Nobody That Don't Want Me (13147)/ I'm Saving/ I've Got The World In A Jug/ If Your Good Man Quits You, Don't Wear No Black/ It All For You/ It Makes No Difference Now (12948)/ It Makes No Difference Now (13012)/ Keep On Going (vocal Duet With Billy Higgins)(13805)/ Keep On Going (vocal Duet With Billy Higgins)(31699)/ Like You Do (take 2)/ Mama's Gone, Goodbye/ Mamma, Mamma (don't Love Her Papa No More)/ Memphis Bound (take C)/ Papa, If You Can't Do Better (i'll Let A Better Papa Move In)/ Shake That Thing/ South Street Blues/ Stomp Your Blues Away/ Strut His Stuff (vocal Duet With Billy Higgins)/ West Indies Blues/ You Don't Know My Mind (take 2)

 
VIOLA MCCOY/ JULIA MOODY Document DOCD 5418 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 : 1926-1929 ● CD $15.98
25 tracks, 71 min., recommended
This, the final volume of Viola McCoy's recordings has our lady accomanied by stellar players like cornetist Rex Stewart (Fortune Teller), Canadian-born pianist Louis Hooper (Slow Up Papa) and pianist Cliff Jackson (Git goin'). But it's the songs again that (should) win you over : her version of Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues (with Louis Hooper) holds up against Martha Copeland's original version, and those of us who only know versions by Blind Willie McTell/David Bromberg, should listen up and check out these great classic blueswomen. Also included are versions of Victoria Spivey's Black Snake Blues, and Rosa Henderson's Gay-Catin Daddy. The CD is completed with 13 titles by one Julia Moody, including her original versions of Cootie Crawl (with the awesome cornetist Joe Smith), Good Man Sam and Mad Mama's Blues. It's a shame we know nothing about her as nearly all of these 13 songs were only recorded by her. (EL)
VIOLA MCCOY: 'git' Goin' (take C)/ Back Water Blues/ Black Snake Blues/ Body And Soul (he Belongs To Me)/ Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues/ Fortune Teller Blues (tak A)/ Gay-catin Daddy/ I Want A Good Man (and I Want Him Bad)/ If You Really Love Your Baby/ Mama Is Waitin' For You/ Slow Up Papa (take A)/ Some Day You'll Come Back To Me (take B)/ JULIA MOODY: Broken Busted, Can't Be Trusted Blues/ Don't Forget, You'll Regret/ Good Man Sam/ He'll Do You Wrong/ Jada Blues/ Last Night Blues/ Mad Mama's Blues/ Midnight Dan/ Police Blues/ Strivin' Blues/ That Chicago Wiggle/ The Cootie Crawl/ Worried Blues

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN & HIS BLUES BLASTERS Ace CDCHD 720 The Modern Recordings, 1948-1950 ● CD $18.98
25 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Jimmy McCracklin is an important and prolific West Coast singer, piano player and songwriter who is still performing 50 years after these recordings were made. He is a superb and expressive singer and a fine piano player whose slow blues (Deceivin' Blues/ Love When It Rains/ I Think My Time Is Here/ Bad Condition/ Oh! I'm Love, etc) harken back to the mournful style of Walter Davis but in a modern setting. In contrast, his up tempo rockers (Reelin' & Rockin'/ Josephine/ Blues Blasters Shuffle/ Gotta Cut Out, etc) rock like crazy. Jimmy is accompanied by some superb musicians including guitarists Robert Kelton (a dazzling and underrated musician) and the great Lafayette Thomas, drummer Little Red and, on some cuts, saxophonist Maxwell Davis. On a number of tracks Kelton & Thomas both play and the interplay between the two makes for ecstatic listening. This great compilation includes a number of alternate takes or unissued songs including two beautiful demos from a worn acetate with just Jimmy & piano. As always for Ace, sound quality is superb and their informative notes by Ray Topping. The only disappointment is the lack of discographical information except for the limited info in the notes - there's really no excuse for a release this significant. (FS)
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: 1942 Boogie/ Bad Condition Blues/ Bad Health Blues/ Bad Health Blues (demo)/ Beer Drinkin' Woman/ Blues Blasters' Shuffle (instrumental)/ Cold Hearted (take 2)/ Crying Blues/ Deceivin' Blues/ Deceivin' Blues (alternate take)/ Don't Mistreat Me (Take 1)/ Gotta Cut Out/ Hamburger Joint/ I Think My Time Is Here/ I'll Get A Break Some Day/ Josephine/ Just Won't Let Her Go/ Love When It Rains aka Rainy Weather Blues/ Mistreating Me (demo)/ Oh! I'm In Love/ Racket Blues (take 2)/ Reelin' & Rockin' Aka Rockin' All Day/ Up And Down Blues/ You Deceived Me/ Your Heart Ain't Right

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Ace CDCHD 993 Blues Blastin' - The MOdern Recordings, Volum 2 ● CD $18.98
The second volume of Jimmy's great Modern recordings features 12 songs recorded in 1954/55 including two previously unissued plus six alternate takes of songs that were on Ace 720 from his earlier sessions of 1948/49. It also includes six sides featuring some of Jimmy's musical associates - Jerry (aka Lafayette) Thomas, JOhnny Parker and Baby Pee Wee Parham.
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Blues Blasters Boogie/ Cold Hearted (take 1)/ Couldn't Be A Dream/ Darlin' Share Your Love (oh Baby)/ Decievin' Blues (take 3)/ Don't Have To Worry Aka Jumpin' In The Heart Of Town/ Give My Heart A Break Aka You Don't Seem To Understand/ Gonna Tell Your Mother/ Hamburger Joint (take 3)/ I Got Eyes For You/ I'll Get A Break Someday (take 1)/ I've Got A Feeling/ It Ain't No Use/ Let's Get Together/ Lost Mind Aka Standing In The Back Door Crying/ My Mother Said/ Oh! I'm In Love (take 2)/ People Are Wondering Label/ Please Forgive Me Baby/ Rockin' All Day (take 1)/ That Ain't Right/ The Panic's On/ Tired Of Everybody/ What You Did To Me

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Acrobat 101 Jimmy's Blues, 1945-1951 ● CD $9.98
25 tracks, 70 mins, essential
This is only essential if you don't want to get the Classics series of McCracklin which will be reissuing all his early recordings in chronological order. The first volume covering 1945 to 1948 is already available (Classics 5062 - $14.98). However if you don't want to go in depth this is a perfect cross section of early sides starting with early Walter Davis flavored sides with piano accompaniment only and continuing with his great small band sides with The Blues Blasters featruing such great musicians as Shifty Henry, Robert Kelton, Lafayette Thomas and others. Includes Miss Mattie Left Me/ Highway 101/ You Deceived Me/ You Had Your Chance/ Rock And Rye/ Bad Luck & Trouble/ Jimmy's Blues/ I Can't Understand Love/ You Don't Love Me/ True Love Blues/ I Am Tired/ What's Your Phone Number, etc. Excellent sound and booklet with brief notes and full discographical info. (FS)
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Baby Don't You Want To Go/ Bad Luck And Trouble/ Highway 101/ I Am Tired/ I Can't Understand Love/ I'm Gonna Have My Fun/ Jimmy's Blues/ Looking For A Woman/ Mean Mistreated Lover/ Miss Mattie Left Me/ Miss Minnie Lee Blues/ Movin' On Down The Line/ Railroad Blues/ Rock And Rye/ Rock And Rye, Part 1/ Rock And Rye, Part 2/ Rockin' Man/ Southside Mood/ Special For You/ That's Life/ True Love Blues/ What's Your Phone Number/ You Deceived Me/ You Don't Love Me/ You Had Your Chance

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Bullseye Blues 9508 My Story ● CD $15.98 $8.98
Jimmy McCracklin has been on the music scene for more than 50 years as a singer, songwriter and piano player and this fine new release is his first in several years. McCracklin sounds good on a collection of mostly original songs. 7 were recorded in New Orleans with a fine band including Wayne Bennett & John Mooney/ guitars, Ron Levy/ piano and organ and a fine horn section. Two of the songs are duets with Irma Thomas. Four tracks were cut on the west coast with a smaller and tougher band featuring fine tenor by Dr. Wile "Willie" Moore (who recently passed away) and alto by veteran Earl "Good Rockin'" Brown. (FS)
 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Bullseye Blues 9535 A Taste Of The Blues ● CD $12.98
11 tracks, 46 min., very good Arkansas-born James David Walker (aka Jimmy McCracklin) has been recording now for nearly 50 years, and at 73 shows no signs of quitting. With Ron Levy producing, this CD - a 'Blues Summit' of sorts - has a few of his friends helping out. Barbara Lynn (Ozen) is the highlight of the set; her duet & guitar solo on Yesterday Is Gone matches 'Crack's original 1971 (Stax) version. His other friends include Lowell Fulson (I Got Juiced, Not The Right Thing), Johnny Otis (Lie To Me, A Taste Of The Blues), Smokey Wilson (Outside Help, How Do You Like Your New Love), Put Up Or Shut Up (w/Larry Davis). Ten of the songs are originals, with 5 tracks featuring a female vocal group, which I find effective on My Answer, a remake of his 1965 Imperial recording. (EL)

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Classics 5062 The Chronological Jimmy McCracklin, 1945-1948 ● CD $14.98
22 tracks, 64 mins, essential
I'm really delighted to see that Classics are starting to reissue the recordings of Jimmy McCrcaklin. Jimmy, who was still active up until a couple of years ago, was a brilliantly talented performer - a superb singer with a warm engaging style, an excellent piano player, an exceptional songwriter and bandleader. He was one of those artists who had the knack of remaining contemporary while rarely straying very far from the blues. The recordings here from the beginning of his career find him strongly under the influence of one of his favorite bluesman, the great Walter Davis. The first half a dozen cuts from 1945 find him in the company of piano player J.D. Nicholson whose own playing was strongly influenced by Davis and the result are some truly sublime performances. A 1946 session finds him accompanied by the band of Shifty Henry on some more urban numbers including the great up tempo two parter Rock And Rye. In 1947 Jimmy relocated from Los Angeles to the Bay Area where he teamed up with superb guitarist Robert Kelton who appears on most of the sides from 1947 & '48. Music is consistently fine from beginning to end and sound quality is superb. (FS)
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Achin' Heart/ Baby Don't You Want To Go/ Bad Condition Blues/ Bad Luck And Trouble/ Big Foot Mama/ Blues Blasters Shuffle/ Highway 101/ Jimmy's Blues/ Mean Mistreated Lover/ Miss Mattie Left Me/ Miss Minnie Lee Blues/ Ola May/ Playin' On Me/ Railroad Blues/ Rock And Rye/ Rock And Rye, Part 1/ Rock And Rye, Part 2/ She's A Wino/ Special For You/ Street Loafin' Woman/ You Deceived Me/ You Had Your Chance

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Classics 5110 The Chronological Jimmy McCracklin, 1948-1951 ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 73 mins, essential
The second chronological reissue of the recordings of this brilliant West Coast bluesman is another killer featuring recordings from seven sessions between 1948 and January, 1951. 12 of the tracks overlap Ace's reissue of McCracklin's RPM/ Modern recordings (Ace 720) but it's nice to have the tracks in chronological order along with the recordings made for other labels. Most of the earlier sides feature McCracklin's vocal and piano accompanied by a trio with Robert Kelton providing some dazzling guitar work. For his 1950 session he is joined by a second guitar (possibly Lafayette Thomas) and a tenor saxist (probably Maxwell Davis). For his last session he is joined by a completely different group with alto and tenor sax players and probably Pee Wee KIngsley on guitar. Jimmy's singing and piano playing are superb throughout and there are some fine songs - mostly originals along with a great version of Memphis Slim's Beer DRinking Woman and two quite different variations on St. Louis Jimmy's Going Down Slow - one called When I'm Gone (1948) and the other Bad Health Blues (1950). Wonderful music with excellent sound. (FS)
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Bad Health Blues/ Beer Drinkin' Woman/ Deceivin' Blues/ Gotta Cut Out/ Hamburger Joint/ I Can't Understand Love/ I Think My Time Is Here/ I'll Get A Break Someday/ I'm Gonna Have My Fun/ Josephine (just Won't Let Her Go)/ Just Won't Let Her Go/ Listen Woman/ Looking For A Woman/ Love When It Rains/ Low Down Mood/ Rockin' All Day/ Rockin' Man/ She's My Baby/ South Side Mood/ True Love Blues/ Up And Down Blues/ When I'm Gone/ You Deceived Me/ You Don't Love Me/ Your Heart Ain't Right

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Courtney CRCD 5000 The Rockin' Man ● CD $18.98
29 track collection of sides from the 40s and early 50s - Rockin' Man/ You're The One/ I'm Gonna Have My Fun/ Hear My Story/ She's Gone/ I Can't Understand LOve/ I Wanna Make Love To You/ I Don't Want No Woman/ I'm The One/ Rock & Rye, Part 1 & 2/ Farewell, etc. Great music though some tracks have an overly processed sound.
JIMMY MCCRACKILN: Beer Tavern Girl/ Blues For The People/ Farewell/ Hear My Story/ Hello Baby/ House Rockin' Blues/ I Can't Understand Love/ I Don't Want No Woman/ I Need Your Lovin'/ I Wanna Make Love To You/ I'm Gonna Have My Fun/ I'm The One/ It's All Right/ Love For You/ Pleasin' Papa/ Rock And Rye Part 1/ Rock And Rye Part 2/ Rockin' Man/ Savoy's Jump/ She Felt Too Good/ She's Gone/ That's Life/ The Cheater/ True Blues/ We Could Make It A Go, I Know/ What's Your Phone Number/ You're The One

 
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN Gunsmoke 3109 Tell It To The Judge ● CD $14.98
17 tracks, 65 mins, recommended
This new album from blues legend McCracklin is enjoyable if a bit confusing. Some of the recordings are new but there are also a couple of his 60s Imperial sides including the classic Think, there are five cuts from his early 90s albums on Bullseye Blues and some tracks (I don't know how many) from his out of print Evejim album cut in the 80s. All but one of the songs are McCracklin originals - some with a topical message but most dealing with affairs of the heart but all of it demonstrating McCracklin's great skills as an inventive and, often playful, songwriter and after more than 50 years in the music biz he still has that great soulful voice. Sidemen include Pee Wee Ellis, leon Haywood, Lowell Fulson, Smokey Wilson (listed as Smokey Robinson!), Dr. Wild Willie Moore and others. There are occasional intrusions of string and synthesizer's but most of the arrangements are appropriate. Good stuff. (FS)

 
LARRY MCCRAY Atomic Theory ATM 1124 Meet Me At The Lake ● CD $18.98

 
CLARA MCDANIEL HMG 1002 Unwanted Child ● CD $15.98
Very Good Clara sings the REAL St. Louis blues with a fine band that includes Chuck Berry's backbone - pianist Johnnie Johnson & Frank Frost's harpist Arthur Williams. Clara pays tribute to St. Louis's native & adopted sons with fine versions of Albert King's What Can I Do To Change Your Mind, Chuck Berry's Wee Wee Hours (Johnson really shines on this one) & Ike Turner's Hurtin' Inside. (GM)

 
FLOYD MCDANIEL Delmark 671 Let Your Hair Down ● CD $14.98
17 tracks, 66 mins, very good
Singer/ guitarist McDaniel has a musical career dating back to the washboard band The Rhythm Rascalas in the 30s. Since then his career included a long spell with the Chicago group the Four (later Five) Blazes in the 40s & 50s, backing Sam Cooke in the late 50s, playing with a rock group in the 60s and working with one of the many Ink Spots groups in the 70s! On this enjoyable disc he is accompanied by the 7 piece band The Blues Swingers led by tenor saxophonist Dave Clark. Together they recreate the sound of the smooth, jazzy, hip big band blues and R&B of the late 40s. The material is mostly familiar blues, pop & jazz standards like Blue Mood/ Strange Things Happening/ St. Louis Blues/ Sent For You Yesterday/ R.M. Blues and others including a couple of new versions of songs he recorded with the Four (or Five) Blazes. Floyd is an engaging, warm singer and a solid, if not particularly imaginative, guitarist and the instrumental arrangements are spot on. Nothing to here to really set the pulses racing but an evocative and musically top notch collection. (FS)
FLOYD MCDANIEL: Beale Street Baby/ Blue Mood/ Caldonia/ Christopher Columbus/ God Bless The Child/ I Want A Little Girl/ It Don't Mean A Thing/ Let Your Hair Down/ Mary Jo/ Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out/ R.m. Blues/ Raggedy Ride/ Sent For You Yesterday/ St. Louis Blues/ Strange Things Happening/ West Side Baby/ Why Life's Got To Be This Way

 
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL Arhoolie 304 Mississippi Delta Blues ● CD $12.98
Fierce singing and stinging slide guitar from the Delta's Fred McDowell in the best from Arhoolie 1021 & 1027 (Delta Blues, Vols. 1 & 2). Includes the great You Gotta Move, later recorded by the Stones, 2 cuts with his teacher, Eli Green, and some searing playing from a great bluesman.
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: 61 Highway/ Black Minnie/ Brooks Run Into The Ocean/ Bull Dog Blues/ Do My Baby Ever Think Of Me/ Fred's Worried Life Blues/ Frisco Line/ I Ain't Gonna Be Bad No Mo'/ I Heard Somebody Call/ Kokomo Blues/ Louise/ Mama Don't Allow/ My Trouble Blues/ Shake 'Em On Down/ That's Alright/ When I Lay My Burden Down/ Write Me A Few Lines/ You Gonna Be Sorry/ You Gotta Move

 
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL Arhoolie 424 Good Morning Little Schoolgirl ● CD $12.98
22 tracks, 77 min, highly recommended
A Fred McDowell album, particularly if it's on Arhoolie, hardly needs reviewing - the man was just consistently magnificent with his soulful vocals and stinging slide guitar. Even though many of the songs are familiar from other recordings, Fred's performances are always rewarding. The first 11 sides (two previously unissued) are all solo blues - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl/ Fred's Rambling Blues/ I Walked All The Way From East St. Louis/ Gravel Road Blues and others. The remaining 11 tracks, all previously unissued, are gospel songs and Fred is joined by his wife and members of his church congregations on spine chilling performances of Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ I'm Going Over The Hill/ Amazing Grace/ You Gotta Move and other sacred staples. Superb sound throughout and affectionate notes by Chris Strachwitz. (FS)
FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: Amazing Grace (*)/ Bye And Bye (*)/ FRED MCDOWELL: Don't Look For Me On A Sunday/ Drop Down Mama/ Early This Morning (Write Me A Few Of Your Lines) (*)/ Fred's Rambling Blues/ FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: Get Right Church (*)/ FRED MCDOWELL: Good Morning Little Schoolgirl/ Gravel Road Blues/ I Looked At The Sun/ I Walked All The Way From East St. Louis/ FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: I Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down (*)/ I'm Going Over The Hill (*)/ I'm So Glad, Got Good Religion (*)/ It's A Blessing (*)/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning (*)/ FRED MCDOWELL: Little Girl, Little Girl, How Old Are You/ FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: Look Way Down That Lonesome Road (*)/ FRED MCDOWELL: Red Cross Store Blues/ FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: When The Saints Go Marching In (*)/ FRED MCDOWELL: Where Were You When The Rooster Crowed 'Fore FRED/ FRED & ANNIE MAE MCDOWELL: You Gotta Move (*)

 
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL Arhoolie 441 This Ain't No Rock 'n Roll ● CD $12.98