|
BLUES
& GOSPEL
Brother Joe May -> Stick(s) McGhee
| BROTHER JOE MAY |
Specialty 7033 |
Thunderbolt Of The Middle West |
● CD $14.98 |
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 |
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
|
| 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)
|
| 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 |
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 |
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)
|
| 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 |
18 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
More wonderful
Mississippi country blues from one of the masters. The first 8 tracks here
were originally issued on Arhoolie 1046 and are some of the first to feature
Fred on electric guitar. They are a superb set of performances, recorded in
1969, with Fred accompanied by Mike Russo on acoustic guitar, John Kahn/
bass and Bob Jones/ drums who do a very sympathetic job accompanying Fred on
songs like My Babe/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ Diamond Ring/ Dankins
Farm and others. The rest of the disc features tracks recorded at Chris
Strachwitzes house a year earlier and are lmost like a warm up for the later
recordings since they feature Fred on electric guitar with accompaniment by
John Francis on drums. It is easy to see why they were no issued earlier -
the sound quality is not up to Arhoolie's usual high standards and the drum
accompaniments are tentative and not always appropriate. Still, even though
it's not Fred at his best it's still worth a listen. (FS)
FRED MCDOWELL: Bye, Bye Little Girl/ Dankin's Farm/
Diamond Ring/ Ethel Mae Blues/ Going Away, Won't Be Gone Long/ Going Down
That Gravel Bottom/ I Heard Somebody Calling Me/ I Wonder What Have I Done
Wrong/ I Worked Old Lu And I Worked Old Bess/ Jim, Steam Killed Lula/ Keep
Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Levee Camp Blues/ Mama Said I'm Crazy/ Meet
Me Down In Froggy Bottom/ My Baby/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ Worried
Now, Won't Be Worried Long/ You Ain't Treatin' Me Right
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Arhoolie 501 |
The Best Of Mississippi Fred McDowell |
● CD $12.98 |
Great 18 track collection of this magnificent Mississippi
Delta bluesman recorded for Arhoolie between 1964 and 1969. Most of the
tracks are drawn from previously issued Arhooolie CDs with two previously
unissued songs froma live concert. Includes Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/
Levee Camp Blues/ Fred's Worried Life Blues/ Meet Me Down In Froggy/ Keep
Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Shake 'Em On Down/ I Wish I Was In Heaven
Sittin' Down/ I Looked At The Sun/ You Gotta Move, etc.
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: Do My Baby Ever Think Of Me/
Fred's Rambling Blues/ Fred's Worried Life Blues/ Going Away/ Good Morning
Little Schoolgirl/ I Looked At The Sun/ I Wish I Was In Heaven Sittin' Down/
Intro: Shake 'em On Down/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Kokomo Blues/
Levee Camp Blues/ Louise/ Meet Me Down In Froggy Bottom/ My Baby/ My
Bottleneck/ Shake 'em On Down/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ Won't Be Gone
Long/ Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/ You Gatta Move
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Hightone 8151 |
Heritage Of The Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
12 tracks, very good HighTone's introductory disc in their
"Heritage of the Blues" is a fine primer for those unfamiliar with
Mississippi Fred McDowell. Produced by the late Pete Welding and recorded
between 1963 and 1968, four cuts feature Fred's wife Annie Mae along with
Hunter's Chapel Singers of Como, MS. Goin' Over The Hill/ Just A Little
More Faith/ You Got To Move, and Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning
are worth the price of admission alone. The balance of the set finds
McDowell working out on Waiting For My Baby/ The Girl I'm Loving/ Diving
Duck Blues/ My Baby Don't Treat Me Like Human Kind/ Jim Steam Killed Lula/
Pea Vine Special/ Down On Dankin's Farm, and Going Down South, Carry
My Whip. No real surprises, just solid bottleneck guitar and heartfelt
vocals, but at less than 40 minutes, it's far too short. (CR)
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Original Blues Classics OBCCD 535 |
Long Way From Home |
● CD $12.98 |
This is a reissue of Milestone 93003 originally issued in
1968. To my mind there can never be too much Fred McDowell - he was a truly
magnificent performer and possibly the greatest blues discovery of the 60s.
A rich, powerful and expressive singer he was also a unique and brilliant
guitarist whose playing embodied some of the most hypnotic rhythms to be
heard anywhere. He was also a brilliant slide guitarist. What makes this
collection somewhat unique is that it includes several songs that Fred had
not recorded elsewhere. In addition to his unique interpretations of
traditional songs like Poor Boy, Long Way From Home/ Milk Cow Blues
and Sail On Little Girl it also includes less familiar items like
The Train I Ride/ Millionaire's Daughter Blues/ You Drove Me From Your Door,
etc but all of it is superb. (FS)
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Rounder 2138 |
Mississippi Fred McDowell |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 75 mins. essential
Previously available as an
import on Flyright FLYCD 14 - this Rounder edition has new notes by Tom
Pomposello. It's a sensational collection of 20 tracks recorded by this
magnificent Mississippi blues singer and slide guitarist for Dick Spottswood
in 1962. He was in tremendous form and although the technical quality is not
quite up to the standard of some of his later recordings these are among his
most spirited performances and feature several songs not recorded by him
elsewhere. 14 of the tracks were originally issued on Heritage 302 - the
remaining have not been issued before. Songs include Done Left Her/ The
Girl That I'm Lovin'/ On The Frisco Line/ I Rolled And I Tumbled/ John
Henry/ Trouble Everywhere I Go/ Someday Baby and others. It also
includes a rare instrumental from Fred - the eerie Como. Essential
material from a major blues artist. (FS)
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: All The Way From East St.
Louis/ Como/ Done Left Here/ Goin' Down To The River/ Good Morning Little
School Girl/ Highway 61/ I Rolled And Tumbled/ I've Been Drinking Water Out
Of (A) Hollow Log/ John Henry/ Kokomo Blues/ Left My Baby Standing/ Milk Cow
Blues/ On The Frisco Line/ Red Cross Store Blues/ Shake 'Em On Down/ Someday
Baby/ The Girl That I'm Lovin'/ Trouble Everywhere I Go/ Trouble Everywhere
I Go (alternate version)/ Write Me A Few Lines
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Shout Factory 30256 |
Heroes Of The Blues - The Very Best Of
Mississippi Fred McDowell |
● CD $13.98 |
16 tracks, 49 minutes, recommended
Another pleasure in the
long line of Mississippi Blues is the music of Fred McDowell, a slide
guitarist and singer, who although around during the height of recording in
the 1930s, did not make his appearance on record until the late 1950s. While
the 49 minutes of playing time is considerably less than the other discs in
the series, the material is stellar with a mix of standards (Been
Drinkin' Muddy Water Out Of A Hollow Log/ Pea Vine Special/ Drop Down Mama)
and religious titles (Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed and Get
Right, Church!) while Johnny Woods adds incredible harp to Shake 'Em
On Down and the small band assistance on 61 Highway. Nicely
compiled and annotated by Frank Scott. (CR)
FRED MCDOWELL: 61 Highway/ Drop Down Mama/ Get Right,
Church/ I‘ve Been Drinking Water Out Of A Hollow Log/ Jesus Gonna Make Up My
Dying Bed/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Kokomo Blues/ Louise/ My
Baby/ On The Frisco Line/ Pea Vine Special/ Red Cross Store/ Shake ’em On
Down/ Trouble Everywhere I Go/ Write Me A Few Lines/ You Gotta Move
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Snapper Blues 035 |
London Calling |
● CD $9.98 |
14 tracks, 64 min, highly recommended
Originally released on
one and half Red Lightnin' LPs, this stunning performance captured Fred
McDowell at his peak in front of a small stage at The Mayfield Hotel,
London, UK. in 1969. Accompanying himself on electric guitar he performs
stellar versions of some of his trademark songs like 61 Highway/ Red
Cross Store/ Write Me Of A Few Of Your Lines and Shake 'Em On Down
as well as a couple of less frequently performed songs like Evil Hearted
Woman/ I Asked For Whiskey, She Brought Me Gasoline (actually a version
of Big Road Blues) and Standing At The Burying Ground. On the
traditional spiritual When I Lay My Burden Down he shares the vocal
with Britain's finest blues singer Jo Ann Kelley who works extremely well
with Fred though occasionally the lyrics get jumbled. At one point Fred
announces "I'm really enjoying myself here tonight" - you will too! These
recordings have been reissued on CD several times before so you may want to
check your collection. (FS)
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: 61 Highway/ Evil Hearted Woman/
Glory Hallelujah/ I Asked For Whiskey, She Gave Me Gasoline/ Kokomo Blues/
Louise/ My Babe/ My Baby Done Me Wrong/ Red Cross Store Blues/ Shake 'Em On
Down/ Standing At The Burying Ground/ Waves Of The Water/ When I Lay My
Burden Down/ Write Me A Few Of Your Lines
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
FRED MCDOWELL & HUNTER'S CHAPEL SINGERS |
Testament TCD 5004 |
Amazing Grace |
● CD $11.98 |
16 tracks, 39 min., essential
Finally back in print. Good
recordings of rural gospel are always a rare treat, and this 1966 reissue,
featuring superb slide guitarist Fred McDowell, his wife Annie, and the
Hunter's Chapel Singers of Como, Ms., is about the sweetest thing this
side of heaven. In the genre vocal group recordings are particularly
scarce, and the practiced quartet/ quintet arrangements of songs like I
Got Good Religion/ Just A Little More Faith/ Amazing Grace/ When You Come
Out Of The Wilderness and an absolutely entrancing You Got To Move
make this CD required listening. I've Been Converted/ Keep Your Lamp
Trimmed & Burning continue the Delta spiritual tradition of vocal and
bottleneck guitar duets, with McDowell's spooky whine taking on amazingly
lifelike qualities in the remastered mix. The guitarist goes solo on a
powerful unissued performance of Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed, and
sings a hair-raising The Lord Will Make A Way. (MB)
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Testament TCD 6007 |
Levee Camp Blues |
● CD $15.98 $15.98 |
Reissue of Fred's OJL album from 1968 featuring mostly songs
he hadn't recorded elsewhere. This CD includes two previously unissued
outtakes from other sessions.
|
| FRED MCDOWELL
& JOHNNY WOODS |
Fat Possum 80364 |
Mama Says I'm Crazy |
● CD $18.98 |
11 tracks, 43 mins, essential
Fabulous collection of sides
recorded by George Mitchell in 1967 featuring Fred in the company of
excellent Mississippi harmonica player Johnny Woods. Woods was an old friend
of Fred's but was an elusive character and rarely recorded. Woods's chugging
harmonica is a perfect accompaniment to Fred's emphatic vocals and pulsing,
rhythmic and soaring slide guitar work on songs like Shake 'Em Down
(possibly the best version of this song often recorded by Fred)/ Mama
Says I'm Crazy/ Red Cross Store/ John Henry and others. Woods also
contributes a couple of fine vocals ranging the traditional Long Haired
Doney to a wonderful country blues interpretation of Ray Charles's I
Got A Woman. Most of these sides were issued many years ago on LPs on
the British Revival and American Rounder label but this is their first
appearance on CD and appears to include a few previously unissued sides.
(FS)
|
| CHARLIE
"SPECKS" MCFADDEN |
Blues Documents BDCD 6041 |
Complete Chronological Recordings 1929-37 |
● CD $15.98 $11.98 |
20 tracks, 62 mins, recommended
I bet you never expected to
see a whole CD of Charlie "Specks" McFadden? No neither did I? But here we
have a collection of 20 songs performed by this fine but utterly obscure
performer. Apart from the fact that he was from St. Louis and got his
nickname from the glasses he wore not much else is known. He was a fine
singer with a high, expressive voice and recorded for a number of labels
between 1929 and 1937 and on most of his recordings was accompanied by the
brilliant piano of Roosevelt Sykes. Aprt from two 78s that have never been
found this disc presents his entire output. He was best known for his songs
Groceries On The Shelf (about an early supermarket chain) and
People People and he recorded four versions of the former and thre of
the latter. There are other good songs here including Gambler's Blues/
Weak-Eyed Blues, the always topical Times Are Tight and
Lonesome Ghost Blues but it's all worth a listen. Don't let the
obscurity put you off. Sound is generally good and there are notes by Mike
Rowe. (FS)
CHARLIE "SPECKS" MCFADDEN: Broken Down Blues/ Don't Bite
That Thing/ Friendless Man/ Gambler's Blues/ Groceries On My Shelf (91208)/
Groceries On The Shelf (l-155)/ Groceries On The Shelf No. 2/ Harvest Moon
Blues/ Hold It Where You Got It/ Last Journey Blues/ Lonesome Ghost Blues/
Low Down Rounders Blues/ Misunderstood Blues/ People People (91209)/ People
People Blues (l-154)/ People, People (76832)/ Piggly Wiggly Blues/ Times Are
So Tight/ Weak-eyed Blues/ Yellow Woman Blues
|
| TOM MCFARLAND |
Arhoolie 9055 |
Travelin' With The Blues |
● CD $9.98 |
13 tracks, 53 min., highly recommended
A West Coast bluesman
in the musical tradition of B. B. King, the late Tom McFarland earned his
reputation playing in clubs in Portland, Seattle, and Oakland. His first
album, originally released on Arhoolie in 1978, is reissued here with 3
extra tracks. An expressive guitarist and singer, McFarland was the rare
blues guitar slinger who wrote his own material. His best-loved Going
Back To Oakland shows off his subtle yet powerful guitar playing to its
best effect, while the rocking blues of Street Walking Woman is the
kind of song that must have pounded a place like Eli's Mile High Club in
Oakland until the walls throbbed. The extra tracks sound like they're from
the same sessions as the album, with Tom's Boogie the most fun. (JC)
|
| REV. F.W. MCGEE |
Blues Documents BDCD 6031 |
Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 1,
1927-29 |
● CD $15.98 |
22 tracks, 77 min., good
Reverend F.W. McGee had a
God-given talent for conveying the gospel with rhythm, upholding the holy
entertainment of the C.O.G.I.C. The revival tent was his stage, but he got
over on record too - his Jonah/ With His Stripes We Are Healed 78
sold over 100,000. Most sides feature his rudimentary, soulful singing/
preaching style, often with jumping piano, small choruses, and even jazzy
brass. After some early experimentation he fell into a formula, but there's
a lot of fine sanctified singing here among the sermons and worn-out
rarities. (MB)
|
| REV. F.W. MCGEE |
Blues Documents BDCD 6032 |
Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 2,
1929-30 |
● CD $15.98 |
21 tracks, 71 min., recommended
By late 1929, McGee had
become a master showman, prefacing his sermons with catchy music, writing
his own gospel songs, and adopting novel imagery on sermons like Dead Cat
On The Line/ 50 Miles Of Elbow Room/ Sure Route Excursion To Hell. The
improvements over vol. 1 are numerous - besides his more confident delivery,
The Rev. benefits from better sound and better musicians. Start here and
work backwards if you want more; I found this to be truly enjoyable
throughout. (MB)
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE |
Blue Rock'It 104 |
Facts Of Life |
● CD $18.98 |
1985 album by Brownie recorded on the West Coast where he
was living at the time. On this album he is accompanied by various Bay Area
musicians including the famed Robben Ford on guitar, Mark Hummel on harp and
Clay Cotton on piano. It's nice to hear Brownie again in an electric band
context though the album lacks the spark to make it a really exciting
production. (FS)
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE |
Original Blues Classics 505 |
Brownie's Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
Fine set of 1960 recordings of Brownie with Sonny Terry on
harp and Bennie Foster on second guitar.
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE |
Smithsonian Folkways 40034 |
The Folkways Years 1945-1959 |
● CD $15.98 |
Brownie McGhee recorded six Folkways albums, showcasing the
country blues master in the period between his early days as a Blind Boy
Fuller-style guitarist/ singer, and his second career as one of the best
known rediscovered bluesmen. Eleven of the 15 songs on this hour-long disc
are solo pieces; three of the remaining pieces feature McGhee's longtime
collaborator, harmonica player Sonny Terry; all the tracks showcase McGhee's
direct and steadfast singing and playing styles. The marvelous Just A
Dream is a previously unreleased guitar/ piano duet that is the only cut
here which does not have excellent sound. This is a fine, representative
collection with very good liner notes. (JG)
BROWNIE MCGHEE: 'Fore Day Creep/ Betty And Dupree/ Can't
Help Myself/ Careless Love/ Cholly Blues/ Daisy/ Grievin' Hearted Blues/
Hangman's Blues/ I'm Gonna Tell God How You Treat Me/ Just A Dream/ Living
With The Blues/ Long Gone/ Me And Sonny/ Pallet On The Floor/ Pawn Shop
Blues/ Raise A Ruckus Tonight/ Rising Sun
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE
& SONNY TERRY |
BGO BGOCD 443 |
At the Bunkhouse |
● CD $17.98 |
Reissue of album originally issued on Smash featuring the
duo recorded at The Bunkhouse in Vancouver, Canada in 1965. Pretty much
typical Brownie & Sonny of the era - Ride And Roll/ Miss Ida / I'll Be
Anything/ Whoee, Whoee/ C'mon If You're Comin'/ Amen, etc.
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE
& SONNY TERRY |
Original Blues Classics OBCCD 561 |
At The 2nd Fret |
● CD $12.98 |
10 tracks, 46 min., recommended
By the time that this fine
set was recorded, live, in 1962, these two blues stalwarts had moved out of
the world of blues, through the world of rhythm and blues, and on into the
world of folk music. Their combination of sophisticated guitar work and
urgent backwoods harmonica worked well in all three arenas, but seemed
particularly attractive to appreciative folk audiences like this one. Among
the featured tracks here are Evil Hearted Me/ Barking Bull Dog/ Backwater
Blues/ Motorcycle Blues, and I Woke Up One Morning And I Could Hardly
See. A pleasure from start to finish. Excellent stereo sound, with
original cover art and liner notes. (DH)
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE
& SONNY TERRY |
Smithsonian Folkways 40011 |
Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry Sing |
● CD $15.98 |
Remastered, repackaged version of Folkways 232 originally
issued in 1958 featuring this ever popular duo with Gene Moore/ drums.
|
| BROWNIE MCGHEE
& SONNY TERRY |
Vestapol DVD 13056 |
Red River Blues |
● DVD $23.98 |
DVD. Various filmed performances of this fine and
popular duo throughout the years including two songs filmed for the Library
Of Congress in 1948 (one with Woody Guthrie), songs performed on Pete
Seeger's "Rainbow Quest" TV show, a 1973 performance on BBC TV and more.
|
|
SONNY
TERRY & BROWNIE MCGHEE/ MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT, |
Shanachie DVD 607 |
ETC. Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest |
● DVD $18.98 |
DVD, 24 "tracks," approx. 2 hours, highly recommended In the
recent Scorsese documentary on Dylan, only once did brother Bob ever seem to
care genuinely about anyone's opinion of his music when he went electric,
and that opinion belonged to Pete Seeger. Seeger's television show circa
1967 is remarkable for its total lack of slickness. No one will ever again
be free to invite interesting musicians (some famous, some obscure) of
wildly diverse styles and backgrounds and just let them play. No product
placement, no one pushing his latest album. The first show here features
Sonny Terry & Browning McGhee trading songs with Seeger (although most of
the time they join in on each other's songs), including McGhee's amusing
original I Couldn't Believe My Eyes and the wonderful Don't Pity
Me. Terry's amazing harp playing is a joy to witness and hear, and his
vocal performance on Leadbelly's Rock Island Line helps to make it a
highlight of the show. McGhee is his usual soft-spoken and charming self. In
the second episode of Rainbow Quest, Seeger sits around a table with
Mississippi John Hurt, Hedy West, and Paul Cadwell as each takes turns
playing for the others. Hurt (who had recently been "rediscovered" and
rerecorded) comes across as the gentlest of souls, modest and more than
capable of some very fine guitar work. Hedy West, a Georgia-based folk
singer performs in English (Cotton Mill Girl and German Ballad Of
William Moore while accompanying herself on 5-string banjo. Caldwell,
who never worked as a professional musician, specializes in old-style,
nylon-string (he uses fishing line) banjo, performing ragtimes and cakewalks
as few people have ever heard. (There's even a brief round-table discussion
of the origins of the cakewalk!) It's a blessing that Seeger saw fit to make
these performances available to posterity. (JC)
|
24 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
The second volume of
sides by the talented younger brother of Brownie McGhee who sadly passed
away in 1960 at the age of 43. Sticks was a lovely singer with a style not
too unlike his brother and a gifted songwriter who wrote interesting songs
with appealing melodies. A couple of the tracks here attempt to emulate the
sound of his big hit DRinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee and while none of
them hit it big they are appealing nonetheless. The earliest sessions find
him in the company of Brownie on electric guitar and second vocal and later
sessions find him with other fine New York sidemen like Mickey Baker, Sir
Charles Thompson and others and his last session in 1959 features him with
Sonny Terry & J.C. Burris. His catchy Whiskey Women And Loaded Dice
was covered by country artist Jack Cardwell. A most enjoyable selection from
an artist who deserves to remembered for more than for one song. (FS)
|
| STICK
MCGHEE & HIS SPO-DEE-O-DEE BUDDIES |
Ace CDCHD 502 |
New York Blues |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks, 52 mins, very good
Entertaining, if somewhat
lightweight, collection of blues from King focussing on the recordings of
Granville Heneley "Stick" McGhee, younger brother of Brownie McGhee. He had
a hit for Atlantic in 1949 with the much covered Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee,
Drinking Wine and his 1953 & '55 sessions for King featured several
variations on the same theme like Jungle Juice/ Whiskey, Women & Loaded
Dice and Double Crossing Liquor. The rest of the material on
which he is accompanied by New York session musicians like Sir Charles
Thompson, Mickey Baker, Jimmy Wright and others is more novelties like
The Wiggle Waggle Woo, blues ballads and the odd straight blues. The
disc features four cuts by "Big Tom Collins" - a group that included Brownie
McGhee & Jack Dupree who each take two of the vocals. These are the best
cuts here. The disc is rounded out with four cuts by Ralph Willis
accompanied by Brownie and Sonny Terry - pleasant enough but not the equal
of his earlier recordings. (FS)
STICK MCGHEE: A Real Good Feeling/ Blues In My Heart And
Tears In My Eyes/ Dealin' From The Bottom/ Do Right/ Door Bell Blues/ Double
Crossin' Liquor/ Get Your Mind Out The Gutter/ Gonna Hop On Down The Line/
Head Happy With Wine/ Heart Breaking Woman/ Heartache Blues/ I'm Doin' All
The Time/ Jungle Juice/ Little Things We Used To Do/ Sad, Bad, Glad/ Six To
Eight/ The Wiggle Waggle Woo/ Watchin' My Stuff/ Whiskey Women And Loaded
Dice/ Why'd You Do It
|
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