|
BLUES
& GOSPEL
The Pilgrim Travelers -> Queen Ida
| THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS |
Specialty 7030 |
Walking Rhythm |
● CD $15.98 |
29 tracks, 72 min., recommended
The first of two CD
collections of prime acappella close harmony gospel in walking rhythm.
Contained are unissued, alternate, and previously issued-on-wax sides from
the stunning lead chops of Kylo Turner and Keith Barber, who fronted
L.A.'s Travelers during the 1947-56 Specialty sojourn. The quintet cut
over 100 sides during this time. The selection here is drawn from the 1947
through 1951 time frame. The second collection will deal with later
material. Taken from original 16" metal masters and filtered through
a no-noise system to produce fine presence and clarity of sound. Great
addition to 7704 - The Best Of The Pilgrim Travelers. (OLN)
|
| THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS |
Specialty 7053 |
Better Than That |
● CD $15.98 |
28 tracks, 73 min., recommended
This is the third Travelers
disc to be issued by the folks at Fantasy Records, the current owners of
the Specialty catalog, and a fitting companion to the earlier two,
"The Best of the Pilgrim Travelers" (SPCD 7204) and
"Walking Rhythm" (SPCD 7030). This time around the emphasis is
on performances from the early to mid-50s, when the Travelers were one of
the top draws on the gospel circuit. Among the many highlights are I
Could Do Better Than That/ Gonna Walk Right Out/ Go Ahead/ The Life You
Save May Be Your Own, and Hold On, with alternating leads. The
numbers here are as fine as those on the earlier releases. Sound quality
is good, as is the cover booklet design, and the notes are by the gospel
authority Ray Funk. (DH)
|
| THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS |
Specialty 7204 |
The Best Of The Pilgrim Travelers Vol. 1
& 2 |
● CD $15.98 |
The Pilgrim Travelers' recording career started right here
in the Bay Area for the late Bob Geddings' Big Town label in 1946. In 1948
they signed with Specialty and stayed for 8 years, during which time they
cut approximately 90 sides. Lead chores were usually shared by Keith
Barber and the distinctively original tenor voice of Kylo Turner. Tenor
James W. Alexander, who later formed Sar Records with Sam Cooke, was also
a founding member of the quintet. Raphael Taylor, the group's bass, was
later replaced by the great George "Oopie" Mc Curn, who sang in
The Ink Spots before going solo in 1963. Great tight precise harmony
usually supported by a heavy rhythmic background in traditional post-war
quartet fashion. Includes their major hit Straight Street. First
reissued as Specialty "Best Of" albums 2121 and 2140, with
improved overall sound. (OLN)
|
| SISTER LUCILLE POPE |
MCA 21096 |
Lord, I'm In Your Hands |
● CD $8.98 |
10 tracks,39 mins, highly recommended
A wonderful collection
of gospel singing from a truly outstanding performer. Sister Pope has a
husky voice that is coupled with a searing intensity, devoid of
histrionics, which will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Most of
the cuts are from the late 70s and feature her with a small group (an
excellent guitarist, organ, bass & drums) and vocal group and she does
original songs of faith like Jesus Was By My Side/ It's So Good/ Lord,
I'm In Your Hands/ Some Sweet Day After Awhile and others. There is
also one of her earliest recordings, ffrom 1964, the terrific Jesus
Tore My Heart To Pieces where she is accompanied by her group The
Pearly Gates featuring one of the deepest bass voices I've ever heard! I
assume that this is a truncated version of the Nashboro CD issued a few
years ago but there are no notes of any kind on this budget issue. (FS)
|
| TINY POWELL |
Withasongtoo ----- |
Heaven In My View - The Tiny Powell Gospel
Collection |
● CD $15.98 |
28 tracks, 76 mins, essential. Fantastic collection of
gospel quartet singing featuring the intense, soulful lead vocals of Vance
"Tiny" Powell. He is featured with three of the groups he
performed with - The Golden Harp Singers and The Paramount Singers from
Tiny's home turf in the San Francisco Bay area and three tracks with the
nationally renowned Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi where he shares lead
vocal honors with the great Archie Brownlee. There's also a beautiful solo
performance of Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine from a 1947 test pressing.
There are also three more 1947 acapella test pressings by Tiny's first
group The Golden Harp singers including the stunning I Love The Lord
with its great "lining out" feel. Tiny spent most of his gospel
career with the Paramount Singers who he worked with on and off between
1948 and 1960 who are featured on the bulk of the recordings here cut
between 1948 and '55 - the earliest sides are acapella but subsequently
added piano, guitar and, on the last session, organ. Among the highlights
are the previously unissued Breathe On Me, a lyrical version of Peace
In The Valley and the wonderful two part In That Awful Hour
which just builds and builds to church wrecking fervor. Finally there are
three tracks from 1950 from Tiny's brief tenure with the Five Blind Boys
of Mississippi where he holds his own in the company of Archie Brownlee.
Sound quality is generally excellent and there fine notes by Opal Nations
who compiled with this collection with the co-operation of Tiny's daughter
Victoria. (FS)
|
| PREACHER JACK |
Solo Art SACD 97 |
At The Piano - Non Stop Boogie |
● CD $13.98 |
9 tracks, 68 minutes, recommended
Back in '71, everybody was
excited how Canned Heat was able to fill an entire LP with a single long
boogie (Refreed Boogie from "Living The Blues"). Well
Precher Jack jumps into the fray with both feet with the title track, a 32
minute tour-de-force stream of consciousness boogie that, along with his
own stuff incorporates a few boogie classics especially by his heroes
Jimmy Yancey & Albert Ammons. His love of these 2 geniuses is
reflected on his other 8 tracks, all originals with references to his
heroes, including Albert's Suitcase Blues/ Yancey's Bugle Blues/
Albert's Boogie Stomp. A great collection of solo piano. (GM)
|
| JESSE PRICE |
Blue Moon BMCD 6019 |
The Singing Drummer Man |
● CD $15.98 |
26 track collection featuring all the recordings made by
drummer/vocalist Price under his own name. Most of the tracks date from
1946 to '48 plus two from 1957. Blues, R&B and a bit of jazz.
|
| SAMMY PRICE |
Jazz Archives 159 452 |
Story 1940/48 |
● CD $11.98 |
A fine 20 track cross section of the work of the talented
and prolific piano player including solo piano sides, instrumentals with
small groups and accompaniments to Big Joe Turner, Cousin Joe, Sister
Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight.
|
| SAMMY PRICE
& HIS BLUESICIANS |
Progressive 7074 |
1944 World Jam Session |
● CD $13.98 |
21 tracks, 46 mins, very good
Nice album of instrumental
jazz flavored piano blues and boogie produced by Milt Gabler for World
Broadcasting Systems in New York. Accompanying Price are Ike Quebec/
tenor, Bill Coleman/ trumpet, Oscar Pettiford/ bass & others. The
music is enjoyable though the fact that the album includes all the
alternate takes, incomplete takes and false starts can get a little
tiresome. (FS)
|
| JOHN PRIMER |
Earwig 4924 |
Stuff You Got To Watch |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 69 min., recommended
Former Muddy Waters'
guitarist (he replaced Sammy Lawhorn) and present day Teardrop with Magic
Slim, Primer offers up some rock-solid Chicago blues on his American solo
album debut. The songs are about evenly divided between
traditional-sounding originals (Inflation Blues/ I'm Gonna Ride Until I
Get Satisfied/ Fed Up Baby) and covers, including a blistering version
of J. B. Lenoir's The Mojo, Otis Rush's Double Trouble, and
a reworking of the Lawrence Weiss-penned Glen Campell chart topper Rhinestone
Cowboy that will make you actually like the song!--or as close to it
as you're likely to come without the use of controlled substances. Primer
gets the most from his voice and his guitar. Bandmates include fellow
Magic Slim associates Nick Holt (b.) and Michael Scott (dms.), among
others. (JC)
|
| JOHN PRIMER
& THE TEARDROPS |
Wolf 120.306 |
Easy Baby |
● CD $16.98 |
Good set of live Chicago blues recorded at the Zoo Bar in
Lincoln, Nebraska by the always solid and dependable John Primer with the
Magic Slim backing group (Nick Holt/ bass & Michael Scott/drums).
Mostly well done covers of songs associated with Jimmy Reed, B.B. King,
Muddy Waters, Magic Sam and others - String To Your Heart/ Gambler's
Blues/ I've got A Problem/ Little Rain/ Easy Baby/ That's All I Need,
etc.
|
| JOHN PRIMER |
Wolf 120.852 |
Poor Man Blues - Chicago Blues Session Vol.
6 |
● CD $15.98 |
Excellent debut album by vocalist/ guitarist Primer who
worked for several years with Muddy Waters, and more recently with Magic
Slim who joins him on guitar on several cuts. John is a powerful singer
and a gritty guitarist in the tough Magic Slim vein. Accompanied by a
solid rhythm section he performs some originals, Muddy's My Eyes Keep
Me In Trouble and Magic Slim's I'm A Blues Man, the latter with
some nice slide guitar. 11 songs.
|
| JOHN PRIMER |
Wolf 120.875 |
Blues Behind Closed Doors |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 60 mins, recommended
John Primer's third Wolf
album, recorded in 1992 and '93 is another solid collection of Chicago
blues ranging from the very traditional flavored Smoketsack with
acoustic guitars and harp to the soul flavored Somebody Have Mercy
by Sam Cooke with nice horn work from the Chicago Playboys Horns. Most
tracks feature Primer accompanied by his regular band The Teardrops (Magic
Slim, Nick Holt & Earl Howell) and a number feature harp work by Billy
Branch. As always Primer's singing is powerful and expressive and he plays
tough yet tasteful guitar. Material is a mix of originals like the title
song, Don't Hear Me Crying For You and Yes I'm Crazy About My
Baby and nicely done covers of Elmore James' 1839 Blues, Little
Walter's Just Your Fool, Freddie King's Tore Down and
others. (FS)
|
| JOHN PRIMER |
Wolf 120.885 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol 39 - Cold Blooded
Bluesman |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks recorded between 1991 and 1994 by this excellent
Chicago bluesman - half with electric bands and half acoustic.
|
| JOHN PRIMER |
Wolf 120.899 |
It's A Blues Life |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 67 mins, recommended
Another fine set from
talented Chicago singer/ guitarist Primer. Like his former boss Magic
Slim, Primer is a master of stright ahead hard driving blues with tough
vocals and gritty guitar. His band has a solid rhythm guitar, bass and
drum section but is somewhat let down by the flabby harmonica and piano
work. The songs are mostly covers including Wolf's I've Been Abused,
J.B. Lenoir's Mama Talk To Your Daughter, Albert KIng's Can't
You See What Your're Doing To Me and a particularly fine and heartfelt
version of Little Walter's Last Night. There are also three
originals including the powerful minor key Lonesome For Your Love.
The disc ends with a couple of nice acoustic tunes - Lightnin's Give Me
Back My Wig and Muddy's Rock Me. A worthwhile effort. (FS)
|
| GARY PRIMICH |
Flying Fish 70635 |
Travelin' Mood |
● CD $15.98 |
Blues harmonica ace & vocalist takes the
listener on a tour through the New Orleans sound and early r&b.
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Alligator 4718 |
Crawfish Fiesta |
● CD $16.98 |
Superb album recorded in 1979 just a few months before his
death. Longhair's singing and playing are at its peak, the band is top
notch and guest guitarist Dr. John adds some tasty licks. 12 songs,
including It's My Fault, Darling/ Bald Head/ Whole Lotta Loving/ Big
Chief/ Her Mind Is Gone. A must! (FS)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Atlantic 7225 |
New Orleans Piano |
● CD $12.98 |
A beautiful collection featuring all but one of the songs
recorded by Fess in New Orleans in 1949 and 1953 for Atlantic. This CD
adds 3 tracks the the previous LP reissue including the other take of
Fess's theme song Tipitina and two songs from 1949 - Mardi Gras
In New Orleans and She Walks Right In which have not been on LP
before. These are Fess in his prime singing with fire and playing his
distinctive rhumba blues piano style. Accompanying musicians include
Robert Parker/as, Charles Burbank/ts & John Boudreaux/d (1949) or Lee
Allen/ts, Red Tyler/bs, Walter nelson/g (1953) so you know he's in good
company. Essential! (FS)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Classics 5004 |
The Chronological Professor Longhair, 1949 |
$14.98 |
24 tracks, 66 mins, essential
The roots of New Orleans
R&B featuring all the earliest recordings of one of the finest and
most influential performers. These are Fess in his prime singing with fire
and playing his distinctive rhumba blues piano style. Accompanying
musicians include Robert Parker/as, Lee Allen/ ts, John Boudreaux and
others. It includes his original recordings of songs that became staples
of his repertoire and of New Orleans R&B in general like She Ain't
Got No Hair/ Mardi Gras In New Orleans/ Bald Head/ She Walks Right In
as well as other great songs like She Ain't Got No Hair/ Byrd's Blues/
Oh Well/ Longhair Stomp/ Between The Nigh And Day/ Hey Little Girl/ Walk
Your Blues Away/ Boogie Woogie and more. Excellent sound, brief
informative notes by Dave Penny and full discographical info. (FS)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Dancing Cat 3006 |
Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo |
● CD $16.98 |
A classic revisited and improved! This album was recorded in 1974
and it has been remixed by the album's original producer Philippe Rault and two previously unissued songs from the session have been
added. The remix gives added emphasis to Fess's superb piano and the sound is brighter and crisper. On this session, Fess was joined
by a superb rhythm section and splendid guitarist 'Gatemouth' Brown. Fess is in top form on a selection of New Orleans classics (Junco
Partner/ Rockin' Pneumonia/ Tipitina), R&B favorites (Mean Ol' World/ Dr. Professor Longhair), a calypso (Rum & Coke)
and a country favorite (Jambalaya with bluesy fiddle by Gate).
(FS)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Night Train 2002 |
Byrd Lives |
● CD $18.98 |
There are quite a few live Fess albums out there - many with
the same choice of songs. To stand out a new release would have to be
something special and this is not the case here - material is all the old
favorites, Fess (as always) sings and plays well but the piano is badly
recorded and, in fact, the overall sound balance is pretty bad. Add to
that a rather obnoxious guitar player and you have an album for
completists only!
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Rhino 70736 |
Mardi Gras In Baton Rouge |
● CD $12.98 |
18 Longhair songs from 1971/'72, made shortly after his
triumphant return to performing. No real surprises in the repertoire here,
with favorites like Mardi Gras In New Orleans/ Jambalaya/ Her Mind Is
Gone/ Cry To Me/ She Ain't Got No Hair/ Tipitina/ Hey Now Baby/ Whole
Lotta Lovin' etc. The lack of new material must be the reason these
sessions went unreleased; there are no musical shortcomings to speak of,
and in fact the backing bands (with guitarist Snooks Eaglin, Meters'
drummer Zig, and many New Orleans hornmen) are the tightest and funkiest
the Professor ever had. Nice crisp sound, too. (MB)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Rhino 71502 |
Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology |
● CD $31.98 |
2 CD's, 40 tracks, 2 hrs., 12 min., recommended
Professor
Longhair was no mere musician - he was a Crescent City piano demi-god, a
skinny, shades-wearin' rhythm ruler unto himself. Some even say his steady
rolling boogie piano was the heart of New Orleans music, but anyone would
agree that if you haven't heard 'Fess, you haven't heard one of the best.
This anthology does what none have attempted before, assembling definitive
performances of songs the Professor cut countless times for countless
little labels, and generally is right on the mark, beginning with his
first (and only) hit, Bald Head (1950). The earlier material is
consigned to disc one, including Tipitina/ Who's Been Fooling You/ Hey
Now Baby/ In the Night/ She Walks Right In and other (often crudely
recorded) charmers, most cut for Atlantic. Beginning with the Ebb singles Baby
Let Me Hold You Hand/ No Buts No Maybes the sound and energy level
improves dramatically, and the disc parades its way out joyfully through Cuttin'
Out/ Go To The Mardi Gras/ Big Chief and more. 7 selections from the Rock'N'Roll
Gumbo LP open the second CD, including Mardi Gras In New Orleans/
Junco Partner/ Mess Around, followed by a knowledgeable mix of other
70's cuts like the buoyant Whole Lotta Lovin', Longhair's personal
approach to the blues on Everyday/ Mean Old World, and the
thoroughly swingin' Sick And Tired. In this chronological lineup,
the final cuts are less than climactic, but stick close to the tradition,
and do show flashes of instrumental brilliance. Overall, the best tracks
would have made a flawless single disc, but on the other hand, who can
resist a little too much of a good thing? (MB)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Rounder 2057 |
House Party New Orleans Style |
● CD $15.98 |
CD reissue of splendid recordings. See newsletter #63 for
review of equivalent record.
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
Stony Plain 1214 |
Fess' Gumbo |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 48 min., highly recommended
Originally recorded
(in November 1979) for broadcast on CBC Radio (it never happened!), this
New Orleans studio session by Henry Roeland Byrd (1918-1980) is making
it's first appearance ever. The producer's idea was to record the
Professor in a solo piano context and even though (with headphones on) you
can "feel" the presence of a small band on some tracks, only his
piano playing was recorded. The 9 instrumentals are interspersed with an
interesting interview conducted by his long time friend & band member,
tenor saxophonist Andrew Kaslow. Highlights include Mess Around
(Ray Charles), Tipitana, Whole Lotta Loving (Fats Domino)
and How Long Has That Train Been Gone. (EL)
|
| SNOOKY PRYOR |
Antone's 74708 |
Mind Your Own Business |
● CD $11.98 |
|
|
| SNOOKY PRYOR |
Blind Pig 72387 |
Snooky |
● CD $15.98 |
Fine 1987 album by this veteran Chicago singer &
harmonica player teams him with a tough small band featuring Steve Freund/
gtr, Bob Stroger/ bass & Willie Smith/ drums. Snooky is in good form
on a selection of new songs, revamped versions of traditional items and
remakes of some of his old recordings. The band do an excellent job
complementing Snooky and Freund's Eddie Taylor flavored guitar is
impressive. Songs include Broke & Hungry/ Judgement Day/ It Hurts
Me Too/ Cheatin' & Lyin'/ Key To The Highway, etc. (FS)
|
| SNOOKY PRYOR |
Electro-Fi 3359 |
Can't Stop Blowin' |
● CD $15.98 |
New recordings from veteran Chicago blues harpist with band
including guest guitarist Mel Brown.
|
| JOE PULLUM |
Document DOCD 5393 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1934-1935 |
● CD $15.98 |
|
|
| JOE PULLUM/ANDY BOY |
Document DOCD 5394 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1935-1951 |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks by Pullum and 12 by Andy Boy (4 with vocals by
Walter "Cowboy" Washington).
|
| HENRY QUALLS |
Dallas Blues Society 8901 |
Blues From Elmo Texas |
● CD $15.98 |
|
| DOUG QUATTLEBAUM |
Testament TCD 6003 |
If You've Ever Been Mistreated |
● CD $13.98 |
Previously unissued recordings from 1961 by excellent singer
and guitarist from Philadelphia. Quattlebaum is a superb singer and an
original guitarist and his material includes original songs and
traditional blues, gospel and R&B songs.
|
| QUEEN IDA |
GNP 2147 |
& Bon Temps Zydeco Band On Tour |
● CD $15.98 |
1986 live recordings from Queen Ida's European tour,
featuring Al Rapone. 13 good time songs, including La Louisiane, Frisco
Zydeco, C'est La Vie .
|
| QUEEN IDA
& THE BON TEMPS ZYDE |
GNP 2158 |
In San Francisco |
● CD $15.98 |
On this album Ida's singing and accordion is complemented by
fine guitar by Douglas Dayson and fiddle by Pierre Allen. The material is
a mixture of zydeco, old time cajun, pop, rhythm & blues and country. Fais
Deaux Deaux/ Bad Moon Rising/ Every Now & Then/ Passe La Porte/ Zydeco
Taco/ Back Door/ Raywood/ Vaporosa/ My Girl Josephine/ Jambalaya
|
| QUEEN IDA |
GNP 2181 |
Caught In The Act |
● CD $15.98 |
|
|
| QUEEN IDA |
GNP 2197 |
Cookin' With Queen Ida |
● CD $15.98 |
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