|
BLUES
& GOSPEL
Carl Martin -> Mississippi Fred McDowell
|
CARL MARTIN/ WILLIE "61" BLACKWELL |
Document DOCD 5229 |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order |
● CD $15.98 |
25 tracks, 76 mis, essential
Some truly wonderful music
here, particularly the 13 solo cuts by Carl Martin. Martin was a wonderful
singer with a dark rich vocal style, slightly reminiscent of Big Bill
Broonzy. He was also a dazzling guitarist utilizing intricate bass runs,
string snapping and melodic slides which in spite of their complexity never
overwhelm the song. His songs are fascinating too, sometimes topical as in
the case of Joe Louis Blues/ Let's Have A New Deal and High Flood
water Blues, sometimes risque (That New Kind Stuff) and sometimes
featuring unusual construction as in the case of Badly Mistreated with
it's amazingly extended phrases. His version of the traditional Crow Jane
Blues is little short of a masterpiece. The later songs feature added
accompaniments but Carl was at his best as a solo performer. This disc also
includes two tracks by The Tennessee Chocolate Drops - a black string band
featruing Carl with violinist Howard Armstrong and bassist Roland Armstrong.
There are also two cuts by duo Louie Blue and Ted Bogan - another string
band. Some 40 years later Martin was to join up with Bogan and Howard
Armstrong and toured as Martin, Bogan & Armstrong to much acclaim. The disc
is rounded out by Willie "61" Blackwell whose simple guitar style couldn't
be more unlike that of Martin's. In spite of his simplistic guitar and the
utilization of the same melody on all eight songs his music is very
listenable thanks to his extremely engaging vocal style and his fascinating,
and sometimes bizarre, lyrics - his Machine Gun Blues and Noiseless Moter
Blues are particularly intriguing - and what does he mean by Chalk My Toy!?
Though not included here (so not really "complete" recorded works) Blackwell
recorded the weirdest blues title when he recorded for the Library Of
Congress in 1942 Junian, A Jap Girls Christmas For His Santa Claus
(honestly!). Sound is generally good and there are informative notes by Dave
Moore. (FS)
WILLIE "61" BLACKWELL: Bald Eagle Blues/ Chalk My Toy/
Don't Misuse Me, Baby/ Four O'clock Flower Blues/ Machine Gun Blues/
Noiseless Motor Blues/ Rampaw Street Blues/ She's Young And Wild/ LOUIE
BLUIE & TED BOGAN: State Street Rag/ Ted's Stomp/ CARL MARTIN: Badly
Mistreated Man/ Crow Jane/ Farewell To You Baby/ Good Morning, Judge/ High
Water Flood Blues/ I'm Gonna Have My Fun (when I Get My Bonus)/ Joe Louis
Blues/ Kid Man Blues/ Let's Have A New Deal/ Old Time Blues/ That New Kind
Of Stuff/ You Can Go Your Way/ You Can't Play Me Cheap/ THE TENNESSEE
CHOCOLATE DROPS: Knox County Stomp/ Vine Street Drag
|
| SARA MARTIN |
Document 5395 |
In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 : 1922-1923 |
● CD $15.98 |
24 tracks, 73 mins, very good
Louisville born Sara Martin
was a popular and prolific performer during the 20s who had already been
singing for 20 years when she made her first recording of Sugar Blues
in 1922 accompanied on piano by it's composer Clarence Williams. Williams
provides most of the accompaniments on the 12 sessions represented here and
his undistinguished playing complements her undistinguished singing. The
most interesting tracks here feature her in the company of W.C. Handy's
Orchestra. Her later recordings find her with some interesting
accompaniments but here it's pretty much vaudeville blues by the numbers.
Good notes by Pen Bogert.(FS)
SARA MARTIN: Achin' Hearted Blues/ Come Home Papa Blues/
Cruel Backbitin Blues/ Goin' Down To The Levee/ Hesitation Blues (duet With
Eva Taylor)/ I Got What It Takes To Bring You Back/ If You Don't Like It,
Leave/ If Your Man Is Like My/ It Takes A Long Time To Get 'em But You Can/
Joe Turner Blues/ Just Thinkin' Blues/ Keeps On A-rainin' (papa, He Can't
Make No Time)/ Laughin' Cryin' Blues/ Leave My/ Lose 'em Overnight/ Man (i
Sympathize With You)/ Michigan Water Blues/ Monkey Man Blues (duet With
Clarence Williams)/ Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine/
Original Blues/ Sugar Blues/ Sweet Daddy Alone/ That Free And Easy Papa
O'mine (duet With Eva Taylor)/ Tired O'waitin' Blues/ Where Can That
Somebody Be/ Yodeling Blues (duet With Eva Taylor)/ You Just Can't Have No
One Man By Yourself
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| SARA MARTIN |
Document 5396 |
In Chronological Order, Vol. 2 : 1923-1924 |
● CD $15.98 |
|
SARA MARTIN: A Green Gal Can't Catch On (blues)/ Atlanta
Blues/ Blind Man Blues/ Blue Gum Blues/ Daddy Blues/ Everybody's Got The
Blues/ Good-bye Blues/ Graveyard Dream Blues/ I'm Satisfied/ I've Got To Go
And Leave My Daddy Behind/ Jelly's Blues/ Longing For/ Mistreated Mama
Blues/ My Good Man's Blues (mahalia's Blues)/ My Man Blues/ New Orleans Hop
Scop Blues/ Roamin' Blues/ Runnin' 'round With The Blues/ Slow Down Sweet
Papa Mama's Catching Up With You/ Sweet Man Was The Cause Of It All/
Sympathizing Blues/ Troubled Blues/ Uncle Sam Blues/ Ye Shall Reap Just What
You Sow
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| SARA MARTIN |
Document 5397 |
In Chronological Order, Vol. 3 : 1924-1925 |
● CD $15.98 |
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SARA MARTIN: Cage Of Apes/ Can't Find Nobody To Do Like My
Old Daddy Do/ Daddy, Ease This Paine Of Mine/ Down At The Razor Ball/ Eagle
Rock Me, Papa/ Every Woman Needs A Man/ Georgia Stockade Blues/ Got To Leave
My Home Blues/ He's Never Gonna Throw Me Down/ I Can Always Tell When A Man
Is Treatin' Me Cool/ I'd Rather Be Blue Than Green/ I'm Gonna Hoodoo You/
I'm Sorry Blues/ If I Don't Find My Brown I Won't Be Back At All (take A)/
Mournful Blues/ Now To Get Your Baby Back/ Old Fashioned Sara Blues/
Pleading Blues/ Poor Me Blues/ Sobbin' Hearted Blues/ Some Blues (no Name
Blues)/ Strange Lovin' Blues/ Things Done Got Too Thick/ Too Late/ What
Kinda Man Is You
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| SARA MARTIN |
Document DOCD 5398 |
In Chronological Order, Vol. 4 : 1925-1928 |
● CD $15.98 |
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SARA MARTIN: Alabamy Bound/ Brother Ben/ Careless Man
Blues/ Cushion Foot Stomp/ Death Sting Me Blues/ Don't Turn Your Back On Me/
Hole In The Wall/ How Could I Be Blue/ I Want Every Bit Of It I Don't Like
It Second Hand/ Kitchen Man Blues/ Late Last Night/ Mean Tight Mama/
Mistreating Man Blues/ Some Of These Mornings/ Some Sweet Day/ Take Your
Black Bottom Outside/ That Dance Called Messin' Around/ The Last Time/ The
Prisoner's Blues/ What More Can A Monkey Woman Do/ What's The Matter Now?/
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby/ You Going Ain't Giving Me The Blues
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| SARA MARTIN |
Retrieval 79028 |
The Famous Moanin' mama, 1922-1927 |
● CD $11.98 |
22 tracks from this vaudeville singer with accompaniments
from Fats Waller, W.C. Handy's Orchestra and various Clarence Williams
groups.
SARA MARTIN: 'tain't Nobody's Bus'ness If I Do/ A Green
Gal Can Catch On Blues/ Atlanta Blues/ Blind Man Blues/ Brother Ben/
Careless Man Blues/ Come Home Papa Blues/ Cushion Foot Stomp/ Down At The
Razor Ball/ Graveyard Dream Blues/ How Could I Be Blue?/ I Want Every Bit Of
It/ I'm Gonna Hoodoo You/ It Takes A Long Time To Get 'em But You Can Lose 'em
Overnight/ Last Go Round Blues/ Mama's Got The Blues/ Take Your Black Bottom
Outside/ The Prisoner's Blues/ What More Can A Monkey Woman Do?/ What's The
Matter Now?/ You're Got Ev'rything A Sweet Papa Needs But Me/ Your Going
Ain't Giving Me The Blues
|
| DAISY MARTIN
& OZIE MCPHERSON |
Document 5522 |
Complete Recorded Works, 1921-1926 |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks by Martin (1921-1923) and 8 by McPherson
(1925-1926). Accompanying musicians includeLovie Austin, Jimmy O'Bryant,
Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Green, Coleman Hawkins, Jake Frazier, Clarence
Williams and others.
DAISY MARTIN: Brown Skin (who You For)/ Change Your Ways/
Everybody's Man/ Feelin' Blues/ Honolulu Lou/ How Long? How Long? (absent
Blues)/ I Didn't Start In To Love You (until You Stopped Loving Me)/ I Won't
Be Back 'till You/ If You Don't Want Me (please Don't Dog Me 'round)/ Is My
Man/ Keep On Going (when You Get Where You're Going You Won't Be Missed At
All)/ Nightmare Blues/ Play 'em For Mama Sing 'em For Me/ Royal Garden Blues
(take A)/ Spread Yo' Stuff(take A)/ Sweet Daddy/ What You Was - You Used To
Be (but You Ain't No More)/ Won't Someone Help Me Find My Lovin' Man?/ OZIE
MCPHERSON: Down To/ He's All Right With Me/ He's My Man/ I Want My Loving/
I'm So Blue Since My Sweetie Went Away/ Like Mine/ Nobody Rolls Their Jelly
Roll/ Outside Of That/ Standing On The Corner Blues/ The Bottom Where I
Stay/ You Gotta Know How
|
| THE SALLIE MARTIN
SINGERS |
Specialty 7043 |
Throw Out The Lifeline |
● CD $15.98 |
29 tracks, 77 min., recommended. Sallie Martin has never
been given all the credit she deserves. This highly influential singer/
songwriter nurtured the careers of such luminaries as Bro. Joe May and Alex
Bradford. Stylistically, the Sallie Martin Singers fit into the Clara Ward/
Roberta Martin mold, except for two important, unique differences: the deep,
almost baritone lead of Sallie and the peerless contralto of adopted
daughter Cora. The set includes the widely-selling title cut and the
outstanding God Is A Battleaxe. 23 cuts are by the Martin Singers, and
six cuts have Cora as featured soloist. Scads of previously unreleased tunes
and demos, plus songs from long out of print singles. Scholarly, in-depth
notes and bio. (OLN)
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| MARTIN, BOGAN &
ARMSTRONG |
Flying Fish 003 |
Martin, Bogan & Armstrong / That Old Gang Of
Mine |
● CD $15.98 |
Delightful collection of black string band music featuring
long time friends and associates Carl Martin, Ted Bogan & Howard Armstrong
playing a wide range of instruments joined by Howard's son Tom on bass.
Material includes blues, jazz, pop songs and more. This CD reissues two
Flying Fish LPs from the mid/late 70s.
MARTIN, BOGAN & ARMSTRONG: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues/
Chinatown/ Do You Call That A Buddy?/ I'd Do Most Anything For You/ Ice
Cream Freezer Blues/ In The Bottom/ Jamaica Farewell/ Let's Give A Party/
Marie/ Nagging Woman Blues/ Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out/ Sheik
Of Araby/ Streets Of Old Chicago/ Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi/ That Old Gang Of
Mine/ They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree/ Yes Pappy Yes/ You'll Never Find
Another Kanaka Like Me
|
| TONY MATTHEWS |
HMG 5502 |
Condition: Blue |
● CD $13.98 ● CD $8.98 |
Reissue of album originally issued on Alligator in 1981 by
original bluesman. Interesting mixture of blues, soul, jazz and funk with
emphasis on the blues - good singing and guitar by Matthews and very varied
arrangements. CD has bonus track previously only available in Japan.
|
| DAVID MAXWELL |
Tone-Cool 51108 |
Maximum Blues Piano |
● CD $18.98 |
11 tracks, 66 min., highly recommended
Presently
touring/recording with the James Cotton trio, this veteran of the blues
piano has finally recorded his own 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 $15.98 |
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 $15.98 |
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 song
May 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)
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| PERCY MAYFIELD |
Specialty 7001 |
The Legends Of Specialty - Percy Mayfield:
Poet Of The |
● CD $15.98 |
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 prophetic 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
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| PERCY MAYFIELD |
Specialty 7027 |
Vol. 2 - Memory Pain |
● CD $15.98 |
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
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| PERCY MAYFIELD |
Winner 445 |
Live |
● CD $14.98 |
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. 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
chuckles
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 most welcome. (FS)
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| 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 |
Ichiban ICHI 1516 |
Retrospectives |
● CD $15.98 ● CD $9.98 |
12 track compilation of songs drawn from recordings made for
Ichiban in the late 80s and early 90s. All original songs, often with a
witty topical edge featuring Jerry's fine vocals and stellar harp blowing
with various backups. Includes Blues Tribute/ Sue Somebody/ I've Got The
Blues All Over Me/ Burn The Crackhouse Down/ Spoiled Rotten To The Bone/
Lucy Pearl/ The World's On Fire, etc.
|
| TOMMY MCCLENNAN |
Document 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 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 6018 |
Complete 1928-1932 Recordings In
Chronological Order |
● CD $15.98 |
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
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| CHARLIE & JOE MCCOY |
Blues Documents 6019 |
The McCoy Brothers, Vol 1 1934-36 |
● CD $15.98 |
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 6020 |
The McCoy Brothers, Vol 2 1936-44 |
● CD $15.98 |
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
career in 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 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 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)
|
| 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/ JULIA
MOODY |
Document 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 BLASTER |
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 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 ● CD $9.98 |
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 $15.98 |
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 |
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)
|
| JIMMY MCCRACKLIN |
Stax 8506 |
High On The Blues |
● CD $12.98 |
12 tracks, 43 min., recommended.
The first ten cuts first
came out as the 1971 "Yesterday Is Gone" LP. Highlights include the
hip-grinding funk remake of Just Got To Know, a country-ish Yesterday
Is Gone, the soulful strutting of Would Man Be Satisfied/ You're The One
and the Willie Mitchell production trademarks that spruce up every track.
The Hi Records sound (and backing band) make the bonus track I Got Somebody
well worth hearing, too. Even if you're not in love with the sound of
Jimmy's voice, he is one of the best songwriters in the blues, and with
Mitchell at the controls, these thoughtful soul-blues creations work like a
charm. (MB)
|
| LARRY MCCRAY |
Atomic Theory ATM 1124 |
Meet Me At The Lake |
● CD $18.98 |
|
| 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
Actually 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 from a live concert.
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 Gotta 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 1718 |
Portrait Series : The First Recordings |
● CD $15.98 |
1959 recordings, his first, by this magnificent Mississippi
bluesman. Includes never before issued cuts plus songs he never recorded
again!
FRED MCDOWELL: 61 Highway/ Goin' Down To The River/ Good
Monring Little Schoolgirl/ I Want Jesus To Walk With Me/ Keep Your Lamp
Trimmed & Burning (instrumental)/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Shake
Em On Down/ What's The Matter Now/ When The Train Comes Along/ Wished I Was
I Heavn Sitting Down/ Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On Jesus/ Worried
Mind/ You Dont Told Everybody/ You're Gonna Be Sorry
|
| 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 |
● 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 |
Testament TCD 6007 |
Levee Camp Blues |
● CD $14.98 ● CD $10.98 |
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.
|
| MISSISSIPPI FRED
MCDOWELL |
Tradition TCD 1012 |
Steakbone Slide Guitar |
● CD $9.98 |
|
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: Big Fat Mama/ Get Right Church/
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Levee
Camp Blues/ The Train I Ride/ Unknown Blues/ What's The Matter With Papa's
Little Angel Child?/ You Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore/ You Got To Move
|
| 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)
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