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BLUES
& GOSPEL
Saffire ->
Lonnie Shields
| SAFFIRE | Alligator 4780 | The Uppity Blues Women | ● CD $13.98 |
| SAFFIRE | Alligator 4796 | Hot Flash | ● CD $13.98 |
| The uppity blues women strike again with 16 sassy originals
and classics like Sloppy Drunk/ Why Don't You Do Right. |
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| SAFFIRE | Alligator 4811 | Broadcasting | ● CD $13.98 |
| SAFFIRE | Alligator 4826 | Old New Borrowed & Blue | ● CD $13.98 |
| SATAN & ADAM | Flying Fish 70623 | Mother Mojo | ● CD $14.98 |
| SATAN & ADAM | Rave-On 0331 | Living On The River | ● CD $13.98 |
| New album from New York based duo. Includes a bonus CD-ROM
track featuring concert footage, interviews and interactive footage. This
track can only be accessed on a Macintosh. |
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| KEN SAYDACK | Delmark 725 | Foolish Man | ● CD $14.98 |
| Chicago keyboard player featured on many sessions with the
first album under his own name. |
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| E.C. SCOTT | Blind Pig 5019 | Come Get Your Love | ● CD $14.98 |
| SON SEALS | Alligator 4703 | Son Seals Blues Band | ● CD $13.98 |
| Tough set with rhythm section accompaniment only - |
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| SON SEALS | Alligator 4708 | Midnight Son | ● CD $13.98 |
| Son's first album with horns - |
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| SON SEALS | Alligator 4712 | Live & Burning | ● CD $13.98 |
| 9 tracks, 45 min., recommended. Energetic live set recorded
at Wise Fools Pub in Chicago, 1978. Son is joined by A.C. Reed on sax and
Lacy Gibson on guitar - I Can't Hold Out/ Funky Bitch/ Help Me
Somebody/ Last Night/ Call My Job, etc. |
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| SON SEALS | Alligator 4720 | Chicago Fire | ● CD $13.98 |
| His note-bending guitar style is more or less borrowed from
B.B. King by way of Albert, but that doesn't mean Son Seals isn't his own
man. Still, if you wanted to prove what a great bluesman he is, you'd
probably pick something off the excellent Midnight Son or Live
And Burning albums before this 1980 reissue. The 9 songs here still
make for solid blues listening, especially Landlord At My Door/ Crying
Time Again/ Leaving Home, all composed by the guy on the cover. (JC) |
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| SON SEALS | Alligator 4738 | Bad Axe | ● CD $13.98 |
| SON SEALS | Alligator 4798 | Living In The Danger Zone | ● CD $13.98 |
| Women. When will they treat Mr. Seals right? Not on this
album, which is his sixth for Alligator. The sure-fingered Chicago blues
guitarist covers familiar territory: woman as temptress, as deceiver, as
danger, as obsession, as annoyance, as schemer. It's all here. He throws
in a woman-as-refrigerator metaphor for good measure! Seals, who wrote
five of the eleven songs and co-produced, is a fine if somewhat limited
blues singer, but as always his guitar is king. If Tell It To Another
Fool or Ain't That Some Shame doesn't convince, Bad Axe
is sure to. (JC) |
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| SON SEALS | Alligator 4822 | Nothing But The Truth | ● CD $13.98 |
| SON SEALS | Alligator 4846 | Spontaneous Combustion | ● CD $13.98 |
| THE SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS | Document DOCD 5499 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1939-1941 | ● CD $14.98 |
| 24 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended. According to gospel
expert Ray Funk, who wrote the liner notes here, the Selahs were the
preeminent New York jubilee quartet of the 30's. They had been together
for over a decade before they actually recorded, so their style, which
focuses on slow harmony singing, owes a greater debt to the groups of the
20's and early 30's than it does to the syncopated sound of groups like
the Golden Gate Quartet. Featured numbers here include Royal Telephone,
How Happy I Am, I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside, They
Kicked the Devil Out of Heaven, I'll Fly Away, Leak in the
Building, How Will You Feel When You Come Out of the Wilderness,
and Have You Any Time for Jesus. Soulful and often solemn music,
beautifully rendered by this important early quartet. And music that I
wouldn't miss for the world, but do note that the listening does get a
little rough on a few tracks. (DH) |
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| THE SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS | Document DOCD 5500 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1939-1945 | ● CD $14.98 |
| 23 tracks, 65 min., highly recommended Volume two of
Document's Selah retrospective finds leader Thurmon Ruth carefully
strengthening his group's sound by replacing departing members with
outstanding veterans of other polished ensembles. New members during this
period include bass J. B. Nelson and former members of the Norfolk
Jubilees, baritone Melvin Colden and tenor Norman "Crip" Harris.
So, the early numbers here - like I Saw the Light, Just a Closer
Walk with Thee, Let Us All Run to Jesus, and King Jesus Is a
Rock in the Weary Land - are solid examples of jubilee harmony, but
the latter part of the program - featuring Let the World See Jesus in
My Life, Jesus Prayed Just Before He Died, I'll Fare Better
in That Land, and When Was Jesus Born - is both stronger and
more complex. Even with the variable sound quality that such a set as this
presents, this is definitely not a disc to miss. (DH) |
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| THE SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS | P-Vine PCD 5547 | Selah Gospel Train | ● CD $22.98 |
| 26 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended. A beautiful
collection of gospel quartet harmony from this outstanding and important
group. It essentially continues on from Document 5500 featuring 26 sides
recorded for Continental, Lenox, Arista & Capitol between 1945 and
1949. For most of this period the lineup was constant featuring the sweet
and soulful leads of Thurman Ruth and Williams "Highpockets"
Langford (the latter also provides the guitar accompaniment), the baritone
of Theodore Harris and Jimmy Gorham on bass. The perform traditional and
original songs like You Go & I'll Go With You/ Dry Bones/ Selah
Gospel Train/ Standing On The Highwat/ I Opened My Mouth To The Lord/
Jericho Road/ Going To See My Jesus, etc. On the last two sides from
1949 the lineup had changed considerably with only Ruth and bass singer
Gorham remaining - he is joined on leads by Alden "Allen" Bunn
with Junius Parker/tenor and Melvin Colden/ baritone. These two sides
display a slightly harder edge than the earlier sides. Wonderful gospel
singing! (FS) |
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| THE SENSATIONAL NIGHTINGALES | MCA Special Products MCAD 22044 | The Best Of The Sensational Nightingales | ● CD $8.98 |
| The best Nightingales material features the hard gospel lead
of the amazing Julius Cheeks, a man who beat Wilson Pickett to his sound
by 10 years. This reissue of Peacock LP #137 contains some
earth-shattering vocal shouting from Cheeks, but not all of it - Cheeks
left in 1960. Listen to Burying Ground/ Standing In The Judgement
and just try not to be impressed. Other wonderful songs include the hit To
The End, a startling version of A Closer Walk With Thee/ Never Said
A Word/ I Want To Go. The lack of any notes or photos is regrettable,
but this is essential gospel music and not to be missed. (JC) |
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| TOM SHAKA | Crosscut 11025 | Hit From The Heart | ● CD $16.98 |
| Vocalist plays the blues on harmonica & guitar |
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| SHAKEY JAKE | Original Blues Classics 572 | Good Times | ● CD $11.98 |
| SHAKEY JAKE | Original Blues Classics 559 | Mouth Harp Blues | ● CD $11.98 |
| 10 tracks, 36 min., Reissue of Jake's 2nd LP, originally
Prestige /Bluesville 1027 from 1961. Jake's featured on harp and vocals on
this fine laid back set with Jimmie Lee Robinson on guitar. These are
mostly originals, including Jake's Cha Cha/ Love My Baby/ Angry Love/
My Broken Heart, plus Easy Baby, made famous by Jake's nephew
Magic Sam. GM) |
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| MEM SHANNON | Hannibal HNCD 1387 | A Cab Driver's Blues | ● CD $12.98 |
| 18 tracks, 54 minutes, recommended. The title is self
explanatory - this New Orleans singer/guitarist is also a cab driver. This
session of tunes features blues, funk & soul in an enjoyable set which
includes many autobiographical tunes, including Play the Guitar Son/
Taxicab Blues/ If This Ain't the Blues, plus a lot of conversations in
between songs that were recorded in the back of his cab! Also wonderful is
My Baby's Been Watching TV - "She's got a TV in the kitchen/
One in the bedroom & the living room too/ She runs from one room to
another/ watching Oprah, Geraldo & Phil Donahue" (GM) |
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| MEM SHANNON | Hannibal HNCD 1409 | 2nd Blues Album | ● CD $12.98 |
| 11 tracks, 54 min., recommended. 37 year-old ex-Cab driver
& guitarist Mem D. Shannon Jr. has a way with lyrics that reminds me a
little of fellow New Orleans-born Larry Garner. The topics on this new CD
range from the status of the poor in hospitals (Charity), the
economy (Wrong People In Charge), why & when you need a new car
(Down Broke), lost love (Mirror Mirror) and a salute to the
past (Old Men). He sings and performs these original songs with
complete sincerity. (EL) |
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| PRESTON SHANNON BAND | Bullseye Blues 9545 | Break The Ice | ● CD $14.98 |
| OMAR SHARIFF | Arhoolie 365 | The Raven | ● CD $12.98 |
| Singer/ piano player Omar Shariff, who previously went under
the name of Dave Alexander recorded two LPs for Arhoolie in 1972. Now,
some 20 years later, he steps into the studios to record again for the
same label. This 17 track disc features 10 new recordings along with 7 of
the best of those earlier recordings. Shariff is a fine singer and player
with an expressive husky vocal style and is also a fluent piano player who
can turn out a neat boogie as on Omar's Boogie or The Rattler.
He is also a good writer and the title song, a soul flavored blues, is for
and about his younger brother who was beaten to death in Oakland in the
early 70s. There are other good originals like House Built By The
Blues/ San Francisco Can Be Such A Lonely Town/ The Hoodoo Man, etc.
He is accompanied on most tracks by a bass player and drummer. His version
of Jerry Lee Lewis's Great Balls Of Fire is fun though not
particularly special and the cocktail lounge ballad This Is Love is
pretty expendable. Still an enjoyable set from a fine performer who has
been off the scene for too long. (FS) OMAR SHARRIFF: Blue Tumbleweed/ Cold Feeling/ Fillmore Street Boogie/ Great Balls Of Fire/ House Built By The Blues/ Jimmy, Is That You?/ Just A Blues/ Love Is Just A Fool/ Omar's Boogie/ San Francisco Can Be Such A Lonely Town/ So You Want To Be A Man/ Stranded In St. Louis/ Suffering With The Lowdown Blues/ The Hoodoo Man/ The Rattler/ The Raven/ This Is Love |
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| CHARLIE SHAVERS | Timeless CBC 025 | Charlie Shavers & The Blues Singers | ● CD $15.98 |
| 23 tracks, 1938/39, remastered by John R.T. Davies -
vocalists include Trixie Smith, Grant & Wilson, Rosetta Howard,
Alberta Hunter and others. |
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| EDDIE SHAW | Evidence 26028 | Movin' And Groovin' Man | ● CD $12.98 |
| 10 tracks, 39 min., recommended. Excellent and powerful set
by this fine Chicago singer and sax player, originally on Isabel LP
900.514. Mostly original songs - Shaw sings and plays very well and is
accompanied by a fine band featuring some stunning guitar by Melvin
Taylor, plus a guest appearance by Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. |
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| EDDIE SHAW | Rooster Blues 2624 | In The Land Of The Crossroads | ● CD $14.98 |
| Energetic set of contemporary Chicago styled blues featuring
former Howling Wolf sax-player Eddie Shaw on vocals, sax and harmonica
with his son Eddie Shaw Jr. on guitar, Lafayette Gilbert on bass and
Robert Plunkett/ drums. Most of the songs are originals and, though not a
great singer, Eddie gives them all he's got and son Eddie Jr. provides
some nice licks. (FS) |
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| EDDIE SHAW | Wolf 120.879 | Home Alone | ● CD $14.98 |
| EDDIE SHAW & THE WOLF GANG | Wolf 120.866 | The Blues Is Good News - Chicago Blues Session Vol. 20 | ● CD $14.98 |
| ROBERT SHAW | Arhoolie 377 | The Ma Grinder | ● CD $12.98 |
| 17 tracks, 71 mins, essential. Robert Shaw was one of the
last of the great Texas piano players - member of an itinerant cluster of
pianists loosely known as "the Santa Fe group" which included
musicians like Pinetop Burks, Rob Cooper, Buster Pickens and many other
unrecorded performers. When Shaw was discovered by Mack McCormick in 1963
running a food market and barbecue stand in Austin, Texas and playing just
for fun he had all his faculties intact. Listening to him is to travel
back in time to the 1930s when the style he kept alive was at its zenith.
McCormick recorded him and 11 tracks were subsequently issued on two
Arhoolie LPs. These are included here along with six previously unissued
songs cut by Chris Strachwitz in 1973 and '77. Shaw's singing and playing
is a joy to listen to throughout whether it's a stompin' instrumental like
The Cows, a long introspective version of Black Gal or a
bawdy romp like Whores Is Funky. I have very fond memories of
Robert when he called me up out of the blue to let me know that he was
taking a bus to California to attend the 20th anniversary celebration for
Arhoolie Records and its owner Chris Strachwitz to show his appreciation
to Chris for having done so much to bring his music to a wider audience.
Wonderful music by a wonderful man. If you like piano blues you most
certainly want to give this a listen. (FS) ROBERT SHAW: Black Gal/ Fast Santa Fe (Bear Cat)/ Going Down To The Gulf/ Groceries On My Shelf (Piggly Wiggly)/ Hattie Green/ Here I Come With My Dirty, Dirty Duckings On/ Jim Nappy/ Mobile & K. C. Line/ People, People/ Put Me In The Alley/ Saturday Night Special/ She Used To Be My Baby (Ma Grinder #2)/ The Clinton/ The Cows/ The Fives/ The Ma Grinder/ Whores Is Funky |
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| ROBERT SHAW | Document 1014 | The 1971 Party Tape | ● CD $14.98 |
| 24 tracks, 74 mins, recommended Delightful set of performances
by this outstanding Texas singer and piano recorded at a house
party at Ben Conroy's home in January, 1971. Shaw, who died in 1985, was
one of the last of the great Texas piano players - member of an itinerant
cluster of pianists loosely known as "the Santa Fe group" which
included musicians like Pinetop Burks, Rob Cooper, Buster Pickens and many
other unrecorded performers. Shaw was an immensly engaging performer and
this informal set capture him in a relaxed and loose mood performing a
wide range of material from his repertoire - Piggly Wiggly/ Black Gal/
Hattie Green #1/ Jim Nappy/ melody In E Flat/ Wood In My Woodhouse,
etc. Sound quality is generally very good though the continual background
chatter does get annoying. Set comes with an excellent 20 page booklet
with lots of black and white and color photos from the session, a complete
discography and an in depth discussion of Shaw's repertoire. (FS) |
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| THOMAS SHAW | Testament TCD 5027 | Born In Texas | ● CD $11.98 |
| 19 tracks, 63 min., recommended. This is Thomas Shaw's Advent
album, the 1st of 3 albums he recorded before his death in 1977.
Discovered by Lou Curtiss, Shaw learned guitar from many of the early
texas bluesmen, and as a tribute to these friends, he's included his own
versions of Blind Lemon Jefferson's Stocking Feet & Worried
Blues, J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith's Hungry Woman,
Blind Willie Johnson's Motherless Child, and Texas Alexander &
Smokey Hogg's Penitentiary Blues. Also included are 8 new unissued
tracks, including a few gospel numbers like Last Year Was a Mighty Fine
Year, If Jesus Had To Pray and The Trumpeteers' Milky Way.
The CD includes several fne, previously unissued sides. Sounding sometimes like a mild-voiced Bukka White, country blues fans will
like this CD. (EL) |
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| OLLIE SHEPARD | Document DOCD 5434 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1937-1939 | ● CD $14.98 |
| OLLIE SHEPARD | Document DOCD 5435 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1939-1941 | ● CD $14.98 |
| LONNIE SHIELDS | JSP 270 | Tired Of Waiting | ● CD $14.98 |
| LONNIE SHIELDS | Rooster Blues 2626 | Portrait | ● CD $14.98 |
| 12 tracks, 56 mins, recommended. Available again. Strong
debut album by young bluesman from West Helena, Arkansas. Recorded over a
period of several years with accompaniments by a number of fine Southern
musicians the result is a well crafted and varied selection of material.
Lonnie has a strong soulful voice, not unlike that of his hero Z.Z. Hill
and is a good, if not terribly distinctive, guitar player. The material,
all written by Lonnie, ranges from soul (Boxing Gloves) to R&B
(Eight Days A Week) to tough juke joint blues (Fistful Of
Dollars/ Cry, Sky). 12 tracks in all. Accompanying musicians include
Eddie "Vaan" Shaw, Big Jack Johnson, Lorenzo Smith, Sam Carr and
others. Nice. (FS) |
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| LONNIE SHIELDS | Rooster Blues 2633 | Midnight Delight | ● CD $14.98 |
| Second Rooster Blues album by talented contemporary bluesman
from Arkansas. All original songs, often with a soul/funk flavor. |
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