BLUES
& GOSPEL
Charles
Walker -> Sippie Wallace
| CHARLES WALKER |
Black Magic 9040 |
I'm Available |
● CD $22.98 |
| Nashville blues and soul singer.
|
| CHARLES WALKER |
Zane 1019 |
Number By Heart |
● CD $17.98 |
13 tracks, 59 mins, highly recommended
Superb new album of
deep soul from veteran Nashville vocalist who has been plying his craft
since the late 50s. There are ten new songs from various writers along with
three carefully chosen covers. Walker's vocals are powerful and expressive
and production by the talented Fred James is outstanding with horn driven
instrumental work and soulful vocal backup. Among the highlights are the
wrenching title song co-written by Walker, the hard driving One Man's
Poison and a beautiful cover of Percy Sledge's It Tears Me Up
written by Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham but it's all truly fine - not a dud in
sight. (FS)
|
| CHARLES WALKER BAND |
Lucky 13 1817 |
The World & Things |
● CD $13.98 |
10 tracks, recommended
Fine set of modern blues with a retro flavor by band from Milwaukee led by
alto and tenor sax player Charles Walker (no connection to bluesmen of the
same name in New York and Nashville). The band is excellent with guitarist
Dr. Emre Alp, bass guitarist Kent "Dice" Hamele, keyboard player Rob Waters
and drummer Nic Fugate. Vocals are taken by the very fine Miss Shanna
Jackson and the songs are all originals by Walker. A couple of cuts feature
harmonica player Steve Cohen for a more down home feel. Some of the
instrumental breaks go on a bit long but none of it is excessive and this
album is definitely worth a listen. (FS)
|
| JIMMY WALKER
& ERWIN HELFER |
Testament 5011 |
Rough & Ready |
● CD $11.98 |
20 tracks, 62 min., recommended Recorded when Chicago
Pianist Jimmy Walker was in his 60s, this album (a reissue of Testament
2202 with 6 previously unreleased cuts) explores the boogie woogie duet
form which gained prominence in the '40s and then effectively died. Walker
and 28-year-old white pianist Erwin Helfer (trained by Cripple Clarence
Lofton!) have a musical rapport that only time and mutual respect could
produce, the two having played together for 2 years before these recording
were made. Some tracks feature Walker by himself, sometimes singing,
sometimes not. Willie Dixon adds his bass to Helfer's piano on 4 Helfer
compositions, including Fringe Benefit/ Give Me 10 Cents Worth Of Love.
(JC)
|
| JOE LOUIS WALKER |
Blues Express 4001 |
Live On Broadway |
● CD $24.98 |
DVD featuring 90 minutes of live performances including a 60
minute show at the Broadway nightclub in San Francisco.
|
| JOE LOUIS WALKER |
Hightone HCD 8012 |
The Gift |
● CD $11.98 |
Second album from one of the great blues finds of the last
few years. Production on this one is little slicker than the first with a
cleaner studio sound and use of The Memphis Horns on several tracks but
the emphasis is on Joe's tough singing and powerful guitar playing.
Although his playing is not particularly unique it is fiery and
imaginative. Most of the songs on the album were written by Joe or by the
bassist with his band the Boss Talkers, Henry Oden and often deal with the
problems of urban life. Particularly good are Thin Line, the risqué
Shade Tree Mechanic, and the soulful 1/4 to 3 (no relation
to the U.S. Bonds song) with a rare example of Joe's splendid slide guitar
playing. Occasionally the songs get a little preachilly moralistic as on
the title song but they are generally good. (FS)
|
| JOE LOUIS WALKER |
Telarc 83541 |
In The Morning |
● CD $16.98 |
10 tracks, 53 minutes, good. Walker's long-term deal is over
with Verve and his latest is an up-and-down affair. Just About To Lose
Your Clown has modern funk underneath distorted guitar and while the
title track begins strong, it's dragged into a bog with repetitive
background vocals. Joe's Jump offers bristling guitar in short bursts
and jazz flavors spice Leave That Girl Alone which steers aside for
Where Jesus Leads, but Strange Loving shows Walker's grating
falsetto vocals for a third time in six tracks. Do You Wanna Be With Me?
gets soul treatment but lyrics lack an imaginative edge, something the
guitar sports in spades and the irritating vocals spoil the Jimmy Reed-like
If This Is Love. 2120 South Michigan Avenue is a loaded
shuffle with churning licks and Strangers In Our Home is an acoustic
offering, again with JLW's vocal histrionics, this time proving it wasn't
needed anywhere else. (CR)
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Delta Groove 115 |
Going Back Home |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended
After more than 50
years performing, Phillip Walker continues to deliver quality music with
expressive soulful vocals and superb, but never flashy guitar and this new
album is no exception. He is accompanied by solid group of West Coast
musicians including guitarist Rusty Zinn, drummer Richard Innes, pianist
Fred Kaplan, sax player David Woodford and others. The material is heavily
dominated by covers but are carefully chosen to avoid over familiarity along
with a few excellent new songs from producer Randy Chertoff. There are
several nods to the down home blues of his youth with his cover of Lightnin'
Hopkins Don't Think Cause You're Pretty, a couple of songs from his
mentor Lonesome Sundown and the acoustic flavored Sweet Home New Orleans
written by the harmonica player on this track Al Blake. Phillip's low key
approach means that he probably doesn't get the attention of some of the
more histrionic performers out there but he is assuredly one of the best.
(FS)
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Hightone HCD 8013 |
Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
Phillip Walker is a fine artist who consistently delivers
high quality soulful vocals and expressive guitar. This new album delivers
just what the title promises - 10 blues with Phillip accompanied by a
solid rhythm section, occasional horns from the Memphis Horns and crisp
production from Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker who have produced most of
Phillips recordings over the past 15 years. The album is mostly new songs
written by Dennis Walker, David Amy and others. Phillip also turns in fine
versions of Howling Wolf's How Many More Years and Lonesome
Sundown's I Had A Dream. Nothing really spectacular here just good
solid blues by one of the most consistent artists around. (FS)
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Hightone HCD 8020 |
The Bottom Of The Top |
● CD $13.98 |
A most welcome reissue of the first album from 1973 by this
outstanding Los Angeles based singer and guitarist. In many ways this is
his best album with his strongest and most assured singing and expressive
guitar playing including some dazzling flet fingered work which in spite
of speed is always in good taste. The songs were recorded over a 3 year
period and are tremendously varied with several fine originals including
the wonderful loping Louisiana rocker Hello My Darling and the fine
soulful ballad It's All In Your Mind. His covers include the
familiar Tin Pan Alley which sounds fresh in his hands, a gorgeous
version of Lightnin' Hopkins' Hello Central with solo guitar
accompaniment only and fine versions of Long John Hunter's Crazy Girl
(with some of his most fiery guitar) and Jimmy Johnson's The Bottom Of
The Top. There is even a remarkably effective blues drenched version
of Buck Owens' classic Crying Time. Excellent production from the indefatigable
Bruce Bromberg, newly remastered by Bernie Grundman and with
informative notes by Pete Welding. Now's your chance to replace your old
worn out Playboy album or to pick up for the first time on an outstanding
album. (FS).
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Hightone HCD 8032 |
Someday You'll Have These Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
Cassette and CD reissue of album originally issued in 1977
on Joliet and some years later on Alligator. Walker is a very fine and
soulful singer and an outstanding and imaginative guitarist and is backed
here by various top notch Southern California musicians on 10 songs
recorded at various sessions in 1975 and '76. Most of the songs were
written by Phillip and/or David Amy and/or Dennis Walker and include the
hard driving title song, the intense Beaumont Blues, the unexpected
gospel song When It Needs Getting Done with vocal
backup by The Melody Kings and the wonderfully loping If We Can Find It.
The two covers - Breakin' Up Somebody's Home and Part Time Love
are give excellent rendering - particularly the latter. Recommended. (FS)
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Hightone 8157 |
Heritage Of The Blues - Best Of Phillip
Walker |
● CD $11.98 |
Another fine release in Hightone's budget priced "Heritage
Of The Blues Series" - this one featuring superb California singer/
guitarist Phillip Walker. Drawn from various sessions covering a span of 20
years it features some great songs like I'm Tough/ Hello My Darling/
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark/ If We Can Find It/ Go Ahead And Take Her/
Someday You'll Have These Blues and more.
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
MC Records 47 |
Live At Biscuits & Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, recommended
While Phillip Walker might not be
getting any younger, his guitar playing remains as taut and sharp as a man
half his age. Recorded in front of an appreciative audience in San Francisco
at a popular blues nightspot, there's a full band with a four-piece horn
section in support. Walker's playing ignites from small embers into
full-bore blazing attack and the mix of shuffles, slow blues, and soul-fused
burners make for an entertaining set. Vocally, he's perhaps a step below
some of his earlier work, but simply put, the man still delivers with all
cylinders humming. (CR)
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Atlantic 8020 |
T-Bone Blues |
● CD $9.98 |
15 tracks, 47 mins, essential
This compact disc features
all of T. Bone's recordings made for Atlantic in 1955 (Chicago), 1956
& 1957 (both Los Angeles). This includes tracks not previously on LP
along with what appears to be several previously unissued titles. T-Bone
was in great form on these sessions and was accompanied by top session
musicians like Plas Johnson, Earl Palmer, Lloyd Glenn, Eddie Chamblee,
Barney Kessel and others. A couple of the tracks have a more down home
feel with Jimmy Rogers/ guitar and Junior Wells/ harmonica - the latter
gets to do a fine solo on the previously unissued T-Bone Blues Special.
All these sessions were beautifully recorded and this comes over on this
well remastered compact disc. This one is a must! (FS)
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
BGO BGOCD 116 |
Funky Town |
● CD $18.98 |
Repro of T-Bone's 1968 Bluesway session where he and
producer Bob Theile tried to cash in on the youthful soul and rock market.
The funk is a little obvious on cuts like Long Skirt Baby Blues,
which mourns the passing of the mini-skirt. But Bone's deep musicality
makes most of these 9 long tracks fun and worthwhile, including a boogaloo
remake of his Party Girl. Also includes Goin' To Funky Town/ Why
My Baby/ Jealous Woman/ Going To Build Me A Playhouse/ Struggling Blues/
I'm In An Awful Mood/ I Wish My Baby (Would Come Home At Night). (MB)
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Delmark 633 |
I Want A Little Girl |
● CD $11.98 |
8 tracks, 40 min., recommended. Cut in 1968 and released on
Delmark in '73, Little Girl is Walker's last great album. The blues
pioneer finds himself in the company of a small combo of sax man Hal
Singer, drummer S.P. Leary, pianist Georges Arvanitas, and bassist Jackie
Samson. The whole disc has that 3 A.M. feel, and except on Leaving You
Behind, no one is in a hurry. On Ain't It Cold, Baby T-Bone
even trades his guitar in for a piano. Jazzier blues than some might like,
but probably just the way Walker wanted, and beautifully recorded too.
Pull up a smoke-filled room and have a listen. (JC)
T-BONE WALKER: Ain't This Cold Baby/ Baby Ain't I Good To You/ Feeling The
Blues/ I Hate To See You Go/ I Want A Little Girl/ Late Hours Blues./
Leaving You Behind/ Someone's Going To Mistreat You
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Rhino 79894 |
The Very Best Of T-Bone Walker |
● CD $13.98 |
16 track collection of early T-Bone sides from Capitol,
Imperial and Atlantic.
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Wounded Bird 6483 |
Very Rare |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks, 66 mins, recommended
Reissue of two LP set from
1973 featuring T-Bone's last studio recordings produced by Leiber & Stoller.
Though T-Bone was not in the best of health by this time (he died two years
later) and only plays occasional guitar his voice is still fine and the
producers have made a fine effort to give him a worthy send off. He is
surrounded by an incredible array of great blues, jazz and rock musicians
including Charles Brown, James Booker, David "Fathead" Newman, Dizzy
Gillespie, Richard Bennett, Paul Humphrey and others plus vocal backup by
the Sweet Inspirations on a couple of cuts. Rather than just reprising his
most famous songs he is featured on some fine songs by Leiber & Stoller
along with some excellent covers. Songs include Striking On You Baby/ The
Last Clean Shirt/ The Come Back/ Don't Give Me The Runaround/ Person To
Person/ Three Corn Patches/ Just A Little Bit/ Been Down So Long/ Kansas
City/ Stormy Monday, etc. A few of the songs are over arranged but for
the most part this is a very worthwhile album. (FS)
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| SIPPIE WALLACE |
Document DOCD 5400 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1925-1945 |
● CD $15.98 |
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