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BLUES
& GOSPEL
Arthur Weston
-> Robert Wilkins
| ARTHUR WESTON | Testament TCD 6005 | Pea Vine Whistle | $13.98 |
| Superb Mississippi country bluesman based in St. Louis
recorded there in the mid 60s. Weston was a wonderful singer and a
distinctive guitarist who did some great string snapping. Some tracks
feature Big Joe Williams on second guitar and some feature harmonica
players George Robertson or Andrew Cauthen. |
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| JOHN WESTON | Appaloosa 120 | I'm Doin' The Best I Can | $15.98 |
| New album from Mississippi bluesman. |
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| JOHN WESTON & BLUES FORCE | Evidence 26092 | So Doggone Blue | $12.98 |
| 13 tracks, 63 minutes, very good. A reissue of Fat Possum CD
1003, these August 1992 recordings feature 11 compositions by harmonica
player John Weston, accompanied by Louisiana-born Troy Lee Broussard
(guitar). As with his other CDs on Apaloosa and Midnight Creeper, his
writing is first class, covering race relations (Coloration to
women (Too Jealous, So Much In Love). The Broussard
instrumental Squeeze Play shows off the leasons Broussard learned
when he worked with Willie C. Cobbs and Earl Hooker. (EL) |
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| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5242 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 2 | $15.98 |
| 24 tracks, 75 min., good. After a 2-year hiatus, Wheatstraw
returned to recording in 1934 with a few refinements on his steady rolling
piano rhythm formula. After 9 samey tunes, the jazz band instrumentation
of Throw Me In The Alley is quite a shock, and a welcome one at
that! A pair of guitar pieces Keyhole Blues/ Long Time Ago Blues
add spice, and ace slide guitarist Casey Bill Weldon enlivens six more
piano-guitar duets, including the superb Rising Sun and a pair of
paeans to Good Whisky. Another ode to hooch, Whiskey Head Blues
contains some uncommonly nimble solo piano, despite the artist's
proclaimed state of inebriation. We also get the exemplary Long
Lonesome Dive, two versions of C And A Train Blues, and many
more. (MB) |
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| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5243 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 3 | $15.98 |
| 25 tracks, 73 min., good. As the years rolled by, Peetie
Wheatstraw made clear progress as a vocalist and pianist, demonstrated by
the confident whoops, boastful proclamations, and keyboard soloing on Good
Hustler Blues/ Last Dime Blues. But the artist rarely strays from his
comfortable mid-tempo rhythm, making the jaunty beat of Johnnie Blues
a real standout. Santa Claus Blues must be one of the first, and
most melancholy Christmas blues - other uncommonly sad themes distinguish Sorrow
Hearted Blues/ Kidnapper's Blues. The last 7 cuts here feature Kokomo
Arnold, another excellent slide guitarist who cuts it up on Low Down
Rascal/ Coon Can Shorty. (MB) |
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| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5244 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 4 | $15.98 |
| 23 tracks, 70 min., recommended. The duets with slide
guitarist Kokomo Arnold continue through the first 5 sides here, opening
with a favored Wheatstraw theme Old Good Whiskey Blues. As usual,
there is little variety in Peetie's piano style, but the imaginative
lyrics and strong imagery of Country Fool Blues/ Jungle Man Blues/
Don't Take A Chance/ Block And Tackle/ Little House transcend his
formula accompaniments. Arnold returns later in the chronology, issuing
extroverted slide excitement on False Hearted Woman/ Beggar Man Blues.
And the final two cuts show a whole new side to The Devil's Son-In-Law, as
he romps handily through the jazz inflections of Peetie Wheatstraw
Stomp. Like previous volumes, this one gets bogged down in repetitive
tempos, but is recommended for its frequent high points. (MB) |
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| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5245 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 5 | $15.98 |
| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5246 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 6 | $15.98 |
| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Document DOCD 5247 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 7 | $15.98 |
| PEETIE WHEATSTRAW | Fremeaux & Associes FQ2CD 255 | The Blues : St. Louis-Chicago-New York, 1931-1941 | $25.98 |
| Two CDs, 36 track, 103 mins, recommended. Peetie Wheatstraw
was one of the most popular bluesmen of the mid/late 30s. He was a lovely
singer with a dark, expressive voice. His trademark "ooh well
well" was featured on many of his recordings and was picked up by a
number of other performers. He was a basic but effective piano player and
an excellent songwriter whose songs were evocative of the life in black
urban ghettos at that time. Between 1931 and 1941 he recorded over 160
songs which are available in their entirety on seven Document CDs (5241
through 5247 - $17.98 each). If that prospect seems daunting then this
excellent double set from France should neatly fit the bill as an
introduction to his music. Compiled by the knowledgeable Gerard Herzhaft
it features some of Peetie's best and most varied material in a wide
variety of instrumental setting featuring accompaniments from Charlie
McCoy/ gtr, Ike Rodgers/ trombone, Kokomo Arnold/ slide guitar, Lonnie
Johnson/ gtr, Rhythm Willie/ hca, Chu Berry/ sax and others. Songs include
Devil's Son In Law/ More Good Whiskey Blues/ Peetie Whaetstraw Stomp/
Hot Springs Blues/ I Want Some Sea Food/ Gangster's Blues/ Bring Me
Flowers While I'm Living and many more. With the exception of a few of
the earlier sides the sound is excellent and the 24 page booklet has
extensive notes in French and abbreviated notes in English. (FS) |
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| BIG WHEELER | Delmark 661 | Big Wheeler's Bone Orchard | $14.98 |
| 14 tracks, 67 min., recommended. Born in '29,
singer/harmonica blower Golden "Big" Wheeler used to hang out in
Chicago with friend and influence Little Walter. This disc aims to
recreate the sparse but effective backing Wheeler heard in the clubs of
Chicago's south side, opting for 2 guitars, drums, harp, and no bass. His
backing band, The Ice Cream Men, started out in '80 with Smokey Smothers
and complement Wheeler's style nicely. Songs range from Jimmy Reed's Down
In Virginia and Little Walter's Everybody Needs Somebody to
originals (many penned by drummer Steve Cushing) with traditional blues
themes and metaphors, including Hell Bound Man/ Damn Good Mojo/ You Got
Me Messed Up. (JC) |
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| JAMES WHEELER | Delmark 743 | Can't Take It | $14.98 |
| BUKKA WHITE | Arhoolie 323 | Sky Songs | $12.98 |
| All of Arhoolie 1019 plus all the songs from 1020. BUKKA WHITE: Alabama Blues/ Bald Eagle Train/ Georgia Skin Game/ Jesus Died On The Cross To Save The World/ My Baby/ Single Man Blues/ Sugar Hill |
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| BUKKA WHITE | Columbia 52782 | The Complete Bukka White | $11.98 |
| 14 tracks, 39 min., essential These legendary Vocalion and
OKeh sides waxed in 1937 & '40 shine as some of the finest country
blues ever, as White's autobiographical songs offer a portrait of him no
photo could ever match. He doesn't just play his guitar and sing about the
notorious Parchman prison farm or Aberdeen, Mississippi, or his mother's
grave, he translates his experience directly into music so everyone with
ears can understand it. Backed by Washboard Sam on washboard (what else?),
Booker T. Washington White and his National guitar literally sound better
than ever thanks to CEDAR sound restoration procedures. A must. (JC) |
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| BUKKA WHITE | Genes 9903 | 1963 isn't 1962 | $14.98 |
| 13 tracks, 48 mins, essential Bukka White was one of the
greatest of the MIssissippi bluesmen to be rediscovered by blues
enthusiasts in the 60s. His voice had deepened and become more gravelly
since his classic recordings cut between 1930 and '40 but his playing on
his battered old National was as good as ever often featuring searing
slide riffs. He was also a remarkable blues writer singing original songs
often based on personal experiences. The recordings here from live
concerts in Berekely, California find Bukka in dazzling form. He does
versions of his earlier commercial recordings like the moving Fixin' To
Die and Aberdeen Blues - the latter with some marvelously
effective rapping on the guitar. Streamline Special is a long
reworking of his 1940 Special Streamline. Traditional songs like Jack
O'Diamonds and Corrinna Corrinna become, to all inetnts and
purposes, original Bukka White songs. The album title song is a
magnificent performance with intese lyrics and some really lovely guitar
work. But it's all great music from an endlessly rewarding performer.
Though recorded live the sound is studio quality and the 12 page booklet
has some wonderfully evocative notes by david Evans which not only discuss
Bukka and his music but also what his discovery meant to young blues
enthusiasts in the early 60s. Don't miss this! (FS) |
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| GEORGIA WHITE | Blues Collection 158 322 | 1935-41 Trouble In Mind | $13.98 |
| 25 tracks from this outstanding singer and piano player -
solo and with various groups. |
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| GEORGIA WHITE | Document DOCD 5301 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 : 1930-1936 | $15.98 |
| 24 tracks, 71 mins, highly recommended. Georgia White was one
of the most popular and prolific blueswomen in the mid 30s. She was a
powerful and expressive singer and an outstanding barrelhouse piano
player. This set opens with her first recording from 1930 where she
performs the pop song When You're Smiling, The Whole World Smiles With
You accompanied by Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra. She didn't
return to the studio until 1935 and from here on out it was nothing but
the bleus. She performs versions of Dupree Blues/ Honeydripper Blues/
Freddie Blues/ Your Worries Ain't Like Mine/ Rattlesnakin' Daddy, etc
- songs that are often associated with other artists though Georgia makes
them very much her own. Her popularity can be gauged from the fact that
several of her songs (Dupree Blues/ Your Worries Ain't Like Mine/ You
Done Lost Your Good Thing Now) were recorded twice in a very short
period of time. Her last session here from May, 1936 no longer has her own
piano accompaniment - the piano role being taken by Richard M. Jones.
Sound is good and there are brief notes by Colin Bray. (FS) |
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| GEORGIA WHITE | Document DOCD 5302 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 : 1936-1937 | $15.98 |
| 23 tracks, 64 mins, recommended The second collection
features seven sessions between May, 1936 and May, 1937. Georgia is no
longer accompanying herself on piano - that role being taken by the
relatively pedestrian Richard M. Jones though Georgia more than
compensates with her expressive voice and some great songs and guitarist
Ikey Robinson provides some imaginative accompaniments. The material is
varied ranging from blues to novelty to pop and includes a gorgeous
version of Jones's classic Trouble In Mind which was so succesful
that six months later she recorded New Trouble In Mind and Trouble
In Mind Swing! Other fine songs include I Just Want Your Stingaree/
Sinking Sun Blues/ Your Hellish Ways/ You Don't Know My Mind/ Walking The
Streets and others. More great stuff by the gal from Georgia. (FS) |
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| GEORGIA WHITE | Document DOCD 5303 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 : 1937-1939 | $15.98 |
| 22 tracks, 63 mins, recommended More excellent sides from
this powerful singer including some songs featuring the exquisite guitar
stylings of Lonnie Johnson and several where she returns to playing the
piano. The session of October 21, 1938 is particularly outstanding with
lovely barrelhouse piano on The Blues Ain't Nothin' But ...? and a
wonderful trading of piano and guitar licks (Lonnie Johnson) on the
intense Dead Man's Blues. She does a number of blues standards
which she performs in fine style like Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well/
Careless Love/ Crazy Blues/ 'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do. (FS) |
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| GEORGIA WHITE | Document DOCD 5304 | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 4 : 1939-1941 | $15.98 |
| JOSH WHITE | Collectables 5602 | Josh White Sings The Blues/ Sings | $13.98 |
| Two Stinson LPs on one CD. |
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| JOSH WHITE | Document 1013 | The Remaining Titles, 1941-1947 | $15.98 |
| 25 tracks, 70s, recommended Although the 40s marked Josh's
ascent as a night-club and cabaret act and the inclusion of white folk
songs like The Riddle Song and The Lass With The Delicate Air
(both featured here in several versions) into his repertoire he still made
a lot of fine music and his singing and playing were still impressive.
There are superb performances of blues like Evil Hearted / Prison Bound
and Josh And Bill Blues. There are interesting topical and
political songs like Move Into Germany/ Citizen C.I.O./ I'm The Guy
and the powerful Landlord (some with Sonny & Brownie and some
with Tom Glazer and cohorts) and commentaries on racism - Strange
Fruit/ Jim Crow. He also accompanies white musical-comedy actress
Libby Holman on two tracks including the fine Baby, Baby (a
variation of C.C. Rider). Some of the genteel folk songs are still
hard to listen to but there's enough good stuff here to make it
worthwhile. (FS) |
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| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5194 | Complete Recorded Works, 1929-40; Vol 1 | $15.98 |
| 26 tracks, 78 mins, essential. The first of three discs
presenting all the recordings made between 1929 and 1940 by this brilliant
performer. Although he later became known as a suave night club folk
performer his early recordings are brilliant examples of East Coast
country blues. His voice was always a smooth one but one with great
flexibility and he spiced up his vocals with fragments of scat singing and
moaning. His guitar playing was joy - varied, supple and flowing and
always appropriate. Both Buddy Moss and Blind Boy Fuller acknowledge him as
an influence. This disc starts with two delightful instrumentals from 1929
by the white country band The Carver Boys with Josh accompanying harmonica
player Warner Carver and guitarist Bob Carver. The remaining tracks are
from 1932 and '33 and with the exception of two tracks with a fine unknown
piano player they are all solo. They include such performances as the
menacing Little Brother (his knife - or is it?), some self
advertising in The Greenville Sheik, the beautiful Blood Red
River and more including half a dozen spirituals. With the exception
of a couple of tracks the sound is excellent and there are informative,
though all too brief, notes by Dave Moore. (FS) |
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| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5195 | Complete Recorded Works, 1929-40; Vol 2 | $15.98 |
| 25 tracks, 74 mins, recommended. Another fine collection
from this South Carolina blues and gospel singer featuring recordings made
between November 1933 and March 1935. This is not quite as strong as the
first volume - mostly due to the fact that a higher proportion of titles
are from rather worn 78s and there are more covers and fewer original
songs. The disc opens with 7 spirituals - mostly fairly bland with the
exception of You Sinner You which is a sanctified version You
Rascal You (or is it the other way round?) complete with Louis
Armstrong impersonation. The rest is all blues and many of the tracks
feature piano accompaniment - often by the magnificent Walter. On four
tracks he is accompanied by Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell and does a
very fine version of the duo's Mean Mistreater Blues. Other tracks
include versions of Kokomo Arnold's Milk Cow Blues, the raunchy Sissy
Man, Joe Pullum's Black Gal and others. (FS) |
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| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5196 | Complete Recorded Works, 1929-40; Vol 3 | $15.98 |
| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5405 | Complete Recorded Works, 1940-1941 | $15.98 |
| 23 tracks, 66 min., recommended Volume four in Document's
look at the recording career of this blues/folk giant finds him surging
into the national spotlight with a series of controversial
socially-conscious numbers produced by John Hammond. For the first two
sessions offered here, White sings with his vocal group, the Carolinians,
which included his brother Bill and the stellar bass of Sam Gary. Among
the numbers that they perform are Chain Gang Boun', Trouble,
Told My Cap'n, Jerry, and King Jesus Knows I'm Coming.
On the last two sessions, White is most often a solo performer. Numbers in
the last half of the program run the gamut from traditional blues numbers
like She's a Married Woman to protest songs like Jim Crow Train.
It's a compelling program from start to finish. Sound quality is generally
very good, and the notes by Dave Moore are solid. One I wouldn't miss.
(DH) |
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| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5571 | In Chronological Order, Vol. 5, 1944 | $15.98 |
| JOSH WHITE | Document DOCD 5572 | In Chronological Order, Vol. 6, 1944-45 | $15.98 |
| JOSH WHITE | Smithsonian Folkways 40081 | Free And Equal Blues | $15.98 |
| 26 tracks recorded between 1944 and 1946 by this popular and
polished performer - blues, folk songs, pop songs and topical songs about
civil rights and labor struggles. |
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| JOSHUA WHITE | Best Of Blues BOB 7 | 1933-194 | $15.98 |
| 24 tracks - Pickin' Low Cotton/ Lay Some Flowers On My
Grave/ Silicosis Is Killing Me/ Chain Gang Boun'/ Trouble/ Goin' Home
Boys/ Cryin' Who? Cryin' You!/ Jerry/ King Jesus Knows I'm Coming/ Soon In
De Mornin'/ Bad Housing Blues, etc. |
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| UNCLE JESSIE WHITE & THE 29TH STREET BAND | Blues Factory 1003 | Uncle Jessie White & The 29th Street Bands | $14.98 |
| Veteran Detroit bluesman singing, playing harmonica and
piano accompanied by a small group. Mostly familiar blues standards plus a
few originals - I Ain't No Iceman/ You Rascal You/ Sittin' In My
Bedroom/ Annie Lou/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Tore Your Playhouse Down,
etc. |
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| THE DOC WILEY TRIO | Ace CDCHM 899 | Wild Cat Trio | ● CD $13.98 |
| 18 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended Excellent set of 18 tracks recorded for Sensation by this obscure but fine group from Detroit led by singer/ piano player Arnold "Doc" Wiley. In view of the quality here it's surprising that only three of these tracks were originally issued on 78s. The material is a mixture of straight blues, cocktail style pop blues and romping boogies. His trio of unknown musicians includes a very fine guitarist (who also doubles on vibraphone), a tenor sax player and a bass player. Most of the tracks are Wiley originals and, interestingly, three of the covers are Leroy Carr songs and a very fine job he does on them. Sound is superb and there are extensive notes by Paul Swinton. Excellent stuff. (FS) |
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| REV. ROBERT WILKINS | Genes 9902 | Remember Me | $15.98 |
| 13 tracks, 45 mins, Essential. Stunning, beautiful and
incredibly moving music from one of the masters of black country gospel.
Born in Hernando, Mississippi, Wilkins setled in Memphis when he was a
child and eventually became one of the finest blues singers and guitarists
in the area. He was a lovely singer with an appealing almost gentle voice
that was full of understated intensity. He was a stunning guitar player
who played in complex finger picked style that was both lyrical and
hypnotic. In the 30s he turned away from the secular life and became a
preacher though he continued to sing and play - sometimes putting sacred
lyrics to his blues songs. Following his discovery by blues researchers in
the early 60s he was as strong a performer as ever though he surprisingly
recorded little. Apart from the magnificent 1964 recordings made for
Piedmont in 1964 (currently available) these 1969 and '71 recordings are
the only full length album of recordings. The songs here are mostly
traditional gospel songs like Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around/ Just A
Closer Walk With Thee/ When The Saints Go Marching In along with a
couple of original gospel songs and one long, mostly instrumental piece, Streamline
'Frisco Limited. While this is not quite as strong as his Piedmont
recordings it's a wonderful set with dynamic singing and playing
throughout. (FS) |
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| ROBERT WILKINS | Yazoo 1077 | The Original Rolling Stone | $15.98 |
| In his liner notes for this CD reissue, Steve Calt suggests
that this Ms. performer's strength lies in the fact that he is unlike his
blues contemporaries. He is less limited in repertoire, less reliant on a
stereotyped format, and less intense in his vocal delivery. I suspect that
other country blues aficionados will, for the same reasons, find Wilkins
somewhat bland. Among the 14 tracks here are I'll Go With Her/ Get Away
Blues/ Long Train Blues/ That's No Way to Get Along/ Rollin' Stone (Parts
1 and 2). Though the age of the original 78's guarantees at least some
hiss, the sound quality here is reasonably good. Most of Calt's notes are
accessible to non-musicians, but there is no photo of Wilkins in this
package. Oh well, it's still fine music. (DH) |
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| ROBERT WILKINS & OTHERS | Document DOCD 5014 | Memphis Blues, 1928-1935 | $15.98 |
| A truly superb collection. 17 of the 23 tracks feature all
the pre-war recordings of the magnificent Robert Wilkins. Born in
Hernando, Mississippi, he settled in Memphis when he was a child. He was a
lovely singer with an appealing gentle voice and a stunning guitar player
who played in complex finger picked style that was both lyrical and
hypnotic. His songs are all originals and interesting lyrically and
includes the exquisite That's No Way To Get Along which he rewrote
as the gospel song The Prodigal Son when he turned to the ministry
in the late 30s. Complementing the Wilkins sides from 1928, '29, '30 &
'35 are 4 by the very fine though obscure Tom Dickson and two by Alan Shaw
including the magnificent Moanin' The Blues on which his wonderful
churning slide guitar is seconded by the powerful rhythm of Willie Borum.
Excellent sound and brief notes by Chris Smith. A must! (FS) |
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