BLUES & GOSPEL
Sonny Boy
Williamson -> U.P. Wilson
| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
(Rice Miller, recorded 1951-1965) |
Arhoolie 310 |
King Biscuit Time |
$12.98 |
A great collection featuring 16 of Sonny Boy's Trumpet
recordings previously issued on Arhoolie 2020 along with 15 minute radio
broadcast from KFFA in Helena, Arkansas recorded in the early 60s
(previously on an Arhoolie E.P.) plus the original recording of Elmore
James' Dust My Broom with Sonny Boy on harmonica.
ELMORE JAMES: Dust My Broom/ SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Come On Back Home/
Cool, Cool Blues/ Crazy About You Baby/ Do It If You Wanna/ Eyesight To
The Blind/ I Cross My Heart/ Mighty Long Time/ Mr. Downchild/ Nine Below
Zero/ Plus A Kffa 15 Minute Radio Program Which Includes/ Pontiac Blues/
She Brought Life Back To The Dead/ Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues/ Stop
Crying/ Stop Now Baby/ Too Close Together/ West Memphis Blues
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| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON |
Chess CHD 9377 |
His Best |
$10.98 |
20 great cuts - Good Evening Everybody/
All My Love In Vain/ Fattening Frogs For Snakes/ Cross My Heart/ Ninety
Nine/ Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket/ Checkin' Up On My Baby/ Nine Below
Zero/ Help Me/ My Younger Days, etc.
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| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON |
Chess 112 823 |
Real Folk Blues/ More Real Folk Blues |
● CD $18.98 |
Two classic LPs from the 60s.
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Bring It On Home/ Bye Bye Bird/ Checkin' Up On My
Baby/ Close To Me/ Decoration Day/ Dissatisfied/ Down Child/ Goat/ Got To
Move/ Help Me/ Hunt/ My Younger Days/ Nine Below Zero/ One Way Out/ Peach
Tree/ Sad To Be Alone/ She's My Baby/ Somebody To Help Me/ Stop Right Now/
That's All I Want/ Too Old To Think/ Too Young To Die/ Trust Me Baby/
Trying To Get Back On My Feet
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| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON |
Evidence 26071 |
In Europe |
$12.98 |
14 tracks, 57 minutes, recommended
Compilation of tunes from
Sonny Boy's '63 & '64 European treks. The main thing here is a reissue
of the "Sonny Boy Williamson & The Yardbirds" tracks
(Mercury 21071 from '66), 9 tunes recorded live at the Crawdaddy Club in
London 10/63 by the Yardbirds when they still had the seminal guitar of
Eric "Slowhand" Clapton (Mr. Downchild/ Do The Weston).
The other 5 tracks are from the American Folk/Blues Festivals, recorded in
Germany, originally issued on L&R, '63 tracks with Otis Spann, Matt
"Guitar" Murphy & Willie Dixon,'64 tracks with Hubert
Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim & Dixon.. (GM)
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| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
(John Lee Williamson, recorded 1937-1947) |
Document DOCD 5057 |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order, Vol. 3 |
$15.98 |
The third volume of recordings by this brilliant and
immensely influential singer and harmonica player features 25 songs
recorded at 3 sessions held between July 1939 and April 1941. The first 11
tracks continues the mammoth 18 track session from 1939 that started on
Document 5056. It's not too surprising that, at times, Sonny Boy and his
accompanying musicians (Big Bill Broonzy and Walter Davis) sound a
bit
tired! Still there are some fine performances including his reworking of
Victoria Spivey's T.B. Blues, the topical Joe Louis And John
Henry and the lyrical Thinking My Blues. The energy level rises
on the next session from May 1940 where he is accompanied by the superb
piano player Joshua Altheimer and drummer Fred Williams. It includes some
classic performances including the powerful Dealing With The Devil
with its prophetic image of an ice pick which was the instrument of Sony
Boy's murder in 1948. There are a couple of topical songs (War Time
Blues & Welfare Store Blues) and a hard driving version of
Walter Roland's Early In The Morning with an energy that pointed to
the direction Chicago blues was to take in the near future. The energy
level isn't quite as high at the next session where Sonny Boy is
accompanied by Broonzy, pianist Blind John Davis and imitation bass player
William Mitchell but there are some fine performances include some
particularly fine harp on Big Apple Blues. Sound quality varies
though it is generally satisfactory and there good notes by keith Briggs.
(FS)
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| SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON |
Document DOCD 5058 |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order, Vol. 4 |
$15.98 |
26 songs, 74 mins, recommended
More fine sides recorded at
6 sessions between April 1941 and July 1945 with a two year hiatus between
1942 and '44 brought about by the first Petrillo recording ban. Most of
the tracks feature him with guitar (Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie McCoy,Ted
Summit or Bill Sid Cox), piano (usually Blind John Davis) and bass
(William Mitchell, Ransom Knowling or Alfred Elkins) plus occasional drums
(Jump Jackson) or washboard (Washboard Sam). The music is consistently
fine and it's interesting to note how many songs were later covered by
other blues singers, often with changed titles. These include Drink On
Little Girl/ Million Years Blues/ Sloppy Drunk Blues/ You Got To Step
Back/ My Black Name Blues and others. There are a couple of songs
relating to the ongoing second world war - Win the War Blues/ Check Up
On My Baby Blues and We Got To Win. Some Document collections
are too much of the same thing but with Sonny Boy the combination of great
singing and playing, interesting songs and sympathetic backup makes for
consistently interesting music. (FS)
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| CHICK WILLIS |
Collectables 5193 |
Stoop Down Baby |
$11.98 |
Are you ready for a 21 minute version of Chick's Stoop
Down Baby? If so, the man who plays the guitar with his tongue has got
a risqué disqué for you. Also has Something To Remember You By/ Things
I Used To Do/ Mother Fuyer and more.
|
| RALPH WILLIS |
Document DOCD 5256 |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order, Vol 1 |
$15.98 |
25 tracks, 68 mins, recommended. Ralph Willis was an
excellent, obscure, East Coast country blues singer/ guitarist. Originally
from Alabama he moved to North Carolina where he came under the influence
of Blind Boy Fuller, Brownie McGhee and Buddy Moss and their influence can
be heard on his style. He settled in New York in the late 30s and started
recording in 1944. His early sides are particularly fine with fluid guitar
playing in the Fuller mould and expressive singing. Later recordings often
feature a second guitarist (often Brownie McGhee) and/or a bass player
which make the rhythms a bit more rigid. On a number of tracks he is
accompanied by washboard player Pete Sanders and the result is some
delightful country dance music. Willis's songs are mostly original, often
based on traditional themes. Sound is good and there are brief notes by Dave
Moore. (FS)
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| RALPH WILLIS |
Document DOCD 5257 |
Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1 + Complete
LEROY DALLAS |
$15.98 |
25 tracks, 68 min., very good
Continuing from Volume 1
(Document 5256), this volume contains the rest of Ralph Willis' postwar
recordings, beginning with the remainder of the issued Jubilee recordings
(see Sequel 749 : "Jumping at the Jubilee" - $15.98 - for 2 more
unissued sides), plus Leroy Dallas' complete Sittin' in with recordings
& two of Dallas' 1962 Peter Welding recordings. Long time collectors
will know some of these Ralph Willis titles from the Blues Classics and
King albums. Sonny Terry and/or Brownie McGhee are on hand to help out,
especially on Cold Chills and Gonna Hop On Down The Line.
Leroy Dallas' 1948 recordings - originally reissued on Blues Classics, PWB
and Negro Art albums, are gathered here on CD for the 1st time. Five of
these recordings feature pianist Big Chief Ellis & Brownie McGhee on
el. gtr, with Ellis' piano at the forefront on Your Sweet Man's Blues
and I'm Going Away. The last 2 tracks are from a body of work
recorded in 1962 by the late Pete Welding which I hope one day will see
the light of day on Testament Records. (EL)
|
| EDITH WILSON |
Delmark 637 |
He May Be Your Man...but He Comes To See |
$11.98 |
Blues 20's style recorded in the 60s with Little Brother
Montgomery & The State Street Ramblers, 12 tracks
EDITH WILSON: Easin' Away From Me/ He May Be Your Man/ Hesitating Blues/
Hey! Hey! Boogie/ Lonesome/ Mistreatin' Blues/ My Handy Man Ain't Handy
Anymore/ Poppa-mama Blues/ Put A Little Love In Everything You Do/ Slow
Creepin' Blues/ That Same Dog/ Twiddlin'
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| JIMMY WILSON |
Official 5256 |
Jumpin' From Six To Six |
$17.98 |
26 tracks, 69 mins, recommended
Excellent, but problematic,
collection of West Coast blues from Wilson who has had very little of his
work reissued on CD. He had an R&B hit in 1953 with his version of Tin
Pan Alley and recorded the exciting Jumping From Six To Six
which has inspired a number of covers. Both of these great songs are
featured here. Wilson is a fine singer who first sang with the gospel
group The Pilgrim Travelers and his vocals show a strong gospel influence.
The recordings here were cut between 1951 and 1961, usually in the company
of top West Coast musicians like the great guitarist Lafayette Thomas, sax
men Que Martin & Wild Willie Moore and pianist King Solomon. I am
particularly fond of his minor key, doomy blues and there are a number of
these songs here. Musically this is deserving of an "essential"
rating, unfortunately the remastering frequently leaves a lot to be
desired and the absence of liner notes or discographical info are
regrettable. (FS)
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| LENA WILSON |
Document DOCD 5443 |
Vol. 1 : 1922-1924 |
$15.98 |
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|
ELDER
ROMA WILSON & HIS HARMONICA |
Arhoolie 429 |
This Train |
$12.98 |
20 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
What a wonderful
album! Blues and gospel fans have long speculated about the incredible
1948 Gotham release Lily Of The Valley/ Better Get Ready by Elder
Wilson & Family featuring gospel songs accompanied only by three
harmonicas. Some years ago 4 unissued titles from the sessions turned up
and then a few years ago Elder Wilson himself was found living in
Mississippi and all became clear. The three harmonicas were Elder Wilson
himself and his two sons aged 11 and 13. Not only is Elder Wilson still
alive but he is singing and playing as well as ever at the age of 84! This
wonderful album features all six cuts from 1948 along with 14 new
recordings. Wilson's material is mostly traditional gospel though some of
them have been given a topical edge as witness Ain't It A Shame.
The new recordings are just Wilson and his harp and while I miss the
intertwining of the three harmonicas, his singing and playing are
stunning. The last couple of cuts feature Elder Wilson at his Church in
Abideen, Mississippi - he plays amplified harp here and the singing and
encouragement of the congregation results in some spellbinding music. (FS)
ELDER ROMA WILSON: Ain't It A Shame/ Amazing Grace/ Better Get Ready/
Climbing Jacob's Ladder/ Death Ain't Nothing But A Thief And A Robber/ Get
Away Jordan/ Give Me My Flowers While I Live/ Gonna Wait Till A Change
Come/ Got Just What I Wanted/ Have You Tried Jesus/ He's Alright/ I Don't
Care What Skeptics Say/ I'm So Glad, Trouble Won't Last Always/ Lily Of
The Valley (Stand By Me)/ Motherless Children/ My Lord's Gonna Move This
Wicked Race/ The Lord Will Make A Way, Yes He Will/ This Train/ This Train
Is A Clean Train/ This Train Is A Clean Train/ Trouble Everywhere
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| SMOKEY WILSON |
Blind Pig 5026 |
88th Street Blues |
$15.98 |
Reissue of 1983 Murray Brothers album from L.A. bluesman
Wilson accompanied by Rod Piazza, Honey Piazza, Hollywood Fats, Larry
Taylor, Richard Innes.
|
| SMOKEY WILSON |
Bullseye Blues 9534 |
Smoke 'n Fire |
$15.98 |
11 tracks, 48 mins, recommended At 60, Smokey Wilson, who
had a spasmodic recording career since moving from Mississippi to LA,
plays with the zest of a determined youngblood. The voice recalls Elmore
James and his guitar playing is B.B. king with an edge. He's a busy
guitarist, emphatic on tough, burning solos and plenty of fills, fronting
a super tight band. he covers Wolf's Killing Floor and I Didn't
Know superbly and is dynamite on Don't Burn Down LA and 88th
Blues. Wilson's scowling guitar and his rusty nail timbred voice are
consistent highlights. Larry Davis & Jimmy McCracklin help out. (TR)
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| SMOKEY WILSON |
P-Vine PCD 3022 |
Blowin' Smoke |
$22.98 |
11 tracks, 41 mins, good. Originally issued on the Kent
subsidiary Big Town in 1977 this is a solid set of no nonsense blues by
this powerful singer and guitarist based in Los Angeles. Smokey has a
tough aggressive approach in singing with a voice obviously inspired by
Howling Wolf and Elmore James. He is also a solid, if not necessarily,
original guitarist. He is accompanied by a small band of local musicians
on guitar, bass, drums and piano plus, on some tracks, an uncredited
harmonica player (George Smith?). His songs are often based around blues
standards or traditional themes. It's a shame that P-Vine didn't see fit
to include some tracks from Smokey's second Big Town album which would
have given us better value for the money. Ah well ... Enjoyable. (FS)
SMOKEY WILSON: Annie Lee/ Go Go Train/ How Many More Times/ I Wanna Do It
To You Baby/ I'm Gonna Leave You Baby/ I'm Gonna Put You Down/ Night Time/
Put Your Lovin' Arms Around Me/ Straighten Up Baby/ Teach Me How To Love
You/ Tell Me Baby
|
| SMOKEY WILSON |
P-Vine PCD 5401 |
Sings The Blues |
$22.98 |
Reissue of 1978 album originally issued on Big Town label
plus one bonus cut originally on a 45 - Blues For Big Town/ Honey Bee/
Loudella/ I'm No Fool, I Know The Rule/ You Shadowed My Dream, etc. 9
tracks in all.
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| U.P. WILSON |
Wolf 120.630 |
Texas Blues Party, Vol 1 - Live At Schooners |
$15.98 |
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