BLUES & GOSPEL - Jimmy Yancey->Zydeco Force

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BLUES & GOSPEL
Jimmy Yancey -> Zydeco Force

JIMMY YANCEY
JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY & GUESTS
THE YARDBIRDS
THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON) JOHNNY YOUNG
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG
THE ZION TRAVELERS
ZYDECO FORCE

JIMMY YANCEY Document DOCD 5042 Complete Recorded Works Vol. 2, 1940 - 1943 ● CD $15.98

The second of three discs devoted to the recordings of one of the greatest blues and boogie piano players. This set features 10 tracks from 1940 and 9 from '43. Four of the tracks feature Yancey's infrequent vocals and reveal him to be a mournful and affecting vocalist whos style perfectly fits in with his instrumental work. There are two takes each of his brilliant Yancey's Bugle Call/ 35th & Dearborn and How Long Blues. The set ends with a moving vocal by Jimmy's wife Eteela "Mama" Yancey with Jimmy playing some wonderfully effective harmonium! Good sound, informative notes by Konrad Nowakowski and some nice photos. (FS)

JIMMY YANCEY Document DOCD 5043 Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3, 1943 - 1950 ● CD $15.98

This is the third and final volume devoted to the recordings of one of the greatest blues and boogie piano players. There are 9 magnificent sides from 1943, two featuring vocals by Jimmy's wife Mama Yancey - both versions of Make Me A Pallet On The Floor - one with piano and one featuring Jimmy on harmonium. There are six sides from December 1950 and the disc winds up with four track by Jimmy's elder brother Alonzo - also a fine performer who played in an older barrelhouse ragtime style. Seven months later Jimmy recorded his last session for Atlantic (to be reissued in 1992) and two months later passed away. Good sound and interesting notes by Konrad Nowakowski. (FS)

JIMMY YANCEY Solo Art SACD 1 In The Beginning ● CD $13.98

A beautiful collection of 12 piano blues and boogie from one the genre's greatest exponents recorded in 1939 for Dan Qualey's Solo Art label - his first recordings. Yancey's playing was beautiful, sensitive and fluid and compared to his contemporaries was quite restrained resulting a different and unique texture to his performances. These tracks were originally issued some years on the long out of print Jazzology JCE 51 and it is unfortunate that the producers didn't include the reamining 5 tracks from the session which would have fit nicely on this CD. There are detailed notes by Rudi Blesh on the story of the Solo Art label. Sound quality is unexceptional - however the music is sensational! (FS).

JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY & GUESTS Document DOCD 1007 The Unissued 1951 Yancey Wire Recordings ● CD $15.98

WALTER JOPLIN (probably): Scott Joplin's New Rag/ DICK MUSHLITZ: Blues/ UNKNOWN PIANIST: Chicago In Mind (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Cow Cow Blues/ Lux's Boogie/ Make Me A Pallet On The Floor (with MAMA YANCEY)/ JIMMY YANCEY: Don't You Wanna Know (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Elephant Rag/ Fives/ Four O'Clock Blues - damaged (with MAMA YANCEY)/ How Long Blues (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Hurry Sundown (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Mellow Blues/ Royal Garden Blues (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Shave 'Em Dry - fragment (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Tomorrow Morning - damaged (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Yancey's Bugle Call - damaged

THE YARDBIRDS Evidence 26072 Clapton's Cradle - The Early Yardbirds Recordings ● CD $12.98

15 tracks, 58 min, recommended Basically a reissue of Sonny Boy Williamson And The Yardbirds, with the worthy addition of the Yardbirds' (sans Sonny) set from the same night (Dec. '63), and three previously unreleased demos that purport to be their earliest studio recordings, from Feb. '64. These three tunes Boom Boom/Honey In Your Hips/I'm Talking About You, while fairly subdued given the Yardbirds' reputation, reveal the band to be steeped more in Diddley/Berry R&R than the blues, and show Relf's harp to be more of a featured instrument than Clapton's guitar. Likewise, their live set veers more toward R&R, but the performance is much more inspired, with Clapton chording at full steam with Relf's harp over the top to good effect on Smokestack Lightning/Let It Rock/Who Do You Love/I Wish You Would. The Sonny set is a much more laid back affair, with Clapton stretching out a bit behind the blues legend and perhaps explaining why this disc is named after him rather than Relf. Fans of British R&B won't be disappointed. (GDR)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON) Document DOCD 5292 Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1 : 1937-1938 ● CD $15.98

26 tracks, 77 min., recommended Considering she recorded nearly 100 sides between 1937-47, it is at least a little surprising that no one knows anything about Merline Johnson (a.k.a. The Yas Yas Girl), other than that she was born around 1912 in MS, probably. Doesn't really matter, though, since these sides cut in Aurora and Chicago speak for themselves. With a simple backing of piano, guitar, drums, and the occasional clarinet or trumpet, Johnson sets her pleasing vocals to work on Jackass For Sale/ Jelly Bean Blues/ Sold It To The Devil/ Working On The Project, and many more. But with the exception of the striking Grandma And Grandpa and a few others, these sides are somewhat prosaic. Johnson was quite good but not exactly ground breaking in her approach. (JC)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON) Document DOCD 5293 Complete Recorded Works, Vol 2 : 1938-1939 ● CD $15.98

22 tracks, 62 min., recommended Superior to Vol. 1, these sides tend to be jazzier and feature Johnson accompanied by "Her Rhythm Rascals" or "Her Jazz Boys," including such soloists as Punch Miller (tp), Lee Collins (tp), Walter Williams (tp), Bill Owsley (ts), Big Bill Broonzy (gtr), Blind John Davis (pno), and Buster Bennett (as). Johnson's own performances are generally of a higher quality here than on the previous volume, rising to the level of her accompaniment in most cases. Cuts include Running Down My Man/ You Can't Shoot Your Pistol/ Whiskey Fool/ Don't You make Me High/ Reckless Life Blues/ You Can't Have None Of That/ I Got To Have It Daddy and more. The 2nd of 4 volumes. (JC)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON) Document DOCD 5294 Complete Recorded Works, Vol 3 : 1939-1940 ● CD $15.98

JOHNNY YOUNG Arhoolie 325 Chicago Blues ● CD $12.98

Some fine Chicago blues featuring the warm vocals, mandolin and guitar of Johnny Young drawn from his two Arhoolie albums 1029 & 1037. The first session, from 1965, is particularly fine with Young joined by Otis Spann, James Cotton, James Lee Morris, S.P. Leary capturing the spirit of traditional Chicago blues at its best. The second session, from 1967 with Walter Horton, is more modern sounding with Jimmy Dawkins on lead guitar, but it never starys too far from the traditional style. This is very similar to the disc we had as a Japanese import some months ago though this has two less tracks and a lower price. (FS)
JOHNNY YOUNG: Come Early In The Morning/ Cross-Cut Saw/ Don't You Lie To Me/ Drinking Straight Whiskey/ Hot Dog!/ I'm Doing All Right/ I'm Having A Ball/ Keep On Drinking/ Keep Your Nose Out Of My Business/ Moaning And Groaning/ My Trainfare Out Of Town/ On The Road Again/ Ring Around My Heart/ Slam Hammer/ Sometimes I Cry/ Stealin'/ Stockyard Blues/ Strange Girl/ Walter's Boogie/ Wild, Wild Woman

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG Blind Pig 5040 Mighty Man ● CD $14.98

10 tracks, 41 mins, very good If you've wondered whatever happened to The Mighty Man, Chicago bluesman Young suffered a pinched nerve in '86 that made him stop playing guitar & put him into rehab. These are his 1st recordings in years & can be called Boogaloo with Mighty Joe - most of the tracks have Joe on vocals only in a more "contemporary" dance/funk vein, though there's still some good blues to be had, particularly his own Bring It On. Joe only plays guitar on Starvation & Got My Woman On My Mind, but Will Crosby plays some fine guitar on throughout, with most of the songs having a driving 6-piece horn section. (GM)

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG Delmark 629 Blues With A Touch Of Soul ● CD $11.98

7 tracks, 43 mins, recommended Reissue of Joe's debut album from 1970 with Jimmy Dawkins and "Big Moose" Walker. A nice collection of West Side blues with, well, a touch of soul with strong singing and guitar from Joe. Songs are mostly familiar and go on too long but this is definitely an enjoayble set. (FS)

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG Sonet 986 925-0 The Sonet Blues Story ● CD $13.98

Fine set of West Side Chicago blues recorded in Chicago in 1972 by this excellent singer and guitarist with rhythm section and occasional horns. A mix of originals and old favorites.

THE ZION TRAVELERS Ace CDCHD 637 The Dootone Masters ● CD $18.98

25 tracks, min., highly recommended What we have here is the complete Dootone/Dooto Recordings of the Los Angeles based Zion Travelers : all 7 singles, 9 album-only tracks, plus 2 previously unissued 1962 titles (I'm Gonna Wait On Jesus, You Gotta Reap What You Sow). Signed by Dootsie Williams in February 1956, these sides feature longtime lead singers, L. C. Cohen and Bartha L. Watkins, who also recorded secular sides for Arwin Records as Billy Watkins. Cohen's Soldier of The Cross, sung to the melody of Crying In The Chapel (The Orioles), will win you over, especially if you like your harmony sweet and heartfelt. B. L. Watkins' The Death Of Jesus is another highlight from this period. The remaining 20 tracks (recorded in 1962) feature mostly L. C. Cohen, particularly brilliant on The Blood and Bless Me, where the only accompaniment is guitarist Joseph Hughes. If you're a fan of The Dixie Hummingbirds/Swan Silvertones style of quartet singing, you'll enjoy this CD. Chris Smith's notes summarizes what little is known about this group. (EL)

ZYDECO FORCE Maison De Soul 1045 Shaggy Dog Two-step ● CD $18.98

ZYDECO FORCE Maison De Soul 1048 The Zydeco Push ● CD $18.98

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JIMMY YANCEY	Document DOCD 5042	Complete Recorded Works Vol. 2, 1940 - 1943	● CD $15.98
The second of three discs devoted to the recordings of one of the greatest blues and boogie piano players. This set features 10 tracks from 1940 and 9 from '43. Four of the tracks feature Yancey's infrequent vocals and reveal him to be a mournful and affecting vocalist whos style perfectly fits in with his instrumental work. There are two takes each of his brilliant Yancey's Bugle Call/ 35th & Dearborn and How Long Blues. The set ends with a moving vocal by Jimmy's wife Eteela "Mama" Yancey with Jimmy playing some wonderfully effective harmonium! Good sound, informative notes by Konrad Nowakowski and some nice photos. (FS)

JIMMY YANCEY	Document DOCD 5043	Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3, 1943 - 1950	● CD $15.98
This is the third and final volume devoted to the recordings of one of the greatest blues and boogie piano players. There are 9 magnificent sides from 1943, two featuring vocals by Jimmy's wife Mama Yancey - both versions of Make Me A Pallet On The Floor - one with piano and one featuring Jimmy on harmonium. There are six sides from December 1950 and the disc winds up with four track by Jimmy's elder brother Alonzo - also a fine performer who played in an older barrelhouse ragtime style. Seven months later Jimmy recorded his last session for Atlantic (to be reissued in 1992) and two months later passed away. Good sound and interesting notes by Konrad Nowakowski. (FS)

JIMMY YANCEY	Solo Art SACD 1	In The Beginning	● CD $13.98
A beautiful collection of 12 piano blues and boogie from one the genre's greatest exponents recorded in 1939 for Dan Qualey's Solo Art label - his first recordings. Yancey's playing was beautiful, sensitive and fluid and compared to his contemporaries was quite restrained resulting a different and unique texture to his performances. These tracks were originally issued some years on the long out of print Jazzology JCE 51 and it is unfortunate that the producers didn't include the reamining 5 tracks from the session which would have fit nicely on this CD. There are detailed notes by Rudi Blesh on the story of the Solo Art label. Sound quality is unexceptional - however the music is sensational! (FS).

JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY & GUESTS	Document DOCD 1007	The Unissued 1951 Yancey Wire Recordings	● CD $15.98
WALTER JOPLIN (probably): Scott Joplin's New Rag/ DICK MUSHLITZ: Blues/ UNKNOWN PIANIST: Chicago In Mind (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Cow Cow Blues/ Lux's Boogie/ Make Me A Pallet On The Floor (with MAMA YANCEY)/ JIMMY YANCEY: Don't You Wanna Know (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Elephant Rag/ Fives/ Four O'Clock Blues - damaged (with MAMA YANCEY)/ How Long Blues (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Hurry Sundown (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Mellow Blues/ Royal Garden Blues (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Shave 'Em Dry - fragment (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Tomorrow Morning - damaged (with MAMA YANCEY)/ Yancey's Bugle Call - damaged

THE YARDBIRDS	Evidence 26072	Clapton's Cradle - The Early Yardbirds Recordings	● CD $12.98
15 tracks, 58 min, recommended Basically a reissue of Sonny Boy Williamson And The Yardbirds, with the worthy addition of the Yardbirds' (sans Sonny) set from the same night (Dec. '63), and three previously unreleased demos that purport to be their earliest studio recordings, from Feb. '64. These three tunes Boom Boom/Honey In Your Hips/I'm Talking About You, while fairly subdued given the Yardbirds' reputation, reveal the band to be steeped more in Diddley/Berry R&R than the blues, and show Relf's harp to be more of a featured instrument than Clapton's guitar. Likewise, their live set veers more toward R&R, but the performance is much more inspired, with Clapton chording at full steam with Relf's harp over the top to good effect on Smokestack Lightning/Let It Rock/Who Do You Love/I Wish You Would. The Sonny set is a much more laid back affair, with Clapton stretching out a bit behind the blues legend and perhaps explaining why this disc is named after him rather than Relf. Fans of British R&B won't be disappointed. (GDR)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON)	Document DOCD 5292	Complete Recorded Works, Vol 1 : 1937-1938	● CD $15.98
26 tracks, 77 min., recommended Considering she recorded nearly 100 sides between 1937-47, it is at least a little surprising that no one knows anything about Merline Johnson (a.k.a. The Yas Yas Girl), other than that she was born around 1912 in MS, probably. Doesn't really matter, though, since these sides cut in Aurora and Chicago speak for themselves. With a simple backing of piano, guitar, drums, and the occasional clarinet or trumpet, Johnson sets her pleasing vocals to work on Jackass For Sale/ Jelly Bean Blues/ Sold It To The Devil/ Working On The Project, and many more. But with the exception of the striking Grandma And Grandpa and a few others, these sides are somewhat prosaic. Johnson was quite good but not exactly ground breaking in her approach. (JC)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON)	Document DOCD 5293	Complete Recorded Works, Vol 2 : 1938-1939	● CD $15.98
22 tracks, 62 min., recommended Superior to Vol. 1, these sides tend to be jazzier and feature Johnson accompanied by "Her Rhythm Rascals" or "Her Jazz Boys," including such soloists as Punch Miller (tp), Lee Collins (tp), Walter Williams (tp), Bill Owsley (ts), Big Bill Broonzy (gtr), Blind John Davis (pno), and Buster Bennett (as). Johnson's own performances are generally of a higher quality here than on the previous volume, rising to the level of her accompaniment in most cases. Cuts include Running Down My Man/ You Can't Shoot Your Pistol/ Whiskey Fool/ Don't You make Me High/ Reckless Life Blues/ You Can't Have None Of That/ I Got To Have It Daddy and more. The 2nd of 4 volumes. (JC)

THE YAS YAS GIRL (MERLINE JOHNSON)	Document DOCD 5294	Complete Recorded Works, Vol 3 : 1939-1940	● CD $15.98

JOHNNY YOUNG	Arhoolie 325	Chicago Blues	● CD $12.98
Some fine Chicago blues featuring the warm vocals, mandolin and guitar of Johnny Young drawn from his two Arhoolie albums 1029 & 1037. The first session, from 1965, is particularly fine with Young joined by Otis Spann, James Cotton, James Lee Morris, S.P. Leary capturing the spirit of traditional Chicago blues at its best. The second session, from 1967 with Walter Horton, is more modern sounding with Jimmy Dawkins on lead guitar, but it never starys too far from the traditional style. This is very similar to the disc we had as a Japanese import some months ago though this has two less tracks and a lower price. (FS) JOHNNY YOUNG: Come Early In The Morning/ Cross-Cut Saw/ Don't You Lie To Me/ Drinking Straight Whiskey/ Hot Dog!/ I'm Doing All Right/ I'm Having A Ball/ Keep On Drinking/ Keep Your Nose Out Of My Business/ Moaning And Groaning/ My Trainfare Out Of Town/ On The Road Again/ Ring Around My Heart/ Slam Hammer/ Sometimes I Cry/ Stealin'/ Stockyard Blues/ Strange Girl/ Walter's Boogie/ Wild, Wild Woman

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG	Blind Pig 5040	Mighty Man	● CD $14.98
10 tracks, 41 mins, very good If you've wondered whatever happened to The Mighty Man, Chicago bluesman Young suffered a pinched nerve in '86 that made him stop playing guitar & put him into rehab. These are his 1st recordings in years & can be called Boogaloo with Mighty Joe - most of the tracks have Joe on vocals only in a more "contemporary" dance/funk vein, though there's still some good blues to be had, particularly his own Bring It On. Joe only plays guitar on Starvation & Got My Woman On My Mind, but Will Crosby plays some fine guitar on throughout, with most of the songs having a driving 6-piece horn section. (GM)

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG	Delmark 629	Blues With A Touch Of Soul	● CD $11.98
7 tracks, 43 mins, recommended Reissue of Joe's debut album from 1970 with Jimmy Dawkins and "Big Moose" Walker. A nice collection of West Side blues with, well, a touch of soul with strong singing and guitar from Joe. Songs are mostly familiar and go on too long but this is definitely an enjoayble set. (FS)

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG	Sonet 986 925-0	The Sonet Blues Story	● CD $13.98
Fine set of West Side Chicago blues recorded in Chicago in 1972 by this excellent singer and guitarist with rhythm section and occasional horns. A mix of originals and old favorites.

THE ZION TRAVELERS	Ace CDCHD 637	The Dootone Masters	● CD $18.98
25 tracks, min., highly recommended What we have here is the complete Dootone/Dooto Recordings of the Los Angeles based Zion Travelers : all 7 singles, 9 album-only tracks, plus 2 previously unissued 1962 titles (I'm Gonna Wait On Jesus, You Gotta Reap What You Sow). Signed by Dootsie Williams in February 1956, these sides feature longtime lead singers, L. C. Cohen and Bartha L. Watkins, who also recorded secular sides for Arwin Records as Billy Watkins. Cohen's Soldier of The Cross, sung to the melody of Crying In The Chapel (The Orioles), will win you over, especially if you like your harmony sweet and heartfelt. B. L. Watkins' The Death Of Jesus is another highlight from this period. The remaining 20 tracks (recorded in 1962) feature mostly L. C. Cohen, particularly brilliant on The Blood and Bless Me, where the only accompaniment is guitarist Joseph Hughes. If you're a fan of The Dixie Hummingbirds/Swan Silvertones style of quartet singing, you'll enjoy this CD. Chris Smith's notes summarizes what little is known about this group. (EL)

ZYDECO FORCE	Maison De Soul 1045	Shaggy Dog Two-step	● CD $18.98

ZYDECO FORCE	Maison De Soul 1048	The Zydeco Push	● CD $18.98