Blues & Gospel - Newsletter 137 - Mike Bloomfield -> Mitch Kashmar

NEW BOOKS

WALKING A BLUES ROAD A BLUES READER, 1956-2004 by Samuel Charters

● BOOK $17.95

Paper, 272 pages, counts as 3 CDS for shipping A collection of articles by one of the pioneer writers on the blues drawn from previous books, album liners and newly written for this collection. Subjects covered include Lightnin' Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Mamie Smith's recording of Crazy Blues, St. Louis Blues, field recordings of protest songs, Chicago blues, women's blues from Parchman Prison Farm and much more.

SINGING IN A STRANGE LAND by Nick Salvatore

● BOOK $27.95

Hardbound, 419 pages, counts as six CDs for shipping. Biography of Reverend C.L. Franklin - one of the most famous influential African American preachers whose recordings on JVB and Chess sold millions of copies. He was also an important figure in the civil rights movement and worked with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King to end racial discrimination in downtown Detroit in 1963. He was also the father of Aretha Franklin. This book is based on eight years of research and interviews and traces Franklin's life from his birth in Mississippi, his early years as a preacher, his move to Tennessee and ultimately Detroit where he became a legend

INCURABLE BLUES The Troubles & Triumph of blues Legend Hubert Sumlin by Will Romano	● BOOK $17.95
Paper, 264 pages, counts as 4 CDS for shipping Authorized biography of one of the most important and influential blues guitarists whose work on Howling Wolf's Chess recordings added to a new dimension to Chicago blues guitar, The book is told through first-hand interviews with Hubert and those who knew him and his music. Includes and annotated selective discography.

NEW DVDS

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted all DVDs offered are in NTSC format which means that they will not play on a European DVD players unless you have a multiple format player.

CHAMPION JACK DUPREE	Storyville 16038	Blues Legends	● DVD $11.98
The great singer and piano player performing in Denmark in 1986 - includes solo sides, tracks with Kenn Lending or Louisiana Red on guitar and tracks with The Kenn Lending Blues Band - Dupree Special/ Crossroads/ Mean Old Lonesome Train/ Alberta/ You Can Make It + 4 more.

VARIOUS ARTISTS	Ventura 19062	Messin' With The Blues	● DVD $16.98
DVD, 75 minutes, color, recommended Thanks to ex-Rolling Stone, Bill Wyman, this DVD is from a Montreaux Jazz Festival concert in 1974 featuring Junior Wells delivering strong versions of two longtime favorites in Messin' With Kid and Hoodoo Man Blues. Buddy Guy then offers the potent When You See The Tears From My Eyes and Ten Years Ago, both searing blues numbers. Muddy Waters closes out the show with fair readings of Hoochie Coochie Man/ Mannish Boy/ The Same Thing and Got My Mojo Working. Dallas Taylor (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), and Terry Taylor (drums) support with Pinetop Perkins, plus Guy and Wells, and though admirable, there are a few rough spots. Interviews with Buddy Guy and Big Bill Morganfield find Wyman firing out questions, but he has a tendency to stare off in another direction when posing his queries, and he displays a penchant for being somewhat interruptive during the answering process. Small quibbles aside; this is a lengthy and recommended set with clear video quality and a choice of audio selections. If "Drinkin' TNT 'N' Smokin' Dynamite" is in your audio collection, the Wells/Guy material will be familiar, but it's a treat having it in this newly released format along with previously unseen footage of Muddy Waters. (CR)

NEW COMPACT DISCS

MIKE BLOOMFIELD	Fabulous 187	Prescription For The Blues	● CD $7.98
10 tracks, 44 mins, very good Dating from the 1970s and recorded for Bloomfield's old Chicago running partner, Norman Dayron, the ten tracks here show Bloomfield as the varied performer many remember him as. There are flashes of guitar brilliance scattered throughout on a selection of country, New Orleans, and early rock 'n' roll influenced tunes, and some fine blues in Women Lovin' Each Other, Knockin' Myself Out, and You Must Have Jesus. Bloomfield's addictions were perhaps partly responsible for his lack of focus on record, and his vocals unfortunately never reached the heights of his instrumental abilities, but he's still a worthwhile listen 20-plus years after his death at age 37. (CR)

CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN	Maison De Blues 982 2467	Gate's On The Heat	● CD $15.98
This CD features two sessions - one held in 1972 with "Gate" accompanied by a French rhythm section with The Memphis Horns overdubbed later. This session was originally issued as "The Drifter Rides" again. Another session was held in 1973 with "Gate" joined by Canned Heat. The album was then re-released as "Gate's On The Heat" with two of the tracks added from the Canned Heat session. This CD adds two more tracks from the latter session for a total of 12 tracks. Gate is in fine form singing and playing guitar, violin and harmonica on a collection of originals (Man & His Environment/ Please Mr. Nixon/ Dollar's Got The Blues, etc.) and fine covers Jelly, Jelly/ One Mint Julep/ River's Invitation, etc.)

ROY BROWN	Acrobat 4043	Good Rockin' Tonight - Live In San Francisco	● CD $13.98
7 tracks, 36 minutes, very good Following his massive success as a standup blues/R&B shouter with a string of charted hits, Roy Brown retired from performing and made a living for a time selling encyclopedias. His return some years later proved his voice still had amazing power and this live performance (circa 1979) sells that point strongly, but Ron Thompson's guitar shows more of a rock-blues approach lacking the necessary jump/swing vocabulary to back Brown. Pee Wee Crayton guests on the medley of Losing Hand/ Tin Pan Alley, and Brown's vocals raise the stakes on Hard Luck Blues/ Love For Sale/ Let The Four Winds Blow, and more. Sound is less than pristine but the short set still offers good bang for the buck. (CR)

PRECIOUS BRYANT	Terminus 0407	The Truth	● CD $15.98
14 tracks, 37 mins, recommended This is the second album from Georgia blueswoman Bryant and is not quite as strong as the first (Terminus 201 Fool Me Good - $15.98) which was a solo country blues effort. This one adds bass and drums to most of the tracks and the added accompaniment seems a little heavy handed. Still Precious is a fine singer and does a varied selection of material including original songs, blues & R&B favorites and gospel songs and the tracks where she is alone or with a second guitarist only are especially nice. (FS)

DUWAYNE BURNSIDE	BC Records 1314	Live At The Mind	● CD $13.98
High energy electric blues recorded live in Los Angeles in 1999 by R.L. Burnside's son with his band The Mississippi Mafia (bass, organ, accordion, drums & rhythm guitar) and originally issued on the Lucky 13 label. 9 songs, mostly covers, including a 19 minute version of Hoochie Coochie Man!

JOE CALICOTT	Southland 35	North Mississippi Blues	● CD $13.98
12 tracks, 40 mins, recommended A fine though frustrating collection featuring 10 of the recordings made by this excellent Mississippi country bluesman for George Mitchell in 1967. Frustrating since six of the ten tracks were previously reissued on Fat Possum (80360 - $15.98) and doubly frustrating since there are still half a dozen of Mitchell's recordings that are not currently on CD. The remaining two cuts are Joe's superb sides from 1930 though these have been reissued a number of times. Booklet includes notes by Keith Tillman. (FS)

CLIFTON CHENIER	Arhoolie 9053	Louisiana Blues And Zydeco	● CD $9.98
19 tracks, 68 mins, essential What a treat! Here we have all of Clifton's recordings for Chris Strachwitz cut in May, 1965 including two tracks previously available on Arhoolie CD 339 and six previously unissued tunes or alternate takes - all in stereo for the first time. Chris recently discovered the original three track master tapes and the stereo mix really opens up the sound and renders already great performances even greater. Eight tracks feature the traditional Zydeco sound with Clifton singing in French with his mighty piano accordion accompanied only by his brother Cleveland on rubboard and Maison Guidry on drums. They perform storming Zydeco tunes, blues and some lovely waltzes and a couple of these (Zydeco Et Pas Sale and the great Louisiana Blues became local hits when issued as singles. The rest of the tracks were in a more R&B vein with Clifton singing mostly in English and joined by guitarist Cleveland Keyes, pianist Elmore Nixon, bassist Fulton Antoine and drummer Robert St. Judy on songs like Hot Rod/ Ay-Tete-Fee/ I Can't Stand/ Accordion Boogie/ Ay, Ai, Ai and others. On a couple of these cuts Clifton plays some fine blues harmonica. Great music, great sound and informative notes from Chris Strachwitz. (FS)

WALLACE COLEMAN	Pinto Blue 1936	Live At Joe's	● CD $14.98
12 tracks, 54 minutes, excellent Paying tribute to the classic Chicago blues sounds of the 1950s is at the heart of this five-piece Ohio outfit, and with Coleman fronting a setup of two guitars, bass and drums, they manage to get the job done in fine fashion. Coleman isn't a powerful vocalist but he is engaging while his harmonica skills are both confident and commanding. Covering Little Walter (Juke/ One Chance With You/ Tell Me Mama), Jimmy Rogers (You're The One/ My Last Meal), and Muddy (Young Fashioned Ways/ Lonesome Room Blues), as well as offering some solid originals (Hard Life/ Big Dog Blues), The Wallace Coleman Band recaptures the distorted and creative harp-led blues sounds as well as anyone around. (CR)

WALLACE COLEMAN	Pinto Blue 8534	The Bad Weather Blues	● CD $14.98
14 tracks, 75 minutes, recommended "Bad Weather Blues" kicks things up a few notches when compared to previous outings from The Wallace Coleman Band. While remaining on-course with their classic Chicago Blues approach, this mostly original effort shows more growth, confidence, and self-assurance. Covers are primarily limited to Little Walter's Everybody Needs Somebody, Robert Lockwood's Mean Red Spider, and St. Louis Jimmy's Going Down Slow, although the crafty writing on the remainder of the set blends perfectly with the Windy City classics. Billy Flynn and Bob Stroger step in as guests and shine with the rest of the band. Highlights include the title track, a harp-shuffling Billy Bob Jam, the stop-time humor of High Tech Blues, and Coleman's Blue Mist, a Little Walter-like chromatic harp standout. (CR)

SEAN COSTELLO	Tone-Cool 51576	Sean Costello	● CD $16.98
13 tracks, 59 minutes, excellent This artist's first three projects were strong blues offerings with the occasional foray into other styles, but his new self-titled disc is far more soul-rooted. Costello is steadily improving as his voice and guitar work are reaching points missed in the past and he sounds exceptional on She Changed My Mind/ I've Got To Ride/ Don't Pass Me By and others - and also hands in solid readings of Hold On This Time/ Simple Twist Of Fate, and I Get A Feeling. For blues though, only two cuts stand out; Ride and Big Road Blues, a 1950s juke joint slant laced with rough harp and distorted guitar. This is a seriously good effort with a rock-solid band and top-notch songwriting, but the paucity of blues could find many returning to his earlier efforts. (CR)

CARLOS DEL JUNCO	Northern Blues 026	Blues Mongrel	● CD $16.98
12 tracks, 57 minutes, excellent Webster's defines 'mongrel' as: "any animal or plant resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties / any cross between different things, esp. if inharmonious or indiscriminate" - which makes this is an apt and fitting title. Delving into jazz, New Orleans funk, Tex-Mex, hip-hop, and bluegrass, among other styles, del Junco's harmonica reflects an exciting and highly-modern twist. In his hands, it's not a small toy instrument as much as it's an extension of soul and voice. The harp swoops, swells, and orbits, and often in tongues not heard in the blues realm. Little Walter's Blues With A Feeling and Sonny Boy Williamson's Nine Below Zero are intelligently crafted blues expressions as much as Skatoon and No Particular Place expand the borders of harp-playing. (CR)

SHY GUY DOUGLAS	Black Magic 9205	Stone Doin' Alright	● CD $15.98
21 tracks recorded by fine, obscure Nashville singer and harmonica player Tom "Shy Guy" Douglas between 1949 and 1969. This is pretty much everything he recorded, except for his sides for Excello. It includes sides for Todd, Clavert, Bullet (from the 60s Bullet label including several previously unissued), Sur-Speed, Sun (originally unissued), MGM and Chane. Includes Monkey Doin' Woman/ My Little Baby/ Evening Soul/ Stone Doin' Alright (two takes)/ Detroit Arrow/ I Should Have Known/ Shy (two takes), etc. Includes 8 page booklet with brief notes by Fred James and what little discographical info is known about these recordings. (FS)

THE DOWN HOME SUPER TRIO	Crosscut 11081	In The House, Live At Lucerne, Vol. 6	● CD $16.98
13 tracks, 54 minutes, highly recommended Although the band name isn't a familiar one to the world of blues, Frank Goldwasser (guitar and vocals), R.J. Mischo (harmonica and vocals), and Richard Innes (drums) have managed to forge solid reputations with their many years of playing and recording. This smoldering set was tracked in November of 2003 at the prestigious Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland and finds the trio rattling through Willie Dixon's Bloody Tears, Earl Hooker's Going Down The Line, and the Willie Nix gem, Just Can't Stay (although credited to Don Nix), and a handful of strong originals. Alex Schultz and Billy Flynn sit in as guests and the outcome of the entire CD is crashing and distorted blues that recalls the early days of the Post-war scene in Chicago and Memphis. (CR)

SNOOKS EAGLIN/ BOOGIE BILL WEBB	Storyville 8054	The Blues Of Snooks Eaglin & Boogie Bill Webb	● CD $15.98
16 tracks, very good This set includes 12 tracks by Eaglin and 4 by Webb recorded in New Orleans. The Eaglin tracks were recorded at Storyville Hall with Snooks's vocals and electric guitar accompanied by bass and drums on fine versions of songs like Mustang Sally/ Guess Who/ Money/ San-Ho-Zay/ Hideaway/ Talk To Your Daughter and others as well as his own Country Boy Down In New Orleans with additional vocals from one of the band members. The Webb cuts with Harmonica Slim on harmonica and vocals tracks are pretty bad with painfully out of tune guitar work and really don't do this artist who was certainly capable of better. (FS)

RONNIE EARL & DUKE ROBILLARD	Stony Plain 1303	The Duke Meets The Earl	● CD $15.98
8 tracks, 72 minutes, highly recommended A long-awaited recording for fans of blues guitar and a sizzling one at that. Robillard handles the vocals on three cuts; Big Walter Price's My Tears (15 minutes-plus), Lookin' For Trouble, a rattling Eddie Taylor gem, and B.B. King's I Need You So Bad. Mighty Sam McClain guests on a reworking of A Soul That's Been Abused with the remaining cuts being instrumentals; West Side Shuffle/ Two Bones And A Pick/ What Have I Done Wrong, and Zeb's Thing, a Ronnie-penned tribute to Earl Hooker. A tour-de-force effort from a pair of guitarists who have the respect and admiration of fans worldwide. Jimmy McGriff appears on two tracks while the tight band consists of members from both artist's lineups. (CR)

BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON	Charly SNAP 224	Move, Baby Move	● CD $13.98
29 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended Repackaging of Charly 8276 in handsome digipack format with a picture of Billy on the label and two bonus alternate takes. Billy Emerson was a very talented performer whose lack of success is surprising - he was a powerful singer and an exceptional songwriter whose songs were covered by the likes of Elvis Presley (When It Rains It Pours), Billy Lee Riley (Red Hot), Ry Cooder (Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout Autombiles)) and others. These songs are here along with a whole lot more recorded for Sun and Vee-Jay between 1954 and 1957. The earliest Sun recordings find him accompanied by members of Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm (Billy was a member of the band at the time) and subsequent sessions found him with other fine groups including some songs with hot guitar from Calvin Newbern. The Vee-Jay sides have a more polished sound with larger groups but are equally fine with sidemen like Red Holloway, Lefty Bates, Lucious washington and others. This collection includes at least one take of every song he recorded for Sun and Vee-Jay (except for two Vee-Jay titles that have gone missing) and includes some songs not originally issued and some alternate takes. Good sound and informative notes from Adam Komorowski but no discographical info. (FS)

THE GOSPEL HUMMINGBIRDS	Gospel Hummingbirds 1	Live In Paradise	● CD $15.98
16 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended Paradise, California, that is, at the Skyway lodge to be exact. Anyone who has ever had the good fortune to witness the Gospel Hummingbirds live can testify to the power and spirit of the performance. This CD does justice in capturing the live lightning and putting it in a bottle. Where Ain't No Use is playful, Signs Of The Judgment is apocalyptic, and both convince and engage their listeners. All five of the 'Birds step up to lead vocal chores on various songs, demonstrating an impressive depth of talent. Underrated, under-recorded, and under-appreciated, the Gospel Hummingbirds are capable of musical subtleties born out of years of performing. They don't try to overpower every song (although they could), they serve the song, they live the message, they walk by faith. These guys are the real thing. When they sing I'm Waiting For Jesus, no one could doubt them. (JC)

LIL GREEN	Classics 5131	The Chronological Lil Green, 1947-1951	● CD $14.98
The third and final volume devoted to this fine singer features 16 tracks - a mix of torch ballads and blues including I Want A Good Man Bad/ Lonely Woman/ Dady Daddy Blues/ Walkin' And Talkin'/ Running Around In Circles/ I've Got That Feeling, etc.

JOHN HAMMOND	Acrobat 4047	Live	● CD $13.98
12 tracks, 51 minutes, very good Although the liner notes don't pin down the date of this live recording, it's definitely vintage John Hammond - possibly from the late-1960s. Sound quality (in line with other live recordings on Acrobat) isn't state-of-the-art but Hammond is powerful on I Wish You Would/ So Many Roads/ Evil/ Sweet Little Angel/ Gambler's Blues, and a few Bo Diddley classics; I Can Tell/ Who Do You Love, and Hey Bo Diddley. While his reputation perhaps rests more on his acoustic offerings over the years, Hammond was, at one time, a potent electric blues interpreter, which is shown to good effect with this release. (CR)

THE HARMONIZING FOUR	Liquid 8 12229	I Shall Not Be Moved	● CD $7.98
12 tracks, 39 mins, essential With Heritage 29 now out of print this is the only way to get any of the classic Gotham recordings made between 1950 and 1955 by this outstanding quartet. Known for their close harmony singing, the Harmonizing Four (with various line up changes) were together from the late 20s through the late 60s. Such songs as Where He Leads Me/ Oh Lord, Stand By Me and Protect My Loved Ones reveal Tommy Johnson's mellifluous, otherworldly tenor as a thing of beauty. Other tracks feature the superb baritone lead of Joseph Williams and I Shall Not Be Moved features the wonderful bass lead of Jimmy Jones who joined the group in 1955. The booklet lists 11 tracks but there are actually 12 - the last track is the truly sublime Keep Me All The Way. Sound quality is excellent and there are brief notes. Wonderful music. (FS/JC)

THE HOLLYWOOD BLUE FLAMES	Delta Groove 102	Soul Sanctuary	● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 47 minutes, highly recommended With more than a quarter-century having passed since The Hollywood Fats Band debuted offering their only recording in 1979, Al Blake, Larry Taylor, Richard Innes, and Fred Kaplan have continued to play blues. While this recording doesn't mark the first get-together of the remaining four (Fats died in December of 1986) it surely marks their return as worthwhile and based on this effort, it's hopeful for more. The youthful exuberance of old has been replaced with a refined swagger of maturity and Kirk "Eli" Fletcher's guitar work stands as some of the best in blues today. Laced with plenty of Blake's harp, Kaplan's keyboard prowess, and the water-tight rhythm section of Taylor and Innes, it makes for some exceptional listening. Mostly original with a few covers (L.C. McKinley's Nit Wit and St. Louis Jimmy's Soon Forgotten) plus Kim Wilson's guest appearance for Jimmy Rogers' gem You're Sweet. (CR)

RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES & JIMMY WITHERSPOON	Acrobat 120	As Blue As They Want To Be	● CD $10.98
12 tracks, 72 minutes, recommended Richard "Groove" Holmes' Hammond B-3 work was some of the best ever (along with that of McGriff and Smith) while the vocal power and phrasing of Jimmy Witherspoon had few challengers. This lengthy set marked Holmes' final session - from February of 1991 (he would die a few short months later) but it remains a solid offering with plenty of creative organ and 'Spoon singing seven (California Blues/ What A Wonderful World/ Walking On A Tightrope/ Slow Blues In G/ My Friend/ Danger Zone Is Everywhere/ The Time Has Come) with Odetta offering vocals on Lonesome Road Blues. While Witherspoon's voice was showing occasional signs of weakness, there's little question he still had amazing strength in his seventies and Holmes was simply a masterful genius. Highly worthwhile. (CR)

JOHN LEE HOOKER	Body & Soul 2653	Complete John Lee Hooker, Vol. 6: Detroit-Miami 1953-54	● CD $25.98
Body & Soul continues this indispensable series with 45 tracks recorded between early 1953 and late 1954 including an incredible 12 track session recorded for Henry Stone in Miami in July, 1953. JOHN LEE HOOKER: Baby I�m Gonna Miss You/ Baby, You Ain�t No Good/ Bad Boy/ Blue Monday/ Boogie Rambler/ Don�t Trust Nobody/ Down Child/ Everybody�s Blues Anybody�s Blues/ Goin� South Real, Real Gone/ Gotta Boogie/ Half A Stranger/ Hook's Boogie/ Hug And Squeeze/ I Been Done So Wrong/ I Came To See You Baby/ I Do Like I Please/ I Keep The Blues/ I Love You Baby/ I Need Love So Bad/ I Need Love So Bad/ I Wonder Little Darling/ I�m A Boogie Man/ I�m Mad/ I�m Ready/ Jump Me/ Looked Up In Jail/ Love My Baby/ Lovin� Guitar Man/ Misbelieving Baby/ My Baby Don�t Love Me/ Need Somebody/ No More Doggin�/ Nothin� But Trouble/ Odds Against Me/ Pouring Down Rain/ Shake Holler And Run/ Sleepy Blues/ Stuttering Blues/ Taxi Driver/ The Syndicator/ Too Much Boogie/ Wobbling Baby/ You Receive Me Disc Two:

LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS	Koch 9850	Lightnin' Strike Twice	● CD $16.98
Two CDs, 38 tracks, highly recommended Splendid collection of Lightnin' recorded in the mid 60s for maverick record producer Aubrey Mayhew and previously available on five CDs on Collectables as "The Lost Texas Tapes." Like that set it includes the egregious error of including six tracks that are not by Lightnin at all - two by Leadbelly, two by Josh White and two by a white folk singer from the 40s. How they got on these tapes is anyone's guess but it would have been nice if Koch had been a little more responsible than Collectables and not included them. The recordings are from a couple of studio sessions and a couple of live performances at the Bird Lounge in Houston and prior to the Collectables release only half a dozen of the live tracks had been released before on a rare mid 60s LP. The material is a mix of old favorites as well as Lightnins' on the spot improvisations. Sam is in fine form vocally and instrumentally playing amplified and electric guitar and it's always to hear Lightnin's warm growling voice on the between songs patter on the live performances. Lightnin' also back up his cousin, singer/ harmonica player Billy Bizor on two superb vocals and two instrumentals. Bizor is erroneously referred to in the notes as Curly Lee! Includes fairly lengthy notes by Mayhew (repeated from the Collectables) on his experiences meeting and recording Lightnin' - interesting stuff though one might question his assertion that Lightnin' did not make many records! (FS)

ALBERTA HUNTER	Shanachie DVD 6320	Jazz At The Smithsonian	● DVD $15.98
14 tracks, 57 minutes, color, excellent Aided by the piano work of Gerald Cook and Jimmy Lewis on bass, Alberta Hunter (in her eighties) handed over a highly entertaining set of blues classics to an appreciative crowd at the Smithsonian's Baird Auditorium in November of 1981. Down Hearted Blues, Darktown Stutter's Ball, Rough And Ready Man, You Can't Tell The Difference After Dark, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, and My Castle's Rockin' (among others) show Hunter's age had little effect on her abilities. She remained powerful, witty, risqu�, and rewarding right to her end a few short years after this concert appearance. The DVD includes an interview smartly spaced at about the halfway point in the performance footage. Definitely recommended. (CR)

J.B. HUTTO	Delmark 778	Stompin' At Mother Blues	● CD $14.98
19 tracks, 60 minutes, highly recommended J.B. Hutto's jagged and fiery guitar work, and workmanlike voice, were easily capable of knocking any listener off a bar stool from across the room in any of the countless taverns he made his living in, and that style rings loud and clear on this offering. The first 12 tracks were recorded in 1966 at Mother Blues, and although no crowd was present, it's obvious that Hutto and his small band (Herman Hassell & Frank Kirkland) were in top form. The balance dates from 1972 with a different, yet equally adept unit (Lee Jackson, Elbert Buckner & Bombay Carter). Plenty of careening slide and ragged-but-stinging single string lead work throughout. Solid, stripped-down blues on this (mostly) unissued set - Evening Train/ Hawk's Rock/ Alcohol Blues/ Dandruff, and lots more. (CR)

MAHALIA JACKSON	Acrobat ADDCD 3006	The Forgotten Recordings	● CD $13.98
Two CDs, 36 tracks, highly recommended The reason for the name is that prior to this double CD these recordings were only available on three rare LPs on the French Vogue label that were issued in the 70s after Mahalia's death. The origin of these recordings is uncertain - some think they date from 1947, others that they are from 1952 when she first visited Paris. They were probably recorded by Mahalia with piano and organ accompaniment with additional accompaniment added on some selection prior to release. Mahalia is in fine form on a selection that includes Give Me That Old Time REligion/ I Asked The Lord/ Only Believe/ Tell It Sing It Shout It/ To Me It's So Wonderful/ Highway Up To Heaven/ It's My Desire/ Never Look Down/ You Can't Hurry God/ God Will Take Care Of You, etc. Sound quality is not the greatest and I'm not sure if that's how the original Lps sounded or as a result of the remastering but I suspect the former. Includes 12 page booklet with affectionate notes by Opal Louis Nations. (FS)

MAHALIA JACKSON	Proper Intro 2053	In The Upper Room	● CD $9.98
Budget priced introduction to Mahalia's great Apollo recordings made between 1946 and 1953 - 23 tracks including I'm Going To Tell God/ Move On Up A Little Higher (Parts 1 & 2)/ Dig A Little Deeper/ I Can Put My Trust In Jesus/ Prayer Changes Things/ These Are They/ The Lord's Prayer/ Just As I Am/ In The Upper Room (Parts 1 & 2)/ What Then/ Walking To Jerusalem and more.

ELMORE JAMES	Ace CDCHM 1043	Blues After Hours	● CD $13.98
Another in Ace's series of mid priced releases based on original Crown LPs reissues Elmore's classic 1960 LP (the second blues LP I ever bought!) with it's deliciously foxy cover and 10 classic performances - Blues After Hours/ Sunnyland/ Dark And Dreary/ Happy Home/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Goodbye Baby and more. There are eight bonus tracks including three sides from singles and five originally unissued alternate takes. Ace has managed to locate the original production tapes to used for the CD mastering of this reissue. ELMORE JAMES: Blues Before Sunrise/ Dark And Dreary/ Dust My Blues/ Elmo�s Shuffle (take 5)/ Goodbye Baby/ Happy Home/ I Was A Fool/ Late Hours At Midnight/ Long Tall Woman/ Make My Dreams Come True (take 2)/ Mean And Evil/ No Love In My Heart/ Quarter Past Nine/ So Mean To Me (take 4)/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Kinda Feeling (take 1)/ Sunnyland/ Wild About You Aka Wild About You Baby

LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANI FIVE	Acrobat 4082	Jukebox Hits, Volume 1, 1942-1947	● CD $13.98
27 tracks, 78 min, essential The first of two volumes of the chart hits of one of the biggest platter movers of the 40s & 50s. It's all hits here; of the 27 tracks here, all but one was a Top 10 hit & that one was My Baby Said Yes, a duet with Bing Crosby that hit the pop #11. The others include 11 that were #1 on the R&B charts, & a dozen that crossed over to the Pop chart, incl GI Jive which topped 'em both! Here's Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens / What's The Use In Getting Sober / Caldonia / Choo Choo Ch'Boogie, / Let The Good Times Roll. (GM)

LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANI FIVE	Acrobat 4083	Jukebox Hits, Vol. 2, 1947-1951	● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 78 min, essential This companion to Volume 1 takes up the later hits, all but 1 in the R&B Top 10 including six #1's, & four that crossed over to the Pop charts. This has one of my fave Jordan tunes that's seldom reissued, Every Man To His Own Profession (I'm prejudiced cuz I had the 78 as a kid!) & such classics as Reet Petite & Gone/ Saturday Night Fish Fry/ Jack You're Dead, & a bunch of his later hits that you don't hear as much, Tamburitza Boogie/ Lemonade/ Daddy-O/ Weak Minded Blues. (GM)

MITCH KASHMAR	Delta Groove 103	Nickels & Dimes	● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 54 minutes, excellent Although Mitch Kashmar's name may not be known currently by many in blues circles away from the West Coast, his talents as a songwriter, vocalist, and harmonica master will hopefully bring him wider recognition soon. Aided by the considerable efforts of Junior Watson, Ronnie James Weber, and Richard Innes with guest spots from Abu Talib (formerly known as Freddie Robinson) and Arthur Adams, Kashmar delivers a rousing set of smoldering blues. His originals; Dirty Deal/ Just Show It To Me/ New York Woman/ Becky Ann/ We're Sittin' Home Tonight/ Runnin' Off At The Mouth and the title track stand up easily against six well-chosen covers. While he may be off the radar screen for the majority of the blues world, he's definitely deserving of far more. (CR)

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