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NEWSLETTER #138
Blues & Gospel
 Tom McFarland -> Mighty Joe Young
 
 

 
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND JSP JSPCD 7745 And Cannon's Jug Stompers With Gus Cannon ● CD $28.98
4 CDs, 98 tracks, essential..that is if you haven't already got this stuff on JSP or Frog
The first three discs are a straight reprint of the Memphis Jug Band's 1927-30 recordings, as originally issued on JSP and subsequently made available on DGF 15, 16 and 18. The fourth CD of Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers was most recently part of a JSP two CD set with Sleepy John Estes' first recordings. The Memphis Jug Band discs include all the tracks on the Document reissues (DOCD 5021-23 - now out of print) plus twelve - four alternate takes and two performances each by Will Shade, Vol Stevens, Will Weldon and Hattie Hart - which otherwise appeared on Wolf WBCD 004. The Stompers' disc (they recorded 1928-30 not in 1928 only, as the packaging and discographical details here suggest) includes all their output except an alternate take of Viola Lee Blues reissued on DOCD 5032. Two titles by Cannon and Woods on DOCD 5033 are also omitted. All four discs were remastered by the great John R. T. Davis from pristine 78s, which means the sound quality is superb - although there is a little background hiss, you get the full range of the original recordings, making the kazoos and jugs sound surprisingly musical. These are absolutely definitive reissues supported by the original, excellent sleeve notes from Neal Slaven and Keith Briggs, so that if you are building a blues collection this set will be the bargain of the year. For established collectors though it is difficult to avoid thinking that it also represents a missed opportunity. JSP could have made this box irresistible to all blues fans if they had added an extra disc covering MJB's 1932-34 output. (These later recordings have been reissued on Blues Document BDCD 6002, but the sound is nowhere near as good.) Reviews of the three MJB discs appeared in Newsletter 123. The Jug Stompers are generally considered the best of all the jug bands, and they were certainly more musically accomplished and focused than Will Shade's outfit. The informality of the Memphis Jug Band though offers more humour, a greater variety of material and moods, and more warmth. Their best performances like K.C. Moan run Gus' band mighty close, but what can rival the beautiful (and probably mistitled) Going To Germany? Really it's all great, and quite wonderfully presented here. (DPR)

 
MISS ANGEL Electro-Fi 3389 That's The Way I Tumble ● CD $15.98
11 tracks, 48 minutes, excellent
Previously heard on Mel Brown's "Neck Bones & Caviar" disc, Mississippi-born Miss Angel steps forward on her first solo outing, and justifiably, Mel and his Homewreckers provide the backing throughout. Whether chugging through the shuffling Country Man, a funky That's The Way I Tumble, or the strutting 747 Blues, Angel's vocals are powerful and completely unaffected, if at times a bit unpolished and under-developed. Her power and conviction prove stronger on the 'live' and driving Hipshake with the rest of the album being a well-produced studio effort. Brown's stirring guitar proves a perfect foil from beginning to end while the small band locks into the grooves without missing a beat. (CR)

 
KING PERRY Classics 5129 The Chronological King Perry, 1950-1959 ● CD $14.98
The second volume of this fine blues and R&B vocalist features 24 tracks recorded between 1950 and 1954.
KING PERRY: Back To Kansas City/ Blue & Lonesome/ Blues At Xmas/ Card Playin' Blues/ Christopher Columbus/ Coquette/ Day & Night Blues/ Duck's Yas Yas Yas/ Everybody Jump/ Everything's Gonna Be Alright Tonight/ Get Out Of My Face/ Hello Peach/ I Ain't Got A Dime To My Name/ I Must Have Been An Ugly Baby/ I Wonder Who's Boogin' My Boogie/ Mellow Gal Blues/ Natural Born Lover/ On The Sunny Side Of The Street/ Pitching A Party/ The Animal Song/ Things Ain't What They Used To Be/ Till You're In My Arms Again/ Vaccinate Me Baby/ Welcome Home Baby

 
LULA REED Classics 5136 The Chronological Lula Reed, 1951-1954 ● CD $14.98
23 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
The first 22 tracks recorded by this superb vocalist accompanied by bands led by her husband Sonny Thompson. Although 14 of these were previously available on Ace 984 with superior sound and packaging the eight tracks not duplicated make this set worth while including four fine gospel songs and four solid blues ballads. A 23rd "ghost track" has been added which is answer to Lula's Watch Dog by Paul Tate with a spoken intro by Lula. (FS)

 
KING SOLOMON Night Train 7138 You Ain't Nothing But A Teenager ● CD $15.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection of soul flavored blues recorded for various small California labels in the 60s and 70s by King Sylvester Lee, or as he was better known, King Solomon. Solomon got his start in gospel groups and his vocals have a strong gospel feel to them. His first single for the Ball label, the two part Non Support Blues recorded for the L.A. based Ball label became a local and was picked up by the Checker label though all his subsequent releases were confined to small labels and the tracks here were released on labels like Magnum, Don-J, Resist, Highland, Mader-D, Ashanti and Celestial. There are lots of fine songs here like Separation, the Howling Wolf flavored Yodeling This Morning, the fine slow blues I Got To Move, the funk flavored The Natural Look and others. The last seven tracks are from an LP released on the Celestial label in 1978 featuring a blend of blues, soul and funk including the topical songs Energy Crisis. Most of the accompanying musicians are unknown but there are some excellent bands with top notch guitar on many of the tracks. Includes eight page fold out booklet with detailed notes and rare photos. Like many Night Train titles the remastering could be better but there's lots of fine and infrequently heard music here. (FS)

 
SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS Acrobat ADDCD 3007 Happy In The Service Of The Lord ● CD $13.98
Two CDs, 47 tracks, 143 mins, essentiall
In my humble opinion the 33 tracks recorded by the Spirit Of Memphis for King between 1949 and 1952, and included on this collection, features some of the greatest gospel quartet singing ever put on record. With the soaring tenor lead of Wilmer "Little Ax" Broadnax (a woman, living as man!), the powerful baritone/ tenor lead of Jethro "Jet" Bledsoe and the ferocious, thundering, baritone lead singing and preaching of the great Silas Steele they produced music of such visceral intensity that you will feel positively drained after hearing half a dozen songs. One can only imagine the effect it had a live audience at the time. Whether it's the interweaving of the lead voices or the exquisite harmonies of the rest of the group it's all just perfect. Listen to The Day Is Passed And Gone where Little Axe subtly intones the lyrics against the harmonies of the group oohing in the background with Silas Steele preaching at the same time - the effect is utterly spine chilling. And there's one classic after another On The Battlefield/ Blessed Are The Dead/ If Jesus Had To Pray/ Calvary/ I'll Go/ Everytime I Feel The Spirit/ That Awful Day/ Toll The Bell Easy and others. The group ended their King stay with the wonderful live two part Lord Jesus. After they left King they joined the major gospel label Peacock and this set includes their first dozen sides for that label which curiously lack the passion and fire of the King sides - fine performances on their own but they pale in comparison. Opening the set are the group's first recordings in 1949 for Deluxe and Hallelujah Spirituals which preasged what was to come on King. Sound is generally excellent, dubbed from mostly clean 78s, and booklet has informative notes by Opal Louis Nations. If you buy only one gospel CD this decade this is the one to get! (FS)
 
WARREN STORM & THE BLUES ROCKERS St. George 7709 Dust My Blues ● CD $14.98
14 tracks, 43 min., recommended
Born Warren Schexnider, Mr. Storm established himself as a leading progenitor of Louisiana swamp pop in the 1950s and '60s. In LA where he soaked up his eclectic musical approach, Storm paid the rent as an in-demand session drummer. "Dust My Blues" features Cajun and rockabilly tunes but is decidedly blues heavy. Storm drums and sings his way back in time, covering such favorites as Honey Hush, If You Need Me, Slim Harpo's Rainin' In My Heart, and others. Yet for all that it doesn't sound like a man trying to recapture his musical youth so much as a man who is still genuinely in love with the music. Storm and the aptly named Blues Rockers know how to create a disturbance in the atmosphere, thanks in part to the spirited guitar work of Studebaker John and Rockin' Billy Harnden. Pull up a dance floor. (JC)

 
THE SWANEE QUINTET MCA 21098 Take The Lord With You ● CD $8.98
Back in stock. 10 of this fine group's Nashboro recordings - Take The Lord With You/ That's The Spirit/ Sit Down Servant/ Holy Ghost Got Me/ How I Got Over, etc.

 
FINIS TASBY Electro-Fi 3390 What My Blues Are All About ● CD $15.98
12 tracks. 64 minutes, recommended
Pretty much under-the-radar until the last few years, Finis Tasby is showing himself as a force to be reckoned with, and this new disc amply displays his rich and soulful voice as well as his powerful songwriting. Four of the twelve tracks are sizzling covers (Baby Please/ Mean Old World/ I Don't Want No Woman /Ugly Woman Blues) with the balance consisting of creatively potent originals. The swamp feel of Back In Love Again and the grinding Blues From Down Under are just two of many highlights. Guitar is supplied by Mel Brown on a few (plus a few more on keyboard) and relative newcomer Enrico Crivellaro (who proves he's no slouch either) while David Rotundo's harp is very effective with a thick, overdriven approach. Tasby is a joy to listen to, and whether on his own or making appearances with The Mannish Boys (among others), his hearty style is completely satisfying - especially so on "What My Blues Are All About." (CR)

 
BIG JOE TURNER Fabulous 149 The Forties, Vol. 1 : 1940-1946 ● CD $7.98
The first of two volumes presenting a selection of the recordings made by the great Big Joe Turner in the 40s. These two volumes provide a fine introduction. Joe is featured in the company of musicians like Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Ulysses Livingston, Freddie Slack, Pete Johnson and others on 18 songs including How Long, How Long Blues/ I Can't Give You Anything But Love/ Goin' To Chicago Blues/ Blues In the Night (My Mama Done Told Me)/ Little Bittie Gal's Blues/ Johnson & Turner Blues/ My Gals & Jockey and more. Good sound, brief notes by Neil Slaven and discographical info.
 
BIG JOE TURNER Fabulous 185 The Forties, Vol. 2 : 1947-1949 ● CD $7.98
18 more fine sides - this time from 1947 through 1949 with Pete Johnson, Art Farmer, Maxwell Davis, Joe Houston & others - Around The Clock, Parts 1 & 2/ TRouble Blues/ Christmas Date Boogie/ Baby Wont You Marry Me/ Rainy Weather Blues/ I Wish I Had A Dollar, etc.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1057 The Modern Downhome Blues Sessions, Vol. 4 ● CD $18.98
The fourth volume in this great series is a real treat for country blues lovers - apart from four tracks by Texas pianist Alexander Moore (accompanied by guitarist Smokey Hogg) the rest is all guitar accompanied country blues. Some of it by real mystery men and all of it great. Includes Jesse Thomas, Pine Top Slim, Leroy Simpson (with Lane Hardin/ guitar), Lane Hardin (aka Arkansas Johnny Todd, Big Bill Dotson,, Little Son Jackson and Big Charley Bradix. The CD includes six previously unissued songs or alternate takes. Jim O'Neal's in depth liner notes helps lift the veil on some of the mysteries here.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Arhoolie 510 Blues With A Message ● CD $12.98
Excellent collection of 18 tracks from the Arhoolie catalog featuring blues songs with a topical message including I Have To Paint My Face by Sam Chatmon, Tom Moore's Farm by Mance Lipscomb, Levee Camp Blues by Fred McDowell, Little Soldier Boy by Doctor Ross, Depression Blues by Herman E. Johnson, It's EWnough by Juke Boy Bonner and others including the beautiful and moving 1919 Influenza Blues by Essie Jenkins which is making its first appearance on CD. Includes 20 page booklet with detailed notes by Paul Oliver's whose pioneering book Blues Fell This Morning was the first in depth look at the meaning and content of the blues.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Blue Moon 6049 Juke Box R&B 1945-1946 ● CD $16.98
25 tracks of Los Angeles jump blues and R&B featuring the complete recordings of Johnny Alston & His Orchestra, Cal Lucas & His Orch., Sylvester Scott & His Orch and Ollie Jackson & His Band. Some obscure but fine artists with excellent sound.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard 1011 The R&B Years - 1954 ● CD $29.98
Another great collection featuring 100 blues, R&B and doo-wop titles issued in 1954 including hits and lesser known sides. About 25% of the tracks are duplicated on Indigo 2565.  Generally excellent sound and set comes with 8-page fold out booklet with notes by Roy Bainton.
JOHNNY ACE: Never Let Me Go/ FAYE ADAMS: It Hurts Me To My Heart/ LAVERN BAKER: Tweedle Dee/ DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: Jump Children/ JIMMY BINKLEY: Wine, Wine, Wine/ OTIS BLACKWELL: Oh! What A Babe!/ TINY BRADSHAW: Overflow/ CHARLES BROWN: I Want To Fool Around With You/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Midnight Hour/ Okie Dokie Stomp/ NAPPY BROWN: That Man/ ROY BROWN: Black Diamond/ Bootleggin' Baby/ RUTH BROWN: Love Contest/ Mambo Baby/ Oh What A Dream/ RAY CHARLES: Don't You Know/ It Should've Been Me/ THE CHARMS: Hearts Of Stone/ THE CHORDS: Sh-boom (life Could Be A Dream)/ THE CLOVERS: I've Got My Eyes On You/ Little Mama/ Lovey Dovey/ Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash/ SUGAR BOY CRAWFORD: Jock-a-mo/ PEE WEE CRAYTON: Do Unto Others/ You Know Yeah/ EARL CURRY: One Whole Year Baby/ LARRY DALE: You Better Heed My Warning/ MARGIE DAY: Take Out Your False Teeth Baby/ VARETTA DILLARD: Send Me Some Money/ FATS DOMINO: Something's Wrong/ You Done Me Wrong/ THE DOMINOES: My Baby's 3-d/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Rub A Little Boogie/ Shim Sham Shimmy/ THE EAGLES: Trying To Get To You/ WILLIE EGANS: It's A Shame/ BILLY EMERSON: The Woodchuck/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Cry Some More/ THE FLAIRS: Love Me Girl/ JOHNNY FULLER: Hard Times/ LOWELL FULSON: Reconsider Baby/ MIKE GORDON: Why Don't You Do Right?/ You Got To Give/ BIG JOHN GREER: Bottle It Up And Go/ TINY GRIMES: Juicy Fruit/ GUITAR SLIM: Later For You Baby/ The Story Of My Life/ The Things That I Used To Do/ ARTHUR GUNTER: Baby Let's Play House/ SHIRLEY GUNTER: Oop Shoop/ WYNONIE HARRIS: Keep-a-'talkin/ JOE HOUSTON: All Night Long/ ELMORE JAMES: Make My Dreams Come True/ BUDDY JOHNSON: I'm Just Your Fool/ A Pretty Girl (a Cadillac And Some Money)/ LITTLE JOHNNIE JONES: Hoy Hoy/ B.B. KING: Bye! Bye! Baby/ Everything I Do Is Wrong/ You Upset Me Baby/ EARL KING: A Mother's Love/ J.B. LENORE: Eisenhower Blues/ SMILEY LEWIS: Blue Monday/ Down The Road/ LITTLE MILTON: Beggin' My Baby/ WILLIE MABON: Poison Ivy/ Would You Baby/ PERCY MAYFIELD: I Need Love So Bad/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Blues Blasters Boogie/ CLYDE MCPHATER & THE DRIFTERS: Honey Love/ CLYDE MCPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS: Such A Night/ THE MEDALLIONS: Buick '59/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Call Before You Go/ THE MIDNIGHTERS: Annie Had A Baby/ Sexy Ways/ AMOS MILBURN: Baby You Thrill Me/ Good, Good Whiskey/ Milk And Water/ THE MOONGLOWS: Sincerely/ THE PENGUINS: Earth Angel (will You Be Mine)/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Tipitina/ RED PRYSOCK: Jump Red Jump/ LULA REED: Watch Dog/ LITTLE RICHARD WITH THE TEMPO TOPPERS: Rice, Red Beans And Turnip Greens/ TOMMY RIDGLEY: Jam Up/ THE ROBINS: Riot In Cell Block No.9/ THE ROYALS: Work With Me Annie/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: I Smell A Rat/ THE TRENIERS: Rock A Beatin' Boogie/ JOE TURNER: Shake Rattle And Roll/ Tv Mama/ Well, All Right/ T-BONE WALKER: Love Is Just A Gamble/ Pony Tail/ DINAH WASHINGTON: Big Long Slidin' Thing/ YOUNG JOHN WATSON: Space Guitar/ CHUCK WILLIS: I Feel So Bad/ You're Still My Baby/ JIMMY WITHERSPOON: I Can Make It With You (big Daddy)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard Vintage 1012 Down Home Blues Classics, Texas 1946-1954 ● CD $29.98
Four CDs, 100 tracks, essential
Sensational collection of 100 Texas country and down home blues tracks including one whole CD devoted to the King - Lightnin' Hopkins. A good proportion of these have been out on CD before though some of the previous releases are no longer available and there are some real gems that have never been on CD before. The music here is consistently superb and among the previously unreissued highlights are several by the incredible "Stick Horse" Hammond (who was born in Texas but spent most of his life in Louisiana) including his great Alberta on which he sounds like a cross between Charlie Patton and Tommy McClennan! This track alone is worth the price of the set. There are also seven tracks by the brilliant singer/ guitarist Ernest Lewis including his incredible rare first recording for the Pelican label. The set also includes Texas Alexander, Perry Cain, Rattlesnake Cooper, Mercy Dee Walton, Clarence Garlow, John Hogg, Wright Holmes, Soldier Boy (aka Lawyer) Houston, Leroy "Country" Johnson, Willie Lane, David "Pete" McKinley (another Louisianan), Monister Parker, Miss Country Slim (accompanied by Ernest Lewis on a cover of Memphis Minnie's In My Girlish Days), Thunder Smith (a trully brilliant singer and piano player), The Sugarman, Big Son Tillis, D.C. Washington and others. There's not a bad track in sight and although the sound quality is not always as good as it could be (a little too much digital noise reduction and compression on some tracks) the music more than compensates and there are informative notes by Neil Slaven. (FS)
TEXAS ALEXANDER: Crossroads/ JOHNNY BECK: You Gotta Lay Down Mama/ PERRY CAIN: A|l The Way From Texas/ BUDDY CHILES: Jet Black Woman/ RATTLESNAKE COOPER: Lost Woman Blues/ COUNTRY SLIM: What Wrong Have I Done/ SONNY BOY DAVIS: I Don't Live Here No More/ Rhythm Blues/ LEROY ERVIN: Blue, Black and Evil/ CLARENCE GARLOW: Bon Ton Roula/ I'm In A Boogie Mood/ STICK HORSE HAMMOND: Alberta/ Gamblin' Man/ Highway 51/ Truck 'Em On Down/ JOHN HOGG: Black Snake Blues/ Worrying Blues/ SMOKEY HOGG: Misery Blues/ Worried Blues/ WRIGHT HOLMES: Drove From Home Blues/ Good Road Blues/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Abilene/ Automobile/ Dirty House/ Don't Think 'Cause You're Pretty/ Feel So Bad/ Freight Train Blues/ Gone With The Wind/ Gotta Move/ Had A Gal Called Sal/ Jake Head Boogie/ Katie Mae Blues/ Let Me Play With Your Poodle/ Lightnin's Boogie/ Lonesome Home/ Long Way From Texas/ One Kind Favor/ Picture On The Wall/ Sad News From Korea/ Short Haired Woman/ Shotgun/ Sick Feeling Blues/ Sittin' Down Thinkin'/ Someday Baby/ Sugar Mama/ Tim Moore's Farm/ SOLDIER BOY HOUSTON: Dallas Be Bop Blues/ Hug Me Baby/ Lawyer Houston Blues/ LIL' SON JACKSON: Bad Whiskey, Bad Woman/ Cairo Blues/ Freedom Train Blues/ Roberta Blues/ SUNNY JAMES: Excuse Me Baby/ Please Mam Forgive Me/ LEROY "COUNTRY" JOHNSON: Log House On The Hill/ WILLIE LANE: Black Cat Rag/ Howlin' Wolf/ Prowlin' Ground Hog/ ERNEST LEWIS: No More Lovin'/ Rosa Lee/ Shake 'Em On Down/ West Coast Blues/ DAVID PETE MCKINLEY: Shreveport Blues/ PETE MCKINLEY: Mean Black Snake/ MISS COUNTRY SLIM: In My Girlish Days/ MANNY NICHOLS: Forgive Me/ No One To Love Me/ Tall Skinny Mama Blues/ Walking Talking Blues/ Worried Life/ MONISTER PARKER: You Gonna Need Me/ BILL SIMPSON: Jelly Roll Man/ FRANKIE LEE SIMS: Home Again Blues/ Lucy Mae Blues/ Single Man Blues/ THUNDER SMITH: Big Stars Are Falling/ Cruel Hearted Woman/ Low Down Dirty Ways/ Santa Fe Blues/ LUTHER STONEHAM: January 11, 1949 Blues/ THE SUGARMAN: She's Gone With The Wind/ Which Woman Do I Love/ ANDREW THOMAS: Chicago Blues/ I Love My Baby/ ANDY THOMAS: My Baby Quit Me Blues/ BIG SON TILLIS: Rocks Is My Pillow/ BIG SON & LILLIAN TILLIS: Ten Long Years/ BIG SON TILLIS: Zetela Blues/ JAMES TISDOM: Last Affair Blues/ Throw This Poor Dog A Bone/ MERCY DEE WALTON: Ba-Ba-Du-Lay Blues (G.I. Fever)/ Evil And Hanky/ Lonesome Cabin Blues/ D.C. WASHINGTON: Happy Home Blues/ WEST TEXAS SLIM: Little Mae Belle/ Loudella/ L.C. WILLIAMS: Black Woman/ Boogie All The Time/ Strike Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard Vintage 1013 The R&B Years 1947 ● CD $29.98
A particularly welcome entry in this series as recordings from 1947 haven't been explored in much depth in other thematic anthologies and this includes some hard to find sides as well as some tracks that have not appeared on CD before. It includes some of the R&B hits from 1947 as well as lots of obscure sides. Among the many artists featured are Amos Milburn, Eddie Vinson, Buddy Banks, Redd Foxx, Jack McVea (his classic Open The Door Richard! of course), Roy Milton, Jesse Price, Cecil Gant, Tiny Bradshaw, Buddy Johnson, Illinois Jacquet, Erskine Hawkins, The Five Blazers, Big Three Trio, Memphis Jimmy, Helen Humes (the great Jet Propelled Papa), Sherman Williams, Cousin Joe, Nellie Lutcher, Joe Liggins, The Chicago All Stars, Louis Jordan, Marion Abernathy, Jimmie Gordon, Julia Lee, Charles bRown, T-Bone Walker, Hot Lips Page, Gene Phillips, Floyd Smith and many more. 100 tracks in all.
MARION ABERNATHY: You Ain't Got Nothing For Me/ JO JO ADAMS WITH TOM ARCHIA: Drinkin' Blues/ ANNISTEEN ALLEN WITH LUCKY MILLINDER: Let It Roll/ ALBERT AMMONS: Swanee River Boogie/ TOM ARCHIA: Fishin' Pole/ BABY DEE WITH BILL CAMPBELL: Look What Baby's Got For You/ BUDDY BANKS: Banks' Boogie/ DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: She's Got Great Big Eyes/ COUNT BASIE ORCH. WITH TAPS MILLER: I Ain't Mad At You/ BUSTER BENNETT: Signifying Woman/ CLYDE BERNHARDT: Is It's Any News To You/ THE BIG THREE TRIO: Money Tree Blues/ FIVE BLAZERS: Chicago Boogie/ TINY BRADSHAW: Take The Hands Off The Clock/ HADDA BROOKS: That's My Desire/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Gatemouth Boogie/ ROY BROWN: Good Rockin' Tonight/ Special Lesson No.1/ WALTER BROWN: Gonna Open Up A Business/ CHARLES BROWN WITH JOHNNY MOORE'S BLAZERS: Changeable Woman Blues/ Merry Christmas Baby/ New Orleans Blues/ CHRISTINE CHATMAN: The Boogie Woogie Girl/ THE CHICAGO ALL STARS: Green Light/ COUSIN JOE: Box Car Shorty and Peter Blue/ BILL CROSBY: Hip Chick Blues/ DICK DAVIS: Memphis Train/ REDD FOXX: Shame On You/ LOWELL FULSON: Jelly Jelly/ CECIL GANT: Boozie Boogie/ PAUL GAYTEN: Your Hands Ain't Clean/ JIMMIE GORDON: Jumpin' At The Club Blue Flame/ LIL GREEN: I Want A Good Man Bad/ RUDY GREENE: Buzzard Pie/ TINY GRIMES: Tiny's Boogie Woogie/ JIMMY GRISSOM WITH THE BLENDERS: Big Fine Baby/ WYNONIE HARRIS: Mr Blues Jumped A Rabbit/ Young And Wild/ ERSKINE HAWKINS: Hawk's Boogie/ DUKE HENDERSON: 18th and Vine Street Boogie/ CAMILLE HOWARD: Thrill Me/ Camille's Boogie/ HELEN HUMES: Jet Propelled Papa/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: High Cost Low Pay Blues/ JUMP JACKSON WITH BENNY KELLY: Hey Pretty Mama/ ILLINOIS JACQUET: Blow Illinois Blow/ BUDDY JOHNSON: Hey Sweet Potato/ ALBENNIE JONES: Papa Tree Top Blues/ LUKE JONES: She's My Baby/ LOUIS JORDAN: Boogie Woogie Blues Plate/ Early In The Morning/ I Know What You're Puttin' Down/ Jack You're Dead/ Look Out/ Texas & Pacific/ JULIE LEE: Opportunity Knocks/ DICK LEWIS: Tornado/ JOE LIGGINS: Blow Mr Jackson/ JOE LUTCHER: Blues For Sale/ Rockin' Boogie/ NELLIE LUTCHER: He's A Real Gone Guy/ Hurry On Down/ JAY MCSHANN WITH JIMMY WITHERSPOON: Bar Fly Blues/ JACK MCVEA: Open The Door Richard!/ Two Timin' Baby/ MEMPHIS JIMMY: Jimmy's Jump/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Life Is Like That/ Rockin' The House/ AMOS MILBURN: Down The Road Apiece/ Money Hustlin' Woman/ ROY MILTON: Red Light/ True Blues/ GATEMOUTH MOORE: Love Doctor Blues/ HOT LIPS PAGE: Walking In A Daze/ KING PERRY: Kilroy Was Here/ GENE PHILLIPS: Big Fat Mama/ Rock Bottom/ KING PORTER: Bump's Boogie/ JESSE PRICE: You Can't Take It With You/ THE RAVEN: Ol' Man River/ TODD RHODES: Bell Boy Boogie/ JIMMY RUSHING: Good Morning Blues/ CLARENCE SAMUELS: Boogie Woogie Blues/ FLOYD SMITH: Floyd's Guitar Blues/ GEECHIE SMITH: And I Wants To Thank Ya'/ JESSE STONE: An Ace In The Hole/ JOE SWIFT WITH JOHNNY OTIS ORCH.: Good Boogie Googie/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Bobby Sox Blues/ RABON TARRANT: Blues With A Feeling/ THE TRENIER TWINS: Hey Sister Lucy!/ JOE TURNER: Miss Brown Blues/ EDDIE VINSON: Bonus Pay/ Kidney Stew Blues/ Old Maid Boogie/ T-BONE WALKER: Hard Pain Blues/ I Know Your Wig Is Gone/ DINAH WASHINGTON WITH LIONEL HAMPTON: Blow Top Blues/ CROWN PRINCE WATERFORD: Undercover Blues/ PAUL WILLIAMS: Hastings Street Bounce/ SHERMAN WILLIAMS: Baby, Don't You Want To Go

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard Vintage 1014 Down Home Blues Classics, Chicago 1946-1954 ● CD $29.98
4 CDs, 100 tracks, approx 4 hours 40 mins, essential
Simply fantastic collection of down home Chicago from the music's golden age. Although there is some overlap with JSP 7744 this is perfect complment since the JSP set concentrated on how the entrenched Chicago bluesmen adapted to the new musical and social climate in Chicago due to the influx of many of thousands of African-Americans from the South - this one features mostly newcomers to Chicago whose music was steeped in the traditions of the South. Although most of this has been out on CD before the selection has been carefully chosen to feature some of the very finest recordings from this period and includes the complete 50s recordings of several performers who became stalwarts of the blues scene in later years like J.B. Hutton, Johnny Young and Homesick James. There are also magnificent performances from John Brim, Floyd Jones, Little Willie Foster, Johnny Jones, Robert Lockwood, Johnny Shines, Big Boy Spires and others. As icing on the cake this set includes the recently discovered first recording of Jimmy Rogers Round About Boogie from 1948 which was issued under Memphis Slim's name and features Jimmy singing and playing harmonica! It also features the never before reissued recordings of fine vocalist Essie Sykes with Roosevelt Sykes on piano and Robert Nighthawk on guitar. This set includes recordings that were the Holy Grail for postwar blues collectors in the 60s. Sound is excellent and the 8 page foldout booklet has informed notes by Paul "Sailor" Vernon and discographical info. (FS)
GRACE BRIM: Going Down The Line/ Leaving Daddy Blues/ JOHN BRIM: Dark Clouds/ Gary Stomp/ Lonesome Man Blues/ Rattlesnake/ Tough Times/ LEE BROWN: Bobby Town Boogie/ My Little Girl Blues/ New Little Girl (1)/ New Little Girl (2)/ JIMMY EAGER: Please Mr Doctor/ Should Have Loved Her More/ BABY FACE LEROY FOSTER: Louella/ Pet Rabbit/ LITTLE WILLIE FOSTER: Falling Rain Blues/ Four Day Jump/ ROCKY FULLER: Come On Baby Now/ TONY HOLLINS: Fishing Blues/ I'll Get a Break/ Wine-O-Woman/ HOMESICK JAMES: Farmer's Blues/ Homesick/ Lonesome Ole Train/ The Woman I Love/ J.B. HUTTO & HIS HAWKS: Combination Boogie/ Dim Lights/ Loving You/ Now She's Gone/ Pet Cream Man/ Things Are So Slow/ FLOYD JONES: Ain't Times Hard/ Any Old Lonesome Day/ Big World/ Dark Road/ Early Morning/ Floyd's Blue/ On The Road Again/ Schooldays On My Mind/ Skinny Mama/ You Can't Live Long/ LITTLE JOHNNY JONES: Big Town Playboy/ Shelby County Blues/ ALBERT KING: Bad Luck Blues/ Be On Your Merry Way/ J.B. LENOIR: Carrie Lee/ Deep In Debt/ Korea Blues/ My Baby Told Me/ LITTLE WALTER: Don't Have To Hunt No More/ Tonight With A Fool/ ROBERT LOCKWOOD: (I'm Gonna) Dig Myself A Hole/ Dust My Broom/ LAZY BILL LUCAS: I Had A Dream/ She Got Me Walkin'/ WILLIE NIX: All By Myself/ Just Can't Stay/ Nervous Wreck/ No More Love/ MORRIS PEJOE: Can't Get Along/ Gonna Buy Me A Telephone/ It'll Plumb Get It/ SNOOKY PRYOR: Crosstown Blues/ I Want You For Myself/ JIMMY REED: I Found My Baby/ Jimmy's Boogie/ Roll And Rhumba/ JIMMY ROGERS: Act Like You Love Me/ Left Me With A Broken Heart/ Out On The Road/ Round About Boogie/ JOHNNY SHINES: Joliet Blues/ So Glad I Found You/ BIG BOY SPIRES: About To Lose My Mind/ Murmur Low/ One Of These Days/ Which One Do I Love/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: Back To Korea/ Devil Is A Busy Man/ Going Back To Memphis/ It's All Over Now/ ESSIE SYKES: Easy Walkin' Papa/ Please Don't Say Goodbye/ TAMPA RED: Big Stars Falling/ Green And Lucky Blues/ I Won't Let Her Do It/ So Crazy About You Baby/ So Much Trouble/ MUDDY WATERS: Baby Please Don't Go/ Blow Wind Blow/ Mad Love/ Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man/ JUNIOR WELLS: Bout The Break Of Day/ Eagle Rock/ Hoodoo Man/ Juniors Wail/ Lawdy Lawdy/ JOHNNY WILLIAMS: Worried Man Blues/.JOHNNY YOUNG: Let Me Ride Your Mule/ Money Taking Woman/ My Baby Walked Out On Me

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buzzola 001 Reefer Madness - A Collection Of Vintage Drug Songs ● CD $15.98
Another one of those delightful thematic anthologies with wonderfully entertaining graphics and informative and tongue in cheek in notes. If you can't guess, the theme of this collection is that eveil weed marijuana with 18 blues and jazz tracks on the subject including Dope Head Blues by Victoria Spivey (with Lonnie Johnson on guitar), Kicking The Gong Around by Cab Calloway, Texas Tea Party by Jack Teagarden, Take A Whiff On Me by Leadbelly, When I get Low, I Get High by Ella Fitzgerald, I'm Feeling High And Happy by Helen Ward, Jack, I'm Mellow by Trixie Smith and more. Most of the tracks have been reissued before on similar collections but the overall production on this one is a real plus.
BARNEY BIGARD: Sweet Marijuana Brown/ CAB CALLOWAY: Kickin' The Gong Around/ Minnie The Moocher/ ELLA FITZGERALD (WITH CHICK WEBB): Wacky Dust/ When I Get Low, I Get High/ LIL GREEN: Knockin' Myself Out/ JERRY KRUGER (WITH COOTIE WILLIAMS): Ol' Man River (Smoke A Little Tea)/ LEADBELLY: Take A Whiff On Me/ JULIA LEE: Lotus Blossom (Sweet Marijuana)/ FRANKIE NEWTON: Onyx Hop/ DON REDMAN: Reefer Man/ BESSIE SMITH: Gimme A Pigfoot (Gimme A Reefer)/ STUFF SMITH: Here Comes The Man With The Jive/ TRIXIE SMITH: Jack, I'm Mellow/ VICTORIA SPIVEY: Dope Head Blues/ JACK TEAGARDEN (WITH BENNY GOODMAN): Texas Tea Party/ FATS WALLER: The Reefer Song (If You're A Viper)/ HELEN WARD (WITH GENE KRUPA): I'm Feeling High & Happy

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buzzola 009 Junkers, Jivers & Coke Fiends ● CD $15.98
Another collection of 18 drug songs including Cocaine Habit Blues by The Memphis Jug Band, Cocaine Blues by Luke Jordan, Canned Heat Blues by Tommy Johnson (not really drugs but a great song), Killin' Jive by The Cats & The Fiddle, Reefer Head Woman by Jazz Gillum, Cocain by Dick Justice plus tracks by Charley Patton, The Harlem Hamfats, Louis Jordan, Slim Gaillard & Slam Stewart, Buster Bailey, Cab Calloway and others.
BUSTER BAILEY: Light Up/ "HI" HENRY BROWN: Skin Man Blues/ CAB CALLOWAY: The Man From Harlem/ THE CATS & THE FIDDLE: Killin' Jive/ SLIM GAILLARD & SLAM STEWART: Dopey Joe/ JAZZ GILLUM: Reefer Head Woman/ THE HARLEM HAMFATS: The Weed Smoker's Dream/ FRANKIE "HALF PINT" JAXON: Jive Man Blues/ TOMMY JOHNSON: Canned Heat Blues/ CHARLEY JORDAN: Spoonful Blues/ LOUIS JORDAN: Junco Partner/ LUKE JORDAN: Cocaine Blues/ DICK JUSTICE: Cocaine/ ANDY KIRK & HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY: All The Jive Is Gone/ THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Cocaine Habit Blues/ CHARLEY PATTON: Spoonful Blues/ BUCK WASHINGTON: Save The Roach For Me/ CLARENCE WILLIAMS: Jerry The Junker

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buzzola 010 Space Guitar & Deathray Boogie ● CD $15.98
A collection of 18 blues, R&B, jazz and country songs and instrumentals recorded between 1930 and 1954 with a science fiction theme though they cheat a bit by including three songs about cars and one about a train with "Rocket" in the name. Includes Flying Saucer Boogie by Eddie Cletro, Two Little Men In A Flying Saucer by Ella Fitzgerald, Space Guitar by Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Rockin With The Rockets by Harlan Leonard & The Rockets, Radar Blues by Big Joe Turner, Rocket 88 by Bill Haley & The Saddlemen, etc.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buzzola 011 Ride Daddy Ride, Vintage Songs About Sex, 1927-1953 ● CD $15.98
18 songs from every blues man and blues fan's favorite subject. Lots of familiar stuff but as always Buzzola's packaging is very cool. Includes the title song by Fats Noel plus You Put It In, I'll Take It Out by Papa Charlie Jackson, Poon Tang by The Treniers, It Must Be Jelly 'Cos You Know) Jam Don't Shake from female impersonator Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon, Let Me Ride In Your Little Automobile by Lowell Fulson, Sit Right On It by Johnny Temple and additoional naughtiness from Bullmoose Jackson, Blind Boy Fuller, Bo Carter (of course), The Hokum Boys and others.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buzzola 012 Outside The Law ● CD $15.98
18 songs of gangsters, racketeers and the Feds recorded between 1922 and 1947. Mostly blues with the occasional jazz or hillbilly number.
BLIND BLAKE: Police Dog Blues/ BO CARTER: The Law Gonna Step On You/ THE CATS & THE FIDDLE: Gang Busters/ SLIM GAILLARD & SLAM STEWART: A Tip On The Numbers/ LEE GREEN: Bad Man Napper/ THE HICKORY NUTS: Louisville Burglar/ DARBY HICKS: Court Room Blues/ HELEN HUMES: They Raided The Joint/ LONNIE JOHNSON: Racketeer Blues/ FURRY LEWIS: Judge Harsh Blues/ ROBERT LEE MCCOY: G-Man/ JACK RANGER: Thievin' Blues/ EDITH SMITH: Rules And Regulations, Signed Razor Jim/ WILLIE WALKER: Dupree Blues/ BARRELHOUSE WENCH: Dyin' Pickpocket Blues/ PEETIE WHEATSTRAW: Gangster Blues/ Police Station/ BUKKA WHITE: District Attorney Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Champion 501 Hot Fish ● CD $16.98
Fine collection of jump blues from Southern bands recorded in the early 50s including sides by The Joe Dyson Orch., Sherman "Blues" Johnson & His Clouds Of Joy, Clarence Jolly, Rufus Beacham & His Tempo Toppers, Roy Gaines (his frequently reissued first side Loud Mouth Lucy), Manzy Harris Orch., Harold Young, Ray Charles and others. About 60% of the tracks are new to CD. Sound is fine and booklet has notes on the performers.
RUFUS BEACHAM: My Baby And Me/ Do You Know How To Boogie/ Roly-poly/ RAY CHARLES: I Can't Do No More/ JOE DYSON ORCH.: Merc-o-matic Boogie/ ROY GAINES: I'm Setting You Free/ Loud Mouth Lucy/ MANZY HARRIS ORCH: Crawlin' Around/ You're Gonna Know/ SHERMAN "BLUES" JOHNSON & HIS CLOUDS OF JOY: Hot Fish/ Pretty Baby Blues/ Sugar Mama/ CLARENCE JOLLY: Baby Take A Look At Me/ Every Man's Blues/ I Need You Baby/ You'd Better Change Your Ways/ SONNY JONES: My Baby's Crying/ WALLY MERCER: Don't Wait Until Tomorrow/ Looped/ Yellow Hornet/ JIMMY SWAN: Hey Now Baby, Hey/ Laughing, Laughing Blues/ HAROLD YOUNG: I Love You For Myself/ You're Gonna Miss Me Baby

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS JSP JSPCD 7747 Hey! Piano Man: Selected Boogie Woogie Sides Remastered ● CD $28.98
4 CDs, 88 tracks. 305 minutes, highly recommended "Hey! Piano Man" centers its attentions on barrelhouse stylists Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, and Jimmy Yancey over four discs logging in an impressive five-plus hours of music. The Chicago barrelhouse, or rent party school, of boogie woogie piano hails back to the years when the instrument was considered a tool of the trade in St. Louis, Chicago, and other locales. Apartment dwellers would offer food, drink, and a full night of entertainment for a small fee, and when daylight broke the following day, those hiring the piano grinders would hopefully have made enough money to cover their monthly rent bill. Disc one delivers 25 sides of solo piano prowess by Jimmy Yancey; seventeen from April of 1939, six from October of the same year, and two titles dating to February of 1940. A Chicago native, born in 1898, Yancey found fame and increasing popularity on the rent party circuit in the Windy City from the 1920s on although music wasn't his main source of income. A twenty-five year career as a groundskeeper for the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park remained his regular job, and though highly skilled, his recording career didn't begin until 1939 with his death coming in 1951. Yancey shows an endless flow of creativity while varying his tempos and themes from the rumbling Rollin' The Stone and La Salle Street Breakdown, with incredible left hand bass figures and delicate upper register work, to the slow and seemingly effortless Bear Trap Blues/ Jimmy's Stuff, or Lean Bacon. There's plenty more in the form of Yancey Stomp/ The Fives/ Tell 'Em About Me/ Big Bear Train, and State Street Special plus another fifteen titles.
Disc two goes to Meade Lux Lewis spanning a half-dozen dates recorded between November of 1935 and February of 1939. Chicago-born in 1905, Lewis was heavily influenced by Pinetop Smith and Jimmy Yancey and began recording in 1927 with his Honky Tonk Train Blues becoming his signature piece following its issue two years later (in 1929) by Paramount. He made his living for a time as a cab driver but was another highly creative player who hammered out driving grooves with his left hand while his right offered stunning high points. Lewis' Honky Tonk Train Blues (a close relative of Pinetop's Boogie Woogie from Smith) is here in two forms, one from late 1935 with the other coming a year-and-a-half later in March of 1937. Both are wonderful barrelhouse examples but Meade wasn't afraid to step into rarely charted territory as Celeste Blues/ I'm In The Mood For Love and Mr. Freddie Blues amply display his command on a smaller cousin of the piano. His stone-solid chops are shown in great detail through the five separate and remarkable parts of The Blues, recorded in January of 1939, and Lewis pulls out all the stops on Twos And Fews plus a thrilling Nagasaki played at breakneck speed.
Disc three's focus is on Pete Johnson who was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1904, and became widely recognized through his association with vocalist Big Joe Turner. Their appearance at Carnegie Hall for John Hammond's Spirituals To Swing concert helped respark interest in boogie woogie piano. Of the 22 tracks featuring Johnson, all were recorded between December of 1938 and December of the next year. While Boo Hoo and Home James were issued as by Harry James And The Boogie Woogie Trio and feature the stellar trumpet of James, the underpinning from Johnson's piano (with bass and drum accompaniment) delivers a bigger kick. Sadly, Johnson's signature Roll 'Em Pete is missing but there's plenty to delve into on 19 solo tracks plus a small handful where Johnson is ably backed with Abe Bolar's string bass and guitar from Ulysses Livingston. Pete's Blues/ Shuffle Boogie/ Let 'Em Jump and Climbin' And Screamin' all show his skillfully figured right hand playing over driving basses, and Roll 'Em, from 1938, is a very close relative of the piece he was most noted for.
Highlighted on disc four is Albert Ammons, another Chicago native (born in 1907) who was a close friend and counterpart of the other stylists here. Like his friend Meade Lux Lewis, he drove a cab, and the pair even shared a Chicago apartment with Pinetop Smith for a time. These 20 tracks, recorded over a handful of studio dates between February of 1936 and April of 1939 are equally split with half showing his work in larger bands, including those of trumpeter Harry James and trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, while the balance is devoted to his highly entertaining solo efforts. Chicago In Mind, another close relative of Pinetop's Boogie Woogie, shows Ammons as one more player with a driving left hand with the right putting forth flourishes of brilliance, and his Boogie Woogie Stomp along with Suitcase Blues show his proficiency for excellence. Bass Goin' Crazy and Changes In Boogie Woogie cement his placement as another integral piano figure of more than a half-century ago. Complete session details are included along with liner notes from Keith Briggs that lightly cover the four artists featured. Most of the 88 sides have solid sound quality but there are a few that seem to be well beyond cleaning of the hiss and pops from badly damaged source material. The five hours of listening time is completely enjoyable for the most part, and with JSP's budget pricing, there may not be a better or more affordable way to introduce yourself to these greats from the past, or to fill the gaps in your boogie woogie collection. (CR)
ALBERT AMMONS: Backwater Blues/ Bass Goin' Crazy/ Boogie Woogie Blues/ Boogie Woogie Stomp/ Change In Boogie Woogie/ Chicago In Mind/ Easy Rider Blues/ Shout For Joy/ Suitcase Blues/ Untitled Ammons Original/ Boogie Woogie/ Early Mornin' Blues/ Mile-Or-Mo Bird Rag/ Nagasaki/ J.C. HIGGINBOTHAM QUINTET: Weary Land Blues/ HARRY JAMES AND THE BOOGIE WOOGIE TRIO: Boo Woo/ Home James/ Jesse/ Woo Woo/ PETE JOHNSON: B&O Blues/ Boogie Woogie/ Buss Robinson Blues/ Buss Robinson Blues/ Climbin' And Screamin'/ Dying Mother Blues/ Fo' O'Clock Blues/ How Long How Long/ Let 'Em Jump/ Lone Star Blues/ Pete's Blues/ Pete's Blues No. 2/ Roll 'Em/ Shuffle Boogie/ Barrelhouse Breakdown/ Holler Stomp/ Kansas City Farewell/ Some Day Blues/ Vine Street Bustle/ You Don't Know My Mind/ MEADE LUX LEWIS: Bear Cat Crawl/ Blues De 'Lux'/ Celeste Blues/ Deep Fives/ Honky Tonk Train Blues/ Honky Tonk Train Blues/ I'm In The Mood For Love/ Melancholy Blues/ Messin' Around/ Mr. Freddie Blues/ Nagasaki/ Solitude Blues/ The Blues Part 1/ The Blues Part 2/ The Blues Part 3/ The Blues Part 4/ The Blues Part 5/ Twos And Fews/ Untitled Original/ Whistlin' Blues/ Yancey Special/ PORT OF HARLEM JAZZMEN: Mighty Blues/ Port Of Harlem Blues/ Rocking The Blues/ JIMMY YANCEY: Bear Trap Blues/ Beezum Blues/ Big Bear Train/ Five O'Clock Bluesl/ How Long Blues/ How Long Blues No. 2/ Janie's Joys/ Jimmy's Stuff/ La Salle Street Breakdown/ Lean Bacon/ Lucille's Lament/ Old Quaker Blues/ P.L.K. Special/ Rollin' The Stone/ Slow And Easy/ South Side Stuff/ State Street Special/ Steady Rock Blues/ Tell 'Em About Me/ The Fives/ The Mellow Blues/ Two O'Clock Blues/ Yancey Limited/ Yancey Stomp/ Yancey Stomp

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS JSP JSPCD 7752 Memphis Shakedown - More Jug Band Classics ● CD $28.98
4 CDs, 99 tracks, essential
JSP 7745 featured the 1927-30 recordings of the Memphis Jug Band: this companion compilation is essential because it contains, at last, their later recordings in decent sound quality. Elsewhere the set is wide ranging but uneven, with only about half the tracks actually featuring a jug. Disc A offers the complete works of Jack Kelly including the alternate take of Ko-Ko-Mo Blues issued on Document's "Too Late, Too Late Blues Volume 6" (DOCD 5461). Unlike other jug bands Kelly concentrated on blues, and had support from guitarist Dan Sane and violinist Will Batts, both of whom recorded with Frank Stokes. Kelly himself was a fine singer, but the reputation of these sides has probably suffered from the fact that most of the blues are based around the tune and arrangement of Highway No. 61 Blues, the group's best seller and signature piece. Get past the similarities however and there are variations, as well as a few uptempo pieces, while Batts' violin with its sustained vibrato is distinctive and enjoyable.
The second disc, featuring the Memphis Jug Band, starts with their 1932 session as the Picaninny Jug Band which sounds thin compared with their other recordings, probably because of budget label production values. Fortunately things improved considerably two years later. While their material hadn't changed much - tracks like She Done Sold It Out could have come from their Victor days - elsewhere Charlie Pierce's energetic fiddling brought a new dimension to their sound. He was much in evidence on Tear It Down, which showed the band had lost none of its gift for flirting with chaos. Highlights include the joyous Jazzbo Stomp and Jug Band Quartette, the latter a celebration of jug band music and a perfect finale. The closing tracks by Kaiser Clifton are superfluous.
Disc C starts with the solo career of Noah Lewis, key member of Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, and features some wonderfully evocative harmonica including the train piece Chickasaw Special and an accompaniment to the magnificently named and magnificent Mrs Van Zula Carter Hunt on Selling The Jelly. By comparison Jed Davenport's harmonica on the following sides sounds like a novelty instrument, for all the energy and imagination in his blues interpretations. (Two Davenport accompaniments to Joe Williams on Blues Documents BDCD 6028 are omitted, but curiously two MJB accompaniments to Memphis Minnie already issued on previous box sets are repeated here.) Finally The Delta Boys offer some lighthearted, kazoo riddled efforts - fair enough but not exactly the best work of John Estes and Son Bonds.
The final disc features Charlie Burse (from MJB) and his Memphis Mudcats, and gives a flavour of the music which followed the jug bands (the three titles issued on Too Late, Too Late Volume 6 are included). In place of the jug were alto sax, bass and piano, and an end product which was pretty dull dance music - although an energetic percussionist with ideas of his own did his best to liven things up. Neal Slaven, who as usual provides the booklet notes, seems surprisingly keen on this stuff, having been dismissive of Jack Kelly's "less than spectacular career"! Relief comes with the bombastic hokum of Minnie Wallace, another MJB associate, and the likes of her Field Mouse Stomp end the compilation on a positive note. Sound quality, apart from the Picaninny Jug Band sides, is generally very good, all these recordings sounding better and significantly less noisy than their Document /Blues Document /Old Tramp counterparts. JSP seem determined to play havoc with our record collections, but this is one series that is difficult to ignore. (DPR)
THE BEALE STREET ROUNDERS: I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World/ Talkin' 'bout Yo-yo/ CHARLIE BURSE & HIS MEMPHIS MUDCATS: Ain't Gonna Be No Doggone Afterwhile/ Baby, You Win/ Beale Street Holiday/ Brand New Day Blues/ Dawn Of Day Blues/ Goldie May/ Good Potatoes On The Hill/ Hell's Highway/ I'm In Buddy's Wagon/ It Makes No Difference Now/ It's Against The Rule/ Magic Spell Blues/ Memphis Highway Stomp/ Oil It Up And Go/ Radio Blues/ Scared To Death/ Too Much Beef/ Weed Smoking Mama/ What's The Matter With The Well/ You Better Watch Out/ KAISER CLIFTON: Cash Money Blues/ Forth Worth & Denver Blues/ She'll Be Back Someday/ Teach Me Right From Wrong/ JED DAVENPORT: Beale Street Breakdown/ Cow Cow Blues/ How Long How Long Blues/ Jug Blues/ Piccolo Blues/ Save Me Some/ The Dirty Dozen/ You Ought To Move Out Of Town/ THE DELTA BOYS: Black Gal Swing/ Don't You Want To Know/ Every Time My Heart Beats/ Get Up And Go/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ You Shouldn't Do That/ JACK KELLY & HIS SOUTH MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Believe I'll Go Back Home/ Betty Sue Blues/ Cadillac Baby/ Cheatin' Woman/ Cold Iron Bed/ Country Woman/ Diamond Buyer Blues/ Doctor Medicine/ Flower Blues/ Heck Bone Blues/ High Behind Blues/ Highway No. 61 Blues/ Highway No. 61 Blues/ Highway No. 61 Blues No. 2/ Joe Louis Special/ Ko-ko-mo Blues (take 1)/ Ko-ko-mo Blues (take 2)/ Lightnin' Blues/ Men Fooler Blues/ Policy Rag/ President Blues/ R.f.c. Blues/ Red Ripe Tomatoes/ World Wandering Blues/ You Done Believe It/ NOAH LEWIS: Chickasaw Special/ Devil Inthe Woodpile/ Like I Want To Be/ Bad Luck's My Buddy/ New Minglewood Blues/ Selling The Jelly/ Ticket Agent Blues/ THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Boodie Bum Bum/ Bottle It Up And Go/ Fishin; In The Dark/ Gator Wobble/ Insane Crazy Blues/ Jazzbo Stomp/ Jug Band Quartette/ Little Green Slippers/ Mary Ann Cut Off/ Memphis Shakedown/ My Business Ain't Right/ My Love Is Cold/ Rukus Juice And Chittlin'/ She Done Sold It Out/ Take Your Finger Off It/ Tear It Down, Bed Slats And All/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Bumble Bee Blues/ Meningitis Blues/ THE PICANINNY JUG BAND: Bottle It Up And Go/ Come Along Little Children/ I Got Good Taters/ Tappin' That Thing/ You Gotta Have That Thing/ MINNIE WALLACE & HE NIGHT HAWKS: Field Mouse Stomp/ Let's All Do That Thing/ Pick 'em Up And Put 'em Down/ The Cockeyed World

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Severn 034 Chicago Blues Harmonica Project - Diamonds In The Rough ● CD $15.98
12 tracks, highly recommended
Many think the lengthy rein of top-shelf harp players in the Windy City have moved aside for guitar-oriented blues, but the half-dozen dazzlers on the "Chicago Blues Harmonica Project " have another idea. Young guns in the form of Russ Green and Omar Coleman stand forth carrying on the tradition (with very creative and over-amplified blowing) while Larry Cox and the previously unrecorded Little Addison offer gripping performances as well. Harmonica Khan #1 (who sadly passed on before this was issued) recalls the bustling days of Maxwell Street with solo offerings of Baby What You Want Me To Do and Next Time You See Me (accompanying himself with tap dancing and bones) and Dusty Brown makes a triumphant return with his old Parrot classic He Don't Love You plus a fine cover of Little Walter's I Got To Go. Hopefully, Severn (or another solid blues label) will make it a point to record this sort of thing again in the very near future. Masterful stuff! (CR)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Shanachie 6064 When Gospel Was Gospel ● CD $15.98
Fabulous collection of gospel from the late 40s to the early 60s including both solo performers and groups. Many tracks are issued here on CD for the first time and 8 tracks are previously unissued. Compiled and annotated by the country's leading gospel authority Anthony Heilbut.
QUEEN C. ANDERSON: I Never Heard Of A City-these Are They/ ROBERT ANDERSON: Jesus/ THE ANGELIC GOSPEL SINGERS & DIXIE HUMMINGBI: Standing On The Highway/ PROFESSOR ALEX BRADFORD: Leak In The Building/ J. ROBERT BRADLEY: Amazing Grace/ DOROTHY LOVE COATES & THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL HARMONETTES: Dot's Testimony/ You Better Run/ MADAME EDNA GALLMON COOKE & THE RADIO FOUR: Walk Through The Valley/ THE DAVIS SISTERS: Jesus Steps Right In/ Too Close To Heaven/ PROFESSOR J. EARLE HINES: Look For Me In Heaven/ MAHALIA JACKSON: Mahalia Moans/ Power Of The Holy Ghost/ THE ROBERTA MARTIN SINGERS: The Old Ship Of Zion/ Yield Not To Temptation/ BROTHER JOE MAY: Mercy Lord/ You're Gonna Need Him/ THE SENSATIONAL NIGHTINGALES: How About You/ Sinner Man/ THE SOUL STIRRERS: His Eye Is On The Sparrow/ The Lord Will Make A Way/ SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS QUARTET: Here Am I Send Me/ THE SWAN SILVERTONES: Thank You Jesus-i Have A Friend/ SISTER ROSETTA THARPE & MARIE KNIGHT: Beams Of Heaven/ SISTER ROSETTA THARPE & THE DEPENDABLE BOYS: Little Boy, How Old Are You/ CLARA WARD & THE WARD SINGERS: Leave It There/ Time Is Winding Up/ MARION WILLIAMS: Traveling Shoes

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Universe UV 147 The Mercury Blues Story - Midwest Blues, Vol. 1 ● CD $17.98
Universe appear to be reissuing as eight individual CDS the compilations that were originally issued as part of the eight CD box set "The Mercury Blues & Rhythm Story". Each CD is packaged in a handsome book format with booklet with discographical info but only minimal notes. The first two volumes are now available featuring recordings from the Midwest (Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis) and this first volume with 26 tracks includes sides by The Four Jumps Of Jive, Sippie Wallace with Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings, T-Bone Walker (a West Coast bluesman recorded in Chicago), Dinah Washington, Julia Lee, Albert Ammons, Myra Taylor, Eddie "Cleahead" Vinson, Gene Ammons Sextet, Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four and St. Louis Jimmy.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Universe UV 148 The Mercury Blues Story - Midwest Blues, Vol. 2 ● CD $17.98
27 more from the Midwest including Sunnyland Slim, Memphis Slim, Ray Snead, Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Jr. Lockwood, and Sax Mallard & His Orch.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Wolf 120.926 Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 5 - 40 Years Of La. Blues ● CD $15.98
Enjoyable collection of down home Louisiana blues recorded 1990/91 featuring several generations of Louisiana bluesmen. Includes Larry Garner, Cora Jefferson, Tabby Thomas, Tootsie, Rudi Richard and Silas Hogan. 12 tracks in all.
 
J.W. WARREN