NEWSLETTER #140
Blues & Gospel
Percy Mayfield
->
Jimmy Witherspoon
| PERCY MAYFIELD |
Classics 5150 |
The Chronological Percy Mayfield, 1951-1954 |
● CD $14.98 |
25 more brilliant sides by this wonderful singer and
songwriter recorded between July, 1951 and March, 1954. Although only one of
the songs here was a hit - The Big Question - there are lots of other
fine songs here worthy of note including the first recording of the
wonderful the River's Invitation (later a hit for him on Tangerine)
plus How Deep Is The Well/ Louisiana/ The Lonely Dream/ Memory Pain/
Advice (for Men Only) and others. Includes quite a few tracks not
originally issued on 78 rpm.
|
| JERRY MCCAIN |
Music Maker 34 |
Boogie Is My Name |
● CD $15.98 |
Recent recordings by this veteran singer and brilliant
harmonica player. Accompanied by a small group he performs a selection of
new songs and tunes. The band is relatively pedestrian but Jerry's singing
and playing is top notch.
|
| SISTER GERTRUDE MORGAN |
Ropeadope 307 |
Let's Make A Record |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, 39 min., recommended
Sister Gertrude Morgan
recorded her only album in 1970 in New Orleans (where she moved in 1939 to
do God's work, which included running an orphanage, singing and preaching).
In 2004 her paintings were displayed in NYC galleries and written up in the
Times. A book followed. This reissue of her only LP finds Sister G. powering
out a series of sermon-songs while accompanying herself on tambourine. The
starkness of these recordings only serve to set off Morgan's energized
performances. No listener of I Am The Living Bread ("I'm the bread
that raised the dead") or New Jerusalem or The Gift Of God Is
Eternal Life could doubt her sincerity. This is a woman who wore a
nurse's white uniform and walked among the "sinners" of New Orleans in an
attempt to heal their wounded souls. The booklet includes photos and artwork
from Morgan. Not for all markets but an arresting document worth a listen. (JC)
|
| PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
AIM 1209 |
Do The Mess Around |
● CD $14.98 |
20 tracks, 73 min., recommended
What we have here is bunch
of Professor Longhair recordings with no identified sources or dates. But
that's okay. The hits are all here (Big Chief, Mardi Gras In New
Orleans, and the like), but not in the versions that made them famous,
which is not to discount these latter-day sides in the least, which feature
both live and studio recordings, probably from the late 1970s--Fess died in
1980. And despite a few cuts where the vocals are only approaching being in
the right key, these tracks are fiery and charming, mostly feauring small
combos sympathetically alligned with our man, as on Doin' It,
Stagger Lee, I'm Movin' On, Cry To Me, Hey Now Baby
and others. On the driving Tell Me Pretty Baby, everything good comes
together to render all the bad juju in the world completely harmless. More
than a reminder how important and influential a musician the Professor was.
(JC)
|
| TODD RHODES |
Classics 5159 |
The Chronological Todd Rhodes, 1952-1954 |
● CD $14.98 |
16 tracks, 40 mins, highly recomended
The third and final disc
of all Todd Rhodes's recordings under his own name is another fine
collection of mostly instrumental blues and R&B from four sessions recorded
between 1952 and 1954. The first two sessions features several fine vocals
by LaVern Baker including the outstanding blues ballad Trying. The
third session also features a couple of fine vocal - one from Wynonie Harris
clone Cornelius "Pinnochio" James and the other from the undeservedly
obscure Saddie Madison - is there anything else by her? The rest is mostly
rocking instrumentals with the occasional smoocher. This was pretty much the
end of Rhodes as a recording artist though he continued to perform for a
number of years. (FS)
|
| OTIS RUSH |
Collectables 7704 |
Mourning In The Morning |
● CD $12.98 |
Previously on Atlantic 82367. Reissue of rare Cotillion
album from 1969, with Duane Allman and Jimmy Johnson joining Otis on
guitars, Mark Naftalin on keyboards, and songs by the new blues elite of the
time - Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites mainly along with a remake of Otis's
classic My Love Will Never Die and a superb cover of B.B.'s
Gambler's Blues. 11 cuts.
|
| OTIS RUSH |
Delmark 781 |
All Your Love I Miss Loving - Live At The
Wise Fools Pub |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 68 mins, essential
A live set from 1976 featuring
Otis Rush at the top of his game - need I say more? Otis was possibly the
greatest of the new breed of Chicago bluesmen to emerge in the mid 50s with
an intense emotion drenched vocal style and an incredible guitar technique
that owes a debt to the long drawn out phrasing of Albert King but takes it
to a new level. This live session was recorded at Chicago's famed Wise Fools
Pub with his band of the time (Bob Levis/ guita, Albert Gianquinto/ pno, Bob
Stroger/ bass and Jesse Green/ drums). The titles are mix of Rush classics (All
Your Love/ It takes Time) and blues standards (Please Love Me/ Mean
Old World/ Gambler's Blues), etc. but all take on a new life in the
hands of the master. As liner note writer Steve Tomashefsky points Otis Rush
out is one of a handful of Chicago bluesmen who is a great singer and a
great guitarist and "When he is on - as he is here - there seems to be
nothing he can't do with either instrument."I dare you to site still during
the closing instrumental Motoring Along. (FS)
|
| CANDI STATON |
Image 2326 |
Classic Candi, Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
16 tracks, 70 mins, recommended
Candi Staton is best known
as one of the greatest deep soul singers of the early 70s though she got her
start as a gospel singer recording with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 50s and
60s. In the mid and late 70s she turned to a slicker and more disco flavored
soul. Then in the early 80s she was born again and for a time was only
willing to record gospel and this CD features two of her gospel LPs from the
80s - "make Me A Instrument" from 1982 and "The Annointing" from 1985.
Although the arrangements are, at times, overly slick and sometimes made me
wince Candi's gorgeous vulnerable and soulful voice conquers all. The second
album is particularly strong with varied arrangements including the rocking
He Set Me Free, a spellbinding rendition rendition of the gospel
standard Blessed Assurance, the country flavored He Cares For You,
the hard driving now Jesus Is My Song and the glorious I Will
Praise which sounds almost like a Yiddish tune grafted onto a reggae
rhythm. Well worth checking out. (FS)
|
| LARRY TAYLOR |
AV Records 001 |
They Were In This House |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 55 mins, recommended
Fine collection of down home
Chicago and soul blues from Chicago singer and drummer Larry Taylor - the
stepson of the great Eddie Taylor. Larry is a fine, if not particularly
distinctive, vocalist and is accompanied by an excellent group with some
particularly nice guitar work from Willie Davis and some solid horn parts
from Ronnie G. The material is mostly covers along with a few tasty
originals. The covers range from songs by Howling Wolf and Jimmy Reed to
songs by Johnnie Taylor and Z.Z. Hill. Songs include Jody Got Your Girl
And Gone, Parts 1 & 2/ I Didn't Mean To Hurt Your Feelings/ Tell Me Baby,
Parts 1 & 2/ Last $2/ Green Line Blues and more. Well worth a listen.
(FS)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1087 |
More Mellow Cats 'n' Kittens |
● CD $18.98 |
Complementing Ace 1022 this features another fine collection
of urban blues and R&B recorded in the 40s and early 50s. In addition to
tracks recorded in California for Modern it also includes sides recorded for
Bernie Bessman's Sensation. Most of the 24 tracks here are new to CD and 15
are previously unissued! Artists are mostly obscure and include Bardu Ali &
His Orchestra (probably Johnny Otis's Orch.), Kitty Stevenson, The Three
Bits Rhythm, Butch Stone & His Orch., Pearl Traylor (a truly superb singer),
Emmitt Slay & His Slayriders, The Noc-Tunes, Tiny Webb, Jake Porter, Bobby
Nunn & The Robins and others. Excellent sound and detailed notes by Tony
Rounce.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat 5015 |
Blind Willie McTell & The Regal Country
Blues |
● CD $19.98 |
2 CDs, 37 tracks, 1 hour 41 min., essential
A superb 6- and
12-string country blues guitarist and singer, McTell recorded between
1928-56, and virtually everything is at least very good, and most of it is
worthy of whatever flattering superlatives anyone can think up. In this
case, the first CD houses McTell's 1949 Regal Records (based in New Jersey)
sessions, marking a rediscovery of sorts. In terms of sound quality, these
recordings are jaw-droppingly wonderful, and the performances are likewise a
delight, including Don't Forget ItYou Can't Get Stuff No More,
Talkin' To You Mama, East St. Louis, Honey It Must Be Love,
and many more. The second CD features other blues performers also in need of
(and deserving of) rediscovery by 1949, including Memphis Minnie (recording
as Mamie Smith And Her Jumping Boys), Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery,
Curly Weaver, the little known Pee Wee Hughes & the Delta Duo, Sunnyland
Slim, St. Louis Jimmy, and Jimmy Rogers. Rogers' one cut, Ludella
features the early work of Little Walter on harp and Muddy Waters on guitar,
both supplied by Sunnyland Slim, who also sits in, as he does on 11 of the
17 cuts. Informative booklet notes and excellent sound throughout. These
sides have been reissued before, but if you don't have them yet, this is a
pleasing and economical way to go. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blue Lake 55-101 |
Rare Chicago R&B Vol. 2 |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended
Another splendid
collection of urban blues from Chicago featuring 25 tracks recorded between
1945 and 1960. Returning from volume 1 are Dr. Jo Jo Adams, Leon Tarver and
the fine female vocalist Lou Mac. Her three sides are very fine indeed and
her Albert Is His Name features top notch guitar from Jody Williams.
New to this volume is the delightfully named Barrel House Blott, a Wynonie
Harris styled blues houter who is featured on two songs including the
novelty dialog Brand New Man. Singer/ piano player Jimmy Binkley is
featured on five slices of rocking R&B including the topical Hey, Hey
Sugar Ray. Big voiced Big Bertha henderson is featured on two fine sides
and there are also excellent contributions from Mississppi born vocalist
Johnny Sellers (who would re-emerge in the 60s as folk/ blues artist Brother
John Sellers), Bobby Prince, Johnny Rogers, female vocalist Skippy Brown,
Freddie Hall & His Band and Tasso The Great. About half these tracks have
been on CD before but it's worthwhile to have them in this thematic context.
Sound quality is excellent and there are informative notes on the artists
and personnell. (FS)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
El Toro 107 |
I Love To Hear My baby Call My Name |
● CD $17.98 |
29 tracks, 80 min., highly recommended
The theme here is
jump blues recorded between 1945-52 with song titles that contain the
singer's name. As organizing principles go it doesn't seem all that
promising, although it does sound like a decent Jeopardy category. But the
scope is sufficiently narrow and the talent sufficiently diverse such that
the collection transcends its own artificiality. This CD benefits mightily
from the fact that compilers took the tracks from a wide range of labels,
including Gotham, DeLuxe, Gilt-Edge, King, Aladdin, Aristocrat, Miracle, RCA
Victor, Talent, Imperial, Coral, Okeh, Regent, Capitol, and more! That alone
is admirable, as is the running time of nearly 80 minutes, nearing the
maximum of the technology. And the music is first rate, including such
artists as Sonny Thompson (Sonny's Blues), Johnny Ace (Ace's Wild, Smiley
Lewis (Here Comes Smiley, Gatemouth Moore (Hey Mr. Gatemouth, Annie
Laurie (Annie's Blues), Muddy Waters (Muddy Jumps One), Roscoe
Gordon (Roscoe's Boogie), Red Callender Trio (Red Boogie), Roy
Brown (Roy Brown's Boogie), Gene Philips (Gene Jumps The Blues),
and many others, some fairly obscure. The booklet notes mention that some of
the source material is commercial discs with some surface noise. And while
some tracks exhibit some surface noise (Bill Gaither & His Madcaps (Introducing
Mr. Gaither, Studs Henderson (Stud's Boogie), there's nothing
here to scare anyone away and plenty to attract attention. (JC)
MARION ABERNATHY: Abernathy's Boogie/ JOHNNY ACE: Ace's
Wild/ TOM ARCHIA: Hey Tom Archia/ ARCHIBALD: Ballin' With Archie/ EDDIE
BOYD: Eddie's Blues/ GATEMOUTH BROWN: Gatemouth Boogie/ ROY BROWN: Roy
Brown's Boogie/ BOB CALL: Call's Jump/ RED CALLENDER TRIO: Red Boogie/ PEE
WEE CRAYTON: Pee Wee Special/ BILL GAITHER & HIS MADCAPS: Introducing Mr
Gaither/ ROSCOE GORDON: Roscoe's Boogie/ STUDS HENDERSON: Studs' Boogie/
PINOCCHIO JAMES: Pinocchio's Blues/ ROEBIE KIRK WITH TAB SMITH'S BAND:
Roebie's Blues/ ANNIE LAURIE WITH PAUL GAYTEN'S BAND: Annie's Blues/ JIMMY
"BABY FACE" LEWIS: Riding With Jimmy/ SMILEY LEWIS: Here Comes Smiley/
BLAZER BOY LOCKS: Blazer Boy Blues/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Professor Longhair's
Boogie/ GATEMOUTH MOORE: Hey Mr Gatemouth/ KING PERRY: Perry's Wiggle
Woogie/ GENE PHILLIPS: Gene Jumps The Blues/ I. H. SMALLEY & HIS ROCKETEERS:
Smalley's Jump/ J. B. SUMMERS WITH TINY GRIMES ROCKIN' HIGHLAN: Hey Mr J.
B./ SONNY THOMPSON: Sonny's Blues/ CROWN PRINCE WATERFORD: Crown Prince
Blues/ MUDDY WATERS: Muddy Jumps One/ SMOKEY JOE WHITFIELD: Smokey Joe Blues
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
JSP JSPCD 7758 |
Boogie Uproar - Texas Blues Blues & R&B,
1947-1954 |
● CD $28.98 |
Four CD with 103 tracks of Texas jump blues and R&B recorded
between 1947 and 1954 with an emphasis on some of the great guitarists from
that state and includes the complete recordings from this period of Clarence
'Gatemouth' Brown, Zuzu Bollin, James Widemouth Brown, Nelson
Carson, R.B.
Thibadeaux, Goree Carter and Lester Williams. Most of this material has been
out on CD before but it's great to have it all in one place.
ZUZU BOLLIN: Cry, Cry,cry/ Headlight Blues/ Stayin' Chain/
Why Don't You Eat Where You Slept Last Night/ CLARENCE 'GATEMOUTH' BROWN: 2
O'clock In The Morning/ After Sunset/ Atomic Energy/ Baby Take It Easy/
Boogie Rambler/ Boogie Uproar/ Depression Blues/ Didn't Reach My Goal/ Dirty
Work At The Crossroad/ For Now, So Long/ Gate Walks To Board/ Gatemouth
Boogie/ Good Looking Woman/ Guitar In My Hand/ Hurry Back Good News/ I Live
My Life/ I've Been Mistreated/ It Can Never Be That Way/ Just Got Lucky/
Justice Blues/ Mary Is Fine/ Mercy On Me/ Midnight Hour/ My Time's
Expensive/ Okie Dokie Stomp/ Pale Dry Boogie Part 1/ Pale Dry Boogie Part 2/
Please Tell Me Baby/ Sad Hour/ September Song/ She Walk Right In/ She Winked
Her Eye/ Taking My Chances/ That's Your Daddy Yaddy Yo/ Too Late Baby/ Win
With Me Baby/ Without Me Baby/ You Got Money/ JAMES 'WIDE MOUTH' BROWN: A
Weary Silent Night/ Boogie Woogie Nighthawk/ NELSON CARLSON: Crazy About My
Baby/ Lost/ My Baby Left Me/ Waiting For Love/ GOREE CARTER: Back Home
Blues/ Bull Corn Blues/ Christmas Time/ Come On Let's Boogie/ Drunk Or
Sober/ Every Dog Has His Day/ Everybody's Love Crazy/ How Can You Love Me/
Hoy-hoy/ I Just Thought Of You/ I'll Send You/ I'm Just Another Fool/ I'm
Your Boogie Man/ I've Got News For You/ If It's True What Theey Tell Me/ It
Is True/ Let's Make Love/ Let's Rock/ Loney World/ Love's A Gamble/ My Love
Is Coming Down/ My Wish/ Please Say You're Mine/ Rock Awhile/ Serenade/
Seven Days/ She's Just Old Fashioned/ She's My Best Bet/ Sweet Ole Woman's
Blues/ Tell Me, Is There Still A Chance/ True Love Is Hard To Find/ What A
Friend Will Do/ When Night Falls/ Workin' With My Baby/ You Are My
Everything/ R.B. THIBADEAUX: New Kind Of Loving/ R.b. Boogie/ LESTER
WILLIAMS: All I Need Is You/ Brand New Baby/ Don't Treat Me So Low Down/
Dowling Street Hop/ Hey Jack/ I Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use/ I Know That
Chick/ I'm So Glad I Could Jump And Shout/ If You Knew How Much I Loved You/
Let Me Tell You A Thing Or Two/ Lost Gal/ Mary Lou/ My Home Ain't Here/
Sweet Lovin' Daddy/ Texas Town/ The Folks Around The Corner/ Trying To
Forget/ Winter Time Blues
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Regal 3301 |
New Orleans Rarities |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Splendid collection
of New Orleans blues and R&B from the period of 1949 through 1954. Although
not all of these are rarities there's lots of fine music here and if you
don't already have Jewel King's 3x7=21, Archibald's classic two part
Stack-A-Lee or one of Guitar Slim's earliest sides New Arrival
they are here for your listening delight. Among the lesser known items are
two very fine sides by Lloyd Price's younger brother Little Leo with an
excellent band including some touch guitar, two by the Johnson Brothers
Combo (one of the brothers being Plas Johnson), the two earliest recordings
of Bobby Marchan plus tracks by Mr. Google Eyes, The Bayou Boys (possibly
not from New Orleans), The Mardi Gras Loungers, Slim Saunders and others.
Excellent sound and four page booklet with brief notes on the artists and
personnell. (FS)
ARCHIBALD: Crescent City Bounce/ Little Miss Muffett/
Stack-A' Lee, Part 1/ Stack-A' Lee, Part 2/ THE BAYOU BOYS: Bambalaya/ MR.
GOOGLE EYES WITH BILLY FORD & HIS ORCH.: No Wine, No Women/ Rough And Rocky
Road/ GUITAR SLIM & HIS PLAYBOYS: New Arrival/ THE JOHNSON BROTHERS COMBO:
Mello Mama/ Our Boogie/ JEWEL KING: I Love A Fellow/ Passion Blues/ LITTLE
BUBBER: Runnin' Round/ LITTLE LEO: Handwriting On The Wall/ What's It All
About/ BOBBY MARCHAN AND HIS BAND: Just A Little Walk/ You Made A Fool Of
Me/ THE MARDI GRAS LOUNGERS: Hello, Mello Baby/ Wailin' Walk/ ROSE MITCHELL:
Slipping In/ SLIM SAUNDERS: Get Away/ Let's Have Some Fun/ GEORGE STEVENSON:
Meet Me At Grandma's Joint/ Teasin' Tan
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Soho 040 |
Gospel Greats |
● CD $19.98 |
Three CDs, 60 tracks, highly recommend Inexpensive three CD
set of gospel music featuring 60 tracks drawn from releases on the Fremeaux
label. No real surprises but an excellent select selection. Disc one
features female gospel vocalists from the 30s and 40s like Mahalia Jackson,
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Marie Knight, Sallie Martin, Willie Mae Ford Smith
and others. The second disc features singers from the 20s and 30s
accompanying themselves - mostly on guitar - Josh White, Blind Roosevelt
Graves, Washington Phillips, Blind Willie Johnson, Arizona Dranes and more.
The third disc features mostly quartets and precahers - Golden gate Quartet,
The Dixeaires, Norfolk Jubilee Quartet, Rev. D.C. Rice, Elder Curry and
more. Sound quality is excellent and the first disc has an eight page
booklet with brief notes. If you don't already have this material this is an
ideal introduction and if you it makes for great listening. (FS)
MARIAN ANDERSON: Deep River/ BARBECUE BOB: Jesus‘ Blood
Can Make Me Whole/ DEACON L.J. BATES (BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON): Where Shall I
Be?/ THE BESSEMER SUNSET FOUR: Climbing Jacob‘s Ladder/ BULL CITY RED: I Saw
The Light/ CRUMPTON & SUMMERS: Everybody Ought To Pray Sometime/ ELDER
CURRY: Memphis Flu/ BLIND WILLIE DAVIS: When The Saints Go Marching In/ REV
GARY DAVIS: Twelve Gates To The City/ THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS: I Looked Down
The Line/ THE DIXIEAIRES: Joe Louis Is A Fightin‘ Man/ THOMAS A. DORSEY: If
You Seen My Saviour/ ARIZONA DRANES: I‘ll Go Where You Want Me To/ THE
FAMOUS BLUE JAY SINGERS: Brother Jonah/ A. C. FOREHAND: Mother‘s Prayer/
GEORGIA PEACH: Where The Sun Will Never Go Down/ THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET:
Atom And Evil/ Pick A Bale Of Cotton/ Stalin Wasn‘t Stalllin‘/ BLIND
ROOSEVELT GRAVES: I‘ll Be Rested (when The Roll Is Called)/ BESSIE GRIFFIN:
Someday Somewhere/ THE HEAVENLY GOSPEL SINGERS: Precious Lord, Take My Hand/
MAHALIA JACKSON: Amazing Grace/ Go Tell It On The Mountain/ God‘s Gonna
Separate The Wheat From The Tares/ BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: Dark Was The Night,
Cold Was The Ground/ Praise God I‘m Satisfied/ MARIE KNIGHT: What Could I
Do/ THE LARKS (SOUTHERN HARMONAIRES): Honey On The Rock/ SISTER LILLIE MAE
LITTLEJOHN: Go Devil Go/ ROBERTA MARTIN: What A Friend/ SALLIE MARTIN: God
Is A Battle Axe/ MOTHER MCCOLLUM: You Can't Hide/ LONNIE MCINTORSH: How Much
I Owe/ BLIND WILLIE MCTELL & KATE MCTELL: God Don‘t Like It/ God Don‘t Like
It/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Let Me Ride/ MITCHELL’S CHRISTIAN SINGERS: Them Bones/
KID PRINCE MOORE: Church Bells/ BLIND GUSSIE NESBITT: Pure Religion/ REV A.W.
NIX: The Black Diamond Express To Hell 1 & 2/ THE NORFOLK JUBILEE QUARTET:
Didn‘t It Rain/ No Hiding Place/ WASHINGTON PHILLIPS: Denomination Blues 1 &
2/ Denomination Blues 1 & 2/ REV D.C. RICE: He‘s Got His Eyes On Me/ PAUL
ROBESON: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/ THE SELAH SINGERS: Sorrow
Valley/ THE SILVER LEAF QUARTET: Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ WILLIE MAE
FORD SMITH: Going On With The Spirit/ THE SOUTHERN SONS: Lord Have Mercy/
BLIND JOE TAGGART: Religion Is Something Within You/ SISTER ROSETTA THARPE:
Rock Me/ This Train/ I Was Healed/ You Gotta Move/ HENRY THOMAS: Jonah In
The Wilderness/ CLARA WARD: How I Got Over/ The Fountain/ JOSH WHITE: Jesus
Going To Make Up My Dying Bed/ Lord I Want To Die Easy/ MARION WILLIAMS: How
Far Am I From Canaan
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stompin' 324 |
Stompin', Vol. 24 |
● CD $15.98 |
22 tracks, highly recommended
Four more volumes in this
excellent series featuring rocking blues, R&B and black rock 'n' roll. A
couple of familiar titles here from Elmore James and June Bateman but most
of the tracks are fairly obscure featuring artists like The Nitehawks, Al
Reed, Billy Peek (the hot instrumental Prancing sounding just like
Ike Turner), Bobby Davis, Phil Flowers (the fine down home Move On),
Icky Renrut (Ike Turner's alter ego with the hot Jack Rabbit
featuring a vocal by Jimmy Thomas), Eddie Renae & The Titans, Teddy Reynolds
(the romping New Orleans flavored Louise), Kitty Noble (the fine
Till The Cows Come Home with nice slide guitar), Jimmy Raney & Slim
Slaughter, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (the great Hound Dog
inspired Tom Cat with tough guitar) and more. Excellent sound,
informed notes and label shots of most of the titles here. (FS)
JUNE BATEMAN: Possum Belly Overalls/ BENNIE BUNN: Rock &
Roll Luau/ KING COLEMAN: Alley Rat/ BABY CORTEZ: Honey Baby/ BOBBY DAVIS:
Going To New Orleans/ PHIL FLOWERS: Move On/ RUFUS GORDON: Long Tall Sally/
BIG BOY GROVES: Bucket O' Blood/ ELMORE JAMES: Cry For Me Baby/ BILLY
LAMONT: Hear Me Now/ LITTLE ARTHUR MATHEWS: I'm Gonna Whale On You/ Someday
Baby/ THE NITEHAWKS: Boogie Chillun'/ KITTY NOBLE: Till The Cows Come Home/
BILLY PEEK: Prancin'/ JIMMY RANEY & SLIM SLAUGHTER: You Drink Too Much
Booze/ AL REED: Top Notch Grade "a"/ EDDIE RENAE & TITANS: Snake Leg/ ICKY
RENRUT: Jack Rabbit/ TEDDY REYNOLDS: Louise/ TABBY THOMAS: Louisiana Hop/
WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON: Tom Cat
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stompin' 325 |
Stompin', Vol. 25 |
● CD $15.98 |
Another fine collection featuring 22 sides from the late 40s
through the mid 50s - about half making their first appearance on CD.
Includes some terrific female singers like Georgia Lane, Eunice Davis,
Tangerine, Edith Mackey, Mamie Thomas and others plus sides by King
James,
"Shy Guy" Douglas, Choker Campbell, Billie McAllister, George Benson (the 10
year old future guitar wizard with a cover of Ray Charles' It Should Have
Been Me) and more.
MARGIE ANDERSON: Yes I Know/ DON ARCHER: Fathead Blues/
BABY DOLL: Down By The Woodshed/ GEORGE BENSON: It Should Have Been Me/ ROSE
BROWN & JIMMIE HARRIS: Back From Korea/ CLIFF BUTLER: You Name It/ CHOCKER
CAMPBELL: Have You Seen My Baby/ VELMA CROSS: I'll Be Oh So Good/ EUNICE
DAVIS: Every Time Your Lips Meet Mine/ Let's Have A Party/ TOM "SHY GUY"
DOUGLAS: Raid On Cedar Street/ FRANK HAYWOOD: Rock-a-Bye Baby/ EMMETT
HOBSON: Looka' Here Mattie Bee/ DOTTIE JOHNSON: It's A Shame/ KING JAMES: I
Just Wanna' Love/ Wild Wooly Woman/ GEORGIA LANE: Oo-wee Mr. Jeff/ EDITH
MACKEY: Skillet's Gonna' Fry/ BILLIE MCALLISTER: Well Alright Baby/
TANGERINE: Cadillac Baby/ MAMIE THOMAS: Miss Good Blues/ BILL WALKER: Wine-O
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stompin' 326 |
Stompin', Vol. 26 |
● CD $15.98 |
| Fine collection of 22 down home blues though unlike previous
volumes many of the tracks here have been out on CD before. However if you
don't already have them there are some excellent sides from Walter Price,
Allen Bunn (his superb Too Much Competition), Po' Joe Williams (one
of Big Joe's Vee-Jay sides), Elmon Mickle, Mojo Watson, Kasandra (this one's
a real obscurity - an early blues side by soul and funk singer John KaSandra
featuring some dynamite guitar), Papa Lightfoot, Morris pejoe, Little Sonny,
The Bighampton Blues Boys (their classic Cross Cut SawTHE
BINGHAMPTON BLUES BOYS: Cross Cut Saw/ Slim'stwist/ BLUE CHARLIE: I'm
Goingto Kill That Hen/ ALLEN BUNN: Too Much Competition/ ROBERT GILL: I Only
Had A Little/ EDDIE HOPE: A Fool No More/ BOBO JENKINS: Tell Me Whereyou
Stayed Last Night/ You Will Never Understand/ KASANDREA: My Conscience Is
Bothering Me/ PAPA LIGHTFOOT: P.l. Blues/ LITTLE MILTON: Boogie Woogie
Woogie Baby/ LITTLE SONNY: Love Shock/ ELMON MICKLE: Independent Walk/ Short
And Fat/ MORRIS PEJOE: Tired Of Cryin' Over You/ WALTER PRICE: Six Weeks Of
Misery/ SQUARE WALTON: Bad Hangover/ CLEAR WATERS: Hillbilly Blues/ MOJO
WATSON: I'm The Only One/ JUNIOR WELLS: Lawdy! Lawdy!/ PO' JOE WILLIAMS:
Goin' Back/ JAMES WILLIAMSON: The Woman I Love
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stompin' 327 |
Stompin', Vol. 27 |
● CD $15.98 |
Another down home flavored collection with a lot of tracks
on CD before but all of it is fine and rocking.
BIG ED: Biscuit Baking Mama/ BIRMINGHAM JUNIOR: You're Too
Bad/ SCHOOLBOY CLEVE: She's Gone/ CALVIN FRAZIER: Track Down/ McKINLEY
JAMES: Ain't Gonna Pick No Cotton/ CLARENCE JOHNSON: Baby Come Back To Me/
That's Not Right/ EDDIE JONES: Certainly All/ CLIFFORD KING: Chicken Shack
Boogie/ JOHN LEE: Rhythm Rockin' Boogie/ LITTLE SONNY: I Love You Baby Until
The Day I Die/ LITTLE WALTER JNR.: Miss O'mally's Rally/ JOE HILL LOUIS:
Hydramatic Woman/ ELMON MICKLE: Jackson Blues/ Lonesome Highway/ WILLIE NIX:
Just Can't Stay/ JIMMY ROGERS: Sloppy Drunk/ DOCTOR ROSS: Industrial Boogie/
SUNNYLAND SLIM: Going Back To Memphis/ It's You Baby/ CLEAR WATERS: Boogie
Woogie Baby/ JO JO WILLIAMS: Rock'n'roll Boogie
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Storyville 8060 |
Barrelhouse Blues & Boogie Woogie, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
Fine collection of piano blues and boogie recorded in
Denmark and Switzerland by some of the greats of piano blues and boogie in
the 60s and early 70s. Includes Champion Jack Dupree (six tracks - solo and
with rhythm accompaniment), Little Brother Montgomery (one track), Speckled
Red (two), Eddie Boyd (two really superb tracks), Sunnyland Slim (two
tracks) and Memphis Slim (three tracks).
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Storyville 8061 |
Barrelhouse Blues & Boogie Woogie, Vol. 5 |
● CD $15.98 |
More fine piano blues and boogie recorded in Europe in the
60s and 70s by piano legends Champion Jack Dupree, Speckled Red, Memphis
Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Eddie Boyd and Little Brother Montgomery. Although
there's no shortage of recordings by these artists the performances are all
consistently fine and the exceptional sound quality makes for extremly
pleasing listening.
|
| ZORA YOUNG |
Delmark 784 |
Tore Up From The Floor Up |
● CD $14.98 |
Second Delmark album from fine Chicago blueswoman includes
six original songs as well as some choice covers and an interview.
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