NEWSLETTER #141
Blues & Gospel
Albert Ammons
->
Zora Young
| SINGING
IN MY SOUL Black Gospel Music
In A Secular Age by Jerma A. Jackson |
● BOOK $18.95 |
Paperback, 193 pages, counts as two CDs for shipping From
the backwoods church to the big-city, big-business record companies, from
the sacred to the secular and back again, gospel is the soil from which so
much of the world's greatest music and performers have sprouted. Jerma A.
Jackson, assistant professor of history at University of NC at Chapel Hill,
examines the historical relevance of gospel music's shift from music of
worship to popular entertainment and social commentary. This relatively thin
book is a compact (193 pp, including index), slightly dry academic
presentation of a passionate art form. Includes several photos, which are
accompanied by detailed captions. In a perfect world this would be the first
volume of a far more expansive series. (JM)
|
| THE LANGUAGE OF THE
BLUES From Alcorub To Zuzu
by Debra DeSalvo |
● BOOK $16.95 |
Paper, 174 pages, counts as three CDs for shipping This
comprehensive, alphabetical reference text is not only informative, but also
entertaining. Debra DeSalvo, former associate editor of Blues Revue
magazine, compiles blues terminology and explains the usage and etymology
through obscure academic research and anecdotes (some previously
unpublished) told to her by the blues legends themselves. Entertaining
without oversimplifying, DeSalvo supplies a context with which to newly
appreciate the blues, and presents it in a reference book that can be read
from cover to cover. (JM)
|
| BIG GEORGE BROCK |
Cat Head 1002 |
Hard Times |
● DVD $19.98 |
Excellent documentary on the life and music of veteran
Mississippi born singer and harmonica player Big George Brock. George speaks
about his varied and interesting life as a sharecropper, boxer, club owner
and musician. He plays some solo harmonica and is featured performing with
his band at clubs in St. Louis, MO (where he now lives) and in Clarksdale,
Ms.
|
| MARK HUMMEL |
Mountain Top DVD 259 |
Mark Hummel's Harmonica Party |
● DVD $18.98 |
Mark Hummel is a blues harp pro that has been teaching and
touring for close to thirty years now. This DVD features his methods of
playing the amplified harmonica (chromatic and diatonic), showing students
how to improve style and tone, increase understanding, and learn positions
1st, 2nd and 3rd "like never before!" It's a 90-minute harmonica party and
you are invited! (JM)
|
|
SONNY
TERRY & BROWNIE MCGHEE/ MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT,
ETC |
Shanachie DVD 607 |
Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest |
● DVD $16.98 |
DVD, 24 "tracks," approx. 2 hours, highly recommended
In the
recent Scorsese documentary on Dylan, only once did brother Bob ever seem to
care genuinely about anyone's opinion of his music when he went electric,
and that opinion belonged to Pete Seeger. Seeger's television show circa
1967 is remarkable for its total lack of slickness. No one will ever again
be free to invite interesting musicians (some famous, some obscure) of
wildly diverse styles and backgrounds and just let them play. No product
placement, no one pushing his latest album. The first show here features
Sonny Terry & Browning McGhee trading songs with Seeger (although most of
the time they join in on each other's songs), including McGhee's amusing
original I Couldn't Believe My Eyes and the wonderful Don't Pity
Me. Terry's amazing harp playing is a joy to witness and hear, and his
vocal performance on Leadbelly's Rock Island Line helps to make it a
highlight of the show. McGhee is his usual soft-spoken and charming self. In
the second episode of Rainbow Quest, Seeger sits around a table with
Mississippi John Hurt, Hedy West, and Paul Cadwell as each takes turns
playing for the others. Hurt (who had recently been "rediscovered" and
rerecorded) comes across as the gentlest of souls, modest and more than
capable of some very fine guitar work. Hedy West, a Georgia-based folk
singer performs in English (Cotton Mill Girl and German Ballad Of
William Moore while accompanying herself on 5-string banjo. Caldwell,
who never worked as a professional musician, specializes in old-style,
nylon-string (he uses fishing line) banjo, performing ragtimes and cakewalks
as few people have ever heard. (There's even a brief round-table discussion
of the origins of the cakewalk!) It's a blessing that Seeger saw fit to make
these performances available to posterity. (JC)
|
| MISSISSIPPI HEAT |
Delmark 1783 |
One Eye Open - Live At Rosa's Lounge |
● DVD $22.98 |
DVD, 11 tracks, about 70 min, recommended
The show (live
from Rosa's Lounge, Chicago in 2005) opens with star Pierre Lacocque blowing
his harp in the audience, wending his way toward blues belter Inetta Visor
on stage, but when he gets there his lead guitarist (the great Lurrie Bell)
takes on lead vocal duties. Not until the third song (I've Got To Sleep
With One Eye Open does Visor get to warm up her vocal chords.
Throughout, Max Valldenue has a hot hand on his Fender. But the show belongs
to Lacocque, who can make virtually and sound come out of his harmonica, and
with an admirably pure tone. His playing is measured and judicious, aimed
always at improving the song and not at stroking his ego. No noodling or
showing off. The songs are a mix of originals and well-chosen covers. This
DVD contains a track not on the CD release (Moanin' And Cryin') but
it is also missing a song available on the CD (Rock Steady), no doubt
an idea from the marketing department. This night was not full of magic, but
it was full of solidly built blues nonetheless. (JC)
|
| OTIS RUSH & FRIENDS |
Eagle Eye DVD 39114 |
Live At Montreux, 1986 |
● DVD $13.98 |
The great Chicago blues singer and guitarist recorded live
at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1986 with guest appearances by Eric Clapton
and Luther Allison. 14 performances including Tops/ Lonely Man/ Natural
Ball/ You Don't Love/ Double Trouble/ Every Day I have The Blues, etc.
An abbreviated version of this concert is available on CD (see below).
|
| GARY SMITH |
Mountain Top DVD 269 |
Amplified Blues Harp Demystified |
● DVD $18.98 |
Renowned San Francisco Bay Area mouth harp player and blues
devotee Gary Smith breaks down helpful techniques and methods to improve
your harmonica skills. Includes tips to improve your tone and style,
collaborate with other musicians and broaden working knowledge of mics &
amps. You can hide out in your room playing harmonica, or you can follow the
sage advice from Mr. Smith and get out there with the pros. (JM)
|
| TAIL DRAGGER |
Delmark 1782 |
My Head Is Bald - Live At Vern's Friendly
Lounge |
● DVD $22.98 |
DVD, 10 tracks, 75 min., recommended Difficult to image a
more intimate concert setting unless the fellows stopped at your house for a
set. The audience at Vern's Friendly Lounge in Chicago looks to be about
three feet from the band, and there's no stage, all of which presents
certain challenges for camera operators attempting to get clear shots. Mr.
Dragger (born James Yancy Jones) graduated from the old school of blues
circa 1950-something and he regularly attends the reunions. With stogie in
hand, the band (probably supplied by the folks at Delmark) features Lurrie
Bell on guitar, Billy Branch on harp, and Kenny Smith pounding the drums.
But for the title track, the legendary Jimmy Dawkins dons his guitar and
blasts the cobwebs out of the corners. Dragger shouts out a set of
originals, including My Woman Is Gone, during which he wanders
through the bar and serenades the local ladies. The lone cover, So Ezee
comes courtesy of Dawkins. A pleasing documantary-like glimpse into the kind
of blues bar most people only read about. This DVD includes a nine minute
bonus cut (Cold Out Doors) not on the CD release. (JC)
|
| JOE "MR
GOOGLE EYES" AUGUST |
Domino DRCD 350 |
The New Orleans Blues Shouter |
● CD $17.98 |
20 tracks featuring all the issued recordings made between
1948 and 1955 by this excellent blues shouter. Although born in New Orleans,
most of his recordings were made elsewhere so his music doesn't have that
New Orleans sound. but feature fine singing with solid bands. Includes No
Wine, No Women/ Poppa Stoppa's Be Bop Blues/ Young Boy/ Rock My Soul/ My Old
Love/ Play the Game/ Tell Me, etc.
|
| ADOLPHUS BELL |
Music Maker 58 |
One Man Band |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, recommended
Adolphus Bell is the first
African-American one man band to come along in quite a while and while he is
no Joe Hill Louis he is an engaging performer. Bell was born in Birmingham,
Alabama in 1944 and started performing in the mid 60s and switched to the
one man band format in the early 70s. He mostly plays electric guitar and
drums with occasional harp played on a neck rack. His music is a mix of self
composed down home blues and covers of R&B and soul favorites. The latter
are not too effective but Bell's singing and playing on the blues numbers is
first class though some of the songs are a bit too self referential for my
liking. Nothing too exceptional here but it's nice to see someone continuing
the tradition. (FS)
|
| BIG BILL BROONZY |
Munich MRCD 275 |
Amsterdam Live Concerts 1953 |
● CD $37.98 |
Two CD set in book format featuring Big Bill recorded live
at two concerts held in Amsterdam in February, 1953. The recordings were
made by sound engineer and later film director Louis Van Gasteren and the
quality is very good for a live recordings. Bill is in fine form, chatting
with audience and playing some of his most well known pieces including
Going Down the Road Feeling Bad? house Rent Stomp/ Black, Brown & White/
Down By the Riverside/ Glory Of Love/ back-Water Blues/ Trouble In MinD,
etc. Includes 48 page booklet with notes by blues scholar Guido Van Rijn and
touching reminiscences by van Gasteren and is copiously illustrated with
rare photos including many previously unpublished photos taken in The
Netherlands.
|
| BISHOP SOLOMON BURKE |
Central Gospel 237 |
Not By Water But Fire This Time |
● CD $16.98 |
The great soul singer returns to his gospel roots on this
1999 album featuring all songs written by Burke and family members.
|
| RAY CHARLES |
Night Train 7154 |
Unreleased |
● CD $10.98 |
19 track collection of previously unissued alternate takes
from Ray's Swingtime sessions.
RAY CHARLES: A Sentimental Blues (take 1)/ A Sentimental
Blues (take 3)/ Ain't That Fine (false Start)/ Ain't That Fine (take 1)/ All
To Myself Alone (extended Version)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(incomplete Take)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (take 1)/ Blues Before
Sunrise (take 4)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 5)/ Honey Honey (false Start)/
Honey Honey (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 1)/ I Wonder
Who's Kissing Her Now (take 3)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 1)/ I'm Glad
For Your Sake (take 2)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (false Start)/ Jack, She's
On The Ball (incomplete Take)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 1)/ Sitting
On Top Of The World (take 4)
|
| SUGAR PIE DESANTO |
Jasman 10006 |
Refined Sugar |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 53 min, excellent
Sugar Pie's been around since
'55 when she was discovered by Johnny Otis, & she spent the 60s not only
recording for Chess, but was also a staff writer & toured with the blues
greats. Now on her own Jasman label, Sugar's still writing & performing, now
with a bit of a country bent. Recorded in San Francisco & Berkeley, mostly
with a small combo, though the lush How Many Times has strings & a
Jules Broussard sax solo. There's more covers here than usual, but their
choice, including Jimmy McCracklin's Blues Hall Of Fame, Big Mama
Thornton's Black Rat & Gimme A Penny which was also from the
Big Mama catalog - it's writer, James Moore, is currently Sugar's producer!
You can get a taste of the set just by the titles - Somebody Scream/ I
Need Help/ I Need To Live Again/ I Don't Care. (GM)
|
| CHAMPION JACK DUPREE |
Columbia/ Blue Horizon 518 516-2 |
The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions |
● CD $22.98 |
Two CD set featuring all the sides recorded by the great
blues singer and piano player for Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon label in 1968
and 1969. It includes both LPs issued, tracks from a live session intended
for a third album never issued plu tracks only issued on 45s plus alternate
takes and unissued tracks. Jack is featured solo plus accompanied by various
British blues and rock luminaries like Paul Kossof, Stan Webb, Keef Hartley,
Aynsley Dunbar and others including one track (I Want To Be A Hippy)
with strings! 38 tracks in all including See My Milk Cow/ Gutbucket
Blues/ Roll On/ My Home's In hell/ Street Walking Woman/ Going Down To The
Blue Horizon/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Ain't That A Shame/ Who Threw The
Whiskey In the Well/ Kansas City/ Black And White Blues/ You Make Me Feel
Alright, etc.
|
| SNOOKS
EAGLIN WITH HIS NEW ORLEANS FRIENDS |
Sonet 987 140-7 |
The Sonet Blues Story |
● CD $13.98 |
| Snooks's second album in this series features him with a
fine small New Orleans band - Ellis Marsalis/ piano, Clarence Ford/ sax,
George French/ bass & Bob French/ drums. They do fine versions of 12 R&B
favorites with an emphasis on New Orleans songs including Down Yonder/
Talk To You Daughter/ Oh Red/ Travelling Mood/ A Teeny Bit Of Your Love/ Let
The Four Winds Blow
|
| JIMMY "DUCK"
HOLMES |
Broke & Hungry 3001 |
Back To Bentonia |
● CD $14.98 |
11 tracks, 39 mins, recommended
A new name in Mississippi
country blues on record though Jimmy "Duck" Holmes from Bentonia,
Mississippi has been performing for some time. In the 70s he came under the
spell of the great Jack Owens and several of the tracks show the influence
of Owens, particularly his versions of the Bentonia standard Devil Got My
Woman> which he calls I'd Rather Be The Devil and Hard Times.
Holmes is a decent singer and guitar player whose material is a mix of
standards like Vicksburg Blues/ Six Little Puppies and Your Buggy
Don't Ride Like Mine as well as originals like Cool Water/ Mr Taxi
DriverBack To bentonia. Several songs feature
him on electric guitar accompanied drummer Sam Carr to good effect. "Duck"
is an worthwhile if not especially compelling performer and it's nice to
hear still doing this kind of music in the 21st century! (FS)
|
| DOUG JAY & THE
BLUE JAYS |
Crosscut 11083 |
Jackpot |
● CD $17.98 |
14 tracks, 54 min, good/recommended
Mr. Jay, who has been
working the blues scene for about 30 years, comes through in spades on this
German release, where he shows off his harpistry as well as his pen in a set
of mostly originals. (Two of the few covers here are by Otis Spann: It
Must Have Been The Devil and Half Ain't Been Told.) His vocals
are better than merely serviceable, but fairly limited and not his strongest
suit. In fact, Jay never sounds better than on the instrumental Giddy Up,
where his Horner shoots his mouth off (or vice versa). (The other
instrumental Tumbleweed is a surf-guitar wonder.) Other winners
include the lecherous Real Bad Girl, the boogie I Jump ("I
jump when you're here/and I jump when you're not around"), and the
redundantly titled Each And Every Day. (JC)
|
| B.B. KING |
Ace CDCHM 1093 |
B.B. King Sing Spirituals |
● CD $13.98 |
The 11th and final volume in the series of reissues of
B.B.'s original Crown albums with bonus cuts features B.B.'s only gospel
album issued as Crown 5119 in 1959 featuring doing fine versions of gospel
favorites like Precious Lord/ Old Time Religion/ Servant's Prayer/ I
Never Heard A Man/ I Am Willing To Run All The Way and others
accompanied by organ, piano, bass and drums and occasional vocal backup by a
gospel group. No guitar but great singing. Since B.B. didn't record any
other gospel songs the bonus cuts includes two of the songs from the album
with orchestral and choral overdubs, four songs from previously unreissued
singles featuring B.B. doing pop and two alternate takes of other pop songs.
|
| LAZY LESTER |
Antone's 10042 |
All Over You |
● CD $15.98 |
Available again. Fine 1998 set with Lester redoing some of
his own Excello sides as well as those of fellow Excello artists like Slim
Harpo, Lightnin' Slim and others plus a Jimmy Reed songs. Backed by a solid
small group Lester sings well and plays some dynamite harp.
|
| ROSIE LEDET |
Maison De Soul 1085 |
Pick It Up |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 45 mins, very good
Rosie Ledet is one of the
bright spots of the current Cajun/ Zydeco scene. She's a talented accordion
player and soulful singer that's been tearing it up on record for over ten
years now; "Pick It Up" is her first new record in about three years.
Daughter-in-law of Acadian stalwart Lanice Ledet, who's taking of "little
blue pills" is the inspiration (albeit a kinda creepy one) for the title
track. Features cover of Fernest Arceneaux's Zydeco Boogaloo. (JM)
|
| SMILEY LEWIS |
Classics 5166 |
The Chronological Smiley Lewis, 1947-1952 |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 55 mins, essential ... but
Smiley (Overton Amos
Lemon) was one of the best singers in New Orleans with a powerful, gritty
and expressive vocal style. Most of his recordings were produced (and often
written) by the incredibly talented Dave Bartholomew and featured the cream
of New Orleans musicians. This first featuring his earliest recordings opens
with two of the sides recorded in 1947 for DeLuxe (one of the DeLuxe 78s has
never been found) where he is accompanied by New Orleans piano legend "Tuts"
Washington and bassist Papa John Joseph. he didn't record again until 1950
when he started recording extensively for Imperial producing one New Orleans
classic after another. On these sessions he was usually accompanied by
Washington on piano plus saxmen like Joe Harris, Clarence Hall, Lee Allen
and Herb Hardesty, the brilliant guitarist Ernest McLean and others. Among
the gems here are Tee Nah Nah/ Dirty People/ Sad Life/ Don't Jive Me
(with a great Dixieland feel in the arrangemenbts)/ The Bells Are Ringing
(his first big R&B hit)/ You're Gonna Miss Me (a blues ballad with a
devastating guitar solo from McLean)/ Gumbo Blues and It's So
Peaceful but it's all great. Sound quality is excellent and there the
usual brief notes by Dave Penny plus full discographical data. The only
reason not to get this is to get the Bear family box set by Smiley (BCD
15745 - "Shame, Shame, Shame" - $89.98) which features all of his recordings
on four CDs in an LP sized box with 32 page LP sized booklet with lots of
rare photos and memorabilia. (FS)
SMILEY LEWIS: Ain't Gonna Do It/ Bee's Boogie/ Dirty
People/ Don't Jive Me/ Growing Old/ Gumbo Blues/ Gypsy Blues/ Here Comes
Smiley/ If You Ever Loved A Woman/ It's So Peaceful/ Lillie Mae/ Low Down/
My Baby/ My Baby Was Right/ Sad Life/ Slide Me Down/ Tee Nah Nah/ The Bells
Are Ringin'/ Turn On Your Volume Baby/ Where Were You/ You're Gonna Miss Me/
You're Not The One
|
| ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR. |
M.C. Records 51 |
The Legend Live |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 45 min, recommended
The blues legend recorded
live at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ on July 24th 2003. This is a great
recording: the old master is in good voice, his playing crisp and on the
money, which is amazing considering he was 87 at the time of this recording.
The song selection is no surprise: heavy on the Robert Johnson (Lockwood's
stepfather) with some Mance Lipscomb, Roosevelt Sykes, Leroy Carr and others
thrown in for good measure. The CD has quality packaging with lengthy liner
notes and nice pictures. (JM)
|
| MAGIC SLIM & THE
TEARDROPS |
Wolf 120.809 |
Tin Pan Alley |
● CD $16.98 |
12 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
A new Magic Slim
album is always cause for celebration and this one is no exception. Solid,
down to earth Chicago blues with powerful vocals and gritty electric guitar
work (Slim shares guitar leads with Teardrop John Primer) accompanied by
spot on bass and drum rhythm. As always there's a fair share of Slim's slow
burning intense minor key blues and his great Cold Hearted Woman is
alone worth the price of this CD. Half the tracks were recorded in the
studio and half recorded live in Austria. The music is a mix of originals
and covers of songs from B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King and others and
all of it is excellent. Slim hasn't changed much over the past 20 years but
it doesn't matter as everything he does is so good and sounds so fresh that
listening to him is sheer delight. (FS)
|
| PERCY MAYFIELD |
Raven 219 |
Blues Laureate - The RCA Years |
● CD $18.98 |
Fabulous 25 track collection drawn from the sides recorded
for RCA between 1969 and 1971 by this great singer and songwriter. All new
songs from Percy including the great Highway Is Like A Woman and
several witty topical songs (You Wear Your Hair Too Long/ Right On Young
Americans). Percy is accompanied by top New York session musicians like
Eric gales, Seldon Powell, Richard Tee, Chuck Rainey and others.
|
| STICKS MCGHEE |
Classics 5168 |
The Chronological Sticks McGhee, 1951-1959 |
● CD $14.98 |
24 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
The second volume of
sides by the talented younger brother of Brownie McGhee who sadly passed
away in 1960 at the age of 43. Sticks was a lovely singer with a style not
too unlike his brother and a gifted songwriter who wrote interesting songs
with appealing melodies. A couple of the tracks here attempt to emulate the
sound of his big hit DRinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee and while none of
them hit it big they are appealing nonetheless. The earliest sessions find
him in the company of Brownie on electric guitar and second vocal and later
sessions find him with other fine New York sidemen like Mickey Baker, Sir
Charles Thompson and others and his last session in 1959 features him with
Sonny Terry & J.C. Burris. His catchy Whiskey Women And Loaded Dice
was covered by country artist Jack Cardwell. A most enjoyable selection from
an artist who deserves to remembered for more than for one song. (FS)
|
| MISSISSIPPI HEAT |
Delmark 783 |
One Eye Open - Live At Rosa's Lounge |
● CD $14.98 |
CD, 11 tracks, 67 min, recommended
The main MS. heating
elements here are blues diva Inetta Visor and blues harpologist Pierre
Lacocque. The band seems to be a Delmark artifact, featuring Lurrie Bell and
Max Valldeneu on guitar and Kenny Smith on drums, all excellent players. But
this show from Rosa's Lounge in Chicago from 2005 is all Lacocque, who's so
good he doesn't have to show off. The DVD release contains a "bonus" track
not included here, but Rock Steady, included here, is absent from the
DVD. (JC)
|
| JOHNNY OTIS & FRIENDS |
Documents 222075 |
The Story Of The Blues |
● CD $17.98 |
Two CD set in book format. An odd collection. The first disc
features 24 classic early sides by Otis & his band from 1949/50. The second
disc features 70s recordings - four by Otis and two each by Big Joe Turner
and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson which, I believe, are from Johnny's own Blues
Spectrum label. There are two excellent sides by San Diego blues singer Big
Daddy Rucker which, I believe, were produced by Otis and five great sides by
Nyles Jones (Guitar Gabriel) which have no Otis connection. Includes 18 page
illustrated booklet with extensive notes and discographical info for disc 1.
|
| LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER |
Classics 5167 |
The Chronological Little Junior Parker,
1952-1955 |
● CD $14.98 |
The first volume of recordings by this superb and
underappreciated bluesman includes his first sides for Modern including a
duet with Bobby Bland, his much covered Sun sides and his earliest Duke
sides. Junior is accompanied by Ike Turner, Matt Murphy, Floyd Murphy, Pat
Hare, Joe Fritz, Roy Gaines, Connie Mack Booker and other stellar musicians.
LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER: Backtracking/ Bad Women Bad Whiskey/
Can You Tell Me Baby/ Can't Understand/ Dirty Friend Blues/ Driving Me Mad/
Feelin' Good/ Fussin' And Fightin' Blues/ I Wanna Ramble/ I'm Tender/ Love
Me Baby/ Love Me Baby/ Mystery Train/ Please Baby Blues/ Pretty Baby/ Sittin'
At The Bar/ Sittin' At The Window/ Sittin' Drinkin' And Thinkin'/ There
Better Be No Feet/ You're My Angel
|
| SISTA MONICA PARKER |
Mo Muscle 8888 |
Can't Keep A Good Woman Down |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 59 mins, very good. This CD features over an hour
of "Electrifying Chicago Style Blues, Soul, R&B and Gospel Music." Sista
Monica packs a mighty punch with her vocal style, has a hell of a voice and
you can bounce a quarter off of the backing musicians on this. Most all of
the thirteen tracks here are originals, peppered with covers of Willie
Nelson and Sam Cooke. The good Sista is a cancer survivor, which gives her
inspiration, and a portion of the proceeds for this will go to cancer
charities. (JM)
|
| JIMMY ROGERS |
Chess 69402 |
His Best |
● CD $13.98 |
22 tracks, essential
Not a new release but not reviewed
before. With the Complete Chess Recordings set no longer available this is
the best currently available package of this great bluesman's classic Chess
recordings. With his warm, mellifluous vocals and melodic guitar he was one
of the outstanding performers to emerge from the Muddy Waters Band in the
50s. His recordings often featured fellow Muddy Waters band members like
Little Walter, Big Crawford, Elgin Evans, Willie Dixon, Otis Spann and
others but there were also some remarkable tracks with other musicians.
There is just one classic song after another - That's All Right/ Luedella/
Today, Today Blues/ The World's In A Tangle/ Money, Marbles & Chalk/ Chicago
Bound/ Sloppy Drunk/ Walking My Myself (a classic Walter Horton solo on
this)/ What Have I Done, etc. (FS)
|
| OTIS RUSH & FRIENDS |
Eagle 20084 |
LIve At Montreux |
● CD $13.98 |
The great Chicago blues singer and guitarist recorded live
at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1986 with guest appearance by Eric Clapton
and Luther Allison. Nine tracks including Tops/ Right Place, Wrong Time/
You Don't Love Me/ Double Trouble/ Every Day I have The Blues, etc.
|
| BROTHER CECIL SHAW |
Acrobat 4200 |
I Want To Know |
● CD $13.98 |
18 tracks, 48 mins, essential
Superb collection of quartet
gospel singing featuring the stunning lead vocals of Texan Brother Cecil
Shaw. Though little known today he was admired by his contemporaries - a
number who covered his songs and was the only man that Archie Brownlee
refused to follow on stage! The 18 tracks here are the sum total of his
issued recordings - 16 recorded for Imperial in 1952 and '53 and two for his
own Shaw label in 1954. Four tracks feature him with The Alpha Omega
Singers, six with The Silverlight Singers including the stunning Heaven's
Bells Have Called Mother Home and A Christian's Plea. The
remaining tracks are with a female group that Shaw assembled called the
Union Spiritual Singers and feature further stunning performances including
the original recording of Pray On My Child later recorded by The
Staple Singers, the church wrecking Have Mercy My Father and others
including a couple with an unidentified female lead who is so good it's
scray. A early member of this group was Della Beatrice "Bea" Howard who
ended up marrying Ray Charles after hearing him praise Shaw and his group's
singing on the radio in Houston. If you like The Five Blind Boys Of
Mississippi with Archie Brownlee or the Spirit Of Memphis with Silas Steele
this is a must purchase. Includes informative notes, based on original
reaserch, by gospel expert Opal Louis Nations. (FS)
|
| SUNNYLAND SLIM |
Classics 5171 |
The Chronological Sunnyland Slim, 1952-1955 |
● CD $14.98 |
20 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended
Complementing
Classics 5013 and 5035 this is another fabulous collection of sides by this
superb and important Chicago blues singer and piano player. These tracks
were recorded for five different labels and includes sides not originally
issued as well as a never before issued Vee-Jay session February 1954 with
Snooky Pryor/ hca and Eddie Taylor or Floyd Jones/ guitar. Pryor, Taylor and
Jones appear on several other sessions and other backup performers include
Ernest Cotton/ts, Big Crawford/ bass, J.T. Brown/ ts, J.B. Lenoir/ gtr,
Robert Jr. Lockwood/ gtr and others. Two tracks - the surrealistic Livin'
In The White House and Please Don't feature the magnificent
vocals of Johnny Shines. Wonderful and indispensable Chicago blues. (FS)
SUNNYLAND SLIM: Bassology/ Bassology/ Be Mine Alone/ Be My
Baby/ City Of New Orleans/ Devil Is A Busy Man/ Four Day Bounce/ Going Back
To Memphis/ I Done You Wrong/ Living In The White House/ Please Don't/ Sad
And Lonesome/ Shake It Baby/ Shake It Baby/ That Woman (you Have Heard Of A
Woman)/ Trouble Of My Own/ When I Was Young/ Woman Trouble/ Worried About My
Baby/ Worried About My Baby
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| TAIL DRAGGER |
Delmark 782 |
My Head Is Bald - Live At Vern's Friendly
Lounge |
● CD $14.98 |
13 tracks, 61 min., recommended
The liner notes to the DVD
release of this live set from July 16, 2005, at Chicago's Vern's Friendly
Lounge, explain that to "fully appreciate" Tail Dragger, one must "witness a
performance." I couldn't agree more. Even including the patter between
tracks (a good idea) the set is somewhat less interesting that it's visually
enhanced brother. Special guest Jimmy Dawkins checks in on the title track
to heat up the atmosphere. But guitarist Lurrie Bell had things pretty warm
before that, and Billy Branch's harp work is a treat. Tail Dragger shouts
(annunciation is not among his strengths) through a set of originals that
match his Howlin Wolfish approach to the blues. (JC)
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| SISTER ROSETTA THARPE |
Fremeaux 1304 |
Complete, Vol. 4 : 1951-1953 |
● CD $25.98 |
The latest double set reissue in this indispensable series
devoted to this great gospel artist. Although there's not a lot of her great
guitar playing the set has lots of terrific performances including sides
with the female quartet The Rosette Gospel Singers, the Southwinds male
quartet, her long time musical associate Marie Knight, The Anita Kerr
Singers and a duet with country star Red Foley on Have A Little Talk With
Jesus. It also also includes the records that were issued of Sister
Rosetta's public marriage ceremony to her road manager Russell Morrison held
at the Griffith Stadium in Washington in front of 22,000 people. The
marriage was officiated by the famous radio preacher Rev. Samuel Kelsey and
includes performances by Vivian Cooper, The Sunset Harmonizers, The
Harmonizing Four Of Richmond and Sister Rosetta herself.
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| EDDIE
"CLEANHEAD" VINSON/ JIM WYNN |
JSP JSPCD 7760 |
Honk For Texas |
● CD $28.98 |
This four CD set from JSP is devoted to the work of two sax
players born in Texas but based on the West Coast. the first two and a half
CDs presents all the recordings made between 1942 and 1952 by alto sax
player and distinctive blues shouter Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The rest is
devoted to Jim Wynn - a fine tenor player who is not as well known as Vinson
but appeared on dozens of sessions in the 40s and 50s. The recordings here
are those issued under his own name and recorded between 1945 and 1954 with
various groups and a range of vocalists including Claude Trenier, Pee Wee
Wiley, Robert "Snake" Sims and others.
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| MUDDY WATERS |
Proper BOX 102 |
King Of Chicago Blues |
● CD $24.98 |
Four CD set with 97 tracks featuring at least one take of
every track recorded under his own name between 1941 and 1955 plus his
Library Of Congress sides with The Son Simms Four and his Columbia sides
backing Homer Harris and James "Beale Street" Clark. If you don't already
have these sides this is utterly essential listening with excellent sound
and 44 page illustrated booklet with detailed notes and discographical info.
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| CEDRIC WATSON &
COREY LEDET |
Valcour 001 |
Goin' Down To Louisiana |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 42 mins, essential
Creole music lives! Here are
two young musicians who are recapturing the sound of traditional Zydeco
music before the days of larger groups with electric guitar and bass. Watson
is a brilliant fiddler who was influenced by the great Canray Fontenot and
Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet does a remarkable job of channeling Clifton
Chenier.
They are occasionally joined by rubboard and on a couple of tracks by bass
and drums but throughout the music is powerful and utterly compelling with
superb vocals. Their material is strongly dominated by material from
Clifton Chenier, John Delafose, Canray Fontenot and other past legends but
the duo gives the material their own twist. This disc is a treat from
beginning to end. (FS)
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