NEWSLETTER #143
Blues & Gospel
Barrelhouse Chuck
->
Albert King
| PENGUIN GUIDE TO
BLUES RECORDS by Tony Russell &
Chris Smith with Others |
● BOOK $29.95 |
923 tracks, paperback, essential
Counts as 14 CDs for shipping
Due end of month. The most comprehensive guide yet to available blues
recordings compiled by two of Britain's leading blues scholars Tony Russell
& Chris Smith with the assistance of Neil Slaven, Ricky Russell and Joe
Faulkner. More than 1000 blues artists are covered with brief biographies,
reviews of their releases with personnel, dates and a critical evaluation
from one star (negligible) to a crown for a truly exceptional release. There
is also an extensive section of hundreds of compilations organized by style
or region. Altogether, more than 6,000 blues CDs are covered - and almost
all of them are available from Roots & Rhythm - except for those that may
have gone out of print since this book went to the printer. There is also an
extensive and invaluable index to all performers mentioned in the text. Even
if you don't plan on buying any blues CDs the breadth of the information
presented almost puts this book into the realm of an encyclopedia. I don't
necessarily agree with all the reviews I have looked at but I am impressed
with the even handedness which the authors bring to the table - most of them
have been listening to and studying the blues for more than 40 years and
know the music inside out. This is not a hastily thrown together production
- the authors have been working on this project for years and their
diligence is evident throughout. It's possibly a little overwhelming for the
beginning collector but for those who have some knowledge of the music it
will be indispensable. (FS)
|
| R. CRUMB'S Heroes Of Blues, Jazz &
Country by R. Crumb |
● BOOK $18.95 |
Back in the 80s R. Crumb created a series of, now highly
collectable, trading cards featuring his unique full color illustrations of
blues, jazz and old time country musicians with biographies on the back.
This handsome 240 page hardbound book reproduces these cards in 5"x 7"
pages along with the biographies opposite the photo. This book includes an
introduction by Crumb's friend and former musical associate Terry Zwigoff
and includes a 21 track CD with music from the Yazoo catalog by some of the
artists illustrated. Counts as five CDs for shipping.
|
| A SHOT IN THE DARK
Making Records In Nashville, 1945-1955
by Martin Hawkins |
● BOOK $65.00 |
Gorgeous new book on the independent recording scene in
Nashville in the years prior to it becoming the "country musical capital of
the world" (and all that implies). A large (11" wide x 9" high), 318 page
page, hardbound book it discusses all the independent labels, large and
small and their many artists and is copiously illustrated with hundreds of
photos and label shots - many previously unpublished. The music discussed
includes black music (blues, R&B and gospel) and white music (country and
dance bands) and is the result of some 30 years of research by author
Hawkins. An appendix lists all releases on the labels active during this
period and the set comes with a 20 track CD of rare recordings from this
period by Cecil Gant, The John Daniel Quartet, The Fairfield Four, Don Q &
His Orchestra, Big Jeff & The Rdio Playboys, Jimmy Sweeney, Wally Fowler &
His Oak Ridge Quartet, Randy Hughes, Lucile Barbee and others.
|
| DAVID
"HONEYBOY" EDWARDS |
Free Range Pictures 01 |
Honeyboy |
● DVD $18.98 |
Fascinating 82 minute documentary on the life and music of
David "Honeyboy" Edwards - one of the last living exponents of the
traditional Mississippi Delta blues style. Mostly told in the words of
Honeyboy himself who is an interesting and articulate narrator, with
comments from B.B. King, Bruce Iglauer and others and copiously illustrated
with music by Honeyboy himself as well as contributions from Willie Foster
and Waymon Meeks.
|
| JOE "GUITAR"
HUGHES |
Aditi 82800 |
The Swingmaster Tapes, Vol. 2 - Texas
Bluesman |
● DVD $25.98 |
Fine 48 minute set filmed live in The Netherlands in 1988.
Joe is accompanied by tough small group with Teddy Reynolds on piano and
Michael Johnson on second guitar. Joe performs a mix of originals and
covers including Hideaway/ If Your Want To See The Blues/ Stuff Like
That/ Joe Hughes Blues/ The Things That I Used To Do and comes over as
an entertaining and engaging performer. Not a great original but a better
than average journeyman and well worth checking out.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Eagle Eye 39127 |
Carlos Santana Presents Blues At Montreux,
2004 |
● DVD $22.98 |
Three DVD set featuring three fine singers and blues
guitarists - Buddy Guy, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and the relatively
obscure D.C. bluesman Bobby Parker. Each is introduced by Carlos and does a
set of their own and are joined by Sanatna for their last few numbers. Other
guests appear including Nile Rodgers and Barbara Morrison. A total of almost
four hours of music.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Warner 67676 |
Hallelujah |
● DVD $19.98 |
DVD, 1 hour 40, highly recommended
Director King Vidor ("The
Big Parade") made "Hallelujah" in 1929, featuring the first all-black cast
in a major studio release and one of the early talkies. Worth seeing not so
much for the Dixie Jubilee Singers or Victoria Spivey (playing Missy Rose,
the long-suffering girl back home), but for Daniel L. Haynes' portrayal of
Zeke, which includes a preacher bit that borrows more than a little from
Rev. A.W. Nix's Black Diamond Express Train To Hell (a popular sermon
on 78 rpm from 1928) and especially for Nina Mae McKinney's portrayal of
Chick, the slick city girl who stays that way. But as interesting as this
movie is, the special features make it irresistible. Not only does a musical
short feature the Nicholas Brothers, but "Pie, Pie Blackbird" includes a
lively performance by a young Eubie Blake and McKinney. The other Vitaphone
short, "The Black Network," also displays the admirable talents of Ms.
McKinney. More than just historically important. (JC)
|
| PHILLIP WALKER |
Aditi 82801 |
The Swingmaster Tapes, Vol. 2 - Tough Blues |
● DVD $25.98 |
58 minute concert by this fine Louisiana bluesman filmed in
The Netherlands in 1990. Phillip has an excellent group with him including
Hollis Gilmore on sax and Teddy Reynolds on piano and does some of his most
well known songs - Someday You'll have These Blues/ Go Ahead And Take
Her/ Tin Pan Alley/ Hello Central and others. performances are fine and
video quality is excellent though sound is a bit thin and muffled.
|
| CLASSIC
BLUES ARTWORK FROM THE 1920S
2007 Calendar |
Blues Images 207 |
● CALENDAR
$16.98 |
 Get ready for 2007 with the fourth of what is promised to
be a series of 15 calendars using images discovered by collector John
Tefteller. These are drawn from a cache of original artwork for
advertisements printed in African-American newspapers in the late 20s and
early 30s by the Paramount Record Company advertising their latest blues
releases. This one features ads for records by Victoria Spivey (not a
Paramount but a great image), Charley Patton, Ida Cox, The Beale Street
Sheiks, Bumble Bee Slim, Ma Rainey and other. The calendar also includes
sample song lyrics, brief biographies and birth and death dates for many
blues artists. As if that wasn't enough the calendar comes with a bonus CD
with 14 tracks - all 12 of the advertised releases plus four bonus sides
including both sides of the recently unearthed fourth Paramount by Son
House that was recently reissued by Yazoo and in the introduction to the
calendar Tefteller reveals some more information about the source of this
incredible and wonderful rarity. Also included are full color inserts to
enable you to make your own Classic Blues Artwork CD with a jewel case
(jewel case not included)
Since these would make such a great gift if you
buy five or more calendars you can get them for $14.98 each! Calendar/ CD
set counts as four CDs for shipping purposes.
|
| BARRELHOUSE CHUCK |
The Sirens 5014 |
And The All-Star Blues Band: Got My Eyes On
Me |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 49 mins, essential It's almost impossible to
imagine (or find) modern blues this good in a time when the art form has
been all but forgotten by the dwindling cast who play the music with its
dynamic beauty still intact, but tossing Barrelhouse Chuck in a recording
studio with Kim Wilson, Joel Foy, Eddie Taylor Jr., Calvin Jones, and Willie
"Big Eyes" Smith was nothing short of brilliant on the part of producer
Steven Dolins. Although the CD bears Chuck's name as the featured artist, he
is a gifted accompanist and sideman first and foremost - one who knows what
subtlety brings - and he plays brilliantly here with Wilson's harp, the
buzzing guitars, and drilling rhythm section as much to the fore as
Goering's wonderfully traditional keyboard work and vocals. Whether covering
Floyd Jones, Detroit Junior, Sunnyland Slim, Big Moose Walker, Big Smokey
Smothers, Eddie Taylor, and Muddy Waters among others, this gathering
delivers one of best blues discs of 2006 without question. Essential,
smoldering, and lowdown! (CR)
|
| D.C. BELLAMY |
Stackhouse 1913 |
Give Some Body To Somebody |
● CD $15.98 |
Second album from singer/ guitarist originally from Chicago
but currently based in the Kansas City area. Accompanied by his tough band
he performs a mix of originals and songs from the repertoire Bobby Bland,
J.B. Lenoir and others.
|
| ALBERT COLLINS |
Blue City 1310 |
The Cool Sound Of Albert Collins |
● CD $17.98 |
23 tracks, 59 mins, essential
This is an outstanding
collection of the coolest of the cool (that's Ice Cold!) early recordings
from the "Master Of The Telecaster" Albert Collins. Being one of my all time
favorite electric blues players, his recordings from the 1950s and 1960s
have always been an exceptional thrill for me. This CD starts off with all
of the tracks from Collins' highly regarded and sought after debut full
length album from 1965 on TCF Hall, provides the flip side of Snow Cone
single from that album (Snow Cone - pt. 2) and then rounds up most of
his obscure and excellent singles work from the late '50 to the mid '60s.
Tracks from Kangaroo, 20th Fox, and Great Scott labels are all represented.
As well as some, but not all from his Hallway records singles. Bare bones
production value as usual from Blue City records, but superb sound quality
throughout. (JM)
|
|
KATHERINE DAVIS & THE CHICAGO BLUES ENSEMBLE |
The Sirens 5013 |
Rock This House - Live! |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 67 mins, excellent
With a voice as large as
Chicago's big shoulders, Katherine Davis debuts on The Sirens label with a
live performance from January of 2006 recorded at Chicago's Old Town School
of Music backed by a respected cast including Erwin Helfer on piano, Lurrie
Bell handling guitar, sax from John Brumbauch and Willie Henderson, with
John Whitfield's bass and Kenny Smith's drums comprising the rhythm section.
Bell's guitar work is nicely restrained and it's great to hear him sounding
this good while Helfer's piano commands as much attention as Davis' belting
voice. Romance In The Dark/ Going Fishing/ Rock This House/ Make Me A
Pallet/ You Got To Know How, and more. (CR)
|
| JOE DOUCET |
Dialtone 0015 |
Houston's Third Ward Blues |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, 50 mins, recommended
Fine collection of down home
electric blues plus some swamp pop and zydeco from Louisiana born Texas
singer/ guitarist Doucet. Doucet was active in the 50s and 60s but quite
music when tastes changed but re-emerged in 2005 playing as sideman on
several Dialtone sessions and eventually recording this, his first solo
album. He is accompanied by a solid down home band with Earl Gilliam on
piano and organ and the splendid O.S. Grant on tenor sax. Doucet is a fine
singer and an effective and funky guitar player and performs a mix of mostly
covers (some credited to Doucet) along with a few originals. His covers are
given an original twist - his version of the swamp pop classic is partly
sung in French and Frankie Lee Sims' Walkin' With Frankie becomes a
zydeco romp though without accordion or rubboard. Other songs include Got
You On My Mind 9an original song - not the blues standard)/ Hey Leo/
Bad Luck (a fine acoustic version of Lonesome Sundown's My Home Is A
Prison)/ If You Love Me Like You Say/ Bird Without A Feather
(Lonesome Sundown again - this time his Lost Without Love)/ Back
At The Chicken Shack and more. A most enjoyable set. (FS)
|
| H-BOMB FERGUSON |
Rev-Ola CRBAND 4 |
Big City Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
31 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
Oh no! Rev-Ola's got
the H-Bomb!
Ferguson, that is. Robert Percell "H-Bomb" Ferguson was one of
the more extrovert blues singers of the early 50s with a style very strongly
influenced by the great Wynonie Harris and this splendid CD features almost
his entire recorded output cut between 1951 and 1954 including several not
originally issued Most of the tracks were recorded in New York with top
session musicians like Charlie Singleton, John Greer, Mickey Baker, Jack
"The Bear" Parker, Lowell "Count" Hastings and others. A strong selection of
up tempo rockers and gravelly blues including a duet with Varetta Dillard on
Tortured Love. There is a bonus track by Dillard Double Crossin'
Daddy which may have Ferguson adding spoken comments. About two-thirds
of the tracks were issued a year or so back on the Big Bang label but sound
quality here is better as is presentation with booklet with lots of photos
and detailed notes by Dave Penny. One caveat - track order is not the same
as listed so you'll have to figure out which track is which! (FS)
VARETTA DILLARD: Double Crossin' Daddy (with H-bomb
Ferguson)/ H-BOMB FERGUSON: Baby Don't Go/ Baby Please (alt. Of "she's Been
Gone")/ Big City Blues/ Bookie's Blues/ Feel Like I Do/ Give It Up/ Good
Lovin'/ Good Time Gal/ Hard Lovin' Woman/ Hole In The Wall/ Hot Kisses/ I
Love My Baby/ I Need You Baby/ Josephine/ Life Is Hard/ My Baby's Blues/ My
Brown Frame Baby/ My Love/ New Way Blues/ Nobody Knows/ On My Way/ Preachin'
The Blues/ Rock H-bomb Rock/ She's Been Gone/ Slowly Goin' Crazy/ Sundown
Blues/ Tortured Love/ Wine Head/ Work For My Baby/ You Made Me Baby
|
| REV. C.L. FRANKLIN |
Fuel 200 61460 |
Satan Goes To A Prayer Meeting |
● CD $11.98 |
4 tracks, 40 min., recommended
Franklin had already secured
his place in history before his three daughters (Carolym, Erma, Aretha)
proved to be world class soul singers. In fact, Chess Records issued 58 LPs
of the good reverend's sermons, probably more than his three daughters'
recorded output combined. This release comes with three songs featuring
Franklin, the best of which is Glad, Glad, So Glad, to pad out the CD
a bit, but really it's the sermon that matters. Franklin's style is at once
scholarly and "of the people"; he never condescends nor does he attempt to
impress his audience by talking over their heads. Everything is calculated
to bring his message (God's message, Franklin would surely be quick to add)
to his congregation. And so he does, and in no uncertain terms. Naming his
text as Matthew 4:1, he begins with the idea that "Satan is real" and ends
with the thought that "Even Satan must serve God." As he nears his
conclusion, his sermon reaches its crescendo. At one point near the end he
cannot resist walking among the parishioners, driving them into a controlled
frenzy. At the moment the sermon ends, a song, I Will Trust In The Lord,
begins. They didn't call him "The Man with the Golden Voice" for nothing.
Notes, all one page of them, by Bill Dahl; budget packaging courtesy of
Fuel. (JC)
|
| CECIL GANT |
Blue Moon 6051 |
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 6: 1948-1950 |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 51 mins, recommended
The sixth and penultimate
volume devoted to this distinctive, very popular and versatile singer and
piano player whose repertoire ranged from maudlin ballads to solid blues to
jazzy items to rocking boogies and all these facets are represented here.
The first 10 tracks are from 1948 session where he is accompanied by
vibraphone and string bass plus famed trumpet player Wingy Manone on five of
the tracks. Highlight of this session is probably the tough blues with
spoken intro LOng Distance. The next two track session from 1949
couples the hot instrumental Rock The Boogie with the bluesy ballad
I'll Go On Loving You. On the next four track session recorded in Los
Angeles in 1949 finds him with a small group including the superb guitarist
Tiny Webb and is mostly blues ballads including the splendid Baby I'm
Losing You with tough guitar from Webb. The final session here was
recorded in New Orleans in 1950 with a bigger group with a couple of horns
and includes one of his most exciting numbers - the romping When You Left
Me Baby as well as the odd Come Home which is a variation on
Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey. There are probably more ballads than
most blues fans will be keen on but this is, nevertheless, an important
addition to this invaluable series. (FS)
|
| CECIL GANT |
Blue Moon 6052 |
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 7: 1950-1951
Plus |
● CD $15.98 |
23 tracks, recommended
The seventh and final volume of
Cecil's work features his last four sessions, all recorded for Decca Between
July 1950 and February 1951. It contains the usual mix of blues, boogies and
sentimental ballads. Two of the up-tempo numbers We're Gonna Rock and
Rock Little Baby both contain the phrase "rock & roll" - one of
earlier uses of that important phrase. Cecil is accompanied by small groups
often including famed guitarist Grady Martin. It also includes the recently
unearthed recording of Paging Mr. Jackson by country singer Red Foley
with vocal comments by Cecil. There are four bonus cuts - two of them
previously unissued Gilt Edge recordings from his earliest sessions - one of
them an alternate take of the ballad I'll Remember You and the other
a storming version of Roll 'Em Pete. The other two bonus tracks was
Decca's 1957 updating of two of Cecil's first recordings I Wonder and
Cecil's Boogie by overdubbing guitar, bass & drum which is handled
very tastefully and is intriguing that more than five years after his death
Cecil was still popular enough to warrant such a move. (FS)
|
| THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET |
Columbia (France) 491245-2 |
The Golden Gate Quartet |
● CD $12.98 |
13 tracks, 36 minutes, recommended
Premier Gospel group
captured near the peak of their powers. Columbia / Sony seem to be digging
through their vaults and issuing these simple, but effective CDs. This
features some of the finest Gospel Vocal group recordings of the 1940's and
1950's, but the label could have easily done a lot nicer job: there are no
liner notes, only one picture of the band, but the music is staggering and
sounds as beautiful as ever on this collection. IncludesJoshua Fit De
Battle Of Jericho/ Blind barnabus/ Handwriting On The Wall/ Swing Down
Chariot/ Hush!/ My Time Done Come, etc. (JM)
THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET: Blind Barnabus/ Bones, Bones,
Bones/ Didn‘t It Rain?/ God Told Nicodemus/ Handwriting On The Wall/ Hold
The Wind/ Hush!/ Jezebel/ Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jerico/ Listen To The
Lambs/ My Time Done Come/ Shadrack/ Swing Down, Chariot
|
| GUITAR SHORTY |
Shout Factory 10062 |
The Long And Short Of It - The Best Of
Guitar Shorty |
● CD $13.98 |
Retrospective of this high energy singer and guitar recorded
between 1991 and 2001 drawn from his three albums on Black Top plus his
albums on JSP and Evidence. 14 tracks includes Go Wild!/ I Want To
Report/ Hard Life/ Maybe She'll Miss Me/ The Bottom Line/ I Wonder Who's
Sleeping In My Bed/ Mean Husband Blues and others including his version
of Hey Joe recorded as a tribute to his old friend Jimi hendrix
(Shorty taught Hendrix how to play with his teeth and married Hendrix's
stepsister).
|
| BUDDY GUY |
Silvertone 81967 |
Can't Quit The Blues |
● CD $48.98 |
Three CD/ One DVD retrospective of Buddy's career. The first
disc covers his recordings from the 50s through the 80s for Ace, Artistic,
Chess, Vanguard, JSP, etc while the other two disc feature recordings made
for Silvertone from 1991 on including several previously unissued. Includes
DVD with 75 minute documentary featuring a 2006 interview plus rare and
previously unseen performance footage. It also includses six full
performances from his performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival beginning
in 1974. Set comes with 48 booklet with notes and rare photos.
|
| JOHN HAMMOND |
Dynamic 33 |
Live In Greece |
● CD $17.98 |
Hammond performing solo in Greece in February, 1983, 11
songs including Honest I Do/ No Money Down/ Spoonful/ You Can't Judge By
Looking At The Cover/ Tell Me Mama/ Who Do You Love, etc.
|
| WILBERT HARRISON |
Jamie/ Guyden 4025 |
Let's Work Together |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, highly recommended
What a delight! This is
Wilbert's great 1969 Sue album newly remixed and remastered from original
3-track master tapes by Tom Moulton under the supervision of original
producer Juggy Murray shortly before his death in 2005. Wilbert Harrison was
one of a kind with his distinctive vocal style and approach to songs which
seemed to change from session to session. For this album Wilbert played
guitar, harmonica, piano and drums with "Thunder Thumb" on bass. The
wonderfully catchy title song which was a reworking of his 1961 recording
Let's Stick Together became something of a hippy anthem after being
covered by Canned Heat. There's a remake of his biggest hit Kansas City,
some great R&B covers like Louie Louie/ Blue Monday and a great
version of Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me To Do (here called
Peepin' & Hidin') where he duets with the superb soul singer Tina Britt.
It also includes some typical Harrison oddities like Tropical Shakedown
and Soul Rattler. There are three bonus alternate takes which don't
add a whole lot but are nice to have. The new remix is a revelation with a
clarity and presence that blows away all previous reissues. Includes four
page booklet with notes which are mostly about Murray, but definitely of
interest. (FS)
|
| WILLIE HEADEN |
Ace CDCHD 1118 |
Blame It On The Blues |
● CD $18.98 |
Fine and varied collection of 28 sides recorded by West
Coast vocalist Willie Headen for Dootsie Williams' Dooto and Authentic
labels between 1954 and 1957. Headen was an excellent vocalist whose
material ranges from straight blues, to jazz stylings to gospel flavored
doo-wop (he started his career as a gospel singer in Kansas City). He is
accompanied by excellent small groups - most of the musicians are unknown
but apparently Memphis Slim plays piano on the superb slow blues Peace Of
Mind. This CD reissues Willie's rare 1960 LP with 16 bonus cuts
including unissued songs and alternate takes. Includes 16 page booklet with
deatiled notes by Jim Dawson.
|
| THE HOKUM BOYS &
BANJO JOE |
Black Swan 36 |
Ain't Goin' That Way |
● CD $14.98 |
20 tracks, 59 mins, highly recommended
The first recordings
issued under the name Hokum Boys are actually by Tampa Red and Georgia Tom
who are featured here on Selling That Stuff. The other 12 tracks here
by the Hokum Boys focuses on the later, largely double-entendre recordings
by the group which featured at various sessions Alex Robinson, Dan Roberts,
Alex Hill, Bob Robinson, Jimmy Blythe, and Banjo Ikey Robinson. The
instrumental work is fine but the thematic similarity of the material and
the flat vocal delivery makes for rather dull listening. The best tracks by
them are when they break away from the formula for more straight ahead blues
like Hokum Blues or their variation on "St James Infirmary" called
Gambler's Blues. This also features the first tracks recorded by Gus
Cannon for Paramount. These five songs (also on Document 5032), recorded
under the name of Banjo Joe with guitar accompaniment by Blind Blake are
delightful performances in the minstrel and ragtime tradition including the
intriguing Can You Blame The Colored Man and a couple which he
reworked later with his jug band Cannon's Jug Stompers. It also includes his
remarkable version of the early blues Poor Boy with Gus playing
bottleneck banjo - a truly incredible performance! The set is rounded out
with a track from the Banjo Joe session with Blind Blake taking a vocal on
he's In the Jailhouse Now with Gus accompanying on banjo. (FS)
|
| THE HOLLYWOOD BLUE
FLAMES |
Delta Groove 107 |
Road To Rio |
● CD $17.98 |
2 Cds, 27 tracks, 117 mins, highly recommended
Disc one
makes up the "Road To Rio" portion of this 2-CD set gathering Big Al Blake,
Fred Kaplan, Larry Taylor, and Richard Innes (four-fifths of the original
Hollywood Fats Band) with Kirk "Eli" Fletcher providing guitar for the
Flames' sophomore outing for Delta Groove. From driving shuffles (Everybody's
Blues/ Sharpest Man In Town/ Gone Away) to in-the-alley blues, (Coffee
Grindin' Man/ Black Chili Pepper) The Hollywood Blue Flames dish out
solid originals and nicely-chosen covers - Junior Watson guests. Vintage
'live' material from The Hollywood Fats Band makes up the second disc and
it's a blessing to have. Fats was a guitar wunderkind and the 1979-80
recordings here feature the original band as well as them backing Eddie
"Cleanhead" Vinson (Cleanhead Blues/ Kidney Stew) and Roy Brown (Love
For Sale/ Boogie Woogie Blues) on four tracks. Although the sound
quality is less-than-pristine on disc two (these are vintage club
recordings), the sonics aren't at all distracting and hold up well. Two
killer guitar instrumentals (Fats Fries One/ Sidetracked) plus
Rockinitis/ This Little Voice/ Baby Let's Play House, and more. (CR)
|
| JOHN LEE HOOKER |
Shout Factory 10198 |
Hooker |
● CD $58.98 |
Though there are a couple of box sets devoted to John Lee's
early recordings this is the first to cover his entire career. This four CD
set with 84 tracks opens with his first recording of his signature song
Boogie Chillen recorded in 1948 and ends 40 years later with his
recording of the same song in 1998 for his album "Best Of Friends" where he
is joined by Eric Clapton. The first disc is primarily devoted to his Modern
recordings from 1948 through 1954. The second disc features hi Vee-Jay
recordings plus sides recorded for Riverside, Fortune, Atco, Savoy and other
labels and covers the period 1956 through 1964. The third disc covers 1966
through 1986 and includes recordings made in Europe as a part of the
American Folk Blues Festival, recordings made for Chess and Bluesway, his
collaboration with Canned Heat in 1971 which gave him wider exposure to a
white audience than he had previously and more and the final disc covers
1989 through 1998 and includes many collaborations with the likes of Robert
Cray, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, John Hammond, Charles Brown and others.
The set comes in a 6x12" box with 60 page booklet with notes, photos and
full discographical data.
|
| IVORY JOE HUNTER |
Acrobat 4208 |
Jukebox Hits 1945 - 1950 |
● CD $13.98 |
20 tracks. Five years worth of American Jukebox / Harlem Hit
parade magic from the one and only Ivory Joe Hunter. Twenty silky smooth
cuts like Jealous Heart/ Blues At Sunrise/ I Like It and Bad Luck
Blues. Of course this is all outsatnding material, just the hits though,
no obscurites here, but still pretty essential stuff.
|
| BULLMOOSE JACKSON |
Proper Intro 2035 |
A proper Introduction To Bullmoose Jackson |
● CD $9.98 |
26 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Though a lot of
labels have been putting old Bull Moose out lately, Proper offers an
attractive package and a solid assortment of his best and most infamous
tracks. The two Classics CDs cover most of this material, but this release
gives you the career retrospective in one meaty volume. You get the best of
his slow blues numbers and his wildest R&B jumpers. (JM)
|
| MAHALIA JACKSON |
Fabulous 164 |
Queen Of Gospel |
● CD $7.98 |
16 tracks, 51 mins, recommended
This is a nice little
overview of some of the most famous sides by the "Queen Of Gospel," Mahalia
Jackson. All tracks are from Apollo sessions cut during the late 1940s -
early 1950's. Many classics like Move On Up a Little Higher" Parts 1 + 2/
In The Upper Room/ His Eye Is On The Sparrow, and I'm Getting Nearer
My Home. All of these simple, elegant recordings can still stir the soul
and please the ear. Modest notes and packaging leave it crying out for a
more complete career retrospective, but this is a nice start. (JM)
|
| MAHALIA JACKSON |
Proper BOX 106 |
Come To Jesus |
● CD $24.98 |
Four CD, 87 track retrospective of one of the greatest of
all gospel singers. It includes her earliest four sides for DEcca in 1937,
most of her Apollo recordings cut between 1946 and 1954 and some of her
early Columbia recordings in 1954 and '55. Most of the tracks find her in
the company of her long time accompanist Mildred Falls on piano with various
additional accompaniments. Includes 44 page illustrated booklet with
detailed notes, photos, label shots and discographical information.
|
| MITCH KASHMAR |
Delta Groove 109 |
Wake And Worry |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 48 mins, recommended
"Wake Up & Worry" is the
second Delta Groove waxing for Mitch Kashmar following 2005's well-received
"Nickels & Dimes" and again displays the artist's variety of approaches as
an accomplished harp player, singer, and songwriter. Like its predecessor,
it's mostly a blues outing with covers including Little Walter's Dead
Presidents and Up The Line with a mix of potent originals that
run the gamut from rhumbas (Green Bananas), to jazz-infused
instrumentals (Funky Dee) and stomping Chicago blues and boogie (Night
Creeper/ You Dogged Me/ The Waddle) with a few other stops along the
way. While he may remind some of the late William Clarke from both a vocal
and instrumental standpoint, Kashmar is solidly in his own territory without
being a slave to imitation, no matter who may have preceded him. Junior
Watson, Rusty Zinn, Rick Reed, Richard Innes, Fred Kaplan and others
support. (CR)
|
| BISHOP SAMUEL KELSEY |
American Odeon 200001 |
And The Congregation Of The Temple Church Of
God In Chr |
● CD $15.98 |
8 tracks, 48 min., recommended
Recorded on June 20, 1965,
with the Congregation of The Temple Church of God In Christ, Washington,
D.C., during a live church service when Kelsey was 68 years old. (Originally
issued in Europe as an LP with fewer than 1000 copies pressed, most of the
run was quickly withdrawn from circulation and presumably destroyed.) So
while listeners shouldn't expect finely crafted songs that clock in at 2:50,
they should brace themselves for some joyous singing and fiery preaching
that will warm the blood and set the hands to clapping. Some cuts (I'm So
Glad Jesus Lifted Me, Write My Name Above) are uptempo
powerhouses, and others (How Did You Feel, When You Come Out Of The
Wilderness) smolder slowly before igniting, until finally the entire
church is fully engulfed and the lead vocals are all but lost in a jubilant
cacophony of slapping hands and praise-the-lords. Get a seat up front.
(Informative booklet notes from Opal Louis Nations.) (JC)
|
| DAVID KIMBROUGH JR. |
B.C. Records 1435 |
Shell Shocked |
● CD $15.98 |
Junior Kimbrough's son David recorded this album last year,
shortly after leaving Parchman Prison on a cocaine charge. He is joined by
R.L. Burnside's son Duwayne and his band The Missississippi Mafia. David's
music is based on his father's insistent North Mississippi blues grooves and
adds some more contemporary elements to it including all original songs -
several dealing with the events that led to his incarceration and the
changes in his life.
|
| ALBERT KING/ OTIS RUSH |
Chess (UK) 9322 |
Door To Door |
● CD $11.98 |
14 tracks, 40 mins, highly recommended
Another classic Chess
blues album that is now deleted in the U.S.A. but still available in Europe.
This is a reissue of Chess LP 1538 - great album featuring two of the
premier exponents of modern blues guitar. There are six superb sides by Rush
from 1960 including the magnificent So Many Roads, So Many Trains
which is one of his greatest ever performances with a mind-bending
string-bending guitar solo and two tracks not originally released including
a remake of his Cobra classic All Your Love. The 8 cuts by Albert
were recorded for Parrot in 1953 and Bobbin in 1961 with only two of the
Parrot sides being originally issued - all are superb and it's interesting
to see the development in Albert's style between his early and later
sessions. It includes reproduction of original LP liner notes plus new notes
by Don Snowdemn and full discographical info. (FS)
|
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