NEWSLETTER #143
Blues & Gospel
Doug MacLeod - >
Jimmy Witherspoon
| DOUG MACLEOD |
Black & Tan 026 |
Where I Been |
● CD $16.98 |
12 tracks, 52 mins, recommended
Renowned modern bluesman
Doug Macleod hips us to a new batch of tunes in a world of magic, Hell and
turkey-legged women. I'll have to admit that Doug Macleod is an artist that
has only been on my radar through scattered appearances on compilations, but
I did come out impressed by the depth of his songwriting and the charm of
his exceptional guitar work. (JM)
|
| JAY MCSHANN |
Acrobat 126 |
Kansas City Blues |
● CD $9.98 |
22 tracks, highly recommended
A fine collection featuring
the great jazz pianist and bandleader in a blue mood leading small groups
and mostly accompanying blues singers like Julia Lee, Jimmy Witherspoon, Numa Lee Davis, Crown Prince Waterford and maxine Reed as well as some
bluesy and boogie instrumentals. Session musicians include Tommy Douglas,
Walter Page, Eddie Gregory (later Sahib Shibab), Al "Cake" Wichard, Jesse
Price, Tiny Webb and others. A complete delight. (FS)
|
| MEMPHIS SLIM |
Candid 79023 |
Memphis Slim's Tribute To Big Bill Broonzy &
Others |
● CD $11.98 |
Back in print. CD issue of LP originally issued in 1961.
Slim pays homage to some of the great artists who influenced him or were his
contemporaries with a selection of songs and tunes from the repertoire of
Big Bill Broonzy, Leroy Carr, Cow Cow Davenport, Curtis Jones and Jazz
Gillum. He is joined on guitar and harmonica by Arbee Stidham and Jazz
Gillum respectively with Stidham taking two vocals and Gillum one.
|
| JAMES NIXON |
Black Magic 9045 |
No End To The Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
14 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
Now available at a
lower price. Fine set of contemporary blues from Nashville singer/ guitarist
Nixon with a good band produced by the versatile Fred James who also plays
guitar and conga drums on the session. Though Nixon has been around for a
while and has recorded singles and a couple of gospel albums but this is his
debut album as a solo blues performer. Nixon is a superb singer with an
expressive intimate style and plays some fine understated lead guitar. He
also wrote or co-wrote all the songs here and they are good ones too. (FS)
|
| JOHNNY OTIS |
Classics 5162 |
The Chronological Johnny Otis, 1951 |
● CD $14.98 |
24 tracks, 70 mins, highly recommended
This installment of
the chronological series captures the magic year of 1951. Johnny Otis was
certainly a massively important bandleader in his day and his day lasted a
couple of decades; he's practically just getting started in 1951. This is
chock full of great tracks with the full Johnny Otis orchestra. Mel Walker,
Redd Lyte and the Barreleers provide the vocals on the first 8 tracks, Linda
Hopkins gets the microphone duties with Mel Walker for the next 8, then Mel
Walker takes the lead by himself for the remaining 8 tracks. There's no real
down and dirty blues on these tunes, just lots of smooth jump blues and
swing with vibes. The one word that I would sum up these sessions in would
be Classy. (JM)
JOHNNY OTIS: All Night Long/ Because I Love My Baby So/
Chittlin' Switch/ Doggin' Blues/ Feel Like Cryin' Again/ Fool's Gold/ Gee
Baby/ Gonna Take The A Train/ Hand Me Down Blues (Walk My Blues Away)/
Heartache Here I Come/ Help Me Blues/ Hold Me Close/ Honky Tonk Boogie/ I'll
Ask My Heart/ It Ain't The Beauty/ It Can Never Happen Again/ Just Another
Flame/ Living And Loving You/ Mambo Boogie/ New Love/ Three Magic Words/
Turn The Lghts Down Low/ Warning Blues/ Where's My Baby
|
| LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER |
Classics 5167 |
The Chronological Little Junior Parker,
1952-1955 |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
This collects all of
the earliest recordings by this fantastic, albeit often under-rated blues
genius. This is the first installment with tracks that cover his first three
years, probably his best years and easily his most famous recordings. It
starts with his two cuts put out by Modern, with Ike Turner and other
notables on the session. You stop by Kent records for the dynamic "Love Me
Baby" with Bobby Bland. After that you dive right into the legendary Sun
tracks, including some tracks recorded, but not released until much later.
Finally, finishes with his Duke recordings up to February 1955, featuring
guitarists Pat Hare and Roy Gaines among the hot studio cats. Little Junior
Parker has long been a favorite of mine, possibly because of his huge
influence on early Memphis Rock `n' Roll and Rockabilly, but also for the
otherworldly, almost ghost-like quality some many of his early tracks had.
There's a lot of mojo workin' on this CD and it's a beautiful thing. (JM)
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
|
|
JACKIE PAYNE & THE STEVE EDMONSON BAND |
Delta Groove 110 |
Master Of The Game |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 51 mins, recommended
Although "Master Of The
Game" is only the second disc for the dynamic singer, Jackie Payne, and his
stirring guitarist Steve Edmonson, both names should be on the radar for
many blues listeners as Payne worked with Johnny Otis for over a decade
while Edmonson put in a handful of years with The Dynatones. Payne is as
solid and convincing as singers come proving easily that he handles blues as
well as deep soul or dyed-in-the-wool R&B just as surely as Edmonson's
guitar work cuts a wide swath. Whether it's a West Side Chicago edge on
Sweet Landlady, the broomdusting boogie of Woman In Kansas City,
the slow and gritty Wake Me Up In San Francisco, or Brook Benton's
gem I'll Take Care Of You, these partners work seamlessly with a
tight rhythm section and driving horns adding great support. Hats off to
Delta Groove for going above and beyond the call of duty in keeping our
blues alive. (CR)
|
| THE PHANTOM BLUES BAND |
Delta Groove 111 |
Out Of The Shadows |
● CD $15.98 |
15 tracks, 60 mins, excellent
While gaining recognition as a
solid backing unit behind Taj Mahal on a number of projects, the Phantom
Blues Band combines the talents of guitarist Denny Freeman and sax from Joe Sublett (both Texans with decades of work alone), Larry Fulcher's bass, and
Tony Braunagel on drums along with more able assistance from Johnny Lee
Schell (guitar), Mike Finnigan (keyboards) and Darrell Leonard (trumpet)
with vocals being evenly split between Fulcher, Finnigan, and Schell. Jon
Cleary and Taj Mahal (harp on I Only Have Love For You) guest. Leo
Nocentelli's Do The Dirt, Lowell Fulson's My Aching Back, Don
and Dewey's Big Boy Pete, Chuck Berry's Havana Moon, and Jimmy
McCracklin's Think headline the wide cross-section of well-done
covers. (CR)
|
| JIMMY REED |
Charly SNAJ 728 |
The Essential Boss Man |
● CD $27.98 |
3 CD set, 75 tracks, 3 hrs 25 mins, essential
The most
comprehensive available collection of the classic Vee-Jay recordings of
Jimmy Reed who was the most popular down home bluesman of the mid to late
50s and early 60s. His lazy voice, limited but effective harmonica playing
and hypnotic guitar beat have entranced generations of fans and fellow
musicians. Along with B.B. King, Reed is one of the most influential
bluesmen ever, and hit for hit, only King can beat him quantity-wise. His
early sides for Vee Jay are wonderful; full of the relaxed guitar work, harp
fills, and laid-back vocals that made him popular even among white
audiences. Much credit must go to longtime guitarist Eddie Taylor and Reed's
wife, Mary "Mama" Reed who whispered the lyrics into his ear. The selection
here, which comprises almost two-thirds of his entire Vee-Jay output, ranges
from his first session for Chance in June 1953 where he cut the superb
High & Lonesome, which subsequently became Vee-Jay's first ever release,
through to Knocking At My Door recorded in May 1966 and released on
the Exodus label after the collapse of Vee-Jay and was Jimmy's last hit. It
includes all his R&B hits including You Don't have To Go/ Ain't That
Lovin' You Baby/ I Love You Baby/ Honey Where's You Going/ Honest I Do/ I
Told You Baby/ baby What You Want Me To Do/ Hush Hush/ Big Boss Man and
all the rest along with fine lesser known titles like his great cover of
Billy Boy Arnold's I Ain't Got You, the wonderful instrumental
Odds & Ends with Jimmy's harmonica accentuated by the very effective
blues violin of Remo Biondi, the much covered Take Out Some Insurance
and others. In addition to his right hand man Eddie Taylor's, many of
Jimmie's records benefited from the spot on flexible drumming of Earl
Phillips. This set includes 24 page illustrated booklet with detailed notes
by Les Fancourt and full discographical details. (FS)
|
| OTIS RUSH |
Blues Express 5 |
Live ... And In Concert From San Francisco |
● CD $14.98 |
7 tracks, 53 mins, highly recommended
Otis Rush has had his
ups and downs over the years and right now his health is so precarious it's
unlikely he'll be performing again but this set recorded live in San
Francisco in 1999 when he was 65 shows that he still had the fire in his
belly. Accompanied by his Chicago band augmented by the Tower Of Power horn
section he turns in superb versions of songs from his fairly small
repertoire. Even though you've probably heard most of these songs by him
elsewhere (I Wonder Why/ It's My Own fault/ I can't Quit You baby/ Got My
Mojo Working, etc) they still sound fresh thanks to his aching, yearning
vocals and endlessly inventive guitar work. Although I'm not normally a big
fan of extended guitar solos Otis is an exception since they are so
exquisitly constructed with none of the excess baggage that drags down other
artists' work. This live set was also filmed and six of the songs here are
also on the DVD "Live, Volume One" (Blues Express 4002 - $23.98). (FS)
|
| FRANKIE LEE SIMS |
AIM 1089 |
Walking With Frankie |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, 41 mins, recommended
An originally unissued
session recorded around 1960 in New York for producer Bobby Robinson by fine
Texas singer/guitarist Sims and previously issued on Krazy Kat 7428. These
are Sims's last recordings and find him accompanied by a small group -
piano, bass & drums - and include several remakes of his Ace and Specialty
sides along with songs he had not recorded before including originals and a
couple of Lightnin' Hopkins covers. Frankie's singing is, as always, superb
- his guitar is powerful and distinctive though his playing is, at times, a
bit chaotic. Still a worthwhile addition to Sims' slim discography. (FS)
|
| CANDI STATON |
Shanachie 5761 |
The Ultimate Gospel Collection |
● CD $21.98 |
Two CD set with 31 tracks mostly covering the period 1983 to
2006 featuring a collection of gospel songs performed by this superb singer
who started as a gospel singer then became one of the greatest soul singers
of the 60s and 70s before switching back to gospel in the early 80s.
Arrangements are very slick and contemporary and may not appeal to many of
our customers though Candi's voice is still a wonderful instrument. One
intriguing track is a 1955 track by The Jewel Gospel Trio featuring Candi
(under her real name Canzetta) in her early teens. Set is packaged in fold
out digipack with extensive notes.
|
| SUNNYLAND SLIM &
HIS PALS |
JSP JSPCD 7783 |
The Classic Sides, 1947-1953 |
● CD $28.98 |
Four CD set with 104 tracks featuring classics Chicago blues
by Sunnyland Slim and some of the many people he worked with. There are 58
tracks under Slim's own name along with sides by The Fat Man, Johnny Shines,
Robert Lockwood, Floyd Jones, Leroy Foster, J.B. lenore, Jimmy Rogers and
St. Louis Jimmy.
THE FAT MAN: Glad I Don’t Worry No More/ You’ve Got To
Stop This Mess/ LEROY FOSTER: Blues Is Killin’ Me/ Late Hours At Midnight/
Louella/ Pet Rabbit/ FLOYD JONES: Ain’t Times Hard/ Any Old Lonesome Day/
Big World/ Dark Road/ Floyd’s Blues/ Schooldays On My Mind/ J.B. LENORE: How
Can I Leave/ How Much More/ I Have Married/ I Want My Baby/ I’ll Die Tryin’/
Let’s Roll/ Louise/ People Are Meddlin’ In Our Affairs/ Slow Down Woman/ The
Mojo/ The Mountain/ Wanna Play A Little While/ ROBERT LOCKWOOD: Dust My
Broom/ Dust My Broom/ Glory For Man/ I’m Gonna Dig Myself A Hole/ My Daily
Wish/ Pearly B/ JIMMY ROGERS: I’m In Love/ Ludella/ That’s All Right/ JOHNNY
SHINES: Living In The White House/ Please Don’t/ ST. LOUIS JIMMY: Chicago
Woman Blues/ Hard Work Boogie/ I Sit Up All Night/ I’m Not Satisfied/
Mother’s Day/ Nervous Breakdown/ Old Age Has Got Me/ Shame On You Baby/
State Street Blues/ Trying To Change My Ways/ Your Evil Ways/ SUNNYLAND
SLIM: (Low Down) Sunnyland Train/ 5 Foot 4 Gal/ Across The Hall Blues/ Ain’t
Nothing But A Child/ Back To Korea Blues/ Bad Times (Cost Of Living)/
Bassology/ Bassology/ Be Mine Alone/ Be My Baby/ Blue Baby/ Broke And
Hungry/ Brown Skin Woman/ Brown Skin Woman/ Brown Skinned Woman/ City Of New
Orleans/ Devil Is A Busy Man/ Down Home Child/ Every Time I Get To Drinking/
Farewell Little Girl/ Four Day Bounce/ Gin Drinkin’ Baby/ Hard Time (When
Mother’s Gone)/ Hard Times/ Hit The Road Again/ I Done You Wrong/ I Done You
Wrong/ I Want My Baby/ Illinois Central/ It’s All Over Now/ I’m Just A
Lonesome Man/ I’ve Done You Wrong/ Jivin’ Boogie/ Keep Your Hands Out Of My
Money/ Leaving Your Town (No Name Blues)/ Mary Lee/ Mud Kicking Woman/ My
Heavy Load/ Nappy Head Woman/ No Whiskey Blues/ Orphan Boy Blues/ Roll,
Tumble And Slip (I Cried)/ Sad And Lonesome/ School Days/ Shake It Baby/
Shake It Baby/ Sunnyland Special/ Sweet Lucy Blues/ That Woman/ Train Time
(4 O’Clock Blues)/ Troubles Of My Own/ Walking With The Blues/ When I Was
Young/ When I Was Young (Shake It Baby)/ Woman Trouble (Overnite)/ Worried
About My Baby/ Worried About My Baby
|
| IKE TURNER |
Zoho 200611 |
Risin' With The Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 54 min., good
Ike Turner had enough talent for
two men long before he ever met Tina. A career or three later (most often
spent in the background), at 75 years of age, an apparently drug-free Ike
decided to step into the foreground and sing. He still plays a mean guitar
and piano, make no mistake, but his vocal work here displays itself prominantly, and that's not always a good thing. It is nice to know a man
can sound this tough and angry at 75, but a little Ike Turner on the mic
goes a long way. The instrumentals (Jazzy Fuzzy, Senor Blues,
After Hours, Bi Polar) provide a much needed respite and much
appreciated guitar work. The songs are a mix of classics and originals. From
the former comes Louis Jordan's Caldonia and Fats Domino's Goin'
Home Tomorrow; from the latter comes the underwhelming Tease Me
and the nearly whimsical Jesus Loves Me, which includes the lines
"I'm a bad boy, but Jeus Loves me anyway." No doubt. But then Jesus probably
hasn't heard Ike sing. (JC)
|
| IKE TURNER
& THE KINGS OF RHYTHM |
Rev-Ola 173 |
Early Times |
● CD $15.98 |
29 tracks, highly recommended
Until some company has the
foresight to compile an in depth box set of Ike Turner we'll have to get the
story of this important musician, bandleader and rock 'n' roll pioneer in
tantalizing bits and pieces. This fine set features 29 tracks from the
early/ mid 50s by Ike and his incredible band The Kings Of Rhythm - all
after his big hit Rocket 88 in 1951. Although most of this material
is avilable on other compilation there are a number of tracks that are hard
to find. Ike is featured playing guitar and piano and has several vocal and
instrumental tracks under his own name. The rest features vocals by other
members of his band including Billy Gayles, Dennis Binder, Matt Cockrell,
Bill "The Kid" Emerson, Jesse Knight, Eugene Fox (including his amazing
Sinner's Dream), Johnny Wright (a fabulous reowkr of Things I Used To
Do called The World Is Yours with stunning guitar by Ike) and
others. Most of this material is available elsewhere but this is a very well
chosen selection and some tracks are not readily available. Now, how about
that box set? (FS)
DENNIS BINDER: Early Times/ I Miss You So/ Nobody Wants
Me/ BROTHER BELL (JOHNNY O'NEAL): Whole Heap of Mama/ MATT COCKRELL: Gypsy
Blues/ BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON: If Lovin' Is Believing/ Woodchuck/ EUGENE
FOX: Hoo-Doo Say/ I'm Tired of Beggin'/ My Four Women/ Sinner's Dream/ Stay
at Home/ BILLY GAYLES: Night Howler/ WILLIE KING (BILLY GAYLES): Peg Leg
Baby/ JESSE KNIGHT: Nothing But Money/ CLAYTON LOVE: Why Don't You Believe
in Me?/ Wicked Little Baby/ MARY SUE (BONNIE TURNER): Everybody's Talking/
Love Is a Gamble/ JOHNNY O'NEAL: Peg Leg Baby (Aka "Ugly Woman")/ JOHNNY
RIGHT: World Is Yours/ BONNIE & IKE TURNER: Looking for My Baby/ IKE TURNER:
Cubano Jump (Aka "Hey Miss Tina")/ Go to It (Aka "Stringing Along")/ I'm
Lonesome Baby/ Loosely (Aka "The Wild One")/ Love Is Scarce/ Troubles and
Heartaches/ You're Driving Me Insane
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1087 |
More Mellow Cats 'n' Kittens |
● CD $18.98 |
24 Tracks, 65 Minutes, essential
All kinds of fantastic cuts
from the Modern & Sensation labels, released between 1946 and 1952. So you
get a lot of "Hot" R&B, and "Cool" (jump) Blues, with about two-thirds of
the tracks from Southern California/West Coast artists and the rest being
from the Detroit Michigan area. This is the second of the series that
features a lot of previously unreleased tracks, especially done by artists
whose recorded output in a lot of cases wouldn't be enough to fill up a CD
of their own. Includes sides by Bardu Ali & His Orch., Kitty Stevenson,
Butch Stone & His Orch., Geechie Smith, Tiny Webb, The Three Bits Of Rhythm,
Al "Cake" WIchard Sextette and others. As usual Ace does a top-notch
production job with outstanding notes and fantastic pictures. This every bit
as good, if not better than the first installment, one that I listened to
fanatically when it was new. (JM)
BARDU ALI & HIS ORCHESTRA: Bardu's Boogie/ JIMMY GRISSOM &
BUDDY FLOYD ORCHESTRA: Just Got Back/ THE HOOTIE MCSHANN TRIO: Going Home
Blues/ THE NOCTURNES: Gotta Get Back To Katie/ Lazy Daisy/ BOBBY NUNN & THE
ROBBINS: Rockin'/ JAKE PORTER: Sister Kool Breeze/ THE SCAMPS: Goodnight
Wherever You Are/ EMMIT SLAY & HIS SLAYRIDERS: Looky Ploot/ GEECHIE SMITH:
Daddy Does It Just For You/ KITTY STEVENSON & TODD RHODES TODDLERS: Evening
Sun/ How About That Jive/ KITTY STEVENSON: How Long How Long How Long/ Then
Comes The Day/ BUTCH STONE & HIS ORCHESTRA: I'm Ok/ Put Your Brakes On Mama/
That's Your Red Wagon/ THE THREE BITS OF RHYTHM: Blow My Top/ Yas Yas Yas/
PEARL TRAYLOR & HOWARD MCGHEE ORCHESTRA: Jive I Like/ UNKNOWN: Don't You Lie
To Me/ TINY WEBB: Billboard Special/ AL "CAKE" WICHARD SEXTET: Cake Jumps/
CLARENCE WILLIAMS & HOWARD MCGHEE ORCHESTRA: Bacon Blues
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat 3009 |
Big Town Playboys, Chicago Blues 1949-1954 |
● CD $13.98 |
Two CD set with 50 classic tracks of Chicago blues recorded
between 1949 and 1954 - essentially the "Golden Age" of Chicago blues. If
you're a blues fan then chances are you have everything here but this is
certainly a great introduction featuring all the best known artists along
with a few lesser known ones - Robert Nighthawk, St. Louis Jimmy, Muddy
Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Eddie Boyd, Howlin' Wolf,
Homesick james, Little Walter, Willie Mabon, Jimmy Reed, Johnny Shines,
Elmore James, Big Boy Spires, J.B. Hutto, J.B. Lenoir and many more. Tracks
are presented in chronological order and sound is fine and set comes with 16
page booklet with notes on all the artists.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Empire Musicwerks 450 693-2 |
The Devil Is A Busy Man |
● CD $12.98 |
20 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
As you might guess,
these are tunes done on the wicked side of town, although tunes captured
here aren't as insidious as have been on similar compilations. A couple of
decades after Beelzebub clicks his hoofs along the crossroads, he's
back--this time coursing through the electric currents that just boosted the
Blues up unknown decibels. Starting with the title track by Sunnyland Slim
recorded for the Blue Lake label, then gathering up tracks from mostly the
1940s and 1950s on labels like Blue Lake, Parrot (Blue Lake's parent label),
Chart and Marlin labels, this disc features better known artists like St.
Louis Jimmy, Harmonica Slim, J.B. Lenoir, Albert King, Earl Hooker and
Lightnin' Hopkins, along with more obscure bluesmen like Willie Egan, Nature
Boy Brown, W.C. Baker and Eddie Hope & His Mannish boys. All in all this is
a fantastic comp of early electric blues with great packaging and detailed
notes. (JM)
WILLIE BAKER: Goin' Back Home Today/ NATURE BOY BROWN:
Blue Blue Boogie/ LITTLE SAMMY DAVIS: Goin' To New Orleans/ WILLIE EGAN:
Wear Your Black Dress/ LITTLE WILLIE FOSTER: Four Day Jump/ HENRY GRAY:
Watch Yourself/ HARMONICA SLIM: Drop Anchor/ EARL HOOKER: On The Hook/ EDDIE
HOPE & THE MANNISH BOYS: Lost Child/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Walkin' The Streets/
CURTIS JONES: Cool Playing Blues/ ALBERT KING: Bad Luck Blues/ J.B. LENOIR:
Mama Talk To Your Daughter/ JOHNNY LEWIS: She's Takin' All My Money/ LITTLE
PAPA JOE: Easy Lovin'/ L.C. MCKINLEY: Rosalie Blues/ SNOOKY PRYOR: Crosstown
Blues/ ST. LOUIS JIMMY: Murder In The First Degree/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: The
Devil Is A Busy Man/ JIMMY WILSON: Alley Blues
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Numero 010 |
Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal |
● CD $19.98 |
18 tracks, 58 min., highly recommended
In an apparent
attempt, so the theory goes, to send the good word out to a younger,
"hipper" audience than might ordinarily be found in church, gospel-funk was
created in the 1970s. And yet no one went to tell it on any mountain, and as
the booklet notes remark, "as a genre, it barely exists." So, few if any, it
seems, were out there consciously pumping out the gospel-funk. It just sort
of happened when the spirit moved the spiritually inclined fans of Funkadelic and the like. This Numero Group release is another reason to
believe that small labels will save the world. A precious handful of
completely obscure artists (many releasing only one career 45 rpm) hereby
makes the case for the genre, such as it is. The most persuasive arguments
come from Voices Of Conquest (O Yes My Lord), Horace Family (God
Will Dry My Weeping Eyes), and Triumphs (We Don't Love Enough).
Funky influencers include James Brown (of course), Parliament, The Meters,
among others. Holier forefathers run from the massively popular Al Green, to
the somewhat lesser known Brother Joe May. But as surely as Cliff Gober (A
Poor Wayfaring Stranger) knew May, he knew Bobby Blue Bland's Duke
recordings. Track dates range from 1968-81, with most dates falling into the
1970s. If the spirit doesn't move you, your body will. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
P-Vine 22076 |
The Boogie Shack - Madison Shuffle |
● CD $22.98 |
Splendid collection of 25 up-tempo blues, R&B and doo-wop
titles recorded for Bobby Robinson's Fire, Fury and Enjoy labels in the 50s
and early 60s compiled by Jun "Big Bob" Amemiya the "director" of a Tokyo
dance club called "The Boogie Shack". It's all been out before but this is a
particularly entertaining and varied selection featuring sides by Willis
"Gator Tail" jackson, Red Prysock, Champion Jack Dupree, Lewis Lymon & The
Teenchords, Jimmy Spruill, June Bateman with Noble Watts, Sonny Terry,
Chocker Campbell & His Band, The Kodaks, DR. Horse, Bobby Marchan, Elmore
James and more.
JUNE BATEMAN WITH NOBLE WATTS: Possum Belly Overalls
(Alternate Version)/ BUSTER BROWN: Blues When It Rains/ Madison Shuffle/
Sugar Babe/ CHOKER CAMPBELL & HIS BAND: Walk Awhile/ Walking On My Thin Sole
Shoes/ ARTHUR "BIGBOY" CRUDUP: Mean Ol' Frisco/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Shake
Baby Shake/ Shim Sham Shimmy/ WILBERT HARRISON: Let's Stick Together/ DR.
HORSE: Salt Pork, West Virginia/ WILLIS "GATOR TAIL" JACKSON:
Hello...Gator...Speaking/ ELMORE JAMES: Shake Your Money Maker/ THE KODAKS:
Oh Gee Oh Gosh (Alternate Version)/ LEWIS LYMON & THE TEENCHORDS: Honey
Honey/ Your Last Chance (Alternate Version)/ BOBBY MARCHAN: I Miss You So/
Snoopin' & Accusin'/ HAL PAIGE & THE WAILERS: Going Back To My Home Town/
RED PRYSOCK: Hard Rock/ Jump For George/ RIFF RUFFIN: Gravy Train/ JIMMY
SPRUILL: Kansas City March/ TARHEEL SLIM: Wild Cat Tamer/ SONNY TERRY:
Harmonica Hop
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Wolf 120.105 |
The Best Of Harmonica Blues |
● CD $16.98 |
A varied collection ranging from the 40s through the 80s -
Little Mac Simmons, Walter Horton, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Oscar harp, Doc
Terry, Jazz Gillum, Jerry McCain, george Harmonica Smith, CeDell davis, etc.
HERMANN ALEXANDER: Baby Please Don't Go/ CAREY BELL: One
Day/ BILLY BRANCH: Everything Gonna Be Alright/ JAMES COTTON: Dealin' With
The Devil/ CEDELL DAVIS: When I Woke Up Last Morning/ LITTLE ARTHUR DUNCAN:
Kansas City/ JAZZ GILLUM: I'm Still Walking The Hi-way/ OSCAR HARP: Caress
Me Baby/ WALTER 'SHAKEY' HORTON: Hard Hearted Woman/ MARTIN LANG: Martin
Leaps In/ JERRY MCCAIN: It Most Be Love/ J. MONOUED'D: Rice And Gravy Fever/
SNOOKY PRYOR: It Seem Like A Dream/ LITTLE MAC SIMMONS: You Mistreated Me
Baby/ GEORGE 'HARMONICA' SMITH: I Don't Know/ DOC TERRY: Born In The Delta/
SONNY TERRY: Goin' Down Slow/ KID THOMAS: Rockin' This Joint Tonight/ SONNY
BOY WILLIAMSON: Blue Bird Blues
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Acrobat 4213 |
Jukebox Hits 1943 - 1952 |
● CD $13.98 |
Another outing in the fantastic "Jukebox" series from
Acrobat, compiling nothing but jukebox and Harlem Hit Parade top tunes of
the day. This edition gives you 20 T-bone tracks for you to sink your teeth
into. Not much that's "Rare", but it is all definitely Grade A, top choice
and well done. Stompers like No Worry Blues/ Bobby Sox Baby/ Midnight
Blues and many more winners.
|
| MUDDY WATERS |
Acrobat MCD 4212 |
Jukebox Hits 1948 - 1954 |
● CD $13.98 |
20 tracks. Just as the title suggests, you get a Muddy Waters
greatest hits from 1948 - 1954 that were blowing up the jukeboxes of
America. So many great tunes, All Night Long/ Mad Love/ Long Distance
Call /She's So Pretty etc., all of the fabulous post war blues from the
master, that was depriving fans of their pocket change and inspiring who
knows how many other artists.
|
| MUDDY WATERS |
Proper BOX 102 |
King Of Chicago Blues |
● CD $24.98 |
4 CDs, 97 tracks, 280 mins, highly recommended
The UK-based
Proper label has done another fine job on this budget-priced 4-CD box set of
a nice variety of material Muddy Waters recorded between 1941 and 1955. Disc
one's 22 cuts are made up of a baker's dozen from Stovall's Plantation in
1941/42 for the Library Of Congress, his Chicago debut - as James "Sweet
Lucy" Carter - on Mean Red Spider, plus Muddy's 1946 recordings behind Homer
Harris and James "Beale Street" Clark as well as the Columbia sides
Jitterbug Blues/ Hard Day Blues, and Burying Ground Blues. Disc
two pulls together 24 tracks recorded between 1947 and 1950 originally
issued on the Aristocrat imprint, while discs three and four deliver 51
sides that found their home on the Chess label spanning six years from early
1950 to late 1955. While much of this material is available elsewhere, it's
good to see some oddball titles that don't show up on every Muddy Waters
compilation that comes down the pike; Howling Wolf/ My Fault/ Flood/ My
Life Is Ruined/ Sad Sad Day/ Loving Man/ She's So Pretty/ Smokestack
Lightning/ I Don't Know Why/ This Pain/ I Got To Find My Baby/ Clouds In My
Heart, and much more. Sound quality is solid all the way through,
although maybe not quite as good as the MCA/Universal issues of Muddy's
work, but it's a great value with nice packaging and a booklet that includes
lengthy liner notes, session details, and a fine assortment of vintage
photos of this Chicago Blues giant. (CR)
|
| JOHNNY
"GUITAR" WATSON |
Proper INTRO 2083 |
A Proper Introduction To Johnny "Guitar"
Watson |
● CD $9.98 |
18 tracks, 49 min, highly recommended
The genius of Johnny
"Guitar" Watson certainly started early and this collection is full of
essential tracks. Only problem is, every single track on this just came out
on Classics 5172 and Classics 5172 even has one more track. So it comes down
to if you prefer Proper's way of doing things or Classics'. Both are
excellent. I think that Proper wins in the overall looks department, with
lots for photos and a generally more attractive layout and their sound is
maybe a bit better. Then again the Classics release does have that other
song - Chuck Higgins & His Mellotones: Just Won't Treat Me Rite which
Johnny does sing lead on. Choice is up to you. (JM)
|
| JUNIOR WELLS |
Delmark 787 |
Live At Theresa's, 1975 |
● CD $14.98 |
The excellent Chicago singer and harmonica player recorded
live at Theresa's in 1975 with a fine band including Phil Guy on guitar on
most of the tracks plus guitarists Byther Smith and Sammy Lawhorn adding
their contributions. Junior is in good form on a selection of ten songs and
tunes including Little By Little/ Love Her With A Feeling/ Scratch My
back/ Come On In This House/ key To The Highway/ Messin' With The Kid,
etc.
|
| SONNY BOY WILLIAMASON |
Camden (UK) 569622 |
The Bluebird Blues |
● CD $11.98 |
Fine 23 track collection drawn from the first four sessions
by the great John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson in 1937 and 1938. With
accompaniments from Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy, Walter Davis, Yank
Rachell and others he performs classic songs like Good Morning Little
Schoolboy/ Early In the Morning/ You Give An Account/ Blue Bird Blues/
Jackson Blues/ Deep Down In the Ground/ Black Gal Blues/ Miss Louisa Blues,
etc.
|
| SMOKEY WILSON |
Ace CDCHD 1123 |
Round Like An Apple - The Big Town
Recordings, 1977-78 |
● CD $18.98 |
17 tracks, 78 mins, recommended
Mississippi born, Los
Angeles based bluesman Smokey Wilson was probably the last bluesman to be
recorded by the famed Bihari Brothers of Modern Records fame. They issued
two albums on their Big Town label in 1977 and '78 and recorded enough for a
third and this set draws from both issued albums and his unissued sessions
and features a solid set of no nonsense blues. Smokey has a tough aggressive
approach in singing with a voice obviously inspired by Howling Wolf and
Elmore James. He is also a solid, if not neceassrily, original guitarist. He
is accompanied by small band of, mostly unknown, local musicians on guitar,
bass, drums and piano plus, on some tracks, harmonica player Rod Piazza. His
material is a mix or original (usually based around traditional themes)
along with songs from the repertoire of Wolf, Elmore, Roy Brown, Johny
Copeland and others. Arrangements range from stright blues to a more rock
oriented approach. Nothing sensational here but definitely wortha listen or
two. Usual high quality Acve production.
|
| JIMMY WITHERSPOON |
JSP JSPCD 7778 |
Urban Blues Legend |
● CD $28.98 |
Four CD box set with 108 tracks recorded between 1945 and
1953 by this great blues shouter featuring almost all his recordings from
this period . A varied collection of storming jump tunes, funky blues and
soulful blues ballads with Jimmy's voice an instrument of sheer joy ranging
from a roar to a seductive but bluesy croon. His voice is beautifully
complemented by some of the finest West Coast musicians in the bizness.
'Spoon is featured in the company of top West Coast musicians like Jay
McShann (who gave him his first job) , Louis Speigner (a brilliant, if
little known, guitarist), Al "Cake" Wichard, Bill Doggett, Buddy Tate, Tiny
Webb, Jack McVea, Jesse Sailes, Roy Milton, Camille Howard, Ben Webster,
Jackie kelso, Maxwell Davis, Chuck Norris and many more.
JIMMY WITHERSPOON: 24 Sad Hours/ Ain’t Nobody’s Buess/
Ain’t Nobody’s Business Pt 1/ Ain’t Nobody’s Business Pt 2/ Baby Baby/ Back
Door Blues/ Back Home/ Back Water Blues/ Better Love Next Time Pt 1/ Better
Love Next Time Pt 2/ Big Eyes Blues/ Big Fine Girl/ Big Heart/ Blues In
Trouble/ Cain River Blues/ Call My Baby/ Cold Blooded Boogie/ Confessing The
Blues/ Corn Whiskey/ Destruction Blues/ Doctor Blues/ Don’t Ever Move A Man
Into Your House/ Don’t Tell Me Now/ Drinkin’ Beer (Hav Ball)/ Drunk Broke
And Hungry/ Ernestine/ Failing By degrees/ Fast Woman, Slow/ Feelin’ So Sad/
Foolish Prayer/ Frogimore Blues/ Frogimore Blues Alt Take/ Funny Style Baby/
Geneva Blues/ Give My Heart Anotherr Break/ Gone With The Blues/ Hard
Workin’ Blues/ Hard-Working Man’s Blues/ Have You Ever Loved A Woman/ Hey Mr
Landlord/ Hey Mr Landlord Alt Take/ Highway To Happin/ How I Hate To See
Xmas Come Around/ How Long/ How You Gonna Act/ I Done Told You/ I Gotta Gal
Lives On The Hill/ I Love You Just The Same/ I Want A Little Girl/ In The
Evening Alt Take/ In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down/ It/ I’m Goin’
Around Circles/ I’m Just A Ladies Man/ I’m Just Wonderin, Part 1/ I’m Just
Wonderin, Part 2/ I’m Not Too Young/ Jay’s Blues Part 1/ Jay’s Blues Part 2/
Jump Children/ Just A Country Boy/ Just For You/ Long About Dawn/ Love And
Friendsh/ Love My Baby/ Lucille/ Lush Head Woman/ Miss Clawdy B/ Miss, Miss
Mistrer/ Money Eyes Woman/ Money’s Getting Cheaper/ Move Me Baby/ New
Orleans Woman/ No Rollin’ Blues/ Oh Boy/ Once There Lived A Fool/ One Fine
Gal/ Pinocchio Blues/ Practice What You Preach/ Rain, Rain, Rain/ Real Ugly
Woman/ Roll On, Katy/ Sad Life/ Same Old Blues/ Shipyard Woman Blues/
Six-Foot-Two Blues/ Skid Row Blues/ Slow Your Speed/ Spoon Calls Hootie/
Sweet Lovin’ Baby/ The Day Is Dawning/ The Last Mile/ The New Look/ The Wind
Is Blowin’/ Thelma Lee Blues/ There Ain’t NothiBetter/ Third Floor Blues/
Times Gettin’ Tougher Than Tough Alt Take/ Two Little Girls/ Voodoo Woman
Blues/ Wandering Gal Blues/ Wee Baby Blues/ When I Had My Money/ Who’s Been
Jivin’/ Would My Baby Make A Change/ You Can’t Kiss A Dream Goodnight/ Your
Red Wagon/ ke Me Back Baby
|
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