( Advanced Search )  


 

 

NEWSLETTER #144
Bargain Basement
 Elder Charles Beck -> Jimmy & Mama Yancey
 

  

 

BOOK
 
GIRL GROUPS Fabulous Females That Rocked The World by John Clement ● BOOK $19.95 $10.95
Paperback 276 pgs, rrecommended
Put this one up on the shelf next to your record guides, for it's important research material. This book profiles 60 groups in-depth from the Dixie Cups to the Go-Gos and also provides a record price guide of the--in his opinion--top 500 collectable girl group records. Also features a staggering 1725 strong A-Z listing of female groups from The Accents to Zip & The Zippers, including all of the record labels each recorded with. Each of the featured 60 groups get a 2-7 page profile, with line-ups, classic and recent pictures and discographies. African American artists like the Ronettes, Marvelettes, Supremes, Exciters, Shirelles, Crystals, etc., make up the bulk of the book, but stand out Caucasian groups like the Shangri-las, Angels, Teardrops etc. get their share of the print as well. There are also a few solo acts that share the basic Girl Group aesthetic: Little Eva, Beverley Warren, Jean Thomas; sure, that works for me. (JM)

 
LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES Chicano Rock 'n' Roll From Southern California by David Reyes & Tom Waldman ● BOOK $18.95 $10.95
Paperback, 178 pgs, highly recommended
Mr.'s Reyes and Waldmen have provided a truly a wonderful book that covers the much under-appreciated Chicano story of Rock n Roll and R&B throughout the last 50 years. Focusing on the Southern California Chicano population that has an intense and unique relationship to the music that seems almost as strong today as it was in the 1950's and `60s, Reyes and Waldman follow the stories of the artists, from pre-Rock n Rollers like Lalo Guerreo through to Ritchie Valens, Cannibal and The Headhunters, Thee Midniters and up to Redbone, The Plugs, and many more, including (and especially) Los Lobos. The story here isn't just about the bands, it's also by and large about the fans who have kept so much great music alive throughout the decades, as well as about the people that made things happen: the DJs, Promoters, and record labels that served this unique scene. I especially loved reading about the sadly recently departed Dick 'Huggy Boy' Hugg, certainly one of the great Rock & Roll/ R&B DJs anywhere. Huggy Boy was a huge part of the Chicano music community for decades and was adored for it. Start to finish this is a great read and I can tell already that this will be a book I will revisit again and again for reference. Counts as three CDs for shipping. (JM)

 

COMPACT DISCS
 
 
ELDER CHARLES BECK Document DOCD 5524 In Chronological Order, 1946-1956 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
22 cuts by Beck plus 6 bonus cuts featuring 4 tracks from 1950 by Rev. J.B. Crocker and 2 from 1951 by Rev. M.E. Holmes.

 
THE BIDDLEVILLE QUINTETTE Document DOCD 5362 Vol 2 + Birmingham Jubilee Singers, Siler Leaf Qt. ● CD $15.98 $11.98
21 tracks, 65 min., recommended
Volume 2 offers the last 16 sides (all from 1929) from this talented fivesome, blessed, if the ears may judge, with genuine religious fervor. The group sounds a touch smoother without giving up an ounce of the spontaneous exhortations of spiritual excitement that mark their performances. Titles include Pharaoh's Army Got Drowned/ Blessed Be The Tie That Binds/ I Stretch My Hand To Thee, and 13 others. The gang at Document has cleaned a little house here too, tacking on the 4 remaining Birmingham Jubilee Singers sides and the final Silver Leaf Quartette Of Norfolk number, worthy efforts all. Another winner. (JC)
THE BIDDLEVILLE QUINTETTE: As I Live Let Me Live In Love/ Blessed Be The Tie That Binds/ Coming To Christ/ Dip In The Beautiful Stream/ Goin' To Heaven Anyway/ Got The Heaven In My View/ Handwriting On The Wall/ I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say/ I Stretch My Hand To Thee/ I Wan't God's Bosom To Be Mine/ I'm Going To Serve God Till I Die/ I'm Going To Sit At The Welcome Table/ I'm Going Up To Live With God/ I'm Tormented In The Flame (gex-2294)/ Jesus Is A Rock In The Weary Land/ Jesus Is Gonna Shake My Righteous Hand (437-a)/ Join The Band/ Judas And Jesus Walked Together/ Pharaoh's Army Got Drowned/ The Lord Giveth/ THE SILVER LEAF QUARTETTE OF NORFOLK: Oh! Glory Glory

 
CHARLES BROWN Bullseye Blues 9521 Just A Lucky So And So ● CD $15.98 $10.98
10 tracks, 50 min., recommended
Charles Brown, on this, his third, full length Bullseye disc, displays his awesome talent in a variety of musical settings. There are the expected late night piano solos, but we also get small combo numbers featuring the sax of Clifford Solomon and the guitar of Danny Caron, and big band and string section arrangements, with the musical texture sometimes varying considerably within individual numbers. Highlights include extended versions of Black Night and Driftin' Blues, plus I Won't Cry Anymore, the title track, and the delightful Song for Christmas. Sound, graphics, and notes are all up to snuff. Get it while you can; this is not one to miss. (DH)
 
ELDER CURRY & ELDER BECK Blues Documents BDCD 6035 Complete Recordings In Chronological Order, 1930-39 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks, 76 min., recommended
The 8 Curry cuts were recorded by an Okeh field unit in the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, MS, during 4 Dec. days in 1930, and most of them feature Elder Charles Beck on piano. The selections are usually part song, part sermon, with notable exceptions including Beck's piano solo in When The World's On Fire and the incredibly intense Memphis Flu, a congregational masterpiece. The rest of the tracks were cut in 1937 & '39 in NYC for Decca and Bluebird, and feature Beck, "The Singing Evangelist," in various musical settings-- some with female backup singers and a trumpet, some with piano and kazoo. Beck was among those who, on songs such as Love, Oh Love Divine/ I'm A Stranger/ If I Have To Run, popularized the idea of using melodies from the secular world for religious song. Fascinating. (JC)

 
JOHN LEE GRANDERSON Testament TCD 5031 Hard Luck John ● CD $11.98 $8.98
Only full length album of this excellent down home Chicago singer/ guitarist. Recorded by Pete Welding in mid 60s and all previously unissued it includes solo performances, duets, trios and small electric combos with accompanying musicians like Prezs Thomas, Jimmy Walker, Johnny Young and others - Minglewood Blues/ Flora Blues/ Death Valley Blues/ Rock Me All Night Long/ County Farm Blues/ This Is Your Last Chance, etc.

 
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT Fuel 2000 61149 Revisited ● CD $15.98 $10.98
18 tracks, 60 min., highly recommended
Mississippi John Hurt played the melody and bass line at the same time, sang, and made the whole thing sound as simple as tapping your foot. His fluid, relaxed style was first dedicated to wax in 1928, and he sounded like no one else in the world. Only 35 years later he was "rediscovered" and recorded again. This live show is drawn from an April 15, 1965, performance at Oberlin College in Ohio. His sound, essentially unchanged over the years, is as pleasing as ever, as he moves through some of his old classics, including I'm Satisfied, Rich Woman Blues, Candy Man, My Creole Belle, and others. Highlights include Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me, The Angels Laid Him Away and the children's ditty C-H-I-C-K-E-N. Great fun. (JC)

 
BILL JACKSON Testament 5014 Long Steel Rail ● CD $11.98 $9.98
18 tracks, 51 min., recommended
Vocalist & 12-string guitarist Bill Jackson was one of a group of artists - including Carl Hodges, Doug Quattlebaum, Blind Connie Williams, Clarence Clay & William Scott - that Peter John Welding discovered in 1961/62, reissuing their sides on his own Testament label & on Bluesville, Milestone and Storyville Records. This CD was Welding's first album, and should entice fans of Pink Anderson, John Jackson and Mississippi John Hurt. Born in Maryland, his versions of tunes like Careless Love, Trouble In Mind, Blood Red River & Key To The Highway are earnest attempts at Piedmont blues but it's his original tunes like Long Steel Rail, You Ain't No Woman, Old Rounder Blues that I'm impressed with. Fans of new artists like Eric Bibb & Guy Davis should also give this set a listen. (EL)

 
LUTHER "GUITAR JUNIOR" JOHNSON Bullseye Blues 9546 Country Sugar Papa ● CD $15.98 $10.98
13 tracks, 55 min., recommended
A member of the Muddy Waters Band in the '70s, Johnson plays Chicago blues guitar West Side style a la Magic Sam. His 3rd Bullseye release is solid as usual, and several cuts, namely his own Walkin' With You Baby/ I'm Going Back, Back, Back/ Can't Come Home, are downright hot. The songs that work the best do not attempt to force the guitar down the listener's throat just for the sake of guitar, opting instead for the inclusion of tasty harp solos or horns and back-up singers. And so on. When producer Ron Levy lets the guitar become more important than the song, the results are competent blues without the flair necessary to make them stand out. Fortunately, Johnson and Levy hit much more often than they miss. (JC)

 
CALVIN LEAVY Red Clay 8303 The Best Of Calvin Leavy ● CD $14.98 $8.98
10 tracks, 35 mins, highly recommended
Now out of print. Short but sweet collection of recordings by Arkansas bluesman Leavy for Calvin Brown's Soul Beat label in the late 60s and early 70s. It includes his powerful classic Cummins Prison Farm which was an R&B hit in 1970 and one of it's sequels Free From Cummins Prison Farm as well as other fine blues like Going To The Dogs, Parts 1 & 2 and Born Unlucky plus some nice stripped down deep soul like Give Me A Love That I Can Feel and the particularly fine Is It Worth All I'm Going Through. There's also a funky organ led instrumental called Funky Jam. Many of the tracks here were previously reissued by P-Vine in Japan on a long out of print CD. I wish they could have included more tracks here but as it stands it's a very worthwhile collection. (FS)

 
VIOLA MCCOY/ JULIA MOODY Document DOCD 5418 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 : 1926-1929 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks, 71 min., recommended
This, the final volume of Viola McCoy's recordings has our lady accompanied by stellar players like cornetist Rex Stewart (Fortune Teller), Canadian-born pianist Louis Hooper (Slow Up Papa) and pianist Cliff Jackson (Git goin'). But it's the songs again that (should) win you over : her version of Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues (with Louis Hooper) holds up against Martha Copeland's original version, and those of us who only know versions by Blind Willie McTell/David Bromberg, should listen up and check out these great classic blueswomen. Also included are versions of Victoria Spivey's Black Snake Blues, and Rosa Henderson's Gay-Catin Daddy. The CD is completed with 13 titles by one Julia Moody, including her original versions of Cootie Crawl (with the awesome cornetist Joe Smith), Good Man Sam and Mad Mama's Blues. It's a shame we know nothing about her as nearly all of these 13 songs were only recorded by her. (EL)
VIOLA MCCOY: 'git' Goin' (take C)/ Back Water Blues/ Black Snake Blues/ Body And Soul (he Belongs To Me)/ Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues/ Fortune Teller Blues (tak A)/ Gay-catin Daddy/ I Want A Good Man (and I Want Him Bad)/ If You Really Love Your Baby/ Mama Is Waitin' For You/ Slow Up Papa (take A)/ Some Day You'll Come Back To Me (take B)/ JULIA MOODY: Broken Busted, Can't Be Trusted Blues/ Don't Forget, You'll Regret/ Good Man Sam/ He'll Do You Wrong/ Jada Blues/ Last Night Blues/ Mad Mama's Blues/ Midnight Dan/ Police Blues/ Strivin' Blues/ That Chicago Wiggle/ The Cootie Crawl/ Worried Blues

 
JOHNNY MOORE'S THREE BLAZERS Westside 217 Los Angeles Blues ● CD $21.98 $13.98
Two CD set featuring 31 tracks recorded for RCA between 1949 and 1950 by this pioneering "cocktail R&B" group including 12 previously unissued tracks! This material is making its first ever appearance on CD.

 
PIANO RED Westside 701 The Flaming Hurricane ● CD $13.98 $9.98
11 tracks, recommended
Out of print. Delightful previously unissued session recorded by this fine and distinctive performer in the early 70s. Accompanied by a drummer and a very good guitar player he mostly performs some of his old favorites (Dr. Feelgood/ Right String But The Wrong Yo Yo/ Push That Thing, etc), his own distinctive treatments of R&B classics (Shake, Rattle & Roll/ Corrina, Corrina) and give new life to a couple of old pop songs (Let's Fall In Love/ Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone. No surprises but lots of fun. (FS)
 
CLARA SMITH Document DOCD 5369 Vol. 6 : 1930-1932 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
Recommended
The final volume in this series covers the period from July 1930 to March 1932, when the Depression finished Smith's recording career. Once again though there are many excellent performances, especially when Clara's vaudeville training and talent as a comedienne combine to brilliant effect. There are two duets with Lonnie Johnson which echo his work with Victoria Spivey, but my personal favorites are Ol' Sam Tages (a man who liked his women under ages) and For Sale (Hannah Johnson's Jack Ass) about a big black ass that needs to be sold to see its owner through the Depression . It is a pity that Document felt the need to fill out this CD with four 'bonus tracks' by another singer, from the opposite end of the talent spectrum, who also billed herself as Clara Smith. Incredibly it is the label from one of these discs which is reproduced on the cover of the CD! Sound quality, as in the other volumes, varies but is generally quite good. The booklet notes by John Henry Vanco record Clara Smith's death just three years after her last session, at the age of 40. Even by the time of her death she was largely forgotten, but she had been the main rival to Bessie Smith in the twenties. The second half of this reissue series provides ample evidence that she was one of the major talents of the 'classic blues' era, and deserves to be more widely acknowledged as such today. (DPR)

 
IVY SMITH & COW COW DAVENPORT Blues Documents BDCD 6039 Complete Chronological Recordings (1927-30) ● CD $15.98 $11.98
20 tracks, 59 min., recommended
Most cuts feature Ivy (Iva) Smith's fine singing with only Davenport's bluesy/boogie-woogie-flavored piano as accompaniment--and it's enough. The 8 Paramount sides are, predictably, a bit noisy, and it's tough to make out the words at times, but excellent songs such as Barrel House Mojo and My Own Man Blues, which features Leroy Pickett on violin, make up for the aural imperfections. Other highlights include Milkman Blues/ Got Jelly On My Mind/ Wringin' And Twistin' Papa/ Mistreated Mamma Blues, all about that same familiar subject. (JC)

 
THE SOUTHERNAIRES Document 5610 Complete Recordings, 1938-1941 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks from Harlem based gospel group including five from a 1938 radio program

 
TAMPA RED Document DOCD 5076 In Chronological Order - Vol. 4 (1930-1931) ● CD $15.98 $11.98
This volume featuring 24 sides recorded between July, 1930 and October, 1931 is a bit of a mixed bag. Highlights are the two cuts by The Hokum Jug Band with the wonderful vocals of Frankie Jaxon - low points are the 4 dull vocals by Sweet Papa Tadpole with Tampa and Tom Dorsey accompanying (great artist name though)! Most of the rest feature Tampa and Tom and are enjoyable enough but a bit repetitive and frequently marred by being dubbed from very noisy 78s. A couple of fine guitar solos round out this set which is far less essential than the first 3 volumes. Notes by Teddy Doering don't have a whole lot to say. (FS)

 
TARHEEL SLIM & LITTLE ANN Collectables 5159 The Robin & Fire Years ● CD $11.98 $8.98
15 tracks, 51 mins, highly recommended
Excellent collection of blues, doo-wop, R&B ballads and some forgettable versions of a few country songs by superb singer & guitarist Tarheel Slim (Allen Bunn) and his wife Little Ann recorded for Bobby Robinson's Red Robin, Fire & Fury labels between 1954 and '62. It includes Slim's double sided rockin' blues masterpiece from 1959 Number Nine Train/ Wildcat Tamer and two 1954 blues sides by him. There is also a superb solo performance by Ann on You're Gonna Reap. The rest is duets Anne including some great minor key doom laden R&B ballads like the two part Can't Stay Away, It's Too Late and Much Too Late. Most of the rest is pretty much mainstream R&B plus some country songs which might have been O.K. but for the awful string section and wretched heavenly choir. Sound could have been better but is satisfactory. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard Vintage 1009 Vocal Groups In Harmony ● CD $24.98 $18.98
4 CDs, 4 hours 33 minutes, 100 tracks, recommended
Covering the period between 1946-53, when the smooth vocal group sound was making the transition to doo-wop, this box set serves as a nice introduction to four influential practitioners. With one foot in the older tradition (e.g. Mills Brothers) and another moving in the direction of jumpin' R&B and doo-wop, the groups (The Ravens, The Orioles, The Dominoes, The Red Caps) here each get a 25-song CD to show their stuff. The Orioles, aside from popularizing the bird group names, pioneered the smooth '40s sound that often crossed over to the pop charts. Led by the vocal magic of Sonny Til, songs here include It's Too Soon To Know, (It's Gonna Be) A Lonely Christmas, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?, Crying In The Chapel, I Need You So, and others. The Raven featured the amazing deep bass of Jimmy Ricks, which found its perfect companion in the tenor of Maithe Marshall on older tunes such as Summertime and Old Man River, as well as on popular new songs such as The Orioles' It's Too Soon To Know. Their Rock Me All Night Long leaves little doubt as to the etymology of the future phrase "rock and roll." Disc 3 belongs to The Dominoes, mostly featuring the sweet-voiced Clyde McPhatter, although the final two cuts (You Can't Keep A Good Man Down and Rags To Riches feature a young Jackie Wilson on lead vocals. Their timeless and timely Sixty Minute Man, released in December of 1950, is here of course, as is Heart To Heart and The Deacon Moves In, both featuring the vocal additions of Little Esther! Disc 4 offers Steve Gibson And The Red Caps, who would be remembered forever even if Blueberry Hill--a massive hit for Fats Domino--were their only contribution to musical history. It wasn't. Packaging includes better than minimal but hardly exhaustive notes, and photos and session info. on each disc sleeve. A nice introduction to the influential pre-doo wop masters and a healthy amount of music for the buck. (JC)
THE DOMINOES: Chicken Blues/ Deep Sea Blues/ Do Something For Me/ Don't Leave Me This Way/ Harbor Lights/ Have Mercy Baby/ Heart To Heart/ I Am With You/ I Can't Escape From You/ I'd Be Satisfied/ I'm Lonely/ Love Love Love/ No Room/ No! Say My Heart/ Pedal Pushin' Papa/ Rags To Riches/ Sixty Minute Man/ That's What You're Doing To Me/ The Bells,/ The Deacon Moves In/ These Foolish Things (remind Me Of You)/ Weeping Willow Blues/ When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano/ You Can't Keep A Good Man Down/ Yours Forever/ THE ORIOLES: (it's Gonna Be) A Lonely Christmas/ A Kiss And A Rose/ Baby Please Don't Go/ Barbara Lee/ Barfly/ Crying In The Chapel/ Don't Cry Baby/ Every Dog-gone Time/ Forgive And Forget/ Getting Tired, Tired, Tired/ Happy Go Lucky Local Blues/ Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me/ Hold Me! Squeeze Me!/ How Blind Can You Be?/ I Cross My Fingers/ I Miss You So/ I Need You So/ I'd Rather Have You Under The Moon/ I'm Just A Fool In Love/ It's Too Soon To Know/ See See Rider/ Tell Me So/ Waiting/ What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?/ Would I Love You (love You Love You)/ THE RAVENS: Always/ Bye Bye Baby Blues/ Careless Love/ Count Every Star/ Deep Purple/ For You/ Get Wise Baby/ I Don't Have To Ride No More/ I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do/ I'm Gonna Paper All My Walls With Your Love Letters/ If You Didn't Mean It/ It's Too Soon To Know/ Leave My Gal Alone/ Ol' Man River/ Once In A While/ Ricky's Blues/ Rock Me All Night Long/ Send For Me If You Need Me/ September Song/ Someday/ Summertime/ There's Nothing Like A Woman In Love/ Time Is Marching On/ Until The Real Thing Comes Along/ Write Me A Letter/ THE RED CAPS: Are You Lonesome Tonight?/ Big Game Hunter/ Blueberry Hill/ Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Night/ Do I, Do I, Do/ I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/ I Love You/ I May Hate Myself In The Morning/ I'll Never Love Anyone Else/ Jack You're Dead/ Let The Rest Of The World Go By/ Money Is Honey/ Scratch! And You'll Find It/ Shame/ Sidewalk Shuffle/ Steve's Blues/ Truthfully/ Two Little Kisses/ Wait/ Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang/ When You Come Back To Me/ Why Don't You Love Me?/ Would I Mind?/ You Made Me Love You 3:14/ You're Driving Me Crazy

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 5319 Have Yourself A Ball ● CD $11.98 $6.98
Originally an LP on the English Krazy Kat label. A set of 14 sides from Gotham's rock'n'roll subsidiary 20th Century. Most of the tunes are in a Bill Haley-ish rockaphilly jive style featuring brass sections, sax solos and forced-sounding "teenaged" lyrics. The best here are the 5 earliest Charlie Gracie sides, pre-Cameo, backed by The Wildcats - helped quite a bit by Charlie's great guitar solos - Honey Honey/ Wildwood Boogie + 3. There's a couple alternate takes by Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers, unissued material by The Playboys and coverboys Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's (which may also be The Playboys, The Nu-Tones, heard here on Jump Figaro Jump and The Bombers) and finally 2 by Mike Pedicin Quintet including his hit cover of Shake A Hand.
BOBBY BOYD'S JAZZ BOMBERS: Dilly Dally/ Rockin' And Rollin' The Blues/ CHARLIE GRACIE & THE WILDCATS: Frankie And Johnny/ Head Home Honey/ Honey Honey/ My Baby Loves Me/ Wildwood Boogie/ DON HAVEN & THE HI-FI'S: Everybody's Going Crazy/ Have Yourself A Ball/ THE NUTONES: Jump Figaro Jump/ MIKE PEDECIN QUINTET: Shake A Hand/ THE MIKE PEDECIN QUINTET: Disc Jockey's Boogie/ THE PLAYBOYS: Everybody's Going Crazy/ Mambo Boogie

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 5657 Spotlite On Herald Records, Vol. 2 ● CD $13.98 $9.98
25 more doo-wop gems recorded for New York's Herald label in the mid 50s including sides by The Nutmegs (four songs including their classic Story Untold), The Turbans, Mello King, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (three tracks including their wonderful Stay), The Smart Tones, Dynamics, Concords, Thrillers, Five Willows, Little Butchie Sanders, The Premeers and Patty & The Emblems,
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 6076 Old Town Records Presents City Blues ● CD $13.98 $9.98
25 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of New York blues recorded for Hy Weiss's Old Town label in the 50s and early 60 including quite a few tracks not originally issued. Many of these tracks appeared on a series of Ace CD some years back but those are now out of print. Includes Hal Paige & The Wailers with tough guitar by Larry Dale who also has two fine sides under his own name. There are tracks by the venerable Buddy & Ella Johnson plus sides by Ursula Reed, Guitar Crusher (his What About Me is not blues but is a superb deep soul performance), Herman Dunham, wonderful singer and piano player Bob Gaddy (with Larry Dale or Jimmy Spruill providing some dynamite guitar), Wild Bill Moore (two honking instrumentals with tough Larry Dale guitar on Slow Drag) and Lester Young. Excellent sound and brief but useful notes by Peter Grendysa. (FS)
LARRY DALE: Big Muddy/ What Your Love Means To Me/ HERMAN DUNHAM: Fine Little Thing/ VICKI EVANS: It Was Just For Laughs/ BOB GADDY: Early One Morning/ Girl Who Promises, The/ Operator/ Woe Woe Is Me/ You Are The One/ GUITAR CRUSHER: What About Me/ BUDDY & ELLA JOHNSON: Don't Be Messin' With My Man/ I Got To Talk To Somebody/ Keep On Lovin' You/ Like You Do/ WILD BILL MOORE: Big Bubbles/ Slow Drag/ HAL PAIGE & THE WAILERS: Guitar Blues/ Guitar Shuffle/ My Angel Chile/ Rock This Joint This Morning/ URSULA REED: Fool About The Man I Love/ Have A Good Time Baby/ Ursula's Blues/ You're Laughin' 'Cause I'm Cryin'/ LESTER YOUNG: Down To The River

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5159 Memphis Blues (1927-1938) ● CD $15.98 $10.98
25 tracks, 75 min., recommended
A nice collection of relatively obscure pre-war, Memphis-associated artists. Of the 9 performers here, Hattie Hart stands out on I'm Missing That Thing/ I Let My Daddy Do That and 2 others cut in '34 and featuring guitar work from Willie Borum and Allen Shaw. Count both of George Torey's excellent sides, Married Woman Blues/ Lonesome Man Blues, as highlights too, with enviable guitar work and strong vocals. Other blues practitioners include Sam Townsend, John Henry Barbee, Pearl Dickson, Ollie Rupert, Walter Rhodes, Charlie "Bozo" Nickerson, and Madelyn James. Decent sound and notes by Memphis music scholar Kip Lornell. (JC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5169 Country Blues Collector's Items (1924-28) ● CD $15.98 $10.98
25 tracks, 74 min., recommended
The cover boasts that this CD features the complete recorded works of Ed Andrews, Lewis Black, Kid Brown, Sammy Brown, Emery Glen, Johnny Head, T.C. Johnson, "Blue Coat" Tom Nelson, "Mooch" Richardson, and somebody named Porkchop. If you note that none of these names are regularly invoked by fans, you're getting the idea. Recorded between 1924 and 1928, these rarities are a hodgepodge of blues, rag, and songster styles. None are immediate knockouts, but the cumulative effect of hearing these forgotten performers 60-odd years after the fact is the feeling that the breadth of pre-war blues, especially the Memphis variety espoused by Richardson (with Lonnie Johnson) is a long way from being exhausted. All these performers are mysteries; all these performances are spooky in one way or another. Sound quality is adequate. (JG)
ED ANDREWS: Barrel House Blues/ Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay/ LEWIS BLACK: Corn Liquor Blues/ Gravel Camp Blues/ Rock Island Blues/ Spanish Blues/ KID BROWN: Bo-Lita/ SAMMY BROWN: Barrel House Blues/ The Jockey Blues/ EMERY GLEN: Back Door Blues/ Blue Blazes Blues/ Fifth Street Blues/ Two Ways To Texas/ JOHNNIE HEAD: Fare Thee Blues, Part 1/ Fare Thee Blues, Part 2/ T. C. JOHNSON & "BLUECOAT" TOM NELSON: Blue Coat Blues/ G. Burns Is Gonna Rise Again/ In The Mornin'/ T. C. Johnson's Blues/ MOOCH RICHARDSON: 'Mooch' Richardson's Low Down Barrel House Blues, Part 1/ 'Mooch' Richardson's Low Down Barrel House Blues, Part 1/ Big Kate Adams Blues/ Burying Ground Blues/ Helena Blues/ T And T Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5314 Piano Blues, Vol 3 ● CD $14.98 $11.98
26 tracks, 75 mins, recommended
A bit of a mixed bag with the first third of this disc well worth the "recommended" rating. The disc starts off with two excellent instrumental cuts from black Canadian Millard G. Thomas - a player who is probably more of a jazzman but who is eminently listenable. There are seven tracks by the wonderful singer Nolan "Barrelhouse" Walsh in three different settings - four of the cuts feature piano accompaniments by the relatively tame Richard M. Jones - two of them with Louis Armstrong and two with fiddle player Clarence Black. The remaining three feature his own piano accompaniment showing he deserves the sobriquet "Barrelhouse". There are 9 songs from the dreary George Hannah whose often salacious lyrics are occasionally given interesting accompaniments by Lonnie Johnson on fiddle or Meade Lux Lewis on piano. Lewis also accompanies the even duller Rob Robinson whose litany of obvious sexual metaphors is broken only by a deservedly unissued version of Sitting On Top Of The World (the pop song, not the blues). The disc ends with an unknown performer with two instrumentals from ane arly 40s private acetate - interesting, if not earthshaking. Still the Millard Thomas and Nolan Welsh sides make this disc worthwhile. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5342 Fletcher Henderson & The Blues Singers, Vol 1 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks, 75 min., recommended
Henderson's first recording opportunity came with the birth of Black Swan - the first black-owned record label - where he was the musical director and backed most of the artists early on, either with orchestra or solo. The glut of female blues singers on wax in the early '20s (nine of whom are represented here) may be explained by the desire to repeat the financial success enjoyed by Mamie Smith's recording of Crazy Blues. Still, several of the blues singers here (Katie Crippen, Lulu Whidby, Essie Whitman, Maude De Forrest for four) could as accurately be described as vaudeville singers, or vaudeville blues singers. And yet Etta Mooney and others sound pretty damn good no matter how they're categorized. Extremely accessible. (JC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5343 Fletcher Henderson & The Blues Singers, Vol 2 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks, 75 min., recommended
The second of two volumes presents 6 more unknown blues singers - several of whom spent more time singing Tin Pan Alley and vaudeville tunes than anything - with Fletcher Henderson as the unifying thread. But despite the artists' obscurity (Inez Wallace is the only one about whom anything is known), the performances are quite entertaining, more so perhaps than Henderson's often unexciting contributions - his greatness was still ahead of him. Hannah Sylvester has by far the greatest number of cuts at 11, and deservedly so. And on her Down South Blues and I Want My Sweet Daddy, a young Coleman Hawkins can be heard. Like the material of Vol. 1, these songs all were recorded in NYC, thus this collection also offers some insight into that city's recording scene in the early 1920s. (Note: Fletcher Henderson's instrumental work is collected on Classics CDs.) (JC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5486 Charlotte, N.C. Gospel, 1920-1938 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
26 tracks, 69 min., recommended
The North Carolina gospel scene is seen here through the works of five different ensembles. There are three university-based aggregations, groups which performed in order to represent and raise money for their colleges. The Biddle University Quintet sings Who'll Be a Witness and Ezekiel Saw de Wheel, and the Livingstone College Male Quartet offers Good Old Songs and Mosquito in a barbershop style. The Carolinians also hail from Biddle University, representing the school some 18 years later with Precious Lord, Dry Bones, and Let the Church Roll On. The two community-based groups are the Four Gospel Singers, who perform Dry Bones and New Jerusalem, and the Evening Four, who sing Don't Feel No Way Tired and Don't Drive Me Away. Interesting music, offered here with steadily improving sound quality and solid notes by Ray Funk. (DH)
THE BIDDLE UNIVERSITY QUINTET: Ezekiel Saw De Wheel/ Heaven/ I've Got A Home In That Rock/ Who'll Be A Witness/ THE CAROLINIANS: Bad Conditions/ Dry Bones/ I'm A-Rollin'/ John Was A Writer/ Let The Church Roll On/ On The Battlefield/ Precious Lord/ You Better Mind/ THE EVENING FOUR: Don't Drive Me Away/ Don't Feel No Way Tired/ Got A Mother 'Way Over Yonder/ Hard Trials/ Oh Link, Oh Link/ See How They Done My Lord/ THE FOUR GOSPEL SINGERS: Angels Shouting Glory (Just To Tell The Story)/ Do You Want To Be A Worker For The Lord?/ Dry Bones/ New Jerusalem/ THE LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE MALE QUARTET: Good Old Songs/ Gospel Train/ Mosquito/ Quartet Rehearsal

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5487 Columbia, SC Gospel, 1938 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
24 tracks, 64 min., recommended
Tracks are divided between 3 obscure Columbia, S.C., gospel quartets who, after these '38 sessions, never recorded again.Too bad, too. Presumably influenced by local heroes the Heavenly Gospel Singers and the Golden Gates, these groups dabble in the approaching-hard style of the former and the ultra-smooth style of the later. It's difficult not to hear the Gates' influence during such cuts as All Over This World by the Silvertone Jubilee Quartette and May Be The Last Time by the Eagle Jubilee Four, both of which feature the forgotten art of mouth trumpet playing. The Seven Starts Quartette favor the Heavenly's sound to the point of imitation, though not a pale one. A fine release. (JC)
THE EAGLE JUBILEE FOUR: Good Lord I Can't Turn Back/ In My Father's House/ May Be The Last Time/ No More Weeping And Wailing/ On Calvary's Mountain/ When That Trumpet Sounds/ THE SEVEN STARS QUARTETTE: God Called John/ I'm Going To Work On The Battlefield/ Lord I'm Troubled/ The Little Black Train/ Walking Down The Lonesome Road/ We'll All Rise Together/ THE SILVERTONE JUBILEE QUARTETTE: Ain't Nobody's Fault But Mine/ All Over This World/ Beulah Land/ I Felt Like Shoutin'/ I'm Gonna Sit Down Beside King Jesus/ I've Been Down To Jordan/ Oh Lord You Know/ Oh My Lordy Lord/ Old Ship Of Zion/ The Bible Is Right/ The Old Rugged Cross/ Wait On The Rising Sun

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5642 Rare Country Blues, Vol. 3 : 1928-1936 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
23 tracks, 70 mins, highly recommended
The first 15 recordings here features artists from the little explored Cincinnati blues scene features the complete recordings of Bob Coleman, Kid Cole & Walter Coleman who are thought to all be the same man! Whatever his real name he is a fine singer and guitar player with some distinctive vocal trademarks that suggests that the above thesis is true. Four of the tracks feature Coleman with the Cincinnati Jug Band including the magnificent Tear It Down and Cincinnati Underworld Woman. Other gems include Niagara Fall Blues and the fascinating I'm Going To Cincinnati with it's evocation of Cincinnati locations in the 30s. The Kid Cole, Bob Coleman and Jug Band sides are from 1928/29 and the Walter Coleman sides are from 1936. The other two artists are from Georgia and are also very fine. Billy Bird is a biographical mystery but is an excellent singer and guitarist - his two part Alabama Blues is a variant of the ever popular Move To Kansas City. Too Tight Henry's real name is Henry Lee Castle and he was born in 1899 and plays 12 string guitar. His two part Charleston ContestBILLY BIRD: Alabama Blues - Part 1/ Alabama Blues - Part 2/ Down In The Cemetary/ Mill Man Blues/ THE CINCINNATI JUG BAND: George Street Stomp/ Newport Blues/ KID COLE: Hard Hearted Mama Blues/ Hey Hey Mama Blues/ Niagra Fall Blues/ Sixth Street Moan/ BOB COLEMAN: Sing Song Blues/ WALTER COLEMAN: Carry Your Good Stuff Home/ Greyhound Blues (Tell Me Driver How Long's That Greyhound Been Gone?)/ I'm Going To Cincinnati/ Mama Let Me Lay It On You (take A)/ Mama Let Me Lay It On You (take C)/ Smack That Thing/ BOB COLEMAN & THE CINCINNATI JUG BAND: Cincinnati Underworld Woman/ Tear It Down/ TOO TIGHT HENRY: / Charleston Contest - Part 1/ Charleston Contest - Part 2/ Squinch Owl Moan/ The Way I Do

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Excello 3010 Uptown, Down South ● CD $14.98 $8.98
24 tracks, 63 min., recommended
Out of print - very limited stock. A companion disc to Excello's "Heart of Southern Soul". This time out the focus is on Southern soul singers who recorded for the Excello and Abet labels and who at the time were aiming for a fully orchestrated, big city sound. Featured numbers include I've Got to Hold Back by Freddie North, Judy by Frank Howard, That's Loving You by Percy Wiggins, I'm Not Your Regular Woman by Lucille Mathis, Even If the Signs Are Wrong by Shirley Brown, Bigger and Better by the Hytones, No More Tears by Bessie Jones, Thanks a Lot by the Wallace Brothers, and a soul version of Tommy James's Crystal Blue Persuasion by the Kelly Brothers. Impressive late 60's to mid-70's dance music in a set that was previously issued by Ace of England. This less expensive reissue features fine sound quality and the earlier English issue's liner notes. (DH)
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rounder 2014 Get Your Ass In the Water And Swim Like Me ● CD $15.98 $8.98
Reissue of LP featuring folk poetry from black American oral tradition. Toasts, street and prison rhymes dealing in a completely frank way with badmen, tricksters, pimps, fools, prostitutes, hustlers and squares. Comes with parental advisory sticker!
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Sequel NEMCD 756 Jubilee & Josie Vocal Groups, Volume 3 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
25 tracks, 60 min., highly recommended
With just a few exceptions, volume three of this generous and well-documented series focuses on the years 1954 to 1956. Selections include Gloria and I Wonder Why by the Cadillacs, Cabin Hideaway by the Limelighters, King of Hearts by the Cookies, You Were Waiting for Me by the King Toppers, Wish I Had My Baby by the Emanons, Mine and Mine Alone by the Angelettes, Meet Me Meet Me Baby by the Kansas City Tomcats, Oh Baby by the Majors, Wagon Wheels by the Blue Notes, and the lovely, previously unreleased You Broke My Heart by the Clicks. Like volumes one and two in this series, just too good to pass up. (DH)
THE ANGELETTES: Mine & Mine Alone/ You Only You/ EDDIE BANKS & THE FIVE DREAMERS: Rock A Bye Blues/ Sugar Diabetes/ THE BLUE NOTES: Retribution Blues/ Wagon Wheels/ THE CADILLACS: From This Day On (unissued By Josie)/ Gloria/ I Wonder Why/ Jelly Bean (stereo-unissued By Josie)/ THE CHARITEERS: I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (unissued By Josie)/ THE CLICKS: You Broke My Heart (unissued By Josie)/ THE COOKIES: Hippy Dippy Daddy/ King Of Hearts/ THE EMANONS: Blue Moon/ Itty Bitty Mama (unissued By Josie)/ Wish I Had My Baby/ THE KANSAS CITY TOMCATS: Meet Me Meet Me Baby/ Nobody Knows/ THE KING TOPPERS: Walkin' & Talkin' The Blues/ THE LIMELITERS: Cabin Hideaway/ My Sweet Norma Lee/ THE MAJORS: String Along/ THE THE MAJORS: Oh Baby/ KING TOPPERS: You Were Waiting For Me

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Testament TCD 5008 Modern Chicago Blues ● CD $11.98 $8.98
Exciting selection recorded in early/mid 60s (Testament 2203) - Johnny Young, Maxwell St. Jimmy, Robert Nighthawk, John Lee Granderson, John Wrencher, Wilbert Jenkins, Walter Horton. Five previously unissued cuts.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Vanguard VCD 143/44 The Original New Folks ● CD $15.98 $10.98
23 tracks, 65 min., highly recommended
This generous disc reissues both Vanguard "New Folks" LPs (VRS 9096 and VRS 9140). Back in the early 60's, when they first saw the light of day, they gave the listening public its first listen to Eric Anderson, Jackie Washington, the Greenbriar Boys, and Phil Ochs, among others. It's good to hear these first rate folksters at the beginning of their careers, as well as the other, lesser known but seasoned, performers who are also featured here. Program selections include Come to my Bedside by Eric Anderson, Let Me Fly by Jackie Washington, Pretty Polly by Hedy West, Winken and Blinken and Nod by David Gude, Stewball by the Greenbriar Boys, Mole in the Ground by Lisa Kindred, Do Re Mi by Bob Jones, and There But for Fortune by Phil Ochs. Sound quality and cover art are both solid, and the updated liner notes are brief but informative. (DH)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS