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NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
 Blues & Gospel - Part 2
 

  

 

COMPACT DISCS
 

SKIP JAMES Genes 9910 Skip's Piano Blues ● CD $14.98
12 tracks, 40 mins, essential
The music of Skip James is so beautiful, eerie and moving that it is hard to be objective about it. He was a unique and distinctive performer who was able to lend even the most familiar material an original feel. These recordings, previously unissued, from 1964 feature Skip accompanying himself on piano rather than his more familiar guitar. His piano playing is just as beautiful and idiosyncratic as his guitar playing with touches of ragtime and jazz but always uniquely his own. He redoes some of the piano blues he recorded in 1931 like Little Cow And Calf Is Gonna Die and 22-20 Blues as well as piano versions of songs he had recorded in 1931 with guitar like Four O'Clock Blues and Special Rider Blues as well as his own unique versions of Black Gal/ How Long and Vicksburg Blues. He also does a beautiful gospel song Walking The Sea, the strange Little Boy How Old Are You and the instrumental Rock Island Blues. The recordings were informal and it's nice to hear the interplay between Skip and the people around him. Truly rewarding and spellbinding music and it's hard to imagine why it was left on the shelf for 30 years! (FS)

 
LONNIE JOHNSON Collectables 2897 The Very Best Of Lonnie Johnson ● CD $15.98
25 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended
Lonnie was a master musician whose outstanding guitar work influenced many, and whose voice, although sweet by blues standards, was always warm, soulful and well blended with his instrument. Lonnie's sides for King (1947-'52) borrowed more from the popular R&B idiom than from straight ahead blues, but nevertheless, this remarkable man's talent shone through. His first session for King yielded the biggest hit of his lengthy career - Tomorrow Night which managed to top the R&B charts. He had several other hits on King over the next couple of years but none of those are included here. His remake of his old favorite Jelly Roll Baker is supposedly accompanied by a large band but I only hear the piano and bass that was present on most of the tracks here. His version of Careless Love from August 1948 is strictly solo and is a real beauty. Later sessions have a drummer added and the last couple of sessions features a small band with horns. Classy music throughout from a true original in Black music. (FS/ OLN)

 
ROBERT JOHNSON Columbia 64916 The Complete Recordings ● CD $24.98
41 tracks, 106 mins, essential
When Columbia first released the complete recordings of Robert Johnson (Columbia 46222 - still available) in 1990 it became the biggest selling country blues album of all time and introduced a lot of new listeners to the beauty of the country blues - not bad for an artist who had been dead for more than 50 years! It also became the biggest selling release that Roots & Rhythm ever had. Now five years later Columbia have issued this set again - no longer in the handsome 6"x12" box but in a standard double CD box with a standard CD size booklet with all the notes and photos reduced in size.
So why is Columbia trying to have you part with your hard earned money again for the same music? Well in the years since the first release they have discovered better condition test pressings and acetates to dub from and new mastering techniques have been developed and in this case the tracks have been remastered using Sony's "Super Bit Mapping" process. So how does the new edition sound compared to the original one.Well there's no doubt that the sound is cleaner with less 78 surface noise and the vocals are crisper and have stronger presence. The improvements are sometimes subtle but always noticeable and in a few cases (Sweet Home Chicago and Hellhound On My Trail) the improvement is quite dramatic.On the debit side there seems to be some high end distortion that was not present on the previous issue.
Although some have made an effort to downplay Johnson's importance there is little doubt that he was not only a major influence on many other blues performers but the intensity and conviction of his recordings are among the most affecting in all of blues. His voice is high and clear and while, not all completely intelligible, most of the lyrics are easy to understand. His sound is transitional between the rough early Mississippi Delta feel and the shortly to come Chicago blues bands with his insistent and compulsive rhythms and memorable melody lines. Quite a few of his songs feature slide guitar and there have been few, if any, performers whose playing was so accomplished and moving ranging from the lyrical beauty of Come On In My Kitchen to the mind-boggling pyrotechnics of Preachin' Blues. His songs draw on a variety of sources including his Mississippi predecessors, traditional singers around him and artists popular on records like Leroy Carr and Lonnie Johnson. All this is transmuted through Johnson's own dark and introspective vision. While songs like If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day, Stones In My Passway, Me And The Devil and most particularly Hellhound On My Trail may not be totally unique in the blues, there is no other blues artist, to my knowledge, who uses imagery of this intensity so consistently. Perhaps it is this dark intensity that strikes home so strongly to his listeners and crosses racial, cultural and language barriers. This collection features all 29 songs that he recorded in Dallas and San Antonio in 1936 and 1937 plus 12 alternate takes and a 2 second snatch of Johnson talking. The alternate takes are sometimes musically quite different (as in Come On In My Kitchen) but often the differences are more subtle but still significant - different verses, different guitar riffs or different shadings in vocal emphasis. The 60 page booklet includes an essay by Steve LaVere which features previously unpublished material based on his extensive research. Included are some fascinating photographs. The rest of the booklet includes testimonials from Keith Richards and Eric Clapton and lyric transcriptions of all the songs (all takes). Was Johnson a tortured genius? Well, it doesn't really matter - he certainly sounds like it. If you already have the previous issue and you are a real fan you may want to get the new version. If you are a more casual listener you could probably stick with the previous version. If you don't have either then you really should have one (or both) of them! (FS)

 
ALBERT KING Ace CDCHD 827 More Big Blues ● CD $18.98
22 tracks, highly recommended
A most welcome reissue featuring all the sides made by this great and influential singer and guitarist for Robert Lyons' Bobbin label in St. Louis between 1959 and 1963. Albert first came to national attention with his 1961 recording of the great Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong which was picked up for distribution by King Records and became an R&B hit. King subsequently bought all the masters of Albert's Bobbin recordings and his contract in 1963 and cut one forgettable session with him (not included here). Although he had no other hits for Bobbin his performances are consistently fine with powerful emotional vocals and searing slashing guitar that influenced generations of blues guitarists. A great collection of slow intense burners and rocking up tempo numbers with a fine band. There are three previously unissued alternate takes included. Sound quality is superb and there are notes by the indefatigable Ray Topping. Wonderful and invaluable music. (FS)
ALBERT KING: Blues At Sunrise/ Blues At Sunrise (previously Unreleased)/ Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong/ Dyna Flow/ Got To Be Some Changes Made/ I Get Evil/ I Walked All Night Long/ I'll Do Anything You Say/ I've Made Nights By Myself/ I've Made Nights By Myself/ Just Plain Blues (oo-ee Baby)/ Let's Have A Natural Ball/ Need You By My Side/ Old Blue Ribbon/ Oo-ee Baby/ This Morning/ Time Has Come, The/ Time Has Come, The (previously Unreleased)/ Travelin' To California/ What Can I Do To Change Your Mind/ Why Are You So Mean To Me/ Why Are You So Mean To Me (previously Unreleased)

 
B.B. KING Ace CDCHM 1049 The Great B.B. King ● CD $14.98
18 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
The latest in this great series reissuing B.B.'s original Crown LPs with bonus cuts features a reissue of Crown 5143 issued in 1960 to cash in on the success of the two part Sweet Sixteen - one of his all time great performances. The rest of the album was filled out with other classic sides recorded between 1954 and 1960 including such monster sides as Quit My Baby/ Sneakin' Around/ Ten Long Years/ Whoe Lotta Love and others featuring B.B. at his peak. The eight bonus cuts include a couple of single sides including his rock 'n' roll song Bim Bam (B.B.'s least favorite recording) and the rest is previously unissued alternate takes and stereo mixes including the forgettable string laden Young Dreamers but the rest are all superb. Usual impeccable sound from Ace and informative notes from John Broven. (FS)

 
B.B. KING Ace CDCHM 1084 The Blues ● CD $14.98
18 tracks, 49 mins, highly recommended
The latest in this series of reissue of original Crown LPs with bonus cuts features his second LP originally issued in 1958 and features singles drawn from sessions cut between 1951 and 1958 including the hits When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer/ I want To get Married and Troubles, Troubles, Troubles. Bonus cuts include three tracks from his out of contract session for Chess which the Biharis quickly put the lid on before they were issued which was good thing since they are inferior, particularly the appaling Tickle Britches. There's also a great alternate take of Sweet Little Angle and the excellent RPM single I'm In Love which has never been on CD before. Great sound quality and the usual informed noets from John Broven. (FS)

 
LEAD BELLY Smithsonian Folkways 40045 Bourgeois Blues - Lead Belly Legacy, Vol 2 ● CD $15.98
28 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
Another superb collection of recordings from this great singer and master of the 12 string guitar recorded by Moses Asch for his Disc, Asch and Folkways labels between 1940 and '48. Like the first volume most of the tracks on this disc were originally released on LP in the early 50s on Folkways albums but this set includes a number of unissued songs and alternate takes. The set opens with a stunning version of his tribute to Fannin Street in Shreveport featuring some truly dynamic guitar playing. The set also includes some powerful songs about race relations in Bourgeois Blues and two versions of Jim Crow as well as topical songs about the war Army Life and Hitler Song. There are traditional blues favorites like Easy Rider, T.B. Blues and Alabama Bound, a version of a traditional British ballad which he calls Gallis Pole, a fascinating previously unissued song about Abraham Lincoln, a couple of children's songs, western songs and more. It's mostly just Lead Belly and his guitar with occasional added instrumental and/or vocal accompaniment from Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Woody Guthrie and others. All tracks have been newly remastered and have a powerful vibrant presence. Booklet has notes to all the songs and an essay about Leadbelly by Woody Guthrie. Exciting stuff! (FS)

 
THE LEE BOYS Arhoolie 516 Say Yes ● CD $12.98
11 tracks, 56 minutes, highly recommended
Similar to Robert Randolph & The Family Band, The Lee Boys are another outfit consisting of three brothers; Alvin on guitar with Keith and Derrick on providing vocals, plus nephews Emanuel Roosevelt Collier on pedal-steel, Alvin Cordy Jr. on bass, and Kenneth Earl Walker's drumming, all providing another fine look at the continuing "sacred steel" tradition. Collier's pedal-steel work soars on Joyful Sounds/ Come On Help Me Lift Him Up/ Tribute To Calvin Cooke, and a rousing version of You've Got To Move. Adding funk, hip-hop, and R&B flavors make for some wonderfully exciting listening. Perfectly suitable for driving to and from church, weekend barbeques, and any other day of the week, The Lee Boys deliver with all cylinders wide open. (CR)

 
LIL' BRIAN & ZYDECO TRAVELERS Rounder 2136 Fresh ● CD $15.98
15 tracks, highly recommended
Fresh is right! This hot new band is composed of members barely out of high school, but they play like old pros. Might have something to do with the fact that Brian Terry, the leader of the group, has been playing in zydeco groups since he was 14. The Zydeco Travelers update their sound with a touch of rap, occasional use of voice box guitar, and a whole lot of rhythm and blues, but never sound contrived or crass. As they ably demonstrate on the more traditional zydeco numbers on the album they are the real thing. There's a youthful energy and tightness to this music that owes much to the tight, fresh arrangements, Brian's smooth singing, and his skillful accordion playing. Much credit also goes to EJ Jackson's snapping and popping bass which never stops percolating. Numbers alternate between great covers of rhythm and blues tunes like Trying to Slip Away (a standout) and Hooked, Hogtied, and Collared and Terry originals like Snap Bean and Oh Mama. I'd love to see these guys live! Zydeco purists may not entirely approve, but this gets my vote as best Zydeco recording of 96 so far. (DP)

 
LITTLE ESTHER Classics 5066 The Chronological Little Esther, 1951-1952 ● CD $14.98
20 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended
Although Little Esther had recorded previously and had hits as a member of the Johnny Otis Orchestra this CD presents the first recordings issued under her own name though she is still featured with the fabulous Otis Orchestra with stellar musicians like guitarist Pete Lewis, tenor saxist Lorenzo Holden, trombonist George Washington, pianist Devonia Williams and others. This wonderful collections includes two great sides with vocal accompaniment by Clyde McPhatter & The Dominoes, a duet with Mel Walker on Ring-a-ding-doo, a beautiful rendition of the standard Summertime with some bluesy harmonica (presumably Pete Lewis) doing a call and response with the sax, the fabulous mid-tempo Ramblin' Blues with its choice Ben Webster tenor break, the atmospheric Storm with thunder and rain sound effects, plus other scorchers. Whether singing a smoochy ballad, a hot jumper or a soulful blues Esther always sounded great. (FS/OLN)
LITTLE ESTHER: Aged And Mellow/ Better Beware/ Bring My Lovin' Back To Me/ Cryin' And Singin' The Blues/ Don't Make A Fool Out Of Me/ Heart To Heart/ Hold Me/ I Paid My Dues/ I'll Be There/ I'm A Bad Bad Girl/ Looking For A Man/ Other Lips, Other Arms/ Ramblin' Blues/ Ring-a-ding-doo/ Somebody New/ Summertime/ Tell Him That I Need Him So/ The Crying Blues/ The Deacon Moves In/ The Storm

 
LITTLE MILTON Varese Vintage 66359 Anthology, 1953-1961 ● CD $17.98
27 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Fabulous collection of Milton's early work for Sun and Bobbin. Although he didn't have any hits until he joined Checker in 1961 it certainly wasn't because of lack of quality in his earlier sides. The Sun recordings made in 1953 in Memphis are incredibly raw and powerful sides with great singing and band work (including Ike Turner on piano) and ferocious, slashing guitar playing in the Willie Johnson/ Matt Murphy vein. His work for the St. Louis based Bobbin label recorded between 1958 and 1961 is less intense with more polished arrangements courtesy of St. Louis genius Oliver Sain but there are many wonderful performances including some great original songs that have become blues standards like I'm A Lonely Man and I Found A New Love. His guitar playing isn't as ferocious as on his earlier sides but is powerful and imaginative. Sound quality is excellent and there are informative notes from Bill Dahl. (FS)
LITTLE MILTON: Alone And Blue/ Beggin' My Baby/ Cross My Heart/ Dead Love/ Hey Girl!/ Hold Me Tight/ Homesick For My Baby/ I Found Me A New Love/ I Love My Baby/ I'm A Lonely Man/ I'm In Love/ I'm Tryin'/ If Crying Would Help Me/ If You Love Me/ Let It Be Known/ Long Distance Operator/ Lookin' For My Baby/ My Baby Pleases Me/ My Mind Is Troubled/ Oo-wee, Wee Baby/ Re-beat/ Running Wild Blues/ Same Old Blues/ She's My Queen/ Somebody Told Me/ Strange Dreams/ That Will Never Do

 
JOE HILL LOUIS Ace CDCHD 803 Boogie In The Park ● CD $18.98
28 track compilation of sides by this wonderful one-man band recorded for Modern, Meteor and other Bihari labels in the early 50s.
 
MAGIC SLIM & THE TEARDROPS Alligator 4728 Raw Magic ● CD $16.98
8 superb cuts drawn from his two out of print albums on the French Isabel label.
MAGIC SLIM: Ain't Doing Too Bad/ Gravel Road/ In The Heart Of The Blues/ Mama, Talk to Your Daughter/ Mustang Sally/ Why Does A Woman Treat A Good Man So Bad?/ You Can't Lose What You Never Had

 
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL Arhoolie 304 Mississippi Delta Blues ● CD $12.98
Fierce singing and stinging slide guitar from the Delta's Fred McDowell in the best from Arhoolie 1021 & 1027 (Delta Blues, Vols. 1 & 2). Includes the great You Gotta Move, later recorded by the Stones, 2 cuts with his teacher, Eli Green, and some searing playing from a great bluesman.
MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL: 61 Highway/ Black Minnie/ Brooks Run Into The Ocean/ Bull Dog Blues/ Do My Baby Ever Think Of Me/ Fred's Worried Life Blues/ Frisco Line/ I Ain't Gonna Be Bad No Mo'/ I Heard Somebody Call/ Kokomo Blues/ Louise/ Mama Don't Allow/ My Trouble Blues/ Shake 'Em On Down/ That's Alright/ When I Lay My Burden Down/ Write Me A Few Lines/ You Gonna Be Sorry/ You Gotta Move

 
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND Frog 15 Volume 1 ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, essential
Ever wondered what the 78s on your reissue CDs really sounded like? With remastering by John R T Davies, who worked on this three volume set (two of which were originally issued by JSP), you get as close as possible to finding out. Davies isn't concerned with removing all traces of surface noise but with preserving the information on the original discs; and in doing so he really brings this great music to life. Volume one covers the band's first twenty sides (from February 1927 to February 1928) and includes a further four tracks of solo performances by Will Weldon and Vol Stevens. (These solo tracks are otherwise found on Wolf WBCD 004.) Excellent notes by Neil Slaven sketch the social context in which the band operated as well as providing a critical commentary on each recording session. Not that this is music to be listened to in a high state of critical awareness - so what if the band occasionally sounds like it's falling apart, that's part of the fun. Sit back and enjoy Charlie Polk's 'richly flatulent emissions' and the rest of the gang as you've never heard them before. A full discography completes the picture. (DPR)
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Beale Street Mess Around/ Bob Lee Junior Blues/ Coal Oil Blues/ Evergreen Money Blues/ I'll See You In The Spring When The Birds Begin To Sing/ I'm Looking For The Bully Of Thetown/ Kansas City Blues/ Memphis Boy Blues/ Memphis Jug Blues/ Newport News Blues/ Packed My Suitcase Started To The Train/ Papa Long Blues/ Peaches In The Springtime/ She Stays Out All Night Long/ Snitchin' Gambler Blues/ Sometimes I Think I Love You/ State Of Tennessee Blues/ Stingy Woman Blues/ Sun Brimmers Blues/ Sunshine Blues/ VOL STEVENS: Baby Got The Rickets Mama's Got The Mobile Blues/ Vol Stevens Blues/ WILL WELDON (CASEY BILL): Hitch Me To Your Buggy And Drive Me Like A Mule/ Turpentine Blues

 
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND Frog 16 Volume 2 ● CD $16.98
23 tracks, essential
Volume two of the chronological reissue covers MJB's recordings between September 1928 and October 1929. The band are now hitting their stride, and this disc contains some of their most memorable performances, including Lindberg Hop, Stealin' Stealin' and the beautiful K. C. Moan. As in volume one there is great variety in both material and mood - from the wildly exuberant to the sombre and downbeat. We even get two waltzes! This volume also includes two solo titles apiece by Will Shade and Hattie Hart otherwise found on Wolf WBCD 004. Detailed notes on the performances by Neil Slaven. The full discography is particularly valuable with an ever changing group like this, and sound quality is again exemplary. (DPR)
HATTIE HART: Won't You Be Kind To Me?/ You Wouldn't, Would You, Papa?/ THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: A Black Woman Is Like A Black Snake/ Feed Your Friend With A Long Handled Spoon/ I Can Beat You Plenty (that Hand You Tried To Deal Me Will)/ Jug Band Waltz/ K.c. Moan/ Lindberg Hop/ Memphis Yo Yo Blues/ Mississippi River Waltz/ On The Road Again/ Stealin' , Stealin'/ Sugar Pudding/ Taking Your Place/ Tired Of You Driving Me/ Whipped My Woman With A Single-tree/ Whitewash Station Blues/ WILL SHADE: Better Leave That Stuff Alone/ I Can't Stand It/ She Stabbed Me With An Ice-pick/ What's The Matter?/ MINNIE WALLACE: Dirty Butter/ The Old Folks Started It

 
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND Frog 18 Volume 3 ● CD $16.98
25 tracks, essential
The third volume starts with the band's session of May 1930, in the wake of the Wall Street Crash and with record sales already in sharp decline. Even so the band managed to cut a further twenty titles in the year, over nine short recording sessions. Highlights include Cocaine Habit, Meningitis Blues with vocal by Memphis Minnie, Going Back To Memphis and the sparkling final sessions in November which produced such classics as You Got Me Rollin'. Despite personnel changes Will Shade had managed to preserve a fairly consistent sound to his group during nearly four years of recording, a fact underlined by the alternate takes of titles from the earlier volumes which fill out this CD. (These alternate takes are otherwise found on Wolf WBCD 004.) It was to be four years before the band recorded again, but they certainly went out on a high. Excellent notes again by Neil Slaven, a full discography and very decent sound. If only all reissues were like this set! These three volumes cover Memphis Jug Band's complete recordings in the period 1927-30. The band's later recordings are on Blues Documents BDCD 6002. (DPR)
THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Aunt Caroline Dyer Blues/ Bumble Bee Blues/ Cave Man Blues/ Cocaine Habit/ Everybody's Talking About Sadie Green/ Fourth Street Mess Around/ Going Back To Memphis/ Got A Letter From My Darlin'/ He's In The Jail House Now/ It Won't Act Right/ Jim Strainer Blues/ Lindberg Hop/ Meningitis/ Move That Thing/ Newport News Blues/ Oh Ambulance Man/ Papa's Got Your Bath Water On/ Round And Round/ Snitchin' Gambler Blues/ Spider's Nest Blues/ Stingy Woman Blues/ Stonewall Blues/ Sun Brimmers Blues/ You Got Me Rollin'/ You May Leave But This Will Bring You Back

 
CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE Arhoolie 303 Memphis Charlie ● CD $12.98
Hot harmonica blowing from Charlie on this CD comprising 2 albums from 1971 and 1974- Arhoolie 1056 Takin' My Time & 1074 Goin' Back Down South. Aided by Robbin Ford and Tim Kaihatsu on guitar, Lafayette Leake and Skip Rose on piano, and Pat Ford on drums, among others, this fine CD sports a catchy likeness of Charlie by Lynda Barry.
CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE: Blue Steel/ Crazy For My Baby/ Cut You Loose/ Finger Lickin' Good/ Highway Blues/ If Trouble Was Money/ It Ain't Right/ On The Spot Boogie/ Take Me Back/ Takin' My Time/ Taylor's, Arkansas/ This Old Nightlife/ Up & Down The Avenue/ Wild, Wild Woman

 
ROBERT NIGHTHAWK Delmark 711 Bricks In My Pillow ● CD $11.98
At last on CD the great 1951/52 recordings of this great Chicago singer and guitarist. CD includes two previously unissued alternate takes.
ROBERT NIGHTHAWK: Bricks In My Pillow/ Crying Wont Help You/ Feel So Bad/ Kansas City/ Maggie Campbell/ Maggie Campbell/ Nighthawk Boogie/ Seventy-four/ Seventy-four/ Take It Easy,baby/ The Moon Is Rising/ The Moon Is Rising./ U/s Boogie/ You Missed A Good Man

 
JOHNNY OTIS Savoy Jazz 17059 The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan ● CD $39.98
Fabulous three CD set featuring all of Otis and his aggregations recordings for Savoy between 1949 and 1951 plus his first session for Excelsior in 1946 and some recently discovered unissued Savoy tracks. 77 tracks in all from this R&B pioneer with his great band and vocalists like Jimmy Rushing, Little Esther, Mel Walker, The Robins and others.

 
G.L. CROCKETT/ BIG WALTER PRICE Official 5679 Rockin' With The Blues ● CD $17.98
28 tracks, 71 mins, recommended
Fine collection featuring recordings from two fairly obscure performers. G.L. Crockett is a relatively undistinguished Chicago singer but he did record one of the few rockabilly performances by an African-American performer - the great Look Out Mabel which is featured here in two different takes. The rest of his material is R&B ballads or Jimmy Reed style blues including the fine It's A Man Out There. The ten tracks here, recorded between 1957 and 1965 represent his entire recorded output. Big Walter Price is a very fine Texas singer and piano player whose career spanned the 50s, 60s and 70s - his 18 tracks here represent most of the recordings cut for various labels between 1955 and 1961 and are an excellent and varied selection with Walter's powerful vocal and strong piano accompanied by various fine bands. Among the highlights are the hard driving Six Weeks Of Misery, the powerful Pack, Fair And Square that has been covered several times, the rolling New Orleans sounding Gambling Woman and the odd Hello Maria - a great slow blues with Walter adopting an Italian accent. Sound quality is satisfactory and there are brief notes on each artist. (FS)

 
THE RADIO FOUR Heritage HTCD 42 1952-1954 ● CD $16.98
25 tracks, 70 mins, essential
Though not as well known as some of their contemporaries the Radio Four were certainly among the finest gospel groups to record in the 50s and these early sides are among their very finest accomplishments. They were originally a family group featuring five Babb brothers - Morgan, George, Ray, James & Claude. Most of the leads are taken by Morgan whose singing is exquistly sweet, soulful and utterly convincing - his performance on the two part Sending Up This Prayer with its brief passages of sermonizing is nothing short of ecstatic. Morgan also provides the distinctive guitar intro to most of their songs and his playing together the slapped string bass playing of Ernie Newton provides an irresistable propulsive rhythm on the up tempo numbers that makes me think of rockabilly gospel! A couple of the leads are taken by the more earnest sounding brother George and throughout the rest of the group provide stunning four and five part harmony. This set also includes the group accompanying the fine female gospel singers Mdm Edna Gallmon Cook and Sister Lucille Barbee as well as two cuts from '52 by Morgan with two of his other brothers Paul & Sepheus. The twelve page booklet includes extensive notes by Opal Louis Nations who compiled this set. I've been waiting a long time for someone to reissue this classic material and it's certainly my favourite gospel reissue of 1999. (FS)

 
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)

 
TODD RHODES Ace CDCHD 856 Blues For The Red Boy - The Early Sensation Recordings ● CD $18.98
28 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Although there is a overlap with Classics 5019 and 5040 this issue is indispensable as it was dubbed from original Vitacoustic and Sensation acetates, includes 16 unissued tunes or alternate takes and comes with a 12 page booklet with extensive notes and lots of rare photos. This is a terrific collection of mostly instrumental R&B and jazz featuring a band led by veteran piano player Todd Rhodes who got his start in the 20s as a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers. The band was very hot featuring trumpeter Howard Thompson and a dynamite three sax line up (Holly Dismukes/alto, Louis Barnet/tenor and George Favors/ baritone). They were equally at home on a hard driving rocker like Bell Boy Boogie, a gently swinging ballad like Oh Baby or a jazzy outing like Bop Bop Sizzle. Their second session from October 1947 yielded their first R&B - the wonderful mid tempo Blues For The Red Boy which some eight years later Alan Freed adopetd as the them song for his Moondog radio program. Although mostly instrumental there are several appealing song from the band's regular vocalist Louis Sanders who was a waiter at the Sensation Lounge which was the bands home for a number of years as well as a couple of vocals by the excellent Kitty Stevenson. Curiously this does not include his other hit Pot Likker and it's unfortunate that discographical deatils aren't included but othewrise this is a must. (FS)

 
JIMMY ROGERS Chess 69402 His Best ● CD $13.98
22 tracks, essential
With the "Complete Chess Recordings" set no longer available this is the best currently available package of this great bluesman's classic Chess recordings. With his warm, mellifluous vocals and melodic guitar he was one of the outstanding performers to emerge from the Muddy Waters Band in the 50s. His recordings often featured fellow Muddy Waters band members like Little Walter, Big Crawford, Elgin Evans, Willie Dixon, Otis Spann and others but there were also some remarkable tracks with other musicians. There is just one classic song after another - That's All Right/ Luedella/ Today, Today Blues/ The World's In A Tangle/ Money, Marbles & Chalk/ Chicago Bound/ Sloppy Drunk/ Walking My Myself (a classic Walter Horton solo on this)/ What Have I Done, etc. (FS)

 
OTIS RUSH Delmark 781 All Your Love I Miss Loving - Live At The Wise Fools Pu ● CD $14.98
12 tracks, 68 mins, essential
A live set from 1976 featuring Otis Rush at the top of his game - need I say more? Otis was possibly the greatest of the new breed of Chicago bluesmen to emerge in the mid 50s with an intense emotion drenched vocal style and an incredible guitar technique that owes a debt to the long drawn out phrasing of Albert King but takes it to a new level. This live session was recorded at Chicago's famed Wise Fools Pub with his band of the time (Bob Levis/ guitar, Albert Gianquinto/ pno, Bob Stroger/ bass and Jesse Green/ drums). The titles are mix of Rush classics (All Your Love/ It takes Time) and blues standards (Please Love Me/ Mean Old World/ Gambler's Blues), etc. but all take on a new life in the hands of the master. As liner note writer Steve Tomashefsky points Otis Rush out is one of a handful of Chicago bluesmen who is a great singer and a great guitarist and "When he is on - as he is here - there seems to be nothing he can't do with either instrument."I dare you to site still during the closing instrumental Motoring Along. (FS)

 
J.D. SHORT Sonet 986 925-4 The Sonet Blues Story - A Last Legacy Of Blues ● CD $13.98
10 tracks, 48 mins, highly recommended
Reissue of 1972 Sonet/ GNP LP. Wonderful country blues recorded in St. Louis in 1962. Short (who also made some superb recordings in the pre-war era - see Document 5147) is a stunning singer - intense, melodic and with a very effective vibrato which earned him the nickname "Jelly Jaw" on a couple of his early sides. His guitar playing is not quite as strong as on his early sides but is powerful and effective and he also plays fine harmonica on a rack. Although he had lived in St. Louis since 1923 his music was essentially Mississippi Delta blues. It is strongly rooted in traditional themes but completely individualized with very little evident influence from other performers. If you like unsullied country blues this is the real thing! (FS)

 
BESSIE SMITH Frog DGF 44 The Complete Recordings - Volume 5 ● CD $17.98
23 tracks, 71 minutes, essential
If you don't own any Bessie Smith discs, start here. This is the fifth release in Frog's acclaimed, eight-volume restoration of the great blues diva's Columbia output. With these March 1926 to March 1927 sessions, Columbia's New York engineers had fully mastered the intricacies of electrical recording. British sound restoration specialist John R.T. Davies supervised new digital transfers from pristine laminated 78s, resulting in the best-sounding CD in Frog's Smith series to date. As with the previous volumes, most sides feature musicians from Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra, usually clarinetist Buster Bailey, cornetist Joe Smith and Henderson on piano. Coleman Hawkins makes a rare appearance on clarinet on one date, and Jimmie Harrison and Charlie Green split trombone chores on two March 1927 sessions. This set features many bona-fide Smith standards, including What's the Matter Now (with composer Clarence Williams on piano), Jazzbo Brown from Memphis Town/ The Gin House Blues/ Send Me to 'Lectric Chair and Trombone Cholly. Smith penned six songs, including Young Woman Blues and two classics backed by stride piano master James P. Johnson: Preachin' the Blues and the topical Backwater Blues. The March 2, 1927, date features four pop tunes, possibly Columbia's attempt to duplicate Ethel Waters' crossover success. Smith clearly relishes chestnuts like Alexander's Ragtime Band/ There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight/ After You've Gone and the more contemporary Muddy Water. Columbia issued two takes of the latter, and both appear here. If you already have Columbia's Bessie Smith boxes, hang on to them for the graphics and Chris Albertson's notes. But once you hear the Frogs, you'll never play those Columbia discs again. (DS)
 
SMOKEY BABE/ HERMAN E. JOHNSON Arhoolie CD 440 Louisiana Country Blues ● CD $12.98
27 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
Two Arhoolie LPs on one CD featuring two Louisiana country bluesmen recorded by folklorist Harry Oster in 1960 & '61. Originally from Itta Bena, Mississippi Smokey Babe (Robert Brown) settled in Scotlandville, Louisiana and at times his style is a little reminiscent of his neighbor Robert Pete Williams but without Williams' anarchic approach. Babe is a wonderful vocalist with a deep expressive voice and is an intensely rhythmic guitarist. Most of his songs are original though strongly rooted in traditional elements. Several cuts feature harmonica accompaniment by Clyde Causey or Henry Thomas (Lazy Lester!) and there are two duets with the excellent Sally Dotson. Herman E. Johnson was some 20 years older than Babe and his stylings are more archaic but what a magnificent performer he is. He is a wonderful vocalist with a deep sombre approach and is a fine guitar player frequently using a knife blade as a slide. He frequently uses the guitar as second voice - singing along with Herman's vocal or completing his lines. On a few tracks he plays electric guitar and with the strings tuned low produces some remarkable rumbling bass ornamentations to his vocals on She Had Been Drinking. Johnson is so good it's surprising that these are his only recordings. Sound is excellent and the booklet features the original Oster liner notes. (FS)
HERMAN E. JOHNSON: Depression Blues/ I Just Keeps On Wanting/ I'm Growing Older/ Leavin' Blues/ Motherless Children/ Piano Blues/ Po' Boy/ She Had Been Drinking/ She's A-Looking For Me/ Where The Mansion's Prepared For Me/ You You Don't Know My Mind/ SMOKY BABE: Ain't Got No Rabbit Dog/ Bad Whiskey/ Black Gal/ Black Ghost/ Going Back Home/ I'm Broke And I'm Hungry/ Mississippi River/ My Baby Put Me Down/ My Baby She Told Me/ Rabbit Blues/ Regular Blues/ Too Many Women/ Two Wings

 
THE SOUL STIRRERS P-Vine PCD 5594/5 He's My Rock ● CD $37.98
Two CDs, 55 tracks, essential
Fantastic two CD set featuring almost all the recordings made by arguably the greatest of all post war gospel quartets prior to their signing for Specialty (1939-1948). The only thing missing are the titles where they back singer/ guitarist Willie Eason and Aladdin 2026 which, presumably, could not be found. Hailing from Trinity, Texas in the mid-1930's, the Soul Stirrers are largely responsible for creating the modern gospel quartet sound. Under the direction of their first lead singer, the brilliant Rebert H. Harris, they became the first gospel quartet to add an extra lead singer, thus enabling the lead to step "out front" while the second lead kept the four-part harmony intact. This style quickly became the accepted norm, as did Harris' innovative falsetto. Except for the earliest sides the leads are taken by Harris or baritone singer Heywood "James" Medlock and on a number they share the leads. Providing the harmonies are usually Senior Roy Crain (tenor), Thomas L. Bruster & R.B. Robinson (baritones) and Jesse James Farley (bass). Between them they generate a quiet yet bone shaking intensity without any resort to histrionics. The songs and harmonies have a beautiful and sublime quality that will send shiver after shiver down your spine. It's almost impossible to pick out favorites but be sure to check out the definitive version of Precious Lord, the exquisite This Friend Of MineOne Day and, if you think you never want to hear another verion of the carol Silent Night you should hear what these guys do with it! A few of the tracks are from very worn 78s but that won't bother you too much. This is the best and most important gospel release in years. (FS)

 
THE SOUL STIRRERS Specialty 7013 Shine On Me ● CD $14.98
The importance of the Rebert Harris led Soul Stirrers can hardly be overstated. Harris is widely credited with having pioneered the stylistic innovations that gave birth to the hard gospel sound of the 50's and to the soulful vocalizing of his protege, Sam Cooke, who took over this group's lead singing duties when Harris left. Highlights include By And By, the previously unissued Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, Everybody Out to Love Their Soul, How Long, The Lord is My Shepherd, and I Have A Right To The Tree Of Life. There are 26 cuts in all, 15 previously unissued. Good cover art, fine sound quality given the 1950 recording dates, and excellent notes by Ray Funk.. (DH)

 
SUNNYLAND SLIM WITH BIG TIME SARAH Arcola 1006 Long Tall Daddy ● CD $15.98
17 tracks, 52 minutes, highly recommended
Recorded nearly thirty years ago (May of 1976) in Seattle, Washington, blues piano's elder statesman (who was 70 at the time) laid down a terrific set of solo blues including many highlights. Earlier gems like Going Back To Memphis and The Devil Is A Busy Man get solid readings and he tears through Dust My Broom/ Prison Bound Blues/ The Dirty Dozens/ Roll And Tumble Blues with gusto. Big Time Sarah, Slim's 23-year old girlfriend at the time, appears on Long Tall Daddy and Got To See My Baby, and between songs, Sunnyland discusses some of the songs and their origins. A truly worthwhile disc with lengthy and detailed liner notes by Bill Berry. (CR)

 
THE SWAN SILVERTONES Acrobat ADDCD 3004 1946-1951 ● CD $13.98
Two CDs, 45 tracks, essential
Two CDs for the price of one but easily worth twice the price. This features all the pre-Specialty recordings of one of the greatest of all post war gospel groups. Originally formed as the Four Harmony Kings by the superb high tenor Claude Jeter in 1938 the group had changed it's name The Swan Silvertone Singers by the time they recorded their first session in July 1946 where Jeter was joined by baritones Solomon Womack (uncle of Bobby Womack) and John Myles with bass singer William Johnson. This first session of eight songs is in the traditional jubilee style pioneered by The Golden Gate Quartet but by the second session they adopted a looser and ahrder gospel style with Jeter and Womack trading off leads and by their June, 1950 session they ascend into the stratosphere with the addition of the ferocious baritone Rev. Percell Perkins (formerly with the Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi) whose declmatory preaching style puts him in the same league as the great Silas Steele. This is post war gospel at its very finest with execellent sound and informed notes by Opal Louis Nations in the 12 page booklet as wella s full discographical info. A must! (FS)
THE SWAN SILVERTONES: All Aboard/ All Alone/ All Night All Day/ Backslider's Plea/ Careless Soul/ Depending On Jesus/ Down On My Knees/ Every Day Seems Like Sunday/ Father Alone/ Go Ahead/ Grant It Lord/ He's My All/ I Believe/ I Cried Holy/ I Done Made It Up In My Mind/ I Got A Mother Done Gone/ I Got A Witness/ I Must Tell Jesus/ I Want My Crown/ I Want To Dig A Little Deeper/ I Want To Rest/ I'll Search Heaven/ I'm Gonna Wait/ I'm Tired/ I've Tried/ In That Upper Room/ Jesus Is God's Atomic Bomb/ Jesus Met The Woman At The Well/ Jesus Never Fails/ Live So God Can Use You/ Long Ago/ Mother's Cry/ My God's Getting Us Ready/ My Lord Done What He Said/ My Time Done Come/ No Not A One/ Over Yonder/ Standing In The Safety Zone/ These Bones Gwine Rise Again/ Toll The Bell/ Use Me Lord/ What Could I Do/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ Working On A Building

 
BIG MAMA THORNTON Arhoolie 305 Ball N' Chain ● CD $12.98
One of the great voices in modern blues recorded in her prime with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Buddy Guy, Fred McDowell, etc. with the best from Arhoolie 1028, 1032, & 1039. Includes Ball N' Chain/ Hound Dog/ My Heavy Load and more than 60 minutes of music.
BIG MAMA THORNTON: Ball N' Chain/ Black Rat/ Bumble Bee/ Gimme A Penny/ Hound Dog