NEWSLETTER #14 8
Blues & Gospel
Kokomo Arnold
->
Jimmy Reed +
DVDS
CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH"
BROWN |
New West 8052 |
Live From Austin, Texas |
● DVD $16.98 |
The great Texas singer, guitarist and fiddle player
recorded live on Austin City Limits in February 1996. 10 tunes including
Ain't That Dandy/ Honky-Tonk/ Bits And Pieces/ There You Are/ Things
Ain't What They Used To Be
|
ALBERT COLLINS |
New West 8051 |
Live From Austin, Texas |
● DVD $16.98 |
The "Master Of The Telecaster" with 10 tracks broadcast
live in October, 1991 - Mr Collins, Mr. Collins/ Iceman/ Put The Shoe
On The Other Foot/ Head Rag/ Frosty, etc.
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REV. GARY DAVIS |
Vestapol 13111 |
The Video Collection |
● DVD $23.98 |
Stefan Grossman has collected every piece of film footage
that he could find of the great Rev. Gary Davis to compile for this
remarkable tribute to a remarkable singer and guitarist. Featuring 31
performances - many of them appearing on DVD for the first time, it
includes clips from a short film that played in theatres in the early 60s,
a mid 60s appearance on Pete Seeger's "Rainbow Quest" TV show, footage
from the Anthropology Department of the University Of Washington in 1969
filmed at the home of John Ullman, a concert from the same trip, two clips
from the film "Black Roots" made by independent maverick filmmaker Lionel
Rogosin in 1970 and very faint footage (with good sound) made at the
wedding of John Gibbon (One of Davis's earliest New York students).
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LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS |
Vestapol 13022 |
Rare Performances, 1960-1979 |
● DVD $23.98 |
19 songs, 58 mins, black & white/ color, essential
Now on
DVD. Although the great Texas country bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins was
fairly prolific on record and in person, after he was "rediscovered" in
1959, his appearances on film and TV were few and far between, so this
collection is particularly welcome. It opens with the earliest known
footage shot by a German filmmaker in 1960 featuring Lightnin' in great
form doing a song on the streets of Houston and in a bar. There are 5
performances from 1967 - three from University Of Washington and two from
the Seattle Folklore Society including one of his wonderful topical songs
Hurricane Beulah. There 8 songs from a 1970 TV show in Los Angeles
- Lightnin' is relaxed and jokes with the audience in between some
wonderful performances including the beautiful Shining Moon which
Mark Humphrey describes in the enclosed booklet as being "one of
Lightnin's most luminously poetic works" - yes indeed. Finally from 1979
we have an uptown version of Lightnin wearing a jacket with "LH" in
sequins, playing a Stratocaster and accompanied by bass and drums. He even
adds a wah-wah pedal on a couple of songs! Video comes with a 32 page
booklet with a biography, discussion of the songs, tributes and some fine
photos. A must! (FS)
|
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Monterey Video 319452 |
Gospel |
● DVD $17.98 |
DVD issue of 1982 film featuring live concert appearances
by Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins
Family, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy and The Clark Sisters.
|
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Shanachie DVD 6801 |
And This Is Free - The Life And Times Of
Chicago's Lege |
● DVD $27.90 |
DVD/ CD package. A remarkable tribute to Chicago's famed
Maxwell Street market - a melting pot of cultures where all manner of
goods were sold and entertainment was provided by street musicians, often
some of Chicago's greatest blues musicians. Centerpice of the set is the
50 minute title documentary shot by Mike Shea in 1964. As well as being a
fascinating look at the activities at the market itself it also includes
street performances by a number of fine blues & gopsel musicians including
Robert Nighthawks, James Brewer, Blind Arvella Gray and others. There is
also a 30 minute documentary "Maxwell Street:A Living Memory" - a look at
the area's early days through the eyes of Jewish merchants who worked in
the market. There is also an animated show of period photos, a travelogue
and found footage. The CD features 17 tracks ranging from the 20s through
the 50s of artists who worked on Maxwell Street including J.B. Hutto, Baby
face Leroy, Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young, Daddy Stovepipe & Mississippi
Sarah, John Lee Granderson, Boll Weevil, Papa Charlie Jackson and others.
Finally, there is a 36 page booklet with articles from writers who spent
time on Maxwell Street, vintage photos, anecodtes, etc.
|
DIANA
BRAITHWAITE & CHRIS WHITELEY |
Electro-Fi 3399 |
Morning Sun |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 41 min., recommended
A set of originals that harken back to the 1930s recordings of Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Minnie, and
various Bluebird artists is certainly a fine idea. And the
multi-instrumentalist Whiteley has a facility with the guitar. What's
missing is the emotion, the blood and sinew that is blues. Technically
solid performances and decent songs, but nothing moving, nothing that
makes you happy to be alive. The title track, last on the disc, comes
pretty close, but it's too little too late. So what did Memphis Minnie and
Lonnie Johnson have that these two don't? For lack of a better word, let's
call it massive talent. (JC)
|
TOMCAT COURTNEY |
Blue Witch 105 |
Downsville Blues |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, highly recommended
A most welcome release. I
had the privilege of record ing Thomas "Tomcat" Courtney back in the 70s
when I ran my own Advent label. Since then he's been pretty much under the
radar, performing regularly in clubs in San Diego and issuing a couple of
self produced albums but finally gets national distribution with this new
album recorded when he was almost 80 years old. Tomcat sounds pretty much
as he did over 30 years ago with a truly powerful voice which is also
capable of great subtlety and plays solid down home guitar. He was born
and grew up in Texas and his blues is strongly rooted in the music he
heard when he was growing up but without sounding archaic. He is
accompanied here by a solid band including his long time guitarist Chris
James, harmonica player Bob Corritore and sturdy bass and drums. His
material is a mix of old favorites (Neet Me In The Botton/ Cryin' Won't
Help/ Bottle It Up And Go), original songs based on traditional themes
(Cook My Breakfast/ Wolf That Howls, etc) and a couple of semi
autobiographical and topical pieces (Downsville Blues/ Disaster Blues
and Railroad Avenue). A number of the tracks feature Tomcat just by
James and his own guitar and these are among the highlights here. Fine
unpretentious music. (FS)
|
REVEREND GARY DAVIS |
Document 32-20-14 |
Manchester Free Trade Hall, 1964 |
● CD $15.98 |
Fine set of live performances by this great performer
recorded live in England in 1964. Sound quality is not optimal but is
listenable and Gary is in fine form on a selection of some of his most
well known songs and tunes along with a couple of lesser known items. On
The Sun Is Going Down he is joined by Sonny terry on harmonica and
shows his own harmonica prowess on Coon Hunt. Also includes You
Got To Move/ I'm A Soldier/ Sally Please Come Back To Me/ Cincinnati Flow
Rag/ Maple Leaf Rag and others - 10 in all.
|
THE DEEP RIVER BOYS |
Acrobat ACMCD 4262 |
Let's Go |
● CD $14.98 |
28 tracks, highly recommended
The Deep River Boys were a
black vocal group formed in the mid 30s by baritone singer Harry Douglass.
They recorded fairly extensively in the 40s and 50s doing both gospel and
jivey pop material. In the 50s they toured extensively in Europe where
they became very popular and recorded regularly. The notes to this
collection by Opal Louis Nations are extensive but vague as to the date
of these recordings here but I believe most of them are from the period
1946 through 1950. Highlights are six stunning acapella recorded for the
obscure Pilotone label in 1945 or '46 including Get On Board Little
Children/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ I'm Trampin' and others. On most of
the other tracks they are accompanied by piano or rhythm section and
tracks include Carmena Waltz Song/ I Am Bound For Sweet Canaan Land/
You Talk Too Much/ A Zoot Suit/ Cousin Jedidiah/ What Did He Say/ That's
What You Need To Succeed/ Ain't Misbehavin', etc. Sound quality is
generally excellent. (FS)
|
BULLMOOSE JACKSON |
Fabulous 2018 |
We Ain't Got Nothin' (But The The Blues),
1945-1953 |
● CD $11.98 |
2 CDs, 49 tracks, 134 mins, highly recommended
A few Bull
Moose Jackson collections have come out over the years, but I don't recall
any of them being this comprehensive or have even half of the material
gathered here. I suppose the main reason for the big difference is that
all of the other compilations focus on only Bull Moose's rowdy and raunchy
cuts and don't bother with the rest of his career; this comp does. All the
hot infamous tracks like Big Ten Inch Record/ I Want A Bow-Legged
Woman/ Nosey Joe, etc. are here and sounding great. You also get ole
Bull Mouse adding hot sax onto records by Lucky Millinder (Someday/
Shorty's Gotta Go, and more) and Anisteen Allen (I Know How To Do
It/ The Blues Done Got Me and More, More, More). There's some
lush orchestral music as well as the swingin' jump blues that you expect.
Extensive recording notes and a bit of back-story make up the booklet.
This is the best Bull Mouse Jackson compilation out there by far. (JM)
|
FRUTELAND JACKSON |
Electro-Fi 3401 |
Tell Me What You Say |
● CD $15.98 |
11 tracks, 53 min., highly recommended
Performing acoustic
blues in the traditional Piedmont and Delta styles, Jackson writes deeply
felt and moving original blues about subjects from the Iraq war to the I.R.S. to gambling to his grandfather. His It's All Good which
brings to mind (mine at least) Casey Bill Weldon, is upbeat and positive,
while Blues Over Bagdad is chilling. Songs such as The I.R.S.,
I Won and A Gambler's View show off a cleverness and
self-awareness rare in modern blues. Accessible and pleasing. (JC)
|
ELMORE JAMES |
Charly SNAP 260 |
The Final Sessions - New York, 1963 |
● CD $13.98 |
Two sessions from February, 1963 - 21 tracks plus a short
conversation. Includes My Baby's Gone/ Look On Yonder Wall/ It Hurts Me
Too/ Everyday I have The Blues/ Twelve Year Old Boy/ I Gotta Go Now/ Make
My Dreams Come True/ Can't Stop Loving My Baby/ Elmore Jumps One/ Hand In
Hand (Takes 1, 3 & 4)/ Find My Kind Of Woman and others. Includes
eight page illustrated booklet with detailed notes by Dave Penny and
discographical details.
|
CARLOS JOHNSON |
P-Vine 25050 |
Live At B.L.U.E.S. On Halsted |
● CD $22.98 |
Japanese release only. Solid set of contemporary Chicago
blues recorded at the B.L.U.E.S. club in Chicago in 2006. Singer/
guitarist Johnson is accompanied by a tight backup trio on some originals
and old favorites. Nine songs in all including C.J's Swing/ I'll Play
The Blues For You/ I'm Cold And I'm Wondering/ What's Goin On/ I Wonder
Why, etc.
|
LOUIS JORDAN |
Rev-Ola 244 |
Rock Doc! |
● CD $15.98 |
28 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Sub-titled Louis
Jordan on Mercury 1956-57, this basically marks the beginning of the end
for Jordan commercially and the literal end to his classic Tympany Five
backing band. With Rock 'N' Roll exploding all over the place, Louis
Jordan was struggling to get the attention and dates that he certainly
deserved, but was not getting. Mercury records themselves were not even
interested in new material, but instead they wanted him to re-make all his
classic Decca sides, which actually isn't nearly as lame an idea as it
sounds. With advances in technology it made for a dynamic new sound, and
with the advent and popularity of the full length LP record, it would be
the first time you could get an entire collection of Jordan's great
material, especially since much of his Decca work wasn't in print at that
point. Also making for great new sessions were the cream of the New York
session men used, so you get a new Caldonia etc, with Mickey Baker
on guitar, Sam Taylor on Sax, and Quincy Jones as musical director! All
together about half of this collection are fantastic re-workings of his
old songs, then the rest are split up between new tracks at the time like
Rock Doc!/ Big Bess/ The Jamf, and The Slop with covers
Route 66/ Got My Mojo Working/ The Nearness of You, etc. So although
not exactly in his prime, he's still down right incredible and it is a
shame that he didn't get the attention deserved during this period. I am a
huge Louis Jordan fan and this collection is essential for those like me
and highly recommended for the rest! (JM)
|
MARIE KNIGHT |
M.C. Records 58 |
Let Us Get Together - A Tribute To
Reverend Gary Davis |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 41 min., highly recommended
After the album's
producer, Mark Carpentieri, found Marie Knight and heard her sing, he was
so impressed that he wanted to cut a whole album with her. His choice of
Reverend Gary Davis material turns out to have been inspired, but for her
part, Knight hadn't even heard of Davis. Their musical worlds revolved
around the same Son, but their orbits were far from identical. Davis
played in a country blues, ragtime-influenced Piedmont style, and Knight
was a city singer used to touring with Sister Rosetta Tharpe and recording
with top-flight jazz musicians. This satisfying tribute is as much about
Knight as Davis, and while advanced in years--she's been touring since
1939!--no aplogies or excuses need be made for her voice, which is still a
rich, round instrument, if not as full of sheer power as in its prime.
Guitarist and arranger Larry Campbell holds the project together with
sure-fingered renditions of a dozen Davis tunes, avoiding the mistake of
absolute imitation, while never straying from the true spirit of the
music. He throws in some mighty impressive violin and mandolin too. On two
tracks, Catherine Russell adds the urgency of her voice, and Kim Wilson of
the Fabulous Thunderbirds contributes some blues harp on Twelve Gates
To The City and Death Don't Have No Mercy. Says here that the
bonus Knight interview video track will play on most computers. (JC)
|
LITTLE MILTON |
Shout 41 |
If Walls Could Talk |
● CD $18.98 |
17 tracks, essential
Reissue of Chess 3012 from 1969 with six bonus tracks. Gene Barge puts
together a blazing horn led band with Donny Hathaway on piano on several
cuts to back Milton on a superb collection of soul and blues including the
big hit title song along with other hits like Let's Get Together/ Poor
Man's Song and Baby I Love You and some great covers like
Things I Used To Do/ Kansas City and Blues Get Off My Shoulder.
Bonus cuts includes his hit and one of his trademark songs Grits Ain't
Groceries, stunning covers of The Dark End Of The Street and
I (Who Have Nothing)
and more. This is Milton at the peak of his powers with great songs,
magnificent singing, a killer band and a few flashes of Milton's dynamite
guitar work. Includes 12 page booklet with extensive notes, label shots
and photos. Soul-blues doesn't get much better than this. (FS)
|
LITTLE BROTHER
MONTGOMERY |
Southland 39 |
Little Brother Montgomery |
● CD $13.98 |
13 tracks, 59 min, recommended
Having begun professional
recording in 1929, blues piano master Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery
enjoyed a long and prolific career. He laid down these tracks in London in
1972, when he was 66 years old and in spite of a stroke he suffered in the
late 60s his singing and playing are still strong. He does a few of his
old classics like Crescent City Blues and No Special Rider,
more recent compositions like Elementary Blues and Little
Brother's Little Boogie and his take on jazz tunes like King Oliver's
Muleface, Louis Armstrong's Someday You'll be Sorry and a
medley of Duke Ellington tunes. Most of t he tracks are instrumental.
Between tunes Little Brother reminisces about his life and music. A most
worthwhile collection. (FS)
|
DARRELL NULISCH |
Severn 041 |
Goin' Back To Dallas |
● CD $15.98 |
11 tracks, 41 min., recommended
Soulful singer and
distinguished harmonica player Nulisch set out to capture that "live gig"
feel on this (studio live) set of half covers, half originals, and he
generally succeeds. Occasionally, the energy level is lower than it needs
to be, even while the playing is uniformly excellent. Nulisch sounds best
riding his own compositions. He sounds looser and more at ease on Feel
Like Ramblin' than he does on Sonny Boy Williamson's She's My Baby.
But he sounds pretty good all the time. This release is more bare-boned
and blues-based than much of his previous work, and his harp work plays a
larger role. Another solid outing from a fine singer. (JC)
|
KING OLIVER |
Frog DGF 68 |
Blues Singers & Hot Bands On OKeh |
● CD $17.98 |
22 tracks, 67 mins, highly recommended
Fabulous collection
of 20s blues and jazz featuring the brilliant and influential New Orleans
cornetist Joe "King" Oliver recorded between 1924 and 1929. There is an
outstanding selection of vocalists here including the superb vaudeville
duo Butterbeans and Susie accompanied by Oliver and Clarence Williams on
piano - a duo who accompany several of the singers here. There are three
tracks by the brilliant Texas singer Sippie Wallace including the
fascinating Devil Dance Blues - on these the piano role is taken by
Sippie's brother Hersal Thomas. Other vocalists include Elizabeth Johnson
(a fine cover of Bessie Smith's Empty bed Blues), Hazel Smith,
Victoria Spivey (three tracks with Clarence Williams Blue 5) and,
surprisingly, country bluesman Texas Alexander with Oliver and Williams
joined by guitarist Eddie Lang. The instrumental tracks include sides by
the lively Clarence Williams Washboard Five, Clarence Williams Orchestra,
Clarence Williams & His Novelty Four (two tracks including one with Eddie
Lang on violin) and Blind Willie Dunn's Gin Bottle Four (featuring the
glorious duet guitar work of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson). Stellar music
from beginning to end, superbly remastered by Ted kendall and with
extensive notes by John Capes. (FS)
|
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
JSP 8811 |
The London Concert |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 45 mins, highly recommended
Previously
available as JSP 805 and now repackaged in a handsome digipack format.
Fess was in great form at this March, 1978 concert accompanied only by his
conga player Alfred Roberts giving his great piano playing a lot of
opportunity to shine. The material is mostly Longhair favorites like
Mess Around/ Whole Lot Of Loving/ Baldhead/ Big Chief/ Everyday I Have The
Blues/ Rockin' Pneumonia/ P.L. Boogie. Sound quality is good. (FS)
|
ALTON REDD |
Blue Moon 6057 |
The Blues Singing Drummers, Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
28 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Superb collection
of West Coast urban blues featuring the outstanding singer and drummer
Alton Redd. Originally from New Orleans, Redd settled in Los Angeles in
the early 1920s and started performing in the late 20s but didn't record
until 1945 when he made his first recordings for the Black & White label -
these recordings along with a 1946 session for Bel-Tone were with his own
group The Low Down Blues Band which included musicians like Harold Morrow,
Snooky Young and Maxwell Davis. On these sides Alton sings a fine
selection of blues with traditional themes in an warm expressive style
that is a little reminiscent of Jimmy Rushing. His next sessions date from
1947 and find him as vocalist with Poison Gardner & His All Stars and King
Porter's Orchestra which feature basically the same line up with the
Poison Gardner session featuring Gardner on piano. These are larger groups
than his first sessions and include trumpeter Jake "King" Porter and three
saxes. Redd's vocals here have a grittier quality than his earlier sides
and the lyrics, usually by Porter, are more contemporary in flavor. His
final two sessions are from 1949 and were issued under the name of Big Red
Alton and he is featured with a different but excellent group of musicians
on a selection of original compositions. Thus ends the recording career of
this obscure but exceptional vocalist. Sound quality is superb and there
are detailed notes and full discographical details. (FS)
|
JIMMY REED |
Shout Factory 10638 |
Best Of The Vee-Jay Years |
● CD $13.98 |
18 tracks, highly recommended
Shout Factory is doing some
fine reissues from the Vee-Jay records catalog. Here we have Blues legend
Jimmy Reed's classic material re-issued again in an attractive package
with solid notes and fine sound. If you don't have a "best of" by him, one
is essential in any proper roots collection and this one meets all of the
requirements. (JM)
JIMMY REED: Ain't That Lovin' You Baby/ Baby What You
Want Me To Do/ Big Boss Man/ Bright Lights Big City/ Can't Stand To See
You Go/ Going To New York/ High And Lonesome/ Honest I Do/ Honey, Where
You Going?/ Hush-Hush/ I Ain't Got You/ I'm Gonna Get My Baby/ Little
Rain/ Oh John/ Shame Shame Shame/ Take Out Some Insurance/ You Don't Have
To Go/ You've Got Me Dizzy
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