NEWSLETTER #14 8
Blues & Gospel
Tommy Ridgley -
> Josh White
| TOMMY RIDGLEY |
Acrobat ADDCD 3031 |
King Of The Stroll |
● CD $18.98 |
Two CDs, 44 tracks, highly recommended
Terrific collection
of blues, R&B and black rock 'n' roll from this outstanding New Orleans
singer, songwriter and bandleader featuring his entire recorded output cut
between 1949 and 1959 including sides issued under his name as well as a
couple of cuts as vocalist with the Dave Bartholomew Orchestra and a couple
of cuts issued as by The Royal Playboys and The Shrewsbury Kid. All the
sides through 1952 were produced by Bartholomew with such great New Orleans
sidemen as Clarence Hall, Alvin "Red" Tyler, Salvador Doucette, Ernest
McLean and others. For his 1953 & '54 sessions he recorded with different
but great New Orleans sidemen including two tracks with Ray Charles on
piano. After a couple of years without recordings he moved to Herald in 1957
and cut 19 sides - several not originally issued. These sessions were
produced by Lee Allen - again with superb New Orleans musicians like Melvin Lastie, Red Tyler and others. A few of these tracks are rather forgettable
rock 'n' roll novelties and whoever thought of having Tommy record Mairzy
Doats should have had his head examined. Nonetheless most of these tracks
are very fine. Soun d quality is excellent and there are informative notes by
Bob Fisher and full discographical data. (FS)
TOMMY RIDGLEY: A Day Is Coming/ Alone But Not Lonely/
Anything But Love/ Baby Do Liddle/ Baby Do Liddle (Alt Take)/ Boogie Woogie
Mama/ Booted/ Come Back Baby/ Come Home Baby/ Ding Dong School/ Early Dawn
Boogie/ Good Times/ Got You On My Mind/ How I Feel/ I Live My Life/ I’ll Be
True/ I’m Gonna Cross That River/ I’ve Got My Eyes On You/ I’ve Heard That
Story Before/ Jam Up (Twist)/ Junie Mae/ Just A Memory/ Lavinia/ Lawdy Lawdy
Lawd Pt 1/ Lawdy Lawdy Lawd Pt 2/ Lonely Man Blues/ Lonely Tune/ Looped/
Mairzy Doats And Dozy Doats/ Memory Melody/ Monkey Man/ Nobody Cares/ Once
In A Lifetime/ Ooh Lawdy My Baby/ Real Gone Jam/ Shrewsbury Blues/ The Girl
Across The Street/ Tina/ Tra La La/ Tra La La- Dave Bartholomew/ What’cha
Gonna Do/ When I Meet My Girl/ Wish I Had Never/ Woncha Gone
|
| HOUSTON STACKHOUSE |
Big Legal Mess 203 |
And Friends - The George Mitchell Collection |
● CD $9.98 |
14 tracks, 42 mins, highly recommended
Fine set of sides
recorded by legendary Mississippi bluesman Houston Stackhouse for George
Mitchell. Stackhouse is featured on most of the vocals and plays electric
guitar and is joined by his most famous student Robert Nighthawk on second
guitar, Houston Goff on bass and the great anarchic drummer James "Peck"
Curtis. Stackhouse's greatest influence was the great Tommy Johnson and he
performs six of Johnson's songs in an updated electric juke joint style
including Big Road Blues/ Big Fat Mama Blues and Canned Heatalong
with some other fine covers (Take A Little Walk With Me/ Mean Old World,
etc.) Nighthawk takes lead vocal on a wonderfully shambolic version of
Kansas City Blues which features an unidentified harmonica player
(Stackhouse?) and Curtis does the splendid Right Around The Corner.
Fine down home blues but it's a shame that they didn't include all the
titles from this session which includes two more by Nighthawk and the
wonderful and moving Death Of Sonny Boy Williamson by Curtis. Still,
there's nothing to complain about what is here. (FS)
|
| MARY STAFFORD
& EDITH WILSON |
Archeophone 6006 |
Ain't Gonna Settle Down |
● CD $27.98 |
The complete recordings of two of the earliest women blues
singers to record. The obscure but highly regarded Mary Stafford recorded 14
tracks between 1921 and 1926 accompanied by various jazz bands. Edith Wilson
is much better known and after the 33 tracks here recorded between 1921 and
1930 had an extensive career in the entertainment business though not in the
recording studio and after retiring in 1966 she was persuaded to perform
again and recorded several albums in the early 70s. Many of her sides here
feature her in the company of Johnny Dunn's Original Jazz House while others
find her in the company of musicians like Don Redman, Fletcher Henderson,
Wilbur De Paris, Bubber Miley and others and, on two tracks, she is
accompanied by white guitarist Roy Smeck. As usual for Archeophone the sound
quality is impeccable and the set comes with a 32 page booklet with
extensive, rare photos and full discographical data.
BUBBER MILEY AND HIS MILEAGE MAKERS (VOCAL BY E: Loving
You the Way I Do/ The Penalty of Love/ MARY STAFFORD: Ain’t Got Nobody to
Grind My Coffee in the Morning/ Take Your Finger Off It/ Arkansas Blues/
Blind Man Blues/ Crazy Blues/ Down Home Blues/ Down Where They Play the
Blues/ If You Don’t Want Me Send Me to My Ma/ I’m Gonna Jazz My Way Right
Straight Thru Paradise/ I’ve Lost My Heart to the Meanest Girl in Town/
Monday Morning Blues/ Royal Garden Blues/ Strut Miss Lizzie/ Wild Weeping
Blues/ EDITH WILSON: (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue/ I’ll Get Even
with You/ My Handy Man Ain’t Handy No More/ My Man Is Good for Nothing but
Love/ How Come You Do Me Like You Do?/ Muscle Shoals Blues/ It’s Gonna Be a
Cold, Cold Winter/ There’ll Be Some Changes Made/ Daddy, Change Your Mind/
Double Crossin' Papa/ He’s a Mean Mean Man (But He’s Good to Me)/ I Don’t
Know and I Don’t Care Blues/ Dixie Blues/ Evil Blues/ Frankie/ He May Be
Your Man (But He Comes to See Me Sometimes)/ He Used to Be Your Man but He’s
My Man Now/ I Don’t Want Nobody Blues/ Lonesome Mama Blues/ Mammy, I’m
Thinking of You/ Nervous Blues/ Old Time Blues/ Pensacola Blues (Home Again
Croon)/ Rules and Regulations “Signed Razor Jim”/ Take It ‘Cause It’s All
Yours/ The West Texas Blues/ Vampin’ Liza Jane/ What Do You Care (What I
Do)/ Birmingham Blues/ Wicked Blues
|
| T-MODEL FORD |
Mudpuppy 001 |
Jack Daniel Time |
● CD $14.98 |
11 tracks, recommended
Fine set of Missi ssi ppi juke joint blues
featuring 83 year old James "T-Model" Ford who previously had several albums
on Fat Possum. Ford is presented in several settings - solo acoustic,
electric guitar accompanied by legendary drummer from the Jelly Roll Kings,
Sam Carr and with a small group including harmonica player Terry Bean and
drummer Lee Williams. Ford's material is a mix of covers of blues favorites
along with original songs b ased on traditional themes. Ford's singing and
playing are solid and hypnotic and the varied arrangements make for an
entertaining selection. (FS)
|
| RUFUS THOMAS |
Document DOCD 5683 |
Tiger Man - Earliest Recordings, 1950-1957 |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 53 mins, highly recommended
Legendary singer,
dancer, comedian, DJ and all-around entertainer Rufus Thomas' early days in
front of a recording mi ke are covered here. From his first recordings for
small-time Dallas, Texas label Star Talent and Nashville label Bullet to
tenures on Chess and Sun, Thomas demonstrates that he was so much more than
Walkin' the Dog. There are four previously unissued tracks including
the driving Who's That Chick and the down 'n dirty Double Trouble
from his first session which are exceptional. There's other R&B/blues gems
like Beer Bottle Boogie/ Night Workin' Blues/ Juanita, and Walkin'
in the Rain to savor. Although it's true that traces of his later, more
'novelty' oriented recordings can be heard in songs like the previously
unissued Sun cut I'm Off That Stuff and his Sun hit Bear Cat
with hot guitar from Joe Hill Louis and Floyd Murphy, this music is not to
be taken lightly and Thomas deserves your respect and ears! (GMC)
|
| GEORGE VANN |
Blue Moon 6056 |
The Blues Singing Drummers, Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
27 tracks, recommended
Collection of sides recorded between
1944 and 1947 by various groups featuring drummer and singer George Vann,
originally from Oklahoma. The groups are varied and the material ranges from
syrupy ballads to jumping R&B and on the latter Vann sounds a little like
Joe Turner. In addition to the vocals there are a couple of nice vocals and
some of the vocals are taken by other singers like Mata Roy and Betty Hall
Jones. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat ADDCD 3001 |
The Derby Records Story |
● CD $18.98 |
Two CDs, 58 tracks, highly recommended
Another great label
oriented collection from Acrobat - this time devoted to the New York based
Derby label which was active from 1949 through 1953 primarily recorded
blues, R&B and vocal group harmony though it had it's greatest success in
1952 and '53 with several pop recordings. This two CD features 58 sides
arranged approximately chronologically and concentrating on it's blues,
gospel and R&B output though the label's most popular pop artist Jaye P.
Morgan is also featured on her cover of The Five Royals Baby Don't Do It.
The label's earliest star was tenor saxist Freddie Mitchell and his
Orchestra who became the house band for Derby in it's first couple of years.
There seven hot sides here by Mitchell including his big hits Doby'
Boogie and Easter Parade and his Moondog's Boogie recorded
in honor of Allan Freed and is featured in the 1956 movie "Rock, Rock,
Rock." The great blues shouter "H-Bomb" Ferguson is featured here on his
debut recording from 1951 Wine Head/ Hard Levin' Woman and there are
lots more goodies here from Doc Pomus, Bobby Mitchell, Cootie Williams & His
Orch. (his rollicking R&B cover of Merle Travis's Divorce Me C.O.D.),
Big Sheba (obscure but very fine female rocker), The King Odom Four (jumping
vocal group), Jimmy Preston, The Imperials, Eunice Davis, Brownie McGhee,
Champion Jack Dupree, Sammy Cotton and others. There some reissues of Derby
material a few years ago but this release is superior in every way with
great sound, informative notes, artist photos and reproductions of
advertisements. (FS)
EUNICE AVIS: Evening Train/ BIG SHEBA: Alphabet Blues/
Soft Soapin' Mama/ JOE BLACK ORCHESTRA: Beetle/ Mainliner/ HONEY BROWN:
Lonesome And Mistreated/ Rockin' And Jumpin'/ SAMMY COTTON: Back Bitin'/
Here Comes The Rain/ We're Gonna Ball This Morning/ EUNICE DAVIS: I'm A Wild
West Woman/ Rock Little Daddy/ SARAH 'FAT WOMAN' DEAN: Long Lean Daddy/
CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Woman I Love/ BILLY FAIR: Boogie In The Morning/ I'll
Be True To You/ BOB 'H-BOMB' FERGUSON: Hard Lovin' Woman/ Wine Head/ THE
FOUR FELLOWS: I Tried/ SUNNY GALE: Wheel Of Fortune/ BOBBY HARRIS: Up And
Down The Hill/ WALTER 'SANDMAN' HOWARD: Cuttin' Out/ Willow Tree Blues/
WILLIE HUNTER: I'm In Love With You Baby/ Willie's Blues/ THE IMPERIALS:
Hard Workin' Woman/ Why Did You Leave Me/ THE JAMES QUINTET: Paw's In The
Kitchen/ LITTLE BOY BLUES: Drinkin' Little Woman/ THE MAJORS: Come On Up To
My Room/ Laughing On The Outside/ BROWNIE MCGHEE: All Night Party/ I'm Gonna
Move Across The River/ I'm Gonna Move Across The River/ Sleepless Nights/
BOBBY MITCHELL: My Gal Wants A Millionaire/ Red Beans And Rice/ Standing On
The Corner/ FREDDIE MITCHELL & ORCHESTRA: Boogie Blues/ Derby/ Doby's
Boogie/ Easter Parade/ Hot Ice/ Moondog Boogie/ Slider/ JAYE P. MORGAN: Baby
Don't Do It/ KING ODOM QUARTET: All Of Me/ Lover Come Back To Me/ DOC POMUS:
Kiss My Wrist/ Traveling Doc/ JIMMY PRESTON: My Baby Left Me/ Roll Roll
Roll/ Oh Babe/ THE STRIDERS: I May Hate Myself In The Morning/ CEDRIC
WALLACE ORCHESTRA: Flyin' Star Boogie/ Walking Holmes/ EDDIE WILCOX
ORCHESTRA: Shuffle Express/ COOTIE WILLIAMS ORCHESTRA: Divorce Me COD
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat ACMCD 4210 |
Texas Gospel, Vol. 2 - Be What You Are |
● CD $15.98 |
Acrobat's second collection of gospel quartet singing
recorded for the Duke and Peacock labels features 24 tracks from 1953 and
'54 - most making their first appearance on CD - The Christland Singers,
Southern Tones, Sunset Travelers, Mid South Singers, Heaven Bound Four,
Southern Wonders and The Christian Travelers.
THE CHRISTIAN TRAVELLERS: Make More Room For Jesus In Your
Heart/ Oh What A Saviour/ Only A Pilgrim/ Well Done/ THE CHRISTLAND SINGERS:
Am I Too Close/ Keep Me Pt. 1/ Keep Me Pt. 2/ Someday Somewhere/ THE HEAVEN
BOUND FOUR: I'm Giving Up This World/ There's A Hand Gone Before/ THE MID
SOUTH SINGERS: Lord Come And See Me/ Will Meet You In The Morning/ THE
SOUTHERN TONES: Be What You Are/ I'm Going On In His Name/ It Must Be Jesus/
Just A Closer Walk With Thee/ My Mind On Jesus/ The Dying Sinner/ THE
SOUTHERN WONDERS: How Much More Can I Bear/ I'll Fly Away/ THE SUNSET
TRAVELLERS: I'm Building A Home/ My Number Will Be Changed/ Wish I Was In
Heaven Sitting Down/ Yes Yes I've Done My Duty
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat ACMCD 4263 |
The Jaxyson Records Story |
● CD $15.98 |
Incredible collection of blues and gospel recorded for the
tiny Jaxyson label in Oakland, California in the late 40s. Not only have
most of these 25 tracks not appeared on CD, 13 have never been issued in any
form and were turned up a few years ago on acetates being sold at a swap
meet - 7 of them by unknown artists. The rest includes tracks by Black
Diamond, Goldrush, Johnny Fuller, Charles White, The Rainbow Gospel Singers,
etc. More details next time.
SUSAN BENNETT: Singing In My Soul/ BLACK DIAMOND: Lonesome
Blues/ JOSEPH BUTLER: Texas Blues (T.P. Railer)/ BROTHER JOHNNY FULLER: I
Must Tell Jesus/ JOHNNY FULLER: From Bad To Worse (incomplete)/ GOLDRUSH:
All My Money Is Gone/ Hold That Train, Conductor/ THE GOSPEL TRUMPETS:
Constantly Abiding/ Good Morning To Heaven/ REV. L.H. NARCISSE: I'm Going To
Tell God/ What Could I Do/ THE RAINBOW GOSPEL SINGERS: On The Battlefield/
Today/ SISTER RITA: Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet, Gabriel/ UNKNOWN ARTIST:
Goin' Back Down In Old Mobile/ I’ll Meet You in the Morning/ Jaxyson
Scratch/ Say A Word/ Stand By Me/ Standing On Jordan/ Weep Below, Children,
(Weep No More)/ CHARLES WHITE: Didn't It Rain/ Stand By Me/ How Long/ Well
Done
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat 9011 |
The Trilon Records Story, 1946-1948 |
● CD $28.98 |
Three CD set, 81 tracks, highly recommended
Another
imaginative new release from the good folks at Acrobat and compiler Opal
Louis Nations comprising around two thirds of the output of this small West
Coast label. A mix of blues, R&B, jazz, jive, gospel and more pop flavored
items. Although some of this has been out before, there is quite a lot
that's new to CD. The best known artists here are the great bluesmen Lowell
Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin bu there lots of other fine titles from artists
like Turner Willis, Snookum Russell & His Orchestra, Norman Davis & His
Orchestra, Viviane Green & Her Trio, The Wright Brothers Jubilee Singers
(superb acapella gospel), The Four Aces (harmony and jive), Paramount Gospel
Singers, The Vagabonds (Italian-American novelty group with hot accordion),
Rising Star Gospel Singers, Johnny Ingram & His Rhythm Czars and others.
Considering the rarity of many of these recordings the sound quality is fine
and booklet has an informative history of the label from Opal Louis Nations
and a listing of all known releases on the label. (FS)
VERNON ALLEY & HIS ORCHESTRA: For You/ NORMAN DAVIS & HIS
ORCHESTRA: Stop That Dancing Up There/ THE ESQUIRES: Mary Had A Little Lamb/
THE PHIL FORD FOUR: Dames Are All The Same/ Frustrated Francis/ THE FOUR
ACES: Ain't It A Crying Shame/ Cherie/ Garbage Man/ Gumbo/ I Wonder I Wonder
I Wonder (part 1)/ I Wonder I Wonder I Wonder [part 2]/ I'll Never Let You
Go Again/ I'm Crying All The Time/ Put Your Cards On The Table/ Richard
Ain't Gonna Open That Door/ Richard's Jam/ St Louis Boogie/ There's A Rumor
Going On/ This Little Chick Went To Market/ LOWELL FULSON: Fulson Boogie
(instrumental)/ Highway 99/ Jelly Jelly/ Let's Throw A Boogie Woogie/ Mean
Woman Blues/ Tell Me Baby/ Trying To Find My Baby/ Whiskey Blues/ 9:30
Shuffle/ Thinking Blues/ BOB GEDDINS: Irma Jean Blues/ VIVIANE GREENE & HER
TRIO: Honey Honey Honey/ Jades Of Green/ Love Me Love Me Love Me Or Leave
Me/ Two Loves Have I/ Unfinished Boogie/ ALLEN GREENE & THE VIVIANE GREEN
TRIO: Since I Fell For You/ JOHNNY INGRAM & HIS RHYTHM CZARS: Jubudy/ Red
Light Gotta Go/ Ridin' Hi/ Streamlined Baby/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Big Foot
Mama/ I Can't Understand Love/ Listen Woman/ Miss Minnie Lee Blues/ Playin'
On Me/ Rock 'n' Rye [part 1]/ Rock 'n' Rye [part 2]/ South Side Mood
[instrumental]/ When I'm Gone/ VIDO MUSSO: Vido's Bop/ Checkerboard/ Day I
Left Alsace Lorraine/ Gone With Vido/ Unfinished Boogie/ Vido In A Mist/ On
The Mercury/ THE PARAMOUNT GOSPEL SINGERS: Dig A Little Deeper/ THE
PARAMOUNT SINGERS: Lord Hold My Hand/ THE PARAMOUNT GOSPEL SINGERS: Low Down
The Chariot/ THE PARAMOUNT SINGERS: Nobody Knows The Trouble I See/ THE
PARAMOUNT GOSPEL SINGERS: Peace In The Valley/ Standing In The Safety Zone/
Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ Working On The Building/ THE RISING STAR GOSPEL
SINGERS: John The Revelator/ One Day/ Something Within Me/ What Could I Do
Without The Lord/ JACK ROSS & HIS ORCHESTRA: Put The Blame On Mame/ SNOOKUM
RUSSELL & HIS ORCHESTRA: Be Bop That's The Kick I'm On/ I'm A Shy Guy/ THE
TUNE MIXERS: Baby What Are You Gonna Do/ THE VAGABONDS: I Wish I Could
Shimmy Like My Sister Kate/ Ragged But Right/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ When
The Saints Go Marching In/ TURNER WILLIS: Reenlisted Blues/ THE WRIGHT BROS.
JUBILEE SINGERS: Blessed Quietness/ THE WRIGHT BROTHERS GOSPEL SINGERS:
Gospel Train/ THE WRIGHT BROS. JUBILEE SINGERS: Jonah/ THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
GOSPEL SINGERS: Jordan's Stormy Banks
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blues Legacy 5067 |
Lost & Found, Vol. 1 |
● CD $15.98 |
23 tracks, recommended
First of three CDs drawing on
recordings made by legendary British jazzman Chris Barber of blues and
gospel performers that he arranged to tour Britain in the 50s and early 60s.
Most of this material has never been issued before. The first 10 tracks here
feature the great gospel singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe at the
Free Trade Hall in Manchester in December 1957. Rosetta performs solo, with
the jazz band and does a couple of duets with the band's singer Ottilie
Patterson. Unfortunately Rosetta's guitar is not miked and her great playing
is almost inaudible. The band do a fine job accompanying her and Ottilie
does some nice singing too. The remaining 13 tracks are from the same
location in April 1958 featuring the ubiquitous Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
who perform some of their most popular numbers - Midnight Special/
Hooray, Hooray, This Woman Is Killing/ How Long, How Long Blues/ Cornbread,
Peas And Black Molasses, etc. On their last couple of numbers they are
joined by Barber's band and Ottilie Patterson. Apart from the miking of
Rosetta's guitar the sound quality is excellent and the 8 page booklet has
extensive notes. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blues Legacy 5068 |
Lost & Found, Vol. 2 |
● CD $15.98 |
23 tracks, highly recommended
The second volume is a
knockout highlighted by a fine 10 track set by Muddy Waters at th Manchester
Free Trade Hall in October, 1958. For most of the set Muddy is accompanied
by the great Otis Spann and Chris Barber's drummer Graham Burbridge. They do
fine versions of Hoochie Coochie Man/ Long Distance Call/ Blues Before
Sunrise/ I Can't Be Satisfied and others. Although Muddy's guitar is
sadly undermiked his vocals are superb as is Spann's consummate piano work.
They end with a rousing version of Walkin' In the Park with the whole
Barber band. There are six tracks from a 1958 broadcast by Sonny & Brownie
which includes a rare guitar instrumental by Brownie showing what a fine
musician Brownie was. There are three fine sides from 1959 by Champion Jack
Dupree and the disc ends with a previously unissued studio recording from
1962 featuring Louis Jordan duetting with Ottilie Patterson on a fine
version of T'ain't Nobody's Business. The sets include introductions
by Barber which are interesting if sometimes a bit pompous. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blues Legacy 5069 |
Lost & Found, Vol. 3 |
● CD $15.98 |
29 tracks, 80 mins, highly recommended
Another great
collection of mostly previously unissued live recordings from the 60s by
great bluesmen from the vaults of Chris Barber. This volume starts with the
great Chicago singer and harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson recorded in
1964. A down home Chicago bluesman with a British Dixieland band may seem a
little incongruous but, for the most part, it works well and Sonny Boy gets
a chance to show his familiarity with jazz on tunes like C-Jame Blues
and When The Saints Go Marching In. He also does some of his popular
tunes like Help Me/ Bye Bye Bird and Pontiac Blues and duets
with Barber band singer Ottilie Patterson on This Little Light Of Mine.
From the same year we have Howlin' Wolf and Hubert Sumlin with Barber's band
doing four great performances including Howlin'For My Baby and
Take A Walk With Me. Jimmy Witherspoon is featured on two different
dates - one from 1964 Festival and the other from a 1980 radio broadcast.
The earlier sides find Jimmy at the peak of his powers showing that he was
one of the all time great blues shouters, the 1980 session finds 'Spoon
somewhat more restrained but still in fine form. Another worthwhile addition
to this invaluable series. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blue Label 42502 |
Juke Joint Jump - A Boogie Woogie
Celebration |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 55 mins, highly recommended
Reissue of Columbia
64988 originally issued in 1996 and long deleted plus two bonus cuts.
Another splendid collection in the outstanding "Roots & Blues" series this
one focusing on that upbeat blues style called boogie woogie. The expected
people are all here along with a few surprises. Three of the giants of
boogie woogie piano - Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons are
featured as a trio on the classic two part Boogie Woogie Prayer,
Johnson is also featured as a soloist on Boogie Woogie and
accompanies Big Joe Turner and joins trumpeter Harry James in the Boogie
Woogie Trio. Other pianists featured include Memphis S lim, Freddie Slack
(the great Down The Road Apiece with the Will Bradley Trio on which
he also plays celeste), Charlie Spand, Champion Jack Dupree (an unissued
alternate take of Dupree Shake Dance) Jimmy Yancey, Willie "Long
Time" Smith and surprisingly Art Tatum who lends his distinctive styling to
Tatum Pole Boogie. We hear boogie woogie guitar from Curley Weaver
and Calvin Frazier (the latter from the Library Of Congress), boogie woogie
organ from Sir. Charles Thompson (my least favorite track), Red Saunders &
His Orchestra do a big band boogie on a previously unissued version of Meade
Lux Lewis's seminal Honky Tonk Train Blues. The Adrian Rollini Trio
do a very different version of the same tune with vibes. The bonus cuts by
Charlie Spand and Faber Smith with Jimmy Yancey from 1940 are superb
additions. A well thought out collection with excellent sound and new notes
from Neil Slaven. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blue Label 42542 |
Raunchy Business : Hot Nuts & Lollypops |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Another reissue of a
long deleted album from Columbia's "Roots & Blues" series. A collection of
dirty blues from the Columbia archives - mostly of the double etendre vein
but it does include the frequently reissued and totally explicit Shave
'Em Dry by Lucille Bogan. This track is a totally joyous and evocative
tribute to the joys of sex and, in spite of ht egraphic language, is
actually less obscene than some of the leering double etendres evident
elsewhere. The set also includes the relatively innocuous issued version of
the song. Other delicacies include Sam-The Hot Dog Man by Lil
Johnson, Wipe It Off by Lonnie Johnson with Spencer Williams, He's
Just My Size by Lillie Mae Kirkman, My Pencil Wont Write No More
by Bo Carter, Driving That Thing by The Missisippi Sheiks,
Lollypop by Hunter & Jenkins, You Got To Give Me Some Of It by
Buddy Moss and others to captivate and tittilate. Bonus cuts are horny
Frog by Big Bill Broonzy and Caught Us Doing It by The Hokum.
Booklet has new notes by Neil Slaven. Most of these tracks have been
reissued before but not with such good clean (ahem!) sound. (FS)
BARREL HOUSE ANNIE: If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It)/
LUCILLE BOGAN: Shave 'Em Dry, I/ Shave 'Em Dry, II/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Horny
Frog/ BO CARTER: Banana in Your Fruit Basket/ My Pencil Won't Write No More/
BERNICE EDWARDS: Butcher Shop Blues/ THE HOKUM BOYS: Caught Us Doing It/
HUNTER AND JENKINS: Lollypop/ Meat Cuttin' Blues/ LIL JOHNSON: Get 'Em from
the Peanut Man (Hot Nuts)/ My Stove's in Good Condition/ Sam-The Hot Dog
Man/ LONNIE JOHNSON: The Best Jockey In Town/ Wipe It Off/ Furniture Man
Blues, pt.1/ Furniture Man Blues, pt.2/ LILLIE MAE KIRKMAN: He's Just My
Size/ THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS: Bed Spring Poker/ Driving That Thing/ BUDDY
MOSS: You Got to Give Me Some of It
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Calvin 237 |
Experience Gospel - Thanks Be To God |
● CD $14.98 |
Another fine CD/ DVD combination. The CD features 20 songs
in praise of God - most of them from Hob recordings made in the 60s and
early 70s along with a couple of early 50s sides from Gotham. Artists
include Rev. Joseph D. Linton & The Progressive Baptist Curch Choir, The
Humble Gospel Singers, Maggie Bee & Singers, The Greater First Baptist
Choir, Rev, Charles Hayes, Doris Ann Allen, Five Blind Boys Of Alabama, The
Southland Singers and others - some previously unissued. The DVD features
episodes 39 and 40 of TV Gospel Time from 1964 including performances by The
Robert-Ettes, Bessie Griffin, Robert Anderson, Five Blind Boys Of
Mississippi, The Barrett Sisters and others.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Calvin 238 |
Experience Gospel - Lift Every Voice |
● CD $14.98 |
The audio portion of this set features 20 performances by
gospel choirs including Willy Walker & The Waves Of Joy, Barry Currington &
The Met Choir, New Hope Baptist Church Young Adut Choir, Victory Choral
Ensemble, Rev. James Cleveland and The Voices Of Tabernacle, Christ
Tabernacle Combined Choir and others. The DVD features Episodes 34 and 36 of
Tv Gospel Time from 1964 with The Davis Sisters, Brother Joe May, Raymond
Rasberry Singers, Bessie Griffin, Omega Baptist Church Choir and others.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Calvin 239 |
Experience Gospel - Gospel Storytelling |
● CD $14.98 |
The CD here is particularly nice featuring 20 gospel songs
that tell a story including sides by The Richbury Singers, The Heavenly Dew
Drops, Brockington Ensemble, The Swan Silvertones, Shirley Caesar (the
beautiful Old Apple Tree), Highway QCs, Southland Singers, Vernon O.
Price, Albertina Walker and others. The DVd features "TV Gospel Time"
episode 21 from 1963 and 33 from 1964 with performances by Jessie Mae
Renfro, Julius Cheeks, The Shady Grove Church Choir, The Caravans, Paul
Foster and others.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Calvin 251 |
Experience Gospel - Essence Of James
Cleveland |
● CD $14.98 |
The latest volume in the popular series focuses on the
legendary Rev. James Cleveland with a selection of greatest hits, early
recordings (from his time with the Voices of Tabernacle), and his classics
performed by other artists (Albertina Walker, Five Blind Boys of Alabama,
Swan Silvertones, Staples Singers, Shirley Caesar etc.). Also included is a
DVD of never before released Gospel video footage.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Columbia Special Products 23734 |
Great Blues Guitarists : String Dazzlers |
● CD $7.98 |
Budget priced reissued of Columbia 47060 originally issued
in 1991 and long out of print. A collection of 20 performances featuring
some of the great blues guitarists of the 20s and 30s including Lonnie
Johnson by himself, Lonnie Johnson & Eddie Lang (including an accompaniment
to Texas Alexander), Sylvester Weaver, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie
Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Casey Bill Weldon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Joshua
White and Tampa Red. It includes a couple of alternate takes not available
elsewhere.
TEXAS ALEXANDER: Work Ox Blues/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Getting
Older Every Day/ How You Want It Done?/ BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: Black Snake
Moan/ BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: It's Nobody's Fault But Bine/ When The War Was
On/ LONNIE JOHNSON: Away down in the alley blues/ I love you, Mary Lou/ A
handful of riffs/ Bull frog moan/ Hot fingers/ BLIND WILLIE MCTELL: Georgia
rag/ Warm it up to me/ TAMPA RED: Denver blues/ SYLVESTER WEAVER: I'm busy
and you can't come in/ Untitled/ Untitled/ CASEY BILL WELDON: Guitar swing/
JOSHUA WHITE: Little brother blues/ Prodigal son
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Fat Possum 1114 |
The George Mitchell Collection, Volumes 1-45 |
● CD $39.98 |
Seven CDs, 174 tracks, essential
Fantastic seven CD set of
country blues drawn from the field recordings made by George Mitchell in the
Southern states between 1962 and the early 80s along with some live rceordings made in Chicago. Fat Possum acquired the rights to this material
several years ago and have issued a series of CDs which we have had a great
response to. They also issued a series of 45 7" vinyl releases which we
didn't list but they have now rounded up all 45 of those releases on 6 CDs
and added a seventh CD of previously unissued material plus a 48 page book
with extensive notes from Sam Sweet along with comments from MItchell
himself. Around a third of the tracks here duplicate material on the
previously issued single CDs including sides from the totally amazing Cecil
Barfield, Buddy Moss, Leon Pinson, Teddy WIlliams, George Henry Bussey, Joe
Calicott and others. The rest was only available on vinyl though a few were
on long out of print CDs or LPs on other labels and includes artists like
Houston Stackhouse, Sleepy John Estes, Green Paschal (superb gospel) ,
William "Do Boy" Diamond (fantastic Mississippi bluesman), Bud White, James
Shorter, Cliff Scott, Robert Johnson (no not that one, but a superb gospel
singer and guitarist from Skene, Mississippi with vocal accompaniment by
three of his daughters), Robert Longstreet (wonderful singer and harmonica
player from Starkville, Mississippi), Abert Macon & Robert Thomas (superb
Alabama duo), Will Shade (Memphis legend with four raucous songs included an
unexpurgated version of Dirty Dozens), Como Fife & Drum Band, Eddie
Harris, Robert Nighthawk (recorded a few months before his death), Jessie
Lee Vortis, Willie Rockomo, Ira Tiny" Coney, etc. There isn't time or room
to discuss these recordings at greater length. Suffice to say, in spite of
the obscurity of most of these artists, the musical quality is very high
indeed and it's sad that more of these artists didn't get more exposure at
the time they were recorded and thereby could have capitalized on their
talent. The booklet only discusses the artists on the first six discs so the
ones on the "bonus" disc will have to be exciting mysteries for the time
being. If you love country blues this is an indispensible release. (FS)
JOHN HENRY BARBEE: Gonna Lose Your Mind/ That Ain't It/
CECIL BARFIELD: I Told You Not To Do That/ I Woke Up Crying/ Love Blues/
Lucy Mae Blues/ PRECIOUS BRYANT: Georgia Buck (instrumental)/ That's The Way
The Good Thing Go/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ JIM BUNKLEY: Jack Of
Diamonds/ Old Red #2/ Rocking Chair/ Them Greasy Greens/ R.L. BURNSIDE:
Goin' Down South/ Just Like A Bird Without A Feather/ Poor Black Mattie/
Skinny Woman/ GEORGE HENRY BUSSEY: Blues Around My Bed/ Looking For My
Woman/ Mean Mistreater/ When I'm Sober/ JOE CALLICOTT: Country Blues/ River
Blues/ COMO FIFE & DRUM BAND: Hey Freddie/ Late In The Evening/ Punky Tony/
Shimmy She Wa/ IRA "TINY" CONEY: I'm So Lonesome/ Mamie/ You're Gonna Miss
Me/ DEWEY CORLEY & WALTER MILLER: Down To Arkansas/ Just A Dream I Got On My
Mind/ Memphis Is A Wonderful City/ JAMES DAVIS: Instrumental #1/
Instrumental #4/ Old Country Rock #1/ Who Stole The Lock Off The Henhouse
Door?/ MAXWELL STREET JIMMY DAVIS: Everything's Gonna Be Alright/ You Got To
Reap What You Sow/ WILLIAM "DO-BOY" DIAMOND: Hard Time Blues/ Just Want To
Talk To You/ ROBERT DIGGS: Done Lost My Health/ Driver Your Car/ Racehorse
Charleston/ Someday Baby/ SLEEPY JOHN ESTES: Mail Man Blues/ Rats In The
Kitchen/ Special Agent/ Trying To See/ GEORGIA FIFE & DRUM BAND: Buck Dance/
Everytime I Come Around/ J.w.'s Special/ Old Hen Cackle/ JESSIE CLARENCE
GORMAN: Going Up To The Country #1/ Going Up To The Country #2/ John Henry/
BUD GRANT: Bud Grant's Grunt/ Freight Train Blues/ Rock Me Mama/ So Sweet/
EDDIE HARRIS: House On The Hill/ I Have To Love Somebody/ JIMMY LEE HARRIS:
I Wanna Ramble/ Sitting Here Looking A 1000 Miles Away/ JESSIE MAE HEMPHILL:
Home Going/ I Wanna Be Ready/ Interview/ ROSA LEE HILL: Bullying Well/ Count
The Days I'm Gone/ Pork & Beans/ Roll & Tumble/ EDDIE HODGE: Blood Red
River/ Glory Hallelujah/ Sitting On Top Of The World/ GEORGE HOLLIS: Rock
And Roll To Milledgeville/ Them Greasy Greens #1/ BUDDY HUBBARD: I Got A
Woman/ So Sweet/ ROBERT JOHNSON: He'll Make A Way/ Hold My Body Down/
Precious Lord/ Trying To Make It Home/ FURRY LEWIS: Furry Lewis' Careless
Love/ Good Morning Judge/ ROBERT LONGSTREET: Black Gal/ Decoration Day/
Sloppy Drunk/ Sugar Mama/ ALBERT MACON & ROBERT THOMAS: Flat Foot Boogie/
How Can You Do It/ Mama Can I Lay It Down/ FRED MCDOWELL: Mama Says I'm
Crazy/ Shake 'em On Down/ ABE MCNEIL: Better Than Myself/ Drink Drink Drink/
Steady Rollin' Man/ BUDDY MOSS: Amy/ Blue Shadow Falling/ Cold Rainy Day/
Hey Lawdy Mama/ In The Evening/ Thousand Woman Blues/ ROBERT NIGHTHAWK:
Canned Heat/ Down By The Woodshed/ Nighthawk Boogie/ GREEN PASCHAL: I'm
Going To Leave It In The Hands Of The Lord/ Lay My Burden Down/ Mother Is
Dead/ My Lord/ Trouble Brought Me Down/ Your Close Friend/ THE PETTIS
SISTERS: Bound For Zion/ Jesus Is Coming Back To Me/ LEON PINSON: He'll
Understand And Say Well Done/ Hush' Somebody Is Calling My Name/ Motherless
Child/ What God Can Do/ WILLIE ROCKOMO: Black Rat Swing/ CLIFF SCOTT: Long
Wavy Hair/ Please Come Home/ Pole Pattin'/ Woke Up This Morning/ WILL SHADE:
Dirty Dozens/ Wine Headed Man/ Won't You Send Me John/ K. C. Blues/ JAMES
SHORTER: Consolation/ Home Coming/ My Mother Died And Left Me/ Search Me
Lord/ HOUSTON STACKHOUSE: Big Fat Mama/ Big Road Blues/ Cool Water Blues/
Take A Little Walk With Me/ HOUSTON & SARA MAE STOVALL: Juke #2/ Sweet As An
Apple On A Tree/ Tell Me You Love Me/ Woke Up This Morning/ You Told Me
Baby/ LONZIE THOMAS: My Three Women/ Rabbit On A Log/ Raise A Ruckus
Tonight/ Red Cross Store/ OTHAR TURNER: Black Woman/ Bumble Bee/ TOM TURNER:
Drop Down Mama #1/ Old Breakdown/ BRUCE UPSHAW: Rosa Lee/ Someday Baby #1/
Wonder Why My Baby Treat Me So Bad/ Tease Me Baby #2/ JESSIE LEE VORTIS:
Miss Maybelle/ When My Baby Got On Board/ J. W. WARREN: Hoboing To
Hollywood/ Rabbit On A Log/ Sundown Blues/ You're Gonna Miss Me/ BUD WHITE:
Go Ahead On/ White Horses/ You've Been Gone So Long/ BIG JOE WILLIAMS:
Everyone Got A Woman/ Prison Bound/ Sink Or Swim/ What She Need With A
Rooster/ JIMMY LEE WILLIAMS: Have You Seen Peaches/ What Makes Grandma Love
Grandpa/ TEDDY WILLIAMS: Black Mattie/ Catfish Blues/ Down Home Blues/ Sun
Don't Shine/ JOHNNY WOODS: 3 O'clock In The Morning/ I's Be Troubled/ JOHN
LEE ZIEGLER: If I Lose Let Me Lose/ Who's Gonna Be Your Man
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smithsonian Folkways 40194 |
Classic African American Gospel |
● CD $11.98 |
24 tracks, highly recommended
Superb, budget priced
collection of black gospel drawn from the extensive archives of the
Smithsonian Folkways label covering the period 1946 through 1999 - many not
on CD before. The majority of the recordings are from the 50s and 60s which
is fine by me since some of the more efforts from the 90s are a little too
slick for my liking. The material is very varied and among the artists
featured are Horace Sprott (unaccompanied rural gospel), The Fisk Jubilee
Singers (legendary group whose origins date back to the 1870s performing a
version of When I Was Sinking Down - aka Wondrous Love - a
moving minor key song rarely heard in the African-American tradition),
Little Brother Montgomery (legendary blues singer and piano from hsi only
gospel session), The Thrasher Wonders (acapella gospel group - two of their
members later went on to become part of the great R&B group The Drifters),
Reverend Willie Gresham & His Congregation (powerful live performance from
1977), Sister Ernestine Washington (superb singing with accompaniment from
Bunk Johnson's band), Two Gospel Keys (sanctified gospel duet accompanying
themselves on guitar and tambourine), Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi Mass
Choir, Madison's Lively Stones (brass band gospel!) and more. Superb sound
and 30 page booklet with extensive notes by Kip Lornell. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Soul Jazz 107 |
Soul Gospel |
● CD $21.98 |
18 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
This collection of
Black Gospel runs the gamut from soul-stylings of Clarence Smith and Irma
Thomas to the pro-Disco of Dorothy Morrison, to the blues of Bobby Bland, to
the folk roots of Odetta. The time frame of these tracks range from 1965 to
1980, but it's the sheer diversity of the music that makes the CD a
wonderful listen. The Marion Gaines Singers' cover of Bill Withers'
Grandma's Hands and Kim Weston's dynamic take on Eleanor Rigby
stand as proof that "gospel" doesn't necessarily have to adhere to strict
conventions of what it is or could be. With tracks from Aretha Franklin,
Staple Singers, Marion Williams, Sweet Inspirations, and Voices of East
Harlem, this set is well compiled and downright inspirational. Perfect for
your own private Sunday revival meetings, or just for an extra does of
right-on-ness! (GMC)
JO ARMSTEAD: Too Many More/ GOSPEL ARTISTICS: Lord Is It/
BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND: Let's Get Together/ JESSY DIXON: Love Lifted Me/ ARETHA
FRANKLIN: Lee Cross/ MARION GAINES SINGERS,: Grandma's Hands/ QUEEN ESTHER
MARROW: Mama/ DOROTHY MORRISON: I Can't Go Without You/ ODETTA: Pastures of
Plenty/ DELLA REESE: Compared to What/ CLARENCE SMITH: Sometimes I Feel Like
a Motherless Child/ THE SONS OF TRUTH: I Dont Know Where We're Headed/ THE
STAPLE SISTERS: Tripping on Your Love/ THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS: Every Day
Will Be Like a Holiday/ IRMA THOMAS: In Between Tears/ THE VOICES OF EAST
HARLEM: New York Lighting/ KIM WESTON: Eleanor Rigby/ MARION WILLIAMS: I
Shall Be Released
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sub Rosa 268 |
O, Run Into Me, But Don't Hurt Me |
● CD $15.98 |
24 tracks, very highly recommended
A particularly nice
collection of pre-war blues by female singers concentrating on some of the
lesser known urban performers. These have all been out before on Document
but the "complete chronological" approach is not always conducive to
entertaining listening. The tracks are presented chronologically starting in
1923 with the plaintive vocals of Anna Jones accompanied by Fats Waller on
piano and ending with Memphis Minnie's great 1930 recording of I'm
Talking About You No. 2. Apart from Minnie the other familiar name is
Lucille Bogan with four wonderful soulful and raunchy performances including
the great and infrequently reissued Pot Hound Blues and Coffee
Grindin' Blues. Other outstanding performers include Virginia Liston,
Monette Moore (with superb band including Rex Allen on cornet and Ernest
Elliot on clarinet), Martha Copeland, Margaret Johnson (with accompaniment
from guitar/ harmonica duo Leecan & Cooksey and pianist Mike Jackson) and
Jenny Pope (with accompaniments from Tom Dorsey and Tampa Red) but it's all
excellent and definitely worth your time. Sound quality is generally
excellent, the set comes in a digipack with enthusiastic notes by Guy Marc
Hinant and discographical details (not always completely accurate). With so
many labels rehashing the same stuff again and again this is a most welcome
release. (FS)
LUCILLE BOGAN: Black Angel Blues/ Coffee Grindin' Blues/
Pot Hound Blues/ Tricks Ain't Walking Anymore/ MARGARET CARTER: Come Get Me
Papa Before I Faint/ I Want Plenty Grease In My Frying Pan/ MARTHA COPELAND:
Stole My Man Blues/ ROSA HENDERSON: Get It Fixed/ LENA HENRY: Low Down
Despondent Blues/ LIL JOHNSON: Never Let Your Left Hand Know/ You'll Never
Miss Your Jelly/ MARGARET JOHNSON: Dead Drunk Blues/ Second-Handed Blues/
ANNA JONES: Trixie Blues/ VIRGINIA LISTON: I'm Gonna Get Me A Man, That's
All/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: I'm Talking About You/ MONETTE MOORE: Somebody's Been
Lovin' My Babe/ JENNY POPE: Bull Frog Blues/ Doggin' Me Around Blues/
Tennessee Workhouse Blues/ Whiskey Drinking Blues/ COLETHA SIMPSON: Down
South Blues/ IVY SMITH: Sad And Blue/ Third Alley Blues
|
| WASHBOARD SAM |
Acrobat ADDCD 3049 |
She Belongs To The Devil - An Anthology,
1936-1947 |
● CD $18.98 |
Two CDs, 40 tracks, highly recommended
A particularly nice
introduction to the recordings of big voiced Robert Brown aka Washboard Sam
accompanying himself on washboard and joined by some of Chicago's finest.
Sam was not only a fine and expressive singer but also an excellent
songwriter who not only wrote for himself but contributed to the repertoire
of Big Bill Broonzy, Jazz Gillum and other Chicago bluesmen - quite a few of
which have become blues standards. The tracks here are drawn from 13
different sessions and give a good cross section of his repertoire. He is
accompanied on all tracks by guitarist Big Bill Broonzy who plays electric
guitar on some of the later sessions. Other great sidemen show up including
pianist Black Bob, clarinetist Arnett Nelson, alto saxist Buster Bennett,
pianist Roosevelt Sykes, bassist Ransom Knowling and others. This set
includes some of his popular songs including You Done Tore Your Playhouse
Down/ (Mama) Don't 'Low/ Razor Cuttin' Man/ Easy Ridin' Mama/ I'm Gonna Keep
My Hair Parted/ Flying Crow Blues/ She Belongs To The Devil/ River Hip Mama
and others. Sound quality is excellent and the 12 page booklet has
informative notes and full discographical data. (FS)
|
| JOSH WHITE |
Blue Label 42452 |
Blues Singer, 1932-1936 |
● CD $16.98 |
21 tracks, 64 min, very highly recommended
Josh White -
guitarist, songwriter and folk singer (a term he preferred over blues
singer) - first recorded with the guitar evangelist Blind Joe Taggart. A
simple listen to these 1928-1929 recordings will convince you that even at
age 15, the teenage Josh White was already skilled in finger picking. His
recordings were carefully listened to by Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller and
Buddy Moss and this release includes 21 examples of his early recordings
originally issued In Columbia's award winning "Roots 'N Blues" series.
Between 1932-1936, 69 titles were recorded, and for this CD, producer Larry
Cohn has included one side from his first recording release Black And
Evil Blues, as well as one of his most powerful blues protest songs,
Low Cotton, with the immortal introductory line "I been pickin' low
cotton/ no high cotton can I see" - a perceptive reference to both the price
and size of a cotton crop. Welfare Blues and Silicosis Is Killin'
Me are two other examples of how his early years on the road influenced
his views on hardships. A few of his gospel recordings, released under the
name Joshua White (The Singing Christian), are also included as well as
sides with accompaniment by pianist Walter Roland (Black Man) and
Clarence Williams (Milk Cow Blues). This set should not be missed by
true country blues guitar fans. This release includes one bonus track - the
superb I Believe I'll Make A Change and new notes by Neil Slaven.
(EL)
|
Back To New Release Index
Back
To Home Page |
