BULLETIN - SUMMER
2008
Blues & Gospel
Mickey Champion
->
T-Bone Walker +
Calendar
| CLASSIC
BLUES ARTWORK FROM THE 1920S -
2009 Calendar |
Blues Images 209 |
|
● CALENDAR $15.98 |
 Calendar+CD
- ESSENTIAL!
It's that time of the year again when John Tefteller gives us an early
Christmas present with another sensational calendar and CD drawn from his
phenomenal collection. The calendar (the sixth of 15) features
reproductions of original artwork for advertisements printed in
African-American newspapers in the late 20s and early 30s, mostly by the
Paramount Record Company advertising their latest blues releases. This
calendar features ads for records by artists like Blind Blake, Charley
Patton, BUddy Boy Hawkins, Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie, Reverend Emmett
Dickenson, Rev. A.W. Nix and others. The calendar also includes sample
song lyrics, brief biographies and birth and death dates for many blues
artists.
The calendar itself would be easily worth $15.98 but in addition you get a
18 track CD featuring at least one side of all the records advertised. The
original 78 of the Blind Blake title advertised Night & Day from a
1932 was only found in the past year and both sides are included and are
stunning performances. The CD also includes a newly discovered 78 by
raucous singer and banjo player Ben Curry and never before issued test
pressing of Hometown Skiffle - the original two parter is also
included here. Even the tracks that have been out before sound so much
better thanks to Rich Nevins' brilliant remastering. Also included are
full color inserts to enable you to make your own Classic Blues Artwork CD
with a jewel case (jewel case not included)
Since these would make such a great gift if you buy five or more calendars
you can get them for $13.98 each! Calendar/ CD set counts as four CDs for
shipping purposes. (FS)
|
| MICKEY CHAMPION |
Ace CDCHD 1192 |
Bam-A-Lam - The R&B Recordings, 1950-1962 |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, recommended
A fine collection of blues and R&B recorded between 1950 and 1962 by fine
West Coast vocalist Mickey Champion who is still active to the present
day. Originally from St. Louis, Mickey got her first musical break when
she was sent on the road in 1950 by Johnny Otis to pretend she was Little
Esther following the enormous success of Esther's Double Crossing Blues.
The recordings here were made for Modern Aladdin, Dootone and King and
find her in the company of top West Coast sidemen including several
sessions with the band of her second husband Roy Milton. There is also a
duet with Jimmy Witherspoon and three tracks find her accompanied by vocal
group The Nic Nacs (aka The Robins). The set includes five previously
unissued sides. Usual high quality Ace production with superb sound and
informative notes from Opal Louis Nations. (FS)
|
| DION |
Verve 10173 |
Son Of Skip James |
● CD $13.98 |
13 lucky tracks, 44 mins, recommended
Dion has worn many hats throughout his long and storied career, one of
which (the one the has been most fond of lately) would be the Blues hat -
-probably a fedora. The song list is a mix of vintage Blues, a couple Dion
originals, a Dylan tune, and a fair version of Chuck Berry's Nadine.
Dion is a good blues singer, not a great one, but his attempts at Blues
are certainly far better than his attempts at Gospel. Some of the better
tracks are Sleepy John Estus' Drop Down Mama, Robert Johnson's
Preachin' Blues, and especially Skip James' Devil Got My Woman.
Realistically, if the rest of the album was as good as Devil Got My
Woman, then this would be a whole different review. Maybe that's why
he called the album "Son Of Skip James"--seems like Dion does best with
his work. Liner notes by Dion's #1 fan Little Steven Van Zant. (JM)
|
| RONNIE
EARL & THE BROADCASTERS |
Hep Cat 24772 |
Surrounded By Love |
● CD $12.98 |
13 tracks, recommended
Reissue of long out of print Black Top 1069. For their fifth album on
Black Top, guitarist Ronnie Earl (ex-Roomful Of Blues) and friends team up
with harmonicist/ vocalist Sugar Ray Norcia and special guest Chicago
blues legend Robert Jr. Lockwood. Lockwood plays guitar and sings on
Mr. Downchild/ Jelly, Jelly, two of the best numbers here, and adds
his guitar to Earl's on the opener One Of These Mornings. Other
fine moments include the outstanding title track, a cover of Blind Love
and the instrumental Kathy's Theme. For a change of pace Earl
throws in the jazzy Akos. There is also a bonus track Night
Flight not on the original album. This version of The Broadcasters
provides another solid outing. (JC)
|
| REV C.L. FRANKLIN |
AIR Gospel 7026 |
The 23rd Psalm/ The Prodigal Son |
● CD $9.98 |
4 tracks, 50 min., recommended
Franklin is about as powerful as preachers can get in terms of his ability
to move his audience and lead them toward the paths of righteousness. He
is to sermon what his daughter Aretha is to song. The two sermons here are
like the greatest hits of the Bible. Franklin begins his first noting that
more people have spoken the "23rd Psalm" ("The Lord is my shepherd...")
than just about any other part of the good book. And then he sets about
deconstructing the text in a way that would make Stanley Fish proud, all
the while making the language relevant to his audience, full of meaning
and power and hope. It's enough to make a man convert. His reading of the
"Prodigal Son" is a bit more straight forward but more full of energy and
drive than the previous sermon, which is saying something. The two musical
interludes from The Franklins (Ernest Franklin & Choir) make for
pleasantness but are frankly superfluous in this context, although
undoubtedly an essential transitional element of the longer presentation
in their original context. Can he get a witness already? (JC)
|
| RICK
"L.A. HOLMES" HOLMSTROM |
Hep Cat 23882 |
Lookout! |
● CD $12.98 |
16 tracks, 51 min., recommended
Reissue of Black Top 1125 originally issued in 1996 and long deleted. The
16 instrumental tracks on this CD are played in the tradition of the early
postwar guitarists - short and to the point. Most of the tracks are
originals except for Jody Williams' Lucky Lou with 6 tracks coming
from the 2 Black Top sets that Holmstrom recorded with harmonica ace
Johnny Dyer. Of the 10 remaining tracks, Rod & Honey Piazza (listed as
King Of The Jungle and Jane) join him on The Floater and She's
My Baby. Other highlights include the Lightnin' Hopkin-ish Rub It,
T-Bone Walker- ish Maria Cecile, Tom Mahon's North Of Montana
and Jungle Ball. Even though he's a young man (born May 30, 1965,
Fairbanks, Alaska), Holmstrom has recorded with Johnny "Guitar" Watson
(his mentor), William Clarke, Smokey Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold and Rod
Piazza (his present employer). I'm sure we'll hear more of his playing for
years to come. (EL)
|
| SON HOUSE |
Sony Special 723276 |
Original Delta Blues |
● CD $6.98 |
11 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended
This is a re-issue of the "Original Delta Blues" album, with all tracks
recorded in 1965. Even though it was recorded so late in the game, House
was still a strong performer and the versions herein aren't to be trifled
with. Whether with his sparse but brilliant guitar accompaniment, or just
a hand clap or foot stomp, this is all fantastically powerful and moving.
Highlights would be Death Letter, his devastating take on John
The Revelator, plus Preachin' Blues/ Grinnin' in Your Face/ Levee
Camp Moan, etc. Truly a giant, that still had it, pretty late in his
life. Blues aficionado Canned Heat's Al Wilson can also be heard on
Harmonica on some tracks. (JM)
|
| JIMMY MCCRACKLIN |
Bear Family BCD 15558 |
The Mercury Recordings |
● CD $21.98 |
13 tracks, highly recommended
Originally issued in 1992 but unavailable for several years and recently
repressed. McCracklin began recording in 1945, but didn't hit it big until
1958 when The Walk went to #5 R&B-wise. Between 1958-60 he was
picked up by Mercury Records, and recorded 23 songs for them. Mercury not
only didn't promote McCracklin, but they released only 10 of his sides.
This set collects those 10 and adds Hitched/ What's That, Pt. 2 and
a cover of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison as a slow blues - the
remaining sides have all been lost! The Wobble/ Georgia Slop/ Let's Do
It (The Chicken Scratch) are obvious attempts to cash in on The
Walk and the dance-craze market. But the best numbers are the ballads,
including No One To Love Me/ The Bridge/ By Myself/ Doomed Lover.
Other songs include (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You/
What's That, Part 1. Nice photos, discographical info, and informative
notes from Lee Hildebrand. (JC)
|
| ROY MILTON
& HIS SOLID SENDERS |
Acrobat 4327 |
Jukebox Hits, 1946-1953 |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 55 mins, highly recommended
I love this "Jukebox Hits" series that Acrobat has been doing for a while
now. They have really done a fantastic job capturing the essence of an
artist or particular year and I have found new interest and reverence in
some artists that I didn't pay so much attention to before. This brilliant
collection follows the career of Roy Milton from the waning days of Big
Band Jazz/ Early days of Rhythm & Blues to the dawn of Rock'N'Roll. This
covers all of Milton's chart hits including swingin' numbers like Night
and Day (I Miss You So)/ Information Blues/ T-Town Twist/ R.M. Blues/ Oh
Babe, and many more. Roy Milton was an R&B shouter of the finest order
and can easily be considered one of the Godfathers to Rock'N'Roll in the
company of Louis Jordon, Big Joe Turner and Johnny Otis. Booklet includes
reproductions of some great ads, handbills and newspaper articles from the
time about Milton. (JM)
|
| THE MISSISSIPPI MARVEL |
Broke & Hungry 13005 |
The World Must Never Know |
● CD $14.98 |
10 tracks, 39 min., recommended
If booklet notes may be believed, The Mississippi Marvel, for fear that
his church community would disapprove mightily of his sojourn into the
devil's musical camp, agreed at the age of 76 years to record this, his
debut album, only if his identity were kept a secret. Even the session
guys signed contracts to that effect. So, other than telling the listening
public that this album of delta blues was recorded in a Mississippi juke
joint in one session in November of 2007, the Broke & Hungry folks aren't
saying much. Not that it matters. It's actually refreshing not having
biographical information, since ultimately the music is either worth
hearing or not. That said, this MM recording belongs in the slightly raw
and unpolished blues category occupied by guys like CeDell Davis, only
less so. MM sounds influenced by Muddy Waters, but you'd never mistake one
for the other. The imperfections in MM's singing, the drunken patrons
noising in the background, the occasionally wrong note or chord here and
there, does nothing to diminish the hypnotic power of the music and
probably adds to the experience. Slick this ain't, but a pretty cool album
all the same. (JC)
|
| FAMOUS L. RENFROE |
Big Legal Mess 0201 |
As The Flying Sweet Angel Of Joy -
CHildren |
● CD $13.98 |
12 tracks, 36 min., very highly recommended
Renfroe, a one-man gospel / R&B / soul group who writes and produces his
own songs, sings and plays all the instruments, (except drums), sidesteps
the music industry and puts out an album that represents his singular
musical vision. Seems fitting that the Fat Possum label is distributing
this--it's actually on the Big Legal Mess Records label, which is pretty
amusing in itself and more so when one considers the religious nature of
the recordings--because it is reminiscent of the early releases on that
label, if not in style or sound, then in the insistence of the individual
performer's ideas being in the forefront. R. L. Burnside comes to mind.
But Renfroe, posing on the cover with his guitar, combines heartfelt
originals with a wonderfully under-produced sound circa the late
1960s-early 1970s that results in a kind of casual genius. His songs are
short--three and a half minutes is about tops--and so are his titles (Believe/
Reaching/ Feed/ His Love/ War, and others). Engaging, endearing, and
strangely wonderful. Who is this guy? (JC)
|
| CLARENCE SPADY |
Severn 045 |
Just Between Us |
● CD $14.98 |
11 tracks, 49 min., highly recommended
Back in 1996 when his debut album Nature Of The Beast hit the streets,
critics called him the next big blues thing, predicting a lengthy and
influential future. But fans had to wait until 2008 for this, his
sophomore effort. His sound is a cool urban blues that Robert Cray fans
should admire. Spady is the classic triple threat in that he voice is
soulful, his guitar is bluesy and his material is original. For the two
sharpest cuts here, figure the slow and satisfying Just Between Us.
and the lyrical, mid-tempo instrumental E-Mail. No SPAM on this
one. Very impressive. (JC)
|
| RUFUS THOMAS |
Bear Family BCD 16695 |
His R&B Recordings, 1949-1956 : The Sun
Years, Plus |
● CD $24.98 |
29 tracks, 85 Mins, highly recommended
This is a fabulous set, one that only suffers from the fact that the
Document label just put out a great collection of early Rufus Thomas
material. With both of the collections covering recordings done for the
Sun, Chess, Meteor, and Star Talent record labels, unfortunately there is
a vast amount of overlapping material, but if you are a die-hard R&B fan,
you might want to get both. If you didn't pick up the Document CD, than I
would recommend this collection over that one. First off you get the
deluxe Bear Family treatment, which on this release means a great 66-page
booklet, with new extensive liner notes by Martin Hawkins, plus some great
rare pictures and a discography for Rufus' '50s recordings as well as for
the other recordings that are featured. Of the 29 cuts, 20 are duplicates
of the Document CD. There are two versions of Married Woman, one of
which is also on the other set, while the other is unique to this CD. The
others are primarily made up of other artists' songs and vintage
recordings of Thomas at WDIA. A few tracks connected to Rufus' are
included--Rufus does a great version of Decorate The Counter and
included on this we have a choppy early version (making its first official
CD appearance here) of it from Roscoe Gordon, from the session that would
produce his most famous version. Then you also have Big Mama Thornton's
Hound Dog right before Rufus' answer record--Bear Cat--as well as Joe
Hill Lois doing his version of Tiger Man. Also 2 tracks by fellow
WDIA personality A.C. Moohah Williams Candy and All Shook
Out, which are featured here not only because of the radio connection,
but also due to the band backing Williams being comprised mainly of the
musicians that would accompany Rufus on most of his recordings of the
time. You then get some on air from WDIA material, like the incredible
promo spot for Pink Pussycat Wine, intro patter from Rufus' Sepia
Swing Club show, and an entertaining ten minute interview with Rufus done
in Memphis in 1986 on the Daddy Cool Show that is making it's first CD
appearance here. Rufus Thomas was such an all round entertainer, who did
so much and worked so hard at his craft while raising a family, that his
story is as inspiring as his songs are great and it is great to have his
lesser known early material presented in such a fine manner. (JM)
JOE HILL LOUIS: Tiger Man (king Of The Jungle)/ MOOHAH:
All Shook Out/ Candy/ RUFUS THOMAS: Bear Cat (the Answer To Hound Dog)/
Beer Bottle Boogie/ Crazy About You Baby/ Decorate The Counter/ Double
Trouble/ Gonna Bring My Baby Back/ I'll Be A Good Boy/ I'm Off That Stuff/
I'm So Worried/ I'm Steady Holdin' On/ Intro Patter To Sepia Swing Club/
Juanita/ Married Woman -1/ Married Woman -2/ Night Workin' Blues/ No More
Dogging Around/ Pink Pussycat Wine/ Rosco Gordon - Decorate The Counter/
Rufus Thomas On Daddy Cool Show/ Save That Money/ The Easy Livin' Plan/
Tiger Man (king Of The Jungle)/ Walkin' In The Rain/ Who's That Chick/ Why
Did You Deegee?/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog
|
| IKE TURNER |
JSP JSPCD 4203 |
Classic Early Side, 1952-1957 |
● CD $23.98 |
Two CD set, 56 tracks, highly recommended, with
reservations
I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's time someone did a box
set documenting the early years in depth of Ike Turner - singer, pianist,
talent scout and bandleader and the ideal label to do this would be JSP
who have put out some fine box sets. Instead we have this two CD set
sampling recordings by Ike and his bandmates made between 1952 and 1957.
Two thirds of these tracks are available on releases in the past couple of
years on Classics and Rev-Ola and most of the rest were on a now out of
print Charly CD. About the only track that I don't think is available on
CD elsewhere is Johnny O'Neal's great Johnny's Dream which seems to
an early version of the song that fellow band member Eugene (Sly) Fox
would record a couple of times and it includes that same great tremlo
guitar work from Ike. Ike is featured playing guitar and piano and has
several vocal and instrumental tracks under his own name. The rest
features vocals by other members of his band including Billy Gayles,
Dennis Binder, Matt Cockrell, Eugene Fox, Johnny Wright (a fabulous
reworking of Things I Used To Do called The World Is Yours
with stunning guitar by Ike) and others as well as several tracks
featuring vocals by Ike's first wife Bonnie. Sound quality is excellent
and there are informative notes by Neil Slaven and discographical info.
(FS)
DENNIS BINDER: Early Times/ I Miss You So/ JACKIE
BRENSTON: Gonna Wait For My Chance/ Much Later/ What Can It Be/ BROTHER
BELL (JOHNNY O'NEAL): If You Feel Froggish/ Whole Heap Of Mama/ BEN BURTON
& HIS ORCHESTRA: Troubles And Headaches/ You're Driving Me Insane/ MATT
COCKRELL: Baby Please/ Gypsy Blues/ BILLY GAYLES: Do Right Baby/ I'm Tore
Up/ If I Neve Had Known You/ Just One More Time/ Let's Call It A Day/ My
Heart In Your Hands/ Night Howler/ No Coming Back/ Sad As A Man Can Be/
Take Your Fine Frame Home/ MISTREATER JACKIE: The/ WILLIE KING: Peg Leg
Baby/ LONNIE "THE CAT": I Ain't Drunk/ The Road I Travel/ CLAYTON LOVE:
Why Don't You Believe Me/ Wicked Little Baby/ LOVER BOY (IKE TURNER): Love
Is Scarce/ The Way You Used To Treat Me/ MARY SUE (BONNIE TURNER):
Everybody's Talking/ Love Is A Gamble/ JOHNNY O'NEAL: Dead Letter Blues/
Johnny's Dream/ Ugly Woman (Peg Leg Baby)/ THE SLY FOX: Hoo-Doo Say/ I'm
Tired Of Beggin'/ My Four Women/ BONNIE & IKE TURNER: Looking For My Baby/
Love Is A Gamble/ My Heart Belongs To You/ Old Brother Jack/ Way Down In
The Congo/ IKE TURNER: Big Question, The/ Cuban Get Away/ Cubano Jump/ Do
You Mean It/ Go To It/ Loosely/ Nobody Wants Me/ Rock-A-Bucket/ She Made
My Blood Run Cold/ Trail Blazer/ Why Did You Leave Me/ You've Changed My
Love/ JOHNNY WRIGHT: Suffocate/ The World Is Yours
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat ADDCD 3059 |
The Olliet Records Story |
● CD $18.98 |
Two CDs, 57 tracks, essential
Another fabulous collection of black music from the late 40s/ early 50s
recorded for small West Coast labels. This one features recordings made
for labels owned by African-American entrepreneur Ollie T. Hunt - most
notably Olliet plus subsidiary labels State Negro Spirituals, Trilyte, Gru-V-Tone,
Fentone, Scotty's and Octive (the last of these may not be a Hunt label).
More than half the tracks are gospel and features several tremendous
quartets like The Paramount Gospel Singers (featuring the stunning leads
of Tiny Powell), The Spartonaires, Swanee River Quartet, Macedonians (an
incredible acapella group who sound like they were inspired by The Spirit
Of Memphis!) and The Flowers of Joy. There are also several solo gospel
performers along with a couple of preachers including the ferocious Rev.
George W. Killens with four titles including a spine chilling lined out
version of the hymn Father I Stretch My hands To Thee. There is
also a solo track from Tommy Jenkins who was a vocalist for the Rising
Star Gospel Singers. His Freedom Choo Choo is a remarkable early
civil rights song (1946!). Jenkins is given superb bluesy piano
accompaniment by Naomi Mack who is featured on a fine instrumental
Tight Key Boogie. We also have the first recordings of the great Percy
Mayfield and one of the first by Jimmy Nelson (his very first - also on
Olliet has never been found!). There are also tracks by Lowell Fulson, the
Bay Area's most influential guitarist Lafayette Thomas, several tracks of
jazzy jive, doo-wop from The Shantones and two early sides of jazz great
Charles Mingus. An exemplary release compiled and annotated by Bay Area
blues and gospel expert Opal Louis Nations which includes what little
biographical information is known about Hunt and the various artists here
along with artist photos and label shots. Sound quality is generally
superb - a few cuts are from very rare and worn 78s and there is some
crackle but it's all listenable. (FS)
RAY AGEE: I Brought It All On Myself/ REV. CARL C.
ANDERSON: The Lord Will Make A Way/ FATHER E. DAVID & THE TONES: Since
Jesus Came Into My Heart/ THE FLOWERS OF JOY: All My Appointed Time/ At
The Cross/ LOWELL FULSON: Scotty's Blues/ The Train Is Leaving/ REV. J.J.
GASKINS: Come See A Man/ ELDER G. GUIDRY: He Knows How Much We Can Bear/
ALLEN HENRY & HIS BAND: Big Fat Joe The Wino/ Little Red Riding Hood/ JOHN
HOGG: Black Snake Blues/ Worrin' Blues/ TOMMY JENKINS: Freedom Choo Choo/
DAVID LEE JOHNSON: Hemlock Blues/ Who Can You Blame/ LYDIA JOHNSON:
Canaan/ REV. GEORGE W. KILLENS: Father I Stretch My Hands To Thee/
Fighting For Jesus/ Same Man/ Testing Faith/ THE MACEDONIANS: Anybody
Waiting/ I'll Never More Pass This Way/ Old Blind Barnabus/ Stop The War/
NAOMI MACK: Tight Key Boogie/ PERCY MAYFIELD: Jack You Ain't Nowhere, Pt.
1/ Jack You Ain't Nowhere, Pt. 2/ Two Years Of Torture/ BARON MINGUS & HIS
RHYTHM: Lyon's Roar/ CHARLES "BARRON" MINGUS & HIS SYMPHONIC AIRS: The
Story Of Love/ REV. LOUIS H. NARCISSE & THE CELESTIAL TONES: He Will Know
Me/ Why Should I Worry/ JIMMY NELSON: Baby Chile/ Jailhouse Love/ The Cats
Creep At Midnight/ THE PARAMOUNT GOSPEL SINGERS: He Means So Much To Me/
Heaven In My View/ In That Awful Hour, Part 1/ In That Awful Hour, Part 2/
Jonah/ KING PERRY: Come Back Baby/ It Takes A Good Man Like Me/ THE
SHANTONES: Come To Me/ Little Girl/ THE SPARTONAIRES: Mother, Don't You
Cry/ Precious Lord, Take My Hand/ THE SWANEE RIVER QUARTET: Jesus Is My
Friend/ Lord, Have Mercy/ The Sun Will Never Go Down/ Wings/ LAFAYETTE
THOMAS: The Thing/ Weekly Blues/ THE TRILYTERS: The Beat (Instr.)/
Two-O-Five Jump/ WILLIAM "THUNDERBIRD" WALKER & BAND: I'm Thinking Of You/
Thunderbird
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blue Label 92902 |
Bullet Records Gospel |
● CD $16.98 |
24 tracks, recommended
Fine collection of gospel drawn from the Nashville based Bullet label. The
Bullet label had two lives - initially started in 1946 it folden in 1953
but was revived in 1959. The first five tracks are from the label's
initial incarnation including four sides by the magnificent Fairfield Four
and one featuring the older jubilee style of The Famous Jubilee Singers.
The remaining tracks are from the early/ mid 60s and due to the fact that
many titles were pressed in very small quantities and documentation is
poor it is not known how many of these were actually issued but all are
fine examples of 60s style gospel. Two excellent journeyman gospel
quartets are featured - The Dixie Travelers and The Sacred Four and there
are also tracks by preacher Rev. H.L. Parker leading a choir, singer and
piano player Ruth Zion, a couple of charming cuts by Rev. Dr. Pickett
accompanied only by acoutic guitar and percussion and four tracks
featuring a group led by fine Mississippi vocalist Willie Gunn. An
ejoyable selection. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Dixie Frog 8597 |
Dixiefrog Presents Music Maker - Last &
Lost Blues Survivors |
● CD $24.98 |
French import. Two CD set featuring 38 tracks recorded in
the past 15 years for Tim Duffy's Music Maker label. The emphasis is on
rural Piedmont blues along with blues artists from other regions,
traditional folk, urban blues, gospel and more. Performers include Frank
Edwards, Neal Pattman, Guitar Gabriel, Pura Fe, Cora Mae Bryant, Sol, Etta
Baker, Drink Small, Jerry McCain, Sweet Betty, Carl Rutherford, Cootie
Stark, Little Pink Anderson, Captain Luke & Cool John, Algia Mae Hinton,
The Branchettes, Essie Mae Brooks and others. Includes 32 page booklet
with background information on the labels, bios of all the artists and
photos.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Document DOCD 5682 |
Mississippi Blues, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
23 tracks, 62 min., highly recommended
Originally released on vinyl in 1987, this CD reissue includes extra
tracks, including take 1 of Robert Johnson's Traveling Riverside Blues,
released originally on Document's Too Late Too Late Blues, Volume 11
(DOCD-6525). It offers 11 Johnson performances in total ("the alternate
takes and bonus tracks"), including 4 originally unissued sides (Phonograph
Blues, Cross Road Blues, Drunken Hearted Man, and the
aforementioned Traveling Riverside Blues from his 1936 San Antonio
sessions. Sound quality is quite good too. The booklet notes call Robert
Lockwood Jr. the son of Johnson's "regualr girl friend." Lockwood learned
guitar from Johnson and absorbed his style in the process. Lockwood's
earliest, rare 1941 recordings waxed for Bluebird are included here,
namely <>Black Spider Blues, I'm Gonna Train My Baby, Little Boy
Blue, and Take A Little Walk With Me. Also included are both
sides of Mercury 8260 (I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole and Dust My
Broom) from a 1951 Chicago session; and both sides of JOB 1107 (Aw
Aw Baby (Sweet Home Chicago) and Sweet Woman From Maine) also
cut in Chicago, this time in 1955. And the complete recorded works--all 4
songs--of Otto Virgil are here too (and worth hearing too), recorded in
Chicago in 1935 for Bluebird. (JC)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Famous Groove 972303 |
Soulful Gospel Vocal Groups, Vol. 3 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 gospel sides from the mid 60s through early 70s in the
then contemporary soul style. Includes cuts by The Meditations, The Gospel
Cavaliers, Gospel Followers (featuring future soul favorites Ashford &
Simpson), The East St. Louis Gospelettes, The Gospel Classics, Ollie
Collins Jr. & Group, TheSalem Travelers, Sensational Cymbals, Cross Jordan
Singers, The Capitalaires, Gospel Six Mighty Kings, etc.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Primo 6077 |
Vintage Sex Songs |
● CD $10.98 |
2 CDs, 40 tracks, 116 mins, highly recommended
The best compilations transcend our daily lives and take us to a time and
place that we may or may not be familiar with. This set in particular
takes us behind the green door that Jim Lowe couldn't get past and, when
we get there, the women there don't exactly look like Marilyn Chambers;
they might be doing a lot of the same activities, but the gals here have a
lot more curves and are a lot less innocent. This is a collection of dirty
low-down and raunchy blues, certainly not the first, but one of the better
ones to come out in years. Familiar faces for this sort of compilation,
such as Bullmoose Jackson, The Swallows, Wynonie Harris etc. are here, but
then you get an artist like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, not exactly someone you
think of doing material like this, but her I Want A Tall Skinny Papa
works quite well here. Jimmie Gordon Bed Spring Blues, Memphis
Minnie Keep On Eatin, Barrelhouse Annie If It Don't Fit, Don't
Force It, Blind Boy Fuller Sweet Honey Hole, Lucille Bogan
Shave 'em Dry, and many more gems. Little notation on the recordings,
but this is a party record--who's reading the notes? If you don't have
much in the way of dirty blues, than this is a great starting point, if
you do, and since there have been so many of these type of collections
over the last 50 years or so, you might want to check the full track
listing to make sure you aren't repeating too much. (JM)
CONNIE ALLEN: Rocket 69/ BARRELHOUSE ANNIE: If It Don't
Fit, Don't Force It/ LUCILLE BOGAN: Shave 'em Dry/ BO CARTER: Banana In
Your Fruit Basket/ My Pencil Won't Write No More/ MARGARET CARTER: I Want
Plenty Grease In My Frying Pan/ FLOYD DIXON: Baby Let's Go Down To The
Woods/ BLIND BOY FULLER: I'm A Rattlesnake Daddy/ LOWELL FULSON: Let Me
Ride In Your Little Automobile/ CLEO GIBSON: I've Got Ford Movements In My
Hips/ JAZZ GILLUM: Sarah Jane/ JIMMIE GORDON: Bed Spring Blues/ WYNONIE
HARRIS: I Want My Fanny Brown/ She Kept On Sittin' On It All The Time/
JOHN LEE HOOKER: My Daddy Was A Jockey/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Let Me Play
With Your Poodle/ BULLMOOSE JACKSON: I Want A Bow-legged Woman/ PAPA
CHARLIE JACKSON: You Put It In, I'll Take It Out/ FRANKIE "HALF-PINT"
JAXON: It Must Be Jelly ('cos You Know Jam Don't Move Like That)/ LIL
JOHNSON: Sam, The Hot Dog Man/ LONNIE JOHNSON: The Best Jockey In Town/
LILLIE MAE KIRKMAN: He's Just My Size/ JULIA LEE: King Size Papa/ MEMPHIS
MINNIE: Keep On Eatin'/ AL MILLER: I Found Your Keyhole/ THE MISSISSIPPI
SHEIKS: Driving That Thing/ FATS NOEL: Ride Daddy Ride/ CHARLIE PICKETT:
Let Me Squeeze Your Lemon/ JIMMY PRESTON: Hucklebuck Baby/ MABEL SCOTT:
Just Give Me A Man/ BESSIE SMITH: I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl/
VICTORIA SPIVEY: Good Cabbage/ THE SWALLOWS: It Ain't The Meat, It's The
Motion/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: My Baby's Playground/ JOHNNY TEMPLE: Sit Right On
It/ SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: I Want A Tall Skinny Papa/ THE TRENIERS: Poon
Tang/ SIPPIE WALLACE: A Man For Every Day In The Week/ I'm A Mighty Tight
Woman/ CROWN PRINCE WATERFORD: Move Your Hand Baby
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Proper BOX 145 |
Little Walter And The Kings Of The Blues
Harmonica |
● CD $26.98 |
Four CD set with 108 tracks. The first two CDs present a
survey of various blues harmonica greats covering the period 1927 through
1957 and including DeFord Bailey, Noaha Lewis, Sonny Boy Williamson (John
Lee), Jazz Gillum (who was a fine artist but hardly a harmonica great),
Sonny Terry, Snooky Pryor, James Cotton, Walter Horton, Howlin' Wolf,"Hot
Shot" Love, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Junior Wells and others.
The other two discs features 55 sides recorded between 1947 and 1957 by
Little Walter Jacobs - rightfully considered the greatest blues harmonica
player of the post war era. Lots of classic sides are here - Juke/ Mean
Old World/ Off The Wall/ Quarter To Twelve/ Blues With A Feeling/ Last
Night/ My babe/ Roller Coaster/ I Hate To See You Go/ Flying Saucer,
etc. with sidemen like Jimmy Rogers, Louis Myers, Henry Gray, Willie
Dixon, Robert Lockwood, Otis Spann, Fred Below, Bo Diddley, Luther Tucker
and others. Excellent sound and 56 page booklet has extensive notes and
full discographical details. It's all been out before but if you don't
already have all this material it's a great collection, excellently
packaged and at a bargain price.
BILLY BOY ARNOLD: I Wish You Would/ You Got To Love Me/
DE FORD BAILEY: Dixie Flyer Blues/ Pan-American Blues/ GEORGE CLARKE: More
Blues/ Prisoner Blues/ JED DAVENPORT: Beale Street Breakdown/ Cow Cow
Blues/ LITTLE BUDDY DOYLE: Hard Scufflin' Blues/ She's Got Good Dry Goods/
FOREST CITY JOE: A Woman On Every Street/ Memory Of Sonny Boy/ LITTLE
WILLIE FOSTER: Little Girl/ JAZZ GILLUM: Key To The Highway/ Reefer Head
Woman/ HENRY GRAY: I Declare That Ain't Right/ SLIM HARPO: I'm A King Bee/
I've Got Love If You Want It/ WALTER HORTON: Have A Good Time/ Need My
Baby/ HOWLIN' WOLF: Crazy About You Baby/ Stay Here Till My Baby Comes
Back/ J.B. HUTTO: Combination Boogie/ JIMMY & WALTER: Easy/ NOAH LEWIS:
Chickasaw Special/ Devil In The Woodpile/ SAMMY LEWIS & WILLIE JOHNSON: So
Long Baby, Goodbye/ LITTLE WALTER: Ah'w Baby/ Big Leg Mama/ Blue Light/
Blue Midnight/ Blues With A Feeling/ Blues with a Feeling/ Boogie/ Boom,
Boom Out Go The Lights/ Can't Stop Loving You/ Come Back Baby/ Crazy For
My Baby/ Crazy Legs/ Don't Have To Hurt No More/ Everybody Needs Somebody/
Fast Boogie/ Fast Large One/ Flying Saucer/ I Can't Hold Out Much Longer/
I Got To Find My Baby/ I Got To Go/ I Had My Fun/ I Hate To See You Go/ I
Just Keep Loving Her/ It Ain't Right/ It's Too Late Brother/ Juke/ Just a
Feeling/ Last Boogie/ Last Night/ Last Night/ Lights Out/ Little Girl/
Mean Old World/ Mellow Down Easy/ Mercy Babe/ My Babe/ My Babe/ Nobody But
You/ Off The Wall/ Oh Baby/ One More Chance With You/ Ora Nelle Blues/
Quarter To Twelve/ Rocker/ Roller Coaster/ Sad Hours/ Shake Dancer/ Take
Me Back/ Teenage Beat/ Tell Me Mama/ Temperature/ Thunderbird/ Tonight
With A Fool/ Too Late/ Who/ You'd Better Watch Yourself/ You're So Fine/
JOE HILL LOUIS: Boogie In The Park/ We All Gotta Go Sometime/ COY "HOT
SHOT" LOVE: Harmonica Jam/ Wolf Call Boogie/ THE MEMPHIS JUG BAND: Gator
Wobble/ K.C. Moan/ LOUIS MYERS: Just Whaling/ WILLIE NIX: Bakershop
Boogie/ SNOOKY PRYOR: Judgment Day/ JIMMY REED: Jimmie's Boogie/ Roll and
Rhumba/ JIMMY ROGERS: Walkin' By Myself/ DR. ROSS: Come Back Baby/ Doctor
Ross Boogie/ SNOOKY & MOODY: Boogie/ SONNY TERRY & BROWNIE MCGHEE: Born
For Bad Luck/ Fox Chase/ Million Lonesome Women/ Whoopin' The Blues/ MUDDY
WATERS: I Live The Life I Love/ JUNIOR WELLS: Hoodoo Man/ So All Alone/
JOHN LEE "SONNY BOY" WILLIAMSON: Decoration Blues/ Shake The Boogie/ SONNY
BOY WILLIAMSON: Don't Start Me To Talking/ Fattening Frogs For Snakes
|
| T-BONE WALKER |
Definitive 11259 |
Complete 1950-1954 Recordings |
● CD $10.98 |
Two CDs, 52 tracks, 2 hrs 19 mins, essential if you don't
already have it T. Bone Walker was a brilliant singer and an innovative
guitar player whose playing was to influence generations of blues
guitarists. He honed his craft over many years but possibly reached his
peak in the 52 songs recorded for Imperial between 1950 and 1954. This
double CD features one take of all of these songs. These recordings were
mostly cut in Los Angeles or New Orleans with great bands including such
sidemen as Jim Wynn, Billy Hadnott, Willard McDaniel, Maxwell Davis, Dave
Bartholomew, Lee Allen, Walter Nelson and other. There is one classic
performance after another including Glamour Girl/ Strollin' With Bones/
The Hustle Is On/ I Get So Weary/ Street Walking Woman/ Party Girl/ High
Society/ Vida Lee/ Doin' Time, etc. Includes 8 page booklet with brief
biography and session details. This is essentially the same as the "The
Complete IMperial Recordings" issued by EMI in 1991 though I think the
remastering here is a little crisper. (FS)
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