Love Doctor Blues / They Can't Do This To You (National 4015) - Gatemouth Moore

Released June, 1947.

"They Can't Do This To You" recorded in New York, November 15th, 1945.

Personnel: "Gatemouth" Moore (vcl), acc by Al "Budd" Johnson's Orchestra : Dick Vance (tp); Jimmy Hamilton (cl); Budd Johnson (ts); Harry Carney (bar,as); Sam Benskin (p); Al Hall (b); J.C. Heard (d).

"Love Doctor Blues" recorded in New York, October 25th, 1946.

Personnel: Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore (vcl), acc by Tiny Grimes Swingtet : Russell Royster (tp); Herman Flintsall (as); John Hardee (ts); Sam Benskin (p,celeste); Tiny Grimes (g); Al "Junior" Raglin (b); Eddie Nicholson (d).

Thought I'd post another "snapshot" of early R&B history with this fine example of jump blues featuring blues shouter and future reverend, Gatemouth Moore. The tracks are ripped from vinyl, specifically from the Savoy 2 LP set "The Shouters", hence no label shots.

The A Side, "Love Doctor Blues" is a sly, slinky variation on the well used blues theme of super stud acting as "doctor" to cure the ladies of whatever ails them. There's cracking backing from The Tiny Grimes Swingtet with nice guitar from Tiny and subtle tenor horn from John Hardee.

John "Bad Man" Hardee

The uptempo B Side "They Can't Do This To You" also features a first class backing group, that of sax player Budd Johnson.

The disk received a favourable review in Billboard on June 7th, 1947:

"The gusty and groovey blues singing of Gatemouth (Dwight) Moore lets loose in free-swinging rock 'n' rhythm style for both of these Harlemese selections. And with the jam-packed bands behind him bringing up a tasty musical dish, the spinning is something to occupy the attention. Spinning solid and spicey is Doc Pumus's "Love Doctor Blues," Gatemouth telling of his office hours from sundown till the break of dawn with no fees charged for his fem patients. Guitarist Tiny Grimes leads the musical aggregation for this grooving which gives forth some of John Hardee's fine tenor sax blues blowing. Takes his own blues novelty, a jive fashioned "They Can't Do This To You," at a faster clip, with tenor saxist Budd Johnson, who rounds up the accompanying hot men, giving forth some of his sax smoke."

The Billboard reviewer's verdict was: "Race locations will lap up 'Love Doctor Blues.'"

"Doctor Moore has just what you need, Ma'am"

Above is the "Race Chart" of juke box plays from the same edition of Billboard, June 7th 1947, which shows us what was big at the time Gatemouth's disk was released. There are four Louis Jordan numbers, two from The Mills Brothers and one from song belter Frankie Lane. The major labels dominate with only one independent label, Manor, having a disk in the chart. There's still a strong feel of the big band era with Erskine Hawkins, Lionel Hampton and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson all present although in the case of the latter two, the recordings are by small groups assembled from the parent big bands.