A World Of Blues (Imperial LP 9210)

Side 1:

01. Cold, Cold Feeling - T-Bone Walker

02. I Get So Weary - T-Bone Walker

03. Travelin' Blues - T-Bone Walker

04. The Sun Went Down - T-Bone Walker

05. Drifting Blues - Charles Brown

06. Black Night - Charles Brown

Side 2:

01. Trouble In Mind - Amos Milburn

02. Baby, Baby - Amos Milburn

03. Tired, Broke & Busted - Floyd Dixon

04. Call Operator #210 - Floyd Dixon

05. Rockin' & Rollin' - Lil' Son Jackson

06. Tend To Your Business - James Wayne

Download from:

http://www117.zippyshare.com/v/vkfVBouI/file.html

This is a 1982 Pathe Marconi re-release of Imperial LP 9210 which was originally released in May 1963. Billboard Magazine rated it as a 4 star album in its 4th May 1963 issue. The Beach Boys "Diamond Head" LP only rated 3 stars, along with "Frank Kouba and His Gay Bohemians" and "The Best Of The Bossa Nova" by The Tides. The mind boggles. However that's all very much bye the bye, and a propos de rien. Read on and learn that this is a glorious LP, a great collection of 1940s / early 1950s blues gems from the vaults of Philo / Aladdin and Imperial.

We have four giants of West Coast R&B: T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn and Floyd Dixon, all of whom were particularly adept at evoking a late night, after hours atmosphere. The music brings to mind one of my favourite quotes from "Unsung Heroes Of Rock 'n' Roll" by Nick Tosches, to be specific, from the chapter on Amos Milburn: "...the ceaseless saxophones of salvation, the crossing and uncrossing of restless nylon knees, the eightfold path of the unfiltered Kool and the miracle of Our Lady of the After-Hours Joint." Words which sum up this LP better than anything I could possibly write.

The sides by Lil' Son Jackson and James Wayne stand apart from the sophisticated West Coast R&B stylings of the four "big hitters." Lil' Son's "Rockin' And Rollin'" has just one man and his guitar. While looking back to earlier hits by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, this disc also presages the "swamp blues" style of Slim Harpo. You can hear both sides of the original Imperial 78 on this post featuring rips by El Enmascarado - Rockin' And Rollin' / Peace Breaking People.

James Wayne's "Tend To Your Business" is a 1961 Imperial re-recording of his big 1951 hit for the Sittin' In With label. It was in the R&B top ten from May through to August 1951, reaching as high as number two in May. In the middle of June it was at number three, tucked in behind Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" and "60 Minute Man" by The Dominoes, and ahead of Nat "King" Cole's "Too Young" and Billy Eckstine's "I Apologize." The 1961 version is much slicker than the original. Unlike the Lil' Son Jackson track, it really breaks with the overall late night bluesy mood of the album.

James Wayne was an interesting character, to say the least. This article (Not Tending To His Business) by writer Graham Reid is a good overview of  the trials (literally) and tribulations of a true eccentric. There is a link in the article to a lengthy account by public defender Mort Borenstein of his efforts to keep Wayne out of a mental institution and also get him some of his royalties. "The People versus James Douglas Wayne" is worth setting aside twenty minutes or so for what develops into a rollercoaster ride through, well, just read it for yourselves. I intended to merely "dip in" to the article and was quickly hooked. 

This Pathe Marconi reissue had a slight problem. Two of the T-Bone tracks were not those listed on the sleeve and record label. Tracks 3 and 4 on Side 1 were not "Travelin' Blues" and "The Sun Went Down", but were in fact "The Hustle Is On" and "Evil Hearted Woman." Bizarre - especially as "The Hustle Is On" is an up tempo shuffle which just doesn't fit the "blues" atmosphere of most of the other tracks. For this post I've removed the two intruders and restored the original track list, so you get the album as it was originally conceived.

"A World Of Blues" did appear on the blog way back in 2007 and it falls into the category of "rips which I thought I lost in the great PC crash of 2009". As I mentioned in a recent post, I came across a box of CDs burned from these old rips and so here is the LP once more, re-ripped from what turned out to be a CD of mp3s and not an audio CD. There was a lot of surface noise on the original rip, so I've re-edited the files on Magix Audio Cleaning Lab MX to improve your listening experience. I've also included new scans of the front and back covers and the record labels.

And here are the facts on the tracks, Jack:

1. Cold, Cold Feeling - T-Bone Walker

Recorded in Los Angeles, December 1951. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Edward Hale (alto sax); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Oscar Lee Bradley (drums).

Issued on Imperial single 5171, February 1952.

2. I Get So Weary - T-Bone Walker

Recorded in Los Angeles, August 20th, 1951. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Edward Hale (alto sax); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Oscar Lee Bradley (drums). Also with unknown trumpet player.

Issued on Imperial single 5161, December 1951.

3. Travelin' Blues - T-Bone Walker

Recorded in Los Angeles, April 6th, 1950. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Eddie Hutcherson (trumpet); Edward Hale (alto sax); Eddie Davis (tenor sax); Big Jim Wynn (baritone and alto saxes); Zell Kindred (piano); Buddy Woodson (bass); Robert "Snake" Sims (drums).

Released on Imperial single 5094, August 1950.

4. The Sun Went Down - T-Bone Walker

Recorded in Los Angeles, April 5th, 1950. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Eddie Hutcherson (trumpet); Edward Hale (alto sax); Eddie Davis (tenor sax); Big Jim Wynn (baritone and alto saxes); Zell Kindred (piano); Buddy Woodson (bass); Robert "Snake" Sims (drums).

Released on Imperial single 5086, May 1950.

5. Drifting Blues - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers

Recorded in Los Angeles, September 11th, 1945. Personnel: Charles Brown (vocal, piano); Johnny Moore (guitar); Eddie Williams (bass); Johnny Otis (drums).

Released on Philo single 111, November 1945.

6. Black Night - Charles Brown

Recorded in Los Angeles, December 21st, 1950. Personnel: Charles Brown (vocal, piano); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); Jesse Ervin (guitar); Wesley Prince (bass); unknown (drums).

Released on Aladdin single 3076, February 1951.

7. Trouble In Mind - Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers

Recorded in Los Angeles, January 29th, 1952. Personnel: Amos Milburn (vocal, piano); probably Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); unknown alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax; possibly Wayne Bennett (guitar); unknown bass and drums.

Released on Aladdin single 3124, February 1952.

8. Baby, Baby - Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers

Recorded in Los Angeles, March 26th, 1954. Personnel: Amos Milburn (vocal, piano) with unknown tenor sax, baritone sax, guitar, bass and drums.

Released on Aladdin single 3248, July 1954.

9. Tired, Broke And Busted - Floyd Dixon

Recorded in Los Angeles, May 12th, 1952. Personnel: Floyd Dixon (vocal, piano); Roy Hayes (guitar); Eddie Williams (bass); Nat "Monk" McFadden (drums).

Released on Aladdin single 3151, October 1952.

10. Call Operator 210 - Floyd Dixon

Recorded in Los Angeles, May 12th, 1952. Personnel: Floyd Dixon (vocal, piano); Roy Hayes (guitar); Eddie Williams (bass); Nat "Monk" McFadden (drums).

Released on Aladdin single 3135, June 1952.

11. Rockin' And Rollin' - Lil' Son Jackson

Recorded in Houston, Texas, December 16th, 1950. Personnel: Melvin Jackson aka "Lil' Son Jackson" (vocal, guitar).

Released on Imperial single 5113, February 1951.

12. Tend To Your Business - James Wayne

Recorded in New Orleans, February 22nd, 1961. Personnel: James "Wee Willie" Wayne (vocal); unknown tenor sax, piano, guitars, bass and drums.

Released on Imperial LP 9210 "A World Of Blues" in May 1963.

T-Bone Walker - Plain Ole Blues

Side 1:

01. I'm Gonna Find My Baby

02. Don't Leave Me Baby

03. No Worry Blues

04. It's A Low Down Dirty Deal

05. I'm In An Awful Mood

06. Long Skirt Baby Blues

07. Goodbye Blues

08. Plain Old Down Home Blues

Side 2:

01. That Old Feeling Is Gone

02. Midnight Blues

03. West Side Baby

04. Prison Blues

05. Dream Girl Blues

06. Long Lost Lover Blues

07. Triflin' Women Blues

08. Go Back To The One You Love

Download from:

http://www60.zippyshare.com/v/oAI3wEoz/file.html

This is the second in the 1980s Charly trilogy of LPs of Black & White masters recorded by T-Bone Walker. See T-Bone Jumps Again (re-up) and the original T-Bone Jumps Again posts for the background story to these recordings. T-Bone's Black & White sides were recorded in 1946/7 and bought by Capitol in 1949. After the first LP in the Charly series was issued, more discographic information came to light, including the original Black & White matrix numbers and subsequent Capitol matrix numbers allocated to each track, which helps pinpoint each recording to its correct recording session.

Now for the nitty gritty - all the info you could want on these tracks. We'll start off with where and when they were recorded and who was actually on them, and then we'll look at when they were first issued. 

So here we go, in chronological order:

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 on Side 1 were recorded in Hollywood, September 30th, 1946. Personnel: T-Bone Walker with Jack McVea's All Stars. T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Joe "Red" Kelly (trumpet); Jack McVea (tenor sax); Tommy "Crow" Kahn (piano); Frank Clarke (bass); Rabon Tarrant (drums).

I'm Gonna Find My Baby was released on Black & White 110 (B Side of "Bobby Sox Baby") in November 1946.

No Worry Blues / Don't Leave Me Baby were released on Black & White 111 in January 1947.

Tracks 4 and 5 on Side 1 were recorded in Hollywood in December 1946. Personnel: T-Bone Walker with the Al Killian Quintet. T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Al Killian (trumpet); Jack McVea (tenor sax); Tommy "The Crow" Kahn or Lloyd Glenn (piano); Frank Clarke (bass); Rabon Tarrant (drums).

It's A Lowdown Dirty Deal was released on Black & White 115 as the B Side of "Don't Give Me The Runaround" in May 1947.

I'm In An Awful Mood was released on Black & White 121 b/w "Hard Pain Blues" between May and December 1947.

Tracks 6 and 7 on Side 1 and tracks 2, 5, 6 and 7 on Side 2 were recorded in Los Angeles, November 6th, 1947. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Teddy Buckner (trumpet); Bumps Myers (tenor sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Oscar Lee Bradley (drums).

Dream Girl Blues and Triflin' Woman Blues remained unreleased until 1965 when they were included on a UK LP "The Blues Of T Bone Walker" on the budget mfp (Music for Pleasure) label.

Long Skirt Baby Blues / Goodbye Blues were released on Black & White 123 in January 1948.

Midnight Blues was released on Black & White 127 as the B Side of "Plain Old Down Home Blues" (track 8, Side 1) in July 1948.

Long Lost Lover Blues was released on Capitol 57-70023 as the B Side of "You're My Best Poker Hand" in July 1949.

Track 8 on Side 1 and Tracks 1, 4 and 8 on Side 2 were recorded in Los Angeles, December 16th 1947. Personnel: T-Bone Walker (vocal, guitar); Jack Trainor (trumpet); Bumps Myers (tenor sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Oscar Lee Bradley (drums).

Plain Old Down Home Blues was released on Black & White 127 b/w "Midnight Blues" (track 2, Side 2) in July 1948.

That Old Feeling Is Gone was released on Comet T52 b/w "Description Blues", February 1949.

Prison Blues was released on Capitol 57-70012 b/w "Vacation Blues", June 1949.

Go Back To The One You Love was released on Capitol 799 as the B Side of "On Your Way Blues" in January 1950.

Recording session information from Bruyninckx and "Stormy Monday: The T-Bone Walker Story" by Helen Oakley Dance (Foreword by B.B. King), Da Capo, 1990.

T-Bone Walker Sings The Blues (re-up)

Side One:

01. Strollin' With Bones

02. You Don't Love Me

03. You Don't Understand

04. Say! Pretty Baby (Welcome Blues)

05. Tell Me What's The Reason

06. Blue Mood

07. Railroad Station Blues

Side Two:

01. The Sun Went Down

02. The Hustle Is On

03. Evil Hearted Woman

04. Cold Cold Feeling

05. I Got The Blues Again

06. Blues Is A Woman

07. Get These Blues Off Me

Download from here:

http://www5.zippyshare.com/v/bOmEhkV8/file.html

Original post (15th June, 2011) is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/t-bone-walker-t-bone-walker-sings-blues.html

This is a 1983 Pathe Marconi reissue of Imperial LP 9098, originally released in 1960. The reissue reproduces the original front cover art, but includes extra tracks plus notes by Pete Welding on the back cover. I remember buying this LP second hand in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh, possibly in the early 1990s, so that signature on the back cover isn't mine!

With this LP I feel that we reach peak T-Bone. These Imperial recordings pack a more powerful punch than the earlier Black & White recordings, thanks to superior production and strong backing from groups led by Big Jim Wynn, Maxwell Davis and Dave Bartholomew. The original post has the details of the recording sessions for these tracks and is well worth perusing, particularly as the information on the LP sleeve is incomplete.

As we saw in the previous post (T-Bone Jumps Again), T-Bone Walker left Black & White Records and signed a contract with Capitol Records at the end of April 1949. The contract included the complete master recordings he had made for Black & White, and Capitol started issuing T-Bone Walker singles cut from these masters from June 1949 onwards.

Less than a year later, and without actually recording any new material for Capitol, T-Bone signed with Imperial Records. His first recording session for his new label took place in Los Angeles on 5th April 1950, backed by the Big Jim Wynn band.

Five tracks on this collection are from the April 1950 sessions (held over two days): Strollin' With Bones, The Sun Went Down, You Don't Love Me, Travelin' Blues, and Evil Hearted Woman.

The first single released on Imperial was Strollin' With Bones (b/w Glamour Girl) on Imperial 5071 towards the end of April 1950. As for the rest of the tracks on this LP, the original releases were as follows:

The Sun Went Down / You Don't Love Me - Imperial 5086, May 1950

Travelin' Blues / Evil Hearted Woman - Imperial 5094, August 1950

You Don't Understand / Welcome Blues - Imperial 5147, September 1951

note: Imperial 5147 was re-released as Imperial 5384 in March 1956, with both sides re-titled: "Alibi" / "Say! Pretty Baby"

Cold, Cold Feeling (b/w "News For My Baby") - Imperial 5171, February 1952

Get These Blues Off Me / I Got The Blues Again - Imperial 5181, April 1952

Blues Is A Woman (b/w "Street Walking Woman") Imperial 5202, September 1952

Blue Mood (b/w "Got No Use For You") - Imperial 5216, January 1953

Railroad Station Blues (b/w "Long Distance Blues") - Imperial 5228, March 1953

Tell Me What's The Reason (b/w "Every Time") - Imperial 5247, September 1953

For further investigation:

If you started a serious R&B CD collection 25 years ago, then you probably bought the EMI 2CD set, "T-Bone Walker, The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954." (EMI Blues Series). Compiled and annotated by Pete Welding, this is probably still the best collection of T-Bone's Imperial sides. It's still available online and at a low price. 52 tracks.

The public domain label Not Now Music has a 2CD set with 50 tracks which covers the same ground as the original EMI 2CD set. It's available at a very low price (I've seen it going in Fopp Records in Glasgow for £3), but I have no idea if there are extensive notes to accompany the CDs.

T-Bone Walker - T-Bone Jumps Again (re-up)

Side 1:

01. Hypin' Woman Blues

02. Too Much Trouble Blues

03. I Got A Break Baby

04. Mean Old World

05. Bobby Sox Blues

06. I Know Your Wig Is Gone

07. T-Bone Jumps Again

08. Call It Stormy Monday

Side 2

01. You're My Best Poker Hand

02. First Love Blues

03. She's My Old Time Used To Be

04. On Your Way Blues

05. I Wish You Were Mine

06. Wise Man Blues

07. Born To Be No Good

08. T-Bone Shuffle

Download from here:

T-Bone Jumps Again (Mega)

The original post (June 5th, 2011) contains a biography of T-Bone Walker and recording details of the tracks on this LP. You can find it here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/t-bone-walker-t-bone-jumps-again.html

"T-Bone Jumps Again" was the first of three Charly LPs which compiled T-Bone's recordings for Black & White Records of Los Angeles, for whom he recorded between 30th September 1946 and December 1947. The series was originally conceived as a showcase for Capitol and Black & White recordings by T-Bone, but after "T-Bone Jumps Again" was released in 1980, further discographical research showed that the series of T- Bone Walker singles released by Capitol in 1949/50 were all cut from original Black & White masters.

An article in Billboard Magazine dated 30th April 1949 announced that Capitol had signed T-Bone Walker to a recording contract and had also purchased his Black & White masters. In fact T-Bone didn't record for Capitol in 1949/50 and all of his singles issued by that company were either reissues of material previously released on Black & White or first time releases of hitherto unreleased Black & White masters.

There was, however, one genuine Capitol single, recorded by T-Bone for the company while taking part in a Freddie Slack recording session in July 1942. "I Got A Break Baby" / "Mean Old World" was released by Capitol in November 1945 and it is included in this Charly collection.

The original post of this LP contains a lengthy appreciation of T-Bone and details of the recording sessions at which these tracks were cut. Information on the original release of the tracks was not included at the time, but I have now collected the necessary details. Note that the Comet label on which some T-Bone singles were released was owned by Black & White Records. Here is the track by track information in chronological order:

Tracks 3 and 4:

I Got A Break Baby / Mean Old World - Capitol 10033, November 1945.

Track 5:

Bobby Sox Blues (b/w "I'm Gonna Find My Baby") - Black & White 110, November, 1946.

Tracks 6 and 8:

I Know Your Wig Is Gone / Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday Is Just as Bad - Black & White 122, December 1947.

Track 7:

T-Bone Jumps Again (B Side of "I Want a Little Girl") - Black & White 125, April 1948.

Tracks 10 and 16:

First Love Blues / T-Bone Shuffle - Comet T53, circa March 1949. (in Most Played Juke Box Race Records chart, 19th March 1949).

Track 9:

You're My Best Poker Hand (B Side of "Long Lost Lover Blues") - Capitol 57-70023, July 1949.

Tracks 1 and 15:

Hypin' Women Blues / Born To Be No Good - Capitol 57-70025, July 1949.

Track 12:

On Your Way Blues (B Side of "Go Back To The One You Love) - Capitol 799, January 1950.

Tracks 2 and 11:

Too Much Trouble Blues / She's My Old Time Used To Be - Capitol 944, April 1950.

Track 13:

I Wish You Were Mine - Capitol LP T1958 "T-Bone Walker: Classic Indigo Vocals And Guitar." 1963.

Track 14:

Wise Man Blues - Capitol LP T1958 "T-Bone Walker: Classic Indigo Vocals And Guitar." 1963.

Soul Jam have reissued Capitol LP T1958 on CD with 16 bonus tracks:

John Lee Hooker - This Is Hip

Side 1:

01. Dimples

02. I Love You Honey

03. I'm In The Mood

04. Time Is Marching

05. Big Legs, Tight Skirt

06. Onions

07. Take Me As I Am

08. Boom Boom

Side 2

01. This Is Hip

02. Boogie Chillun

03. Crawlin' King Snake

04. Blues Before Sunrise

05. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

06. House Rent Boogie

07. It Serves Me Right To Suffer

08. Bottle Up And Go

Download from:

http://www23.zippyshare.com/v/DD7Qb4sO/file.html

This Is Hip (Mega)

01. Dimples - Vee Jay 205, September 1956 (B Side of "Baby Lee"). Recorded in Chicago, 27th March 1956. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Eddie Taylor (guitar); George Washington (bass); Tom Whitehead (drums)

02. I Love You Honey - Vee Jay 293, (b/w "You've Taken My Woman"), September 1958. Recorded in Chicago, 10th June 1958. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Joe Hunter (piano); Eddie Taylor (guitar); Everett McCrary (bass); Richard Johnson (drums).

03. I'm In The Mood - Vee Jay 308, (B Side of "Maudie"), March 1959. Recorded in Chicago, 22nd January 1959. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Eddie Taylor (guitar).

04. Time Is Marching - Vee Jay 164, (B Side of "Mambo Chillun"), December 1955. Recorded in Chicago, 16th October, 1955. Personnel: John Lee hooker (vocal, guitar); Jimmy Reed (harmonica); Eddie Taylor (guitar); George Washington (bass), Tom Whitehead (drums).

05. Big Legs, Tight Skirt - Vee Jay 670, (b/w "Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine"), April 1965. Recorded in Chicago, mid-1964. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); plus unknown guitar, bass, drums.

06. Onions - Vee Jay LP 1058 "The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker", 1963. Recorded in Chicago 1962. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); possibly with Hank Cosby (tenor sax); Andrew Terry (baritone sax); Joe Hunter (piano); Larry Veeder (guitar); James Jamerson (bass); Benny Benjamin (drums).

07. Take Me As I Am - Vee Jay 397, (B Side of "Want Ad Blues"), September 1961. Recorded in New York City 29th April 1960. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar).

08. Boom Boom - Vee Jay 438, (b/w "Drug Store Woman"), April 1962. Recorded in Chicago, 1961. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Hank Cosby (tenor sax); Andrew Terry (baritone sax); Joe Hunter (piano); Larry Veeder (guitar); James Jamerson (bass); Benny Benjamin (drums).

09. This Is Hip - previously unissued. Recorded in Chicago, 1963. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); unknown (drums).

10. Boogie Chillun - Vee Jay 319, (B Side of "Tennessee Blues"), June 1959. Recorded in Chicago, 22nd January 1959. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar).

11. Crawlin' King Snake - Vee Jay 331, (B Side of "Hobo Blues"), October 1959. Recorded in Chicago, 22nd January 1959. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar).

12. Blues Before Sunrise - Vee Jay LP 1043 "Burnin'", 1962. Recorded in Chicago, 1961. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Hank Cosby (tenor sax); Andrew Terry (baritone sax); Joe Hunter (piano); Larry Veeder (guitar); James Jamerson (bass); Benny Benjamin (drums).

13. Will The Circle Be Unbroken - Vee Jay LP VJS 7301 "John Lee Hooker In Person" 1973. Also released as Dynasty LP 7301. Recorded in Chicago, 4th January 1961. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); Lefty Bates (guitar); Pop Staples (guitar); Quinn Wilson (bass); Earl Phillips (drums).

14. House Rent Boogie - previously unissued. Recorded in Chicago, 1959/60. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); unknown (bass) (drums).

15. It Serves Me Right To Suffer - Vee Jay 708, (b/w "Flowers On The Hour"), November 1965. Recorded in Chicago, 1964. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); unknown (guitar) (bass) (drums).

16. Bottle Up And Go - Vee Jay LP 1066 "On Campus", 1963. Recorded in Chicago, 1963. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar); unknown (drums).

From my CD shelves: "Testament" 3CD set from Charly (2001) with 60 Vee Jay sides.

If you come across a copy at a decent price, it's well worth getting. It comes with an informative booklet, although in my copy there seems to be a section of text missing. It's a good account of Hooker's years with Vee Jay for whom he recorded between 1955 and 1964.

His most successful period in the R&B charts was with Modern in the late 1940's and early 1950's with "Boogie Chillen", "Crawling King Snake" and "I'm In The Mood", all three of which he re-recorded for Vee Jay as you can hear on this LP. Of the Vee Jay recordings "Dimples" and "I Love You Honey" charted in 1956 and 1958 respectively. "Dimples" was also a top 30 hit in the UK in 1964.

Big Jim Wynn - Blow Wynn Blow (Re-up)

Side A:

01. Ee-Bobaliba

02. Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

03. I Want A Little Girl

04. Cherry Red

05. Rock Woogie

06. Shipyard Woman

07. J.W. Bop

08. In A Rhapsody In Minor

Side B:

09. Blow Wynn Blow

10. Jelly Kelly Blues

11. Fat Meat

12. Farewell Baby

13. Put Me Down Blues

14. I'm The Boss (At My House)

15. Goofin' Off

16. Down To The Ocean

Download from here:

http://www24.zippyshare.com/v/JxjxmVOt/file.html

Original post (8th May, 2010) is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/big-jim-wynn-blow-wynn-blow.html

In response to a request for a re-up, here is West Coast tenor sax and baritone sax player Big Jim Wynn. The original post contains extensive background information on Big Jim as well as original release information on the tracks in this LP.

More information has come to light since the original Big Jim Wynn post regarding the origins of "Ee-Bobaliba" / "Be Baba Leba" / "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re -Bop!" See this post: Lionel Hampton - Leapin' With Lionel for information on Tina Dixon's claim to the copyright, which may conflict with Big Jim Wynn's claim to be the originator of one of R&B's biggest hits of 1945/46.

This re-up contains an improved version of one of the original label scans, plus the volume on these tracks has been boosted. And like all the re-ups, the files are now password-free.

Rock 'n' Roll (Regent MG-6015) - Re-up!

Side 1:

01. Rockin' Boy - Chuz Alfred Combo

02. Hot Rod - Hal Singer

03. Blues For Everybody - Bobby Banks Orch.

04. Playboy Hop - Rockin' Bros. Orch.

05. The Grinder - Rockin' Bros. Orch.

Side 2:

01. You Gotta Rock And Roll - Bob Oakes Orch.

02. Backbiter - T.J. Fowler

03. Wine Cooler - T.J. Fowler

04. Rooster Boogie - Paul Williams Orch.

05. Frog Hop - Hal Singer Orch.

Download from:

http://www20.zippyshare.com/v/DcKsy6Em/file.html

Original Post (1st May, 2010) is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/rock-n-roll-regent-mg-6015.html

In response to a re-up request, here's a genuine 1950s LP which was sent in to the blog by an anonymous donor back in 2010.

A theme which has occasionally reared its head on this blog is "exploitation" and this is as fine an example of cashing in on the rock 'n' roll phenomenon as you could hope to see. The LP was issued on Regent in 1956 (probably in the second half of the year) and it consists of tracks recorded in 1954-56 as rock 'n' roll tracks, plus R&B tracks from 1951-52.

The repackaging of early 1950s and even late 1940s R&B as "rock n' roll" was a common practice of record labels as they tried to achieve sales among the burgeoning teen market of the second half of the 1950s. There have been several examples posted on this blog, including some LPs on Atlantic, and the whole "Hen Gates" saga on various budget labels. Of course the Twist craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s provided another opportunity for record companies to pitch old material at a new market. We had a fine example on this blog - A Crown LP of old Jimmy McCracklin tracks presented as "Twist" tracks. Ludicrous, but nevertheless a fine blues album!

Regent was a subsidiary label of Savoy, so they had access to a strong R&B back catalogue. Here's the deal on the contents of this LP:

01. Rockin' Boy - Chuz Alfred Combo - originally released on Savoy 1175 b/w "Rock Along." Recorded in Cincinnati, March 30th, 1955. Personnel: Ola Hansson (trombone); Chuz Alfred (tenor sax); Chuck Lee (piano, drums). Here are the Chuz Alfred Combo, the wild men of rock 'n' roll:

02. Hot Rod - Hal Singer - originally released on Savoy 1179 b/w "Rock And Roll." Recorded in NYC, October 27th, 1955. Personnel: Buddy Lucas, Hal Singer (tenor saxes); Kelly Owens (piano); Mickey Baker (guitar); Leonard Gaskin (bass); Panama Francis (drums). Hal Singer was a genuine rock 'n' roll wild man. His 1948 recording of "Corn Bread" (Savoy 671) contains every rock 'n' roll riff known to humankind.

03. Blues For Everybody - Bobby Banks Orch. - originally released by The Bobby Banks Trio on Savoy 1186 in 1956. B side of "Shangri La." Recorded in NYC, December 29th, 1955. Personnel: Henry Durant (tenor sax); Bobby Banks (organ); Jimmy Schenck (bass); Rodney "Red" Alcott (drums).

04. Playboy Hop and 05. The Grinder - Rockin' Bros. Orch. - originally released on Savoy 1144, credited to The Rocking Brothers. Recorded in October or November 1954. Location and personnel unknown. "Playboy Hop" features excellent baritone sax while "The Grinder" is a fine example of striptease sleaze. A very good disc.

06. You Gotta Rock And Roll - Bob Oakes Orch. - originally released on Regent 7502, credited to Bob Oakes and his Sultans. B side of "Church Bells May Ring." Recorded NYC, April 13th 1956. Bob Oakes (vocals) with unknown personnel. Standard "rock and roll" vocal from Bob Oakes, but the band really cooks. Great wailin' tenor sax backing.

07. Backbiter and 08. Wine Cooler - T.J. Fowler - originally released on Savoy 857. Recorded in Detroit, Michigan, July 25th, 1952. Personnel: Elliott Escoe (trumpet); Lee Gross (alto sax); Walter Cox (tenor sax); T.J. Fowler (piano); Calvin Frazier (guitar); James Murphy (bass); Clarence stamps (drums). The real deal - good early 1950s R&B instrumentals. Also on the blog - "Early Detroit R&B" by T.J. Fowler

09. Rooster Boogie - Paul Williams Orch. - unissued Savoy track. Recorded February 26th, 1951. Location unknown. Paul Williams (baritone sax) with unknown personnel.

10. Frog Hop - Hal Singer Orch. - originally released on Savoy 861 in September 1952 as B side of "Indian Love Call." Recorded in NYC, August 21st 1952. Personnel: Hal Singer and Sam "The Man" Taylor (tenor saxes); Dave McRae (alto and baritone sax); Kelly Owens (piano); Mickey Baker (guitar) plus unknown trumpet, bass and drums. A rousing end to this compilation!

The original post ended with a plea for anyone who could send in a copy of the companion LP to this compilation. In 1957 Regent issued an LP "Rock and Roll Party" (MG-6042) with tracks by Nappy Brown, Little Esther, Big Jay McNeely, T.J. Fowler, Paul Williams, The Hot Shots, Hal Singer, and Heywood Henry. Can anyone out there help? Millions of rock 'n' roll fans would be eternally grateful (as would I).

Little Walter - Confessin' The Blues (re-up)

 

Side 1:

01. It Ain't Right

02. Rocker

03. I Got To Find My Baby

04. Lights Out

05. One More Chance With You

06. Crazy Legs

07. Temperature

Side 2:

01. I Got To Go

02. Crazy Mixed Up World

03. Quarter To Twelve

04. Confessin' The Blues

05. The Toddle

06. Up The Line

07. Rock Bottom

08. Mean Old Frisco

Download from here:

http://www26.zippyshare.com/v/BN8kpPxd/file.html

or here:

Confessin' The Blues (Mega)

Original post (13th August 2012):

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/little-walter-confessin-blues.html

This is a 1982 Italian re-issue of an album originally issued on Chess in 1974. The sleevenotes by Pete Welding are in Italian. Sound quality seems slightly muffled on some tracks. Your intrepid blogger, still reeling from his efforts on the Chess Masters Various Artists post, went back on the discographical trail to round up the info on these tracks.

I swore I wouldn't get involved in original release dates and dates of recording sessions and who was or wasn't present on each track, but what the heck, these are LITTLE WALTER tracks! We must do right by the man, so here's the lowdown as far as I can make it out. Sources: Bruyninckx, www.wirz.de, notes to 2CD set "Blues With A Feeling", and even occasionally my own ears.

All tracks recorded in Chicago. Guitarist Robert Lockwood is variously listed as "Robert Lockwood Jr." and "Robert Jr. Lockwood" depending where you look. Apparently his given name was Robert Lockwood, Jr. but he was also known as Robert "Junior" Lockwood, hence the variation in different discographies.

Track details:

01. It Ain't Right - Checker 833 (B side of "Who"), February 1956. Recorded December 1955. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass), Fred Below (drums).

02. Rocker - Checker 793, April 1954. "Little Walter and His Jukes". Recorded February 22nd, 1954. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Louis Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

03. I Got To Find My Baby - Checker 1013 (B side of "Just Your Fool"), May 1962. Recorded May 22nd, 1954. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Louis Myers and Robert Lockwood Jr (guitars); Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

04. Lights Out - Checker 786, December 1953. "Little Walter and His Jukes." Recorded July 23rd, 1953. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Louis Myers and Dave Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

05. One More Chance With You - Checker 838, May 1956. Recorded December 1955. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass), Fred Below (drums).

06. Crazy Legs - Checker 986 (B side of "Crazy For My Baby"), July 1961. Recorded January 1953. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Louis Myers and David Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass), Fred Below (drums).

07. Temperature - Checker 867 (B side of "Boom, Boom Out Goes The Lights"), August 1957. Recorded June 20th, 1957. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

08. I Got To Go - Checker 817 (B side of "Roller Coaster"), May 1955. Recorded April 28th 1955. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

09. Crazy Mixed Up World - Checker 919 (B side of "My Baby Is Sweeter"), March 1959. Recorded February 25th 1959. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Luther Tucker and Freddy Robinson (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter (drums).

10. Quarter To Twelve - Checker 780 (B side of "Blues With A Feeling"), September 1953. Recorded July 23rd, 1953. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Jimmy Rogers and David Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

11. Confessin' The Blues - Checker 890 (B side of "The Toddle"), March 1958. Recorded January 1958. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Luther Tucker and Jimmy Lee Robinson (guitars); Lafayette Leake (organ); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter or Odie Payne (drums).

12. The Toddle - Checker 890. Recording date and personnel same as per "Confessin' The Blues" except no vocal and Lafayette Leake plays piano instead of organ.

13. Up The Line - Checker 1043, April 1963. Recorded February 5th 1963. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Jarrett Gibson (tenor sax), Donald Hankins (baritone sax); Billy Emerson (organ); Lafayette Leake (piano); Buddy Guy (guitar); Jack Myers (bass); Al Duncan (drums).

14. Rock Bottom - Checker 904 (B side of "Key To The Highway), September 1958. Recorded August 1958. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Muddy Waters (slide guitar); Luther Tucker (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter (drums).

15. Mean Old Frisco - Checker 1117, July 1965. "Mean Ole Frisco." Recorded July 21st 1959. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood Jr. and Luther Tucker (guitars), Willie Dixon (bass); Bill Stepney (drums).

CD covers from my collection.

The Proper set is a good overview of Little Walter from his earliest recordings for the Ora Nelle label in 1947, through a couple of early tracks with Sunnyland Slim and then Jimmy Rogers, and then on to the huge hit "Juke" recorded for Chess in May 1952, with backing from the Muddy Waters band billed as Little Walter and His Night Cats. The rest of the tracks are from October 1952, March 1953 and July 1953 sessions by Little Walter and His Jukes. This line up usually consisted of Little Walter (vocal / harmonica); Louis and David Myers on guitars, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums. The July 1953 session had Jimmy Rogers on guitar instead of the Myers brothers. It's all good stuff!

A Proper Introduction To Little Walter: Juke. (Intro CD 2006) Compiled and annotated by Joop Visser. Digipack, 23 tracks. Published 2004.

The 2CD set "Blues With A Feeling" in the Chess Collectibles series is a wide ranging set of tracks from 1952 to 1966. There are many alternate takes (including an alternate of "Juke") and quite a few unreleased tracks in the selection, so this is by no means a comprehensive review of the chart career of Little Walter. One for those who wish to dig deep.

Blues With A Feeling - Chess Collectibles, Volume 3. (MCA Chess CHD2-9357) Compiled and produced by Andy McKaie and Mary Katherine Aldin. Two CD set, 40 tracks. Published 1995.

Various Artists - Chess Masters

LP1:

Download LP1 from here:

http://www9.zippyshare.com/v/Pu2TH1QV/file.html

Side 1:

01. Sweet Black Angel - Robert Nighthawk

02. Walkin' Blues - Muddy Waters

03. Mad Man Blues - John Lee Hooker

04. Sad Hours - Little Walter

05. Dust My Broom - Elmore James

06. Diggin' My Potatoes - Washboard Sam

Side 2:

01. Third Degree - Eddie Boyd

02. Mama Talk To Your Daughter - J.B. Lenoir

03. I'm Ready - Muddy Waters

04. I'm Glad You Reconsidered - Lowell Fulson

05. I'm A Man - Bo Diddley

06. Walkin' By Myself - Jimmy Rogers

LP2:

Download LP2 from here:

http://www69.zippyshare.com/v/sS5w6Ggh/file.html

Side 3:

01. I Don't Know - Sonny Boy Williamson

02. Goin' Down Slow - Little Walter

03. So Many Roads - Otis Rush

04. All Your Love - Otis Rush

05. I Got My Eyes On You - Buddy Guy

06. The First Time I Met The Blues - Buddy Guy

Side 4:

01. The Sun Is Shining - Elmore James

02. Stormy Monday Blues - Elmore James

03. Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf

04. The Red Rooster - Howlin' Wolf

05. Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson

06. Feel So Bad - Little Milton

I think this PRT (Precision Records and Tapes) Chess Masters double LP came out in the early 1980s. I bought quite a few titles in this series, including double LPs of Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Lowell Fulson, Bo Diddley, and Sonny Boy Williamson, and single LPs of Chuck Berry, Bobby Charles and Willie Mabon. PRT was the successor company to Pye, which had been issuing Chess material in the UK since 1961.

As the LP cover has no information on the tracks, I did a bit of burrowing around in the Bruyninckx Discography, various LP sleeves and CD booklets, and online: Billboard (via Google Books search), www.45worlds.com, www.45cat.com and www.wirz.de with horrendous consequences for my sanity. But here it is, the lowdown on the original single issues of these 24 tracks, plus details of who was (perhaps) playing on these recordings. I ain't gonna do this for every album I post!

The LP set was in decent condition, but there is a bit of "juddering" on the final track by Little Milton. Apologies! Please note that the track listed on the sleeve as "Reconsider Baby" by Lowell Fulson is in fact "I'm Glad You Reconsidered" by the same artist.

Track details for LP1:

Sweet Black Angel - Robert Nighthawk. Originally released as "Black Angel Blues" by The Nighthawks on Aristocrat 2301 (B side of Annie Lee Blues), November 1949. Recorded in Chicago on July 12th, 1949. Personnel: Robert Nighthawk (vocal, guitar); Ernest Lane (piano); Willie Dixon (bass).

Walkin' Blues - Muddy Waters. Originally released on Chess 1426 (B side of "Rollin' Stone"), June 1950. Recorded in Chicago, February 1950. Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocal, guitar); Ernest "Big" Crawford (bass).

Mad Man Blues - John Lee Hooker. Originally released on Chess 1462, May 1951. Credited to "John Lee Booker and his Guitar". Recorded in Detroit, 1950. Personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocal, guitar).

Sad Hours - Little Walter. Originally released on Checker 764 (B side of "Mean Old World"), November 1952. Credited to Little Walter and his Night Caps. Recorded in Chicago, October 1952. Personnel: Little Walter (harmonica); Louis Myers and David Myers (guitars); Fred Below (drums).

Dust My Broom - Elmore James. Originally released as "She Just Won't Do Right" on Checker 777, July 1953. Recorded in Chicago, January 17th, 1953. Personnel: Elmore James (vocal, guitar); J.T. Brown (tenor sax); Johnny Jones (piano); possibly Ransom Knowling (bass); Odie Payne (drums).

Diggin' My Potatoes - Washboard Sam.  Originally released on Chess 1545 (B side of "Bright Eyes"), July 1953. Recorded in Chicago, April 1953. Personnel: Washboard Sam (vocal, washboard); Big Bill Broonzy (guitar); Ernest "Big" Crawford (bass).

Third Degree - Eddie Boyd. Originally released on Chess 1541, May 1953. Credited to "Eddie Boyd and his Chess Men." Recorded in Chicago, May 1953. Personnel: Eddie Boyd (vocal, piano); Little Sax Crowder (tenor sax); Lee Cooper (guitar), Willie Dixon (bass); Percy Walker (drums).

Mama Talk To Your Daughter - J.B. Lenoir. Originally released on Parrot 809, January 1955. Credited to J.B. Lenore. Recorded in Chicago, October 6th, 1954. Personnel: J.B. Lenoir (vocal, guitar); Lorenzo Smith (tenor sax); Joe Montgomery (piano); Al Galvin (drums).

I'm Ready - Muddy Waters. Originally released on Chess 1579, September 1954. Credited to "Muddy Waters and his Guitar." Recorded in Chicago, September 1st, 1954. Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocal); Little Walter (harmonica); Jimmy Rogers (guitar); Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

I'm Glad You Reconsidered - Lowell Fulson. Originally released on Checker 959, September 1960. Recorded in Los Angeles, June 2nd 1960. Personnel: Lowell Fulson (vocal, guitar); Earl Brown (alto sax); Louis Williams (tenor sax); Big Jim Wynn (baritone sax); Lloyd Glenn (piano); Billy Hadnott (bass); Robert "Snake" Sims (drums).

I'm A Man - Bo Diddley. Originally released on Checker 814 (B side of "Bo Diddley"), April 1955. Recorded in Chicago, March 2nd 1955. Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocal, guitar); Billy Boy Arnold (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Clifton James (drums); Jerome Green (maracas).

Walkin' By Myself - Jimmy Rogers. Originally released on Chess 1643, January 1957. Recorded in Chicago, October 29th, 1956. Personnel: Jimmy Rogers (vocal, guitar); Walter Horton (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Robert Jr. Lockwood (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); A.J. Gladney (drums).

Track details for LP2:

I Don't Know - Sonny Boy Williamson. Originally released on Checker 864 (B side of "Fattening Frogs For Snakes"), June 1957. Recorded in Chicago, February 8th 1957. Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Goin' Down Slow - Little Walter. Unissued Checker recording. Possibly recorded in Chicago, December 1959. Possible personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter (drums). A different version of the same song (composed by St. Louis Jimmy Oden), retitled "I Had My Fun" and probably recorded in June 1957, was released by Little Walter on Checker 945, February 1960.

So Many Roads - Otis Rush. Originally released as "So Many Roads, So Many Trains" on Chess 1751, March 1960. Recorded in Chicago, January 1960. Personnel: Otis Rush (vocal, guitar); Bob Neely (tenor sax); Lafayette Leake (piano); Matt Murphy (electric bass); Willie Dixon (bass); Odie Payne Jr. (drums).

All Your Love - Otis Rush. Originally released on Chess LP 1538 "Door To Door" (Albert King and Otis Rush). Recorded at same session and with same personnel as "So Many Roads" January 1960. This is a re-recording of "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" by Otis Rush & His Band, Cobra 5032, released July 1959.

I Got My Eyes On You - Buddy Guy. First released on Chess 1753, April 1960. Recorded in Chicago, March 2nd 1960. Personnel: Buddy Guy (vocal, guitar); Jarrett Gibson and Bob Neely (tenor saxes); Donald Hankins (baritone sax); Little Brother Montgomery (piano); Jack Myers (electric bass), Fred Below (drums).

The First Time I Met The Blues - Buddy Guy. B side of "I Got My Eyes On You" (Chess 1753). Recorded at the same session and with the same personnel.

The Sun Is Shining - Elmore James. Alternate take of Chess 1756 (B side of "I Can't Hold Out") which was released in May, 1960. Recorded in Chicago, April 14th, 1960. Personnel: Elmore James (vocal, guitar); J.T. Brown (tenor sax); Unknown (tenor sax); Little Johnny Jones (piano); Homesick James (guitar); Henry Harris (drums).

Stormy Monday Blues - Elmore James. Unreleased as a single. First released in 1968 on Blue Horizon LP "Tough" (Elmore James and John Brim). Recorded at the same session and with the same personnel as "The Sun Is Shining", April 14th, 1960.

Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf. First released on Chess 1762, July 1960. Recorded in Chicago, June 1960. Personnel: Howlin' Wolf (vocal); Otis Spann (piano); Hubert Sumlin and Freddy Robinson (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

The Red Rooster - Howlin' Wolf. First released on Chess 1804, October 1961. Recorded in Chicago, May 1961. Personnel: Howlin' Wolf (vocal, guitar); Johnny Jones (piano); Hubert Sumlin (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); Sam Lay (drums).

Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson. First released on Checker 1036, February 1963. Recorded in Chicago, January 11th, 1963. Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson (vocal, harmonica); Lafayette Leake or Billy Emerson (organ); Matt Murphy (guitar); Milton Rector (bass); Al Duncan (drums).

Feel So Bad - Little Milton. First released as a single on Checker 1162, December 1966. Also released in December 1966 on Checker LP 3002 "Little Milton Sings Big Blues." Recorded in Chicago, June 3rd 1966. Personnel: Little Milton (vocal, guitar); Sonny Thompson (piano); Roosevelt Williams (electric bass), Maurice White or Ira Gates (drums).