Freddy King - Lula Reed - Sonny Thompson - Boy-Girl-Boy

Side 1:

01. Do The President Twist - Lula Reed & Freddy King
02. I Got A Notion - Lula Reed
03. Know What You're Doing - Lula Reed
04. You Can't Hide - Lula Reed & Freddy King
05. What Makes You So Cold - Lula Reed
06. Puddentane - Lula Reed

Side 2:
01. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me - Lula Reed & Freddy King
02. I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) - Lula Reed
03. Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed
04. It's Easy, Child - Lula Reed & Freddy King
05. I Know - Lula Reed
06. Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed

Boy-Girl-Boy (Mega)

Boy-Girl-Boy (Zippy)

I've "reconstructed" this LP using artwork from Discogs.com, and a record sales site (I've forgotten which one) and sound files ripped from my collection.

King LP 777, resplendent in astonishingly tacky artwork, was issued in September 1962. Although Freddy King is billed first, this is really a Lula Reed album. We saw in the previous post "I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone" that Lula started recording for King as vocalist with the Sonny Thompson band in 1951. Her last session for King was in August 1956, then she recorded sides for release on the Chess subsidiary label Argo during 1958-59.

In 1961 she was back with Sonny Thompson at King and during January and March of that year they recorded sides which were released on the King subsidiary label Federal. In February 1962 Lula and Sonny teamed up with guitarist / singer Freddy King for some sides which were also released on Federal. Full details of the original releases and recording sessions of the tracks on this LP are given below.

The tracks on this LP consist of 2 from Lula's earlier stay at King ("Why Don't You Come On Home" and "Waste No More Tears" from 1955/56); 6 tracks from her 1961 Federal sessions, and 4 tracks from her 1962 sessions with Freddy King. It's noticeable that Lula's style changed in the early 60s recordings as she utilised a raunchier, more earthy delivery which packed a fair old punch into "Puddentane" and was equally effective on more plaintive songs like the wonderful "I Know."

The sessions with Freddy King were Lula's last for King / Federal. In September 1962 she started recording for Ray Charles' Tangerine label (perhaps he remembered her original version of "I'll Drown In My Tears" which he adapted as "I'll Drown In My Own Tears"). After 2 more sessions for Tangerine in May and June 1963, Lula retired from recording. That was it. No more records from one of the best female R&B vocalists of the 1950s / early 60s. She had gone back to her church roots, renounced the secular for the sacred, and was lost to the world of R&B and Soul Music. Truly a gain for the Lord but a loss for the worldly.

Fax on the Traxxxx

King LP 777 (Boy-Girl-Boy) was released in September 1962.

Original single release details:

Why Don't You Come On Home / I'm Giving All My Love - King 4811 - July 1955

Every Second / Waste No More Tears - King 4996 - December 1956

I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) / I Know - Federal 12407 - February 1961

I Got A Notion / Puddentane - Federal 12416 - May 1961

You Gotta Have That Green / Know What You're Doing - Federal 12426 - September 1961

On the next 4 Federal issues Lula Reed was credited as "Lulu Reed."

 Ain't No Cotton Pickin' Chicken (Gonna Break This Chicken Heart Of Mine) / What Makes You So Cold - Federal 12440 - December 1961

*Do The President Twist / Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me - Federal 12457 - March 1962. B Side credited to "Lulu Reed."

*(Let Your Love) Watch Over Me / *You Can't Hide - Federal 12471 - July 1962

*It's Easy Child / Say Hey Pretty Baby - Federal 12477 - November 1962. B Side credited to "Lulu Reed."

* = "Lulu Reed & Freddy King"

The recording sessions:

Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed (vocal) with Jewell Grant (alto sax); David Brooks (tenor sax); Tommy Purkson (baritone sax); Sonny Thompson (piano); Clarence Kenner (guitar); Albert Winston (bass); Albert Bartee (drums).
Los Angeles, March 29th, 1955

Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed (vocal) with Tommy Purkson (alto sax); David Brooks, Raymond Felder (tenor saxes); Alexander Nelson (baritone sax); Sonny Thompson (piano); Thomas Palmer (guitar); Albert Winston (bass); Robert Boswell (drums).
Cincinnati, August 21st, 1956

Know What You're Doing; What Makes You Feel So Cold; I Got A Notion - Lula Reed (vocal) with Osborne Whitfield (tenor sax); Sonny Thompson (piano); Freddie Jordan, Lawrence Frazier (guitars); Bill Willis (bass); Phillip Paul (drums).
Cincinnati, January 19th, 1961

Puddentane recorded in Cincinnati on March 19th, 1961 with same line up as January 19th.

I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) and I Know recorded in Cincinnati on March 20th, 1961 with same line up as on previous 2 sessions.

Do The President Twist; (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me; You Can't Hide; It's Easy Child - Lula Reed and Freddy King (vocals) with Gene Redd, Clifford Scott (saxes); Sonny Thompson (piano); Fred Jordan (guitar); Bill Willis (bass); Phillip Paul (drums).
Cincinnati, February 7th-8th, 1962.

Lula Reed - I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone

Side 1:
01. Sick and Tired
02. Jealous Love
03. Watch Dog
04. Your Key Don't Fit No More
05. Going Back To Mexico
06. Bump On A Log
07. Three Men
08. Sample Man

Side 2:
01. Troubles On Your Mind
02. The Wild Stage Of Life
03. Ain't It A Shame
04. Without Love (Ain't It A Shame)
05. I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone
06. Why Don't You Come On Home
07. I'll Upset You Baby
08. Caught Me When My Love Was Down

I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone (Mega)

I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone (Zippy)

Here's a rather terrific compilation of Lula Reed sides from her first spell with King Records which lasted from the end of 1951 to August 1956.

Lula was of course the vocalist with Sonny Thompson's band, having won the spot after auditioning against 50 competitors. Her first recording session with the band in December 1951 resulted in 2 big R&B hits - "I'll Drown In My Tears" (# 5 in July 1952) and "Let's Call It A Day" (#9 one month later). Both of these discs were credited to Sonny Thompson, but Lula was credited on subsequent releases although backing was still by the Thompson band. One of the most enjoyable features of this LP is the quality of that backing band, especially Sonny Thompson on piano, David Brooks on tenor sax and Clarence Kenner on guitar.

Full session details are listed on the LP back cover, so I have only added the release dates of the singles and also noted in italics the sides on these singles which do not feature on this LP.

Original release of tracks on this comp

King 4649 - Don't Make Me Love You / Going Back To Mexico - August 1953

King 4688 - Watch Dog / Your Key Don't Fit It No More - December 1953

King 4703 - Troubles On Your Mind / Bump On A Log - March 1954

King 4726 - I'll Upset You Baby / Wonderful Love - July 1954

King 4748 - Sick And Tired / Jealous Love - October 1954

King 4767 - I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone / Rock Love - January 1955

King 4796 - Without Love (Ain't It A Shame) / Caught Me When My Love Was Down - May 1955

King 4811 - Why Don't You Come On Home / I'm Giving All My Love - July 1955

King 4969 - Sample Man / Three Men - October 1956

Ain't It A Shame and The Wild Stage Of Life were first issued on this LP.

Also on the blog:

"Cat On The Keys"

More Lula and Sonny in the next post!

Rosco Gordon - No More Doggin'

Side 1:
01. Just A Little Bit
02. That's What You Do To Me
03. No More Doggin'
04. Goin' Home (Tomorrow)
05. A Fool In Love
06. Dapper Dan
07. I'm Locked Up
08. Surely I Love You

Side 2:
01. Every Night In The Week
02. What I Wouldn't Do
03. Let 'Em Try
04. Sit Right Here
05. My Chick
06. Jelly, Jelly, Jelly
07. New Orleans, La

No More Doggin' (Mega)

No More Doggin' (Zippy)

A good collection which contains just about everything Rosco Gordon recorded for Vee-Jay between 1959 and 1961. Only 8 of these sides were released on singles, so this disc includes 7 previously unreleased sides but it's all good stuff. These are much more polished productions than the material contained in the earlier post "The Legendary Sun Performers: Rosco Gordon", with Rosco stepping back from piano playing and being accompanied by rockin' bands (some great sax breaks) and even vocal groups.

The first Vee-Jay single, a re-recording of his 1952 RPM hit "No More Doggin'" didn't sell much, but his second release "Just A Little Bit" was a hit which reached number 2 in the R&B chart and also entered the Hot 100 pop chart. Unfortunately Rosco's remaining two Vee-Jay singles failed to repeat this success and his final session for the label in 1961 remained unreleased.

Rosco, who was now based in New York City, recorded for ABC-Paramount in 1962/63 and for Old Town in 1964. He was accompanied on some records by his second wife Barbara and although they were occupied in the dry cleaning business, they would occasionally record into the 1970s for small NYC labels and their own Bab-Roc label. If you search in YouTube on "Rosco and Barbara" you can find some of their sides which were in the soul style.

In the early 1980s he was "rediscovered" and appeared at the Memphis Blues Festival in '82, toured in Europe and cut a live album for UK label JSP. Following the early death of his wife in 1984 he devoted more time to his musical career. Shortly before his own death in 2002 he was part of a live tribute to Sam Phillips at the WC Handy Awards show in Memphis, appearing in a band featuring fellow Memphis Recording Sevice alumni B.B. King, Ike Turner and Little Milton Campbell.

This concert and other scenes featuring Rosco were prominent in the film "The Road To Memphis" directed by Richard Pearce as part of the "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues" series. I absolutely recommend that you get hold of a copy!

Fax on the Rockin' Trax

Vee-Jay released 4 Rosco Gordon singles as follows:

VJ 316 - No More Doggin' / A Fool In Love - May 1959

VJ 332 - Just A Little Bit / Goin' Home - November 1959. This single reached number 2 in the R&B chart in February 1960 and reached number 64 in the Hot 100.

VJ 348 - Surely I Love You / What You Do To Me - June 1960

VJ 385 - Let 'Em Try / What I Wouldn't Do - May 1961

All tracks on this LP were recorded in Chicago as follows -

No More Doggin', Goin' Home (Tomorrow), A Fool In Love - recorded on April 21st, 1959. Personnel: Rosco Gordon (vocal) with: Earl Washington (piano); Lefty Bates and Classie Ballou (guitars); Quinn Wilson (bass); Al Duncan (drums).

Just A Little Bit, What You Do To Me - recorded on September 16th, 1959. Personnel as above but add Cliff Davis (tenor sax) and McKinley Easton (batione sax), also Classie Ballou (guitar) not present.

Dapper Dan, I'm Locked Up - recorded on March 16th, 1960. Personnel as on April 21st, 1959 session.

Surely I Love You - recorded on April 13th, 1960. Personnel as on March 16th session but add vocal group - The Spaniels.

Two sessions were held on unknown dates in 1961. Rosco was accompanied by an unknown lineup which included trumpet, tenor and baritone saxes, 2 guitars, bass, piano, drums and on the first session a vocal group. It's possible that the musicians included Red Holloway (tenor sax), James Moore (guitar) and Chico Chism (drums).

1st session - What I Wouldn't Do, Every Night In The Week, Let 'Em Try.

2nd session - Sit Right Here, My Chick, Jelly, Jelly, Jelly, New Orleans, La.

Above: crossover action for Rosco Gordon and Dee Clark - Billboard ad in March 1960.

Lightnin' Slim - Rooster Blues

Side 1:

01. Rooster Blues
02. Long Leanie Mama
03. My Starter Won't Work
04. GI Slim
05. Lightnin's Troubles
06. Bed Bug Blues
 

Side 2:
01. Hoo-Doo Blues
02. It's Mighty Crazy
03. Sweet Little Woman
04. Tom Cat Blues
05. Feelin' Awful Blues
06. I'm Leavin' You Baby

Lightnin' Slim - Rooster Blues (Mega)

Lightnin' Slim - Rooster Blues (Zippy)

A big thank you to Marv for sending in this reconstructed version of an Excello Lightnin' Slim LP which was originally released in April 1960. The collection consists of 6 singles which were released on the Nashville based Excello label in 1958 - 1960. All of these sides were recorded at Jay Miller's studio in Crowley, Louisiana, and featured Lazy Lester on harmonica. It's basic Louisiana swamp blues with echo drenched productions by the smallest of groups: Lightnin' Slim on vocals / guitar and Lazy Lester on harmonica, accompanied by various drummers / percussionists. Session details are listed below.

Lightnin' Slim's real name was Otis Hicks. He was born in Missouri in 1913, so when he recorded these sides he was already on the mature side. He first recorded in 1954 with Wild Bill Phillips on harmonica. Other harp players he worked with during the succeeding couple of years included Schoolboy Cleve and Slim Harpo. He was joined by Lazy Lester in late 1956 in a partnership which would last into the 1960s. Both Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester went on to have successful careers under their own names, with Slim Harpo in particular outshining his mentor as he eventually became the embodiment of the swamp blues sound for many blues fans.

As an aside, Lazy Lester is one of the few original US blues musicians I have seen perform in the flesh. Twice in fact, both times at the Edinburgh Blues Festival back in the 1990s when it was held in the Caledonian Brewery in Slateford Road. On both occasions Lazy Lester had sampled rather too much of the brewery's excellent products before taking to the stage, which led to rather erratic performances.

Above: from Blues and Rhythm Magazine, I think.

Fax On The Trax

The 12 tracks on this LP were originally released on single as follows:

01. Rooster Blues - Excello 45-2169 A - November 1959

02. Long Leanie Mama - Excello 45-2142 B - August 1958

03. My Starter Won't Work - Excello 45-2142 A - August 1958

04. G.I. Slim - Lightnin' Slim - Excello 45-2169 B - November 1959
05. Lightnin's Troubles - Excello 45-2160 B - July 1959

06. Bed Bug Blues - Excello 45-2173 B - March 1960

07. Hoo-Doo Blues - Excello 45-2131 A - January 1958

08. It's Mighty Crazy - Excello 45-2131 B - January 1958

09. Sweet Little Woman - Excello 45-2160 A - July 1959

10. Tom Cat Blues - Excello 45-2173 A - March 1960

11. Feelin' Awful Blue - Excello 45-2150 B - February 1959

12. I'm Leavin' You Baby - Excello 45-2150 A - February 1959

Feelin' Awful Blue; Lightnin's Troubles recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in late 1956. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with: Lazy Lester (harmonica); Clarence "Jockey" Etienne (drums).

Hoo Doo Blues; It's Mighty Crazy; Bed Bug Blues recorded in Crowley, Louisiana on June 10th 1957. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with Lazy Lester (harmonica); possibly Roosevelt Samples (drums); probably Vince Monroe (percussion).

Tom Cat Blues recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in May 1958. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with Lazy Lester (harmonica); possibly Roosevelt Samples (drums).

My Starter Won't Work; Long Leanie Mama recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in 1958. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with Lazy Lester (harmonica); unknown drums and percussion.

I'm Leavin' You Baby; Sweet Little Woman recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in January 1959. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with Lazy Lester (harmonica); Vince Monroe (drums).

Rooster Blues; G.I. Slim recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in September 1959. Personnel: Lightnin' Slim (vocal, guitar) with Lazy Lester (harmonica); Kenneth "Sam" Sample (drums).

CD Heaven

Ace (UK) used to release CDs of Excello material back in the 1990s. I have a couple of their Lightnin' Slim releases -

Ace CDCHD 616

Ace CDCHD 587

Both of the above are worth picking up if you should come across them in the second hand browsers. I did notice that "Nothin' But The Devil" was going for some ridiculously inflated price on Amazon. Anyone who pays that amount of money for a CD must be insane! Look around and you'll find 'em for good prices.

Inevitably public domain company Jasmine has a 2CD set of Lightnin's A and B sides out, and the "Rooster Blues" LP has been re-released on vinyl. I haven't bought any of the recent blues vinyl reissues (usually by public domain companies) so I can't comment on the quality of these discs.

Thanks again to Marv for providing these rips and for steering me towards a neglected part of my collection.

This post concludes the Be Bop Wino Blues Tour! An eclectic mix of R&B, Jazz, Swing, Rock 'n' Roll, and yes, more Blues, coming up in future posts ... stay tuned.

The Legendary Sun Performers: Rosco Gordon

Side 1:
01. Let's Get High
02. Real Pretty Mama
03. T-Model Boogie
04. Dr. Blues
05. Just Love Me Baby
06. Love With Me Baby
07. Bop With Me Baby
08. Decorate The Counter (No. 1)

Side 2:
01. Decorate The Counter (No. 2)
02. Love For You Baby
03. That's What You Do To Me
04. Tired Of Living
05. If You Don't Love Me Baby
06. Dream On Baby
07. Do The Bop
08. Sally Jo

The Legendary Sun Performers - Rosco Gordon (Mega)

The Legendary Sun Performers - Rosco Gordon (Zippy)

We're still hanging around the Sun Studio in Memphis on the Be Bop Wino blues tour with this rather disorderly LP of bits and bobs from Rosco Gordon's two spells with Sam Phillips - the first being in the early '50s when Sam was recording blues sides for leasing to RPM and Chess (and thereby hangs a tale), and the second spell being in the mid-to-late '50s when Rosco teamed up with Sam again, this time to record for Sun.

Only three sides in this collection were released on singles back in the 1950s, all from Rosco's time with Sun Records. Not included here is Rosco's best known side for Sun, "The Chicken (Dance With You)" and plenty more Sun releases / recordings aren't featured. The early 1950s tracks recorded for the Memphis Recording Service are a bit of a ragbag, consisting of sides which weren't sold on to the RPM and Chess labels, and which must have therefore remained in the can until this LP. Included are a rehearsal / demo of "Decorate The Counter" and the rather strange / eccentric "Dr. Blues" with a vocal by "Dr Blues" Maxwell.

Rosco's early career was affected by Sam Phillip's decision to direct material towards Chess in Chicago at a time when RPM / Modern in LA were under the impression that they had the rights to the sides he was recording. In March 1951 Sam recorded Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm and sent "Rocket 88" to Chess who released it under sax player Jackie Brenston's name. In June 1951 it reached number 1 in the R&B chart and went on to become the second best selling R&B single of the year.

Meanwhile Rosco's first sides were released through RPM, including the hit "Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse)" which reached number 9 in the R&B chart in September 1951. Rosco's next hit was "Booted" which Sam sent to Chess. The record was a number 1 R&B hit in early 1952 and by now the Bihari brothers, owners of RPM / Modern, were more than a little miffed. They found themselves in dispute with Chess over sides recorded by Rosco Gordon and Howlin' Wolf in Memphis. The upshot was that Rosco's sides would be released on RPM while Chess got Howlin' Wolf.

RPM had Rosco's next big hit, "No More Doggin'" which reached number 2 in the R&B charts in the spring of 1952. Problem solved? Everybody happy? Nope, for just to complicate matters even more Rosco started recording for new Memphis diskery Duke Records. The upshot was that Rosco Gordon sides were recorded and released by both RPM and Duke through the rest of 1952. In 1953-54 Rosco's records appeared on Duke which was by then a Houston based label having been taken over by Don Robey. See post on Bobby Bland for details of the takeover.

In June 1955 Rosco started recording for Sam Phillips' Sun label with the first issue being "Just Love Me Baby" / "Weeping Blues" (Sun 227) in September of that year.  Further Sun issues (with occasional simultaneous issue on Sam's Flip label) were: "The Chicken (Dance With You)" / "Love For You Baby" (Sun 237) in December 1955, "Shoobie Oobie" / "Cheese And Crackers" (Sun 257) in December 1956, and "Sally Jo" / "Torro" (Sun 305) in September 1958. There were also a couple of releases on Duke in the first half of 1957 just to keep the label-hopping pot boiling.

Rosco's last Sun session took place in July 1958 ("Sally Jo") and he didn't record again until April 1959 when he kicked off a series of sessions for Vee-Jay which lasted until 1961. But that is for another blog post!

Fax On Da Trax

T Model Boogie, Dr. Blues, - recorded on December 4th, 1951 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (piano, vocal on "T Model Boogie") with: Willie Sims (sax); Willie Wilkes (sax); John Murry Daley (drums). Dr. Blues Maxwell vocal on "Dr. Blues." Both sides first released on this LP.

Decorate The Counter (1 - demo),  Decorate The Counter (2), Dream On Baby, If You Don't Love Me Baby - recorded on January 23rd, 1952 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (piano, vocal) with: Willie Wilkes (tenor sax); Richard Sanders (baritone sax); John Murry Daley (drums). All first released on this LP.

Love For You Baby, That's What You Do To Me, Let's Get High, - possibly recorded in February 1955 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (piano, vocal) with: Billy Duncan, Charles Taylor (alto saxes); Willie Wilkes (tenor sax); Richard Sanders (baritone sax); Foree Wells (guitar); Tuff Green (bass); John Murry Daley (drums). The Chicken (Dance With You) / "Love For You Baby" released on Sun 237 and Flip 237 in December 1955. "That's What You Do To Me" and "Let's Get High" first released on this LP. "Let's Get High" released on single Sun 801 along with "Bop With Me Baby." This is probably a 1970s/80s bootleg.

Just Love Me Baby, Tired Of Living, - recorded on June 9th, 1955 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (piano, vocal) with: Harvey Simmons (tenor sax); Richard Sanders (baritone sax); Pat Hare (guitar); Tuff Green (bass); Jeff Grayer (drums). "Just Love Me Baby" / Weeping Blues released on Sun 227, September 1955 and on Flip 227, October 1955. "Tired Of Living" first released on this LP.

Love With Me Baby, Bop With Me Baby, Do The Bop, - probably also recorded at the June 9th 1955 session. Personnel as above. Three sides first released on this LP. "Bop With Me Baby" / "Let's Get High" also released on a single Sun 801 - probably a 1970s/80s bootleg.

Real Pretty Mama - recorded on October 26th, 1956 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (piano, vocal) with: Lionel Prevost (tenor sax); James K. Jones (baritone sax); Phillip Walker (guitar); Louis Willy Candy
(bass); Joe W. Payne (drums). First released on this LP.

Sally Jo, - recorded in July 1957 in Memphis. Rosco Gordon (vocal) with Freddy Tavares (guitar) and unknown bass and drums. "Sally Jo" / Torro released on Sun 305 in September 1958.

CD Heaven

I have 2 Rosco Gordon CDs in my collection, both of which I can recommend:

"Bootin': The Best Of The RPM Years" (Ace CDCHD 694). Exactly what it says on the title. Includes an RPM issue of "Booted" which failed to make any headway against the Chess hit release. 24 loose as a goose tracks.

"Rosco's Rhythm" (Charly SNAP 222 CD) is basically a complete collection of his sides recorded for Sun plus the Memphis Recording Service sides which weren't released on RPM or Chess. The collection is bookended with the Chess release of "Booted" and Rosco's best known Vee-Jay side "Just A Little Bit." 30 shufflemongous tracks.

There are comprehensive 2CD sets on both Jasmine and JSP which may be worth investigating.

Sun Records Harmonica Classics

Side A:

01. Easy - Jimmy & Walter
02. West Winds Are Blowing - Walter Horton
03. In The Mood - Walter Horton
04. Jukebox Boogie (Take 1) - Doctor Ross
05. Country Clown - Doctor Ross
06. Jukebox Boogie - Doctor Ross
07. Downtown Boogie - Doctor Ross

Side B:
01. Wolf Call Boogie - Hot Shot Love
02. Harmonica Jam - Hot Shot Love
03. Wolf Call Boogie (Take 3) - Hot Shot Love
04. So Long, Baby Goodbye - Sammy Lewis-Willie Johnson Combo
05. Keep Your Arms Around Me Mama - Joe Hill Louis
06. Got Me A New Woman - Joe Hill Louis
07. She May Be Yours (But She Comes To See Me Sometime) - Joe Hill Louis

Sun Records Harmonica Classics (Mega)

Sun Records Harmonica Classics (Zippy)

And so our Be Bop Wino Blues Tour USA staggers into Memphis, Tennessee, or to be precise Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Service at 706 Union Avenue. This record contains exactly what it says on the front cover - a load of primo harmonica blues recorded between 1951 and 1955. The very detailed sleevenotes by Colin Escott have it covered, including the session details, so all that remains for me to do is to state that this album is top notch roughhouse blues and to add the release dates of the tracks on this LP which actually made it to the record shops.

Side A:

Track 1 - "Easy" - released on Sun 180 in March 1953. Easy / Before Long - Jimmy & Walter.

Track 6 - "Jukebox Boogie" - released on Sun 212 in November 1954. The Boogie Disease / Jukebox Boogie - Doctor Ross.

Side B:

Tracks 1 and 2 - both released on Sun 196 in February 1954. Wolf Call Boogie / Harmonica Jam - Hot Shot Love.

Track 7 - "She May Be Yours" - released on Sun 178 in January 1953. We All Gotta Go Sometime / She May Be Yours (But She Comes To See Me Sometime) - Joe Hill Louis.

Elsewhere on the blog - more "ragged but right" blues from the Sun Studio can be found in these two posts -

Red Hot & Blue

The Blues Came Down From Memphis

I've added new Mega links to both these posts. "The Blues Came Down ..." is the perfect companion volume to "Sun Records Harmonica Classics" but if you haven't done so already you've just gotta download both these LPs for more of that crazy Memphis blues beat. We'll be sticking around Union Avenue for our next post with more blues sounds from Sam Phillips coming up. There's some crazy kid with the unlikely name of Elvis hanging around the studio ... wants to make a record ...

Jericho Alley Blues Flash Volume 1

Side One:
01. Good Woman Blues - B. Brown And His McVouts
02. Do Right Mind - Haskell Sadler And His Orchestra
03. Gone For Good - Haskell Sadler And His Orchestra
04. Hurry Hurry Baby - Sidney Maiden And His Ramblers
05. Everything Is Wrong - Sidney Maiden And His Ramblers
06. Shake 'Em Up - Slim Green
07. Jericho Alley - Slim Green

Side Two:
01. Are You Alright? - Paul Clifton
02. It Ain't To Play With - Sheryl Crowley
03. Just A Night Girl - Sheryl Crowley
04. Sweet Pea - Sweet Pea Walker
05. Gonna Hold On - Frank Patt And His Orchestra
06. You Gonna Pay For It Baby - Frank Patt And His Orchestra
07. I'm Your Slave - Frank Patt And His Orchestra

Jericho Alley Blues Flash Volume 1 (Mega)

Jericho Alley Blues Flash Volume 1 (Zippy)

The Be Bop Wino blues roadtrip stays in Los Angeles with this rousing comp of sides recorded for Charlie Reynolds' label Flash Records. Parallels have been drawn between Charlie Reynolds and John Dolphin in that both LA entrepreneurs started out as record shop owners and both expanded into recording and running their own record labels out of their respective back shops. Flash Records didn't enjoy anything like the success of the Dolphin labels although they did have two hits - with The Jayhawks original version of "Stranded In The Jungle" in 1956, and with a Gus Jenkins instrumental "Tricky" in 1957.

There were around 35 singles released on Flash and its two associated labels, Pull and Canton. Although the releases covered a variety of R&B styles including a generous helping of doo wop, this compilation concentrates on basic blues and fits right in with our recent posts from Charlie B. The first 5 tracks on Side 1 originate from the first Flash recording session in June 1955 which featured B. Brown (vocals, drums), Haskell Sadler (vocal, guitar) and Sidney Maiden (vocal, harmonica). Three singles were issued, one each under the name of each artist and all in a real "back in the alley" blues style. The sides by Slim Green are if anything even more basic but the driving guitar / harp blues vibe is taken up again on Side 2 by Paul Clifton, Sweet Pea Walker and Frank Patt (with Gus Jenkins). The two sides by Sheryl Crowley have slightly more of an R&B feel, but they fit right in with the general blues hollerin' going on here.

There are excellent sleevenotes by Les Cook and the original release numbers are also included on the back cover. The notes are obviously meant for both volumes of this collection as they refer to sides by Gus Jenkins and Guitar Shorty which don't feature on Volume One. Unfortunately I don't have Volume Two, but if you're interested in hearing more from Flash Records, Ace (UK) have a double CD set out - "The Flash Records Story." You can find out more as well as listen to sound samples on the Ace website here:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/the-flash-records-story-1 

I've got a copy on order, so I'll be able to add a short review to this post next week.

Also of interest is a Flash Records discography on the wirz.de website here:

https://www.wirz.de/music/flash.htm

Note that the discography doesn't include issues on Canton and Pull.

Next stop on the blues tour is Memphis. All aboard!

Stretchin' Out - Blues Obscurities Volume Three

Side1:
01. Gonna Take Time - Gus Jenkins
02. Stretchin' Out - Don & Dewey
03. The Hurt Is On - Kid Thomas (Tommy Louis)
04. Let's Talk It Over - Blues Slim (Neal Johnson)
05. Going Back Home - Sonny Harper
06. Storm Clouds - C.C. Griffin
07. Lou Della - West Texas Slim

Side 2:
01. I Keep On Trying - K.C. Mojo Watson
02. You Told Me - Gus Jenkins
03. Soul Motion - Don & Dewey
04. Hard Life - Guitar Shorty
05. I Do Believe - C.C. Griffin
06. Lonely Stranger - Sonny Harper
07. Little Mae Bell - West Texas Slim

Stretchin' Out (Mega)

Stretchin' Out (Zippy)

The Be Bop Wino Autumn Blues Tour lands in Los Angeles for another collection of sides culled from small labels, and it's thanks once again to Charlie B. who kindly ripped and sent in this L.P.

The sides were recorded between 1953 and 1965, a time when the LA R&B scene was dominated by the "big" independents such as Aladdin, Imperial, Specialty and Modern / RPM. Then came a second tier of indy record companies like Combo, Dootone and John Dolphin's stable of labels such as Cash, Money, Lucky, and Recorded In Hollywood. And then somewhere considerably lower down the foodchain were the labels featured on this collection - Pioneer International, Rush, Muriel, Ball, Flame, Nanc, Flash, Joyce, Pull, and Allegro R&B. Nope, me neither. Well, almost. Our next post will take a look at the Flash Records setup, but most of the other labels here are a mystery to me.

Luckily the LP has good sleevenotes by Neil Slaven and then there is the music which is all hardcore blues. As Neil observes, the influence of B.B. King can be heard on some of these sides. The biggest name act here is probably Don & Dewey whose sides feature the electric blues violin of Don "Sugarcane" Harris. A personal favourite of mine is Sonny Harper who kind of reminds me of Lil' Son Jackson. Anyway that's enough from me. Download, listen and peruse the sleevenotes on the back cover. You'll find the usual origiinal release details below.

 Thanks once more to Charlie B.

 

Release details:

01. Gonna Take Time - Gus Jenkins: Spanky / Gonna Take Time - Pioneer International 101 - released 1959.

02. Stretchin' Out - Don & Dewey: Soul Motion / Stretchin' Out - Rush 1002 - released December 1962.

03. The Hurt Is On - Kid Thomas (Tommy Louis): Tommy Louis & The Rhythm Rockers - The Hurt Is On / I Love You So - Muriel M-1001 - released 1965.

04. Let's Talk It Over - Blues Slim (Neal Johnson): Blues Slim and his Band - Let's Talk It Over / Tell The Truth Baby - Pioneer International PI-1007 - released November 1961.

05. Going Back Home - Sonny Harper: Going Back Home / Lonely Stranger - Ball 1011 - released 1962.

06. Storm Clouds - C.C. Griffin: Storm Clouds / I Want To Be With You - Joyce 1001 - released June 1961.

07. Lou Della - West Texas Slim: Little Mae Bell / Lou Della - Flame 1007 - released 1953.

08. I Keep On Trying - K.C. Mojo Watson: Love Blood Hound / I Keep On Trying - Nanc 003 - released October 1961.

09. You Told Me - Gus Jenkins: You Told Me / Tricky - Flash 115 - released November 1956.

10. Soul Motion - Don & Dewey: Soul Motion / Stretchin' Out - Rush 1002 - released December 1962.

11. Hard Life - Guitar Shorty: Hard Life / Ways Of A Man - Pull 301 - released December 1951.

12. I Do Believe - C.C. Griffin: I Do Believe / Sitting And Waiting - Allegro R&B-2001 - released circa 1965.

13. Lonely Stranger - Sonny Harper: Going Back Home / Lonely Stranger - Ball 1011 - released 1962.

14. Little Mae Bell - West Texas Slim: Little Mae Bell / Lou Della - Flame 1007 - released 1953.

3 Shades Of The Blues

 
Side A:
01. Train Done Gone - Eddie Kirkland
02. You Know I Love You - Eddie Kirkland
03. Blood On Your Hands - Eddie Kirkland
04. Love You Til The Day I Die - Eddie Kirkland
05. So Pretty Baby - Eddie Kirkland & The Falcons
06. I Tried - Eddie Kirkland & The Falcons
07. I Am So Tired (Oh Baby Please) - Eddie Kirkland & The Falcons
08. Backbone - Eddie Kirkland
 
Side B:
01. Live My Life All Over - Mr. Bo
02. Until The Day I Die - Mr. Bo
03. Hard Times Once More - Mr. Bo
04. The Train - Mr. Bo
05. Your Love Is Real - Ohio Untouchables
06. I'm Tired - Ohio Untouchables
07. Forgive Me Darling - Ohio Untouchables
08. Hot Stuff - Ohio Untouchables

3 Shades Of The Blues (Mega)

3 Shades Of The Blues (Zippy)

Many thanks to Charlie B. for contributing this LP. You can't beat that Detroit clanging, banging blues racket and this LP is a prime example. It really is all killer, no filler and constitutes one of the best blues / R&B LPs I've ever heard.

Originally recorded for the small Lu Pine label, these sides were compiled by Relic in the 1970s for issue on this LP using the original "Lu Pine" label logo. The Eddie Kirkland sides were recorded between 1959 and 1961 but the whole session remained unissued until this album plus one tie-in single. Prior to this session Eddie had recorded a single for Detroit label Fortune and had previously had a few sides issued on RPM, Cobra and King. In 1962 Eddie recorded for Tru-Sound, a subsidiary of Prestige. You can find out more about that session in this post:

Eddie Kirkland - The Way It Was

Mr Bo (Louis Bo Collins) sounds awfully like B.B. King which is hardly surprising as both musicians hailed from Indianola, Mississippi. His four tracks on this compilation were recorded in 1959 / 1960, with only "I'm Leaving This Town" being issued on a single on another small Detroit label, Northern (see below).

The Ohio Untouchables were an instrumental group started by and led by guitarist Robert Ward. They backed vocal group The Falcons and blues singer Benny McCain on singles on Lu Pine and had a couple of releases of their own on the label with Robert Ward taking the vocals. See below for details. Their tracks on this LP are good roughhouse late R&B / early soul, making for a strong ending to an outstanding album.

Some original issue information:

Lu Pine L110 also L-1010 - Ohio Untouchables - Forgive Me Darling / Love Is Amazing - released in 1962.

Lu Pine L-116/7 - Ohio Untouchables - I'm Tired / Up Town - released in 1964.

Northern 3731 - Mr. Bo - I'm Leaving This Town  / Times Hard (aka Hard Times Once More) - issued in January 1960. Northern was a small Detroit label owned by Johnnie Mae Matthews, one of the first black women to own a record label. She also owned the Audrey, Bon, and Reel labels. Mr. Bo had a single (Heartaches And Troubles / Calipso Blues) issued on the Reel label in 1962.

Lu Pine 801 - Eddie Kirkland - Train Done Gone / I Tried - issued by Relic as a tie-in with this LP in the 1970s.


https://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/3838/3557.html?1054857956

http://detroitsoulsingles.blogspot.com/search/label/Northern 

https://www.buckeyebeat.com/ohiountouchables.html 

Stick around as the Be Bop Wino Autumn Blues Tour USA continues!

Thank you once more to Charlie B for this great album.

New York Rhythm'N Blues

Side A:
01. Let's Have A Ball - The Wheels
02. Your Evil Thoughts - Lee Roy Little
03. Rip And Run - Bob Gaddy
04. Got To Go Back Again - The Four Barons
05. I Don't Want No Other Woman - Billy Hoke
06. Hurry Baby, Please Come Home - Lee Roy Little
07. It Ain't Right - Charles Walker

Side B:
01. Aw Shucks Baby - Little Red Walter
02. Possum Belly Overalls - June Bateman
03. I'm A Good Man But A Poor Man - Lee Roy Little
04. Standing On The Corner - Danny Brown
05. Please Forgive Me - Wilbert Harrison
06. Lemon Squeezer - The Four Barons
07. Cryin' And Wonderin' - Billy Hoke

New York Rhythm'N Blues (Mega)

New York Rhythm'N Blues (Zippy)

I took a chance on this one the other month in a second hand record shop over in Glasgow's West End and boy was I well rewarded. It's a mix of R&B sides recorded for mostly small New York labels between 1950 and 1965. A sort of R&B version of "Desperate Rock and Roll" if you will. Subtle it ain't, but if your R&B tastes run to bawlin' and squallin', farting saxophones and clanking guitar, then this is the collection for you. Crack open a few beers, turn up the volume to eleven, and let 'er rip, booze, I mean blues, fans.

Original Release Details

01. Let's Have A Ball - The Wheels - Premium 405 (B Side of "My Heart's Desire") - April 1956.

02. Your Evil Thoughts - Lee Roy Little - Cee-Jay 578 (b/w "I'm A Good Man But A Poor Man) - May 1960.

03. Rip And Run - Bob Gaddy - Old Town 1050 (B Side of "Woe, Woe Is Me" - April 1958.

04. Got To Go Back Again - The Four Barons - Regent 1026 (b/w "Lemon Squeezer") - December 1950.

05. I Don't Want No Other Woman - Billy Hoke - D. W. 101 (b/w "I Wonder") - 1965.

06. Hurry Baby, Please Come Home - Lee Roy Little - Cee-Jay 579 (b/w "Let Me Go Home, Whiskey") - November 1960.

07. It Ain't Right - Charles Walker - Vest 829 (B Side of "Charles Walker Slop") - 1959.

08. Aw Shucks Baby - Little Red Walter - Le Sage AB 711 (b/w "I'm Mad") - 1960.

09. Possum Belly Overalls - June Bateman with Noble Watts and His Band - Shaw 101 (b/w "Go Away Mr. Blues") - 1965. The release of the same song on Everlast 5033 credited to "Noble Watts and the Possum Bellys featuring June Bateman" is a different recording.

10. I'm A Good Man But A Poor Man - Lee Roy Little - Cee-Jay 578 (b/w "Your Evil Thoughts") - April 1958.

11. Standing On The Corner - Danny Brown - Earth E702 (B Side of "Chewing Gum") - March 1962. See the post T-Bird Party! for the A Side.

12. Please Forgive Me - Wilbert Harrison - Vest 8006 (B Side of "Poison Ivy") - June 1965.

13. Lemon Squeezer - The Four Barons - Regent 1026 (b/w "Got To Go Back Again") - December 1950.

14. Cryin' And Wonderin' - Billy Hoke - D. W. 103 (B Side of "In My Own Special Way") - 1965.

Etta James Argo LP 4013

Side1:
01. Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home)
02. Guess Again
03. A Lover's Mourn
04. You Can Count On Me
05. If I Can't Have You

Side 2:
01. Something's Got A Hold On Me
02. My Dear
03. Nobody But You
04. Let Me Know
05. Spoonful

Etta James Argo LP 4013 (Mega)

 Etta James Argo LP 4013 (Zippy)

Once more it's thanks to Marv for sending in a reconstruction of this March 1962 Etta James LP on Argo. This was the third Etta James LP issued on the Argo label, the first 2 being "At Last!" (Argo LP 4003) issued in November 1960, and "The Second Time Around" (Argo LP 4011) issued in August 1961.

All artwork from Discogs.com

The orchestrated productions of Hampton Hawes predominate on this LP, but there's some raunchy stuff too, especially "Something's Got A Hold On Me" and the two duets with Harvey Fuqua which were originally released on single as by "Etta and Harvey" - "If I Can't Have You" and "Spoonful."

This download is in a lower bitrate than usual (128 kbps) but Etta James' Chess / Argo / Cadet material has remained in print in some form or another, either through the successor companies to Chess or through public domain issue companies, so there is no lack of opportunity to purchase better quality versions of this LP. There are even public domain Etta James vinyl reissues by labels such as Not Now and DOL, but I can't comment on their quality as I have never purchased them.

So all in all a very good album and as usual here's some background info on the tracks. Thanks, Marvin.

Fax On The Trax

LP released in March, 1962 in mono and stereo versions (LP 4013 / LPS 4013).

01. Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home) - Recorded in Chicago on July 14th, 1961. First released on Argo 5409 in January 1962.

02. Guess Again - Recorded in Chicago on July 14th, 1961. First released on this LP.

03. A Lover's Mourn - Recorded in Chicago, March 1961. First released on this LP.

04. You Can Count On Me - Recorded in Chicago in September 1960. First released on this LP.

05. If I Can't Have You - Recorded in Chicago, May 1960. First released on Chess 1760 by Etta & Harvey in July 1960.

06. Something's Got A Hold On Me - Recorded in Chicago in December 1961. First released on Argo 5409 in January 1962.

07. My Dear - Recorded in Chicago, March 1961. First released on this LP.

08. Nobody But You - Recorded in Chicago, September 1960. First released on this LP.

09. Let Me Know - Recorded in Chicago, May 1960. First released on this LP.

10. Spoonful - Recorded in Chicago, September 1960. First released on Chess 1771 by Etta & Harvey in December 1960.