Hand Me Down Blues

Side One:
01. Watch Yourself - Henry Gray
02. That Ain't Right - Henry Gray
03. Goodbye Baby - Henry Gray
04. You Messed Up - Henry Gray
05. He Don't Love You - Dusty Brown
06. Yes She's Gone - Dusty Brown
07. Hurry Home - Dusty Brown
08. Rusty Dusty - Dusty Brown

Side Two:
01. Hand Me Down Blues - Albert King
02. Little Boy Blue - Albert King
03. Gary Stomp - John Brim
04. Going Back To Memphis - Sunnyland Slim
05. Devil Is A Busy Man - Sunnyland Slim
06. Crosstown Blues - Snooky Pryor
07. I Want You For Myself - Snooky Pryor
08. Four Day Jump - Little Willie Foster

Hand Me Down Blues (Mega)

Hand Me Down Blues (Zippy)

Thanks to Charlie B who has contributed another blues compilation, and once more it's an LP issued by Relic in 1989 / 1990. The label used on the disc is Blue Lake, a Chicago based label owned by deejay Al Benson which he ran in conjunction with his better known Parrot label.

This is a collection of sides recorded for Benson between 1953 and 1955, some of which were unreleased at the time and some of which were released as singles on Parrot or Blue Lake. Full recording and release details are given below. Much of the information is from the Red Saunders Research Foundation page on the Parrot Label with additional information from www.45cat.com, www.discogs.com and the Bruyninckx discography.

There is much more background information on the artists featured on this disc in the notes by Dick Shurman on the back cover of the LP. Charlie B has once again kindly scanned font and back covers and labels as well as ripping the tracks from vinyl.

Fax On The Lowdown Trax:

Henry Gray: Watch Yourself, That Ain't Right, Goodbye Baby, You Messed Up (with false start) were recorded in Chicago in late 1955. Personnel: Henry Gray (vocal, piano) with unknown (harmonica), Little Hudson Showers (guitar), James Banister (drums).

These 4 tracks were unissued until this LP.

Dusty Brown: He Don't Love You, Yes She's Gone, Hurry Home, Rusty Dusty, recorded in Chicago on October 1st, 1955. Personnel: Dusty Brown (vocal, harmonica) with Henry Gray (piano), Baby Joe Little (guitar); Johnny Sturdivant (drums).

He Don't Love You / Yes She's Gone released on Parrot 820 in November 1955.

Hurry Home and Rusty Dusty first issued on this LP.

Albert King: Hand Me Down Blues, Little Boy Blue recorded in Chicago on November 30th, 1953. Personnel: Albert King (vocal, guitar) with Johnny Jones (piano); John Brim (guitar) possibly Willie Dixon (bass) and Grace Brim (drums). This was Albert King's first ever recording session.

Hand Me Down Blues and Little Boy Blue first released on this LP.

John Brim: Gary Stomp, recorded in Chicago in March 1954 (or December 1953). Personnel: John Brim (vocal, guitar) with Jimmy Reed (harmonica); Eddie Taylor (guitar); Grace Brim (drums).

Gary Stomp released on Parrot 799, B-Side of Tough Times, in April 1954. John Brim and his Stompers.

Sunnyland Slim: Going Back To Memphis, Devil Is A Busy Man, recorded in Chicago in 1954. Personnel: Sunnyland Slim (vocal, piano) with possibly Snooky Pryor (harmonica) and Eddie Taylor (guitar).

Going Back To Memphis / Devil Is A Busy Man released on Blue Lake 105 in June 1954.

Snooky Pryor: Crosstown Blues, I Want You For Myself, recorded in Chicago, May / June 1954. Personnel: Snooky Pryor (vocal, harmonica) with Lazy Bill Lucas (piano); Eddie Taylor (guitar); Moody Jones (bass).

Crosstown Blues / I Want You For Myself released on Parrot 807 in the summer of 1954.

Little Willie Foster: Four Day Jump recorded in Chicago on January 14th, 1955. Personnel: Little Willie Foster (harmonica); Eddie Taylor (guitar); Floyd Jones (guitar); Lazy Bill Lucas (piano).

Falling Rain Blues / Four Day Jump by "Little" Willy Foster released on Blue Lake 113 circa March 1955. Later re-released on Parrot 813 in July 1955.

Desperate Rock'N Roll Volume 2

Side One:
01. Look At You Go - Danny Ross
02. So Tired - The Chavis Brothers
03. Rock And Roll Deacon - Screamin' Joe Neal
04. The Work Song - Tom And The Craftsmen
05. Ain't About To Go Home - Donnie Nix
06. Rocking Jalopy - The Alabama Kid
07. Johnny B. Goode - Johnny Candles
08. Turkey Hop - Lionel Hampton
09. Man From Mars - Butch Paulson
10. Shortnin' Bread - The Readymen

Side Two:
01. Woman Love - Jimmy Johnson
02. You Know I Love You - Eddie Kirkland
03. I Don't Need You No More - The Rumblers
04. Ice Water - Glen Barber
05. Rockin' Out The Blues - The Musical Linn Twins
06. Cruisin' - "Bucky" & Premieres
07. Won't You Love Me - Buddy and The Fads
08. Long Legged Linda - The Kids From Texas
09. Not Like Now - Freddy Robinson
10. Live It Up - The Sundowners

Desperate Rock'N Roll Volume 2 (Mega)

Desperate Rock'N Roll Volume 2 (Zippy)

Back in the already distant summer of 2018 I posted Desperate Rock'N Roll Volume Ten along with a write up on the whole fershluggener ethos behind This Sort Of Thing. Pulp magazines, ex-jukebox singles, greasy cafes with steamed up windows, and a ton o' obscure rockabilly, surf, R&B and degenerate country sounds. What's not to like?

I recently found another volume in the series in a local second hand shop, so here we go with another set of the same. The internet provides sources of information on the background to these tracks, so below you'll find some details dug out from Rockin' Country Style which has a page on this comp with info and label shots of the rockabilly and country sides; and for the R&B and surf tracks, www.45cat.com; www.discogs.com; YouTube; and the Bruyninckx discography. I couldn't find  anything on Johnny Candles, whom God preserve. EDIT - info on "Johnny Candles" has been added thanks to Apesville's comments. See comments for links to Apesville's blog and YouTube clip with original Johnny Canales single of "Johnny B. Good."

Fax on the wild, wild trax:

01. Look At You Go - Danny Ross: Minor MH-107 b/w Gold Digger; circa 1957/8.

02. So Tired - The Chavis Brothers: Clock C 1025 b/w I Love You; August 1960.

03. Rock And Roll Deacon - Screamin' Joe Neal: Shippings 13229 b/w Tell Me Pretty Baby; 1959.

04. The Work Song - Tom And The Craftsmen: Gulfstream 1058 b/w Roses Are Red; 1962.

05. Ain't About To Go Home - Donnie Nix: Wilrod 1001 b/w I Saw Her Yesterday; September 1964.

06. Rocking Jalopy - The Alabama Kid: Varsity 83 b/w Where Did You Go; December 1965.

07. Johnny B. Goode - Johnny Candles: no information / EDIT thanks to Apesville (see comments) "Johnny Candles" is Johnny Canales. Track 7 is therefore:

Johnny B. Good - Johnny Canales and his Orchestra: Penco JC-116-3; circa 1962.

08. Turkey Hop - Part One - Lionel Hampton: Decca 24992 b/w Turkey Hop - Part Two; 1950.

09. Man From Mars - Butch Paulson with "The Motations": Virgelle 708 b/w My Own Brother; 1961.

10. Shortnin' Bread - The Readymen: Bangar BA 00655 b/w Surfer Blues; December 1964.

11. Woman Love - Jimmy Johnson: Starday 45-561 b/w All Dressed Up; May 1956.

12. You Know I Love You - Eddie Kirkland: Lu Pine recording, circa 1959-61. Released on 1970s Relic LP "3 Shades Of The Blues."

13. I Don't Need You No More - The Rumblers: Downey D-103, B-Side of Boss; September 1962. Also released on Dot 45-16421 in November 1962.

14. Ice Water - Glen Barber: Starday 45-166 b/w Ring Around The Moon; November 1954.

15. Rockin' Out The Blues - The Musical Linn Twins: Blue Feather OP-277x45 b/w Indian Rock; March 1958.

16. Cruisin' - "Bucky" & Premieres: Nu-Phi 701 b/w Summer School. Date unknown.

17. Won't You Love Me - Buddy and The Fads: Morocco M-101 b/w Is It Just A Game; June 1958.

18. Long Legged Linda - The Kids From Texas: Hanover 4500 b/w I'm So Lonely; May 1958.

19. Not Like Now - Freddy Robinson: Limelight Y-3005x45 b/w Five Feet Of Lovin'; June 1958.

20. Live It Up - The Sundowners: T.R.C.-2839 (Texas Record Company) b/w Our Last Date; June 1962.

Count Basie and his Orchestra - Swingin' The Blues LP

Side 1:
01. Swinging The Blues
02. John's Idea
03. Blue & Sentimental
04. Texas Shuffle
05. Panassie Stomp
06. Sent For You Yesterday And Here You Come Today
07. You Can Depend On Me
08. Every Tub

Side 2:
01. Jumpin' At The Woodside
02. Time Out
03. Jive At Five
04. Oh Lady Be Good
05. Shorty George
06. Out The Window
07. Topsy
08. Doggin' Around

Swingin' The Blues LP (Mega)

Swingin' The Blues LP (Zippy)

I've included "LP" in the title of this post and also in the tagging of this album because, as many of you will be aware, I've previously posted the cassette version of this collection. It was re-upped in March 2015 here:

https://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2015/03/count-basie-his-orchestra-swingin-blues.html

That was in response to a request for a re-up of the album which was originally posted in August 2008 here:

https://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2008/08/count-basie-his-orchestra-swingin-blues_8959.html

Last year I came across this LP while browsing in a local charity shop, so here for your delectation is the vinyl version. The sound on the vinyl rips differs considerably from the cassette rips, being clearer, although there are the inevitable clicks, pops and crackles to remind us that the source is a second hand record.

These are recordings made between July 1937 and February 1939 for Decca in New York (the band having migrated from Kansas City in 1936). The lineup includes tenor sax duo Lester Young and Herschel Evans (replaced by Chu Berry in the final session as Evans was in hospital with the heart condition which would cause his death 6 days later). There is the All-American Rhythm Section of Freddy Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass), Count Basie (piano) and Jo Jones (drums). Earl Warren features on clarinet and alto sax, Buck Clayton on trumpet and, shouting the blues on 2 numbers, Mister Five by Five himself, Jimmy Rushing.

Full band lineups and recording dates are on the back cover along with an essay by jazz critic Stan Britt.

Jimmy Rushing - I Want A Little Girl

 
Side 1:
01. My Baby's Business
02. Jimmy's Round The Clock Blues
03. Thursday Blues
04. Good Mornin' Blues
05. I've Got To Have You That's All
06. I Want A Little Girl
07. I'm So Lonely
08. Go Get Some More You Fool

Side 2:
01. Hi-Ho-Sylvester
02. The Way I Feel
03. In The Moonlight
04. She's Mine, She's Yours
05. Where Were You?
06. Somebody's Spoiling These Women
07. My Last Affair
08. Baby, Don't Tell On Me

I Want A Little Girl (Mega)

I Want A Little Girl (Zippy)

Jimmy Rushing was the first of the great male blues shouters and a big influence on all who followed in his footsteps, from Joe Turner to Wynonie Harris, from Jimmy Witherspoon to Gatemouth Moore.

He is associated with the roaring Kansas City big blues bands, starting with Walter Page's Blue Devils in the late 1920's and then of course with Bennie Moten and Count Basie. None of the sides on this compilation are with the Basie band (officially), although the first six tracks were recorded while Jimmy was still a member of the Basie outfit. "My Baby's Business" and Jimmy's Round The Clock Blues" were recorded at a Johnny Otis session in LA in 1945 for Excelsior. A year later Jimmy again recorded for Excelsior (tracks 3-6) with the backing band, which consisted mostly of Count Basie band members, going under Jimmy Mundy's name.

The Count Basie band broke up in 1950 and Jimmy kept going with a small group which often featured Dickie Wells, Buddy Tate and Walter Page. He recorded a couple of singles for Gotham in 1950 (not included) and then in 1951 - 1952 four singles for King Records. All of the King sides are on this comp. The remaining two sides here were released as a single on Okeh in 1957 by which time Jimmy was well established in the jazz LP market with releases on Vanguard and Columbia. A single recorded for Parrot in Chicago (Mr 5 x 5) in 1953 with the Frank Culley band is not included.

Full recording details are on the back cover along with an excellent essay by Alun Morgan. I hope you enjoy these sides aimed at the Race Records / R&B market rather than the jazz audience which sustained Jimmy's career through the second half of the 1950's, the 1960's and the early 1970's.

A belated Happy New Year to all followers of Be Bop Wino. We'll be rockin' through 2019!