Bo Diddley - Chess Masters

Side 1:
01) Bo Diddley
02) Bring It To Jerome
03) Road Runner
04) Who Do You Love
05) Hush Your Mouth
06) Pretty Thing

Side 2:
01) Pills
02) Mona
03) Memphis
04) You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
05) Hey Bo Diddley
06) Hucklebuck

Side 3:
01) Mumblin Guitar
02) She's Alright
03) Diddley Daddy
04) I'm A Man
05) I'm Looking For A Woman
06) Say Man

Side 4:
01) I Can Tell
02) My Babe
03) Cops And Robbers
04) I'm Sorry
05) Before You Accuse Me
06) Dearest Darling

Bo Diddley Chess Masters (Mega)

Bo Diddley Chess Masters (Zippy)

1980s PRT compilation of 24 Bo Diddley tracks which is guaranteed to have you swinging from the lights as self isolation really kicks in. Turn it on and crank it up. Voodoo hoodoo twangin' guitar craziness with wild lyrics. Recorded between 1955 and 1963, although the '63 track "Hucklebuck" isn't actually by Bo. See bottom of post for details.

Included because it's the greatest LP cover ever

A Brief History Of Voodoo Rock'n'Roll Singles:

Musicians with Bo include - Jerome Green (maracas); Jody Williams, Peggy Jones (guitar); Billy Boy Arnold, Lester Davenport, Little Walter (harmonica); Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Clifton James, Frank Kirkland (drums); The Moonglows (vocal group); plus sundry others.

Bo Diddley / I'm A Man - Checker 814 - April 1955 (#1 R&B)

Diddley Daddy / She's Fine, She's Mine - Checker 819 - June 1955 (#11 R&B)

Pretty Thing / Bring It To Jerome - Checker 827 - November 1955 (#4 R&B)

Diddy Wah Diddy / I Am Looking For A Woman - Checker 832 - February 1956

Who Do You Love? / I'm Bad - Checker 842 - July 1956

Cops And Robbers / Down Home Special - Checker 850 - November 1956

Hey! Bo-Diddley / Mona - Checker 860 - April 1957

Say! (Boss Man) / Before You Accuse Me (Take A look At Yourself) - Checker 878 - October 1957

Hush Your Mouth / Dearest Darling - Checker 896 - June 1958

Oh Yea / I'm Sorry - Checker 914 - January 1959

Say Man / The Clock Strikes Twelve - Checker 931 - August 1959 (#20 pop, #3 R&B)

Say Man, Back Again / She's Alright - Checker 936 - November 1959

Road Runner / My Story - Checker 942 - January 1960 (#75 pop, #20 R&B)

Pills / Call Me - Checker 985 - August 1961

You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover / I Can Tell - Checker 1019 - July 1962 (#48 pop, #21 R&B)

Monkey Diddle / Memphis - Checker 1058 - November 1963

"Mumblin' Guitar" first released on Checker LP 2974 (Have Guitar, Will Travel) in 1960.

"My Babe" first released on Checker LP 2982 (Bo Diddley's A Twister) in 1962

"Hucklebuck" first released on Checker LP 2987 (Surfin' With Bo Diddley) in 1963. This track is actually by Billy Lee Riley and The Megatons.

Issue information from 45worlds.com, Discogs.com, The Cash Box. Chart information from notes to "Bo Diddley - His Best" (The Legendary Chess Masters Series) - MCD 09373. See below:

 Absolutely recommended

Rhythm & Rock - The Best Of Chess / Checker / Cadet

Side 1:
01. Hi-Heel Sneakers - Tommy Tucker
02. Ain't Got No Home - Clarence Henry
03. Suzie Q - Dale Hawkins
04. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
05. Rocket "88" - Jackie Brenston
06. Wang Dang Doodle - Ko Ko Taylor
07. Rinky Dink - Dave "Baby" Cortez

Side 2:
01. School Day - Chuck Berry
02. The Walk - Jimmy McCracklin
03. Nothin' Shakin' - Eddie Fontaine
04. Sugaree - Rusty York
05. Mumblin' Guitar - Bo Diddley
06. Long Tall Shorty - Tommy Tucker
07. My Babe - Little Walter

Rhythm & Rock (Mega)

Rhythm & Rock (Zippy)

Great googa mooga! What is this Thing called Rock and Roll? Chess Records knew, that's for sure. Take some rockin' rhythm 'n' blues, add a helping of rockabilly, and garnish with a hint of Chicago Blues and you got it, baby, you got it! Ring ring goes the bell, so quit mumblin', put on your hi-heel sneakers, jump into your Rocket "88" while me and my babe wang dang doodle all night long.

This is one of the best "rock 'n' roll" compilations I've ever heard. A lean, mean, all killer-no-filler 14 track collection from the vaults of Chess, Checker and Argo (but no Cadet, despite the title). Once more it's a tale of a record that I haven't listened to for decades turning out to be a gem. It's been on repeat play on my laptop through my amp for the last four or five days much to my rockin' delight.

This post marks the introduction of my new turntable, so no more dodgy wobbly rips. Yay for direct drive! Es lebe Direktantrieb! Vive  l'entraînement direct!

Here's some CD covers relevant to"Rhythm & Rock" direct from my shelves.

Those hi-heel sneakers (look closely) just get me every time. To finish up, here's the recording session and original release details of the tracks.

Fax On The Rockin' Trax, Baby!

Tommy Tucker -

Hi-Heel Sneakers - recorded in New York on 27th November, 1963. Personnel: Tommy Tucker (vocal, organ) with: Weldon "Dean" Young (guitar); Brenda Jones (electric bass); Johnny Williams (drums).

Hi-Heel Sneakers / I Don't Want 'Cha, by Tommy Tucker, released on Checker 1067 in January 1964.

Long Tall Shorty - recorded in New York on February 26th, 1964. Personnel: Tommy Tucker (vocal, organ) with: Eddie Williams (trumpet); Solomon Hall (tenor sax); Paul Williams (baritone sax); Jimmy Oliver (guitar); James Smith (electric bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

Long Tall Shorty / Mo' Shorty (Instrumental), by Tommy Tucker, released on Checker 1075 in April 1964.

Clarence Henry -

Ain't Got No Home - recorded in New Orleans, September 1956. Personnel: Clarence Henry (vocal) with: Edgar "Big Boy" Myles (trombone); Lee Allen, Eddie Smith (saxes); Paul Gayten (piano); Walter Nelson (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Eugene Jones (drums).

Ain't Got No Home / Troubles, Troubles, by Clarence Henry "Frog Man," released on Argo 5259 in October 1956.

Dale Hawkins -

Suzie Q - recorded in Shreveport, 14th February, 1957. Personnel: Dale Hawkins (vocal, guitar) with: James Burton (guitar); James "Sonny" Trammell (bass), Francis Ronald "Ronnie" Lewis (drums).

Suzie-Q / Don't Treat Me This Way, by Dale Hawkins, released on Checker 863 in May 1957.

Bo Diddley -

Bo Diddley - recorded in Chicago, 2nd March, 1955. Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocal, guitar); with: Clifton James or Frank Kirkland (drums); Jerome Green (maracas).

Bo Diddley / I'm A Man, by Bo Diddley,  released on Checker 814 in April 1955.

Mumblin' Guitar - recorded in Chicago, spring 1959. Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocal, guitar) with: Clifton James (drums); Jerome Green (maracas).

Released on Checker LP 2974, "Have Guitar, Will Travel" in December, 1959.

Jackie Brenston -

Rocket 88 - recorded in Memphis, 5th March, 1951. Personnel: Jackie Brenston (vocal, baritone sax) with: Raymond Hill (tenor sax); Ike Turner (piano); Willie Kizart (guitar); Jesse Knight (bass); Willie Sims (drums).

Rocket "88" / Come Back Where You Belong, by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, released on Chess 1458 in April, 1951.

Ko Ko Taylor -

Wang Dang Doodle - recorded in Chicago, 7th December, 1965. Personnel: Ko Ko Taylor (vocal) with: Gene Barge (tenor sax); Donald Hankins (baritone sax); Lafayette Leake (piano); Buddy Guy, Johnny "Twist" Williams (guitars); Jack Myers (electric bass); Fred Below (drums); Willie Dixon (background vocal).

Wang Dang Doodle / Blues Heaven, by Ko Ko Taylor, released on Checker 1135 in March, 1966.

Dave "Baby" Cortez -

Rinky Dink - recorded in New York, 1962. Personnel: Dave "Baby" Cortez (organ) with: Joe Richardson and Jimmy Spruill (guitars); plus unknown guitar, tenor sax, electric bass, drums.

Rinky-Dink / Getting Right, by Dave Baby Cortez released on Julia 452 in 1962. Re-released on Chess 1829 in June 1962 as Rinky Dink / Getting Right, by Baby Cortez.

Chuck Berry -

School Day - recorded in Chicago on 21st January, 1957. Personnel: Chuck Berry (vocal, guitar) with: Johnny Johnson (piano); Hubert Sumlin (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell) / Deep Feeling released on Chess 1653 in March, 1957.

Jimmy McCracklin -

The Walk - recorded in Chicago in December 1957. Personnel: Jimmy McCracklin (vocal, piano) with: Johnny Parker, Willie Cowart (tenor saxes); Lafayette Thomas (guitar); unknown (bass); Ray Cotton (drums).

The Walk / I'm To Blame, by Jimmy McCracklin And His Band, released on Checker 885 in January 1958.

Eddie Fontaine -

Nothin' Shakin' - recorded in New York in 1958. Personnel: Eddie Fontaine (vocal) with: George Barnes (guitar); unknown (guitar); Eddie O'Connor (bass); Cozy Cole (drums).

Nothin' Shakin' / Don't Ya Know, by Eddie Fontaine, released on Argo 5309 in July 1958.

Rusty York -

Sugaree - recorded in Cincinnati (King Studio) in 1959. Personnel: Rusty York (vocal, guitar) with: Jimmy Risch (tenor sax); John Bower (piano); Bill Lanham (bass); Jim "Rick Sticks" Lundy (drums).

Sugaree / Red Rooster, by Rusty York was released on P.J. 45-100 in 1959. Re-released on Chess 1730 in June 1959.

Little Walter -

My Babe - recorded in Chicago on 25th January, 1955. Personnel: Little Walter (vocal, harmonica) with: Robert Jr. Lockwood and Leonard Caston (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

My Babe / Thunder Bird, by Little Walter And His Dukes, released on Checker 811 in February 1955.

The Best Of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues

Side A:
01. Loud Mouth Annie - Myles & Dupont
02. Rhythmatic Rhythm - Charles "Hungry" Williams
03. Jock-A-Mo - Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters
04. Mardi Gras Mambo - The Hawketts
05. I'm A Country Boy - Clarence Henry
06. Flatfoot Sam - Oscar Wills
07. Ding Dong Darling - Allen Brooks
08. Lawdy Mama - Edgar Blanchard

Side B:
01. What Can I Do - Robert Green
02. The Joke - Reggie Hall
03. Walk That Walk - Eddie Bo
04. I Cried all The Way Home - Charles "Hungry" Williams
05. Foolish Woman - Allen Brooks
06. Oh-Oh - Eddie Bo
07. This Should Go On Forever - Rod Bernard
08. Needing Your Love - Bobby Blanque
09. Baby Please - Clifton Chenier

The Best Of New Orleans R&B (Mega)

The Best Of New Orleans R&B (Zippy)

This collection was last posted on the blog on the 24th February 2010. This re-up includes completely new art work, a slight volume boost and new information on the tracks. This improved re-post seemed to be a natural follow on to the previous Paul Gayten post, as he arranged and played on some of these sides.

I always had mixed feelings about this 1984 collection. Sure, there were a few stone classics on it, "Jock-A-Mo," "Flatfoot Sam," "Mardi Gras Mambo," but there were nine previously unissued tracks and the track list on the back cover was a typographical mess, and slightly misleading.

I corrected a couple of things the first time I posted this LP, but that post still contained a few inaccuracies, so it was back to the books and the web for me so that here and now, in the Year of Our Lord 2018, we may all contemplate the updated info on these tracks. If that's your bag. Or maybe you just wanna get straight to listening to what turns out to be a very strong collection of fine New Orleans R&B. For all I know I may be just writing this for myself or howling at the moon, but on we go!

First thing to note is that I've altered the titles and artist attributions of the tracks so that they more accurately reflect the original single releases. While doing this, I came across a few tales, so in no particular order, here's the deal:

First track, second side, "What Can I Do" was wrongly attributed to Charles Williams. It is in fact by Robert Green, the original drummer in the Paul Gayten band.

Small labels found that when one of their discs started to sell well, they lacked the production and distribution facilities to meet demand, so they would arrange leasing deals with bigger labels to maximize sales potential. There are three examples on this collection.

"Flat Foot Sam" was recorded for the Clif label out of Shreveport by Oscar Wills under his stage name T.V. Slim (he was a TV repairman in "real" life). When the record began selling heavily in the Dallas, Shreveport and New Orleans areas, a deal was cut with Chess for national distribution and the record was issued on Checker 870 in July 1957.

However Leonard Chess thought that the record would perform even better if it were recut with a sax backing. T.V. Slim went into a New Orleans studio where he recorded a new version with the Paul Gayten band. This second version was released on Argo 5277 in August 1957, this time credited to Oscar Wills. This is the version which is on this LP. Over the years the Oscar Wills / Paul Gayten version has appeared on various compilations credited to T.V. Slim. Same guy, different name, same song, different sound.

"The Joke" by Reggie Hall was originally issued by the small and short lived Rip label in New Orleans in January 1962. It sold so well that a deal was agreed with Chess who issued it on Chess 1816 in March 1962.

It was a similar story with Rod Bernard's "This Should Go On Forever." Recorded at J.D. Miller's studio in Crowley, Louisiana, it was first released on the Jin label of Ville Platte in October 1958 as by Rod Bernard and The Twisters. Jin owner Floyd Soileau couldn't meet the demand for the disc, so leased it to Chess who issued it on Argo 5327 in February 1959. "This Should Go On Forever" became a top twenty pop hit on the Billboard and Cash Box charts, which would have been impossible without the Chess deal.

In the previous posting of this collection I pointed out that a track which was unreleased back in the 1950's, Eddie Bo's "Walk That Walk" had become well known in the 21st Century through its use as background music in a television advert for Fiat Spirito di Punto. There was a single issued in the UK on "Chess" (Chess 1703) of "Walk That Walk" but this was a "repro" (which isn't strictly true, as there was no such original issue) released in 2011.

There are full details on all the tracks below, although the line up on Rod Bernard's "This Should Go On Forever" has escaped me. Swamp pop is slightly out of my comfort zone at the moment.

I hope you enjoy this compilation as much as I'm doing right now on repeat play.

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01. Loud Mouth Annie - Myles & Dupont (Argo 5326, February 1959)

02. Rhythmatic Rhythm - Charles "Hungry" Williams (unreleased)

03. Jock-A-Mo - Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters (Checker 787, March 1954)

04. Mardi Gras Mambo - The Hawketts (Chess 1591, February 1955)

05. I'm A Country Boy - Clarence Henry (Argo 5266, March 1957)

06. Flatfoot Sam - Oscar Wills (Argo 5277, August 1957)

07. Ding Dong Darling - Allen Brooks (unreleased)

08. Lawdy Mama - Edgar Blanchard unreleased)

09. What Can I Do - Robert Green (unreleased)

10. The Joke - Reggie Hall (Rip 154, January 1962)

11. Walk That Walk - Eddie Bo (unreleased)

12. I Cried all The Way Home - Charles "Hungry" Williams (unreleased)

13. Foolish Woman - Allen Brooks (unreleased)

14. Oh-Oh - Eddie Bo (Chess 1698, July 1958)

15. This Should Go On Forever - Rod Bernard (Jin 105, October 1958)

16. Needing Your Love - Bobby Blanque (unreleased)

17. Baby Please - Clifton Chenier (unreleased)

-------------------------------------------------------

Myles & Dupont - Loudmouth Annie. Recorded in New Orleans circa June 1958. Personnel: Edgar Myles and August "Dimes" Dupont (vocals) with James Rivers and Robert Parker (saxes); Warren Myles (piano); Edgar Blanchard (guitar); Roland Cook (bass); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums).

B-Side of "Heaven Or Heartbreak" released on Argo 5326, February 1959.

Charles "Hungry" Williams - Rhythmatic Rhythm; I Cried All The Way Home. Recorded in New Orleans circa June 1958. Personnel: Charles "Hungry" Williams (vocal,drums) with James Rivers and Robert Parker (saxes); Warren Myles (piano); Edgar Blanchard (guitar); Roland Cook (bass); unknown vocal group.

First released on this LP.

Sugarboy Crawford - Jock-A-Mo. Recorded in New Orleans in December 1953. Personnel: James Crawford (vocal,piano) with "Big Boy" Myles (trombone); Alfred Bernard and Davis Lastie (saxes); Snooks Eaglin (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Eric Warner (drums) Slim "Sylvester" Saunders (vocal).

First released on Checker 787, Jock-A-Mo / You You You by Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters, March 1954.

Label shot from Joan K

The Hawketts - Mardi Gras Mambo. Recorded in New Orleans in January 1955. Personnel: Israel Bell and August Fleuri (trumpets); Carroll Joseph (trombone); George Davis (alto sax); Morris Bechamin (tenor sax); Art Neville (vocal, piano); Alfred August (guitar); John Boudreaux (drums).

First released on Chess 1591 in February 1955, b/w Your Time's Up.

adapted from 45cat.com

Clarence Henry - I'm A Country Boy. Recorded in New Orleans in September 1956. Personnel: Clarence Henry (vocal) with Edgar "Big Boy" Myles (trombone); Lee Allen and  Eddie Smith (saxes); Paul Gayten (piano); Walter Nelson (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Eugene Jones (drums).

First released on Argo 5266 B-Side of "Lonely Tramp" in March 1957.

T.V. Slim - Flatfoot Sam. Recorded in New Orleans circa June 1957. Personnel: Oscar Wills (aka T.V. Slim) (vocal, guitar) with The Paul Gayten Orchestra: Robert Parker (tenor sax); Red Tyler (baritone sax); Paul Gayten (piano); Justin Adams (guitar); Frank Fields (bass) Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums).

This version of "Flatfoot Sam" was released on Argo 5277 in August 1957. Credited to Oscar Wills with the Paul Gayten Orchestra. It was the B-Side of "Nervous Boogie" by the Paul Gayten Orchestra.

A different version of "Flatfoot Sam" b/w "Darling Remember" was released on Checker 870 in July 1957. Both sides credited to T.V. Slim and His Heartbreakers. This was the original version which was recorded in Shreveport and initially released on Clif 103 b/w "Darling Remember."

adapted from Discogs.com - this is the version on the LP

Allen Brooks - Ding Dong Darling; Foolish Woman. Recorded in New Orleans circa June 1958. Personnel: Allen Brooks (vocal) with James Rivers and Robert Parker (saxes); Warren Myles (piano); Edgar Blanchard (guitar); Roland Cook (bass); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums); unknown vocal group.

Both sides first released on this LP.

Edgar Blanchard - Lawdy Mama. Recorded in New Orleans circa February 1958. Personnel: Edgar Blanchard (vocal, guitar) with unknown saxes, piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocal group.

First released on this LP.

Robert Green - What Can I Do. Recorded in New Orleans in 1957. Personnel: Robert Green (vocal, drums); Paul Gayten (piano); unknown saxes, guitar and bass.

First released on this LP but wrongly attributed to Charles "Hungry" Williams.

Reggie Hall - The Joke. Recorded in New Orleans in January 1962 for Rip Records. Personnel: Reggie Hall (vocal, piano) with unknown instrumental accompaniment and vocal group.

First released in January 1962 b/w "You Can Think What You Want" on Rip 154. This was the first release on the short lived New Orleans label (owned by Rippo Roberts). As the disc sold so well, Chess leased it and released it in March 1962 as Chess 1816.

Eddie Bo - Walk That Walk; Oh Oh.

Walk That Walk was recorded in New Orleans on 25th June 1957. Personnel: Eddie Bo (vocal, piano) with: unknown tenor sax; Justin Adams (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums).

First released on this LP.

Oh-Oh was recorded in New Orleans circa May 1958. Personnel: Eddie Bo (vocal, piano) with: Edgar Blanchard (guitar); Roland Cook (bass); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums).

First released in July 1958, B-Side of "My Dearest Darling" on Chess 1698.

Rod Bernard - This Should Go On Forever. Recorded at the J.D Miller Studio, Crowley, Louisiana, 1958.

First released on Jin 105 in October 1958 - "This Should Go On Forever" / "Pardon, Mr. Gordon" by Rod Bernard and The Twisters.

Re-released on Argo 5327 in February 1959. Credited to Rod Bernard.

Label shot from Joan K

Bobby Blanquet - Needing Your Love. Recorded in New Orleans on June 15th, 1955. Personnel (possibly): Bobby Blanque (vocal) with: Paul Gayten (piano); Lee Allen (tenor sax); Alvin "Red" Tyler (baritone sax); Ernest McLean (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Earl Palmer (drums); unknown vocal group.

First released on this LP.

Baby Please - Clifton Chenier. Recorded in Los Angeles, late 1956. Personnel: Clifton Chenier (vocal, accordion) with: Lionel Prevo and B.G. Jones (saxes); James Jones (piano); Phillip Walker (guitar); Francis or Louis Candy (bass); Wilson Semien (drums).

First released on this LP.

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Sources:

Bruyninckx discography

John Broven: Rhythm & Blues In New Orleans, Pelican, 1983

Shane K. Bernard: Swamp Pop - Cajun And Creole Rhythm And Blues, University Press of Mississippi, 1996.

Discogs.com and 45cat.com.

Liner notes for the Ace CD "Red River Blues" (CD CHD 725) by Ray Topping.

You may also like:

Joan Selects Volume 18 - Joan's New Orleans Jazz Fest Special

- 33 big 'uns! Loadsa New Orleans rhythm.

Willie Mabon - Chess Masters

Side One:
01. I Don't Know
02. Beggar Or Bandit *
03. You're A Fool
04. Monday Woman
05. Willie's Blues *
06. Someday You Gotta Pay *
07. Poison Ivy

Side Two:
01. I'm Mad At You *
02. Lonely Blues *
03. I'm Tired *
04. He Lied *
05. Knock On Wood
06. Why Did It Happen To Me *
07. Seventh Son
08. I'm Mad (Boogiewoody Bonus Track!)

* = previously unissued

Download from here:

http://www22.zippyshare.com/v/cn4A6Exy/file.html

This was one of the first LPs I digitized in the early days of the blog nearly 10 years ago. This upload contains improved versions of the original mp3s plus new cover and label scans. The back cover scan looks as though it was made while I was drunk, but I can assure you that the actual LP cover really is that squint! I've run the mp3s through Magix Audio Cleaning Lab again in order to get rid of the numerous clicks from what was a pretty scratched LP, although a few pops remain. The sound quality on the LP wasn't all that good but I have managed to remove the electronic hum that was present throughout "I Don't Know."

The download package includes a folder of label scans from Willie's Chess singles, courtesy of Joan K.

This LP was issued in the UK in 1984 as part of the PRT "Chess Masters" series. but it had already appeared in Italy and Germany with the title "I'm A Heart Regulator" as part of the Chess "Blues Roots" series and it was under the "I'm A Heart Regulator" title that this collection was issued in the USA (Chess CH 9189) in 1984. Of the 14 tracks on the collection, no less than 8 were previously unissued. A few hits were included, such as "I Don't Know," "Poison Ivy," "Knock On Wood" and "Seventh Son."

I've added one of Willie Mabon's best sides, "I'm Mad" partly because I fell in love with it when I came across it on late night TV many years ago in the strange Marv Newland cartoon "Sing Beast Sing."

Willie Mabon was born in Memphis Tennessee in 1925 and moved to Chicago in 1942. His first recording was for Apollo in 1949 but his career didn't really take off until his recording of "I Don't Know" for Parrot in late 1952. The record was quickly picked up by Chess (see below for further details) and it became the fourth best selling R&B single of 1953 and along with the follow up "I'm Mad" which was another number 1 hit, helped to make Willie (billed as "The I Don't Know Man") the third top selling R&B artist of that year.

Although Willie Mabon took the writer credit for "I Don't Know," it was in fact an "adaptation" of a song of the same name recorded by Cripple Clarence Lofton in the 1930s. Willie had one more national R&B hit with "Poison Ivy" in late 1954 although "The Seventh Son" and "Knock On Wood" were local hits in 1955/56. Willie's career gradually lost momentum and he went through an extended period of label hopping throughout the 1960s without ever looking like having another hit.

In the early 1970s he moved to Europe where he recorded for labels like Big Bear and Black & Blue and led the busy life of the American bluesman in exile, including an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He passed away in Paris in 1985 at the age of 59.

The story behind the tracks on "Willie Mabon - Chess Masters":

"I Don't Know" was recorded in Chicago, circa mid 1952. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocal); Ernest Cotton (tenor sax); Bill Evans (bass); Bill Stepney (drums)

"I Don't Know" / "Worry Blues" was released on Parrot in November 1952 (the first release on that label) then later in the same month on Checker 1050 and shortly afterwards on Chess 1531. Parrot label owner Al Benson had a previously existing agreement with the Chess brothers for dual release of his masters, hence the almost simultaneous Parrot / Checker releases. As "I Don't Know" became a phenomenal R&B hit, it was shifted to the parent Chess label, becoming a number one seller and spending 15 weeks in the charts.

"I'm Mad" and "Beggar Or Bandit" were recorded in Chicago on February 5th, 1953. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocal); Fred Clark (tenor sax); Joseph "Cool Breeze" Bell (bass); Steve Boswell (drums)

"I'm Mad" / "Night Latch" was released on Chess 1538 in April 1953. "Beggar Or Bandit" was unissued until this collection.

"You're A Fool" and "Monday Woman" were recorded in New York City in June 1953. Personnel:

Willie Mabon (piano, vocal) with: Milt Larkin (trombone); unknown (alto sax); Charles Ferguson (tenor sax); unknown (baritone sax); Ted Sturgis (bass); unknown (drums)

"You're A Fool" / "Monday Woman" released on Chess 1548 in August 1953.

"I'm Tired" was recorded in Chicago probably in February 1954. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocal) with: Bill Martin or Paul King (trumpet) Harold Ashby, Herbert Robinson (tenor sax,poss alto sax); Bill Anderson (bass); Oliver Coleman (drums)

"I'm Tired" was not issued until this collection.

"Lonely Blues" and "Willie's Blues" were recorded in Chicago in August 1954. Personnel as in February 1954 session above. Both tracks unissued until this collection

"Poison Ivy" was recorded in Chicago in October 1954. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocal) with: Paul King (trumpet); Coon Gardner (alto and baritone sax); Herbert Robinson (tenor sax); Bill Anderson (bass); Oliver Coleman or Odie Payne (drums)

"Poison Ivy" / "Say Man" released on Chess 1580 in October 1954.

"Someday You Gotta Pay," "He Lied" and "Seventh Son" were recorded in Chicago in July 1955.Personnel as above except Willie Dixon replaces Bill Anderson on bass.

"The Seventh Son" / "Lucinda" released on Chess 1608 in October 1955.

"Someday You Gotta Pay" and "He Lied" were not issued until this collection.

"Knock On Wood" was recorded in Chicago on May 24th, 1956. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocals) with: Hubert Robinson (tenor sax); Bill Anderson (bass); Oliver Coleman (drums)

"Knock On Wood" / "Got To Let You Go" released on Chess 1627 in July 1956.

"I'm Mad At You" and "Why Did It Happen To Me" were recorded in Chicago in September 1960. Personnel: Willie Mabon (piano, vocal) with unknown saxes, guitar, bass, drums. Both tracks unissued until this collection.

Thanks to Joan for providing the Chess singles label scans.

Be Bop Wino will be taking a break for the next week or so as I shall be attending a family wedding in the deep south of England. I'll be back rockin' in Scotland sometime soon!

The Flamingos - The Chess Sessions

Side 1:
01. I'll Be Home
02. I Really Don't Want To Know
03. Dream Of a Lifetime
04. Ko Ko Mo
05. Whispering Stars
06. On My Merry Way
07. The Vow
08. Would I Be Crying

Side 2:
01. A Kiss From Your Lips
02. Shilly Dilly
03. Stolen Love
04. Chickie Um Bah
05. Nobody's Love
06. Chicka Boom (That's My Baby)
07. If I Could Love You
08. I Found A New Baby

Download from here:

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

On with the doo-wop! Chicago group The Flamingos were one of the big names of the genre with several hits on the R&B charts from 1953 onwards and even a couple of entries in the pop charts in 1959-60, their biggest hit being "I Only Have Eyes For You" which reached number 11 pop in June 1959. Other R&B chart sellers were "I'll Be Home" and "Lovers Never Say Goodbye." Sadly for The Flamingos their classic "I'll Be Home" lost out to a version by Pat Boone when it came to pop chart action with Boone's disc reaching number 4 in the pop chart in February 1956.

The Flamingos first recordings were on the Chance label with 6 discs being issued between March 1953 and October 1954. By the time of their last issue on Chance ("Blues In A Letter" / "Jump Children") they had already moved to the Parrot label which issued 3 Flamingos singles between August 1954 and January 1955. In March 1955 The Flamingos started recording for Chess subsidiary Checker and recorded their last session for that company in August 1956. Between April 1957 and May 1958 they recorded for Decca which did little to promote their material.

The group's next move to George Goldner's End label proved to be more successful, both from an artistic and a commercial viewpoint. with a more pop leaning sound generating good sales, especially on "I Only Have Eyes For You."

This collection consists of tracks recorded for Parrot (the masters were purchased by Chess) and Checker. Posts in the near future will feature some of their Chance recordings.

Original release details -

01. I'll Be Home - Checker 830, January 1956
02. I Really Don't Want To Know - Parrot 811, December 1954
03. Dream Of a Lifetime - Checker 915, January 1959
04. Ko Ko Mo - Parrot 812, January 1955
05. Whispering Stars - Checker 915, January 1959
06. On My Merry Way - Parrot 808, August 1954
07. The Vow - Checker 846, August 1956
08. Would I Be Crying - Checker 853, November 1956
09. A Kiss From Your Lips - Checker 837, April 1956
10. Shilly Dilly - Checker 846, August 1956
11. Stolen Love - Checker LP 1433, February 1959
12. Chickie Um Bah - Checker LP 1433, February 1959
13. Nobody's Love - Checker LP 1433, February 1959
14. Chicka Boom (That's My Baby) - Checker 815, April 1955
15. If I Could Love You - unreleased Parrot master, July 1954
16. I Found A New Baby - unreleased Parrot master, November 1954

Two different versions of "Dream Of A Lifetime" were recorded by The Flamingos. The first was released on Parrot 808 in August 1954. The version on this LP was released on Checker 915 in January 1959.

Checker LP 1433, "The Flamingos" was released in February 1959. It was re-released with the same cover in 1967 as Checker LP 3005, with an electronically recreated stereo version released as Checker LPS 3005:

Scan from Joan k

For the full Flamingos story click on the Marv Goldberg link:

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Flamingos/flamingos.html

The sleevenotes by Clive Richardson on "The Flamingos - The Chess Sessions" are also very informative.

Sonny Boy Williamson - Chess Masters

Side 1:
01. Don't Start Me To Talkin'
02. I Don't Know
03. All My Love In Vain
04. The Key (To Your Door)
05. Keep It To Yourself
06. Dissatisfied

Side 2:
01. Fattening Frogs For Snakes
02. Wake Up Baby
03. Your Funeral And My Trial
04. "99"
05. Cross My Heart
06. Let Me Explain

Side 3:
01. One Way Out
02. Too Young To Die
03. Trust My Baby
04. Checkin' Up On My Baby
05. Sad To Be Alone
06. Got To Move

Side 4:
01. Bring It On Home
02. Down Child
03. Peach Tree
04. That's All I Want
05. Too Old To Think

Download the 2LP set from here:

Sonny Boy Williamson (Mega)

As with so many of these early 1980s "Chess Masters" releases on PRT, absolutely no information on the artist or recordings is provided on this 2LP set. Of course the featured artist on this collection is the second Sonny Boy Williamson, whose real name has been thought to be William Miller, Rice Miller, or Aleck Ford. He could have been born in 1894 or maybe 1909. It's pretty certain that he was earning a living as a bluesman from the 1920s onward, and in 1936 he formed a long lasting partnership with guitarist Robert Jr. Lockwood.

In the 1940s while working on the "King Biscuit Time" radio show in Helena Arkansas he started calling himself "Sonny Boy Williamson" after the well known and influential Chicago based singer / harmonica player John Lee Williamson. It may have been an attempt to deliberately mislead the radio audience, but when the original Sonny Boy was murdered in 1948, the second "Sonny Boy" (who was in fact the older man) was left with the name.

His recording career started with Trumpet Records, Jackson, Mississippi in early 1951 and he recorded for this label until November 1954. Sonny Boy's first Chess recording session took place on the 12th August 1955, backed by the Muddy Waters band. Two tracks from this session, "Don't Start Me To Talkin'" and "All My Love In Vain" were released on Sonny Boy's first Checker single, the first of seventeen that he would release on the Chess subsidiary label.

O.K. sad sacks, here's the facts on the tracks that this album lacks!

First off here's the tracks with recording date and original release number:

01. Don't Start Me To Talkin' - 12th August 1955 - Checker 824
02. I Don't Know - 8th February 1957 - Checker 864
03. All My Love In Vain - 12th August 1955 - Checker 824
04. The Key (To Your Door) - 7th August 1956 - Checker 847
05. Keep It To Yourself - 7th August 1956 - Checker 847
06. Dissatisfied - 1st September 1957 - Checker 910
07. Fattening Frogs For Snakes - 8th February 1957 - Checker 864
08. Wake Up Baby - 27th March 1958 - Checker 894
09. Your Funeral And My Trial - 27th March 1958 - Checker 894
10. "99" - 1st September 1957 - Checker LP 1437
11. Cross My Heart - 1st September 1957 - Checker 910
12. Let Me Explain - 24th January 1956 - Checker 834
13. One Way Out - 30th April 1964 - Chess LP 1503
14. Too Young To Die - 14th December 1960 - Chess LP 1503
15. Trust My Baby - 15th September 1960 - Checker 963
16. Checkin' Up On My Baby - 14th April 1960 - Chess LP 1503
17. Sad To Be Alone - 30th January 1960 - Checker 943
18. Got To Move - 11th January 1963 - Chess LP 1503
19. Bring It On Home - 11th January 1963 - Checker 1134
20. Down Child - 15th September 1960 - Checker 1134
21. Peach Tree - June 1960 - Chess LP 1503
22. That's All I Want - 8th September 1961 - Chess LP 1503
23. Too Old To Think - 8th September 1961 - Chess LP 1503

Session details:

All sides recorded in Chicago with Sonny Boy Williamson on vocals and harmonica.

Don't Start Me Talkin' (Checker 824)
All My Love In Vain (Checker 824)
Recorded 12th August, 1955. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Let Me Explain (Checker 834)
Recorded 24th January, 1956. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

The Key (To Your Door) (Checker 847)
Keep It To Yourself (Checker 847)
Recorded 7th August, 1956. Additional personnel: Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

I Don't Know (Checker 864)
Fattening Frogs For Snakes (Checker 864)
Recorded 8th February, 1957. Additional personnel: Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Dissatisfied (Checker 910)
"99" (Checker LP 1437)
Cross My Heart (Checker 910)
Recorded 1st September, 1957. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Wake Up Baby (Checker 894)
Your Funeral And My Trial (Checker 894)
Recorded 27th March 1958. Additional personnel: Lafayette Leake (piano); Robert Lockwood and Eugene Pierson (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Sad To Be Alone (Checker 943)
Recorded 30th January, 1960. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Checkin' Up On My Baby (Chess LP 1503)
Recorded 14th April, 1960. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Unknown (electric bass); Fred Below (drums).

Peach Tree (Chess LP 1503)
Recorded June, 1960. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano);  Eddie King and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Trust My Baby (Checker 963)
Down Child (Checker 1134)
Recorded 15th September, 1960. Additional personnel: Lafayette Leake (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Too Young To Die (Chess LP 1503)
Recorded 14th December, 1960. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Odie Payne (drums).

That's All I Want (Chess LP 1503)
Too Old To Think (Chess LP 1503)
Recorded 8th September, 1961. Additional personnel: Otis Spann (piano); Robert Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Got To Move (Chess LP 1503)
Bring It On Home (Checker 1134)
Recorded 11th January, 1963. Additional personnel: Lafayette Leake or Billy Emerson (organ); Matt Murphy (guitar); Milton Rector (electric bass); Al Duncan (drums).

One Way Out (Chess LP 1503)
Recorded 30th April, 1964. Additional personnel: Lafayette Leake (piano); Buddy Guy (guitar); Jack Myers (electric bass); Clifton James (drums).


Original release details:

Don't Start Me Talkin' / All My Love In Vain (Checker 824) was released in September 1955.

Let Me Explain (b/w Your Imagination) (Checker 834) was released in March 1956.

Keep It To Yourself / The Key (To Your Door) (Checker 847) was released in October 1956.

Fattening Frogs For Snakes / I Don't Know (Checker 864) was released in June 1957.

Your Funeral And My Trial / Wake Up Baby (Checker 894) was released in May 1958.

Dissatisfied / Cross My Heart (Checker 910) was released in December 1958.

It's Sad To Be Alone was the B-Side of The Goat, Checker 943, released in January 1960.

Trust My Baby (b/w Too Close Together) (Checker 963) was released in October 1960.

Bring It On Home / Down Child (Checker 1134) was released in February 1966.

"99" is an alternate take of "Ninety Nine" which was released as the B-Side of "Born Blind" (Checker 883) in February 1958. "99" was released on Checker LP 1437 "Down And Out Blues" in 1959.

Checkin' Up On My Baby, Peach Tree, Too Young To Die, That's All I Want, Too Old To Think, Got To Move, One Way Out, were all first released on Chess LP 1053 "Sonny Boy Williamson - The Real Folk Blues" in January 1966.

You can find El Enmascarado's rip of a 78 rpm issue of Sonny Boy's first record for Checker here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/dont-start-me-talkin-all-my-love-in.html

In fact here they be, Sonny Boy's first and considerably successful sides on Checker:

And to finish off, here's the cover of the only Sonny Boy Williamson CD I possess, from the Chess Legendary Masters series. Like the other CDs in this series it's in superb sound quality. If you ever come across any of these CDs in your local hepcat record shop, or in a jumble sale, buy 'em.

Note the bowler hat - Sonny adopted a rather eccentric interpretation of the English gentleman style during his British tours in 1963/64. He recorded with The Animals, The Yardbirds and Chris Barber during this time and also made a recording in London in April 1965 with a band that included Brian Auger and Jimmy Page. He died the following month back home in the USA.

Little Walter - Chess Masters

LP1 -

Side 1:
01. My Babe
02. Sad Hours
03. You're So Fine
04. Last Night
05. Blues With A Feeling
06. Can't Hold Out Much Longer

Side 2:
01. Juke
02. Mean Old World
03. Off The Wall
04. You Better Watch Yourself
05. Blue Lights
06. Tell Me Mama

LP2 -

Side 3:

01. Nobody But You
02. My Baby's Sweeter
03. Roller Coaster
04. As Long As I Have You
05. Oh Baby
06. Take Me Back
07. Everything's Going To Be Alright
08. Mellow Down Easy

Side 4:
01. Hate To See You Go
02. I Got To Find My Baby
03. Everybody Needs Somebody
04. Blue Midnight

Download the 2LP set from here:

Little Walter Chess Masters (2LP) Mega

1981 Little Walter double album. UK issue on PRT (Precision Records and Tapes) It was one of an extensive series of "Chess Masters" double and single LPs released on PRT (a successor to Pye International) in the 1980s. There are no notes or track details so I'll try to fill in some details below.

The tracks:

LP1:
01. My Babe
02. Sad Hours
03. You're So Fine
04. Last Night
05. Blues With A Feeling
06. Can't Hold Out Much Longer
07. Juke
08. Mean Old World
09. Off The Wall
10. You Better Watch Yourself
11. Blue Lights
12. Tell Me Mama

LP2:
13. Nobody But You
14. My Baby's Sweeter
15. Roller Coaster
16. As Long As I Have You
17. Oh Baby
18. Take Me Back
19. Everything's Going To Be Alright
20. Mellow Down Easy
21. Hate To See You Go
22. I Got To Find My Baby
23. Everybody Needs Somebody
24. Blue Midnight

Note that track titles in italics are not present on this double album. Titles in italics with an asterisk (*) are on the "Confessin' The Blues" LP available elsewhere on this blog.

Tracks 6 and 7 - released on Checker 758, August 1952. Juke / Can't Hold On Much Longer by Little Walter and His Nite Cats. Recorded on May 12th 1952. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers (guitars), Elga Edmonds (drums).

Tracks 2 and 8 - released on Checker 764, November 1952. Mean Old World / Sad Hours by Little Walter and his Nite Caps. Recorded in October 1952. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Louis Myers and David Myers (guitars); Fred Below (drums).

Tracks 9 and 12 - released on Checker 770, April, 1953. Tell Me Mama / Off The Wall by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on March 4th, 1953. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Louis Myers and David Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 5 - released on Checker 780, September, 1953. Blues With A Feeling / Quarter To Twelve* by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on July 23rd, 1953.  Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Jimmy Rogers (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 3 - released on Checker 786, December 1953. Lights Out* / You're So Fine by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on July 23rd 1953. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Jimmy Rogers (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 17 - released on Checker 793, April 1954. Oh Baby / Rocker* by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on February 22nd, 1954. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood (guitar); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Tracks 10 and 11 - released on Checker 799, August 1954. You'd Better Watch Yourself / Blue Light by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on July 14th, 1954. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and David Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Tracks 4 and 20 - released on Checker 805, November 1954. Mellow Down Easy / Last Night by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on October 5th, 1954. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 1 - released on Checker 811, February 1955. My Babe / Thunder Bird by Little Walter and his Jukes. Recorded on January 25th, 1955. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Leonard Caston (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 15 - released on Checker 817 in May 1955. Roller Coaster / I Got To Go* by Little Walter and His Jukes. Recorded on April 28th, 1955. Little Walter (harmonica); Bo Diddley and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 21 - released on Checker 825 in October 1955. I Hate To See You Go / Too Late by Little Walter and His Jukes. Recorded on August 12th, 1955. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 18 - released on Checker 852 in December 1956. It's Too Late Brother / Take Me Back by Little Walter. Recorded on July 27th 1956. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Tracks 13 and 23 - released on Checker 859 in March 1957. Nobody But You / Everybody Needs Somebody by Little Walter. Recorded on March 5th, 1957. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

Track 14 - released on Checker 919 in March 1959. My Baby Is Sweeter / Crazy Mixed Up World* by Little Walter. Recorded on February 25th, 1959. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Luther Tucker and Jimmy Lee Robinson (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter (drums).

Track 19 - released on Checker 930 in July 1959. Everything Gonna Be Alright / Back Track by Little Walter. Recorded on July 21st, 1959.  Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Billy Stepney (drums).

Track 24 - released on Checker 955 in June 1960. My Babe / Blue Midnight by Little Walter. The A Side, "My Babe" is a remastered version of Checker 811 with added vocal chorus. "Blue Midnight" was recorded in October 1952. This was its first release. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Louis Myers and David Myers (guitars); Fred Below (drums).

Track 16 - released on Checker 968 in February 1961. I Don't Play / As Long As I Have You by Little Walter. Recorded in December 1960. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Luther Tucker and Fred Robinson (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); George Hunter (drums).

Track 22 - released on Checker 1013 in May 1962. Just You Fool / I Got To Find My Baby by Little Walter. Recorded on May 22nd 1954. Little Walter (vocal, harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Robert Jr. Lockwood and David Myers (guitars); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below (drums).

In the downloads I have included versions of the LP cover surrounded by a white frame.

Elsewhere on the blog - "Confessin' The Blues" by Little Walter.

This LP contains five tracks which were on the reverse side of the original single releases of tracks on the "Chess Masters" 2LP set.