Elmore James and the Broom Dusters - Blues After Hours (Crown CLP 5168)

Side 1:
01) Dust My Blues
02) Sunnyland
03) Mean And Evil
04) Dark And Dreary
05) Standing At The Crossroads

Side 2:
01) Happy Home
02) No Love In My Heart
03) Blues Before Sunrise
04) I Was A Fool
05) Goodbye Baby

Blues After Hours (Mega)

Blues After Hours (Zippy)

You know, there are often hidden treasures to be found in the virtual bargain basement of the virtual Be Bop Wino record store for there is much musical delight to be found in the unlikeliest looking of albums. And then there's this. Cheapo budget label? Check. Magnificently sleazy cover? Take another look! Now tear your eyes away from the gal at the bar and check out the tracks on the back. Only ten, and they were all five or six years old when this platter was issued.

It's 1960, you see, and Elmore James is currently recording for Bobby Robinson's Fire label in New York. In the last couple of years he's had sides out on Chief and Vee-Jay which were recorded in Chicago, but the tracks on this LP date back a few years to when Elmore was being recorded by the Bihari brothers and these sides were being issued on the Flair label. And now they've made it to the Biharis' budget priced Crown label, complete with lurid cover and thick cardboard sleeve.

But hey, you can't judge a book by its cover (clue to upcoming post) and when you get this sucker back home and pop it on the Dansette, you immediately realise that you are in the presence of genius. This is one hell of an album and although there are only 10 tracks, every one is a winner. And then some, for the final two tracks are gobsmackingly brilliant.

And it's thanks to Marv for reconstructing and sending this album in. I've been working on another LP project over the last couple of days, but as soon as I listened to these tracks (just yesterday afternoon) I dropped everything and started on this post instead. While I've been cobbling together the information for these words of wisdom I've been repeatedly playing the album and am now a hopeless Elmore James addict. It's time for you to surrender to the impassioned vocals and slide guitar of one of the great blues performers, so grab this, pump up the volume, and have a Sunday blues blast.

Recording And Original Release Details:

Dark And Dreary - recorded in Chicago, August 1953. Personnel: Elmore James (vocals, guitar); Boyd Atkins (baritone sax); J.T. Brown (tenor sax); Johnny Jones (piano); Ransom Knowling (bass); Odie Payne (drums).

Rock My Baby Right / Dark And Dreary - Elmore James and His Broomdusters - Flair 1048 - 1954

Sunnyland, Standing At The Crossroads, Mean And Evil, Happy Home, No Love In My Heart - recorded in Culver City, California, in August / September 1954. Personnel: Elmore James (vocals, guitar) with the Maxwell Davis Band: James Parr (trumpet); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); Jewell Grant (baritone sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Ralph "Chuck" Hamilton (bass); Jesse Sailes (drums).

Sunny Land / Standing At The Crossroads - Elmore James and His "Broomdusters" - Flair 1057 - October 1954

Late Hours At Midnight / The Way You Treat Me (aka "Mean And Evil" on this LP) - Flair 1062 - March (?) 1955

Happy Home / No Love In My Heart - Elmore James and His "Broomdusters" - Flair 1069 - May 1955

Dust My Blues, Blues Before Sunrise, I Was A Fool, Goodbye Baby - recorded in New Orleans, summer 1955. Personnel: Elmore James (vocals, guitar) with Edward Frank (piano); Frank Fields (bass); Earl Palmer (drums). Vocal Group - The Don Ralke singers dubbed onto "Goodbye Baby" in Los Angeles.

 

Dust My Blues / I Was A Fool - Elmore James and His "Broomdusters" - Flair 1074 - August 1955

Blues Before Sunrise / Good Bye (aka "Goodbye Baby" on this LP) - Elmore James and His "Broom Dusters" - Flair 1079 - November 1955

Elsewhere On The Blog:

The Legend Of Elmore James

The Resurrection Of Elmore James

Two collections of Meteor and Flair sides including alternate takes. You'll find "Rock My Baby Right" and "Late Hours At Midnight" on these LPs. Both posts have new download links.

Recommended Purchases:

Ace CDCHM 1043

Mid-price extended edition of "Blues After Hours" with 8 bonus tracks and notes by Dave Sax.

Ace CDCHD 583

28 track compilation of Meteor / Flair / Modern sides plus the Trumpet issue of "Dust My Broom" - a terrific compilation. I've had this one for many years and it remains one of my favourite Ace compilations.

Thanks to Joan K for the scans of the Flair singles. Thanks to the original uploaders of the artwork on this reconstructed LP. Many thanks to Marv for "Blues After Hours."

West Coast Blues

Side 1:
01. Stubborn Woman - Mercy Dee
02. Have You Ever - Mercy Dee
03. T-99 Blues - Jimmy Nelson
04. Blues After Hours - Pee Wee Crayton
05. Texas Hop - Pee Wee Crayton
06. S.K. Blues (Part 1) - Saunders King

Side 2:
01. Sitting Here Wondering - J.W. Walker
02. J.W.'s Blues - J.W. Walker
03. Dr. Brown - James Reed
04. You Better Hold Me - James Reed
05. Strange Land - Roy Hawkins
06. S.K. Blues (Part 2) - Saunders King

West Coast Blues (Mega)

West Coast Blues (Zippy)

This is the last of the Musidisc re-releases of the Kent Anthology of the Blues series that I have. West Coast Blues was number 12 and the last in this series which explored the blues sides in the vaults of the Bihari brothers' Modern / RPM labels. This collection differs from the others that I have posted as it includes some really big R&B hits. Pee Wee Crayton's "Blues after Hours" and "Texas Hop" were big sellers, making the higher reaches of the national R&B chart, as did Jimmy Nelson's "T 99 Blues."

The J.W. Walker ("Big Moose" Walker or "Moose John Walker") recorded for Trumpet Records in Jackson, Mississippi. The sides on this comp were recorded in St. Louis with backing provided by Ike Turner and therefore have no connection with the West Coast!

One circumstance common to all the other artists on this record is that they had a Bay Area connection. Pee Wee Crayton, for example, started his professional music career playing with Ivory Joe Hunter's band in San Francisco. Saunders King and Jimmy Nelson both lived in San Francisco and worked the local clubs there. Roy Hawkins was discovered by Bay Area record man Bob Geddins playing in a club in Oakland. James Reed also recorded for Geddins, in fact it was the latter who sent the sides featured on this comp to the Biharis. Mercy Dee Walton cut his first record in Fresno (admitedly well south of The Bay) for the Spire label.

All started their playing and recording careers away from LA, usually recording their earliest sides for Bob Geddins who then brought them to the attention of the Biharis. As with the LPs in the Anthology of the Blues series, there is now an expanded and carefully researched CD equivalent available on the Ace UK label:

The Downhome Blues Sessions Volume 5

Here is the complete list of the Anthology of the Blues series:

1. The Legend Of Elmore James
2. Memphis Blues
3. California Blues
4. Deep South Blues
5. Texas Blues
6. Detroit Blues
7. Arkansas Blues
8. Lightnin' Hopkins: A Legend In His Own Time
9. Mississippi Blues
10. The Resurrection Of Elmore James
11. B.B. King 1949-1950
12. West Coast Blues

West Coast Blues - The Who, The Where and The When (Perhaps)

Mercy Dee - "Stubborn Woman" and "Have You Ever" recorded in Los Angeles in 1955. Released on Flair 1078 in November 1955. "Have You Ever" on this LP is probably an alternate take to the version on the Flair single.

Jimmy Nelson - "T 99 Blues" recorded at the Clef Club, Richmond, California, in June or July 1951. Jimmy Nelson with the Peter Rabbit Trio. Released on RPM 325 in June / July 1951.

Pee Wee Crayton - "Blues After Hours" recorded in Los Angeles in September 1948. Released on Modern 624 in October 1948. "Texas Hop" recorded in Los Angeles in 1948, released on Modern 643, late 1948.

Saunders King - original version of "S.K. Blues" recorded in San Francisco, June 1942 and released on Rhythm 3. New version recorded in San Francisco in 1948 or 49 and released on Rhythm 302 as "Saunders Blues, Pts 1 and 2" in 1949. Reissued on RPM 375 as "New S.K. Blues Parts 1 and 2" in December 1952. Also reissued on RPM 497 as "S.K. Blues, Pts 1 and 2" in 1957. As to which version is on this LP, I'm not sure!

J.W. Walker - "Sitting Here Wondering" and "J.W.'s Blues" recorded in St. Louis, November 11th, 1955, with the Ike Turner band. First released on this compilation.

James Reed - "You Better Hold Me" and "Dr. Brown" recorded in Oakland in March 1954. With the Que Martyn Orchestra. Both sides released on Flair 1042 in July 1954. The version of "You Better Hold Me" released on Big Town 117 in 1955 is a different recording.

Roy Hawkins - "Strange Land" was recorded in San Francisco circa 1948. Released on Down Town 2025 in April 1949. Remastered and reissued on Modern 693 in September 1949.

The Resurrection Of Elmore James

Side 1:

01. Hawaiian Boogie Part 1

02. Quarter Past Nine

03. Sho Nuff I Do

04. Early In The Morning

05. One More Drink

06. Strange Kinda Feeling

Side 2:

01. Make My Dreams Come True

02. Late Hours At Midnight

03. Elmo's Shuffle

04. Can't Stop Lovin'

05. Make A Little Love

06. Hawaiian Boogie Part 2

The Resurrection Of Elmore James (Mega)

The Resurrection Of Elmore James (Zippy)

This is the second Elmore James LP in the "Anthology Of The Blues" series originally released on Kent and subsequently reissued on United-Superior and Musidisc. As I mentioned in the previous post (The Legend Of Elmore James), the May and June 2016 issues of "Blues & Rhythm" magazine ran a two part article by Ray Templeton on this series of compilations of blues tracks originally recorded for the Bihari owned labels (Modern, Flair, RPM, Meteor) in the 1940s and 1950s.

The full list of LPs in the series (compiled by Bruce Bromberg and Frank Scott) was as follows:

The Legend Of Elmore James (Kent KST-9001)

Memphis Blues (Kent KST-9002)

California Blues (Kent KST-9003)

Deep South Blues (Kent KST- 9004)

Texas Blues (Kent KST-9005)

Detroit Blues (Kent KST-9006)

Arkansas Blues (Kent KST-9007)

Lightnin' Hopkins - A Legend In His Own Time (Kent KST-9008)

Mississippi Blues (Kent KST-9009)

The Resurrection Of Elmore James (Kent KST-9010)

B.B. King 1949-1950 (Kent KST-9011)

West Coast Blues (KST-9012)

The original Kent issues (from 1969 onwards) were in gatefold sleeves, but over here in Europe the LPs were mostly available through the French Musidisc reissues of the late 1970s which were in single sleeves. However the original front cover art was still used. They were usually to be found going cheap (around £1.99) and as I said previously, I wish I'd bagged the lot! And how often do R&B fans who were buying LPs back in the 1970s / 80s say that to themselves? "Ah, if only I'd bought ..."

In the end I only bought five of the series - the two Elmore James albums, plus "Memphis Blues", "California Blues", and "Mississippi Blues."

Elmore James was one of the first blues musicians I really got into, and like many other UK fans, this was thanks to Jeremy Spencer's interpretations of James material for the original Fleetwood Mac (THE British blues band of the late '60s). The two "Anthology Of The Blues" Elmore comps were for long among my favourite blues LPs, especially "The Resurrection Of Elmore James", which rocks relentlessly. The rocking rhythm sections, the screaming slide guitar and that unique voice sounded like nobody else. Someone (I forget who) once said that Elmore James sang like he was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I couldn't possibly improve on that insight. 

These collections of Elmore's earliest sides for the Bihari brothers still stand out today. His 1953 recordings for Chess / Checker, late 1950's sides for Chief and early 1960's material for Bobby Robinson's labels are all excellent too, but these recordings (mostly for Flair) have a raw power which I find especially appealing. "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" in particular would waken the dead. Download and crank up the volume to eleven. Let the blues blast forth!

01. Hawaiian Boogie Part 1- unissued, Jackson, Miss. April, 1952.

02. Quarter Past Nine - unissued, Chicago early 1954.

03. Sho Nuff I Do - alternate take of Flair 1039, "Club Bizarre", Canton, Miss. March / April 1954.

04. Early In The Morning - Flair 1011, 1953.

05. One More Drink - unissued, Jackson, Miss. April 1952.

06. Strange Kinda Feeling - alternate take of Flair 1022, Chicago, August 1953.

07. Make My Dreams Come True - alternate take of Flair 1031, Chicago, August 1953.

08. Late Hours At Midnight - Flair 1062, Culver City, CA. August /September 1954.

09. Elmo's Shuffle - unissued, Chicago, January 4th 1956.

10. Can't Stop Lovin' - Flair 1014, 1953.

11. Make A Little Love - Flair 1014, 1953.

12. Hawaiian Boogie (Part 2) - Flair 1011, 1953.

The Legend Of Elmore James

Side 1:

01. Wild About You Baby

02. I Held My Baby Last Night

03. Long Tall Woman

04. Where Can My Baby Be

05. I Believe

06. Sinful Woman

Side 2:

01. Canton, Mississippi Breakdown

02. 1839 Blues

03. Please Find My Baby

04. So Mean To Me

05. Hand In Hand

06. Rock My Baby Right

The Legend Of Elmore James (Mega)

The Legend Of Elmore James (Zippy)

"The Legend Of Elmore James" was the first LP released in the 12 disc series "Anthology Of The Blues Archive Series" on the Kent label from 1969 onwards. The series, compiled by Frank Scott and Bruce Bromberg, brought together sides recorded in the 1940s and 1950s for the Bihari Brothers owned Modern Records and its subsidiaries RPM, Flair and Meteor. These LPs were re-issued later in the 1970s on another Bihari label, United Superior. In Europe all 12 discs were released on the French label Musidisc, and it's the Musidisc edition of "The Legend Of Elmore James" which you can download from here. I bought a few of the Musidisc issues back in the 1970s / 1980s and looking back, I wish I had bought the lot! After all, I think they cost only a couple of quid each.

The May and June 2016 editions of "Blues And Rhythm" Magazine carried a 2 part article by Ray Templeton on the background to the "Anthology Of The Blues" series, and the subsequent more recent reissue on CD by Ace UK of the blues material recorded by the Biharis 60 years and more ago. 

01. Wild About You (Baby) - alternate take of Modern 983 - 1956

02. I Held My Baby Last Night - Meteor 5000 - 1953

03. Long Tall Woman - alternate take of Modern 983 - 1956

04. Where Can My Baby Be - unissued

05. I Believe - Meteor 5000 - 1953

06. Sinful Woman - Meteor 5003 - 1953

07. Canton, Mississippi Breakdown - unissued

08. 1839 Blues - Flair 1039 - 1954

09. Please Find My Baby - Flair 1022 - 1953

10. So Mean To Me - unissued

11. Hand In Hand - Flair 1031 - 1954

12. Rock My Baby Right - Flair 1048 - 1954

Scans: courtesy Joan K

Recommended purchase:

"The Best Of Elmore James - The Early Years" Ace CDCHD 583. Twenty-eight cracking tracks recorded for the Bihari Brothers' labels 1952 - 1956 plus Elmore's first record on Trumpet from 1951 - "Dust My Broom." Slashing slide guitar, rocking sax backing and soulful blues wailing. A must have.