Jesse Powell - Blow Man Blow (Jubilee JLP 1113)

Side 1

1. Jesse's Theme
2. Blue And Sentimental
3. Cross On The Green
4. I Cover The Waterfront
5. I've Got You Under My Skin
6. Our Love Is Here To Stay

Side 2

1. This Is Always
2. My Silent Love
3. Que Paso
4. No Tomorrow
5. But Beautiful
6. Just Chips

Recorded and released in New York, 1959. Personnel: Jesse Powell (tenor sax), with Eddie Williams (trumpet); Henderson Chambers (trombone); Norman Thornton (baritone sax); Oscar Dennard piano); Peck Morrison (bass); Wilbert Hogan (drums).

Thanks to El Enmascarado for his work on restoring this slab of vintage vinyl.

It’s a Valentine’s Day special post on Be Bop Wino! This LP features mainly smooth and romantic jazz tracks from Jesse Powell. So pop this on the virtual turntable and get all smoochy with the one you love.

Jesse Powell was one of those innumerable Texas tenor players. Born in Fort Worth in 1924, he majored in music at Hampton University, graduating in 1942. He turned professional with the Hot Lips Page Band, staying for a year before joining Louis Armstrong in 1943 and then moving to the Luis Russell Orchestra a year later. In 1946 he replaced Illinois Jacquet in the Count Basie band. He then formed his own band and played on several blues sessions for Brownie McGhee and Champion Jack Dupree, but gave that up to spend a year in the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra until 1950.

His next recording date is well known to R&B fans as it was the November 1951 session for Federal backing Fluffy Hunter on the notorious “The Walking Blues” and “My Natch’l Man.” In October 1953 he had a second session for Federal, recording four good R&B numbers – “Love To Spare” / “Rear Bumper” (Federal 12159) and “Leaving Tonight” / “Hot Box” (Federal 12171). These four tracks were featured on the old Westside CD “Groove Station” which utilized the artwork from “Blow Man Blow” on its back cover.

Jesse continued his R&B career through the 1950s with sessions for Josie and Jubilee, mainly as an arranger and session man on vocal group sessions, particularly with The Cadillacs. He released three solo singles on Josie – “Moonlight In Vermont” / “Riggin’” (Josie 782), “Can’t Help Myself, Parts 1 and 2” (Josie 799) and “Turnpike” / “Ain’t You Gonna” (Josie 834).

The session at which Josie 782 was recorded also brought forth a couple of novelty numbers by Jesse – “The Head Hunters” and “Scotch On The Rocks”, the latter with bagpipe accompaniment. These two sides were released as by The Goofers on Port 7006.

The Josie and Port tracks featured on the Sequel CDs “Jumping At Jubilee” and “Saxophony!” and also on the Westside CD “Titanic And 23 Other Unsinkable Sax Blasters.”

After recording “Blow Man Blow” Jesse had two more LPs released in the early 1960s – “It’s Party Time” on Tru-Sound and “A Taste Of Honey” on Kapp. Jesse Powell died in New York in October 1982.

 Now let’s get romantic with Jesse:

Download from here:

http://www16.zippyshare.com/v/BE19VIs9/file.html

Or here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?oe4z23940k61q77

No password! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Download Hiatus

Thanks to "bigdaddy" the problem with downloading from our main file host should now be solved.

There has also been a slight pause in posting due to the inevitable winter 'flu but I'm on the mend and more rhythm 'n' bluesin' treats are in store. Stand by for more LPs, selections from Joan and a feast of 78 rpm rarities from El Enmascarado. Dig deep with The Wino and Friends! We'll keep boppin' and strollin' and rockin' and rollin'!

Rhythm And Blues Hits Past And Present - The Five Keys (King LP 692)

  

Side One

1. Valley Of Love

2. I Can't Escape From You

3. Wrapped Up In A Dream

4. Will You

5. Do Something For Me

6. No Says My Heart

Side Two

1. Bimbo

2. That's What You're Doing To Me

3. Now I Know I Love You

4. I'll Never Stop Loving You

5. Stop Your Crying

6. Girl You Better Stop It

All sides were recorded in Cincinnati on the 21st and 24th of March, 1960. This was the last session recorded by The Five Keys, who had started out as the gospel group The Sentimental Four in 1945, becoming The Five Keys in 1949, and starting a long recording career in 1951.

In November 2010 I posted the Charly LP “It’s a Groove” which contained 16 sides recorded by The Five Keys for Aladdin and Capitol between 1951 and 1957. The post features an outline of the career of The Five Keys who surely rank as one of the most important vocal groups in the history of R&B, being right up there with The Ravens, The Orioles, The Dominoes, The Clovers and The Drifters.

I came across this 1980s reissue of King LP 692 in the second hand vinyl browser of a Glasgow city centre record shop a couple of months ago. I was rather put off by the price but the prospect of using it in a follow up post to “It’s a Groove” and also finally hearing some of the group’s work on King was too tempting.

The Five Keys signed for Aladdin in 1951 and had a big hit with “Glory Of Love.” Subsequent releases on Aladdin failed to provide a follow up hit, but after signing for Capitol in August 1954 they had further chart success with “Ling Ting Tong,” “Close Your Eyes,” “The Verdict,” “’Cause You’re My Lover” and “Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind.”

The last session recorded by The Five Keys for Capitol took place in February 1958, although the group remained signed to the label which released their recordings up until November 1958. Founder member Rudy West left soon after the February session and was soon followed by Ramon Loper. Rudy West was replaced by Thomas Threatt and Ramon Loper was replaced by Charles “Bobby” Crawley.

In July 1959 The Five Keys signed for King Records and recorded their first session for their new label on the 18th, 19th and 20th of August. Before the session, Bobby Crawley left the group and was replaced by former member Dickie Smith on baritone. The Five Keys personnel who recorded for King were: Maryland Pierce, Thomas Threatt, Ripley Ingram, Bernie West and Dickie Smith.

From the August 1959 session four singles were released: “I Took Your Love For A Toy” / “Ziggus” (King 5251), “Dream On” / “Dancing Senorita” (King 5273), “How Can I Forget You” / “I Burned Your Letter” (King 5302) and “Gonna Be Too Late” / “Rosetta” (King 5330). An LP, “The Five Keys” (King LP 688) was released in 1960.

The second and final sessions for King took place in March 1960, resulting in the 12 track LP “Rhythm and Blues Hits Past and Present” with 10 of the tracks also being released on 5 singles. The singles were: “I Didn’t Know” / “No Says My Heart” (King 5358) – “I Didn’t Know” was retitled “Now I Know I Love You” on the LP, “Valley Of Love” / “Bimbo” (King 5398), “You Broke The Only Heart” / “That’s What You’re Doing To Me” (King 5446), “Stop Your Crying” / “Do Something For Me” (King 5496) and “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” / “I Can’t Escape From You” (King 5877). The first two of these singles were released in June and September 1960, the next two in January and May 1961, and the final single wasn’t released until May 1964.

After the move to a pop sound in the Capitol years, the King sessions saw a return to an R&B style by the group. As you can hear from the streamed audio playlist and the download of the full LP, most of these tracks are pretty gutsy, reminding me somewhat of The “5” Royales. When I listened to this LP I was pleasantly surprised as the big band arrangements and girly choruses of the later Capitol recordings had been dropped in favour of tight sax driven R&B backing combos (Sam Taylor?) and hoarse soulful lead vocals.

The full story of The Five Keys can be read on Marv Goldberg’s website at:

http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Keys/5keys.html

This article was also published as a two parter in issues 246 and 247 of Blues and Rhythm magazine.

For the real lowdown on The Five Keys read Unca Marvy!

Download King LP 692 from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?4tgttnlae2tp6uq

or from here:

http://www81.zippyshare.com/v/S6BaHelM/file.html

Bill Ramal – Screamin’ Saxes (MGM E/SE 4051)

 

 

 

 

 

Side 1

1. Hand Clappin'

2. Hard Times

3. Cloudburst

4. Walkin' With Mr Lee

5. Em-Bee

6. Ichi-Ban

Side 2

1. Back Street

2. Castle Rock

3. Blow Your Horn

4. Sting Ray

5. Honky Tonk

6. Hot Rod

Here’s something that differs from the usual Be Bop Wino fare. It’s not quite the usual cool R&B / Jazz / Rock ‘n’ Roll that I like to think is the staple diet of this august blog. The album title, the front cover art, the track list, it all looks right and yet it’s kind of “off kilter.” There’s positively lurid use of stereo separation as the tenor saxes of Bill Ramal and big band veteran Georgie Auld tear through 12 honking sax instros but the feeling I get from listening to this set is that it consists of R&B by the numbers, or ersatz R&B.

“Screamin’ Saxes” was released in 1962. The sleeve notes assure us that the sounds contained therein are “… big and driving and new; this sound of the 60s.” In fact it’s a compilation of cover versions of 1950s R&B honking sax juke box hits, plus 3 original compositions by Bill Ramal: “Em-Bee”, “Ichi-Ban” and “Sting Ray.”

The cover versions are – “Hand Clappin’” and “Blow Your Horn” both originally by Red Prysock, “Hard Times” by Noble Watts, “Cloudburst” by “Claude Cloud and his Thunderclaps" (really the Leroy Kirkland band with Sam “The Man” Taylor on tenor sax), Lee Allen’s “Walkin’ With Mr. Lee”, Eddie Chamblee’s “Back Street”, “Castle Rock” by Johnny Hodges (Al Sears on tenor sax),” Honky Tonk” by Bill Doggett (Clifford Scott on tenor sax) and “Hot Rod” by Hal Singer.
 

 

There’s an interesting post on Bill Ramal at the Ill Folks blog. He was a saxophone player and arranger who worked with Del Shannon and Johnny And The Hurricanes. He also arranged and composed novelty records with Dickie Goodman. The Ill Folks post has a sound sample from Ramal’s 1963 LP “Young America Dances To TV’s Greatest Themes.”

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/157902047/Screamin_%20Saxes.rar

Or here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?wv7d6wbe6471cbc

The password on the rapidshare download is greaseyspoon. There is no password on the mediafire download.

Joan Selects - Volume 11 - A Doo Wop Christmas

 

'Tis that time of year again, when we try to hold back Time's inexorable advance by losing ourselves in Joan's classic comp from way back when - "A Doo Wop Christmas." Weepers and rockers with a festive theme, chiming bells, wailin' saxes, plaintive lyrics, crazy lyrics, lovelorn teenagers, lovelorn adults who have been around the block a few times, sentimentality and exploitation all mixed in a gumbo that can only be called rock and roll.

Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/329639692/Joan_Selects_Volume_11.rar

or from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?a4d9d8vmnbwfyhd

Unfortunately despite all our efforts there is no holding back Time, and we must mark the passing of another of the artists who made the 1940s and 1950s such a great musical era - Cozy Eggleston. His echo-drenched version of "Blue Light Boogie" retitled "Big Heavy" was one of the great R&B sax instrumentals of the early 1950s. The classic photo of Cozy and his wife indulging in saxophonic shenanigans has been a feature on the sidebar of this blog for quite a while now. Like "Big Heavy" it encapsulates the real spirit of rhythm and blues. Goodbye Cozy.

Here's a little playlist with a couple of Cozy's sides, and to bring us back to Christmas, a cool medley of seasonal tunes blasted out by Gene Ammons and Tom Archia. May you all continue to indulge in Be Bop, Doo Wop and Mop Mop. Keep swingin'!

Suede Jacket / Lion’s Roar – Russell Jacquet And His All Stars (King 4242)

Personnel: Russell Jacquet (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Sonny Stitt (alto sax); Leo Parker (baritone sax); Sir Charles Thompson (piano); Al Lucas (bass); Shadow Wilson (drums)

Both sides were recorded at United Sound Studios, Detroit, in May or June, 1948.

The recordings were made for the Sensation label which was owned by Bernard Besman. The Billboard issue of June 19^th 1948 carried an article on the purchase of 64 Sensation masters by King Records. The purchase included sides by Todd Rhodes, “Lord Nelson”, Milt Jackson and Russell Jacquet. “Suede Jacquet” / “Lion’s Roar” was released on King 4242 at the end of July or beginning of August 1948. The same record was also released on Sensation 8.

Listen to "Suede Jacket"

Listen to "Lion's Roar"

Russell Jacquet was the elder brother of tenor sax giant Illinois Jacquet, in whose band he played trumpet and contributed vocals from 1945 until 1953. During this period he also recorded occasionally as a band leader in his own right, beginning in Los Angeles in 1945 with a group which included Calvin Boze in its line-up.

The session which produced “Suede Jacket” and Lion’s Roar” wasn’t the first time Russell had recorded in Detroit. In 1947 he recorded with Sonny Stitt and Sir Charles Thompson in a group led by Milt Jackson. In May / June 1948 three sessions featuring various line-ups were held by Sensation in Detroit. The first session was credited to “Lord Nelson and His Boppers”, in reality a group led by Sonny Stitt and Milt Jackson. The second session was by The Sonny Stitt Sextet which included Stitt, Milt Jackson, Russell Jacquet and Sir Charles Thompson.

The third session was credited to “Russell Jacquet and His All-Stars.” This was actually the Illinois Jacquet band minus Illinois, but with Sonny Stitt added. Two discs resulted from this session – “Suede Jacket” / “Lion’s Roar” and “Scamparoo” / “Relaxin’ With Randel” (King 4259 and Sensation 12).

“Suede Jacket” is a nice bop workout with solo space given to Stitt, Johnson, Parker, Jacquet and, very briefly, Thompson. “Lion’s Roar” is a rousing showcase for the big bad baritone sax of Leo Parker. This session was a reunion for half of the Unholy Four sax section of the bop-leaning Billy Eckstine big band, Sonny Stitt and Leo Parker both being former members, along with Dexter Gordon and John Jackson.

Many thanks to El Enmascarado for putting the BeBop into the Wino with this 78 disc!

Sources - Bruyninckx  Discography. Sleevenotes by Joop Visser to 4CD set on Proper, "Sonny Stitt - Sax O' Bebop." The May / June 1948 Sensation sessions are included in the set.

Baby, You’re Tops With Me / Slippin’ And Slidin’ – Calvin Boze and His All-Stars (Aladdin 3086)

  

“Baby, You’re Tops With Me” was recorded in Los Angeles on January 13^th, 1950. Probable personnel: Calvin Boze (vocal); Floyd Turnham (alto sax); Don Wilkerson (tenor sax); Chuck Walker (baritone sax); Willard McDaniel (piano); Ulysses Livingstone (guitar); Bill Cooper (bass); Walter Murden (drums)

“Slippin’ And Slidin’” was recorded in Los Angeles on January 15^th, 1951. Personnel: Calvin Boze (trumpet and vocal) with possibly Marshall Royal (alto sax); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax) plus unknown baritone sax, piano, guitar, bass and drums. Possibly Scatman Crothers with vocal ensemble.

Listen to "Baby You're Tops With Me"

Listen to "Slippin' And Slidin'"

Aladdin 3086 was released at the beginning of May 1951. It was reviewed in Billboard on May 5^th. The verdict on “Baby You’re Tops with Me” was – “Shuffle boogie novelty drives, with Boze doing a Louis Jordan on the lyrics, of which he sings a couple of choruses.” The B-Side, “Slippin’ And Slidin’” was given a higher rating and more positive review – “Boze projects an engaging set of novelty lyrics infectiously, while combo puts down a swingy, medium shuffle. Could click.”

Both these sides are obviously heavily influenced by Louis Jordan. I find myself in agreement with Billboard – “Slippin’ And Slidin’” is a funny (and gloriously politically incorrect) account of the joys of dancing (?) with big boned women.  Somehow one night Calvin finds himself in a shabby joint on the wrong side of town - “… A big fat chick walked up and said ‘come on baby, and dance with me.’” Who could possibly resist such an invitation? “That big fat chick knew all the tricks, she’s got me in a spin …” In fact there’s nothing for it but to go back again the following night for another close encounter with the energetic large dame.

“Baby You’re Tops With Me” is another good jump blues but it doesn’t quite hit the spot the way “Slippin’ And Slidin’” does. The two sides were recorded almost exactly a year apart with different personnel, but they both feature fantastically tight arrangements and playing. Despite this, the record didn’t chart. Dominating the Billboard Rhythm And Blues chart in May 1951 were “Black Night” by Charles Brown, “Lost Love” by Percy Mayfield, “Teardrops From My Eyes” by Ruth Brown and “Rockin’ Blues” by Johnny Otis, featuring Mel Walker.

For much more on Calvin Boze, please read the post “Choo Choo’s Bringing My Baby Home.”

A big thank you to El Enmascarado for providing the rips and scans from a 60 year old 78 rpm shellac disc. Once again the sound quality is remarkably clear and a testament to the work put in on these artefacts from the great years of R&B.

Walkin’ The Chalk Line / Bradshaw Boogie – Tiny Bradshaw (King 4457)

“Walkin’ The Chalk Line” was recorded in Cincinnati on February 8^th, 1950. Personnel : Tiny Bradshaw (lead vocal); Jimmy Robinson piano); Clarence Mack (bass); Calvin Shields (drums). Also present at the session, but sitting this track out, were Leslie Ayres (trumpet); Orrington Hall (alto and baritone sax); Rufus Gore (tenor sax) and Leroy Harris (guitar).

“Bradshaw Boogie” was recorded in New York on January 16^th, 1951. Personnel: Tiny Bradshaw (vocal); Leslie Ayres (trumpet); Andrew Penn (trombone); Orrington Hall (alto and baritone sax); Red Prysock (tenor sax); Jimmy Robinson (organ); Willie Gaddy (guitar); Eddie Smith (bass); Calvin Shields (drums).

Listen to "Walkin' The Chalk Line

Listen to "Bradshaw Boogie"

King 4457 was released in mid-June 1951. The disc was reviewed in Billboard on June 30^th. Of “Walkin’ The Chalk Line” Billboard said – “Bradshaw and male trio, backed by rhythm section only here, register with a hard-hitting little jingle with a recurring refrain.” And on “Bradshaw Boogie” the comment was: “Tiny and the boys come thru with one of their typical hard driving boogie blues novelties.”

“Walkin’ The Chalk Line” wasn’t a big seller despite being featured in the King / Federal / DeLuxe adverts in Billboard during July and August alongside Lucky Millinder’s “I’m Waiting Just For You,” “Sleep” by Earl Bostic, “Bloodshot Eyes” by Wynonie Harris, “Sixty Minute Man” and “Do Something For Me” by The Dominoes and Roy Brown’s “Wrong Woman Blues.”

Enough platters were sold to make King 4457 the 90^th best-selling R&B record of 1951. The really big hits around the middle of the year included the aforementioned “I’m Waiting Just For You,” “Sixty Minute Man” and “Do Something For Me” plus “Don’t You Know I Love You” by The Clovers, “Chains Of Love” by Big Joe Turner, “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and “Too Young” by Nat King Cole.

The “Bradshaw Boogie” session marked Red Prysock’s recording debut with the band and his fiery, rabble rousing tenor sax solo really brings what could have been a formulaic side to life.

As always we have El Enmascarado to thank for yet another slice of R&B history from his growing stash of 78 rpm discs. The sound quality on these two rips is remarkable, considering that they originate from shellac that is over sixty years old. I’ve been listening to these sides on my new laptop (a necessary buy after my 11 year old Pentium 4 PC took its final, fatal crash) which I’ve hooked up to my hifi and they pack quite a wallop. Thank you, o masked one!

Odd-En-Dow / Dues In Blues - Gene Ammons And His Orchestra (Mercury 8080)

"Odd-En-Dow" was recorded on December 1st, 1947 and "Dues In Blues" was recorded on December 10th, 1947. Both sides were recorded in Chicago.

Personnel: Gail Brockman (trumpet); John "Raps" Dungee (alto and baritone sax); Gene Ammons (tenor sax); Junior Mance (piano); Gene Wright (bass); Ellis Bartree (drums)

Mercury 8080 was released in May 1948.

Listen to "Odd-En-Dow"

Listen to "Dues In Blues"

Billboard reviewed the disc in its Race Records section on May 8th, 1948. "Odd-En-Dow" was a "light bop riffer, with string of fair solo rides" while "Dues In Blues" received the slightly off hand comment: "instrumental with more bop touches."

Gene Ammons was the son of renowned boogie woogie piano man Albert Ammons. He played tenor sax in his school band, and got his first professional gig with the King Kolax band. His subsequent spell with Billy Eckstine's bop-leaning big band shot him to fame, most memorably on the searing tenor sax battle with Dexter Gordon, "Blowing The Blues Away." In 1947 he left the Eckstine outfit to start a solo recording career on Mercury. He had a hit with "Red Top" (Mercury 8048) and recorded a series of fiery bop sides for the label in 1947 and 1949 before signing for Chess for whom he had another big chart hit in 1950 with "My Foolish Heart." He had brief spells with Woody Herman and Count Basie before forming the legendary Gene Ammons - Sonny Stitt combo. But that may be another story for another post.

With many thanks to El Enmascarado  for ripping these sides from an original 78 rpm disc and for the label scans.

Jump & Jive On 78 - Volume 2

Side 1

1 Headhunter – Johnny Otis

2 Later – Tiny Bradshaw

3 Sing Rebop – Doles Dickens

4 Miss Betty’s Blues – Joe Liggins

5 The Honeydripper Pt 1 – Sammy Franklin

6 The Honeydripper Pt 2 – Sammy Franklin

7 Big Fat Mama – Mystery Artist

8 The Blues – Joe Liggins

9 The Mojo – Sax Mallard

Side 2

1 Blow Mr Jackson – Joe Liggins

2 Cool And Easy – Johnny Otis

3 South of the Orient – Tiny Bradshaw

4 Lover’s Lament – Joe Liggins

5 P.S. I Love You – Mystery Artist

6 Cotton Ball Pt 1 – Sonny Thompson

7 Cotton Ball Pt 2 – Sonny Thompson

8 Let’s Love Again – Sax Mallard

9 Don’t Move a Vip Till I Say Vop – Doles Dickens

We proudly present the second round up of  El Enmascarado’s rips from original R&B 78 rpm discs. The mood is more relaxed and cooler than on the somewhat more heated Volume One of the series, with the exception of the opening blaster, “Headhunter” by Johnny Otis. There’s plenty swingin’ and jivin’ for you cool cats which you can download from here:

Jump & Jive On 78 Volume 2 (Mega)

A folder of label scans is included in the download.

Ripped from shellac at 128 kbps.

All the info on all the tracks is available on the original posts on Be Bop Wino. Here are the links to unfathomable depths of arcane knowledge:

Tiny Bradshaw – South Of The Orient / Later

Sonny Thompson – Cotton Ball Parts 1 & 2

Johnny Otis – Headhunter / Cool And Easy

Joe Liggins - Blow Mr Jackson / The Blues

Sammy Franklin – The Honeydripper Parts 1 & 2

Sax Mallard – Let’s Love Again / The Mojo

Mystery Artist – Big Fat Mama / P.S. I Love You

Doles Dickens – Don’t Move A Vip Till I Say Vop

Doles Dickens – Sing Re-Bop

Joe Liggins – Lovers Lament / Miss Betty’s Blues

With many, many thanks to El Enmascarado for his work in rescuing these original ten inchers, many of which are in very poor condition. Volume Three is already shaping up, with a few of its tracks already posted and more in the pipeline. Stay cool, you swing, jump and jive fans!