New York Blues Volume 2

Tracklist:

Side 1

01. Angel Child - Sammy Myers

02. Little Girl - Sammy Myers

03. You Don't Have To Go - Sammy Myers

04. Sad, Sad Lonesome Day - Sammy Myers

05. Rockin' With B - B. Brown & His Rockin' McVouts

06. The Pleasure Is All Mine - Bobby Long

07. I'm Tired Of It - Dr. Horse

Side 2

01. I Go Into Orbit - Johnny Acey

02. What Am I Going To Do - Johnny Acey

03. Why Baby - Mighty Joe Young

04. Empty Arms - Mighty Joe Young

05. Jack That Cat Was Clean - Dr. Horse

06. Think I Know - Dr. Horse

07. Go Away Mr. Blues - Noble Watts and June Bateman

Download from:

New York Blues Volume 2 (Mega)

New York Blues Volume 2 (Zippy)

Second compilation of blues sides from Bobby Robinson's labels. These are all early 1960s recordings from Fire, Fury, Fling and Everlast. Two of the Sammy Myers sides (recorded with Elmore James in 1961) were unissued as singles. Original release details are given below:

01. Angel Child - Sammy Myers - unissued recording (1961)

02. Little Girl - Sammy Myers - unissued recording (1961)

03. You Don't Have To Go - Sammy Myers - Fury 1035 (1960)

04. Sad, Sad Lonesome Day - Sammy Myers - Fury 1035 (1960)

05. Rockin' With B - B. Brown & His Rockin' McVouts - Everlast 5014 (1961)

06. The Pleasure Is All Mine - Bobby Long - Everlast 5020 (1963)

07. I'm Tired Of It - Dr. Horse - Fire 501 (1961)

08. I Go Into Orbit - Johnny Acey - Fling 728 (1962)

09. What Am I Going To Do - Johnny Acey - Fling 728 (1962)

10. Why Baby - Mighty Joe Young - Fire 1033 (1961)

11. Empty Arms - Mighty Joe Young - Fire 1033 (1961)

12. Jack That Cat Was Clean - Dr. Horse - Fire 514 (1962)

13. Think I Know - Dr. Horse - Fire 501 (1961)

14. Go Away Mr. Blues - Noble Watts and June Bateman - Everlast 5033 (1965)

Bobby Robinson was an example of that comparative rarity in the world of 1950s R&B - a black entrepreneur who owned record companies catering for the musical tastes of the black community. Other examples include Don Robey, John Dolphin and the Rene Brothers. His first label, started in 1951, was Robin (quickly renamed Red Robin) on which the first record issued was "Bobby's Boogie" / "Ghost Town" by saxman Morris Lane. Other Bobby Robinson labels were Fire, Fury and Fling. He had a brief business relationship with Jerry Blaine with whom he co-owned the Whirlin' Disc label. With his brother Danny, Bobby also ran Everlast and Enjoy. Danny owned Holiday and Vest.

The music issued on these labels covered most R&B bases, from sophisticated sax outings to fiery electric guitar blues to doo wop. The only really big pop hit was Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" but Buster Brown's "Fannie Mae" and "Sugar Babe", Bobby Marchan's two parter "There Is Something On Your Mind", and "Soul Twist" by King Curtis also saw a bit of pop action while selling well in the R&B market.

In the UK, JSP Records have issued a 4 CD collection, "The Bobby Robinson Story, Selected Sides 1951 - 1960."

There are no doo wop or vocal groups sides included. Disc A is drawn from the Red Robin label and includes sides by Morris Lane, Charlie Singleton, Red Prysock, Tiny Grimes, Sonny Terry, Champion Jack Dupree and Brownie McGhee. Disc B has Fire and Fury sides from Hal Paige & The Wailers, Wilbert Harrison, Junior Lewis, Sam Myers and Tarheel Slim. Disc C has Fire sides by Willis Jackson, Mary Ann Fisher, Buster Brown, Wild Jimmy Spruill, Riff Ruffin, Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, Elmore James and Bobby Marchan. Disc D has Fury, Fire, Vest and Everlast sides by, inter alia, Tarheel Slim, Buster Brown, Bobby Marchan, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins, Wild Jimmy Spruill and B.Brown.

If that don't whet your appetite then Jack you're dead.

Also worth looking out for is the 2 CD letter box set on Charly from 1996 - "The Fire & Fury Story."

Disc One is titled "The Doo Wop Years" and includes sides by The Du-Droppers, The Channels, The Teenchords, The Kodoks, The Vocaleers and others. Disc Two is a more eclectic mix with quite a few sides and artists to be found on the JSP collection plus Arthur Crudup, King Curtis, Titus Turner and the one and only Doctor Horse.

New York Blues Volume 1

Tracklist:

Side 1

01. Shake Baby Shake - Champion Jack Dupree

02. Daisy - Brownie McGhee

03. Candied Yams - B. Brown

04. Drunk Again - Champion Jack Dupree

05. Doggin' My Heart Around - Sonny Terry

06. My Baby Left Me - B. Brown

07. Number Nine Blues - Champion Jack Dupree

Side 2

01. Harmonica Hop - Sonny Terry

02. Fannie Mae Is Back - B. Brown

03. Highway Blues - Champion Jack Dupree

04. Don't Dog Your Woman - Brownie McGhee

05. Stumbling Block Blues - Champion Jack Dupree

06. Hardworking Man - B. Brown

07. Shim Sham Shimmy - Champion Jack Dupree

Download link:

http://www48.zippyshare.com/v/npFCaTA8/file.html

Good collection of sides from Bobby Robinson's NYC labels, mainly from 1953 sessions for his first label Red Robin, by Champion Jack Dupree, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry. Also present are 4 early 1960s sides from the Vest label (owned by Bobby's brother Danny) by B. Brown and his Rockin' McVouts. It's all rousing stuff and there are good notes by Chris Smith on the back cover. Session and release details are also on the back cover so there's no need for me to add any more. Just download and dance!

Chick Webb & His Orchestra - In The Groove

Tracklist:

Side 1

1 - Don't Be That Way

2 - What A Shuffle

3 - Blue Lou

4 - Go Harlem

5 - You'll Have To Swing It *

6 - Strictly Jive

7 - Rock It For Me *

8 - Squeeze Me

Side 2

1 - If Dreams Come True *

2 - A-Tisket, A-Tasket *

3 - Azure

4 - Spinnin' The Web

5 - Liza

6 - Undecided *

7 - T'Ain't What You Do *

8 - In The Groove At The Groove

*vocal by Ella Fitzgerald

Download from here:

http://www65.zippyshare.com/v/YOIlZET2/file.html

All sides were recorded for Decca between November 1934 and February 1939. The Chick Webb band had previously recorded for Vocalion and Columbia / Okeh.

I have to own up to being out of my comfort zone with this one. We've stepped back a decade from the normal Bebop Wino era of jump blues and early R&B to the heyday of big band swing. However there are, inevitably, strong connections with the postwar era of rhythm 'n' blues and jazz to be found in the personnel of the Chick Webb Orchestra. Most obviously there is the presence of Ella Fitzgerald who joined the band in early 1935 and whose vocal efforts guaranteed big record sales in the second half of the 1930s.

Ella in front, Chick at the drums

There among the reed players is none other than alto sax man Louis Jordan who became a band member in mid 1936, replacing arranger and alto sax player Edgar Sampson who had decided to strike out on his own. As well as contributing the occasional vocal performance, Jordan played clarinet and soprano saxophone with the band. He had ambitions to form his own band and when he did leave in mid 1938 it was after a blazing row with Chick, who was convinced that Jordan had attempted to lure some of his musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, to the new group. Shortly afterwards Louis formed the Tympany Five which set a whole new trend for blues and boogie based jump bands.

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan in the studio

Tenor sax player Teddy McRae was a long standing member of the Chick Webb Orchestra. In the 1950s he recorded humorous R&B records under the pseudonym "Mr. Bear."  His "I'm Gonna Keep My Good Eye On You" is considered by discerning critics (i.e. me) to be a work of genius but it unaccountably remains absent from The Great American Songbook.

Chick employed Bardu Ali as front man for the band. Although a musician (trumpet) and band leader in his own write, his role in the Chick Webb Orchestra was akin to that exemplified by Cab Calloway and Lucky Millinder: hold the whole show together and keep the audience's attention by M.C.-ing, conducting, dancing and even singing the occasional number. After the death of Chick and the breakup of the band, he formed his own group and subsequently headed West to L.A. He entered a business partnership with Johnny Otis and opened the Barrelhouse night club, a venue which played a pivotal role in the rise of West Coast rhythm and blues. His full name was Bahadur Ali and he was the son of a Bengali immigrant, Moksad Ali and his African American wife, Ella Blackman. There is a very interesting article on Bardu Ali on the "Taj Mahal Foxtrot" blog here:

http://www.tajmahalfoxtrot.com/?p=2541#more-2541

A blog with the subtitle of "The Story of Bombay's Jazz Age" is simply irresistible.

Stompin' at The Savoy

The Chick Webb Orchestra reigned supreme at the Savoy Ballroom where they attracted a fanatical following among the dancers. The room was equipped with two stages, making it an ideal venue for big band battles. Among the bands who lost out to Webb were those of Count Basie and Benny Goodman although Chick had to cede victory to Duke Ellington.

As for Chick himself, his life was tragically short. Born in Baltimore in 1909, he was a diminutive hunchback because of tuberculosis of the spine. Despite his physical handicaps he had the drive and determination to become a first class drummer and bandleader. His health, which was never good, deteriorated markedly in 1938-39. In June 1939 he entered hospital in his native Baltimore for an operation but failed to recover from the procedure. The band limped on for another year or so under the leadership of Ella Fitzgerald with Teddy McRae as musical director but without Chick it just wasn't the same and the inevitable breakup came in 1941.

Chick Webb

Buddy Johnson Special!

Be Bop Wino continues its look at big big band rhythm 'n' blues with re-ups of 3 Buddy Johnson LPs. 

First up is the Silver Star Swing Series compilation of Decca sides recorded by Buddy in the 1940s and early 50s.

Tracklist:

Side 1

1 - South Main

2 - Fine Brown Frame

3 - Opus Two

4 - Walk 'em

5 - You'll Get Them Blues

6 - Hey, Sweet Potato

7 - Far Cry

8 - Serves Me Right

Side 2

1 - Li'l Dog

2 - You Can't Tell Who's Lovin' Who

3 - Down Yonder

4 - Shake 'em Up

5 - Dr Jive Jives

6 - I'm Gonna Jump In The River

7 - Baby You're Always On My Mind

8 - Shufflin' And Rollin'

Download link:

http://www118.zippyshare.com/v/8BxLFjy3/file.html

Original post (well worth reading!) from 9th October 2009 is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/buddy-johnson-and-his-orchestra-silver.html

In 1953 Buddy moved to the Mercury label and I've re-upped two Mercury LPs which were originally released in the 1950s. One of them, "Rock 'N Roll," was donated in its 1950s form by a kindly saxophonist, and the other, "Walkin'," is a 1980s re-release on Official. Buddy's band was perhaps the longest surviving of the big swing bands, playing through the swing and r&b years and on into the rock 'n' roll era, so here's the Mercury LP "Rock 'N Roll", with additional artwork from the 1980s re-release on Official:

Tracklist:

Side1

1 - I Don't Want Nobody

2 - Doot Doot Dow

3 - Bring It Home To Me

4 - You Got It Made

5 - A Pretty Girl

6 - Any Day Now

Side 2

1 - It's Obdacious

2 - Crazy 'Bout A Saxophone

3 - Upside Your Head

4 - Ain't But One

5 - A-12

6 - I'm Just Your Fool

Download link:

http://www48.zippyshare.com/v/CwHQLSRZ/file.html

Original post from 26th September 2009 is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/buddy-johnson-his-orchestra-rock-n-roll.html

This post is well worth checking out for insights from our anonymous sax playing donor plus other commentators, and my take on the role of Buddy's band in the early rock 'n' roll era.

On the 27th September 2009 I posted an Official re-release of another Buddy Johnson LP on Mercury, "Walkin'."

Tracklist:

Side 1

1 - Rockin' Time

2 - They Don't Want Me To Rock No More

3 - There's No One Like You

4 - Rock On!

5 - Ain't Cha Got Me (Where You Want Me)

6 - Buddy's Boogie

Side 2

1 - Oh! Baby Don't You Know

2 - You'd Better Believe Me

3 - You're Everything My Heart Desires

4 - So Good

5 - Bitter Sweet

6 - Gone Walkin'

New download link:

http://www118.zippyshare.com/v/uk1EfX7I/file.html

Original post from 27th September 2009 is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/buddy-johnson-his-orchestra-walkin.html

Once again, please read the wise words, especially if you're just discovering Buddy Johnson.

In the original posts I recommended 2 CDs for purchasing:

"Walk 'Em: The Decca Sessions" (Ace CDCHD 623) is still available. A superb collection which is one of my all time favourite Ace CDs and you can't get any higher praise than that!

For the Mercury sides I recommended a Rev-Ola compilation, "Gotta Go Upside Your Head" (CR Band 6) which at that time was an easily available mid-price CD. A search through Amazon and a few other sites has revealed that it is now a rarity and dealers are asking big bucks for it. If you come across a reasonably priced copy, snap it up. Otherwise, there is a 28 track CD on Hoodoo Records called "Rock On! The 1956-62 Recordings" or there is a 2CD compilation on Jasmine Records called "Rock On! The 100th Anniversary Collection - Twenty Years of Blues, Boogie and Ballads 1941-1961" which may be worth investigating.

Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - Ridin' On The L&N

Side 1
1 - Ridin' On The L&N
2 - The Pencil Broke
3 - Doublin' With Dublin
4 - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
5 - Royal Family
6 - There Will Never Be Another You
7 - I've Been A Fool (Thinking You Cared)
8 - Hawk's Nest
9 - The Man I Love

Side 2
1 - Adam Blew His Hat
2 - Cherokee
3 - Wee Albert
4 - Moonglow
5 - Everybody's Somebody's Fool
6 - Tempo's Birthday
7 - Lavender Coffin
8 - Sky Blue
9 - I'll Remember April

Download from:

http://www89.zippyshare.com/v/IyNsNtIj/file.html

More big band swing with quite a few small group tracks in the mix this time round. This LP is much more of a mixed bag than the uniformly excellent "Leapin' With Lionel." There's a smattering of sentimental ballads and formulaic instrumental workouts, but there are definitely quite a few gems in among the mediocre tracks. "Ridin' On The L&N", "The Pencil Broke", "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus", "Adam Blew His Hat", "Wee Albert" and "Lavender Coffin" are all outstanding in my opinion.

Here's the lowdown, track by track:

"Royal Family" - recorded by The Lionel Hampton Octet, 2nd March 1942. Not released as a single.

"Doublin' With Dublin" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Septet, 21st May 1945. Released on 1969 LP "Steppin' Out."

"Ridin' On The L&N" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Quartet on  30th January 1946. "Ridin' On The L&N" released February 1947 on Decca 23839 with "Hamp's Walkin' Boogie."

Billboard November 9th 1946

"Tempo's Birthday" and "Adam Blew His Hat" were recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra on September 9th, 1946. "Tempo's Birthday" was released on Decca 23696 with "The Pencil Broke", November 1946. "Adam Blew His Hat" b/w "Reminiscing Mood" was released on Decca 24015 in August 1947.

"The Pencil Broke" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, September 17th, 1946. Released on Decca 23696 b/w "Tempo's Birthday", November 1946.

"Hawk's Nest" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, 10th November 1947. Released on Decca 24505 b/w "Goldwyn Stomp" October 1948.

"Cherokee" recorded by The Lionel Hampton Sextet, 14th November, 1947. Released on Decca 24430 b/w "Re-Bop And "Be-Bop" in May 1948. Part of 4 disc album "New Movements In Re-Bop."

"Wee Albert" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, 28th January, 1949. Released on Decca 24699 b/w "Beulah's Sister's Boogie", August 1949.

"Moonglow" recorded by Lionel Hampton Quartet, 28th April 1949. Not released as a single.

"Lavender Coffin" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, 10th May, 1949. Released on Decca 24652, b/w "The Hucklebuck", May 1949. "Hampton's version of this highly original novelty really jumps sanctified" says Billboard review, 25th June 1949. Listen to "Lavender Coffin":



"Sky Blue" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, 29th December, 1949. Not released as a single.

"I've Been A Fool (Thinking You Cared)" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra  with vocal by Little Jimmy Scott, 5th January, 1950. Released on Decca 24864 b/w "I Almost Lost Mind", January 1950.  "Young Jimmy Scott gets off a haunting, note-bending vocal in his piercing, high-pitched voice" says Billboard on 18th February 1950. They were being very kind.

"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra with vocal by Irma Currey, 25th January 1950. Released on Decca 27176 in October 1950, b/w "September In The Rain" by Gil Bernal.

"There Will Never Be Another You" recorded by Lionel Hampton And His Quintet, 26th January, 1950. Released on Decca 27198, b/w "Where Or When",  in September 1950. "Mood jazz disking of this revival spots large chunks of Hamp's vibes in subdued garb. There's a neat slice of Doug Duke's Hammond organ work sandwiched in as well." Billboard, 30th September 1950.

"I'll Remember April" and "The Man I Love" recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Sextet, 14th September, 1950. "The Man I Love" released on Decca 27373; "I'll Remember April" released on Decca 27875. Both discs were part of a 4 disc album "Moonglow" by the Lionel Hampton Sextet, released in March 1951. This album was available in 3 formats - as a set of 4 78 rpm discs; as a set of 4 45 rpm records; and as a 10-inch LP.

"Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" was recorded by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra on October 27th, 1950. Released on Decca 27325 b/w "Merry Christmas Baby" in November 1950. Both sides sung by Sonny Parker. Said Billboard (2nd December 1950): "Parker chants the ditty registered last year by Mabel Scott. Unimpressive job." Actually I quite like it!

More big band grooves coming soon, swingsters!

Lucky Millinder Special!

Side 1

1 - Apollo Jump

2 - Ride, Red, Ride

3 - That's All!

4 - Shipyard Social Function

5 - Hurry, Hurry!

6 - Shout, Sister, Shout!

7 - Mason Flyer

8 - Slide, Mr Trombone

9 - There's Good Blues Tonight

Side 2

1 - Let Me Off Uptown

2 - Rock Me

3 - Little John Special

4 - Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well

5 - Trouble In Mind

6 - Big Fat Mama

7 - Rock Daniel

8 - All The Time

9 - I Want A Tall Skinny Papa

Download from:

http://www84.zippyshare.com/v/tPXqnNYV/file.html

Side 1

1 - Ram-Bunk-Shush

2 - Oh Babe!

3 - Please Open Your Heart

4 - Silent George

5 - I'm Waiting Just For You

6 - No One Else Could Be

7 - It's Been A Long, Long Time

8 - Please Be Careful

Side 2

1 - Loaded With Love

2 - When I Gave You My Love

3 - Heavy Sugar

4 - Old Spice

5 - I'm Here Love

6 - It's A Sad, Sad Feeling

7 - Ow!

8 - Goody Good Love

Download from:

Ram-Bunk-Shush (Mega)

Ram-Bunk-Shush (Zippy)

Two more re-ups for you fans of swing and big band R&B. I've added new cover and label scans to the "Ram-Bunk-Shush" collection. This time you get the complete front cover, unlike my previous effort.

Lucius "Lucky" Millinder could neither read music nor play an instrument, yet he led one of the best of the big blues bands, invariably packed with superb musicians and vocalists. His band was one of the most enduring, making its recording debut for Decca in 1941 and outlasting most of the competition by having a final recording session (for King) as late as 1955.

"Apollo Jump" features 18 sides recorded for Decca between 1941 and 1945. The band line up for the first session (June 1941) includes Bill Doggett on piano, Panama Francis on drums, Trevor Bacon (guitar and vocals) and the great gospel singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The good sister's tracks are very much highlights of this set, along with the Wynonie Harris sides. "Trouble In Mind", "Rock Daniel", "Shout, Sister, Shout!", "Rock Me", "That's All!" and "I Want A Tall Skinny Papa" are a blast, although how Lucky persuaded Sister Rosetta to record the raunchy "Tall Skinny Papa" is beyond me.

Trevor Bacon filled the male vocal slot and his light singing voice suits "Slide, Mr. Trombone", "Let Me Off Uptown" and "Big Fat Mama." Bacon left the band in 1944 along with Lucky's alto sax player Tab Smith to form a new small jump band. His replacement was the sensational Wynonie Harris whose powerhouse blues shouting couldn't have been a greater contrast in style. His stay was short, less than nine months, and he only recorded two sides with Millinder in May 1944: "Hurry, Hurry!" and the massive hit "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well?"

Listen to "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well":

By the end of 1944 Harris had left the band and settled in Los Angeles. His vocal duties were taken up by sax player Bullmoose Jackson who would go on to find great success as a solo, firstly being backed by players from the Millinder band and then going on to form his own group.

Other personnel to note on "Apollo Jump" are: Dizzy Gillespie who plays on the instrumental flag wavers from July 1942, "Mason Flyer" and "Little John Special"; alto sax man Preston Love and tenor sax star Sam "The Man" Taylor.

Lucky Millinder's last Decca session was in October 1947. The band recorded for RCA and its Vik subsidiary from January to November 1949. Personnel included saxophonist / vocalist Big John Greer, female vocalist Annisteen Allen and saxmen Ike Quebec and Paul Quinichette. The biggest hit for the band at this time was "D Natural Blues" which used the same riff as Charlie Parker's "Now's The Time" and Paul William's "The Hucklebuck."

The "Ram-Bunk-Shush" LP brings us to Lucky's King sides. In February 1950 the Lucky Millinder Orchestra started recording for King. There were regular sessions through 1950 and 1951 up to the middle of 1952. After a gap of nearly three years the band recorded one last session for King in March 1955. The four tracks from that session are the last four tracks on this LP.

Highlights? There's the October 1950 session with Wynonie Harris which gave us a stonkingly good cover version of "Oh Babe!" Another classic from the same session is everybody's favourite song about a peeping tom / stalker, "Silent George" memorably hollered by Myra Johnson. There are some good band instrumentals in "Ram-Bunk-Shush", "Heavy Sugar", "Old Spice" and "Ow!" The rest of the tracks are mostly pop ballads but they make for pleasant enough listening, especially Annisteen Allen's "I'm Waiting Just For You", her duet with Melvin Moore, "No-One Else Could Be" and the Corky Robbins / Johnny Bosworth rendition of "Loaded With Love."

Listen to "Silent George":

Original "Apollo Jump" (August 2010) post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/lucky-millinder-his-orchestra-apollo.html

It includes extensive write up, photos and a recommended purchase. Worth checking out!

Original "Ram-Bunk-Shush" (September 2008) is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/lucky-millinder-his-orchestra-ram-bunk_7108.html

More big bands coming soon - re-ups and new stuff. We're goin' down swingin'!

T.J. Fowler - Early Detroit R&B

Re-up as requested by you jumpers and jivers out there, complete with a new front cover scan plus label scans. Sorry, I forgot to do a new back cover so you'll have to get along with the old one.

Download from here:

http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/SPxEnQcG/file.html

Tracklist:

Side 1

1 - T.J. Boogie

2 - What's The Matter Now

3 - Midnight Clipper (pt 1)

4 - Midnight Clipper (pt 2)

5 - Harmony Grits

6 - Red Hot Blues

7 - Hot Sauce

8 - Blue Lullaby

Side 2

1 - Night Crawler

2 - Fowler's Boogie

3 - Back Biter

4 - Wine Cooler

5 - Camel Walk

6 - Gold Rush

7 - The Queen

8 - Tell Me What's The Matter

Boogie pianist and bandleader T.J. Fowler (and T.J. was his given name) was a stalwart of the post-war Detroit R&B scene who never enjoyed chart success but nevertheless did record a number of very good sides on his own account as well as providing backing for big names like Paul Williams and Varetta Dillard. Born in Georgia in 1910, he was raised in Detroit where he attended the local conservatory of music. His professional music career started when he played piano at a poolroom owned by his father and then he joined a band led by alto sax player Guy Walters. From there he moved to another Detroit band led by Clarence Dorsey where he played alongside Paul Williams.

In 1947 T.J. formed his own jump band which provided the backing for Paul Williams on his big 1948 seller "35-30". T.J.'s own first disc was recorded for local label Paradise - "Sultry Moon" / "Mango Blues" which does not feature on this collection. During 1948 - 49 T.J.had discs released on both National and Sensation. These form the side one of this comp and are mostly rousing boogies and stompers. "Midnight Clipper" is in the style of Sonny Thompson's moody hit "Long Gone" while "Blue Lullaby" is as its title indicates - an attractive mood piece with an outbreak of bluesy piano in the middle section.

The first six tracks of side two are instrumentals recorded for Savoy in 1952-53. They have a punchier sound than the 1940s sides, particularly when blues guitarist Calvin Frasier weighs in. The last two sides of the compilation were recorded in Chicago at the end of 1953 for the States label. "The Queen" is another good instrumental while the vocal side "Tell Me What's The Matter?" rattles along nicely enough. T.J. continued to play live gigs around Detroit  through the 1960s with small groups but gradually his non-musical business interests took up more of his time. He died in Detroit in 1982.

Recommended purchase and the source of the above information is the 25 track Classics Blues & Rhythm Series CD "T.J.Fowler 1948 - 1953." Compiled and annotated by Dave Penny who acknowledges the Jim Gallert book "Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit 1920-60" as a source of information.

Listen to the sensational "Red Hot Blues":

Listen to "Camel Walk":

Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - Leapin' With Lionel

I posted "Leapin' With Lionel" on the very earliest incarnation of Be Bop Wino, but an exploding hard drive, the end of upload sites like rapidshare and megaupload, and the takedown of Be Bop Wino Version 1 caused this fine LP to be absent from the blog for about 7 years. It would be impossible to have a vintage R&B blog without Hamp, so here he is again after a long exile. I've re-ripped the LP and re-scanned the cover and labels, so even if you downloaded the tracks first time round, it would still be worth your while to download the new, improved version.

And what an LP this is! It's loaded with tracks from the 1940's when Hamp's big band was a major player in the rise of R&B. A look at the players who passed through the sax section is like reading a who's who of wild R&B honkers with a goodly selection of red hot jazzers thrown into the mix: Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Jack McVea, Arnett Cobb, Al Sears, Johnny Griffin, Jackie Kelso, Morris Lane, Johnny Sparrow, Johnny Board, Gene Morris, and Curtis Lowe. Also aboard are Joe Morris, Irving Ashby, Joe Comfort, Charles Mingus, Albert Ammons and Wes Montgomery. If that doesn't float yer boat then I don't know what will.

Full band line ups are detailed at the end of Fred Dellar's sleevenotes. The sides were recorded between May 1942 and December 1949. The selection kicks off with the band's first big hit "Flying Home" which Hamp had written with Benny Goodman (and Charlie Christian?) when he was with Goodman's sextet in 1939. The 1942 version features the famous sax solo by Illinois Jacquet which is often credited with kicking off the trend towards the honking and screeching tenor sax playing which became such an integral part of the R&B of the 1940s and 50s. I tend to go with his maniac performance on "Blues" in the first Jazz At The Philharmonic concert a couple of years later as being the real birth of honk.

There are more big hits in the tracklist including "Hamp's Boogie Woogie", Beulah's Boogie", "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" and "Rag Mop." See accompanying notes below for what was hot and what was not.

The biggest seller was "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop." For an alternative account of the origins of this number see the post on Big Jim Wynn.  Let's just say that "Be Baba Leba" by Helen Humes had been recorded and hit the charts months before Hamp and Curley Hamner came up with the very similar "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop." Just as an aside Tina Dixon claimed the copyright on "Be Baba Leba" as she had been performing it live before Helen Humes recorded it. In January 1946 Dixon's agent sold the copyright to Charlie Barnet, just as Hamp's "Hey! Ba-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" came out. I have no idea what Barnet's thoughts were as the Hamp opus eclipsed all other versions. That's showbiz.

Side 1:
1 - Flying Home No 1
2 - Flying Home No 2
3 - Hamp's Boogie-Woogie, No 1
4 - Tempo's Boogie
5 - Beulah's Boogie
6 - Slide, Hamp, Slide
7 - Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop
8 - Rockin' In Rhythm Parts 1 and 2

Side 2:
1 - Air Mail Special Parts 1 and 2
2 - Cobb's Idea
3 - Hamp's Walkin' Boogie
4 - Red Top
5 - Midnight Sun
6 - Hamp's Boogie-Woogie No 2
7 - Beulah's Sister's Boogie
8 - Rag Mop

Download from here:

http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/fttSkjt8/file.html

Here are the facts, Jack, on every track!

Side 1
1 - Flying Home No 1 - recorded May 26th 1942. Released on Decca 18394
Number 3 on Billboard's Harlem Hit Parade, May 15th, 1943.

2 - Flying Home No 2 - recorded March 2nd 1944. Released on Decca 23639
Billboard, September 21st 1946: "... band packs a powerhouse into the side, with Alvin (sic) Cobb's tenor sax solo keeping pace with the standard set by Illinois Jacquet in the original cutting. No mistaking the Hampton jump designs here, and spinning is on the terrific side for the jump set."

3 - Hamp's Boogie-Woogie, No 1 - recorded March 2nd 1944. Released on Decca 18613, July 1944.
Number 1 in the Harlem Hit Parade, September 9th, 1944. Louis Jordan's "G.I. Jive" was number 2.

4 - Tempo's Boogie - recorded October 16th 1944. Released on Decca 18910, July 1946.
Billboard tip, August 3rd, 1946 - "With beaucoup vibe work, phono fans will take some to 'Tempo's Boogie.'"

5 - Beulah's Boogie - recorded May 21st 1945. Released on Decca 18719
Billboard November 8th 1945: "unlike most originals this Hampton by Hampton is really swell stuff. It's something to write home about in ledger black ink. Beulah and Hampton are both okay, even in conservative spots." Number 2 on Billboard's Most Played Juke Box Race Records chart, December 22nd, 1945. Joe Liggins' "The Honeydripper" was number 1. Number 3 on February 9th, 1946. Louis Jordan's "Buzz Me" was number 1.

6 - Slide, Hamp, Slide
7 - Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop - tracks 6 and 7 recorded December 1st 1945. Both issued on Decca 18754, January 1946. "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" became a huge seller, reaching number 9 in the pop charts and dominating the race charts for over half a year. Billboard review of "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" on February 9th, 1946:
"Chalk this one up as no.1 played (best seller) race disk right now, and it should also prove big with Hamp's fans in any kind of nabe in retail sales, or any location. Tune, penned by Hamp and Curly Hamner, is a jive natch, and the Hampton band, plus a vocal by the maestro, sell it right up to the hilt. You'll be hearing plenty of cats yelling 'Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop.'"

8 - Rockin' In Rhythm Parts 1 and 2 - recorded January 29th, 1946. Released on Decca 24415, April 1948. Billboard review, May 8th 1948: "Hamp takes the Ellington oldie over the coals for two sides, with Part 1 stacking up as the juke bet with its Hamp and wild sax solos, raucous band and heavy handed rhythm."

Side 2
1 - Air Mail Special Parts 1 and 2 - recorded January 31st, 1946. Released on Decca 18880, June 1946. Billboard, June 29th, 1946: "It's a field day for the hot horns in the Hampton household. But instead of re-bopy, it's a speed jam special for Benny Goodman's familiar 'Air Mail Special' stomper. Instrumental stars play it hot and heavy for both sides with the maestro's own vibe hammerings stealing the solo spotlight. The B-side, with beaucoup vibes and hot tenoring, provides more steam for the phono spin."

2 - Cobb's Idea - recorded January 31st, 1946. Unissued on Decca. Arnett Cobb recorded a different version with a small group for Apollo Records on May 13th, 1947, which was released on Apollo 772, September 1947.

3 - Hamp's Walkin' Boogie - recorded September 17th, 1946. Released on Decca 23839, along with "Ridin' On The L & N" and released February 1947.

4 - Red Top - recorded November 7th, 1947. Released on Decca 24281 in January 1948. Billboard, 17th January 1948:"Tastiest, cleanest Hamp instrumental in some time. Good riff, solos, cleffing." B-side was "Giddy-Up."

5 - Midnight Sun - recorded November 10th, 1947. Released on Decca 24429  and also as part of the May 1948 Decca album "New Movements In Be-Bop" which consisted of 4 Hampton 78 rpm singles.

6 - Hamp's Boogie-Woogie No 2 - recorded January 28th, 1949. Released on Decca 24607 with "New Central Avenue Breakdown" on other side.

7 - Beulah's Sister's Boogie - recorded January 28th, 1949. Released on Decca 24699 in August 1949. Other side was "Wee Albert." Both sides feature Albert Ammons on piano.

8 - Rag Mop - recorded December 29, 1949. Released on Decca 24855 in January 1950. Other side was "For You My Love." Billboard February 15th, 1950 - disc is number 12 in the best selling Rhythm and Blues chart and number 5 in most juke box plays for R&B records. On May 20th disk is still in juke box chart at number 4.

Recommended purchase:

Properbox 12 - "The Lionel Hampton Story". A 4 CD set covering his small group sides recorded for Victor 1937 - 1940 (CD1) plus 3 CDs covering the Decca big band sides from 1942 - 1949. Includes terrific booklet by Joop Visser. Might be getting hard to get, so hurry, hurry!

Calvin Boze Special!

Following on from the Roy Milton re-ups here are some more new links to primo West Coast jump blues in the shape of 2 re-upped Calvin Boze LPs. The original Calvin Boze posts prompted email correspondence with friends and family of Calvin and the uncovering of previously unknown information about this accomplished but relatively unknown artist.

The post on the Route 66 LP "Choo Choo's Bringing My Baby Home" contains a whole load of info, anecdotes from Bobby Rivers, recommended purchases, and label scans from Joan K and El Enmascarado. It is, if I may say so myself, R&B heaven!

New download link for "Choo Choo's Bringing My Baby Home":

http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/Cg2ScELi/file.html

Password = greaseyspoon

Link to original post (September 2011):

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/calvin-boze-choo-choos-bringing-my-baby.html

Tracklist:

01 - Choo Choo's Bringing My Baby Home
02 - My Friend Told Me
03 - Good Time Sue
04 - Stinkin' From Drinkin'
05 - Slippin' And Slidin'
06 - I Can't Stop Crying
07 - Beale Street On A Saturday Night
08 - Hey Lawdie, Miss Claudie
09 - Have You Ever Had The Blues
10 - Waiting And Drinking
11 - Blow Man Blow
12 - Safronia B
13 - Angel City Blues
14 - Baby You're Tops With Me
15 - I'm Gonna Steam Off The Stamp
16 - Looped
17 - Look Out For Tomorrow Today
18 - Fish-Tail
19 - I've Got News For You

My first post on Calvin Boze was back in June 2008. It featured the Moonshine LP "Havin' A Ball" which may have some dodgy sound quality but is still tremendous fun. I think "tremendous fun" may be the best description of Calvin's music!

New link for "Havin' A Ball":

http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/L1i5Tmq8/file.html

Password = greaseyspoon

The original post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/calvin-boze-and-his-all-stars-havin_1682.html

Tracklist:

01 - Safronia B
02 - Angel City Blues
03 - Working With My Baby
04 - Satisfied
05 - Waiting And Drinking
06 - You're Tops With Me
07 - Slippin' And Slidin'
08 - I Can't Stop Crying
09 - I've Got News For You
10 - Keep Your Nose Out Of My Business
11 - Lizzy Lou (parts 1 & 2)
12 - Shamrock
13 - Havin' A Ball (Having A Time)
14 - Looped
15 - I'm Gonna Steam Off The Stamp
16 - Fishtail
17 - Beale Street On A Saturday Night

There was also a streaming audio post on a 78rpm disc sent in by El Enmascarado: "Baby You're Tops With Me" / "Slippin' And Slidin' (Aladdin 3086). Original post, with streaming audio restored, is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/baby-youre-tops-with-me-slippin-and.html

I also wrote a post on Calvin's best known track "Safronia B" which featured extensive streaming audio which was lost in the divshare meltdown and which I haven't yet replaced. Despite that, the post still has background info which makes it worth reading:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/safronia-b-calvin-boze-and-his-all.html

One more time - tremendous fun! Keep jumpin', cats 'n' kittens!

Roy Milton Special!

Happy New Year to all you movers and groovers! There's a brief lull in the festivities so now's the time for the first post of 2016. We kick off the new year with a mixture of some new and previously posted stuff on Roy Milton, one of the most important figures in 1940s / early 50s rhythm and blues.

So let's start with the new - a further collection of Roy's late 1950s tracks. Here you go -

1 - You're Gonna Suffer Baby

2 - Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu

3 - Skid Row

4 - Early In The Morning

5 - Bless Your Heart

6 - Best Wishes

7 - R.M. Blues

Download from:

http://www87.zippyshare.com/v/XdbPHoSA/file.html

Here's the lowdown, strictly on the QT, very hush-hush:

Roy's band line up for his King sessions (October 1956, February and July 1957) was as follows:

Walter Williams (tp); Harvey Braxton (as); Cliff Solomon (ts); Oscar Estelle (bar); Emmanuel Kennebrew (p); Johnny Rogers (g); Lawrence Kato (b); Roy Milton (d,vcl); Mickey Champion (vcl)

"You're Gonna Suffer Baby" was recorded in October 1956 and released in December 1956 as the B Side of "One Zippy Zam" on King 4993. Bruyninckx credits the vocal to Inez Coleman but the contemporary Billboard review says: 'Mickey Champion is the songstress on this side, and she styles a slow, groovy blues to a "T." Easy on the ears.'

"Skid Row" was recorded in February 1957 and "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" was recorded in July 1957. Both sides were released on King 5069 at the end of July 1957. Mickey Champion shares vocals with Roy on the A side, "Rockin' Pneumonia", a cover of the hit on Ace by Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns. Billboard review (July 22nd 1957); 'A late cover of the Ace hit, this side has a swinging beat and a solid blues feeling. Vocal includes occasional wild screams. Effective.'

I posted on "Skid Row" back in April with background details and streaming audio. The original post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/skid-row-roy-milton-king-5069.html

"Early In The Morning" and "Bless Your Heart" were recorded in 1960 in Los Angeles and were released in May that year on Lou Wa 1002 and Warwick M 549.

Back in June 2015 I posted on these two Warwick sides. For mucho further info, without which your life will be completely meaningless, click on this link to the post:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/roy-milton-early-in-morning-bless-your.html

If you have followed the above links you will know that we have Corky to thank for sending in "Skid Row", "Early In The Morning" and "Bless Your Heart". He also kindly provided two further sides on the Warwick label: "Best Wishes" and "R. M. Blues". These were recorded in 1960 and released on Warwick M 591. These were both re-recordings of earlier hit material from 1951 and 1945 respectively, which I guess brings us full circle, back to the beginning of Roy's career at the start of the boom in jump blues and R&B in mid-40s Los Angeles.

The first collection of Roy's later sides, made after his style of jump blues had given way to harder rockin' R&B and rock 'n' roll, can be downloaded from here:

http://www52.zippyshare.com/v/S5ZN30Vi/file.html

For the January 2009 post featuring label scans and rips from Joan K and much more of interest follow this link:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/roy-milton-later-roy-milton_26.html

Tracklist:

1 - Baby, Don't Do That to Me
2 - Tell It Like It Is
3 - Fools Are Getting Scarcer
4 - I Can't Go On
5 - You Got Me Reelin' & Rockin'
6 - One Zippy Zam
7 - A Brand New Thrill
8 - Jeep's Blues
9 - Driveway Blues
10 - I'm Forgetting About You

The post was re-upped in March 2015 and attracted a few comments. Link here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-later-roy-milton-re-up.html

Way back in the blog I posted a couple of  classic Jukebox Lil LPs of Roy's earlier material when he was one of the best selling artists in R&B. The original download links were lost in the great rapidshare fiasco but I've now got new links available. First up, "The Grandfather of R&B" which includes his very first recordings for HampTone in 1945:

Tracklist:

01 - Burma Road Blues (part 1)

02 - Burma Road Blues (part 2)

03 - Red Light

04 - It Should Never Have Been This Way

05 - Them There Eyes

06 - When I Grow Too Old To Dream

07 - My Blue Heaven

08 - I've Had My Moments

09 - Hop, Skip And Jump

10 - Everything I Do Is Wrong

11 - Sympathetic Blues

12 - My Sweetheart

13 - Junior Jives

14 - Where There Is No Love

15 - Playboy Blues

16 - Cryin' & Singin' The Blues

17 - Short, Sweet And Snappy

New Download Link:

http://www90.zippyshare.com/v/k0uw27GH/file.html

Original post here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/roy-milton-and-his-solid-senders_16.html

And to finish off this marathon post, that other re-upped LP:

Tracklist:

01 - Rhythm Cocktail
02 - Big Fat Mama
03 - I'll Always Be In Love With You
04 - Little Boy Blue
05 - So Tired
06 - Thelma Lou
07 - Someday
08 - Roy Rides
09 - Blue Turning Grey
10 - Believe Me Baby
11 - T-Town Twist
12 - Am I Wasting My Time?
13 - Don't You Remember Baby?
14 - Let Me Give You All My Love
15 - I Stood By
16 - A Bird In The Hand

New download link:

http://www63.zippyshare.com/v/bN7pbaiD/file.html

Original January 2009 post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/roy-milton-and-his-solid-senders-big_18.html

And that's that. I'm all Royed out! More stuff, new and old, in the pipeline! Keep a knockin'!