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BLUES & GOSPEL

Elmore James -> The Jelly Roll King s

 

ELMORE JAMES Ace ABOXCD 4 The Classic Early Recordings ● CD $23.98
3 CD set, 71 tracks, 3 hrs 12 mins, essential
I consider that Elmore James was one of the greatest bluesmen to ever record - a powerful and intense singer and a masterful guitarist. His slide guitar techniques were to inspire and influence a generation of blues guitarists though none had the skill, sensitivity or imagination Elmore brought to the instrument. His early death in 1963 at the age of 45 robbed the world of a major talent. This beautiful package culminates years of combing the Modern/ Flair/ Meteor vaults. Because the owners of the labels had little sense of history there is much Elmore material that is probably lost forever but this set presents every available recording he made for these labels between 1952 and '56 including up to six takes of some songs. The alternates are sometimes very different and sometimes very close but with enough lyric differences to make them essential for the devoted Elmore fan. The set opens with his very first recording of Dust My Broom for Trumpet in 1951 where he first introduced his "broomdusting" riff that he used on many of recordings and has subsequently appeared on probably thousands of other blues recordings. Elmore was much more than a one riff man as the spacey guitar playing on Hand In hand or the raucous instrumental Hawaiian Boogie shows. He was also a fine guitarist without the slide as many tracks here show. The sessions here were recorded in a number of locations including Elmore's home town of Canton, Missississpii, Chicago, Los Angeles and New Orleans with different sidemen including Ike Turner, Johnny Jones, J.T. Brown, Ransom Knowling, Maxwell Davis, Eddie Taylor, Earl Palmer and others. In addition to the recordings under his own name it also features accompaniments to fellow band members J.T. Brown and Johnny Jones. The 71 tracks have been digitally remastered by Bob Jones and have never sounded better. The 40 page booklet features notes by the sets compiler Ray Topping who has unearthed new information about the somewhat enigmatic Elmore, terrific photos, pictures of labels, ads, discography and more. Did I say this was essential? (FS)
BEP BROWN ORCHESTRA: Dumb Woman Blues/ Round House Boogie (Aka Sax Symphonic Boogie)/ ELMORE JAMES: 1839 Blues/ Baby What's Wrong/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Can't Stop Lovin'/ Canton Mississippi Breakdown (Instrumental)/ Dark And Dreary (Take 1)/ Dark And Dreary (Take 2)/ Dark And Dreary (Take 4)/ Dust My Blues/ Dust My Broom/ Early In The Morning/ Elmo's Shuffle (Take 3)/ Elmo's Shuffle (Take 4)/ Elmo's Shuffle (Take 5)/ Good Bye (Baby)/ Hand In Hand/ Happy Home/ Hawaiian Boogie (Take 1)/ Hawaiian Boogie (Take 2)/ I Believe/ I Got A Strange Baby (False Start & Chat)/ I Held My Baby Last Night/ I Was A Fool/ Kicking The Blues Around (Aka Flaming Blues - featuring J.T. Brown)/ Late Hours At Midnight/ Long Tall Woman/ Long Tall Woman/ Long Tall Woman/ Lost Woman Blues (Aka Please Find My Bay - Version 3)/ Make A Little Love/ Make My Dreams Come True (Take 2)/ Make My Dreams Come True (Take 3)/ Make My Dreams Come True (Take 4)/ Make My Dreams Come True (Take 7)/ My Baby's Gone/ My Best Friend (Take 1)/ No Love In My Heart/ One More Drink (Take 1)/ One More Drink (Take 2)/ Please Come Back To Me (Sho' Nuff I Do)/ Please Find My Baby (Take 1)/ Please Find My Baby (Take 2)/ Quarter Past Nine/ Rock My Baby Right/ Sax-Ony Boogie (Inst. featuring J.T. Brown)/ Sho' Nuff I Do/ Sho' Nuff I Do (Alternate Take)/ Sho' Nuff I Do (Session Talk & False Start)/ Sinful Woman/ So Mean To Me (Take 2)/ So Mean To Me (Take 3)/ So Mean To Me (Take 4)/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 1)/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 2)/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 3)/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 4)/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 5)/ Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 6)/ Sunny Land/ The Way You Treat Me (Aka Mean And Evil)/ Where Can My Baby Be (Take 1)/ Where Can My Baby Be (Take 8)/ Where Can My Baby Be (Take 9)/ Wild About You/ Wild About You (Baby)/ Wild About You Baby (Chat & False Start)/ LITTLE JOHNNY JONES & THE HOUND DOGS: I May Be Wrong/ Sweet Little Woman

 
ELMORE JAMES Ace CDCHD 583 The Best Of Elmore James - The Early Years ● CD $18.98
28 tracks, 80 min., essential
28 samples of some of the most exciting blues ever set to wax, including the original Trumpet recording of Dust My Broom/ Hawaiian Boogie/ Early In The Morning/ Sho' Nuff I Do/ Long Tall Woman/ I Believe/ Please Find My Baby/ Can't Stop Lovin, and much more. At 80 minutes, this is one of the longest CDs here on planet earth, and Elmore James' music puts every second to good use. Why deprive yourself any longer? (JC)
ELMORE JAMES: Baby What's Wrong/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Can't Stop Lovin'/ Dark And Dreary/ Dust My Blues/ Dust My Broom/ Early In The Morning/ Goodbye Baby/ Hand In Hand/ Happy Home/ Hawaiian Boogie/ I Believe/ I Held My Baby Last Night/ I Was A Fool/ Late Hours At Midnight/ Long Tall Woman/ Make A Little Love/ Make My Dreams Come True/ Mean And Evil/ No Love In My Heart/ Please Find My Baby/ Rock My Baby Right/ Sho' Nuff I Do/ Sinful Woman/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Kinda Feeling/ Sunny Land/ Wild About You

 
ELMORE JAMES Ace CDCHM 1043 Blues After Hours ● CD $13.98
Another in Ace's series of mid priced releases based on original Crown LPs reissues Elmore's classic 1960 LP (the second blues LP I ever bought!) with it's deliciously foxy cover and 10 classic performances - Blues After Hours/ Sunnyland/ Dark And Dreary/ Happy Home/ Blues Before Sunrise/ Goodbye Baby and more. There are eight bonus tracks including three sides from singles and five originally unissued alternate takes. Ace has managed to locate the original production tapes to used for the CD mastering of this reissue.
ELMORE JAMES: Blues Before Sunrise/ Dark And Dreary/ Dust My Blues/ Elmo‘s Shuffle (take 5)/ Goodbye Baby/ Happy Home/ I Was A Fool/ Late Hours At Midnight/ Long Tall Woman/ Make My Dreams Come True (take 2)/ Mean And Evil/ No Love In My Heart/ Quarter Past Nine/ So Mean To Me (take 4)/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Kinda Feeling (take 1)/ Sunnyland/ Wild About You Aka Wild About You Baby

 
ELMORE JAMES Charly SNAJ 722 King Of The Slide Guitar - Complete Chief & Fire Sessions ● CD $24.98
Three CDs, 63 tracks, essential
This wonderful three CD box is a repackaging of Charly CPBOX 301 and features all of Elmore's Fire/Fury recordings (including alternates) plus his great Chief sides from '57 and the Trumpet recording of Dust My Broom. Together with the Ace box and the (now deleted) Chess CD they comprise this great bluesman's entire output under his own name. The 24 page booklet accompanying the set includes a biography with photos and a discography of these sessions. If you don't already have these superb sides you owe it to yourself to get what are some of the greatest blues recordings of the late 50s and early 60s - music that sounds as fresh today as it did more than 40 years ago. (FS)
ELMORE JAMES: (My) Bleeding Heart/ Anna Lee/ Baby, Please Set A Date/ Back In Mississippi (Conversation)/ Bobby's Rock/ Can't Stop Loving My Baby/ Coming Home/ Cry For Me Baby/ Done Somebody Wrong/ Dust My Broom/ Dust My Broom/ Dust My Broom/ Dust My Broom (I Believe My Time Ain't Long)/ Early One Morning/ Elmore Jumps One (Up Jumped Elmore)/ Elmore's Contribution To Jazz/ Everyday I Have The Blues/ Find My Kind Of Woman (Take 1)/ Find My Kinda Woman/ Fine Little Mama/ Go Back Home Again/ Got To Move/ Got To Move (She's Got To Go)/ Hand In Hand/ Hand In Hand (Take 1)/ Hand In Hand (Take 3)/ Held My Baby Last/ I Believe/ I Can't Stop Lovin' You/ I Gotta Go now/ I Have A Right To Love My Baby/ I Need You (Baby)/ I'm Worried/ It Hurts Me Too/ It Hurts Me Too/ Knocking At Your Door/ Look On Yonder Wall (Look Up On The Wall)/ Make My Dreams Come True/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (Take 1)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (Take 1)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (Take 2)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (Take 3)/ My Baby's Gone/ My Kind Of Woman/ One Way Out/ Person To Person/ Pickin' The Blues (Manhattan Slide)/ Rollin' and Tumblin'/ Shake Your Moneymaker (Take 1/2)/ She Done Moved/ So Unkind/ Something Inside Me/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Angels/ Strange(r) Blues (Alt. Take)/ Stranger Blues/ Sunnyland Train/ Take Me Where You Go/ Talk To Me Baby/ The Sky Is Crying/ The Twelve Year Old Boy/ Twelve Year Old Boy/ You Know You Done Me Wrong/ You Know You're Wrong

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 5112 Golden Classics - Guitars In Orbit ● CD $11.98
No, this isn't Elmore's rare instrumental tribute to The Ventures, it's twelve of his best Fire/Enjoy label sides, cut in the early 60's.
ELMORE JAMES: Dust My Broom/ Every Day I Have The Blues/ Hand In Hand/ I Believe/ I Gotta Go Now/ I Have A Right To Love My Baby/ It Hurts Me Too/ Make My Dreams Come True/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama/ Sunnyland/ Talk To Me Baby/ Twelve Year Old Boy

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 5184 The Complete Fire & Enjoy Sessions, Part 1 ● CD $11.98
ELMORE JAMES: Baby Please Set A Date/ Bobby's Rock/ Done Somebody Wrong/ Dust My Broom/ Early One Morning/ Fine Little Mama/ Held My Baby Last Night/ I Can't Stop Loving You/ I Need You/ I'm Worried/ Rollin' & Tumblin'/ Strange Angels

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 5185 The Complete Fire & Enjoy Sessions, Part 2 ● CD $11.98
ELMORE JAMES: Anna Lee/ Got To Move/ Look On Yonder Wall/ My Bleeding Heart/ My Kind Of Woman/ One Way Out/ Person To Person/ So Unkind/ Something Inside Of Me/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Stranger Blues/ Stranger Blues (alternate Session)

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 5186 The Complete Fire & Enjoy Sessions, Part 3 ● CD $11.98
ELMORE JAMES: Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby/ Everyday I Have The Blues/ Find My Kinda Woman/ Hand In Hand (take 1)/ I've Got A Right To Love My Baby/ It Hurts Me Too/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (take 1)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (take 2)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (take 3)/ My Baby's Gone/ Shake Your Moneymaker/ Sunnyland Train/ Talk To Me Baby

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 5187 The Complete Fire & Enjoy Sessions, Part 4 ● CD $11.98
ELMORE JAMES: Back In Mississippi (conversation)/ Black Snake Slide/ Hand In Hand (take 4)/ I Believe/ I Gotta Go Now/ Look On Yonder Wall (wrong Lyrics)/ Make My Dream Come True/ Pickin' The Blues/ She's Got To Go/ Twelve Year Old Boy/ Up Jumped Elmore/ You Know You Done Me Wrong

 
ELMORE JAMES Collectables 8829 For Collectors Only - Complete Fire & Enjoy Recordings ● CD $34.98
ELMORE JAMES: Baby Please Set A Date/ Back In Mississippi (studio conversation)/ Bobby's Rock/ Can't Stop Loving My Baby/ Do It If You Wanna - (with unknown vocalist)/ Done Somebody Wrong/ Dust My Broom/ Dust My Broom - (alt. take)/ Dust My Broom - (alternate take)/ Eraly One Morning/ Everyday I Have The Blues/ Find My Kind Of Woman - (Take 1)/ Find My Kind Of Woman - (take 3)/ Fine Little Mama/ Going Back Home Again/ Got To Move/ Hand In Hand - (take 1)/ Hand In Hand - (take 3)/ Hand In Hand - (take 4)/ Held My Baby Last Night/ I Believe/ I Can't Stop Lovin' You/ I Gotta Go Now/ I Need You Baby/ I'm Worried/ I've Got A Right To Love My Baby/ It Hurts Me Too/ Look On Yonder Wall/ Look Up On The Wall/ Make My Dreams Come True/ Make My Dreams Come True - (alternate take)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (take 1 incomplete)/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama (take 2 - alternate)/ My Baby's Gone/ My Bleeding Heart/ My Kind Of Woman/ One Way Out/ Person To Person/ Pickin' The Blues/ Poor Angel Child - (with Sam Myers)/ Rollin' & Tumblin'/ Shake Your Money Maker/ She Done Moved/ She's Got To Go/ Sky Is Crying, The/ So Unkind/ Something Inside Me/ Standing At The Crossroads/ Strange Angels/ Stranger Blues/ Stranger Blues - (alternate version)/ Sunnyland Train/ Talk To Me Baby/ Twelve Year Old Boy/ Up Jumped Elmore/ Up Jumped Elmore - (black snake slide)/ Up Jumped Elmore - (false start)/ Woke Up Screamin' & Cryin' - (with unknown vocalist)/ You Don't Have To Go - (with Sam Myers)/ You Know You're Wrong - (take 1 - incomplete)/ You Know You're Wrong - (take 2 - alternate)/ You Know You're Wrong - (take 3 - master)

 
ELMORE JAMES Relic 7040 Dust My Broom ● CD $14.98
22 tracks, 63 min., recommended
Like its companion (Relic CD 7026 - now deleted), this features more great material from Bobby Robinson's Fire and Enjoy labels, remastered from the original stereo tapes for superior sound quality. Picking up where Part 1 leaves off with the great Done Somebody Wrong, this disc also includes an unreleased version of Dust My Broom as well as Look Upon The Wall/ Poor Little Angel Child/ You Know You Done Me Wrong. What makes this a truly special reissue is that it contains the first complete James discography published in the U.S. (along with a reproduction of Elmore's death certificate). (JC)
ELMORE JAMES: Bobby's Rock/ Done Somebody Wrong/ Dust My Broom/ Early One Morning/ Got to Move/ Held My Baby Last Night/ I Can't Stop Loving You/ I Gotta Go Now/ I'm Worried/ Look up on the Wall/ Make My Dreams Come True/ Mean Mistreatin' Mama/ My Kind of Woman/ Person to Person/ She Done Moved/ So Unkind/ Strange Angel/ Stranger Blues/ Talk to Me Baby/ Twelve Year Old Boy/ You Know You Done Me Wrong/ SAM MYERS: Poor Little Angel Child

 
ELMORE JAMES Relic 7097 The Last Sessions ● CD $14.98
21 tracks, 64 min., recommended
As the title says, these are James' last recordings for Bobby Robinson's Fire/Enjoy label, held at A-1 Studios on Feb. 13 & 21, 1963. This disc offers one complete version of each title James cut at those sessions, a brief in studio conversation, and more. And while the backing musicians may not be as hot (or rehearsed) as they were on the previous Fire/Enjoy sessions, this music still sounds great, as a listen to It Hurts Me Too will confirm. If Elmore James ever made a bad record, you couldn't prove it with this disc. You can't have too much Elmore James. (JC)

 
SKIP JAMES Document DOCD 5005 Complete 1931 Recordings In Chronological Order ● CD $14.98

 
SKIP JAMES Document DOCD 5149 "Live" - Boston 1964 And Philadelphia 1966 ● CD $14.98
15 tracks, 52 min., good. James, a strange man with a wide melancholy streak, was one of the most vital of the rediscovered Delta bluesmen. Like Robert Pete Williams, he sang in a high falsetto voice, and answered his eerie singing with convoluted guitar fingerpicking which was full of surprises. This selection is not much different than his Melodeon studio records of the period, and many are remakes of his immortal 1931 recordings. But his playing and singing are strong, and the between-song anecdotes are instructive, if that compensates for the uneven recording quality. (MB)

 
SKIP JAMES Document 5633 The Complete Bloomington Indiana Concert, Vol. 1 ● CD $14.98
First volume featuring a previously unissued live concert from March 30, 1968 recorded at the University Folksong Club at Bloomington, Indiana. The recording includes the in-between patter by Skip. Vol. 1 includes performances of God Is Real (a song I don't think he recorded elsewhere) Look Down The Road/ Devil Got My Woman/ Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues and others.

 
SKIP JAMES Document 5634 The Complete Bloomington Indiana Concert, Vol. 2 ● CD $14.98
The second volume includes Illinois Blues/ Hard Headed Woman Blues/ Drunken Spree/ Look At The People, etc.

 
SKIP JAMES Genes 9901 She Lyin' ● CD $14.98
16 tracks, 44 mins., good
This is both an interesting and a little sad tribute to Skip James, culled from sessions he recorded in Maryland in 1964 with the help of Richard Spottswood. Blues fans who have experienced the hair-raising 1931 sides James recorded will find this collection tame by comparison. Still, it's intriguing to hear how 30 years can change a man's way of expressing the anguish of a song like Hard Time Killing Floor. The high, soul-piercing voice is still there, but the emotion sounds muted. Some tracks, like I'm So Glad and Devil Got My Woman seem like completely different songs compared to the earlier recordings. Still, the whole album is recorded in a pleasant, informal way, as if the listener is in on a quiet but important moment in American musical history. (DC)
SKIP JAMES: All Night Long/ Bad Whiskey/ Black Gal/ Broke & Hungry/ Catfish/ Crow Jane/ Cypress Grove Blues/ Devil Got My Woman/ Drunken Spree/ Goin' Away To Stay/ Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues/ I'm So Glad/ Illinois Blues/ Look Down The Road/ She Lyin'/ Worried Blues

 
SKIP JAMES Genes 9910 Skip's Piano Blues ● CD $14.98
12 tracks, 40 mins, essential
The music of Skip James is so beautiful, eerie and moving that it is hard to be objective about it. He was a unique and distinctive performer who was able to lend even the most familiar material an original feel. These recordings, previously unissued, from 1964 feature Skip accompanying himself on piano rather than his more familiar guitar. His piano playing is just as beautiful and idiosyncratic as his guitar playing with touches of ragtime and jazz but always uniquely his own. He redoes some of the piano blues he recorded in 1931 like Little Cow And Calf Is Gonna Die and 22-20 Blues as well as piano versions of songs he had recorded in 1931 with guitar like Four O'Clock Blues and Special Rider Blues as well as his own unique versions of Black Gal/ How Long and Vicksburg Blues. He also does a beautiful gospel song Walking The Sea, the strange Little Boy How Old Are You and the instrumental Rock Island Blues. The recordings were informal and it's nice to hear the interplay between Skip and the people around him. Truly rewarding and spellbinding music and it's hard to imagine why it was left on the shelf for 30 years! (FS)

 
SKIP JAMES Vanguard VMD 79219 Today! ● CD $13.98

 
SKIP JAMES Vanguard VMD 79273 Devil Got My Woman ● CD $13.98
The music of Skip James is so beautiful, errie and moving that it is hard to be objective about it. He was a unique and distinctive performer who was able to lend even the most familiar material an original feel. This is a CD reissue of his second Vanguard album recorded in 1967, two years before his death at the age of 67. It includes remakes of a few of his 1931 Paramount recordings including the spine chilling title song and the wonderful Little Cow, Little Calf Blues, the latter featuring some of his amazing piano playing. There are his unique interpretations of familiar themes is Worried Blues and Catfish Blues and some songs recently composed by Skip including Sickbed Blues and a song for his wife, Lorenzo Blues. Exquisite and timeless music reproduced with crystal clarity. (FS)
SKIP JAMES: 22-20 Blues/ Careless Love/ Catfish Blues/ Devil Got My Woman/ Good Road Camp Blues/ Illinois Blues/ Little Cow, Little Calf Blues/ Look At The People Standing At The Judgement/ Lorenzo Blues/ Mistreating Child Blues/ Sickbed Blues/ Worried Blues

 
SKIP JAMES Yazoo 2009 Complete Early Recordings ● CD $14.98
SKIP JAMES: 22-20 Blues/ 4 O'Clock Blues/ Be Ready When He Comes/ Cherry Ball Blues/ Cypress Grove Blues/ Devil Got My Woman/ Drunken Spree/ Hard Luck Child/ Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues/ How Long "Buck"/ I'm So Glad/ If You Haven't Any Hay Get On Down The Road/ Illinois Blues/ Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader/ Little Cow And Calf Is Gonna Die Blues/ Special Rider Blues/ What Am I To Do Blues/ Yola My Blues Away

 
FRANK "SPRINGBACK" JAMES & GEORGE CURRY Document DOCD 5289 Complete Recorded Works, 1934-1938 ● CD $14.98
21 tracks, 63 tracks, recommended
Frank "Springback" James was a fine singer and piano player who was obviously inspired by Leroy Carr. His first four sides are solo and most of the rest features guitar accompaniment by Willie B. James which really accentuates the Carr influence. Still James has some good original songs like Snake Hip Blues/ Rusty Can Blues/ Poor Coal Loader/ I'm On My Way and others. George Curry is another fine singer and piano player listed in the company files as "Leroy's best friend" so you can guess who influenced him. The three sides here were never actually issued though they are very good and I particularly like his Back In My Cell Again. (FS)
GEORGE CURRY: Back In My Cell Again/ My Last Five Dollars/ You're Forever On My Mind/ FRANK "SPRINGBACK" JAMES: Forsaken Blues/ Frank's Lonesome Blues/ Hard Driving Mama/ Hellish Ways/ I'm On My Way/ Lonesome Love Blues/ Mistreated Blues/ New Red Cross Blues/ Poor Coal Loader/ Poor Coal Passer/ Rusty Can Blues/ See For Yourself/ Snake Hip Blues/ Springback Papa/ Stingaree Mama Blues/ Texas Heifer Blues/ Unkindness Blues/ Will My Bad Luck Ever Change?

 
FRANKIE "HALF PINT" JAXON Document DOCD 5258 Complete Recordings In Chronological Order, Vol 1 ● CD $15.98
24 tracks, 70 mins, recommended
Booklet writer Jim Prohaska gives a excellent description of Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon in the introduction to his liner notes. "He was outrageous, ribald, and raucous. He was a singer, actor, producer, dancer, comic, film star, song writer, and even a female impersonator. He made a lot of records, led a small band and a big band, and made many radio appearances. He was 5'2" of energy, humor and mischief". Unlike other hokum singers with their draggy delivery Frankie threw himself into his performances with his distinctive high pitched voice, asides and exhortations and his entertaining and funny lyrics - often of the risqu variety. His very best performances are those with Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band which can be found scattered throughout Document 5073, 5074, 5075 and 5076. This is the first of three volumes featuring recordings under his own name and features 24 cuts made between May 1926 and July 1929. The earliest sides here feature piano accompaniments by the fairly stodgy De Lloyd Barnes or Blanche Smith Walton. Later sessions feture small groups including some terrific sides with Banjo Ikey Robinson & His Bull Fiddle Band and with Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band which capture some of the energy of the Tampa Red Hokum Jug Band sides. This disc ends with the incredibly raunchy and originally unissued Operation Blues - a duet with Georgia Tom with Frankie acting the part of a female patient and Tom as the Doctor. The entendres on this one are more single than double. A delightful collection - occasional rough sound but mostly very listenable with good notes by Prohaska. (FS)
THE COTTON TOP MOUNTAIN SANCTIFIED SINGERS: She's Coming Round The Mountain/ FRANKIE "HALF PINT" JACKSON: Can't You Wait Till You Get Home (12919)/ Can't You Wait Till You Get Home (C-2952)/ Corinne/ Corinne Blues/ Down At Jasper's Bar-B-Que/ Fan It (take A)/ Fan It (take B)/ Hannah Fell In Love With My Piano/ Hit Ta Ditty Low Down/ How Can I Get It?/ I'm Gonna Dance Wit De Guy Wot Brung Me/ I'm Gonna Steal You/ If That Don't Get It - This Sho' Will/ It's Heated/ Jive Man Blues/ Let's Knock A Jug/ Operation Blues/ She Got 'It'/ Willie The Weeper/ BILL JOHNSON'S LOUISIANA JUG BAND: Don't Drink It In Here/ Get The 'L' On Down The Road/ BANJO IKEY ROBINSON'S BULL FIDDLE BAND: My Four Reasons/ Rock Me Mama

 
 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Document DOCD 5017 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol 1 ● CD $14.98
The first of four compact dics presenting all the recordings of this great performer. Jefferson was probably the most popular country bluesmen of the pre-war era and his style, songs and arrangements were to influence generations of rural performers. Lemon was a powerful singer with an intense voice and a dazzling guitar player - he punctuated his vocal lines with incredibly beautiful and complex guitar runs. His first session featured two gospel songs that were originally issued under the name of Deacon L.J. Bates but the rest of the material here is all blues and includes some incredible performances including Got The Blues (this was so popular that he recorded it again a few months after he first recorded when the master wore out!)/ Dry Southern Blues/ Corinna Blues/ Jack O'Diamonds (two takes of this traditional song on which Lemon plays some of his rarely recorded slide guitar)/ Chock House Blues/ Old Rounders Blues/ That Black Snake Moan/ Rabbit Foot Blues etc. The 78s these were originally released on were porrly recorded and pressed on inferior material so sound quality is not exceptional though, in most cases, is quite listenable. Informative, is slightly pedantic, notes by Bob Groom (FS)
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: All I Want Is That Pure Religion/ Bad Luck Blues/ Beggin' Back/ Black Horse Blues/ Booger Rooger Blues/ Booster Blues/ Broke And Hungry (take 2)/ Chock House Blues/ Corinna Blues (take 2)/ Dry Southern Blues/ Got The Blues (1053)/ Got The Blues (2471-2)/ I Want To Be Like Jesus In My Heart/ Jack O' Diamond Blues (take 1)/ Jack O' Diamond Blues (take 2)/ Long Lonesome Blues (1054)/ Long Lonesome Blues (2472-1)/ Old Rounders Blues/ Rabbit Foot Blues/ Shuckin' Sugar Blues (take 2)/ Stocking Feet Blues (take 1)/ That Black Snake Moan (take 2)/ Wartime Blues

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Document DOCD 5018 Complete Recorded Chronological Order, Vol. 2 ● CD $14.98
The second volume of this great performers recordings features 22 songs recorded between March and October, 1937 and are consistently outstanding. It includes three version of one of his most popular songs Matchbox, a remake of his powerful Black Snake Moan, the topical Rising High Water Blues (an unusual performance in that Lemon does not play guitar but is accompanied by the very effective piano of George Perkins), the beautiful gospel song See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (unfortunately from a very worn 78) and more. (FS)
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: Black Snake Dream Blues/ Black Snake Moan (80523)/ Chinch Bug Blues/ Deceitful Brownskin Blues/ Easy Rider Blues/ Gone Dead On You Blues/ He Arose From The Dead/ Hot Dogs/ Lonesome House Blues/ Match Box Blues (4424)/ Match Box Blues (4446)/ Match Box Blues (80524)/ One Dime Blues/ Rambler Blues/ Right Of Way Blues/ Rising High Water Blues/ See That My Grave's Kept Clean (20074)/ Struck Sorrow Blues/ Sunshine Special/ Teddy Bear Blues (take 2)/ Weary Dogs Blues/ Where Shall I Be?

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Document DOCD 5019 Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3, 1928 ● CD $14.98
The third volume in this wonderful series features 20 sides recorded in 1928 and includes several intense songs about prison including one of his greatest performance - the moving Prison Cell Blues with its links to field hollers and the powerful Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues the lyrics of which were picked up by a number of other singers. It also includes re-recording of his beautiful gospel song See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, a rare cover of another artist on Leroy Carr's How Long How Long which includes an unknown piano player playing in the Carr style and a couple of seasonal blues in Christmas Eve Blues and Happy New Year Blues. Satisfactory sound and detailed microscopic notes by Bob Groom. (FS)
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: 'Lectric Chair Blues/ Balky Mule Blues/ Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues/ Change My Luck Blues/ Christmas Eve Blues/ Competition Bed Blues/ D B Blues/ Hangman's Blues (20816)/ Happy New Year Blues/ How Long How Long/ Lemon's Cannon Ball Moan/ Lemon's Worried Blues/ Lock Step Blues (20815)/ Long Lastin' Lovin'/ Low Down Mojo Blues/ Maltese Cat Blues/ Mean Jumper Blues/ Piney Woods Money Mama/ Prison Cell Blues/ Sad News Blues/ See That My Grave ls Kept Clean (20374)

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Document DOCD 5020 Complete Recorded Works Vol. 4, 1929 ● CD $14.98
The fourth and final volume in this series reissuing the complete recordings of this great Texas bluesman features 24 songs recorded between January and September, 1929. The latter just two months before his death of uncertain causes. Lemon seems somewhat less energetic than on his earlier recordings and his guitar playing is not as flowing. However there are still some great performances like Peach Orchard Mama (later recorded by Big Joe Williams), a song about homelessness that seem chillingly timely Tin Cup Blues, the powerful Bed Springs Blues, another variation of the traditional folk song Our Goodman called Cat Man Blues and others. Some of the tracks here are among Lemon's rarest and sound quality on several cuts make listening difficult. Good notes by Bob Groom. (FS)
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: Bakershop Blues/ Bed Springs Blues/ Big Night Blues (21199)/ Bootin' Me 'Bout/ Cat Man Blues/ Competition Bed Blues/ Disgusted Blues/ Dynamite Blues/ Eagle Eyed Mama/ Empty House Blues/ Fence Breakin' Yellin' Blues/ Long Distance Moan/ Mosquito Moan/ Oil Well Blues/ Peach Orchard Mama/ Pneumonia Blues/ Sad News Blues/ Saturday Night Spender Blues/ Southern Woman Blues/ That Black Snake Moan No. 2/ That Crawlin' Baby Blues/ The Cheaters Spell/ Tin Cup Blues/ Yo, Yo Blues

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON JSP 7706 The Clssic Sides Remastered ● CD $28.98
4 CDs, 94 tracks essential
Brilliant, impossible to copy singer and guitarist, Shakespeare of blues poetry, surrealist, gritty social commentator, chaser of wild women, part time wrestler..... Blind Lemon had quite a CV. He also left a wonderful legacy of recorded work, which has never been better presented than on this new box set from JSP.
This is not quite, as billed, the complete works (Document DOCD 5625 has a further three tracks - third versions of Got The Blues and Long Lonesome Blues and an alternate take of Corrina Blues) but is the most comprehensive Jefferson set to date. Unlike the Charley Patton box set, which was cluttered with tracks by other artists some of whom had no real connection with Patton, the 94 performances here are all Blind Lemon and are presented in strict chronological order. There is full discographical information and JSP's packaging is attractive, with notes by Drew Kent sketching Lemon's 4 year recording career and mysterious death in 1929. What really sets this reissue apart however is the outstanding job JSP have done in reducing the usual torrent of clicks, pops and surface noise associated with old Paramount 78s while retaining the balance and dynamics of the original recordings. Comparison with the complete works on Document shows a significant improvement on the vast majority of tracks - surface noise is still apparent, and some sides are very worn, but listening is much more comfortable. There is also occasionally the pleasant surprise of a lyric which has been lost in an aural mush for decades becoming startlingly clear. Better still, listen to the version of Matchbox Blues recorded for OKeh when Lemon broke contract with Paramount (for one record only) and hear one of the greatest of all blues records in superior sound. This is a reissue that does the great man justice and deserves a place in every collection. (DPR)

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Milestone 47022 Blind Lemon Jefferson ● CD $18.98
Perhaps the most influential and popular country blues man of the 20's, Jefferson recorded extensively for the Paramount label with just his voice and guitar. This CD reissues the 2-LP Milestone collection from 1974 minus seven songs - though the disc still lasts more than 72 minutes! The superior sound quality (it's possible to make out most of his words now) more than makes up for the missing tunes. All selections were transferred from 78's recorded in Chicago and Richmond, Indiana between 1926-'29; classic songs include That Black Snake Moan/ Matchbox Blues/ Easy Rider/ Rabbit Foot Blues/ Long Distance Moan/ Prison Cell Blues/ Jack O'Diamonds/ Rising High Water Blues (many also found on Yazoo 1069). As these sides prove, Jefferson was not only an innovative guitarist, but an exceptional lyricist as well. Important music for any basic blues library. (JC)

 
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON Yazoo 2057 The Best Of Blind Lemon Jefferson ● CD $14.98
23 tracks, 67 mins, essential .. but
This is probably the best single compilation of the recordings of this great and influential Texas country bluesman - both in terms of selection and sound quality. However, if you have the previous Yazoo compilation of Blind Lemon (1069 - King Of The Country Blues) then you already have 2/3 of the tracks here, albeit with slightly inferior sound. There are also 10 duplications with Catfish 101 which also has superb sound. With those caveats out of the way I can say that this is a great opportunity to hear some of the greatest country blues recordings. Jefferson was probably the most popular country bluesmen of the pre-war era and his style, songs and arrangements were to influence generations of rural performers. He was a powerful singer with an intense voice and a dazzling guitar player - he punctuated his vocal lines with incredibly beautiful and complex guitar runs. This compilation includes some of his most famous and emulated songs like Match Box Blues/ Long Lonesome Blues/ Corinna Blues/ See That My Grave Is Kept Clean/ 'Lectric Chair Blues and more including a couple of the gospel songs he recorded that were issued under the pseudonym Deacon L.J. Bates, his wonderful version of Jack O'Diamonds featuring a rare example of his slide guitar playing and a surprising, straight ahead cover of Leroy Carr's How Long Blues complete with an unknown piano player attempting to emulate Carr's style. Comes with 12 page booklet with detailed and informative notes by Stephen Calt. After this you'll probably want to get the complete recordings on Document. (FS)

 
THE JELLY ROLL KINGS Fat Possum 80310 Off Yonder Wall ● CD $13.98
10 tracks, 48 mins, good
New album from the semi-legendary group featuring singer/ guitarist Big Jack Johnson, harmonica/ keyboard player Frank Frost and drummer Sam Carr. The performances are straight ahead juke joint blues with nothing really standing out and too many undistinguished instrumentals. Best cut is the energetic version of Look On Yonder Wall. Frank Frost is a good singer and harmonica player but as far as I can tell he only plays keyboards on this set. It's not as if there is any shortage of really good recordings by these guys. (FS)
THE JELLY ROLL KINGS: Baby Please Don't Go/ Fat Back/ Fishin' Musician/ Frank Frost Blues/ Have Mercy Baby/ I'm A Big Boy Now/ Look Over Yonder Wall/ Sitting On Top Of The World/ So Lonesome/ That's Alright Mama

 

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