A good solid debut album of no nonsense down home blues by
singer/ guitarist Johnson, who has worked with Frank Frost for almost 25
years. Frost plays piano on this album and they are joined by Clarksdale
musicians Ernest Roy on bass and Walter Roy on drums. In spite of the small
size of the group they generate a full sound thanks to Johnson's powerful
vocals and basic but energetic guitar style. The material is a mixture of
originals like the title song and I'm Gonna Give Up Disco And Go back To
The Blues (based on Junior Parker's Mystery Train) and Jack's
guitar playing evokes the feel of early Willie Johnson or Pat Hare. The rest
of the album includes songs from Howlin' Wolf, Tommy Johnson (a piledriving
Catfish), Johnny Taylor and others, all given an original touch. It
even includes an instrumental version of Tom Dooley and a nice
version of Steel Guitar Rag. If you like Magic Slim you're sure to
like Jack Johnson too. Recommended! BIG JACK JOHNSON: Catfish Blues/ Driving Wheel/ How Many More Years/ I'm
Gonna Give Up Disco/ Killing Floor/ Oil Man/ Part Time Love/ Steel Guitar
Rag/ Tom Dooley/ Too Many Drivers/ You Can Have My Woman
BIG JACK JOHNSON: Chinese Blues/ Crawdad Hole/ Daddy, When Is Mama Coming
Home?/ Doodley Squat/ Goin' Back To Mississippi/ I Slapped My Wife In The
Face/ I'm A Big Boy Now/ Mr. M.S.A.I.D.S./ Northwest Airlines Blues/ Oh
Darling/ Thirteen Chillun/ United States Got Us In A Bad Shape
10 tracks, 50 min., very good These days Big Jack (The
Oil Man) Johnson is no longer delivering heating oil around Clarksdale;
instead he's now dispensing his version of postmodern Delta Blues. This 1996
recording features Lonesome Road, his very first solo recording on
acoustic guitar. His slide guitar is featured on Humming Blues and
It's The Fourth Of July. As well he's included two instrumentals: the
C&W-ish Breakdown Blues and the funky Cracklin' Bread. (EL) BIG JACK JOHNSON: Big Foot Woman/ Black Rooster/ Breakdown Blues/ Cracklin'
Bread/ Hummin' Blues/ It's The Fourth Of July/ Lonesome Road/ No Good Cow/
Sweet Home Mississippi/ We Got To Stop This Killin'
Two CDs,
30 tracks, 1 hr. 35 min., essential
This "Roots & Blues"
compilation features the complete recordings by the greatest of all pre-war
rural religious singers, previously available on Yazoo 1058 and 1078. Not
only was Johnson a stunning gravel-voiced singer, he was also an
unparalleled guitarist whose use of slide was truly spine chilling. The
first disc includes one of my all time favorite Johnson pieces Let Your
Light Shine On Me, with its remarkable use of two different voices and
two different tempos by Willie, plus If I Had My Way I'd Tear This
Building Down/ I'm Gonna Run To The City Of Refuge/ Sweeter As The Years Go
By/ It's Nobody's Fault But Mine/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning,
etc. The second disc includes the classics You'll Need Somebody On Your
Bond/ Praise God I'm Satisfied/ Take Your Burden To The Lord/ Everybody
Ought To Treat A Stranger Right/ Church, I'm Fully Saved Today, John The
Revelator and many more. Several tracks feature the exquisite second
vocals of his wife Angeline - her light and gentle voice is a perfect
complement to Willie's rough and intense vocals. The sound is superb, at
times better than the Yazoo releases, revealing the finer points of
Johnson's utterly magnificent guitar and influential bottleneck slide
playing. Every track is a gem, with the hair-raising instrumental and
humming version of the old spiritual Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The
Ground standing as the centerpiece of a truly phenomenal set. The
booklet includes recording dates, commentary (and label photos!) on almost
every song, and poignant notes by Sam Charters. (FS) BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: Bye And Bye I'm Goin' To See The King/ Can't Nobody
Hide From God/ Church, I'm Fully Saved To-Day/ Dark Was The Night -- Cold
Was The Ground/ Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right/ Go To Me With
That Land/ God Don't Never Change/ God Moves On The Water/ I Know His Blood
Can Make Me Whole/ I'm Gonna Run To The City Of Refuge/ If I Had My Way I'd
Tear The Building Down/ If It Had Not Been For Jesus/ It's Nobody's Fault
But Mine/ Jesus Is Coming Soon/ Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed/ John The
Revelator/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Let Your Light Shine On Me/
Lord I Can't Just Keep From Crying/ Mother's Children Have A Hard Time/
Praise God I'm Satisfied/ Sweeter As The Years Roll By/ Take Your Burden To
The Lord And Leave It There/ Take Your Stand/ The Rain Don't Fall On Me/ The
Soul Of A Man/ Trouble Will Soon Be Over/ When The War Was On/ You'll Need
Somebody On Your Bond/ You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond
What better way for Yazoo to start their CD program then
with a reissue of the greatest ever rural religious singer Blind Willie
Johnson. This is exactly the same as the LP equivalent and has not been
newly remastered for the CD though since the LP sound was so good this is
not a major problem though it is possible that with the newest techniques
some of the residual hiss and crackle might have been eliminated but this is
a minor quibble. This is some of the most powerful and moving music ever
committed to record - stunning singing from Willie (and sometimes his wife
Angeline) and utterly magnificent guitar including some gorgeous bottleneck
stylings. Every track is a gem with his instrumental and humming version of
the old spiritual Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground never
failing to raise the hairs on the back of my neck! (FS) BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: Bye And Bye I'm Goin' To See The King/ Dark Was The
Night - Cold Was The Ground/ God Don't Never Change/ God Moves On The Water/
I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole/ Jesus Is Coming Soon/ Jesus Make Up My
Dying Bed/ Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning/ Motherless Children Have A
Hard Time/ Nobody's Fault But Mine/ Praise God I'm Satisfied/ The Rain Don't
Fall On Me/ When The War Was On/ You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond
Complementing Yazoo 1058 this compilation features 16 more
classic performances by the greatest of all rural religious singers. These
two sets comprise his entire output. Not only was Johnson a stunning singer
he was also an unparalleled guitarist whose use of slide was truly spine
chilling, though this set features less slide than 1058. It includes one of
my all time favorite Johnson pieces Let Your Light Shine On Me with
it remarkable use of two different voices and two different tempos by Willie
plus John The Revelator/ Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right/ If I
Had My way I'd Tear This Building Down/ Church, I'm Fully Saved Today/ I'm
Gonna Run To The City Of Refuge/ Sweeter As The Years Go By/ Trouble Will
Soon Be Over/ Take Your Stand, etc. Several tracks feature the exquisite
second vocals of his wife Angeline - her light and gentle voice is a perfect
complement to Willie's rough and intense vocals. Sound is superb and there
are extensive notes by Dave Evans. Essential. (FS) BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: Can't Nobody Hide from God/ Church, I'm Fully Saved
Today/ Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right/ Go with Me to That Land/
I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge/ If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building
Down/ If It Had Not Been for Jesus/ John the Revelator/ Let Your Light Shine
on Me/ Lord, I Just Can't Keep from Crying/ Sweeter as the Years Roll By/
Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There/ Take Your Stand/ The Soul
of a Man/ Trouble Will Soon Be Over/ You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological
Order, 1929-64
● CD $15.98
JAMES "STUMP" JOHNSON: Baby B. Blues/ Barrel Of Whiskey Blues/ Blues (Bury
That Thing)/ Bound To Be A Monkey/ Bound To Be A Monkey (AB-2007)/ Don't
Give My Lard Away/ Heart Is Right Blues/ Jones Law Blues/ Kind Babe Blues/
Low Moanin' Blues/ Money Johnson/ My Babe Blues (316)/ My Babe Blues
(C-4109)/ Sail On Black Sue/ Snitcher's Blues (403317)/ Snitcher's Blues No.
2 (RB-2009)/ Soaking Wet Blues/ Steady Grindin'/ The Duck's Yas Yas Yas No.
2 (AB-2007)/ The Duck's Yas-Yas Yas (403314)/ The Duck-Yas-Yas-Yas (313)/
The Snitcher's Blues (ESR-1205)/ The Snitchers Blues (314)/ Transom/ What I
Asked You To/ What You Do/ You Buzzard You
U.S. issue of excellent album originally issued in France on
Blue Phoenix in 1983 as "Heap See". Although only accompanied by keyboards,
bass & drums the sound is full and rich. The material is mostly covers but
Jimmy brings his own unique approach to songs like Fenton Robinson's You
Don't Know What Love Is, John Lee Hooker's When My First Wife Quit Me
and a spine chilling version of T Bone's Cold Cold Feeling. There are
also a few fine originals including the hard driving Happy Home, the
powerful and insightful Heap See and the rollicking instrumental
shuffle Missing Link. (FS) JIMMY JOHNSON: Chicken Heads/ Cold, Cold Feeling/ Happy Home/ Heap See/ I
Have The Same Old Blues/ Little By Little/ Missing Link/ When My First Wife
Quit Me/ You Don't Know What Love Is
CD issue of the first Delmark album from 1979 by this
brilliant Chicago singer and guitarist and his band. Johnson has a soaring
gospel flavored voice and is a brilliant guitarist who plays hard edged
soaring solos along the lines of Otis Rush. Apart from the instrumental
Take Five there are eight original songs by Johnson and his band members
which deal with themes of contemporary urban angst which were unusual for
the time in blues but later proved so succesful for Robert Cray - I Need
Some Easy Money is particularly fine. The set is rounded out by an
unexpected version of the country standard Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
which is fun, but expendable. Johnson's band, though not exceptional,
provides a solid foundation with some nice sax by Jerry Wilson. Sound on the
CD is crisp and punchy. Johnson has not gotten as much exposure as some of
his contemporaries but if you are looking for some outstanding contemporary
blues this is highly recommended. (FS)
Reissue of Jimmy's fine 1982 album - his second for Delmark.
9 original songs with fine singing and playing by Johnson and solid backup
by the band. The group incorporates some funk elements into their stylings
but it's still all blues. Highlights are the soulful opener Country
Preacher and the semi autobiographical Talking 'Bout Chicago.
Star-studded project by Chuck Berry's pianist, with support
from guitarist/ producer Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, NRBQ's Joey
Spampinato, Al Anderson and Terry Adams, and more. No star trips here, just
plenty of straight-ahead barroom R&B, with Johnson's distinctive piano lines
and laid-back singing, plus vocal spotlights by Richards, Anderson and Steve
Ferguson. He dips into the blues tradition for Key to The Highway/ Cow
Cow Blues/ Hush Oh Hush and Jimmy Reed's Baby What's Wrong,
filling out the rest of the 12 song program with a variety of originals.
(MB) JOHNNIE JOHNSON: Baby Please/ Hey Hey/ I'm Goin' Fishin/ I'm Mad/ If you
Love Me Like You Say/ Johnnie & John/ Just To Be With You/ Kansas City/ Real
Good Woman/ Rockinitis/ She Called Me Out Of My Name/ Tossin' and Turnin'
12 tracks, 46 min., fans only. Johnnie Johnson is the near
legendary piano player who backed Chuck Berry on many of his classic hits.
However, this reissue of his first solo album (Pulsar LP 1002) is
disappointing. There's nothing wrong with his playing but the production
stinks - Johnny is playing a horrible rinky tink piano and the backing group
is pretty mediocre - the guitar playing of Steve Waldman is particularly
obnoxious. Several tracks have vocals by the mediocre Barbara Carr or
adequate Stacy Johnson. It's hard to believe that the excellent producer
Oliver Sain had a hand in this mess. I'm sure most of us will want to
remember him for Sweet Little Sixteen/ Johnny B. Goode, or Back In
The U.S.A., which is one of two unreleased bonus tracks. (FS)
14 tracks, 64 mins, recommended. 1999 recordings made in
England by this fine Piedmont styled bluesman from New York. Johnson was
born in Georgia but moved to the Big Apple in the 50s where he fell under
the spell and guidance of Rev. Gary Davis who helped hone Larry's skill as a
very fine guitarist. Over the years he has recorded a number of excellent
albums. This collection includes a few originals along with some blues and
gospel standards - some learned from Davis - his approach to overly familiar
numbers like Mean Ol' Frisco and Things I Used To Do are
refreshingly appealing. Highlight for me is the original gospel song Hear
The Angels Singing which includes a very effective intro on organ! The
set also includes a 10 minute interview with Larry which is mostly about his
early days in Harlem. The music here is excellent - my main quibble is the
guitar sound - instead of the full bodied, warm sound of an acoustic guitar
he plays a lightly amplified electric guitar which lends a rather clinical
and unappealing quality to the music. (FS)
10 tracks, 42 min, recommended Spending most of his first 20
years in his native Georgia, then the following 40 in Harlem, including time
studying with the Rev Gary Davis, Johnson is as much a songster as a
bluesman, playing in the Georgia style, but also telling stories, especiallu
in Charlie Stone & the title tune. Backing by the Brian Kramer Trio
from Stockholm with an added drummer, recording as The Couch Lizards, doing
mostly Johnson originals along with fine versions of Irene Goodnight/ Old
Time Religion & Evening Sun Go Down. Liner notes by Sam Charters,
who first worked with Johnson on his mid-60s Prestige/ Bluesville
recordings. (GM)
22 tracks, 59 min., recommended Tenor saxophonist, singer &
sometimes clarinetist Lem Johnson should be known by some of you, as he
first recorded with Louis Jordan in 1938. It's his tenor sax you hear on
those early Decca sides, in particular on Flatface. He then joined
Skeets Tolbert in 1939, where we hear our man sing for the first time.
During this time, he also recorded with Eddie Durham, again recording one
vocal. Next up are his sides as a leader which you'll find on this CD. While
being a member of Sammy Price's Flycats (1940-1942), 4 tracks were issued
under his name, including one (if not the first) cover version of St. Louis
Jimmy's 1941 Going Down Slow. His other sides were recorded for
Cincinnati Records (with trumpeter Courtney Williams,'44), Queen REcords
('45) and MGM Records (with Sam 'The Man' Taylor,'53). Tracks like
Walkin' The Boogie and Eatin' And Sleepin' should all appeal to
jump blues fans. Before I end this review, readers should note that as a
studio musician he also recorded with Sidney Bechet ('41), Warren Evans
('44), Lil green ('47) and Hot Lips Page ('44). The notes are quite
pedestrian, leaving out that Lemuel Charles Johnson was 79 when he died on
April 1, 1989. The remaining 10 tracks are given over to Lucius (Doc
Sausage) Tyson's 1950 Regal Recordings (8) and Jo Jo Jackson's 1952 Fidelity
Recording (2). Too bad Blue Moon Records didn't see fit to include the 1940
Decca session by Doc Sausage & His Five Pork Chops! A must set for all you
jump blues fans. (EL)
24 tracks, 71 mins, recommended. More excellent sides from
this powerful and earthy singer. Most cuts feature her with various small
groups featuring musicians such as Myrtle Jenkins, Arnett Nelson, Black Bob,
Big Bill Broonzy, Mr Sheiks and other. A good cross section of slow blues,
risqué songs, upbeat numbers and the occasional vaudeville song. (FS) LIL JOHNSON: Black And Evil Blues/ Can't Read, Can't Write/ Come And Get It/
Crazy About My Rider (tk 1)/ Crazy About My Rider (tk 2)/ Goofer Dust Swing/
Grandpa Said 'Let's Suzie-Q'/ Hottest Gal In Town/ I'll Take You To The
Cleaners (tk 2)/ I'll Take You To The Cleaners (tk. 1)/ If You Don't Give Me
What I Want/ Let's Get Drunk And Truck/ Meat Balls/ Murder In The First
Degree/ My Baby (Squeeze Me Again) (tk. 1)/ My Baby (Squeeze Me Again) (tk.
2)/ My Stove's In Good Condition/ New Shave 'Em Dry/ Ramblin' Man Blues/
River Hip Papa/ Scuffling Woman Blues/ Two Timin' Man/ Was I?/ You're Just A
Cream Puff (You Can't Take It)
BARRELHOUSE ANNIE: Ain't Gonna Give/ If It Don't Fit/ It Away/ Love
Operation/ Must Get Mine In Front/ LIL JOHNSON: Ain't That A Shame/
Broken-Hearted Blues (tk. 1)/ Broken-Hearted Blues (tk. 2)/ Buck Naked Blue/
Bucket's Got A Hole In It/ Chain (That Rockin' Swing) (tk. 1)/ Down At The
Old Village Store/ I'm A Sales Lady/ Love Thief/ Mellow Stuff/ Snake In The
Grass/ So Long, Babe, I'm Gone/ Stavin Chain (That Rocking Swing) (tk.
2)/ Take It Easy Greasy No. 2/ Take Your Hand Off It/ When Can I Get It/
When Your Troubles Are Like Mine/ You Can't Throw Me Down/ You Lied Your
Last Time/ You Stole My Cherry
A fine cross section of Lonnie's recordings ranging from his
second session in November 1925 to a 1944 session but there's an unnecessary
amount of duplication with Catfish 110 and Indigo 2009 LONNIE JOHNSON: Crowing Rooster Blues/ Guitar Blues/ Have To Change Keys (to
Play These Blues)/ He's A Jelly Roll Baker/ Hot Fingers/ I'm Just Dumb/ I'm
Nuts About That Gal/ In Love Again/ Jersey Belle Blues/ Jet Black Blues/
Lazy Women Blues/ Life Saver Blues/ Mr. Johnson's Blues/ She's Making
Whoopee In Hell Tonight/ Sweet Potato Blues/ Swing Out Rhythm/ The Last
Call/ Toothache Blues, Part 1/ Toothache Blues, Part 2/ Two Tone Stomp/
Uncle Ned, Don't Use Your Head/ Watch Shorty/ Why Women Go Wrong/ Winnie The
Wailer
Document has already compiled Johnson's earliest material,
recorded for Okeh, on 7 separately issued discs. Here, in three more
separately issued CD's, Blues Documents covers his voluminous output from the late 30's
through the late 40's. In this, the first of the three discs, one containing
material originally recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, Johnson's
well known characteristics - his stunning guitar work, his topical wit, and
his misogyny - are all abundantly present. Accompanying musicians include
Roosevelt Sykes and Joshua Altheimer. The 27 tracks offered here include
Man Killing Broad/ I'm Nuts Over You (But You Just a Teaser)/ Laplegged
Drunk Again/ Why Women Go Wrong/ Trust Your Husband and Loveless
Blues. Fine sound and brief but informative liner notes by Chris Smith.
All in all, another major slice of this major blues figure. (DH) LONNIE JOHNSON: Be Careful/ Blue Ghost Blues/ Devil's Got The Blues/ Don't
Be No Fool/ Flood Water Blues/ Four-O-Three Blues/ Friendless And Blue/ Got
The Blues For The West End/ Hard Times Ain't Gone No Where/ I Ain't Gonna Be
Your Fool/ I'm Just Dumb/ I'm Nuts Over You/ It Ain't What You Usta Be/
Jersey Belle Blues/ Laplegged Drunk Again/ Man Killing Broad/ Mr. Johnson
Swing/ New Falling Rain Blues/ Nothing But A Rat/ She's My Mary/ She's Only
A Woman/ Something Fishy/ South Bound 11Backwater/ Swing Out Rhythm/ The
Loveless Love/ Trust Your Husband/ Why Women Go Wrong
The 23 tracks offered here, feature the same well known
Johnson qualities as the other two volumes in this series, with the
outstanding added attraction of four privately-made acetates recorded live
at the Boulevard Lounge in 1940. These four cuts feature the full Lonnie
Johnson Trio, with accompaniment by Dan Dixon and Andrew Harris. They offer
a glimpse of blues musicians working in a somewhat more pop music vein. And
on one of these tracks we get a rare glimpse of Johnson's own piano work.
Among the featured numbers are More Rhythm/ Crowing Rooster/ Lazy Woman
Blues/ She Ain't Right/ The Devil's Woman/ He's a Jelly Roll Bakerand
the topical lament aimed at the wartime extension of selective service
liability, From 20 to 44. Decent sound, with some allowance needed
for the four live cuts, and more informative notes from Chris Smith. (DH)
LONNIE JOHNSON: Baby, Remember Me/ Chicago Blues/ Crowing Rooster/ Falling
Rain (Live)/ Fly Right, Baby/ From 20 To 44/ Get Yourself Together/ He's A
Jelly-Roll Baker/ Heart Of Iron/ I Did All I Could/ In Love Again/ Lazy
Woman Blues/ Lonesome Road/ More Rhythm (Live)/ Rambler's Blues/ Rocks In My
Bed No.2 (Live)/ Secret Emotions (Live)/ She Ain't Right/ Somebody's Got To
Go/ That's Love/ The Devil's Woman/ The Last Call/ When You Feel Low Down
Volume 3 in this series picks up with recordings made after
the lifting of the Petrillo ban, for the Bluebird, Mercury, Disc, and
Aladdin labels. The 23 cuts offered here showcase Johnson in a variety of
musical settings, as a self-accompanied vocalist, as part of a duo or a
trio, and as part of a larger ensemble backing Carl Jones. Highlights
include My Love is Down/ Watch Shorty/ Trouble in Mind/ Keep What You
Got/ I'm in Love With You/ Rocks in My Bed and two particularly fine
instrumentals done in combination with Blind John Davis, Blues for
Everybody and Blues in My Soul. A solid and varied package with
some relatively rough sound on the transcriptions of the Disc cuts. Again,
fine liner notes by Chris Smith. (DH) LONNIE JOHNSON: Blues For Everybody/ Blues For Lonnie/ Blues In My Soul/
Don't Blame Her/ Drifting Along Blues/ How Could Be So Mean/ How Could You/
I'm In Love With You/ In Love Again/ Keep What You Got/ Love Is The Answer/
Mitzy/ My Last Love/ My Love Is Down/ Rocks In My Bed/ Solid Blues/ Some Day
Baby/ Tell Me Why/ Trouble In My MInd/ Watch Shorty/ Why I Love You/ You
Know I Do/ Your Last Time Out
20 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended Unlike most Johnson
reissues (except for the comprehensive Document series) which have
concentrated on his music prior to his semi-retirement from recording in
1932, this one features sides recorded after he returned to the studio in
1937. His singing and playing were as fine as ever and his ability to come
up with interesting and witty lyrics were undiminished. Most of the cuts
feature him in the company of a pianist either Roosevelt Sykes, Lil
Armstrong, Joshua Altheimer or Blind John Davis and often a bass and/or
drum. There are also two cuts where he accompanies Peetie Wheatstraw. Sound
quality is excellent, there are informative notes by Jean Buzelin and a
great cover shot of Lonnie with Blind John. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Blues In My Soul/ Devil's Got The Blues/ Don't Be No Fool/
Flood Water/ Flyright Baby/ Four-o-three Blues/ Hot Spring Blues (skin And
Bones)/ Mr. Johnson Swing/ My Last Love/ My Love Is Down/ New Falling Rain
Blues/ Rocks In My Bed/ She Ain't Right/ She's My Mary/ Solid Blues/
Something Fishy/ Swing Out Rhythm/ That's Love/ The Loveless Blues/ What
More Can A Man Do?
25 track collection covering the period 1926 and 1932
including several great guitar duets with Eddie Lang. LONNIE JOHNSON: 6/88 Glide/ A Handful Of Riffs/ Away Down In The Alley
Blues/ Blue Blod Blues/ Blue Moon Blues/ Bullfrog Moan/ Deep Minor Rhythm
Stomp/ Four Hands Are Better Than Two/ Hot Fingers/ I Love You, Mary Lou/ In
Love Again/ Jet Black Blues/ Life Saver Blues/ Love Story Blues/ Playing
With The Strings/ Roaming Rambler Blues/ Rocks In My Bed/ South Bound Water/
Stompin 'em Along Slow/ Swing Out Rhythm/ To Do This You Got To Know How/
Two Tone Stomp/ Uncle Ned, Don't Use Your Head/ Untitled/ Winnie The Wailer
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 2 1926-27
● CD $15.98
The second disc in this series starts as the first ended
with the eerie sound of Lonnie accompanying himself on harmonium with
brother James on violin on the mournful Oh! Doctor The Blues. The
rest of this disc covering the period from August 13, 1926 through 12
August, 1927 finds Lonnie playing guitar exclusively and includes some
magnificent instrumental solos like To Do This, You Got To Know How
or instrumental guitar duets with James that were not issued at the time.
Unlike the first disc the recordings here were all recorded electrically and
sound much better for it though some are from fairly worn discs. Lonnie's
songs include the topical (South Bound Water), the moralistic (Treat
'Em Right) and the sentimental (A Broken Heart That never Smiles)
as well as more standard blues themes (Mean Old Bed Bug Blues/ Fickle
Mama Blues, etc.). This disc also features him accompanying Helen Humes,
Raymond Boyd and Joe Brown - none of whose contributions is impressive.
Brief but informative notes by Chris Smith. (FS) RAYMOND BOYD: Blackbird Blues/ Unkind Mama/ JOE BROWN: Cotton Patch Blues/
Superstitious Blues/ HELEN HUMES: Black Cat Blues/ Worried Woman's Blues/
LONNIE JOHNSON: A Broken Heart That Never Smiles/ Baby, Will You Please Come
Home/ Back Water Blues/ Fickle Mamma Blues/ Four Hands Are Better Than Two/
I Done Tole You/ I Love You, Mary Lou/ Lonesome Ghost Blues/ Mean Old Bed
Bug Blues/ Oh! Doctor Blues/ Roaming Rambler Blues/ South Bound Water/ Stay
Out Of Walnut Street Alley/ Steppin' On The Blues/ Sweet Woman You Can't Go
Wrong/ Sweet Woman, See For Yourself/ To Do This, You Got To Know How/ Treat
'Em Right/ Woke Up With The Blues In My Fingers
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 3 1927-28
● CD $15.98
An excellent entry in this series this features 25 sides cut
between October, 1927 and February, 1928. The selection is varied and
includes songs showing Lonnie's composing flair some of them topical (St.
Louis Cyclone Blues/ Bitin' Flea Blues/ It's Hot - Let It Alone/ Why Should
I Grieve After You've Gone and others including a version of the old
standby Kansas City Blues with some lyric additions from Lonnie).
Lonnie's singing and playing are outstanding and there are some wonderful
guitar instrumentals including the superb Playing With The Strings &
Stompin' Em Along Slow. Two tracks feature Lonnie playing violin
accompanied by Nap Hayes/ gtr and Matthew Prater/ mandolin for some great
string band swing and two songs find Lonnie accompanying singer/ piano
player Keghouse. A few tracks are from well worn 78s but in general the
sound is very good. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: 6/88 Glide/ Away Down In The Alley Blues/ Bearcat Blues/
Bedbug Blues Part 2/ Bitin' Fleas Blues/ Blue Ghost Blues/ Blues In G/ It's
Hot - Let It Alone/ Kansas City Blues - Part 1/ Kansas City Blues - Part 2/
Life Saver Blues/ Low Land Moan/ Playing With The Strings/ St. Louis Cyclone
Blues/ Stompin' 'Em Along Slow/ Sweet Potato Blues/ The St. Louis Train Kept
Passing By/ Tin Can Alley Blues/ Untitled/ When A Man Is Treated Like a Dog/
Why Should I Grieve After You're Gone/ JOHNSON, HAYES & PRATER: Memphis
Stomp/ Violin Blues/ KEGHOUSE: Keghouse Blues/ Shiftin' My Gear Blues
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 4 1928-29
● CD $15.98
A particularly fine entry in this excellent series this one
includes 24 sides recorded between March, 1928 and May, 1929. There are some
brilliant solo performances including his first recording of the popular
Crowing Rooster Blues, the topical Broken Levee Blues and a very
affecting version of the standard Careless Love. There are some great
risque duets with Victoria Spivey, a number of his classic guitar duets with
Eddie Lang and two tracks where Johnson and Lang are joined by King Oliver,
J.C. Johnson and Hoagy Carmichael recording under the name of Blind Willie
Dunn's Gin Botle Four. The only weak tracks are the dull hokum duets with
Spencer Williams. Sound is mostly satisfactory and there are good notes by
Chris Smith. (FS) BLIND WILLIE DUNN'S GIN BOTTLE FOUR: Blue Blood Blues/ Jet Black Blues/
LONNIE JOHNSON: A Handful Of Riffs/ Blue Guitars/ Broken Levee Blues/
Careless Love/ Crowing Rooster Blues/ Death Is On Your Track (Duet with
Spencer Williams)/ Furniture Man Blues - Part 1 (Duet with Victoria Spivey)/
Furniture Man Blues - Part 2 (Duet with Victoria Spivey)/ Guitar Blues/ Have
to Change Keys To Play These Blues/ I Want A Little Some O'That What You Got
(Duet with Jimmy Foster)/ I'm So Tired Of Living All Alone/ It Feels So Good
- Part 1 (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ It Feels So Good - Part 2 (Duet with
Spencer Williams)/ New Black Snake Blues - Part 1 (Duet with Victoria
Spivey)/ New Black Snake Blues - Part 2 (Duet with Victoria Spivey)/
Toothache Blues - Part 1 (Duet with Victoria Spivey)/ Toothache Blues - Part
2 (Duet with Victoria Spivey)/ Two Tone Stomp/ Way Down That Lonesome Road/
When You Fall For Some One That's Not Your Own/ Wrong Woman Blues
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 5 1929-30
● CD $15.98
22 more sides by the brilliant and prolific Mr Johnson,
recorded between May 1929 and January 1930. It includes the last 5 of the
superb jazzy duets with guitarist Eddie Lang. From the sublime to the
ridiculous are several of those dreary hokum duets with Spencer. On a more
adult level are two excellent duets with the expressive Victoria Spivey and
of course a bunch of fine vocals by Lonnie most with his own superlative
guitar plus occasional piano. On a remake of his popular Falling Rain
Blues he plays some fine alley fiddle. Sound is generally good and there
brief, informative notes by Chris Smith. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Another Woman Booked Out And Bound To Go Once Or Twice (Duet
with Spencer W/ Baby Please Don't Leave Home No More/ Blue Room Blues/ Bull
Frog Moan/ Death Valley Is Just Half Way To My Home/ Deep Minor Rhythm
Stomp/ From Now On Make Your Whoopee At Home/ Headed For Southland/ Hot
Fingers/ It Feels So Good - Part 3 (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ It Feels So
Good - Part 4 (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ Midnight Call (Blues)/ Monkey
And The Baboon (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ Mr. Johnson's Blues No. 2/
She's Making Whoopee In Hell Tonight/ Sundown Blues/ The New Fallin' Rain
Blues/ Wipe It Off (Duet with Clarence Williams)/ You Can't Give A Woman
Everything She Needs/ You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now - Part 1 (Duet with
Victoria Spivey)/ You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now - Part 2 (Duet with
Victoria Spivey)
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 6 1930-31
● CD $15.98
22 tracks, 73 tracks, recommended Another terrific
collection by the prolific, but rarely dull, Lonnie Johnson. These tracks
were cut at 9 sessions between January 1930 and February 1931. It includes
the last of his hokum duets with Spencer Williams (thank goodness) as well
as four excellent duets with Clara Smith. The rest of the performances are
solo and includes several featuring Lonnie on piano - the first time on
record since 1926. The songs include the first version of one of his most
popular songs Jelly Roll Baker, the amazing Got The Blues For
Murder Only, She Don't Know Who She Wants/ Deep Sea Blues/ Long Black
Train, etc. A few cuts are from very worn 78s but most of it is very
listenable and all of it is fine. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Blues Is Only A Ghost/ Deep Sea Blues/ Don't Drive Me From
Your Door/ Don't Wear It Out (Duet with Clara Smith)/ Got The Blues For
Murder Only/ I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town - Part 1/ I Got The Best
Jelly Roll In Town - Part 2/ I Have To Do My Time/ I Just Can't Stand These
Blues/ Job (Duet with Clara Smith)/ Keep It To Yourself (Duet with Spencer
Williams)/ Let All Married Women Alone/ Long Black Train/ No More Troubles
Now/ Sam, You Can't Do That To Me/ She Don't Know Who She Wants/ Southland
Is All Right With Me/ The Bull Frog And The Toad (Duet with Spencer
Williams)/ The Dirty Dozen (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ The Monkey And The
Baboon - Part 2 (Duet with Spencer Williams)/ What Makes You Act Like That?
(Duet with Clara Smith)/ You Had Too Much (Duet with Clara Smith)/ You're
Getting Old On Your
Complete Recordings In Chronological Order
V. 7 1931-32
● CD $15.98
21 tracks, 65 mins, essential. This wonderful set covers the
period from February 1931 through August 1932 after which Lonnie was not to
record again until 1937. Lonnie was in great form on these sessions with
some wonderful songs and some of his most dazzling guitar playing. The
opening track Low Down St. Louis Blues is an amazing catalog of the
homicidal tendencies of the women he knows in St Louis ending up with "The
way that gal kill up men/ The graveyard ain't got much more room"! The
philosphical Hell Is A name For All Sinners features some of Lonnie's
wonderful piano work and his variation of "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You
Rascal You" called Uncle Ned, Don't Use Your Head has some
spectacular guitar playing. Sound here is generally excellent and there are
informative notes by Chris Smith. If you can only get one of the Johnson
volumes this would be an excellent choice. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Beautiful But Dumb/ Belong To You/ Best Jockey In Town/ Cat
You Been Messin' Aroun'/ From A Wash Woman On Up/ Go Back To Your No Good/
Hell Is A Name For All Sinners/ Home Wreckers Blues/ I'm Nuts About That
Gal/ Love Is A Song (Your Love Is Cold)/ Low Down St. Louis Blues/ Men, Get
Wise/ My Love Don't/ Not The Chump I Use To Be/ Racketeers Blues/ Sam,
You're Just A Rat/ She's Dangerous With That Thing/ Sleepy Water Blues/
There Is No Justice/ To Yourself/ Uncle Ned, Don't Use Your Head/ Unselfish
Love/ Winnie The Wailer
Two CD set. LONNIE JOHNSON: Beautiful But Dumb/ Blue Ghost Blues/ Blues For Everybody/
Blues In G/ Bull Frog Moan/ Cat, You Been Messin' Around/ Crowing Rooster/
Deep Minor Rhythm Stomp/ Falling Rain Blues/ From Now On, Make Your Whoopee
At Home/ Get Yourself Together/ Guitar Blues/ Hot Fingers/ I Did All I
Could/ I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town # 2/ I'm Just Dumb/ In Love Again/
Jersey Belle Blues/ Keep What You Got/ Let All Married Women Alone/ Love Is
The Answer/ Mean Old Bedbug Blues/ Mr Johnson's Blues/ Rambler's Blues/ Sam,
You Can't Do That To Me/ She's Only A Woman/ Sleepy Water Blues/ Somebody's
Got To Go/ Swing Out Rhythm/ There Is No Justice/ Trouble In Mind/ What A
Real Woman/ What A Woman/ What Makes You Act Like That?/ Winnie The Wailer/
Wipe It Off
24 tracks, 73 min., recommended. Originally issued a few
years ago JSP 335. A delightful look at the career of one of the century's
preeminent guitarists through the various early ensembles with which he
played. The set opens in 1925 with Johnson's first recording, Won't Don't
Blues, and closes in August of 1932 with Racketeer's Blues. His
playing partners during these early years include Charlton Creath's
Jazz-O-Maniacs; his own brother, James "Steady Roll" Johnson; Louis
Armstrong and his Hot Five; Duke Ellington and his Orchestra; The Chocolate
Dandies; Eddie Lang; and Clarence Williams' Jug Band. It's a reasonably
varied program, with numbers that are slow and stately, like Nile of
Genago and Savoy Blues, to those that are fast and frantic, like
Hotter Than That. Sound quality varies, starting out pretty rough
with the mid-20's cuts. The notes by Neil Slaven are solid. (DH)
Reissue of Bluesville 1011, originally issued in 1960. A
fine collection of 7 blues and 3 sentimental ballads. Lonnie sings and plays
electric guitar and is joined by veteran jazz guitarist Elmer Snowden (the
man who brought Duke Ellington to New York in the early 20s) and bassist
Wendell Marshall. I'm not a big fan of Lonnie's ballads but there are enough
fine blues here to keep me happy though most of them are remakes of songs
Lonnie had originally recorded earlier in his career including Haunted
House/ Back Water Blues and Jelly Roll Baker. He also does a
distinctive version of the old standby St. Louis Blues. Affectionate
notes by Chris Alberston. (FS) LONNIE JOHNSON: Back Water Blues/ Blues For Chris/ Elmer's Blues/ Haunted
House/ I Found A Dream/ I'll Get Along Somehow/ Jelly Roll Baker/ Memories
of You/ Savoy Blues/ St. Louis Blues
Reissue of Bluesville 1044 from 1961. This album features 9
solo performances by Lonnie & his guitar with Cliff Jackson/ piano, two
vocal duets with Victoria and one solo performance by Victoria with her own
piano. The duets are charming if not terribly exciting and Lonnie's solo
performances are about par for the period - pleasant sentimental blues. The
solo Spivey cut I Got The Blues So Bad is a nice funky performance.
