We held over a track from Jody Williams from last week: it's astonishing to find out the 2002 "Return of A Legend" album was the first under his own name, given his earliest sides for Howlin' Wolf in 1954. His first two singles were done in the 1963 and both had "Moanin' For Molasses" on the flip side. That instrumental got an outing on his debut album with a small assist to and from the 21 year old Sean Costello. Jody's still with us, though sadly not so Sean. I've made a note to find one or other of those 45s for an upcoming Vinyl Hour.
Last week Cecil Womack died, though best known to the mainstream world (and ham fisted oiks who can't be bothered to sort cds properly on record store racks) as half of Womack and Womack, he was the youngest brother to Bobby Womack and with three other brothers formed the Valentinos. In March 1964 they turned up a SAR studios expecting the full bifta treatment with strings and horn arrangements to record Bobby's newly written song ("Its All Over Now"). They were persuaded by producer Johnnie Morissette that they stripped back band would show then to best advantage. Unbeknownst to them the DJ Murray the K passed the early acetate to the Rolling Stones before the Valentinos single could be mastered for sale. Mick, Keef and the boys beat them to the punch by six weeks and to the top of the charts into pop history. To say Bobby was a tad miffed would be like calling Hurricane Katrina a puff of wind. Sam Cooke calmed him down by pointing out the likely size of writer royalty cheques. We leant back and savoured Cecil and Bobby on their sublime original version.
Other than Annie Raines, I can't name another current blues lady playing harp - until I got sent a neat promo EP from the Dana Dixon Band. Her instrumental "Little Walter" shows she knows her way round that axe. Further new item from the Andy-T Nick Nixon Band has Anson Funderburgh on guitar (though not on the track we played). Jesse Dee was on STAR BLUES with his debut album in 2010 and he is now part of the Alligator roster. This Boston born young man has a lovely smooth voice and a keen writing gift. He's photogenically good looking and we love his project - easily as good as most Grammy winners IMHO.
Etta James' last project for Chess is now on cd for the first time with a whole clutch of mid-Seventies singles and rarities as bonus. The sessions took place in Englewood because All Platinum had just bought the Chess label and were anxious to make their mark on the sound of the old label. The album had a couple of singles to promote it and we chose one for our Vinyl Hour. My earliest forays into discographical research started off following the lineage in Eric Clapton's session work - it quickly came up against a 1969 single for Atco under the name "King Curtis", from there it was a delicious ride through a number of sides graced with the tenor mans considerable skills. (Waylon Jennings, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Darin are just 3 names well outside our purview showing how much hie was in demand). He lived but 31 years and if he did nothing else he did the sax bit for the Coasters' "Yakety Yak".
Josh White would have been 99 today (Monday 11th) and his verrsion of "Strange Fruit" stayed tight to the original intent of the composer (unlike the previous hit version everyone knows by Billie Holiday). She felt he'd blasphemed "her" song (though she did not write it) that Josh was physically attacked on the steps of a NYC club in 1941 when his effort came to her ears. It isn't an easy melody for anyone and this one shows why Josh was held in such high regard. Incidentally it was on 78 in an album (the first strict definition of an album wasn't a 33rpm vinyl record, it was 3 platters at 78 packaged together in a single cover.
I've got two very special projects upcoming which have come about by our support of the vinyl format - I'll tell you more just as soon as I am allowed. You were magnificent, I was just Gary Blue last night. Until the next instalment take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Track.Title | Track.ArtistSort | Index | Album.Title | Album.ArtistSort | Label |
Put The Shoe On The Other Foot | Albert Collins | 5 | Iceman | Albert Collins | POINTBLANK |
Still A Fool | Big Bad Smitty | 5 | Mean Disposttion | Big Bad Smitty | BLACK MAGIC |
Moanin' For Molasses | Jody Williams | 5 | Return Of A Legend | Jody Williams | EVIDENCE |
No End To The Blues | Andy T-Nick Nixon BandAnson Funderburgh | 7 | Drink Drank Drunk | Andy T-Nick Nixon BandAnson Funderburgh | Delta Groove |
Little Walter Comes To Town | Dana Dixon | 2 | Dana Dixon Band | Dana Dixon | Dana Dixon |
movin to the country | Valentinos | 35 | Sar Records Story 1959-1965 | Various Artists | ABKCO |
It's All Over Now | Valentinos | 36 | Sar Records Story 1959-1965 | Various Artists | ABKCO |
i won't forget about you | jesse dee | 4 | on my mind in my heart | jesse dee | alligator |
my man | mike sanchez and imelda may | 13 | almost grown | mike sanchez | doopin |
these days aregone | otis grand | 12 | blues 65 | otis grand | maingate |
The Hustle Is On | Phillip Walker | 9 | Blues T-Bone Style | Various Artists | EASYDISC |
My Heart Is Filled With Pain | Little Johnny Taylor | 6 | The Galaxy Years | Little Johnny Taylor | ACE |
Mean Red Spider | Muddy Waters | 9 | Reborn And Remastered | Muddy Waters | ROUGH GUIDES |
I'm a woman | Lula Reed | 17 | Just A Little Bit: Federal's Queens Of New Breed R&b | Tiny TopsyLula Reed | ACE |
i've been a fool | etta james | 8 | etta is betta than evvah | etta james | kent |
Teasin’ | King Curtis With Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton & Friends | 13 | Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | POLYDOR |
Yakety Yak | Coasters, The | 6 | Greatest Hits - Plus! | Coasters, The | SEQUEL |
peter gunn | king curtis | 1-23 | wail man wail | king curtis | fantastic voyage |
I Can't Make It Alone | Otis Clay | 8 | The 45's | Otis Clay | HI |
Strange Fruit | Josh White | 18 | Presenting Josh White | Josh White | SIGNATURE |
Tough Times | John Brim | 14 | Whose Muddy Shoes | Elmore JamesJohn Brim | CHESS |
Hadacol Bounce | Professor Longhair | 9 | Gettin' Funky | Various Artists | PROPER |
fat man | fats domino | 15 | Gettin' Funky | Various Artists | PROPER |
boogie in the park | joe hill louis | 19 | Boppin' The Blues : Stars On Sun | Various Artists | CHARLY |
i be bound | muddy waters | 3 | reborn and remastered | Various Artists | rough guide |
Night Train | Jimmy Forrest | 8 | The Sound Of The City - Chicago | Various Artists | Emi Records Ltd |
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