John Lee Curtis Williamson's recorded career lasted just eleven years before his death aged just thirty-four in 1948. The short form of his biography puts him squarely in the country blues mould but that understates his incredible facility with his harp and he was almost certainly the first to establish the instrument as a credible lead instrument rather than just playing in a supporting role. some of the pieces he did for Bluebird in 1940 pre-date the urban Chicago sound of Chess by ten years or more. Such was his reputation that he could entice players of the stature of Big Bill Broonzy into the studio for two handers like "Good Gravy". a second player (Alec "Rice" Miller) from another Mississippi borrowed the name to secure work locally after our hero left for the Windy City. Their timespans of recorded output don't overlap and is useful when flicking through record racks of on-line listings, Miller became more famous through the patronage of the Sixties British Blues Boom but you're missing out if you don't have slots for both men in your collection. The prime choices are set out for you by Ray Templeton in the new issue of Blues & Rhythm magazine: to mark SBW centenary he's first and next issue Ray will look at SBW2. Rather than showcase "Good Morning Little schoolgirl" we dipped in four times to his other work.
Otis Spann is justifiably known as the greatest blues pianist of them all; his session work fills 89 pages of discography and just about every major side put out on Chess in the 50s and 60s was graced with his subtle power. He'd have been 84 last Friday and we had time for just two pieces he cut with Muddy Waters (complete with harp maestro - still going strong - James Cotton).
I put Sonny Rhodes in as opener because it coincides with the anniversary of one of my earliest blues memories, the session he did for Paul Jones on radio 2. Been a sucker for lap slide every since. The Guitar Jr number came off a rare vinyl album cut in 1969 and he now goes out under the name Lonnie Brooks with the same caustic voice and guitar. More rarity quotient with Little Joe (aka Joe Hill Louis) with the top side of a 1957 single on House of Sound. He is one of dozens of artists to be found on the sumptuous box set of Sun blues artists put out by the Bear Family last year, we went there and found another variant of Pat Hare's landmark single. B. B King is on that collection but he was never as naked visceral as he was for the 1966 live recordings which came out as "Blues Is King". You should start there instead of "Live at the Regal" to understand why he was so magnetic.
Lest you think - as do some other blues shows - the electric guitar is where it all starts and ends, we proudly worshipped at the church of the saxophone this week. Buddy Johnson and Roy Montrell got us in the mood while T J Fowler and Lynn Hope bubbled away quite nicely. Its inconceivable to imagine rock'n'roll without the instrument. Buddy was taken from a set on Fantastic Voyage compiled by Stuart Coleman to bring us the music that was around immediately prior to Elvis hitting the airways. Lady Blue and I have been enjoying the two discs in the car, so much so I had to run down stairs during the show to retrieve it from the car player. Lula Reed is on that one too.
If you're confused by the two (at least) with records as Sonny Boy Williamson, just think of the trouble when you're one of three going by Dr. Feelgood! And as for names, I prefer living in a parallel universe in which Gordon Sumner pays tribute to Amos Easton aka Bumble Bee Slim). With a brief outing from very early Robert Lockwood Jr. we were just about done.
This month is the 65th birthday of the 45rpm single and we'll round off our vinyl March with a full-fat survey of 25 of the best on the next STAR BLUES until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
track.title | track.artistsort | index | album.title | album.artistsort | label |
Ya Ya | Sonny Rhodes | 7 | Disciple Of The Blues | Sonny Rhodes | Wild Dog |
wee wee hours | guitar jr. | 1 | broke an' hungry | guitar jr. | capitol |
Let's Have a Natural Ball | Albert King | 1 | More Big Blues | Albert King | ACE |
Rough Treatment | Little Hudson | 11 | Blues Is Killin' Me (1953) | Various Artists | FLYRIGHT |
Have You Ever Been Mistreated | Gatemouth Brown | 19 | The Rogana Story - 'Hossman's Blues' | Various Artists | SPV |
Crazy 'Bout A Saxophone | Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra | 22 | The Road To Rock And Roll Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Bump On A Log | Lula Reed | 5 | The Road To Rock And Roll Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Soulful Dress | Sugar Pie Desanto | 1 | Go Go Power • The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966 | Sugar Pie Desanto | Kent |
You're the One | Jimmy Rogers | 12 | That's Alright | Jimmy Rogers | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Jivin' the Blues | John Lee 'Sonny Boy Williamson | 20 | History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One | Various Artists | Rhythm and Blues Records |
I Been Dealing With the Devil | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | 18 | Sloppy Drunk Blues | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | ABM |
Bear Cat Crawl | Meade Lux Lewis | 15 | The Best Of Boogie Woogie | Various Artists | DOCUMENTS |
Let's Have a Good Time Tonight | Piano Red A.K.A. Dr. Feelgood | 3 | Snatch And Grab It! Rhythem & Blues Classics | Various Artists | DEAR FAMILY |
jesus said it | heavenly lights | 2-4 | hop skip jump - screamin gospel hpoly rollers vol. 3 | various artists | vee-tone |
Gambler's Blues | B. B. King | 2 | Great Moments With B. B. King | B. B. King | MCA |
Cheatin' and Lynin' Blues | Pat Hare | 19 | The Sun Blues Box Sampler - Blues, R&b And Gospel Music In Memphis 1950 - 1958 | Various Artists | bear family / b&r magazine |
glamour girl | little joe hill louis | 3 | glamour girl (1957) | little joe | house of sound |
Mudd | Roy Montrell | 20 | Mr Joe's Jambalaya // Loaded Down With The Blues | Various Artists | CHARLY |
blow lynn blow | lynn hope | 1-26 | jump blues jamaica way | various artists | fantastic voyage |
wine cooler | t j fowler | 5 | wine cooler | t j fowler | savoy |
What's on Your Worried Mind? | Otis Spann | 14 | Live The Life | Otis Spann | Testament |
I Got a Feeling | Otis Spann | 13 | The Bluesville Years. Vol 2: Feeling Down On | Various Artists | PRESTIGE |
X-Temporaneous Boogie | Camille Howard | 13 | It's Spelt Specialty | Various Artists | Specialty |
Lonely Avenue | Ray Charles | 8 | Ray Charles: Eight Classic Albums | Ray Charles | IODA |
Back in Jail Again | Bumble Bee Slim (Aka Amos Easton) | 14 | The Essential | Bumble Bee Slim (Aka Amos Easton) | CLASSIC BLUES |
(I'm Gonna) Dig Myself a Hole | Robert Lockwood Jr. | 6 | Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Good Gravy | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | 10 | Sugar Mama | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | INDIGO |
Whiskey Headed Woman Blues | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | 8 | Sugar Mama | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) | INDIGO |
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