Author Archive
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Lula Reed RIP 1926 - 2008
Lula Reed, Jet Magazine, 1953
I recently got word that the fine R&B singer Lula Reed passed away on June 21st. I imagine that if blues fans know her at all it’s the same way I discovered her which is on the half-dozen sides she cut with Freddy King in 1962. In fact I still have […]
1 Comment » - Posted in 1950's Blues, 1960's Blues, Female Singers by Jeff
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Chicago Defender Blues Advertisements: Little Hat Jones
New Two Sixteen Blues (MP3)
Two String Blues (MP3)
In our ongoing series of Chicago Defender blues ads we feature a pair by Texas guitarist George “Little Hat Jones.” Okeh placed four ads in the newspaper on the following dates: September 7th 1929, June 21st 1930, June 28th 1930 and October 18th 1930. Jones was […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Blues Ads, Texas Blues by Jeff
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
Big Road Blues Show 6/29/08: Mix Show
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
Peetie Wheatstraw
A Man Ain’t Nothin’ But A Fool
Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 5 (1937-1938)
Henry Brown
Deep Morgan Stomp
Down On The Levee
Stump Johnson
Steady Grindin’
Down On The Levee
Forrest City Joe
She Lived Her Life Too Fast
Sounds Of The South
Alfred Blues King Harris
Sufficient Clothes
Modern Downhome Blues Vol. 3
Jimmy Earle
Climbin’ Up To Heaven Blues
Messing With The Blues
Mel Walker
The Candle’s Burnin’ Low
Midnight at the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Playlists by Jeff
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Bottle It Up And Go: The Blues Of Tommy McClennan Pt. 2
We concluded part one with the recording of “Bottle It Up And Go”, one of McClennan’s most enduring numbers. McClennan’s first session was probably his strongest and as Neil Slaven notes “there’s a subtle diminution of commitment as the five sessions progress, as though alcohol had begun to erode his skills.” His first session is […]
No Comments » - Posted in 1930's Blues, 1940's Blues, Chicago Blues, Mississippi Blues by Jeff
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Bottle It Up And Go: The Blues Of Tommy McClennan Pt. 1
I first stumbled upon the music of Tommy McClennan by accident. In my early record buying days one of my favorite haunts was Tower Records at Broadway and West 4th Street in NYC which had a terrific blues section. I think I was looking for a Tommy Johnson record and somehow got him and Tommy […]
1 Comment » - Posted in 1930's Blues, 1940's Blues, Articles, Chicago Blues, Mississippi Blues by Jeff
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
Big Road Blues Show 6/22/08: Early Texas Blues - Blues Came To Texas Loping Like A Mule
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Shuckin’ Sugar Blues
The Complete Classic Sides
Blind Lemon Jefferson
One Dime Blues
Best Of
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Rambler Blues
Best Of
Leadbelly
My Friend Blind Lemon
The Remaining ARC & LOCR Vol. 1
Smith Casey
East Texas Rag
Texas Field Recordings 1934-1939
Pete Harris
Blind Lemon’s Song
Texas Field Recordings 1934-1939
Henry Thomas
Texas Worried Blues
Early Masters From The Lone Star State
Henry Thomas
Bull Doze Blues
Early Masters From The Lone Star […]
No Comments » - Posted in 1920's Blues, 1930's Blues, Playlists, Texas Blues by Jeff
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
Chicago Defender Blues Advertisements: Henry Thomas
John Henry (MP3)
Cottonfield Blues (MP3)
I’ve always been intrigued by the old blues advertisements and have been collecting them for some time. The bulk of these appeared in the Chicago Defender and I’m fortunate to have access to all the old back issues through a university library. Other ads stem from promotional material sent […]
3 Comments » - Posted in 1920's Blues, Blues Ads, Texas Blues by Jeff
Sunday, June 15th, 2008
Big Road Blues Show 6/15/08: Mix Show
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
James ‘Boodle It’ Wiggins
Corinne, Corinna
Boogie Woogie & Barrelhouse Piano 2
Montana Taylor
Whoop And Holler Stomp
Shake Your Wicked Knees
Cow Cow Davenport
Slum Gullion Stomp
Mama Don’t Allow No Easy Riders Here
Jesse Thomas
It’s You I’m Thinking Of
1948-1958
Big Joe Turner
Mardi Gras Boogie
Classic Hits 1938-52
Cousin Joe
Sleep Walking Woman
Crescent City Bounce
Earl Hooker
Swear To Tell The Truth
Blue Guitar
Brownie & Sonny
The Red Cross Store
Black Appalachia
Big […]
No Comments » - Posted in Playlists by Jeff
Sunday, June 8th, 2008
Program Note
Just a quick note to say that there will be a fill-in DJ on today’s program. I will be busy at the Hot Blues for the Homeless concert. If you are in the area and haven’t bought a ticket we hope you decide to come down. It should be a great day of […]
No Comments » - Posted in Program Note by Jeff
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Texas Troublesome Blues: The Blues Of Texas Alexander Part 3
We wrap up our look at the recordings of Texas Alexander with sessions he cut in 1934 in the company of the Mississippi Sheiks, the jazz band His Sax Black Tams, the guitar duo of Willie Reed and Carl Davis and a lone 78 in cut in the post-war era. In part two we ended […]
