Archive for August, 2007
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Lonnie Johnson: The King Sides Part 2
Between December 10 and the 14th 1947 Johnson recorded twenty-one sides all of which were issued. Despite the success of the ballad “Tomorrow Night” most of the material was straight blues. Johnson recycled many of his earlier triumphs including one of his most enduring themes, a superb update of “Falling Rain Blues.” […]
No Comments » - Posted in Articles, St. Louis by Jeff
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Lonnie Johnson: The King Sides Part 1
Lonnie Johnson’s place in blues history would have been immortalized if even if he had never recorded past the 1930’s. It certainly would have made blues critics life easier who generally tend to dismiss Johnson’s later recordings. Unfortunately, for them, Johnson persisted hooking up with the King label in the late 1940’s, enjoying […]
No Comments » - Posted in Articles, St. Louis by Jeff
Sunday, August 26th, 2007
Big Road Blues Show 8/26/07: Blues Goes To War - Uncle Sam Ain’t No Woman But He Sure Can Take Your Man
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Wartime Blues
The Complete Classic Sides
Blind Willie Johnson
When The War Was On
BWJ & The Guitar Evangelists
Yack Taylor
Those Draftin’ Blues
Jazzin’ the Blues Vol 5 1930-1953
Big Bill Broonzy
In The Army Now
Big Bill Broonzy Vol. 11
Leadbelly
Uncle Sam Says
Leadbelly / Josh White 1937 - 1946
Josh White
Uncle Sam Says
Josh White Vol. 4 1940 - 194
Lonnie Johnson
From 20 to 44
Lonnie […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Playlists by Jeff
Saturday, August 25th, 2007
Jesse Thomas 1948-1958
Jesse Thomas recorded sporadically from the late 1920’s through the early 1990’s and despite his longevity didn’t achieve much in the way of success or recognition. In 1929, at 18, Thomas cut four excellent sides for Victor showing a prowess beyond his years. Three of the number are strongly indebted to Lonnie Johnson while the […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Music Reviews, Texas Blues, West Coast Blues by Jeff
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
Clifford Gibson: An Appreciation
While the music of artists such as Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton and Son House, to name the most obvious, have been endlessly dissected, analyzed and debated there are many artists of comparable talent who have been left in the dust. Clifford Gibson’s name doesn’t have the romantic glow of the above artists; he wasn’t […]
No Comments » - Posted in Articles, St. Louis by Jeff
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Big Road Blues Show 8/19/07: Basin Street Breakdown
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
Dave Bartholomew
Mr. Fool
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
Country Boy
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
Girt Town Blues
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
That’s How You Got Killed…
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
Every Night Every Day
1952-1955
Dave Bartholomew
An Old Cow Hand…
1952-1955
Dave Bartholomew
Lawdy Lawdy Lord Pt. 1
In The Alley
Dave Bartholomew
Basin Street Breakdown
In The Alley
Dave Bartholomew
The Golden Rule
In The Alley
Dave Bartholomew
Ain’t Gonna Do It
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
Jump Children
1952-1955
Dave Bartholomew
In The Alley
In The Alley
Dave Bartholomew
Messy Bessie
1947-1950
Dave Bartholomew
Nickel Wine
In The Alley
Dave […]
No Comments » - Posted in New Orleans, Playlists by Jeff
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007
Easy Baby: Sweet Home Chicago Blues
Wrapping up our look at great 1970’s blues albums we once again head to Chicago to check in with Alex Randle who goes by the handle Easy Baby. Much less well known than Fenton Robinson or Son Seals, Easy Baby nonetheless cut one of the great blues records of the 1970’s. There’s nothing fancy […]
No Comments » - Posted in Chicago Blues, Music Reviews by Jeff
Tuesday, August 14th, 2007
Son Seals: Midnight Son
My last review was of Fenton Robinson’s “Somebody Loan Me A Dime” and keeping in that vein we take a look at another great record from the 1970’s. If subtlety and taste were the hallmarks of Fenton’s style, Seals’ took a more raw, hard hitting approach. His self titled debut was as raw […]
No Comments » - Posted in 1970's Blues, Chicago Blues, Music Reviews by Jeff
Sunday, August 12th, 2007
Big Road Blues Show 8/12/07: Mix Show
ARTIST
SONG
ALBUM
Larry Johnson
Hoodoo Doctor
All Star Blues World of Maestro…
Johnny Copeland
Stealing
Dedicated To the Greatest
Lowell Fulson
I Cried
Complete Kent Recordings 1964-68
Larry Davis
I’ve Been Hurt So Many Times
Sweet Little Angel
Clifford Gibson
Blues Without A Dime
Clifford Gibson 1929 - 1931
Oscar ”Buddy” Woods
Fence Breakin’ Blues
Oscar Woods & Black Ace 1930 - 1938
Bukka White
Alabama Blues
Sky Songs Vol. 1
Baby Face Leroy
Late Hours At Midnight
1948-1952
Eddie Mack
Last […]
No Comments » - Posted in Playlists by Jeff
Tuesday, August 7th, 2007
Fenton Robinson: Somebody Loan Me A Dime
I’ve often heard and read that the 1970’s wasn’t a good period for blues; from a popularity standpoint that may have been true but certainly not from a recording standpoint. One of the era’s true masterpieces is Fenton Robinson’s magnificent “Somebody Loan me A Dime” cut for Alligator in 1974. Fenton had been recording sporadically […]
