[J.A.W.]

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This post has been edited by J.A.W.: 13 July 2010 - 08:07 PM
Reason for edit: list temporarily removed

[AfricaBrass]

Thanks Hans!

I was using your old list to help with my blues purchases. I was sad to see it go when the BNBB died.

Thanks for bringing it back.

BTW, do you have any new artists that you'd recommend?

[J.A.W.]

AfricaBrass, on Mar 23 2003, 06:16 PM, said:

Thanks Hans!

I was using your old list to help with my blues purchases. I was sad to see it go when the BNBB died.

Thanks for bringing it back.

BTW, do you have any new artists that you'd recommend?

No, I know too little about new artists to be able to recommend any. Maybe someone could post "new artists recommendations" in this thread, or start a new one.

[Stan C]

Thanks Hans also for bringing back this great list for Blues and R&B recommendations. It's too bad many recordings on your list are out of print but not impossible to find. I would like to add a few other recommendations.

Violin, Sing The Blues For Me - Old Hat
Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow!- Old Hat
Little Esther - Better Beware- King Masters

[AfricaBrass]

J.A.W., on Mar 23 2003, 10:23 AM, said:

No, I know too little about new artists to be able to recommend any. Maybe someone could post "new artists recommendations" in this thread, or start a new one.

Thanks anyway, Hans!

There's enough on your list to keep me busy for a long time. :D

[J Larsen]

Which are preferable: the Frog Bessie Smith volumes, or the Columbia volumes?

[J.A.W.]

J Larsen, on Mar 23 2003, 07:25 PM, said:

Which are preferable: the Frog Bessie Smith volumes, or the Columbia volumes?

I don't have the Frogs (yet), but I'm told they outrank the Columbia sets sonically.

[blake]

thank you. thank you. thank you for re-posting this list.

[Jim Alfredson]

I would like to say that Charles Brown is the shit. I am still pissed that I missed out on that Mosaic set.

:angry:

[danasgoodstuff]

One additon: Jr. Wells, Hoodoo Man Blues (Delmark), Featuring "Friendly Chap" (Buddy Guy). for me this is one of the true essentials, and about as modern as blues can get and still be blues.

[EKE BBB]

JAW, thanks for bringing back this great list. It will take a long time and a great deal of money to get all those gems!

BTW, do you think Classics are another good choice for Bessie´s discography? (I´ve got some of them) Of course, without alternates.

[kulu se mama]

what a wonderful list.
i've copied it and highlighted what i already have, that way i can concentrate on the new stuff.
just curious, why did you include the charles brown and amos milburn mosaics, but you did not inlcude the t-bone walker?
i noticed that you did include the t-bone capitol and alladin sets.
doesn't the mosaic contain the exact same material?
on a side note, the last 2 t-bone mosaics on ebay have sold for an all time low. now's the time to buy not sell.

[jazzbo]

The best way to get the Bessie Smiths is the new, ongoing Frog Records series. Up to four now (maybe five is out) and in the best sound ever (John R. T. Davies transfers) and will include the alternates AND some items never before released (not in the Columbia series.)

[J.A.W.]

kulu se mama, on Mar 26 2003, 02:37 PM, said:

what a wonderful list.
i've copied it and highlighted what i already have, that way i can concentrate on the new stuff.
just curious, why did you include the charles brown and amos milburn mosaics, but you did not inlcude the t-bone walker?
i noticed that you did include the t-bone capitol and alladin sets.
doesn't the mosaic contain the exact same material?
on a side note, the last 2 t-bone mosaics on ebay have sold for an all time low.  now's the time to buy not sell.

T-Bone Walker Mosaic added. I didn't include it initially because the Capitol sets have better sound, at least from what I've heard.

This post has been edited by J.A.W.: 26 March 2003 - 12:06 PM

[J.A.W.]

danasgoodstuff, on Mar 26 2003, 05:46 AM, said:

One additon: Jr. Wells, Hoodoo Man Blues (Delmark), Featuring "Friendly Chap" (Buddy Guy). for me this is one of the true essentials, and about as modern as blues can get and still be blues.

Hoodoo Man Blues added.

[J.A.W.]

clementine, on Mar 24 2003, 05:58 AM, said:

Robert Pete Williams: ** DO NOT MISS ** RPW's self titled album from 1970, originally on Ahura Mazda. This was a tough side to find back in the day but Fat Possum reissued it a couple years ago; "Includes the hit single 'Goodbye Slim Harpo.'"

Clem

Robert Pete Williams info updated.

[J.A.W.]

jazzbo, on Mar 26 2003, 05:42 PM, said:

The best way to get the Bessie Smiths is the new, ongoing Frog Records series. Up to four now (maybe five is out) and in the best sound ever (John R. T. Davies transfers) and will include the alternates AND some items never before released (not in the Columbia series.)

Frog Records: http://www.frogrecords.co.uk/menu.htm

[brownie]

JAW, thanks for resuscitating that list. I obviously missed that when it was
posted on the BNBB list. Went thru my favorite blues albums. There were
all on the list. Might just want to add these items which seem to be missing:

- Kokomo Arnold/Casey Bill Weldon, the Yazoo 'Bottleneck Trendsetters' album,
- the two Jesse Fuller albums on GoodTimeJazz 'Folk Blues and Spirituals' and
'San Francisco Bay Blues'

I'm keeping your list now for reference.

[J.A.W.]

brownie, on Mar 27 2003, 07:17 AM, said:

JAW, thanks for resuscitating that list. I obviously missed that when it was
posted on the BNBB list. Went thru my favorite blues albums. There were
all on the list. Might just want to add these items which seem to be missing:

- Kokomo Arnold/Casey Bill Weldon, the Yazoo 'Bottleneck Trendsetters' album,
- the two Jesse Fuller albums on GoodTimeJazz 'Folk Blues and Spirituals' and
'San Francisco Bay Blues'

I'm keeping your list now for reference.

The Kokomo Arnold / Casey Bill Weldon album is listed under Casey Bill Weldon's name, in the "Pre-War Chicago" section.

[J.A.W.]

Good news! Vol.5 of the ongoing Bessie Smith series on Frog Records is available now.

[J.A.W.]

Edited, with revisions and additions.

[J.A.W.]

Edited again, with corrections. Thanks Chuck!

[Jazzmoose]

WHAT??? No Bullmoose Jackson? :o

[J.A.W.]

Jazzmoose, on Sep 19 2003, 06:08 PM, said:

WHAT??? No Bullmoose Jackson? :o

Nope. Couldn't find a good, decent-sounding anthology with his late 1940s / early 1950s songs.

[The Mule]

I'd like to lobby for this collection to be included in the "Post-War Chicago" section:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d608/d60808h69yg.jpg

CHICAGO/THE BLUES/TODAY! is a legendary compilation of mid-60s Chicago blues and essential stuff, in my opinion...

[J.A.W.]

List edited.

[J.A.W.]

List edited.

[Joe]

How about some Frank Frost / Original Jelly Roll Kings? Those Sun recordings are mighty fine, and the Jewel material ain't no slouch either.

I should also mention that there are now three inexpensive JSP Records box sets available covering the complete "pre-war" recordings of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, and, in one 5-CD chunk, Skip James / Son House / Bukka White / Tommy Johnson / Ishman [Ishmon] Bracey. The sound on these sets in uniformly excellent -- I've never heard the Skip James Paramount sides sound this good -- but I don't recall if J. R. T. Davies did the transfers or not. Whatever the case, these sets represent an excellent way to acquire these classic recordings.

My only reservation might be just how reputable this firm is, though I don't really associate their business practices with those of, say, a Jordi Pujol.

[John L]

The list is getting quite long. But I would say that a lot of major artists and recordings are still missing. How about

"And This is Maxwell Street:" Essential Maxwell street recordings of Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young, etc.

Hound Dog Taylor: "Beware of the Dog"

Junior Kimbrough: "All Night Long"

Hop Wilson: "Hop Wilson and His Buddies"

Willie Love: "Willie Love and His Three Aces"

"Blues For Big Town" (Chess collection with early Detroit recordings of Bobo Jenkins, Eddie Burns, Calvin Frazier, and others)

Z.Z. Hill: "Down Home Blues"

Magic Slim and the Teardrops: Large choice...maybe "Grand Slam"

John Littlejohn: "Chicago Blues All Stars"

and Papa Lightfoot, Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry McCain, Son Seals, Clara Smith, Little Johnny Taylor, Jimmy Wilson, Ted Taylor...


I would also say that your choice for Walter Davis is not right. The 1930-32 recordings are relatively insignificant. He made his real masterpieces later. Many of those are included on the compilation "The Essential" on Blues Classics (Document). My personal favorite disk is volume 7 of the Complete Walter Davis on Document (1946-1952), which contains all of the incredible Bullet recordings.

[J.A.W.]

John L, on Oct 18 2003, 04:05 PM, said:

The list is getting quite long.  But I would say that a lot of major artists and recordings are still missing.  How about

"And This is Maxwell Street:" Essential Maxwell street recordings of Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young, etc.

Hound Dog Taylor: "Beware of the Dog"

Junior Kimbrough: "All Night Long"

Hop Wilson: "Hop Wilson and His Buddies"

Willie Love: "Willie Love and His Three Aces"

"Blues For Big Town" (Chess collection with early Detroit recordings of Bobo Jenkins, Eddie Burns, Calvin Frazier, and others)

Z.Z. Hill:  "Down Home Blues"

Magic Slim and the Teardrops:  Large choice...maybe "Grand Slam"

John Littlejohn: "Chicago Blues All Stars" 

and Papa Lightfoot, Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry McCain, Son Seals, Clara Smith, Little Johnny Taylor, Jimmy Wilson, Ted Taylor...


I would also say that your choice for Walter Davis is not right.  The 1930-32 recordings are relatively insignificant.  He made his real masterpieces later.  Many of those are included on the compilation "The Essential" on Blues Classics (Document).  My personal favorite disk is volume 7 of the Complete Walter Davis on Document (1946-1952), which contains all of the incredible Bullet recordings.

It's a list of my personal favorites (at least most of the listed items are, while the others are important in my opinion), not a list with general recommendations. Whether or not my choices are right is a matter of opinion / taste.

You're right about the Walter Davis, though, and I've deleted it from the list. My favorite Davis is the long OOP Krazy Kat (UK) album The Bullet Sides.

Willie Love is listed in the "Post-War Chicago" section:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) / Willie Love - Clownin' with the World - Alligator (Trumpet recordings with his Three Aces)

I forgot to list the Papa Lightfoot CD; it's now listed in the "Mississippi Delta Blues" section.

By the way, I couldn't find the Chess collection Blues for Big Town anywhere. Do you have any details, such as the CD number and year of release?

I'm not a fan of post-1960s electric blues recordings, which is why I didn't include some of the artists you mentioned, and some of the other artists / recordings listed in your post are not my cup of tea.

This post has been edited by J.A.W.: 19 October 2003 - 07:31 AM