blues reissue project

[AllenLowe]

well, will try to start over - not sure why the last was deleted, probably a victim of guilt by association -

I just got the go-ahead from the record company - there will be 18 cds and a book; the title, I think, is When Will the Blues Leave? Still unsure of duration; will probably go to 1956, give or take a year -

here is a list of current transfers (doing LPs first, as I mentioned; and not all of these will make the final cut):

1. Lovesick Blues Anita O'day 12/27/50

2. Coalminer's Blues The Carter Family 6/8/38

3. Baby Look at You Pete Johnson/Joe Turner/Buster Smith 1939

4. Got the Blues Blind Lemon Jefferson 3/26

5. Tip Easy Blues Jones/Collins Astoria Hot 8 11/15/29

6. Tight Like That Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band 11/9/28

7. Barrelhous Stomp State Street Ramblers 3/13/31

8. West End Blues Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummel's 2/26/29

9. Mosby Stomp Artie Mosby and Roosevelt Sykes 9/22/32

10. That Too, Do Blues Bennie Moten Kansas City Orchestra w/ Jimmy Rushing 10/28/30

11. Bluin' the Blues Original Dixieland Jazz Band 11/10/36

12. Livery Stable Blues Original Dixieland Jazz Band 2/26/17

13. Blues Riff Django Reinhardt w/Duke Ellington Orchestra 11/10/46

14. Oh Lovin' Babe Uncle Dave Macon 12/17/30

15. Dirty Dish Rag Blues Light Crust Doughboys 11/30/38

16. Steppin on the Blues Lovie Austin and the Blues Serenaders w/Tommy Ladnier ca. 11/24

17. Woodchip Blues Smokey Wood 9/12/37

18. Georgia Bound Blind Blake 8/17/29

19. Talkin' 'Bout You Bob Wills w/Junior Bernard 1/4/46

20. New Falling Rain Blues Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers w/Bob Dunn 4/8/40

21. Scattin' the Blues Leo Watson 1/24/45

22. Buzzy -Dave Schildkraut/Triglia ca. 1953

23. Whisky Headed Woman Tommy McLennan

24. Baby Please DOn't Go Big Joe Williams

25.Catfish Blues Robert Petway

26. Viola Lee Blues Canno's Jug Stomper

27. Big Road Blues - Tommy Johnson

28.The Girl I Love She Got Long Curly Hair Sleepy John Estes 9/4/29

29.Rocks in My Bed Leroy Carr Scrapper Blackwell

30.Devil's Son In Law Peatie Wheatstraw

31. Vicksburg Blues II Little Brother Montgomery

32. Mitchell Blues (note the riff) Wade Mainer and Sons of the MNountaineer 1/27/38

33. Kingfisher Blues Tampa Red/Black Bob 3/22/34

34.When Things Go Wrong With You Tampa Red 3/21/50

35. Wrong Road Blues Tommy Duncan ca. 1948

36. Blues de Basil Amede Ardoin 11/24/30

37. Route 66 Betty Roche 4/56

38. Corinna Corinna Winger Manone and his Orch, w/Chu Berry 4/26/39

39. Weary Blues Sidney Bechet Tommy Ladnier 11/28/38

40.St. Louis Blues Louis Armstrong 4-26-33

41. Chattanooga Blues Allen Bros 11/4/27

42. Brain Cloudy Blues Bob Wills Junior Bernard 9-6-46

43. Dallas Blues Louis Armstrong w/Luis Russell Orchestra 12/10/29

44. Copyin' Louis (title?) Jack Purvis Orch. 12/17/29

45.Call of the Freaks Red Nichols and his Orch w/Benny Goodman solo 8/1/30

46. M.K. Blues Art Hodes' Backroom Boys w/Max Kaminsky 4/21/44

47. Blues For Jelly Art Hodes Trio (Simeon/Mesheux) 9/14/45

48. Black Bottom Blues Gene Autry 6/30/32

49. Prayin' the Blues Jimmy Dorsey 6/13/29

50.I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate Boyd Senter and his Sentipedes 3/23/28

51. Poor House Blues Maggie Jones w/Amstrong, F. Henderson 12/9/24 (mute!)

52. The Bridewell Blues Nolan Welsh acc. L. Armstrong (showbiz phrases in trumpet) 6/16/26

53. Hootie Blues Jay Mcshann Orc. with Charlie parker

54. Cold Winter's Day Blind Willie McTell 4/25/35

55. Hy’A Sue Duke Ellington 8/14/47

56. The Clothed Woman Duke Ellington 12/30/47

57. Blues My Baby Gave to Me Frankie Newton 1/13/39

58. Robert Wilkins Rolling Stone 1 9/7/28

59. Shaking the Blues Away Ruth Etting 1927 w/Rube Bloom, piano

60. Jungle Blues Benny Goodman’s Boys 6/14/28

61. Dirty Dog Jack Teagarden/Benny Goodman 4/29

62. Steamboat Whistle Blues Roy Acuff 1936

63. Clarinet Wobble Johnny Dodds 4/21/27

64. Wild Man Blues Dodds/Armstrong 4/22/27 altered chords/Earl Hines

65. Weary Way Blues Natty Dominique Johnny Dodds Jimmy Blyth (background figures) 10/5/27

66. Perfect Eddie Lang Frank Signorelli 10/12/27

67. Penn Beach Blues Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Signorelli, Don Murray 11/5/27

68. Guitar Blues Lang/Lonnie Johnson 5/7/29

69. Oh Baby Frank Teschmacher/Krupa/Joe Sullivan 7/28/28

70. Suitcase Blues Hersal Thomas 2/22/25

71. Jack O' Diamond Blues Sippie Wallace/Armstrong/Hersal Thomas 3/1/26

72.You Can't Get That Stuff Anymore Tampa Red and Georgia Tom 4/25/34

73.Savoyeur's Stomp Carrol Dickerson's Orchestra w/Armstrong 6//5/28

74. Overnight Blues Paul Howard w/Lawrence Brown 4/28/29

75. How You Want it Done? Big Bill Broonzy 1932

76. Awful Fix Buddy Boy Hawkins 1927

77. Don't Leave Me Here Henry Thomas 1929

78. Bye Bye Baby Blues Little Hat Jones 1930

79. Oh So Lonesome Six Cylinder Smith 1930

80. The Gone Dead Train King Solomon Hill

81. New Orleans Joys JR Morton 1923

82. Dippermouth Blues King Oliver

83. Royal Garden Blues Mezzrow/Ladnier

84. Blues in Thirds Bechet/Hines

85. Shake That Thing Ethel Waters 12/23/25

86. Waiting at the End of the Road Ethel Waters 7/11/29

87.The Mooch Spike Hughes 4/2/30

88.Creole Love Call Duke Ellington 10/26/27

89. The Mooch Duke Ellington 10/30/28

90. Higginbotham Blues JC Higginbotham and his Hicks

91.Chock House Blues BL Jefferson

92. Chinch Bug Blues BL Jefferson

93. Royal Garden Blues Bix B. and his Gang 5/10/27

94. Jazz Me Blues Bix B. and his Gang 5/10/27

95. My Daddy Rocks Me Tampa Red’s Hokum Band with Frankie Jaxon 4/13/29

96. It Must Be the Blues Jasper Tyler and His State Street Boys Keppard/Parham/Dodds 1/27

97. Biffly Blues Red Allen/JC Higginbotham 7/16/29

98. Numb Fumblin’ Fats Waller 3/1/29

99.Bleeding Hearted Blues James P. Johnson 7/15/23

100. Davis Street Blues Sugar Underwood 8/23/27

101. Waitin’ for the Evening Mail Noble Sissle/Eubie Blake 5/23

102. Bugle Call Rag Oscar Aleman 1945

103. Jelly Bean Drag Sid Valentine and his Patent Leather Kids 10/2/29

104. Going Away and Leave My Baby Horace Smith w/Sid Valentine 10/2/29

105. Sugar Foot Stomp Fletcher Henderson Orch. 4/29/31

106. Jimtown Blues Fatty Martin and his Orch, 3/19/25

107. Shout On Great Day New Orleans Singers with JP Johnson 12/19/29

108. Watch Me Go Lavinia Turner w. JP Johnson 11/21

109. Killing Blues Jess Johnson w/Byrd Moore 1930

110. Tennessee River Bottom Blues Mike Shaw’s Alabama Entertainers 12/30

111. Steel String Blues Syvester Weaver Ed Coleman, violin, Charles Washington Banjo 4/6/25

112. Guitar Blues Sylvester Weaver 4/2/23

113. Dumfino Stomp - Sylvester Weaver gtr banjo 4/12/27

114, The Bumps Jeanette's Synco Jazzers w/ML Williams 1/27

115.South Street Blues Benny Moten's KC Orchestra 5/14/25

116. Big Bad Bill Emmett Miller w/Eddie Lang 9/5/29

117. Can't Help Lovin' that Man Helen Morgan 2/14/28

118. The Boy in the Boat Charlie Johnson's Paradise 10

9/19/28

119. Prohibition Blues The Missourians 2/17/30

120. White Heat Jimmie Lunceford 3/20/34

121. Birth Of the Blues Paul Whiteman 8/12/26

122. Shaking the Blues Away Paul Whiteman 8/22/27

123. All Night Long Blues Roba Stanley and Bob Stanley 12/24

124. The Poor Girl’s Story Moonshine Kate (Rosa Lee Carson) 1930

125. Old Lonesome Blues The Bowman Sisters 10/23/29

126. Lovin’ Sam From Alabam Mamie Smith 11/6/20

127. Frankie Blues Mamie Smith 2/21/21

128. Black Snake Blues King Oliver 11/18/27

129. Snag It King Oliver 9/17/26

130. Four or Five Times King Oliver 4/13/28

131. Sittin’ On Top of the World Joe Evans 1931?

132. High Fever Cookie’s Ginger Snaps Keppard 6/2/26

133. Here Comes the Hot Tamale Man Cook and His Dreamland Orchestra Keppard 7/10/26

134. Mississippi Shivers Zez Confrey and his Orch. 7/3/24

135. Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt) Paul Whiteman 6/10/24

136. Cravin’ a Man Blues Lillian Glinn 12/26/29

137. Black Hearse Blues Sarah Martin w/Sylvester Weaver! 8/30/27

138. Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy Uncle Dave Macon 7/24

139. I’m Comin’ Virginia Bing w/Paul Whiteman 4/27

140. Old Man River Bing w/Paul Whiteman 1/28

141. Knoxville Blues Sam McGee 1926

142. Hanna Won’t You Open the Door Sam and Kirk McGee 1927

143. Pneumonia Blues Blind Lemon Jefferson 9/24/29

144. Chock House Blues Blind Lemon Jefferson 4/26

145. Can’t Put the Bridle on the Mule This Morning Julius Daniels 10/24/27

146. G Burns is Gonna Rise Again Johnson-Nelson-Porkchop 2/17/28

147.Clair & Pearley Blues Kid Coley 6/13/31

148.Good Old Turnip Greens Bo Chatman 12/28

149.Old Time Baptism PT 2 R M Massey 1/28

150. Crucifixion Arizona Dranes piano solo

151. Lamb’s Blood Has Washed Me Clean Dranes, Rev FW McGee, Jubilee Singers

152. I Shall Wear a Crown Dranes, unknown musicians, unknown female singers

153. I’m Sittin On Top of the World Shelton Brothers

154. Sunrise Blues Will Day 1928

155. Lock and Key Blues Ramblin Thomas 1928

156. James Alley Blues Richard Rabbit Brown 1927

157. Cherry Street Blues Little Hat Jones 1930

[Fer Urbina]

Sorry if I missed or forgot something about your approach to this project, but I noticed that many of the usual suspects are missing - not a bad thing at all. I'm curious about the rationale not to include any Son House or Charlie Patton (although I can imagine why), or T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown/Johnny Moore (the original Driftin' Blues), Charlie Parker (some "Swedish blues" like Blues for Alice or Now's the time, which would somehow cross over to rhythm&blues as The Hucklebuck)...

F

Edited December 16, 2008 by Fer Urbina

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Sorry if I missed or forgot something about your approach to this project, but I noticed that many of the usual suspects are missing - not a bad thing at all. I'm curious about the rationale not to include any Son House or Charlie Patton (although I can imagine why), or T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown/Johnny Moore (the original Driftin' Blues), Charlie Parker (some "Swedish blues" like Blues for Alice or Now's the time, which would somehow cross over to rhythm&blues as The Hucklebuck)...

F

Lots are to be transferred from CD. This list is the vinyl transfers list.

Very glad to hear Allen's got the go ahead on this project.

MG

[AllenLowe]

yes, exactly, have a stack of CDs waiting to go in about 1-2 months - my main consideration in all of this is sound; LPs tend to sound better with many notable exceptions. One thing also noteable about the transfer process is how bad (or really weird) LP eq'ing is. Some of this stuff after I've re-mastered is like listening to a different recording - original mastering engineers (and this continues in the age of CD reissues of old material, to a lesser extent) often use high frequency rolloff as a noise reduction technique, but also don't understand the use of mid-range, which can either clog up a recording and make it unintelligible, OR be reduced so much as to get that "telelphone" effect. I spend a relatively great deal of time on each cut, though sometimes the basic transfer goes quicky; I do a lot, also, of hand-removal of noise (usually large pops) from the wave form. This avoids over-digitization, making everything too smoothe, and I am very careful, even with CEDAR, which I use very sparingly. I also tend to add high end to everything, and I also question the kind of monitors used in many studios, as the results are sometimes oddly tone-deaf. And don't get me started on how the use of cheap de-hiss programs has ruined many reissues. I have one such program but it has to be used like one is doing micro-surgery; it can get the edge off, but there is no such thing as eliminating ALL hiss except, occassionally, on a much later recording, but even that is usually a bad idea. Ambient hiss is your friend and helps the recording to breathe, gives it life and resonance -

I was also lucky enough, about 20 years ago, to start buying up LPs that I was able to determine had used very good masters, some of which were lost in the CD age - lots of French Black and Whites, Decca reissues (hence my grief over the Universal fire), amazing sounding Brunswick stuff, the old Victor X series (some gorgeous-sounding Bing from the '20s, great Tiny Parham, great New Orleans stuff), Herwin, Historical Records, some Yazoos (which are a bit noisy for my taste but can be worked with as the originals are very good), anything by the late Carl Seltzer, who did work for Folkways and Rosetta - also some early CD reissues of Gus Cannon, the Memphis Jug Band, and more excellent hillbilly stuff that has now disappeared - not to mention the old British label VJM which has AMAZING sounding LPs of Duke, Whiteman, Fletcher Henderson, etc.

Edited December 16, 2008 by AllenLowe

[Niko]

well, will try to start over - not sure why the last was deleted, probably a victim of guilt by association -

I just got the go-ahead from the record company - there will be 18 cds and a book; the title, I think, is When Will the Blues Leave? Still unsure of duration; will probably go to 1956, give or take a year -

congratulations - that was pretty fast! actualy, i have another stupid question on the schildkraut/triglia item - didn't you mention somewhere that bill triglia has a vast collection of tapes (and when i first saw the item i had hoped this was from there) - is there any chance we will get to hear some of it some day? hard to imagine such a collection not containing dozens of interesting things by underrecorded artists... (sorry if my memory has failed me here...)

[AllenLowe]

not sure it is vast, but it is significant - and those Honey Dew reissues are taken from those tapes, apparently used without permission - Bill had an early and very good open reel tape recorder, and when he was house panist at Birdland in the 1950s he apparently used it a fair amount - I was told that there was stuff by many important players on tape, including Sonny Rollins -

however, I've been unable to reach him recently, and Bill is in his middle 80s; I'm not sure how well he is, and I am not sure what happened to all those tapes; I will try to reach him again, however -

will add, by the way, that although there is not a lot of Triglia on recordings, I regard him as one of the best 2 or 3 bebop pianists of the 1950s - the equal of Al Haig or Hank Jones, quite amazing playing when you can find it -

Edited December 16, 2008 by AllenLowe

[Fer Urbina]

Thanks MG for that. Hadn't realized. Too early and foggy in the morning for me, I guess.

And congratulations for the go ahead, Allen. Really looking forward to it.

F

[Big Beat Steve]

Just out of sheer curiosity: Are there plans to include ANY tracks from 78rpm, acetates or whatever, i.e. tracks that never ever have been reissued before anywhere, i.e. something that not even collectors with the most exhaustive collection of reissues imaginable could possibly possess?

A sort of icing on the cake, so to speak ...

That aside, I think the initial list that seems to be omitting a lot of the "usual suspects" would make for very interesting listening. Reissue projects that more and more fall back to the usual artists as they become more and more comprehensive aren't exactly thin on the ground (and this is where I found the debate in the original thread a bit wearying as everybody seemed to add more and more essentials). So an overview that in a way runs crosswise to the usual retrospectives and puts the emphasis on filling the gaps everybody else left open in their compilations (and programs tracks and artists together that aren't usually matched) would open up entirely new perspectives.

Just my 2c

[Dan Gould]

Without sounding like a broken record, I hope the time-frame selected allows inclusion of something from the Baby Face 45s. Steve, Vee Jay has never reissued the two 45s that Baby Face Willette recorded before he headed to New York and Blue Note. So that's a good example of forgotten music recorded by non-forgotten musicians.

[Niko]

Without sounding like a broken record, I hope the time-frame selected allows inclusion of something from the Baby Face 45s. Steve, Vee Jay has never reissued the two 45s that Baby Face Willette recorded before he headed to New York and Blue Note. So that's a good example of forgotten music recorded by non-forgotten musicians.

since this is an allen lowe thread we're allowed to post stuff again and again... i'd definitely like to hear those willette 45s

[AllenLowe]

1) Dan - I hope I can put those on the collection, but can't quite determine anything yet - will let you know as soon as I know -

2) "Are there plans to include ANY tracks from 78rpm, acetates or whatever, i.e. tracks that never ever have been reissued before anywhere, i.e. something that not even collectors with the most exhaustive collection of reissues imaginable could possibly possess?A sort of icing on the cake, so to speak ..."

There are some possible Al Bernards, Marion Harris, and Arthur Collins 78s I have access to and may use, some of which were on Devilin Tune that I may use again, still unsure - I think you will find that, as with Devilin' Tune, though a lot of this stuff has technically been reissued, it is hard to find (eg; I have an LP with an Ellington blues that I've never seen anywhere else); and there are some cuts on Devilin Tune which are almost never seen and which I may use again, like an early Sophie Tucker and a Gus Haenschen playing a rag blues before 1920. I am most concerned with using recordings that are usually not used in such things, as with, once again Devilin Tune; I will also use the "usual suspects," as they are important; my way, however, is to juxtapose them with things that are far less usual, or, when possible, to use less common cuts by commonly known artists -

3) "Reissue projects that more and more fall back to the usual artists as they become more and more comprehensive aren't exactly thin on the ground (and this is where I found the debate in the original thread a bit wearying as everybody seemed to add more and more essentials). So an overview that in a way runs crosswise to the usual retrospectives and puts the emphasis on filling the gaps everybody else left open in their compilations (and programs tracks and artists together that aren't usually matched) would open up entirely new perspectives. "

that's basically my hope here -

Edited December 16, 2008 by AllenLowe

[JSngry]

Them's a good selection of records for to be a-playin'!

[Alexander]

REALLY looking forward to this, Allen...

[AllenLowe]

thanks guys - the best thing about this project is all the music I've re-discovered - there's a piece called Old Time Baptism that I spent a few hours restoring that's an absolutely astounding religious recording, preacher and congregation - I was ready to toss my crutches about 30 seconds into it; also Kid Coley, who's black and country/minstrel/ragtime - listening to him, believe it nor not, reminds me of Bobby Short, a bit of a revelation for me as it reminds of those non-blues African American traditions that are so important (kinda vaudeville/medicine show). Also, Arizona Dranes is amazing; and I found some very clear Blind Lemon Jefferson, one cut in particular in which his guitar playing sounds like (or really preceeds) Gary Davis; and Lemon's voice is one of the glories of country blues -

Edited December 16, 2008 by AllenLowe

[papsrus]

As previously noted, exciting project.

.. I will also use the "usual suspects," as they are important; my way, however, is to juxtapose them with things that are far less usual, or, when possible, to use less common cuts by commonly known artists - ...

This approach sounds exactly right, for seasoned and unseasoned listeners alike (of which I'd throw myself in the latter group, certainly when it comes to the blues). It pretty much begins and ends with Robert Johnson and Son House over here, so a compilation like this will be invaluable.

The Blues -- It seems like just such a difficult topic to get a hold of (hence, the working title of the project, perhaps), and aside from the music itself, I'm looking forward to any discussion of how this music came to be and unfolded. As I think you've already said, the writing will be a daunting task.

[clifford_thornton]

Can't wait.

Still haven't made it thru all of Devlin' Tune's 36 discs!

[TedR]

A few months back I ordered all 4 volumes of That Devilin Tune. So far I've only listened to 6 cd's of volume 1 (my mom broke her shoulder and needs lots of care so I haven't had much down time). It's a revelation and an education for me......material I never would have been exposed to (I've played cuts for friends, i.e. Sir Herbert Clarke, etc.) and it changes how I listen. So I'm looking forward to studying more of it during the winter months ahead. Thanks Allen for a tremendous project. Looking forward to your next one but I have a lot to digest first!

[clifford_thornton]

Check the new issue of Signal To Noise for an article I did on Allen and his muse.

[SwingItTrev]

This sounds like another great project!

I have Volume 3 of Devillin' Tune (1934-1945) and love it. It drew my attention to great recording by artists I hadn't heard of (Original Yellow Jackets anyone?) and I'm looking forward to this blues version.

I'm curious about what is involved in putting together a release like this. Do you have to get licenses for each track? Are there recording you can't get permission to use, or is everything so old that it's in the public domain?

[Big Beat Steve]

It drew my attention to great recording by artists I hadn't heard of (Original Yellow Jackets anyone?) ...

Check out the V.A. CD "ARKANSAS SHOUT" on Jazz Oracle BDW 8025 if you want more.

:tup for a Blues version of Devilin Tune here too (with hopefully as little duplications as possible between the two sets).

Edited December 17, 2008 by Big Beat Steve

[AllenLowe]

1) the stuff is issued from Europe under the rule of public domain; I let them deal with the mechanicals -

2) there will be some duplication with Devilin Tune, but not a lot (less than a CD's worth, probably) -

my main job is re-mastering/restoring, and writing the book. I'm hoping to have the re-mastering done by next summer (approx. 450 cuts restored and sequenced); the writing is another matter, and I'm talking with an agent now but, as usual, I'm not overly optimistic as most publishers have a hard time getting a grip on my stuff.

Edited December 17, 2008 by AllenLowe

[king ubu]

Allen, this sounds like an intriguing project to say the very least!

I'm another one who hasn't made it all through the Devilin' Tunes sets, but what I've heard and read so far (most of Vol. 1 only, I confess) was highly entertaining AND enlightening.

Congrats on getting the go-ahead and much luck with the work that has to be done now!

[SwingItTrev]

Check out the V.A. CD "ARKANSAS SHOUT" on Jazz Oracle BDW 8025 if you want more.

[off topic]Actually, after hearing them on Devilin' Tune I went and ordered that very disc. This is why I love well-thought out compilations by people that know stuff.[/off topic]

[jostber]

I would like to read that book!

[blind-blake]

Oh man, this looks great! Put me down for a copy! Not the same old, same old blues stuff. Some very interesting choices!