blues reissue project

[AllenLowe]

since tomorrow's Sunday, we'll go heavy on the religion:

269. I'll Be Rested Blind Roosevelt Graves 1936

270. Blessed are the Poor Luther Magby 1927

271. Pure Religion Blind Gussie Nesbitt 1930

272. Gods Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares Blind Joe Taggart 1927

273. God Moves on the Water Bling Willie Johnson 1929

274. Mother Called Her Child to Her Dying Bed Lil McLintock 1930

275. Little Lulie Dick Justice 1929

276. Milwaukee Blues Charlie Poole

277. The Preacher Got Drunk and Laid His Bible Down Tennessee Ramblers

278. Won't Don't Blues Charles Creath w/Lonnie Johnson 12/2/24

279. Worried Blues Gladys Bentley 8/8/28

280. Lonesome Road Blues Kahle Brewer Ernest Stoneman

281. I Am Resolved Ernest Stoneman Kahle Brewer w/Vocal Chorus

282. A Married Man's Blues Wade Ward

Edited January 4, 2009 by AllenLowe

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I do hope you're going to get in a bit of Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Lucky Millinder.

MG

[AllenLowe]

probably Rock Me Daniel; still thinking about it -

here's the latest:

283. I've got a Cross Eyed Papa Levitsch Tanzorchester 7/24

284. Hula Lous Eric Borchard's Jazz Band 10/24

285. Royal Palm Special Leecan and Cooksey 5/24/27

286. My Old Daddy's Got a Brand New Way to Love Leecan/Cooksey/Thomas Morris 7/27

287. He's Tall, Dark, and Handsome Julia Lee 11/8/29

288. Black Rhythm Cab Calloway 3/3/31

289. Six or Seven Times Cab Calloway 3/3/31

290. Creole Love Call Duke Ellington (33 1/3 version; no vocal) 2/3/32

291. All Night Shags RM Jones Albert Nicholas Johnny St. Cyr

292. Put Me in the Alley Nicholas/Jones/St. Cyr

293. Blackville Hazel Meyers 6/1/26

Edited January 5, 2009 by AllenLowe

[AllenLowe]

a few more:

294. Hobron City Stomp Cow Cow Davenport 1945

295. Slum Guillion Stomp Cow Cow Davenport 6/22/29

296. Mon Cherie Bebe Creole Dennis McGhee 1928

297. On Top of the World Hackberry Ramblers 2/19/36

298. I Got to Go Blues Barrelhous Buck (McFarland) 8/34

299. Biddle Street Blues Henry Spaulding 5/29

300. Henry's Worried Blues Henry Townsend 11/15/29

301. Sloppy Drunk Again Walter Davis (Henry Townsend, gtr) 2/5/35)

302. Deceiving Blues Teddy Darby 9/29/31

303. Black Evil Blues Alice Moore 8/18/34 Ike Rogers, Henry Brown

304. House Dance Blues Specled Red 9/14/29

305. Throw Me in the Alley Peetie Wheatstraw and his Blue Blowers 8/24/34 Ike Rogers, Henry Brown

[johnlitweiler]

How about "How Long Blues" by Alamo Markham-Oliver Meshaux orch.? Heard that 50 years ago, and recall it was strong stuff. A Blue Note recording, 1 of 4 sides from 1940-something. Also, very revealing about Mr. Markham.

[AllenLowe]

I do have a recording with Mescheaux on it - will have to browse through my old Bluenote reissues - I think the one I've seen is on an album of mostly Art Hodes groups -

[AllenLowe]

generally I am trying to find recordings that reflect the development of the blues in some way - either directly, as part of the whole historic and musical sequence, or indirectly, as in reflecting common (blues and non-blues) influences. I am trying to show some roots influence as well, like ragtime, gospel. minstrel, and medicine show, or songs that use certain kinds of repeated stanzas - as in songs that are, formally, like pre-blues (as an example, I have found a few 20's performances in which the singer seems to be going through the blues matrix, but never changes chords on the guitar - it's strange but it works) -

right now it is somewhat random, as I am doing LP and 78 transfers first; next I will go through CD sources to see what sounds best (for example, the best Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey I have is on CD, so I will use those) -

Edited January 8, 2009 by AllenLowe

[Christiern]

Thanks. I knew that your's would have to be a somewhat complex search. You have my admiration for these projects.

[johnlitweiler]

I do have a recording with Mescheaux on it - will have to browse through my old Bluenote reissues - I think the one I've seen is on an album of mostly Art Hodes groups -

Trouble is, those 2 Alamo Markham discs are 78s. I'd dearly love to find those on LP or/and CD somehow, somewhere.

[AllenLowe]

I'll have to take a look and will let you know if they are on this particular lp -

just did a few more last night:

306. Off Time Blues Earl Hines 12/7/28

307. Give Me a Break Blues Ida Cox 10/27

308. Nothing But Blues Cleo Gibson 3/14/29

309. Barrel House Blues Rosa Henderson 7/24

310. Midnight Mama Frances Hereford JR Morton 1/21/28

311. Organ Grinder Clarence Williams/Eva Taylor Ikey Robinson! 7/2/28

one amazing discovery is Ikey Robinson's solo on the last one there - first of all, it's not a banjo, as he is usually credited for; it's likely a tenor guitar, I think - and it just may be the first great modern guitar solo - very Armstrong-like. I almost fell out of my chair, quite surprising -

Edited January 8, 2009 by AllenLowe

[Neal Pomea]

What label was this version of Organ Grinder on, the one with Ikey Robinson on guitar? It's not listed at Red Hot Jazz. I love that song!

[AllenLowe]

I don't know the original label; I got it off a British reissue -

here's a few additions:

312. Frank Du Pree Blind Andy (Jenkins) 4/13/25

313. I Truly Understand You Love Another Man Shortbuckle Roarke and his Family 11/4/28

314. Shave 'em Dry Blues Ma Rainey Milas Pruitt 8/24

315. Pilgrim's Journey Homer Quincy Smith 12/26

316. Yellow Dog Blues Sam Collins 4/5/27

317. Dark Holler Blues Clarence Ashley 10/23/29

318. Hersal Blues Hersal Thomas 6/25

319. Hard Hustling Blues Berniece Edwards 11/28

320. I've Got Salvation in My Heart Stovepipe #1 (Sam Jones) 8/19/24

321. Can You Blame the Colored Man Gus Cannon 11/27

[AllenLowe]

just a late update:

322. Humming Blues James Bat Robinson 3/31

323. Tight Whoopie Mozelle Alderson 4/17/30 Judson Brown, piano

324. Got Your Water On Charlie Jordan w/Charles Manson 4/10/36

325. One Way Gal William Moore 1/28

326. Unknown Blues Tarter and Gay 11/2/30

327. Original Blues Bayless Rose 6/7/30

328. Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay Ed Andrews 1924

329. Canned Heat Blues Sloppy Henry 1928

330. Kiss Me Sweet Butterbeans and Susie w/King Oliver 9/24

331. Hometown Blues Irene Scruggs w/Ory/Oliver/Nicholas/Barbarin 4/26

332.. The Crowing Rooster Walter Rhodes 12/10/27

333. Miss Handy Hanks Archie Lewis 3/30/33

334. The Coon Crap Game George Big Boy Owens 10/26

335. Poor Girl Smith and Harper 6/26/36

336. School Girl Blues Rosa Mae Moore 2/3/28

337. Bootleggin' Blues Jim Jackson 2/14/28

338. Neckbones and Beans Henry Johnson and his Boys 4/20/27

339. She's in the Graveyard Now Earl MacDonald's Original Jug Band 3/30/27

340. Sunshine Special Frenchy's String Band 12/5/28

341. Two Little Tommie Blues Papa Harvey Hills w/ Long Cleve Reed 4/8/27

342. Mama You Don't Know How Long Long Cleve Reed and the Downhome Boys 5/27

343. A Woman Gets Tired of the Same Man All of the Time Stovepipe #1 Same Jones 4/26/27

344. Honey in the Rock Blind Mamie Forehand

345. Number Three Blues Buddy Boy Hawkins 1927

346. Roll and Tumble Blues Hambone Willie Newbern 3/13/29

347.l It's Tight Like That Clara Smithh w/Charlie Green 1/26/29

348. Cows See that Train Comin' Joe Pullum w/Robert Cooper 4/3/34

349. West Dallas Drag Robert Cooper 4/3/34

350. West Dallas Woman Walter Washington w/Andy Boyd 2/24/37

351. Stack O'Lee Pt. 2 Cliff Edwards 1928

352. Section Gang Blues Texas Alexander w/Lonnie Johnson 8/12/27

353. The Longest Train JE Mainer's Mountaineers 8/6/35

354. Organge Blossom Special Rouse Brothers 6/16/39

355. The Train's Done Gone Carolina Tar Heels 7/3/29

356. Brooklyn Blues Clifford Gibson 1929

357. Baby's Got the Rickets, Mama's Got the Mobile Blues Vol Stevens 12/11/30

358. Beale Street Breakdown Jed Davenport and his Beale Street Jug Band

359. Giving It Away Birmingham Jug Band 12/11/30

360. Red River Blues Buddy Moss 1/16/33

361. Barrelhouse Man Will Ezell 9/27

362. Christians Fight On Your Time Ain't Ling Sam Butler (Bo Weavil Jackson) 9/26

363. The Great Reaping Day Bessie Johnson 10/1/29

364. When I've Done the Best I Can I Want a Crown Bozie Sturdivant 8/42

365. D Blues Scrapper Blackwell 2/25/35

366. Backwater Blues Ruby Smith w/R. Allen/Higginbotham/Catlett/JP Johnson/G Sedtick/A. Casey

367. I Done Lost My Baby Bumble Bee Slim/Amos Easton 6/26/35

368. Goin' Away Blues Charlie Campbell 1937

369. Red Ripe Tomatoes Jack Kelly and His South Memphis Jug Band 8/1/33

370. Thousand Women Blues Blind Boy Fuller 6/19/40

371. Reckless Life Blues Merline Johnson w Blind John Davis 2/10/39

372. Try Me One More Time Brownie McGhee 5/41

373. Mean Low Blues Blues Birdhead 10/13/29

374. I'm Hot Like That Slim Barton and Eddie Mapp 5/29

375. Meddlin' with the Blues The Two of Spades 3/25/25

376. Gravel Camp Blues Lewis Black 12/10/27

377. Starvation Farm Blues Bob Campbell 1934

378. Chocolate to the Bone Barbecue Bob 4/13/28

379. Court Street Blues Stovepipe #1 (Johnny Watson) with Dave Crockett 3/27

380. Skin Game Blues Peg Leg Howell 9/11/27

381. Elm Street Blues Texas Bill Day 5/12/29

382. Bad Boy Barefoot Bill 4/20/30

383. Dee Blues Coleman Hawkins/Bobby Starks/Jimmy Harrison/Benny Carter (gtr solo Benny Jackson)

384. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My SIster Kate C. Hawkins/D. Wells/Prcope.Walter Johnson 3/27/33

385. The Wamp Boots and His Buddies 2/25/36

386. Pinetop's Blues Pinetop Smith 12/29/28

387. Fat Meat and Greens Jelly Roll Morton

388. When Your Lover Has Gone Eddie Condon and Orch. 12/13/44

[jazztrain]

The version of "Organ Grinder Blues" recorded by Clarence Williams on July 2 1928 is a solo piano performance. It was originally on Okeh. It's been reissued on LP on Herwin 402 and on CD on Collector's Classics CC-28 (and probably elsewhere).

Clarence Williams next recorded the tune for Columbia on August 23, 1928. That performance has Williams accompanying Ethel Waters. It's currently available on Frog 14.

Next, Williams recorded the tune on September 12, 1928 for Okeh. It was issued as by Victoria Spivey accompanied by Clarence Williams' Blue Five (King Oliver ©, Ed Cuffee (tb), Omer Simeon (cl), Clarence Williams (p), Eddie Lang (g)). It's on Collector's Classics CC-28 and on Frog 68 (King Oliver).

Next, there's a version recorded for Okeh by Clarence Williams' Orchestra on September 20, 1928. This is an instrumental version with a larger group. It was on LP on Swaggie 853 and on Collector's Classics CC-28.

Next, there's a version by Williams' Jug Band recorded for Columbia on August 7, 1933. This appears to be the version that you're asking about. Eva Taylor is the main vocalist, although other members of the group back her as the "Lowland Singers." Ikey Robinson has a tasty solo (as noted). Cecil Scott provides some of his distinctive "buzz tone" clarinet work. Clarence Williams sings, but the piano chairs are filled by Willie "The Lion" Smith and Herman Chittison. This version was on Swaggie 827 (LP) and on Timeless 1-056 (CD).

Finally, there's a version by Clarence Williams and His Orchestra recorded for Vocalion on July 6, 1934. Eva Taylor sings again. The rest of the group consisted of Ed Allen ©, Cecil Scott (cl), James P. Johnson (p), Floyd Casey (wbd), Clarence Williams (vcl only). Swaggie 813 (LP) and Timeless 1-057 (CD).

What label was this version of Organ Grinder on, the one with Ikey Robinson on guitar? It's not listed at Red Hot Jazz. I love that song!

[AllenLowe]

thanks - I got it off of a British reissue with, apparently, incorrect info - 1933 makes more sense, however, given the sound of the recording -

[AllenLowe]

starting to shoot the documentary this month, I hope; going to NYC in May to video and record in performance: Roswell Rudd, Matt Shipp, possibly Marnie Stern; will shoot in high definition and record at Doug Pomeroy's house. Marc Ribot has agreed to appear, though we have not yet set a date -

and than we get on a plane to go visit Cliff Englewood - though he has agreed to appear only with a bag over his head -

[Neal Pomea]

Thanks, jazztrain, for the information on Organ Grinder!

[AllenLowe]

well, the project has expanded - will be 24 CDs when completed (I hope to have the mastering done by summer, notes by the Fall?)

I have now realized that Kinsey was wasting his time interviewing mr and ms USA - he should have just listened to early recordings - like the one I just heard, by Grant and Wilson, extolling the virtues of simultaneous orgasm (1930), or Belulah Bryant's "he's got a lot on the ball - but he ain't too much for me" or the African American midget/female impersonator Frankie Jaxon breathing heavily and screaming for more on "my daddy rocks me" (1929) -

[Fer Urbina]

Allen, have you considered James P Johnson's "Worried and Lonesome Blues" from 1923? Quite interesting, in the first section he plays triplets against a striding left hand in a way that I'd never heard before (although I'm not so versed in 1920s music).

It can be heard here: http://www.redhotjazz.com/jpjohnson.html

F