New Blues Box

[Christiern]

Well, this just arrived in my mail box...

Seven CDs, one DVD, and a 40-page illustrated booklet that I wrote when not posting on the Big O. There are 29 featured artists, all of whom resurfaced in the 1960s.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

What's the title, Chris?

MG

[Hot Ptah]

Yes, a little more information on the box would be welcome.

[J.A.W.]

Chris posted additional info here.

[Cliff Englewood]

From J.A.W.'s link;

Here is a list:

BLUES BOX

CD 1

LONNIE JOHNSON – OTIS SPANN

1. Tomorrow Night 2:53

(Goslow-Grosz)

2. Clementine Blues 6:06

(Lonnie Johnson)

3. See See Rider 2:56

(Trad.)

4. Raining On The Cold, Cold Ground 4:51

(Lonnie Johnson)

5. Jelly, Jelly 3:22

(Lonnie Johnson)

6. Too Late To Cry Baby 3:38

(Lonnie Johnson)

7. Call Me Darling 3:14

(Lonnie Johnson)

8. Why Did You Go 4:40

(Lonnie Johnson)

9. Swinging With Lonnie 3:16

(Lonnie Johnson)

10. Please Help Me 3:27

(Lonnie Johnson)

11. My Baby Is Gone 3.57

(Lonnie Johnson)

12. You Don’t Know What Love Is 3:43

(Lonnie Johnson)

13. Don’t Cry Baby 2:15

(Lonnie Johnson)

14. Good Morning Mr. Blues 3:19

(Otis Spann)

15. Riverside Blues 3:17

Otis Spann)

16. Jelly Roll Baker 4:06

(Lonnie Johnson)

17. Trouble In Mind 3:26

(R.M.Jones)

18. Worried Life Blues 4:04

(Otis Spann)

19. T.B. Blues 4:09

(Otis Spann)

20. Spann’s Boogie 2:11

(Otis Spann)

21. Goin’ Down Slow 4:38

(Otis Spann)

Total time. 78:12

Personnel:

Track 1 – 13 Lonnie Johnson (g & vo) Otis Spann (p) except on track 7.

Track 14 – 21 Otis Spann (p & vo) Lonnie Johnson (g) on track only.

Recorded in Copenhagen October 16, 1963

CD 2

SPECKLED RED – SUNNYLAND SLIM

1. The Dirty Dozen 3:o5

(Rufus Perryman)

2. I Had My Fun 3:36

(Rufus Perryman)

3. Caldonia 4:08

(Rufus Perryman)

4. Oh! Red 2:46

(Rufus Perryman)

5. St. Louis Stomp 2:30

(Rufus Perryman)

6. Milk Cow Blues 4:24

(Rufus Perryman)

7. Dad’s Piece 2:55

(Rufus Perryman)

8. You’ve Got The Right String But The Wrong Yo Yo 3:25

(Rufus Perryman)

9. Red’s Own Blues 4:01

(Rufus (Perryman)

10. Uncle Sam’s Blues 3:22

(Rufus Perryman)

11. It Feels So Good 3:13

(Rufus Perryman)

12. How Long Blues 3:01

(Leroy Carr)

13. Tain’t Nobody’s Biznezz 2:49

(Rufus Perryman)

14. Prison Bound Blues 4:08

(Leroy Carr)

15. Johnson Machine Gun Blues 3:00

(Albert Luandrew)

16. Miss Ida B. 4:17

(Roosevelt Sykes)

17. I Done You Wrong 3:43

(Albert Luandrew)

18. Brown Skin Mama 3:39

(Albert Luandrew)

19. Goin’ Down Slow 4:54

(J. Oden)

20. Sunnyland’s Boogie 2:53

(Albert Luandrew)

21. One Room Country Shack 3:07

(Walton)

Total time: 73:40

Personnel: Track 1 – 13 Speckled Red (p & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen, July 19, 1960

Engineered by P.G.Foss

Executive producer Karl Emil Knudsen

Track 14 – 21 Sunnyland (p & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen October 8, 1964

CD 3

ROOSEVELT SYKES-SIPPIE WALLACE-LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY

1. Big Ben 2:59

(Roosevelt Sykes)

2. Boot That Thing 3:34

(Roosevelt Sykes)

3. Springfield Blues 2:57

(Roosevelt Sykes)

4. Henry Ford blues 2:59

(Roosevelt Sykes)

5. I’m A Dangerous Man 2:05

(Roosevelt Sykes)

6. True Thing 4:00

(Roosevelt Sykes)

7. Whole Lot Of Children 3:26

(Roosevelt Sykes)

8. The Last Laugh 4:36

(Roosevelt Sykes)

9. 44 Blues 3:00

(Roosevelt Sykes)

10. Women Be Wise 3:53

(Sippie Wallace)

11. Trouble Everywhere I Roam 2:39

(Sippie Wallace)

12. Special Delivery Blues 3:14

(Sippie Wallace)

13. Murder Gonna Be My Crime 3:48

(Sippie Wallace)

14. Shorty George Blues 3:24

(Sippie Wallace)

15. I’m A Mighty Tight Woman 2:54

(Sippie Wallace)

16. Bedroom Blues 2:42

(Sippie Wallace)

17. Up The Country Blues 3:09

(Sippie Wallace)

18. You Don’t Know My Mind 2:46

(Sippie Wallace)

19. I Must Get Mine In Front 3:35

(Fats Waller)

20. Willie Anderson’s Blues 3:49

(Eurreal Montgomery)

21. Jim Jam Blues 4:06

(Eurreal Montgomery)

22. Hesitatin’ Blues 4:22

(W.C. Handy)

23. Mama, You Don’t Mean Me No Good 3:51

(Eurreal Montgomery)

Total time: 78:36

Personnel: Track 1 – 9 Roosevelt Montgomery (p & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen October 23, 1966

Track 10 – 18 Sippie Wallace (vo & p-17) Little Brother Montgomery

(p 10,12,13 & 15) Roosevelt Sykes ( 11,14,16 & 18)

Recorded in Copenhagen October 23, 1966

Track 19 – 23 Little Brother Montgomery ( p & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen September 19, 1972

CD 4

BIG JOE WILLIAMS-SLEEPY JOHN ESTES-ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS

1. Shake Them Down 2:47

(Big Joe Williams)

2. Saturday Night Jump 2:30

(Big Joe Williams)

3. Jinx Blues 2:27

(Big Joe Williams)

4. Pick A Pickle 3:13

(Big Joe Williams)

5. Ramblin’ And Wanderin’ Blues 2:31

(Big Joe Williams)

6. Old Saw Mill Blues 2.34

(Big Joe Williams)

7. Don’t The Apples Look Mellow 2:56

(Big Joe Williams)

8. El Paso Blues 2:19

(Big Joe Williams)

9. Juanita Blues 3:02

(Big Joe Williams)

10. Vitamin “A” Blues 2:37

(Big Joe Williams)

11. Drop Down Mama 3:34

(John Estes)

12. I’d Been Well Warned 3:06

(John Estes)

13. Stop That Thing 1:45

(John Estes)

14. Diving Duck Blues 3:34

(John Estes)

15. Vernita Blues 3:26

(Hammie Nixon)

16. Bottle Up And Go 2:16

(McGlennon)

17. Mountain Cat Blues 2:52

(John Estes)

18. Doctor Blues 3:06

(R.P. Williams)

19. Got On His Mind 5:12

(R.P. Williams)

20. Meet Him Over In Paradise 3:41

(R.P. Williams)

21. Goodbye Baby 5:02

(R.P. Williams)

22. It’s Gotta Be Jelly ‘Cause Jam Don’t Shake Thataway 3:29

(R.P. Williams)

23. She Walked Around With Her Mouth Poked3:03

(R.P. Williams)

24. Greyhound Blues 3:11

(R.P. Williams)

Total time: 75:03

Personnel: Track 1 – 10 Big Joe Williams ( g & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen October 16, 1963

Executive producer Karl Emil Knudsen

Engineered by Ivar Rosenberg

Track 11 – 17 Sleepy John Estes (g & vo) Hammie Nixon (har & jug-11)

Recorded live at the Folk Club of Denmark, Copenhagen November 30,

1967.

Track 18 – 24 Robert Pete Williams (g & vo, 12-string g-18) Big Joe

Williams ( kazoo-19-21-23-24)

Recorded in Copenhagen March 20, 1972

CD 5

BIG BILL BROONZY – JOHN HENRY BARBEE

1. Glory Of Love 3:19

(Hill)

2. Careless Love 4:57

(Trad.)

3. I Gets The Blues When It Rains 3:24

(Big Bill Broonzy)

4. My Name Is Lee Conley Broonzy 2:45

(Big Bill Broonzy)

5. Take This Hammer 3:41

(H. Leadbetter)

6. See See Rider 3:30

(Trad.

7. Diggin’ My Potatoes 2:32

(Trad.)

8. Midnight Special 3:46

(Trad.)

9. Keep Your Hands Off Her 3:51

(Big Bill Broonzy)

10. I Got A Girl 3:01

(Big Bill Broonzy)

11. You Better Mind 2:19

(Trad.)

12. I Love You So Much 4:59

(Ruby)

13. Sixteen Tons 3:37

(Trad.)

14. Black Brown And White 3:52

(Big Bill Broonzy)

15. Goodnight Irene 4:10

(Leadbetter-Lomax)

16. Dust My Broom 3:20

(Elmore James)

17. I Heard My Baby 4:04

(John Henry Barbee)

18. I Ain’t Gonna Pick No More Cotton 4:24

(John Henry Barbee)

19. Miss Nelly Grey 3:14

(John Henry Barbee)

20. Tell Me Baby 3:06

(Big Bill Broonzy)

21. Jump Blues 2:41

(John Henry Barbee)

Total time: 75:19

Personnel: Track 1 – 15 Big Bill Broonzy (g & vo)

Recorded live at the Club Montmartre, Copenhagen, May 4,5 & 6, 1956

Track 16 – 21 John Henry Barbee ( g & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen, October 9, 1964. Track 21 October 8, 1964

CD 6

MEMPHIS SLIM – CHAMPION JACK DUPREE – EDDIE BOYD – JAY MCSHANN

1. El Capitan 2:27

(Peter Chatman)

2. This Is A Good Time To Write A Song 3:32

(Peter Chatman)

3. I’m So Alone 2:32

(Peter Chatman)

4. True Love 2:37

(Peter Chatman)

5. Two Of A Kind 2:58

(Peter Chatman)

6. Big City Girl 1:52

(Peter Chatman)

7. The Question 2:35

(Peter Chatman)

8. Misery 2:28

(Peter Chatman)

9. Fattening Frogs For Snakes 2:15

(Peter Chatman)

10. Born With The Blues 2.45

(Peter Chatman)

11. Whizzle Wham 1:37

(Peter Chatman)

12. How Long Blues 2:43

(Leroy Carr)

13. Blues Before Sunrise 3:56

(Leroy Carr)

14. In The Evening 3:55

(Leroy Carr)

15. Tomorrow Night 4:31

(Coslow-Grosz)

16. In The Dark 3:27

(L. Green)

17. Fine And Mellow 4:04

(Billie Holiday)

18. Drinkin’ Wine Spodie-Odie 3:25

(McGhee-Williams)

19. Third Degree 3:09

(Eddie Boyd)

20. Five Long Years 2:09

(Eddie Boyd)

21. A Reel Good Feeling 3:06

(Eddie Boyd)

22. Kansas City Blues 3:49

(Littlefield)

23. How Long Blues 3:33

(Leroy Carr)

24. Cherry Red 3:22

(Turner-Johnson)

Total time: 73:39

Personnel: Track 1 – 11 Memphis Slim (p & vo) Erik Mølbach (bass)

Jørn Elniff (dr)

Recorded in Copenhagen, August 26, 1960

Executive producer: Karl Emil Knudsen

Engineered by Ivar Rosenberg

Track 12,13,14 Champion Jack Dupree (p & vo) Recorded in Copenhagen, December 13, 1960

Track 15 & 16 Champion Jack Dupree (p & vo) Mogens Seidelin (bass)

Ib Lindschouw (dr) Recorded in Copenhagen June 15, 1962

Track 17 same as above, recorded in Copenhagen June 18, 1962

Track 18 Champion Jack Dupree ( p & vo) Ole Christiansen (bass)

Alex Riel (dr) Recorded in Copenhagen, February 2, 1964

Track 19 Eddie Boyd (p & vo) Recorded in Switzerland, Spring 1968

Track 20 & 21 Eddie Boyd (p & vo) Recorded in Thayngen, Switzerland,

March 22, 1968

Track 22 & 23 Jay McShann ( p & vo) Recorded in Copenhagen,

April 12, 1977.

Track 24 Jay McShann ( p & vo) Thomas Puggård Müller (g) Ole

Skipper Mosgård (bass) Thorkild Møller (drms) Recorded in Copenhagen

April 12, 1977

CD 7

SONNYBOY WILLIAMSON – SONNY TERRY – BROWNIE MCGHEE

1. I Can’t Understand 3:19

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

2. Movin’ Down The River 3:43

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

3. The Story Of Sonnyboy Williamson 4:44

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

4. Rebecca Blues 4:57

(Peter Chatman)

5. I Wonder If I Have A Friend 3:58

(Peter Chatman)

6. Same Girl 4:48

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

7. Girl Friends 4:39

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

8. Tippin’ Through Customs 2:59

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

9. Little Girl 4:30

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

10. You Can’t Get Away 2:58

(Sonny Terry)

11. I’m Crazy About Your Pie 2:57

(Sonny Terry)

12. The Sweetest Girl I Know 3:39

(Sonny Terry)

13. Easy Rider 4:03

(Trad.)

14. Rock Island Line 2:56

(Trad.)

15. Find My Way Home 5:07

(Sonny Terry – Brownie McGhee)

16. Midnight Special 5:22

(Trad.)

17. The Chariot Is Coming 2:53

(Sonny Terry – Brownie McGhee)

18. Howdy Blues 4:41

(Brownie McGhee)

19. In The Evening 4:09

(Leroy Carr)

Total time: 77:04

Personnel: Track 1 & 2 Sonnyboy Williamson (vo & har.)

Track 3 Sonnyboy Williamson (vo & har.) Matt Murphy (g)

Track 4 – 7 Sonnyboy Williamson (vo & har.) Memphis Slim (p, vo)

Matt Murphy (g) Track 8 & 9) Sonnyboy Williamson (vo & har.) Memphis

Slim (p) Matt Murphy (g, el-g) Billie Stepney (drms)

Recorded in Copenhagen November 1, 1963

Track 10 Sonny Terry (vo & har.) Brownie McGhee (g)

Track 11 – 17 Sonny Terry (vo & har.) Brownie McGhee (g, vo)

Svend Erik Nørregaard (dr) Recorded in Copenhagen, November 13,

1971. Track 18 & 19 Sonny Terry (har.) Brownie McGhee (g & vo)

Recorded in Copenhagen, November 14, 1971

DVD

SONNYBOY WILLIAMSON

Sonnyboy Williamson (vo & har.) Lennart Nylen (g) Sture Nordin (bass)

Recorded in Stockholm, November 1963

(4:18) Who’s Gonna Take Care Of You

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

(4:19) It’s Rainy Outdoor, Baby

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

(3:40) Have Yoy Enjoyed My Play (Williamson alone)

(Sonnyboy Williamson)

CHAMPION JACK DUPREE

Champion Jack Dupree (p & vo) Louisiana Red (g & vo)

Recorded I Dupree’s home in Hannover, Germany.

(3:52) Mean Old Lonesome Train

(Jack Dupree)

Champion Jack Dupree (p & vo)

Recorded in a Studio, Copenhagen

(3:50) Alberta

(Jack Dupree)

Champion Jack Dupree (p & vo) Kenn Lending (g)

Recorded at Rådhuskroen, Copenhagen

(6:23 Champion Jack Boogie

(Jack Dupree)

ALL ALONE WITH THE BLUES

(2:51) Intro: Jay Vincent (ts) Jim Gabour (Narrator)

Robert Lockwood Jr. (g & vo)

(2:48) Drivin’ Wheel

(Roosevelt Sykes)

(3:55) They Gonna Ball Nonight

(Anne Lockwood)

(3:25) Kindhearted Women

(Robert Johnson)

(3:17) Little And Low

(Roosevelt Sykes)

James Carol Booker III (upright piano)

(0:32) Intro: Jim Gabour

(6:33) Seagram’s Jam

(James Booker)

Henry Gray (p & vo)

(0:03) Intro. Jim Gabour

(2:50) Blues Dance (piano only)

(Henry Gray)

(5:01) Cold Chills

(Henry Gray)

Boogie Bill Webb (g) Harmonica Slim (har.)

(3:22) Ninth Ward Blues

(Bill Webb)

Cousin Joe (p & vo)

(0:25) Intro: Jim Gabour

(4:25) Life Is A One Way Ticket

(Pleasant Joseph)

(2:54) Beggin’ Woman

(Pleasant Joseph)

(2:53) Me And Hard Work

(Pleasant Joseph)

(3:43) I Wouldn’t Give A Blind Sow An Acorn

(Pleasant Joseph)

(2:20) Closing: Jay Vincent (ts)

Total time: 77:39

Blues Box produced by Anders Stefansen

Engineer: Hans Nielsen, Focus Recording

Layout: Mime

Photos:

Notes. Chris Albertson

[AllenLowe]

I'd be interested most particularly in the John Henry Barbee - he made just a few early recordings (maybe 1938) that are very interesting and modern and than disappeared (the name Barbee was itself a new name as he was wanted for some crime); he was rediscovered during the blues revivial but died very suddenly of cancer -

[Christiern]

I'd be interested most particularly in the John Henry Barbee - he made just a few early recordings (maybe 1938) that are very interesting and modern and than disappeared (the name Barbee was itself a new name as he was wanted for some crime); he was rediscovered during the blues revivial but died very suddenly of cancer -

Here's what I wrote about Barbee..

One of the many artists who cited Broonzy as an influence was John Henry Barbee, whose birth name was William George Tucker. Born in Henning, Tennessee, in 1905, he was a contemporary of the other singers featured in this set, but not as well known. His musical career was, at best, sporadic and almost covert, but not for lack of talent, as we shall see. His childhood years pretty much followed the familiar scenario: the family farmed and he was put to work in the field at an early age. The hard work was not to his liking, so young William sought a way out through music. Having learned to play guitar he began accompanying himself as a singer and performing locally at whatever venue he could find. Hemming was a very small rural community, so he began to take his music farther afield, roaming in neighboring states. It is said that he adopted the performing name, “John Henry,” because he liked and often sang that song, but an incident would eventually make the name change fortuitous and the pseudonym permanent.

In the early Thirties, his path sometimes crossed that of fellow wandering minstrels like Big Joe Williams, Sunnyland Slim, and Sleepy John Estes—a childhood neighbor—and they occasionally worked together. In 1938, when he was living with his girlfriend in Luxora, Arkansas, Tucker received an offer to come to Chicago and make records for Vocalion. Four sides were cut, but only one coupling was issued. Still, that debut bode well, so the label wanted more John Henry Barbee recordings, but when they attempted to contact him, the young artist was nowhere to be found. It is at this juncture that George William Tucker’s life breaks out of the aforementioned familiar mold. Returning home to Luxora, he caught his girlfriend in a compromising situation with a romeo, “Mr. Charlie.” Tucker grabbed his shotgun and fired. Certain that he had killed a white man, it seemed a no-brainer to make a hasty exit and go on the lam. It also made sense to leave William George Tucker behind and run under the new identity, so it was “John Henry Barbee” who eventually made it back to Chicago and kept a very low, career-impairing, profile there. Ironically, “Mr. Charlie” had only been shot in the leg and another eleven years would pass before he actually died and Barbee learned that he was not a killer.

With encouragement from Willie Dixon, Barbee resurfaced at an opportune time and was soon off to Europe with a star-studded blues package, the 1964 American Negro Blues Festival (“Negro” was later changed to “Folk”). During a stop in Copenhagen, he made the present recordings, which are considered by many to be his best. He also made a handful for a small Brooklyn label (Spivey), but fate again interfered when an English doctor detected a cancerous growth and Barbee was flown home, prematurely, with little chance for recovery. Convinced that he could fight the odds, he used some of his tour earnings for a down payment on the first car he had ever owned. It was a tragic decision. A week later, he was in jail on a manslaughter charge, having accidentally run over and killed a man. Unable to contact anybody or arrange for bail, John Henry Barbee languished in jail until November 3, 1964, when, less than a month after making these recordings and ten days before his 59th birthday, he had a fatal heart attack. The few recordings that are his legacy, including the six selections performed here, are a sad reminder of how fate—twisted and unmerciful—gave us but a taste of an extraordinary talent.

[Cliff Englewood]

Here's what I wrote about Barbee..

One of the many artists who cited Broonzy as an influence was John Henry Barbee, whose birth name was William George Tucker. Born in Henning, Tennessee, in 1905, he was a contemporary of the other singers featured in this set, but not as well known. His musical career was, at best, sporadic and almost covert, but not for lack of talent, as we shall see. His childhood years pretty much followed the familiar scenario: the family farmed and he was put to work in the field at an early age. The hard work was not to his liking, so young William sought a way out through music. Having learned to play guitar he began accompanying himself as a singer and performing locally at whatever venue he could find. Hemming was a very small rural community, so he began to take his music farther afield, roaming in neighboring states. It is said that he adopted the performing name, “John Henry,” because he liked and often sang that song, but an incident would eventually make the name change fortuitous and the pseudonym permanent.

In the early Thirties, his path sometimes crossed that of fellow wandering minstrels like Big Joe Williams, Sunnyland Slim, and Sleepy John Estes—a childhood neighbor—and they occasionally worked together. In 1938, when he was living with his girlfriend in Luxora, Arkansas, Tucker received an offer to come to Chicago and make records for Vocalion. Four sides were cut, but only one coupling was issued. Still, that debut bode well, so the label wanted more John Henry Barbee recordings, but when they attempted to contact him, the young artist was nowhere to be found. It is at this juncture that George William Tucker’s life breaks out of the aforementioned familiar mold. Returning home to Luxora, he caught his girlfriend in a compromising situation with a romeo, “Mr. Charlie.” Tucker grabbed his shotgun and fired. Certain that he had killed a white man, it seemed a no-brainer to make a hasty exit and go on the lam. It also made sense to leave William George Tucker behind and run under the new identity, so it was “John Henry Barbee” who eventually made it back to Chicago and kept a very low, career-impairing, profile there. Ironically, “Mr. Charlie” had only been shot in the leg and another eleven years would pass before he actually died and Barbee learned that he was not a killer.

With encouragement from Willie Dixon, Barbee resurfaced at an opportune time and was soon off to Europe with a star-studded blues package, the 1964 American Negro Blues Festival (“Negro” was later changed to “Folk”). During a stop in Copenhagen, he made the present recordings, which are considered by many to be his best. He also made a handful for a small Brooklyn label (Spivey), but fate again interfered when an English doctor detected a cancerous growth and Barbee was flown home, prematurely, with little chance for recovery. Convinced that he could fight the odds, he used some of his tour earnings for a down payment on the first car he had ever owned. It was a tragic decision. A week later, he was in jail on a manslaughter charge, having accidentally run over and killed a man. Unable to contact anybody or arrange for bail, John Henry Barbee languished in jail until November 3, 1964, when, less than a month after making these recordings and ten days before his 59th birthday, he had a fatal heart attack. The few recordings that are his legacy, including the six selections performed here, are a sad reminder of how fate—twisted and unmerciful—gave us but a taste of an extraordinary talent.

Now that story really is "The Blues."

Edited January 15, 2009 by Cliff Englewood