Sony to reissue Leroy Carr, Lightnin' Hopkins

[J.A.W.]

Excellent news for blues lovers! According to the May issue of ICE magazine (page 22) Sony Legacy, who own the recordings, will release a Leroy Carr 2CD-set with 40 of his Vocalion recordings, Whiskey Is My Habit, Good Women Is All I Crave. It can be pre-ordered from CDUniverse for $17.49.

They're also releasing 20 of Lightnin' Hopkins' early recordings on 1 CD, Hello Central: The Best of Lightnin' Hopkins, which can be pre-ordered from CDUniverse for $8.39.

The street date of both releases is May 18.

Edited May 4, 2004 by J.A.W.

[cayetano]

This is an anthology, I suppose, not the complete output for Vocalion, but do you know what's the total number of sides recorded for Vocalion?

Document published the complete works in 6 CD's, but I suppose that also include recordings for other labels, I know at least for Bluebird.

[Chuck Nessa]

I think Carr only made one session for Bluebird. All the rest were Vocalions.

[J.A.W.]

According to the third edition of Dixon & Godrich's Blues & Gospel Records, 1902-1943 Leroy Carr recorded about 175 sides for Vocalion between 1928 and 1934, and 8 sides for Bluebird in 1935.

[J.A.W.]

AMG review of the Carr set.

[J.A.W.]

AMG review of the Hopkins release.

[Chuck Nessa]

The Legacy site lists 4 prewar discs being issued today - Lucille Bogan, Rev JM Gates. Mississippi Sheiks and Mamie Smith.

[J.A.W.]

The Legacy site lists 4 prewar discs being issued today - Lucille Bogan, Rev JM Gates. Mississippi Sheiks and Mamie Smith.

I was about to post that, but you beat me to it...

[J.A.W.]

AMG Mississippi Sheiks review (sound quality included B) )

[J.A.W.]

Eagle Records will release a John Lee Hooker CD with some of his earliest recordings on May 18. It's on sale from CDUniverse for $12.59 at the moment.

[ghost of miles]

Excellent news about the Carr. He was from Indianapolis and will be included in the anthology I'm putting together for the Indiana Historical Society. His partner Scrapper Blackwell lived until 1962, when he was murdered not far from the downtown hospital.