"The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by MUDDY WATERS – January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess Records featuring Little Walter, Junior Wells, Jimmy Rogers, James Cotton, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Walter Horton, Ernest "Big" Crawford, James "Pee Wee" Madison, S.P. Leary and more (June 2002 US MCA/Chess CD Compilation - Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited Series featuring 2LPs onto 1CD – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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****

"...You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had... "

 

I loved every release in this classy CD Reissue Series - most of which appeared across the years 2001 and 2002 on MCA/Chess in the States – their archival Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited Series (see list below).

 

Hardly surprising then that the mighty McKinley Morganfield aka MUDDY WATERS was going to be in that list more than a few times. So, what you have here are two albums that appeared on Chess Records in the USA in January 1966 and January 1967 – both capitalizing on his fabulous "Folk Singer" LP of January 1964 that brought him a whole new audience of Sixties hipsters cottoning on to the Blues. Loads to discuss – to the details...

 

US released 12 March 2002 - "The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by MUDDY WATERS on MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226) offers 2LPs from 1966 and 1967 Remastered onto 1CD and it plays out as follows (69:31 minutes):

 

1. Mannish Boy [Side 1] – May 1955 Recording

2. Screamin' And Cryin' – July 1949 Recording

3. Just To Be With You – June 1956 Recording

4. Walking Thru The Park – Late 1958 Recording

5. Walkin' Blues – February 1960 Recording

6. Canary Bird – July 1949 Recording

7. The Same Thing [Side 2] – April 1964 Recording

8. Gypsy Woman – 1947 Recording

9. Rollin' & Tumblin' Part One – February 1950 Recording

10. Forty Days And Forty Nights – February 1956 Recording

11. Little Geneva – July 1949 Recording

12. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "The Real Folk Blues" – released January 1966 in the USA on Chess LP 1501. Guest Musicians include Little Walter on Harmonica (Track 1), Jimmy Rogers on Guitar (Tracks 1, 3 and 10), Walter Horton on Harmonica (Tracks 3 and 10), James Cotton on Harmonica (Track 4), Otis Spann on Piano (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 10 and 12), "Pee Wee" Madison on Guitar (Tracks 7 and 12), Willie Dixon on Bass (Tracks 1, 3, 7, 10 and 12), Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass (Tracks 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11) and more

 

13. Sad Letter Blues [Side 1] – June 1950 Recording

14. You're Gonna Need My Help I Said – June 1950 Recording

15. Sittin' Here And Drinkin' (Whiskey Blues) – Fall 1948 Recording

16. Down South Blues – Fall 1948 Recording

17. Train Fare Home Blues – Fall 1948 Recording

18. Kind Hearted Woman – Fall 1948 Recording

19. Appealing Blues (Hello Little Girl) – June 1950 Recording

20. Early Morning Blues – June 1950 Recording

21. Too Young To Know – January 1951 Recording

22. She's Alright – December 1952 Recording

23. Landlady – December 1952 Recording

24. Honey Bee – January 1951 Recording

Tracks 13 to 24 are the album "More Real Folk Blues" – released January 1967 in the USA on Chess LP-1511. Guest Musicians include Little Walter on Harmonica and Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass (Tracks 13, 14, 21 and 24), Little Walter on Harmonica and Jimmy Rogers on Guitar (Tracks 22 and 23), Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass Only (Tracks 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) and more.

 

The 12-page booklet reproduces the front and rear artwork of both LPs with their respective period liner notes; that is supplemented with new notes from PAUL WILLIAMS of Crawdaddy Magazine with Remastered Audio from one of Universal's Top Audio Engineers - ERICK LABSON (see List Below). While it's not genuinely substantial, it's a pretty booklet nonetheless and there's a colour photo of Morgan in full-flow on stage beneath the see-through CD tray at the rear with the 'Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited' Logo on the inlay spine. To the music...

 

A quick scan of the tracks lists provided above and you will see that these January 1966 and 1967 American LPs had little to do with Sixties Blues – for the most part they were a mixed brew of late Forties and mid Fifties Chess oldies and sounded like it too. Across the first LP only two songs - "The Same Thing" and "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" hailed from the Sixties (both 1964) whilst the second album had none at all. As a result, the audio on the 1948 and 1950 tracks is crude to say the least and no amount of ERICK LABSON Remasters is going to bring them up to fidelity. Even the liner notes of the day alluded to this – claiming they were not flawless – but that the spirit was there.

 

Having acknowledged that, Labson does a great job anyway (he has remastered thousands of Chess tracks and has a long line of Remastering accolades). To counter all the originals, those two 1964 nuggets have astonishing audio – the kind of Blues thrill that is rare – fab full sound elicited by players like Otis Spann (Piano), James "Pee Wee" Madison (Guitar), Willie Dixon (Bass) and S.P. Leary (Drums) – sessioned Blues dudes who would play with Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac at the Chess Studios in 1969. On the second LP Little Walter gets to shine while Muddy Waters gets to attack that guitar – Ernest "Big" Crawford pumping up the bottom end with a Double Bass.

 

I actually prefer the second album – Muddy and Guitar and Voice with Harmonica accompaniment – moody and real indeed. A good entry in the series, but just don't go expecting audio miracles, but more authenticity...

 

The "Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited" CD Series

A LIST in ARTIST ALPHABETICAL ORDER

1 and 2 Remastered SUHA GUR, 3 to 11 Remastered by ERICK LABSON

 

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

Debut US Album from December 1972 on Gordy Records G 964L (no UK) - Featuring Ray Goodman and Paul White

April 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/Motown 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727) with 4 Previously Unreleased Bonuses - SUHA GUR Remasters (56:10 minutes)

 

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

Second US Album from July 1974 on Gordy G 967V1 (no UK) – featuring Bob Goodman and Gene Block

April 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/Motown 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925) with 3 Previously Unreleased Bonuses – SUHA GUR Remaster (70:32 minutes)

 

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

January 1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke DLP 74

February 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Duke-Peacock 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628) with 2 Bonus Tracks – ERICK LABSON Remaster

(35:12 minutes)

 

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

October 1966 and September 1991 US LPs on Chess LP 1508 and MCA/Chess-9329

March 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112-821-2 (Barcode 008811282127) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (79:47 minutes)

 

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess LP 1502 and Chess 1512

March 2002 US CD Reissue on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 122 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028) – ERICK LABSON Remaster (66:45 minutes)

 

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet LPS 802 (Stereo and Mono)

May 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826) – ERICK LABSON Remaster with 10 Bonus Tracks (57:11 minutes)

 

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

September 1990 US 13-Track LP on MCA Records MCA 6103

March 2001 US CD Reissue 13-Track CD Compilation on MCA America 088 412 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (64:11 minutes)

 

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

November 1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess LP 1449 with Tracks 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as Bonuses

March 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529) – ERICK LABSON Remaster (44:43 minutes)

 

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends

Tracks 1 to 10 of the CD (studio recordings) combined with 15 to 20 (live recordings) make up the "Fathers And Sons" double-album issued August 1969 on Chess LPS-127 in the USA and October 1969 on Chess CRL 4556 in the UK (both 2LP vinyl sets). Tracks 11, 12, 13 are previously unreleased - and 14 is previously unreleased in the USA and are Bonuses on this CD

October 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826) – ERICK LANSON Remaster (77:38 minutes)

 

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess LP-1501 and Chess LP-1511

March 2002 US CD Reissue (2LPs onto 1CD) on MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (69:31 minutes)

 

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess LP 1503 and Chess LP 1509

May 2002 US CD Reissue (2LPs onto 1CD) on MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (65:26 minutes)

"Fathers And Sons" by MUDDY WATERS – August 1969 (USA) and October 1969 (UK) Double-Album on Chess Records in Stereo - featuring Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T & The MGs, Phil Upchurch and Buddy Miles (October 2001 US MCA/Chess CD Reissue – Part of the Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited Series - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…She's Been Gone Twenty-Four Hours... 

And That's Twenty-Three Hours Too Long…"

If you were to pick one release that perfectly blended great Old-School Blues with Classic Rock - then 1969s "Fathers And Sons" featuring the mighty MUDDY WATERS and good friends would be the album. And now that 16-track sweet-as-a-nut double LP set is further supplemented on this fabulous CD reissue with 4 great bonuses (part of Universal’s “Blues Classics - Revisited & Remastered” CD Series). Its like being handed a virtual master class in Blues-Rock - truly blistering stuff. Here are Honey Bee details…

USA released October 2001 - "Fathers And Sons" by MUDDY WATERS on MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826) is an Expanded Edition Reissue in the Blues Classics - Remastered And Revisited Series that offers the original 2LP Remastered onto 1CD with Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (77:38 minutes):

1. All Aboard

2. Mean Disposition

3. Blow Wind Blow

4. Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had

5. Walkin’ Thru The Park

6. Forty Days And Forty Nights

7. Standin’ Round Cryin’

8. I’m Ready

9. Twenty Four Hours

10. Sugar Sweet 

11. Country Boy - Previously Unreleased

12. I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love) - Previously Unreleased

13. Oh Yeah - Previously Unreleased

14. I Feel So Good - Previously Unreleased

15. Long Distance Call [Live]

16. Baby, Please Don’t Go [Live]

17. Honey Bee [Live]

18. The Same Thing [Live]

19. Got My Mojo Working, Part One

20. Got My Mojo Working, Part Two

Tracks 1 to 10 of the CD (studio recordings) combined with 15 to 20 (live recordings) make up the "Fathers And Sons" double-album issued August 1969 on Chess LPS-127 in the USA and October 1969 on Chess CRL 4556 in the UK (both 2LP vinyl sets).

Tracks 11 to 14 are previously unreleased studio tracks from the sessions; Track 14 (a cover of Big Bill Broonzy's “I Feel So Good") is previously unreleased in the USA on album - it was a USA 7" single in 1970 - the B-side to "Going Home" on Chess 2085.

The studio tracks (1 to 14) were recorded 21, 22 and 23 April 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, while the live tracks were recorded on 24 April 1969 (with the same band) at the "Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree" also in Chicago, Illinois.

The band for the sessions was:

MUDDY WATERS - Vocals and Guitar

OTIS SPANN - Piano

MIKE BLOOMFIELD - Guitar

PAUL BUTTERFIELD - Harmonica

DONALD "DUCK" DUNN - Bass

SAM LAY - Drums

Guests were:

PHIL UPCHURCH - Bass on "All Aboard" only

JEFF CARP - Chromatic Harmonica on "All Aboard" only

PAUL ASBELL - Rhythm Guitar on "Walking Thru The Park", "Forty Days & Forty Nights" and "Sugar Sweet" only)

BUDDY MILES - Drums on "Got My Mojo Working, Part Two" only

Digitally remastered by ERICK LABSON of Universal - the sound quality is typically fantastic (he has over 1000 mastering credits to his name for audio restoration and transfer) and reflect the superb original Production skills of NORMAN DAYRON. The 12-page booklet has typically brilliant and informative liner notes by Blues and R'n'B expert BILL DAHL and features a few photos of the sessionmen (Butterfield, Donald "Duck" Dunn etc) - clearly enthused to be playing with a legend.

Highlights would include Muddy's mournful yet fun cover of Eddie Boyd's "Twenty Four Hours" (lyrics from the song title this review), the live version of Willie Dixon's sex song "The Same Thing" and the in-your-face rocking of "Blow Wind Blow". Then there's the accompaniment - Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T & The MG's providing tight-as-a-nun's-knickers bass playing, Mike Bloomfield blissed out and licking away on Guitar - while Paul Butterfield and his mean harmonica simply blast their way through the songs like a pair possessed (Butterfield is particularly brilliant on “Forty Days And Forty Nights”). The icing on the cake is the four studio cuts that make “Fathers And Sons” even stronger than before - "Country Boy" being intense Blues Rock with Butterfield laying down a harmonica storm that would have made Little Walter proud - wow…

This is a great Muddy Waters record - not just a good one - and this cool CD reissue (at less than five quid from some retailers) does that vinyl-double proud - and then some…

Titles in the Universal US-Only 

Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited CD Series

1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters

 3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON remasters (I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)

MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

"Muddy Waters At Newport 1960" by MUDDY WATERS – November 1960 US LP on Chess Records (September 1961 in the UK on Pye Jazz) featuring James Cotton on Harmonica, Otis Spann on Piano, Pat Hare on Guitar, Andrew Stephenson on Bass and Francey 'Francis' Clay on Drums with guest vocals from John Lee Hooker on the encore (March 2001 US MCA/Chess CD Reissue in the Blues Classics – Revisited & Remastered Series – Eric Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Got My Mojo Working..."

Muddy Waters was a formidable thing in the Chess Studios – but let loose in a live environment with his red-hot band cooking, his deep Mississippi voice growling and his ebullient persona effortlessly enthralling the audience – Morgan McKinleyfield could slaughter all in his path.

Some albums deserve their legend and "Muddy Waters At Newport 1960" is one of them. This superb 2001 Reissue/Remaster expands that Stereo masterpiece with four studio tracks from the same year (one a rarity in the USA). And even though this CD is short (just over 44 minutes) – you only have to hear five minutes of it and the word 'essential' immediately jumps to mind. Here are Mojo Working details with some Hoochie Coochie Men thrown in...

US released March 2001 – "Muddy Waters At Newport 1960" by MUDDY WATERS on MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529) is an Expanded Edition CD reissue (part of their Blues Classics – Revisited & Remastered Series) and plays out as follows (44:41 minutes):

1. I Got My Brand On You [Side 1]

2. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man

3. Baby, Please Don't Go

4. Soon Forgotten

5. Tiger In Your Tank

6. I Feel So Good  [Side 2]

7. I’ve Got My Mojo Working

8. I’ve Got My Mojo Working, Part 2

9. Goodbye Newport Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Muddy Waters At Newport 1960" – released November 1960 in the USA on Chess LP 1449 in Stereo (recorded and partially filmed Sunday afternoon, 3 July 1960 at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island). The album was released September 1961 in the UK on Pye Jazz NJL 34.

BONUS TRACKS (all Studio versions):

10. I Got My Brand On You – first appeared on the 1994 Muddy Waters 2CD Set "One More Mile: Chess Collectibles Volume 1" on Chess CHD2-9348

11. Soon Forgotten – Previously Unreleased in the USA

12. Tiger In Your Tank

13. Meanest Woman – Tracks 12 and 13 are the A and B-sides of Chess 1765, a 7" single released in the USA in October 1960

Muddy sang Lead Vocals and played Electric Guitar, James Cotton was on Harmonica, Otis Spann on Piano, Pat Hare on Guitar, Andrew Stephenson on Bass and Francey ‘Francis’ Clay hit the Drums. The MC for the show was Langston Hughes – a noted Black Poet of the day. Otis Spann famously improvised "Goodbye Newport Blues" on the day - takes lead vocals initially and is later joined by all the Blues Men who were playing on the bill that day (including John Lee Hooker).

It starts out rather sedately – the audience probably not knowing what to expect. We get a workmanlike version of his 'new' song "I Got My Brand On You" which sets the scene. You also notice the fantastic 'Stereo' mix adding so much space and body to the overall sound. But then something kicks in halfway through "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" - you can literally 'feel' the atmosphere and especially the crowd's abandon being to grow and loosen as Track 2 progresses. In the center of "Baby, Please Don't Go" – James Cotton rips into a wild Horn solo and things are now cooking rather than simmering. The crowd-cheers are now enthusiastic and real - like they've stumbled onto something fantastic and can't believe their luck (it was a sunny Sunday afternoon in 1960 - this kind of thing didn't happen every day of the week). Muddy then slows it right down with the melancholy Blues of James Oden's "Soon Forgotten" – another 'new' single for 1960 on Chess (it's really, really good too). But Side 1 ends with a total winner – another new 45 that's aimed to please – the bopping "Tiger In Your Tank" penned by the mighty Chess tunesmith Willie Dixon. It's on "Tiger In Your Tank" that the fluid piano playing of Otis Spann comes to the fore. At the end of it - there's an explosion of wolf whistles and cheers – and you can just see all those students and hip people getting down and letting go (it's a wonderful moment).

Muddy maintains the pace and momentum with a rip-roaring version of Big Bill Broonzy's "I Feel So Good" – the crowd now wild and vocal to the max. He tells them there’s one more (but they clearly want more) and the band launches into a brilliant "I Got My Mojo Working" – boogieing along like a goodun – the handclaps steady and furious. Cotton warbles that harmonica as Francis Clay lays into the drums and cymbals – it builds and builds in excitement and that sedate opener is now years away. By the time he does his "Mojo" word-mumbling routine – the day is won – and how. Muddy then hits them with an Encore Reprise of "Got My Mojo Working" where he sings "...I want to love you so bad...I don't know what to do...". He gives it a witty call-and-response with the band after which Cotton stumps up a fantastic Harp solo - followed by a clearly inspired Otis Spann on the piano. We slow down then to a crawl and Otis Spann takes over Vocals for the final track "Goodbye Newport Blues" - joined at the end by all the Blues voices of the day (including we are told John Lee Hooker).

The four Bonus Tracks are all studio efforts – a cool outtake of the Newport opener "I Got My Brand On You" from a 1994 2CD compilation called "One More Mile: Chess Collectibles Volume 1" – Cotton playing a wicked Harp solo. Uber slow Blues follows with a haunting version of "Soon Forgotten" (a great inclusion) while "Tiger In Your Tank" ups the boogie pace as it did at the concert. The R&B shuffle of "Meanest Woman" is a total gem – a B-side – the kind of Little Walter warbler that sends me over the edge. Absolutely brilliant...

So there you have it – a masterclass live LP that you wish there was more of (it broke him through to a wider audience) and a cluster of great studio additions. Muddy Waters has his brand on the hearts of millions – let him make his mark on yours. Buy this and enjoy...

Titles in the "Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited" CD Series 

All are US releases

1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters

3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON (I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)

MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

"Bad News Is Coming" by LUTHER ALLISON (2001 Universal/Motown 'Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited' Expanded CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Raggedy And Dirty…"

On the evidence of this fab little CD reissue - Chicago's Luther Allison played some of the meanest and grittiest Seventies blues imaginable - and lucky for us was also possessed of a dirty low-down voice to match his fiery axework. Think of a black Jeff Beck circa 1972 with a tassels suede jacket, a spliff in his mouth, a Hendrix lean back pose as he plays and a Fender Stratocaster he wants to hurt - and you're there. "Bad News Is Coming" is his debut LP and a bit of a mule-kicking blinder it is too...

This ballsy uncompromising album first appeared in late 1972 on Motown's Gordy label imprint in the USA and has been remastered here as part of Universal's superlative "Blues Classics - Revisited & Remastered" Series (see list below) - bolstered up with four corking Bonus Tracks from the original sessions. Here is the Rooster in the Barn Yard details...

USA released in April 2001 - "Bad News Is Coming" by LUTHER ALLISON on Universal/Motown 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727) is an expanded CD remaster and breaks down as follows (56:10 minutes):

1. The Little Red Rooster [Willie Dixon song - Howlin' Wolf cover]

2. Evil Is Going On [Willie Dixon song - Howlin' Wolf cover]

3. Raggedy And Dirty [Luther Allison/Joe Peraino/Robert Kreinar/Andrew Smith/Ray Goodman song]

4. Rock Me Baby [B.B. King/Joe Bihari song - B.B. King cover]

5. Bad News Is Coming [Joe Peraino/Luther Allison/Paul White song] - Side 2

6. Cut You A-Loose [Mel London cover]

7. Dust My Broom [Elmore James cover]

Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut album "Bad News Is Coming" - released December 1972 in the USA on Motown/Gordy G 964L (No UK release).

BONUS TRACKS:

10. The Stumble [Freddie King cover]

11. Sweet Home Chicago [Robert Johnson cover]

12. It's Been A Long Time [Luther Allison song]

13. Take My Love (I Want To Give It All To You) [Mertis John song]

With all arrangements by Luther Allison, the album was recorded between February and August 1972 and produced by JOE PERIANO. The Band for the Sessions was:

LUTHER ALLISON - Lead Vocals and Guitar

RAY GOODMAN - Rhythm Guitar

PAUL WHITE - Piano and Organ

GARFIELD ANGOVE - Harmonica

ANDREW SMITH - Drums and Bass

SUHA GUR - one of Universal's top engineers - has given the remaster a fantastic quality with audio clarity on all of the tracks - pumping, muscular and superbly clear. Play only the opening bars of "The Little Red Rooster" which is essentially Rock-Blues and immediately you're kicked in the gut by the power of his playing and the wonderful muscle in the transfer. He powers down into a Harmonica and Piano Beat Blues with the second Howlin' Wolf classic on Side 1 - "Evil Is Going On" (great work from Garfield Angove and Paul White). Allison growls, "Another mule might be kicking in your stall..." as he allows Angove to dominate "Evil" with warbling harmonica. Things now get downright Funky with Organ/Harmonica battles on "Raggedy And Dirty" and a wicked rhythm section (this will surely turn up on some Kent-Soul/BGP CD as a Funky/Blues discovery). Allison closes the side with Soulful Robert Cray type fretwork on B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" - his excellent band supplementing the licks with Piano fills and warm Bass runs.

"Bad News Is Coming" is kind of Albert King at Stax territory - a slow piano beat allows aching lyrics and guitar fills to come to the fore (very nice Blues). We return to harder guitar on "Cut You A-Loose" and finish on a slashing version of the Elmore James classic "Dust My Broom" - making you wish you could have seen this band in full flow in a bar somewhere about one in the morning. The extras are surprisingly good opening with an Instrumental version of Freddie King's "The Stumble" and a jaunty go at Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago". But best is the near eleven-minute "It's Been A Long Time" where he gets to stretch out on the guitar while Paul White plinks away on the piano. Great stuff...

Probably because it was a label more associated with Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson - "Bad News Is Coming" and its 1974 follow-up "Luther's Blues" (also on Gordy and also in this series of CD reissues) simply got lost in the mix. No one seems to have noticed - which is astonishing given the quality of both albums. Perhaps if it had been on the Rare Earth label with the groups Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth and Rustix - then the Rock crowd might have noticed it more. But like it's tasty follow up "Luther's Blues" - "Bad News Is Coming:" is a hard-to-find vinyl album for Motown collectors and I'd argue a real discovery for Blues enthusiasts (the CD is dirt cheap too).

In the early Fifties Luther Allison formed a band with his brother Ollie and called their group (cue a drumroll) -The Rolling Stones. You see how smart those British boys were - and how they and Led Zeppelin were always nicking the best ideas. A criminally forgotten guitarist in the pantheon of Blues Men - give this Luther Allison CD a go. It's recommended like grits and groceries...

Titles in 
Universal's 'Blues Classics-  Remastered and Revisited' CD Reissue Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (1961 USA 12-track Mono Debut LP on Duke Records with 2 Bonus Single Sides, 35:12 minutes)

Released 27 Feb 2011 on MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES)

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. Muddy Waters At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

NOTES: 1 and 2 remastered by Suha Gur - 3 to 11 by Erick Labson