"Indianola Mississippi Seeds" by B. B. KING (1995 Beat Goes On CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Can't Break Loose Of These Chains And Things..."

Eagles Producer Bill Szymczyk first hooked up with B.B. King for the June 1969 "Live And Well" LP on BluesWay – then helmed the superb December 1969 studio album "Completely Well" too. Those two well-received live and studio sets introduced B.B. King classics like "The Thrill Is Gone" and "So Excited" to a new audience (largely white boys digging the Blues) and more importantly helped the legendary Blues Boy break the Billboard album charts after decades of absence - "Live And Well" made No. 56 and "Completely Well" went higher to No. 38.

Meanwhile on his 1969 travels to Cleveland - Bill Szymczyk spots a local band fronted by an amazing guitar player/singer rocking a club. It was The James Gang and the axe maestro was of course Joe Walsh.

Although beloved in the industry for her songwriting genius with Gerry Goffin and her largely unnoticed band work with The City – in 1970 Carole King hadn’t made "Tapestry" yet and wasn’t the household name she would become throughout 1971 and beyond. Oklahoma songwriter and keyboardist Leon Russell had only just released his self-titled debut LP "Leon Russell" in December 1969 on Shelter Records (Joe Cocker would cover "Delta Lady" from it and create a hit – BB King would do "Hummingbird" - also on that album). Soulful backing singer Merry Clayton had famously duetted with Mick Jagger on The Rolling Stones classic "Gimme Shelter" from their classic "Let It Bleed" album in 1969 and was about to emerge into the limelight in 1970 with her own debut album on A&M/Ode 70 Records not surprisingly called "Gimme Shelter” (see review).

The point of this musical history lesson is that B.B. King's 1970 LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" (Produced by Bill Szymczyk) brought 'all' of these mercurial talents together for the first time. And I'd argue that in 2016 - it's one of those criminally 'overlooked' albums that shouldn't be. Time to rectify that careless oversight on our part - we children of Alan Freed and a frothing Robert Johnson. Here are the plugged-in watermelon details...

UK released June 1995 (reissued December 2008) – "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" by B.B. KING on Beat Goes On BGOCD 237 (Barcode 5017261202376) is a straightforward CD transfer/remaster of that album and plays outs as follows (39:33 minutes):

1. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother

2. You're Still My Woman

3. Ask Me No Questions

4. Until I'm Dead And Cold

5. King's Special

6. Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore [Side 2]

7. Chains And Things

8. Go Underground

9. Hummingbird

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" – released October 1970 in the USA on ABC Records ABCS-713 and October 1970 in the UK on Probe Records SPBA 6255 (gatefold sleeve in both countries). Produced by BILL SZYMCZYK with Strings and Horns arranged by JIMMIE HASKELL. It peaked at No. 26 on the US LP charts. Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are written by B.B. King – Tracks 2, 7 and 8 co-written with B.B. King and Dave Clark – Track 9 is a Leon Russell cover version. 

MUSICIANS:

B.B. KING - All Lead Vocals & Guitar

JOE WALSH - Rhythm Guitar on "Ask Me No Questions", "King's Special" and "Hummingbird"

CAROLE KING - Piano on "You're Still My Woman", "Until I'm Dead And Cold" and "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore"

CAROLE KING - Electric Piano on "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore" and "Chains And Things"

LEON RUSSELL - Piano on "Ask Me No Questions", "King's Special" and "Go Underground"

MERRY CLAYTON - Backing Vocals

BRYAN GARAFALO - Bass

RUSS KUNKEL - Drums

45s released around the LP:

1. Hummingbird b/w Ask Me No Questions

July 1970 USA 7" single on ABC Records 45-11268

August 1970 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 2176

2. Chains And Things [Edit] b/w King's Special [Edit]

October 1970 USA 7” single on ABC Records 45-ABC-11280

Chains And Things b/w King's Special

February 1971 UK 7" single on Probe PRO 516 (no edits)

3. Ask Me No Questions b/w Nobody Loves Me But My Mother

February 1971 USA 7" single on ABC Records ABC-11290

Ask Me Questions/Help The Poor b/w Hummingbird

June 1971 UK 7" single on Probe Records PRO 528 (Note: the A-side has two tracks)

The 8-page inlay has basic but entertaining liner notes from JOHN TOBLER. This is 1995 BGO – so the booklet isn’t like their 20-page tomes of late nor is there a pretty card slipcase (mores the pity) and could frankly do with some updating. It doesn’t say who did the Remaster but it was carried out at 'Sound Recording Technology in Cambridge' in early 1995. The audio is great – meaty in all the right ways. It has a very analogue feel - hissy in some places - but alive and kicking for all that.

With just B.B.accompanying himself on piano - it opens with the witty "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" where the Blues Boy bemoans his womanless fate. Nobody loves him and he ain't sure about his mother either (could be jiving him). Next up is the slinky "You're Still My Woman" and we're introduced to another 'secret weapon' in the sessions - a writer's credit to a one 'Dave Clark'. B.B. co-wrote three of the songs with this Tennessee songwriting genius and although Clark never managed an album of his own – his songs crop up like good pennies in cool places. Clark’s "Homework" was covered by The J. Geils Band on their debut and used as a 7" single. "Homework" also turned up on the Fleetwood Mac and Friends double-album "Blues Jam At Chess" on Blue Horizon. B.B. would co-write with Clark again on the 1972 album "L.A. Midnight" on ABC Records (Probe Records in the UK). ABC decided to use Clark's wonderful "Chains And Things" as a 45 and you can so hear why. This sneaky electric piano riffs comes sailing in (Carole King) and it’s that fabulous 70ts fusion of Blues and Rock and Soul all rolled into one (a highlight for sure).

There are two funky instrumentals - "King's Special" (preceded by some studio chatter) features the band of King, Walsh, Carole and Leon all boogieing the session in a hipster jam. It's the kind of cool Rock-Soul-Funky instrumental that will turn up on some Soul Jazz double-album compilation in the next few years - an example of a long lost wicked groove that kids of today need to know about. The other is the Side 2 opener "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore" which is a weird one - like two songs in one - both different but excellent grooves. "Go Underground" hails from the "Completely Well" sessions and is a Funky bopper - could have been a great single. His cover of Leon Russell's "Hummingbird" ends the record on another Funky Blues vibe - great piano and those orchestrated strings. The bass is so sweet, Leon plays piano on his own tune and Joe Walsh gives it some chug in the Rhythm section and Merry comes in with the choir voices at the finale.

"Indianola Mississippi Seeds" is a wicked album filled with musical bodies that only complimented and enhanced the great man's mojo.

"...She gets me where I live..." - B.B. King sings on the cool "Hummingbird". Well plug me into that watermelon one more time...

"Blue River/Stages: The Lost Album" by ERIC ANDERSEN - A Review Of His 1971 (and lost 1973) Columbia Albums - Now Remastered Onto 2CDs By Beat Goes On of the UK In 2014...

“…Candles At The Feet Of The Compassionate Patron Saint Of Youth…” 

Pennsylvania born folky musician/poet ERIC ANDERSEN has a recorded history that reads like some tragi-comedy that really shouldn’t be that funny. After a seven-album run between 1965 and 1970 (5 with Vanguard and 2 with Warner Bothers) – he signed to Columbia Records and finally saw limited chart action with “Blue River” in 1972. It reached the unfairly low placing of 169. But then his record company ‘lost’ his follow-up LP (see story below). A virtual unknown outside of certain circles even to this day – I can only hope that this stunning double CD reissue alters that run of bad breaks because this is a doozy of a release – it really is. Here are the longhaired tape-box mix-ups…

UK released September 2014 – Beat Goes On BGOCD 1159 (Barcode 5017261211590) offers up two albums onto 2CDs as follows:

Disc 1 (46:55 minutes):

1. Is It Really Love After All

2. Pearl’s Goodtime Blues

3. Wind And Sand

4. Faithful

5. Blue River

6. Florentine

7. Sheila

8. More Often Than Not

9. Round The Bend

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 8th solo album – “Blue River” was first released July 1972 in the USA on Columbia Records KC 31062 and February 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 65145

BONUS TRACKS:

10. More Often Than Not (Outtake from the “Blue River” Sessions)

11. Round The Bend (first issued on the 1999 Sony/Legacy CD reissue of “Blue River”)

Disc 2 (58:17 minutes):

1. Baby, I’m Lonesome

2. Moonchild River Song

3. Can’t Get You Out Of My Life

4. Woman, She Was Gentle

5. Time Run Like A Freight Train

6. It’s Been A Long Time

7. Wild Crow Blues

8. Be True To You

9. I Love To Sing My Ballad, Mama (But They Only Wanna Hear Rock And Roll)

10. Dream To Rimbaud

11. Make It Last (Angel In The Wind)

12. Lie With Me

13. Soul Of My Song

Tracks 1 to 13 are his ‘lost’ 9th album “Stages” - supposed to appear on Columbia Records in 1973. There’s a history to the album that needs explanation. Meant to be the spiritual follow-up to “Blue River” – tracks were recorded in Nashville in late 1972 and early 1973 and the sessions went well – using pretty much the same crew as the first album and the same delicate vibes and arrangements. But then disaster struck. In Columbia’s transitional confusion - they lost all the tapes (even the artwork) and Andersen was left stranded without career momentum and no answers. Amazingly they remained ‘lost’ until a diligent lady at Columbia called Amy Herot sent out a system-wide search only to be told in October 1989 that 40 boxes of tapes had been ‘found’ in the New York vaults. Columbia brought in mastering geniuses DENNY PURCELL and GREGG CALBI to deal with Tracks 1 to 10 - the usable ‘vintage’ recordings on his lost masterpiece “Stages”. Tracks 11, 12 and 13 were re-recorded by a virtual Country Rock supergroup in late 1990 featuring RICK DANKO on Bass/Backing Vocals with GARTH HUDSON on Accordion (both of course from THE BAND) with SHAWN COLVIN on Backing Vocals.  WILLIE NILE also played Guitar on “Soul Of My Song”. The Sony/Legacy CD of “Stages: The Lost Album” finally appeared in 1991 to widespread critical acclaim. Which brings us back to this Beat Goes On set…

The 24-page booklet has a superb essay on Andersen’s musical career/troubles/vindication by noted writer JOHN O’REGAN and full session details. There are photos of him with Baez and Dylan in 1975, Patti Smith in 1971 and even Shawn Colin and Rick Danko at the 1990 re-recording sessions. There’s also an outer card slipcase – it’s the usual classy affair from BGO. But best of all is a sparkling new remaster from ANDREW THOMPSON – each album shining like a diamond. The audio quality is beautiful – clarity and warmth.

Musically this is singer-songwriter territory with a Country twist. “Blue River” is a lovely album – very plaintive and soft on the ear. His Gram Parsons voice may not appeal to everyone – but the melodies are classy and work their way into your heart. The classy opener sets the pace and style – “Is It Really Love At All” – sounding not unlike James Taylor’s “Mud Slide Slim…” album from 1971. Piano introduces the perky “Pearl’s Goodtime Blues” feeling not unlike a “Stage Fright” outtake by The Band. The gorgeous title track “Blue River” features a rare backing vocal on the chorus from none other than JONI MITCHELL and another lady song “Sheila” is just as pretty. It gets a little Leonard Cohen on “Come To My Bedside, My Darlin’” with its bedroom lyrics and rolling acoustic guitar. He ends with an accordion romp through the old Hank Williams nugget “Why Don’t You Love Me?” sounding not unlike mid 90’s Steve Earle. The whole album feels like a lost classic – and on re-hearing – it is.

It’s clear from the 1991 results that 1973’s “Stages” would surely have broken the charts for him. It opens with the plaintive “Baby, I’m Lonesome” with backing vocal from his ex wife DEBBIE GREEN ANDERSEN (she’s also on the ending of “Can’t Get You Out Of My Life”. The truly lovely “Moonchild River Song” features a delicate backing vocal from DAN FOGELBERG that so compliments the country melody. But then you’re hit the album’s undeniable masterpiece – the sublime eight and half minutes of “Time Run Like A Freight Train” which is part Tim Buckley, part James Taylor and part Nick Drake. It’s just gorgeous – acoustic guitars and pretty melody searing their way into your heart (“..she asked for a symphony…I only gave her a song…”). Special mention should go to GLEN SPREEN on Hammond B3 organ and DAN FOGELBERG adding so much to the layered vocals on the lovely chorus (his explanation of the song titles this review).

“Wild Crow Blues” is dedicated to his early Seventies pal and neighbour PATTI SMITH and it features LEON RUSSELL on Electric Wurlitzer, EDDIE HINTON on Acoustic Guitar and TROY SEALS (brother of Jim from Seals and Crofts) on Electric Guitar. “Woman She Was Gentle” has a duet vocal with JOAN BAEZ. He evens goes a bit Country Rock on “I Love To Sing My Ballad, Mama” but it’s the least convincing of the tunes on here. It ends with the Folk of “Dream To Rimbaud” which maintains an acoustic rhythm throughout punctured by eerie Pedal Steel from veteran player WELDON MYRICK. The three new recordings are superb too – so impressive - especially “Lie With Me” and “Soul Of My Song” with gorgeous work from SHAWN COLVIN in complimenting his (by now) deeper 1990 vocals.

There’s a photograph of Andersen with Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs circa 1964 on the last page of the booklet – you can’t but think that all these heroes of Americana are only now been fully appreciated.

A gorgeous reissue – beautifully presented and sounding just amazing – well done to all at BGO and a definite reissue of 2014 for me…

“Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973” by FREDDIE KING. A Review of the 2009 Bear Family 7CD Box Set With Added 7”/LP Discographies Referencing The Box

"…I Swim The Deepest River…"

Bear Family box sets are famous for their sumptuousness, but I would venture to say that this absolute peach is one of the best tomes they've ever produced - and given their ludicrously high standards with content, sound and presentation - that's really saying something. I'm properly blown away - I really am.

"Taking Care Of Business 1956-1973" was released May 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK in Germany and contains 167 remastered tracks across 7 fully-featured CDs. Inside is a 106-page 12" x 12" HARDBACK BOOK which is shrink-wrapped for protection (a nice touch) and as you can imagine is a thing of beauty in itself. Rare photos, trade adverts, concert posters, singles on Federal and King, albums on Cotillion and Shelter punctuate a huge essay on King's life and music by noted expert BILL DAHL. The updated Discography by BILL DAHL and RICHARD WEIZE is presented in a far-clearer manner than before (even if there are a few mistakes and omissions) and there's also a track-by-track alphabetical list that follows it. The whole set reeks of care and affection.

Track Mixing and Remastering is by BILL INGLOT (of Rhino fame) and JURGEN CRASSER (of Bear Family) and the quality is GORGEOUS throughout - especially on the last three discs. Each jewel case carries a different photo-inlay and each label reflects the recording period - Federal on 1 to 3, King on 4, Cotillion on 5 and Shelter on 6 and 7. And as you can see from the list below, there's some eye-catching extended playing times...

Disc 1, 25 Tracks, 70:46 minutes
Disc 2, 26 Tracks, 77:15 minutes
Disc 3, 22 Tracks, 70:56 minutes
Disc 4, 32 Tracks, 87:16 minutes
Disc 5, 25 Tracks, 84:46 minutes
Disc 6, 17 Tracks, 77:35 minutes
Disc 7, 20 Tracks, 77:49 minutes

SINGLES:
"Taking Care Of Business" will also allow you to sequence the A&B sides of 36 x 7" singles - every one from his rare debut "Country Boy" in 1956 on El-Bee 157 right up to "Woman Across The River" on Leon Russell's Shelter label in 1973 (Shelter 7333). The six-tracks of his 1961 "Bossa Nova And Blues" EP on King KSS-7 821 are here too.

ALBUMS:
All of the following LPs are complete too (relevant tracks only on 3, 4, 8 and 15):

1. "Freddy King Sings" (King 762, Mono, 1961)
2. "Let's Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King" (King 773, Mono, 1961)
3. "Boy-Girl-Boy" (King 777, Mono, 1962)
[Credited to Freddy King, Lula Reed & Sonny Thompson with 4 tracks featuring Lula Reed with Freddy King]
4. A Carnival Of Songs" (King 819, 1963, A Various Artists compilation featuring 1 exclusive track - "Closed Door")
5. "Bossa Nova And Blues" (King 821, Mono, 1962)
6. "Freddy King...Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals" (King 928, Mono, 1965)
7. "Freddy King Sings Again" (King 931, Mono, 1965, see LP Discography)
8. "All His Hits" (King 5012, 1965 Compilation LP featuring "Christmas Tears")
9. "24 Vocals And Instrumentals" (King 964, Mono, 1966)
10. "Freddie King Is A Blues Master" (Cotillion SD-9004, Stereo, 1969)
11. "My Feeling For The Blues" (Cotillion SD-9016, 1970)
12. "Getting Ready" (Shelter SHE-8905. 1971)
13. "Texas Cannonball" (Shelter SW-8913, 1972)
14. "Woman Across The River" (Shelter SW-8919, 1973)
15. "Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival" (Atlantic SD2-502, 1973 2LP set featuring 1 exclusive track "Goin' Down")

MISTAKES/OMISSIONS:
The Discography forgets to mention the 7" single King 6264, which reissued the A-sides of his 2nd and 3rd singles "Have You Ever Seen A Woman" and "Hideaway" in 1969. On the album front the "24 Vocals And Instrumentals" album set on King 964 is 'pictured', but not referenced in the Discography - a big error. The "Freddy King Goes Surfin" album on King 856 is a reissue of the "Let's Hide away..." LP from 1961 (King 773) with crowd overdubs added on - but those versions are not featured here at all (probably considered too gimmicky for inclusion). His 6-track session work on the rare Smokey Smothers album from 1962 "Sings The Backporch Blues" on King 779 is not mentioned nor featured either - which is odd. And because the set ends at 1973, you don't get the last two albums he did for RSO before he died - "Burglar" (1974) and "Freddy King Larger Than Life" (1975) - nor do you get the session work he put in on the Jimmy Rogers "Gold Tailed Bird" LP on Shelter SW-8921 in 1973. In truth though, you'd have to look deep into the discography to see these things, but they're points worth making.

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED/FEATURED ARTSTS/SOUND:
I'm thrilled to say that the outtakes are equal to - and in some cases surpass - the released material. "Ain't No Big Deal On You" on Disc 7 funks and rocks so cool (lyrics above) and the cover of Muddy Waters "I Just Want To Make Love To You" is slow and bluesy in all the right ways. There's loads more where they came from. King Curtis, Leon Russell and members of Booker T. & The M.G.'s are all over the Cotillion and Shelter albums to such great effect - and over and over - the sound quality across all the discs just hammers you with its muscle and clarity. I can't stop playing it.

This kind of quality and class doesn't come cheap though - there's little change out of one hundred and fifty sterling or three hundred dollars - but it is BEAUTIFUL.

Freddie King died 28 December 1976 aged only 42. But at least this truly stunning box set celebrates his musical legacy in real style.

Roll on Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert King, Big Joe Turner...

PS: for fans I've posted a USA 7" single and LP discography which references where to find the tracks on the box set - each is posted in a separate 'comment' attached to this review

PPS: I've also reviewed the following Bear Family box sets (with discographies) that may be of interest - Louis Jordan, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison and Nellie Lutcher

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FREDDIE KING – USA 7” SINGLE DISOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

Entries 1 to 30 are credited to FREDDY KING, thereafter as FREDDIE KING

1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

1. Country Boy b/w That’s What You Think (El-Bee 157, 1956)
[1/1 and 1/2]
Note: “Country Boy” also features vocals by Eloise Whitfield

2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling (Federal 45-12384, December 1960)
[1/6 and 1/5]

3. Hide Away b/w I Love The Woman (Federal 45-12401, March 1961)
[1/7 and 1/8]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

4. Lonesome Whistle Blues b/w It’s Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (Federal 45-12415, May 1961)
[1/9 and 1/11]

5. San-Ho-Zay b/w See See Baby (Federal 45-12428, 1August 1961)
[1/17 and 1/4]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

6. I’m Tore Down b/w Sen-Sa-Shun (Federal 45-12432, October 1961)
[1/ 12 and 1/14]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

7. Christmas Tears b/w I Hear Jingle Bells (Federal 45-12439, December 1961)
[2/3 and 2/7]

8. If You Believe (In What You Do) b/w Heads Up (Federal 45-12443, January 1962)
[1/10 and 2/2]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

9. Takin’ Care Of Business b/w The Stumble (Federal 45-12450, March 1962)
[2/5 and 1/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

10. Side Tracked b/w Sittin’ On The Boat Dock (Federal 45-12456, April 1962)
[1/15 and 2/17]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

11. Do The President Twist b/w Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me (Federal 45-12457, May 1962)
[2/19 and 3/1]
Note; the A-side is credited to LULU REED & FREDDY KING while the B-side is LULU REED (only) – her name should read ‘Lula’ Reed

12. What About Love b/w Texas Oil (Federal 45-12462, July 1962)
[3/2 and 2/12]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

13. Come On b/w Just Pickin’ (Federal 45-12470, September 1962)
[2/18 and 2/23]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

14. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me b/w You Can’t Hide (Federal 45-12471, October 1962)
[2/20 and 2/21]
Note: both A&B credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING

15. I’m On My Way To Atlanta b/w In The Open (Federal 45-12475, December 1962)
[2/14 and 2/8]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

16. It’s Easy, Child b/w Say Hey Pretty (Federal 45-12477, December 1962)
[2/22]
Note: The A-side is credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING
The B-side is LULU REED and SONNY THOMPSON And His Orchestra
and is NOT on the box set because there’s no FK involvement

17. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist b/w Look, Ma I’m Cryin’ (Federal 45-12482, February 1963)
[3/4 and 3/13]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

18. (I’d Love To) Make Love To You b/w One Hundred Years (Federal 45-12491, 1963)
[3/14 and 3/15]

19. (The Welfare) Turns Its Back On You b/w You’re Barkin’ Up The Wrong Tree (Federal 45-12499, 1963)
[3/11 and 3/9]

20. Monkey Donkey b/w Surf Monkey (Federal 45-12509, 1963)
[3/21 and 3/17]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

21. Meet Me At The Station b/w King-A-Ling (Federal 45-12515, 1964)
[4/1 and 4/3]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

22. Someday, After Awhile (You’ll Be Sorry) b/w Driving Sideways (Federal 45-12518, 1964)
[3/7 and 2/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

23. She Put The Whammy On Me b/w High Rise (Federal 45-12521, 1964)
[2/13 and 2/11]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Closed Door”

24. Now I’ve Got A Woman b/w Onion Rings (Federal 45-12529, 1964)
[3/16 and 1/13]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Butterscotch”

25. Some Other Day, Some Other Time b/w Manhole (Federal 45-12532, 1965)
[4/6 and 4/9]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

26. If You Have It b/w I Love You More Everyday (Federal 45-12535, 1965)
[3/18 and 4/4]

27. She’s The One b/w Full Time Love (Federal 45-12537, 1965)
[4/7 and 4/2]

28. Use What You’ve Got b/w Double Eyed Whammy (King 45-6057, 1966)
[4/19 and 4/18]

29. You’ve Got Me Licked b/w Girl From Kookamunga(King 45-6080, 1967)
[4/17 and 4/16]

30. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w Hideaway (King 45-6264, 1969)
[Reissue of the A of Entries 2 and 3]

31. Funky b/w Play It Cool (Cotillion 44015, 1969)
[4/26 and 4/28]
Note; the A-side is co-written with KING CURTIS

32. I Wonder Why b/w Yonder Wall (Cotillion 44058, 1970)
[5/6 and 5/5]
Note: The A-side is written by JOE JOSEA and B.B. KING
The B-side is an Elmore James cover version

33. Going Down b/w Tore Down (Shelter 7303, 1971)
[5/21 and 5/24]
Note: the A-side is a DON NIX song; the B-side is a SONNY THOMPSON song

34. Me And My Guitar b/w Lowdown In Lodi (Shelter 7320, 1972)
[7/2 and 6/16]
Note: the A-side is a JOHN FOGERTY song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL and CHARLES BLACKWELL song

35. I’d Rather Go Blind b/w Ain’t No Sunshine (Shelter 7323, 1972)
[7/3 and 6/10]
Note: the A-side is a LEON RUSSELL song; the B-side is a BILL WITHERS song

36. Woman Across The River b/w Help Me Through The Day (Shelter 7333, 1973)
[7/9 and 7/16]
Note: the A-side is a BETTYE CRUTCHER and ALLEN JONES, Jr. song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL song

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FREDDIE KING – USA LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

1. “Freddy King Sings”
1961, King Records 762 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. See See Baby [1/4]
2. Lonesome Whistle Blues [1/9]
3. Takin' Care Of Business [2/5]
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman [1/6]
5. You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) [1/19]
6. I'm Tore Down [1/12]

Side 2:
1. I Love The Woman [1/8]
2. Let Me Be (Stay Away From Me) [2/4]
3. It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough) [1/11]
4. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling [1/5]
5. If You Believe (In What You Do) [1/10]
6. You Mean, Mean Woman (How Can Your Love Be True) [2/6]

2. “Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King”
1961, King Records 773 [Mono]
Note: ALL tracks are Instrumentals
See also King 856 – it is the King 773 LP reissued in 1963, but with overdubbed crowd noise

Side 1:
1. Hide Away [1/7]
2. Butterscotch [1/23]
3. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
4. Side Tracked [1/15]
5. The Stumble [1/16]
6. Wash Out [1/18]

Side 2:
1. San-Ho-Zay [1/17]
2. Just Pickin’ [2/23]
3. Heads Up [2/2]
4. In The Open [2/8]
5. Out Front [2/9]
6. Swooshy [2/10]

3. “Boy – Girl – Boy”
1962, King Records 777 [Mono]
Credited to FREDDY KING, LULA REED, SONNY THOMPSON

Side 1:
1. Do The President Twist - Lulu Reed & Freddy King [2/19]
2. I Got A Notion - Lula Reed
3. Know What You're Doing - Lula Reed
4. You Can't Hide - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/21]
5. Puddentane - Lula Reed

Side 2:
1. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me - Lula Reed & Freddy King [2/20]
2. I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) - Lula Reed
3. Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed
4. It's Easy Child - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/22]
5. I Know - Lula Reed
6. Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed

4. “Smokey Smothers Sings The Backporch Blues”
1962, King Records 779 [Mono]
Note: one of the few (and rare) times Freddy King played session work – the album is by Chicago Bluesman OTIS “BIG SMOKEY” SMOTHERS and King is on the tracks marked [FK]

Side 1:
1. Crying Tears
2. Smokey's Love Sick Blues
3. I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More [FK}
4. I've Been Drinking Muddy Water [FK]
5. You're Gonna Be Sorry [FK]
6. Midnight And Day

Side 2:
1. Blind And Dumb Man Blues
2. Honey I Ain't Teasin'
3. I Can't Judge Nobody [FK]
4. Give It Back (What I Done For You) [FK]
5. What Am I Going To Do
6. Come On Rock Little Girl [FK]

5. “A Carnival Of Songs”
1963, King Records 819 [Mono]
A Various Artists compilation LP with 1 Freddy King song that is exclusive – “Closed Door” [2/11]

6. “Bossa Nova And Blues
1963, King Records 821 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. (I'd Love to) Make Love To You [3/14]
2. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree [3/9]
3. Look Ma I'm Cryin' [3/13]
4. It Hurts To Be In Love [3/12]
5. You Walked In [3/8]
6. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist [3/4]

Side 2:
1. Is My Baby Mad At Me [3/10]
2. Someday After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry) [3/7]
3. One Hundred Years [3/15]
4. Bossa Nova Blues [3/3]
5. The Welfare (Turns It's Back On You) [3/11]
6. Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile) [3/6]

7. “Freddie King Goes Surfin’”
1963, King Records 856 [Mono]
Note: A reissue of King 773 with crowd overdubs [not referenced in the box]

8. “Freddy King…Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals”
1965, King Records 928 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Manhole [4/9]
2. Freeway 75 [3/5]
3. Low Tide [3/19] [aka Zoo Surfin’]
4. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
5. Funny Bone [4/11]
6. Nickel Plated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. King-A-Ling [4/3]
2. Surf Monkey [3/17]
3. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
4. Fish Fare [4/10]
5. Cloud Sailin' [4/12]
6. Remington Ride [3/20]

9. “Freddy King Sings Again”
1965, King Records 931 [Mono]
NOTE: Mystery surrounds this LP. There is no artwork available and no one appears to have ever seen any. As you can see from the tracks listed below – it is made up entirely of Federal 7” single sides – perhaps it was pulled not to kill their sales – but that is pure speculation.
The Bear Family booklet unfortunately doesn’t clarify anything about LP 931 - whether or not it was ever released (some sources now presume it wasn’t). But the discography DOES reference the following 12 tracks, so I’ve included them here for info purposes (in discography appearance order)…

1. Come On [2/18]
2. What About Love [3/2]
3. Now I’ve Got A Woman [3/16]
4. If You Have It [3/18]
5. Monkey Donkey [3/21]
6. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
7. Full Time Love [4/2]
8. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
9. Teardrops On Your Letter [4/5]
10. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
11. She’s The One [4/7]
12. She’s That Kind [4/8]

10. “All His Hits”
1965, King Records 5012
Features “Christmas Tears” [2/3]

11. “24 Vocals And Instrumentals”
1966, King Records 964 [Mono]
NOTE: the Discography ‘pictures’ this album in between the text, but doesn’t actually reference LP 964 in any of the entries. I think this is probably a clerical mistake. For info purposes, I’ve given their box set reference as below…

Side 1:
1. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
2. Manhole [4/9]
3. Sittin' On The Boat Dock [2/17]
4. Texas Oil [2/12]
5. She's The Kind [aka “She’s That Kind”] [4/8]
6. High Rise [aka “Closed Door”] [2/11]
7. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
8. King-A-Ling [4/3]
9. Surf Monkey [3/17]
10. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 1) [2/13]
11. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 2) [2/13]
12. Nickleplated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
2. It's Easy Child [2/22]
3. Just Pickin' [2/1]
4. Now I've Got A Woman [3/16]
5. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
6. I'm On My Way To Atlanta [2/14]
7. Freeway 75 [3/5]
8. If You Have It [3/18]
9. Cloud Sailin' (Don’t Move) [4/12]
10. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
11. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
12. Monkey Donkey [3/21]

12. “Hideaway”
1969, King Records KS-1059 [Mono]/KSD-1059 [Stereo]
A compilation – it is NOT referenced in the Box Set’s Discography
However, the mono versions can be sequenced from previous entries

Side 1:
1. Hideaway
2. I'm Tore Down
3. Washout
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Low Tide

Side 2:
1. The Stumble
2. See See Baby
3. Side Tracked
4. I Love The Woman
5. Remington Ride

13. “Freddie King Is A Blues Master”
1969, Cotillion SD-9004 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Play It Cool [4/28]
2. That Will Never Do [4/29]
3. It’s Too Late, She’s Gone [4/30]
4. Blue Shadows [4/27]
5. Today I Sing The Blues [5/4]
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman [4/32]

Side 2:
1. Hideaway [4/25]
2. Funky [4/26]
3. Hot Tomato [5/1]
4. Wide Open [5/2]
5. Sweet Thing [4/31]
6. Let Me Down Easy [5/3]

14. “My Feeling For The Blues”
1970, Cotillion SD-9016 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Yonder Wall [5/5]
2. The Stumble [5/9]
3. I Wonder Why [5/6]
4. Stormy Monday [5/10]
5. I Don't Know [5/7]

Side 2:
1. What'd I Say [5/11]
2. Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do [5/12]
3. You Don't Have To Go [5/13]
4. Woke Up This Morning [5/14]
5. The Things I Used To Do [5/15]
6. My Feeling For The Blues [5/8]

15. “Getting Ready”
1971, Shelter Records SHE-8905 (USA) and A&M Records AMLS 65004 (UK)
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Same Old Blues [5/16]
2. Dust My Broom [5/17]
3. Worried Life Blues [aka “Worry My Life No More”] [5/18]
4. Five Long Years [5/19]
5. Key To The Highway [5/20]

Side 2:
1. Going Down [5/21]
2. Living On The Highway [5/22]
3. Walking My Myself [5/23]
4. Tore Down [5/24]
5. Palace Of The King [5/25]

16. “Texas Cannonball”
1972, Shelter SW-8913 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Lowdown In Lodi [6/16]
2. Reconsider Baby [6/17]
3. Big Legged Woman [7/1]
4. Me And My Guitar [7/2]
5. I'd Rather Be Blind [7/3]

Side 2:
1. Can't Trust Your Neighbor [6/7]
2. You Was Wrong [6/8]
3. How Many More Years [6/9]
4. Ain't No Sunshine [6/10]
5. The Sky Is Crying [6/11]

17. “Woman Across The River”
1973, Shelter SW-8919 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Woman Across The River [7/9]
2. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man [7/10]
3. The Danger Zone [7/11]
4. Boogie Man [7/12]
5. Leave My Woman Alone [7/13]

Side 2:
1. Just A Little Bit [7/14]
2. Yonder Wall [7/15]
3. Help Me Through The Day [7/16]
4. I'm Ready [7/17]
5. Trouble In Mind [7/18]
6. You Don't Have To Go [7/19]

18. “Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival”
1973, Atlantic SD2-502 [2LP set featuring 1 exclusive Freddy King track “Goin’ Down” [7/20]

“Piece Of My Heart – The Best Of 1969-1978” by BONNIE BRAMLETT [feat Delaney, Eric Clapton] (2008 Raven CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 500 Others Is Available In My

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CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters  

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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Your Guitar Sounded So Sweet…"

Born Bonnie Lynn O’Farrell in Acton in Illinois, she met and married Delaney Bramlett from Pontotoc Count in Missouri in 1967 and thereafter the two Americans became professionally known as DELANEY and BONNIE. Separating in 1972, she pursued a solo career that’s still going to this day. This truly excellent 2008 CD compilation on Australia’s RAVEN label gives us 19 REMASTERED tracks across 5 labels and 9 albums – and it’s a peach.

There’s a lot on RVCD-290 – so let’s break in down (74:59 minutes):

1. Piece Of My Heart [a Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy song/Erma Franklin cover]
2. When The Battle Is Over [Traditional Song cover, arranged by Dr. John & Jesse Hill]
3. The Love Of My Man [An Ed Townshend song, Etta James cover]
4. Come On In My Kitchen [a Robert Johnson cover]
5. Groupie (Superstar) [a Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell song]
6. Only You Know And I Know [Dave Mason cover (of Traffic)]
7. Able, Qualified And Ready [Leon Ware/Bonnie Bramlett song]
8. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby [Robert Mosley song]
9. Rollin’ [Marc Benno/Rita Coolidge/Tommy McClure/Dan Penn song]
10. The Sorrow Of Love [Daniel Moore cover]
11. (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am [Jimmy Williams/Larry Harrison song]
12. Your Kind Of Kindness [D & B Bramlett/Jerry Allison/Dale Gilmore song]
13. Your Love Has Brought Me (A Mighty Long Way)
[Jackie Avery/Earl Simms/Carlton McWilliams writers]
14. Oncoming Traffic [Gregg Allman song]
15. Two Steps From The Blues
[John Riley Brown/Deadric Malone writers/a Bobby “Blue” Bland cover]
16. Forever Young [Bob Dylan cover]
17. Can’t Find My Way Home [Steve Winwood writer/Blind Faith cover]
18. The Flame Blinds The Moth [R A Martin song]
19. Memories [Bonnie Bramlett song]

Track 1 is from their debut album “Home”, issued March 1969 on Stax STS 2026 in the USA and Stax SXATS 1029 in the UK (pictured below)


Track 2 is from “Accept No Substitute - The Original Delaney & Bonnie”, issued July 1969 on Elektra EKS 74039 in both the USA and the UK (the UK issue is simply credited as “The Original Delaney & Bonnie”) (pictured below)



Track 3 is from “To Bonnie From Delaney”, issued in October 1970 on Atco SD33-341 in the USA and Atlantic 2400 029 in the UK (pictured below)


Track 4 is from “Motel Shot”, issued March 1971 on Atco SD33-358 in the USA and on Atlantic 2400 119 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 5 and 6 are from “D & B Together”, issued April 1972 on Columbia KC 31377 in the USA and CBS S 64959 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 7 to 11 are from “Sweet Bonnie Bramlett”, issued 1973 on Columbia KC 31786 in the USA and CBS S 65001 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 12 to 14 are from “It’s Time”, issued February 1975 on Capricorn CP 0148 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 125 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 15 to 16 are from “Lady’s Choice”, issued 1976 on Capricorn CP 0169 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 145 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 17 to 19 are from “Memories”, issued 1978 on Capricorn CP 0199 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 162 in the UK

[TRACKS 1 to 3 are credited to DELANEY and BONNIE; Tracks 4 to 6 are credited to DELANEY and BONNIE and FRIENDS; Tracks 7 to 19 are credited to BONNIE BRAMLETT]

Formerly one of Ike Turner’s Ikettes, Bonnie Bramlett had a Janis Joplin voice and an equal love of blues, R’n’B and soul. With Delaney Bramlett (a member of the 60’s group The Shindogs), they met, married and then recorded that vibe live in the studio to keep it real. This fused their love of black music with white man’s rock producing what is arguably a hugely influential variant which we now take for granted – a sort of white boy’s soul. Along the way, they amassed a huge number of high-profile rock alumni referred to on the albums as “& FRIENDS” – they included Eric Clapton, Duane and Gregg Allman, Bobby Charles, Bobby Keys of The Stones, Rita Coolidge, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Little Richard, Eddie Hinton, Dave Mason of Traffic, Dickie Betts and many more – even the Average White Band and Lowell George of Little Feat played on her funky 1973 solo debut “Sweet Bonnie Bramlett” (both are uncredited).

The set‘s been compiled by KEITH GLASS and PETER SHILLITO and the 12-page liner notes have photos, album details and reminiscences from the great lady herself. But the really good news is the SUPERB SOUND – far better than any of the former issues of their material (some of the earlier tracks do have high hiss levels – undoubtedly on the tapes – but the rest are fabulous). It really is a genuine blast to finally hear these great tunes given the sonic makeover they’ve always deserved (remastered by WARREN BARNETT at Raven).

The music veers from fast to slow – and as a listen – the compilation is blindingly good. Highlights include the 60’s sounding “Able, Qualified & Ready” coming over like a more ballsy Staple Singers and the truly fantastic sound quality on the funky “Crazy ‘Bout My Baby”. Keeping it uptempo is the fab Jack Avery 1970 gem on Capricorn “Your Love Has Brought Me (A Mighty Long Way)”, which was made famous by Wilson Pickett on his 1971 Atlantic album “Don’t Knock My Love”. Gregg Allman puts in a career-best soulful duet vocal on “Two Steps From The Blues”, while Dave Mason’s “Only You Know And I Know” is a fantastic mid tempo rocker too (covered to superb effect by Joan Osbourne in 2002). “Groupie (Superstar)” has been done by loads of people including most memorably by The Carpenters as “Superstar” in 1971. There’s so much more too…

It’s rare that you come to a compilation and enjoy “all” of it – and could easily chew up Volume Two – but “Piece Of My Heart…” is such a collection. I’ve been listening to it for weeks now - a great job done. Buy with confidence - and big time recommended.