“Black & Blue” by LITTLE SONNY. A Review Of His Rare 1972 Album On The Stax Affiliate Label “Enterprise” Now Reissued And Remastered Onto CD In 1992.

"…I’m Goin’ Home…Where Women Got Some Meat On Their Bones…"

Little Sonny (real name Aaron Willis) is an Alabama born blues harmonica player not surprisingly often confused with Sonny Boy Williamson (the Chess Records harmonica player) because of his chosen instrument and his nickname. Little Sonny is less well known than his more famous mentor from Tennessee, but nonetheless produced some great records that deserve your attention – especially if you like your Blues with a Funky feel.

Just approaching his Forties, Willis started a trio of albums for Stax and its subsidiary label Enterprise in the early Seventies. “New King Of Blues Harmonica” came first in 1970 with “Hard Goin’ Up” being number three in 1973 (it charted Stateside). “Black & Blue” is the one in the middle – released in 1972 on Enterprise ENS 1018 in the USA – and then remastered and reissued onto this now rare US-only CD in 1992.

His backup band for the album was TOMMY WILLIAMS on Tenor And Baritone Saxophones, RON GORDEN on Organ, BOBBY MANUEL and EDDIE WALLIS on Guitars with WILLIAM HALL on Drums. The Horns were arranged and played by THE BAR-KAYS and production handled by ZORN PRODUCTIONS and AL BELL (Tracks 3, 4, 7 and 9). The tapes were remastered by PHIL DE LANCIE at the Fantasy Studios in the USA and the sound quality is great – full, clear and with muscle where it’s needed. There’s no compression and virtually no hiss.

Stax SCD-8575-2 breaks down as follows (37:35 minutes):

Side 1:
1. Hung Up [Little Sonny writer]
2. Sonny's Fever (Instrumental) [Little Sonny writer]
3. You Got A Good Thing [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
4. A Woman Named Trouble [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
5. Honest I Do [Jimmy Reed cover]
6. Wade In The Water (Instrumental) [Traditional Song cover]
Side 2:
1. Paying Through The Nose [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
2. Memphis B-K (Instrumental) [Little Sonny writer]
3. Where Women Got Meat On Their Bones [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
4. I Found Love [Arzel Hill writer]
5. They Want Money [Little Sonny writer]

Musically “Black & Blue” in the vein of Albert King blues except that a harmonica and brass are to the fore rather than a guitar – and more Funk-Soul than Blues. Gems include the funky and irresistible opener “Hung Up” and the ABC-Dunhill Bobby Bland 1970-‘s feel of “You Got A Good Thing” which was issued as a 45 on Enterprise ENA-9034 in 1971 in the States with “A Woman Named Trouble” as its B-side.

As you can see from the track list above, there are 3 instrumentals – each of them has been huge on the dancefloor circuit of the UK. “Wade In The Water” is faster and funkier than the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Marlena Shaw versions of 1966 and not surprisingly has become a Mod favourite – turning up on those cool Ace/Kent CD compilations and BGP LP releases (Beats Goes Public). The hand-clapping harmonica funk of “Memphis B-K” has graced Luv N’ Haight compilations – a sure sign of quality – and on top of all this is one of the great unsung lady-heroes of Soul and Funk – BETTYE CRUTCHER – whose song-writing has made many a Stax platter shine with wit and talent (the lyrics to “Where Women Got Meat On Their Bones” title this review).

So there you have it, a cool little album that’s short but oh so sweet. And although it’s rare and may cost – it’s absolutely worth you seeking out – especially given the quality of the tunes and the fab remastered sound…

"We'll Get Over" by THE STAPLE SINGERS. Their 2nd Album For Stax Records Is An Overlooked Late 6Ts Soul Gem.

"...When Will We Be Paid For The Work We've Done..."

"We'll Get Over" was the 2nd album for The Staple Singers on Stax Records in 1969. It was also moving ever closer to the soul/religious/commentary masterworks they were to later produce - "Staple Swingers", "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself", "Be What You Are" and "City In The Sky".

This PHIL De LANCIE CD remaster of "We'll Get Over" by THE STAPLE SINGERS actually dates from 1994 on Stax SCD 8532 2 (Barcode 025218853224) - which has in turn been re-issued a few times since. 

Here it’s a 2004 reissue on Ace/Stax SCD24 8532-2 (Barcode 090204925087) out of Europe - a 24-Bit Remaster housed in a card digipak replica of the album sleeve with a small booklet. The sound is punchy and live if not a little hissy in places and plays outs as follows (41:22 minutes):

1. We'll Get Over (written by Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher and Raymond Jackson - Stax song team often referred to as "We Three")

2. Give A Damn (Spanky & Our Gang cover version)

3. Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone cover version)

4. The End Of Our Road (Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene and Barrett Strong song - Gladys Knight & The Pips cover)

5. Tend To Your Own Business (Roebuck 'Pops' Staples)

6. Solon Bushi (Traditional Japanese Folk song cover version)

7. Challenge (as per track 1) [Side 2]

8. God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday cover version)

9. Games People Play (Joe South cover version)

10. A Wednesday In Your Garden (Guess Who cover version, written by Randy Bachman later of Bachman Turner Overdrive)

11. The Gardener (as per track 1)

12. When Will We Be Paid (For The Work We've Done) (written by Stewart and Randall)

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd album for Stax Records "We’ll Get Over" - released June 1969 in the USA on Stax STS 2016 and November 1969 in the UK on Stax SXATS 1018.

BONUS TRACKS:

13.  Brand New Day - written by Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat & Tears for the United Artists movie "The Landlord” - US 7" single on Stax STA-0074, August 1970. Produced by Al Kooper - also plays Organ on the track

14.  Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas - Parker and Deanie cover - USA 7" single on Stax STA-0084, November 1970

THE STAPLE SINGERS were:

Roebuck 'Pops' Staples On Guitar and Vocals

Mavis, Cleotha and Pervis Staples on Lead and Backing Vocals

The Band:

Steve Cropper on Guitar

Marvell Thomas on Keyboards

Donald "Duck" Dunn on Bass

Al Jackson, Jr. on Drums.

The band is most of Booker T. & The MG’s - Steve Copper also produced.

Recorded in February and April 1969 - as you can see the album is top heavy with cover versions (only "Tend To Your Own Business" is a Pops Staples original). But don't let that put you off - it's still got that magical Staples sound and songs chosen to convey their message of positivity and love.

Still transitioning away from decades of Gospel - Booker T's Steve Cropper gave them that edgy Soul sound they needed and highlights include the fabulous croak of Mavis as she sings "…chains and steel can't hold us down…" on the title track. Upbeat boppers like Spanky & Our Gang's "Give A Damn" and Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" suited their beliefs - even if they did sound a little like a 5th Dimension knock-off.

There's fabulous Funk in "The End Of Our Road" - a stunning mix of brass jabs, guitar flicks and the family's combined vocals - Pops backing up his daughter as she sanctifies the painful words. The familiar guitar wobble of Pops Staples anchors "Tend To Your Own Business" as he begs busybodies to leave other people alone and those with hang-ups about colour to keep their racism zipped.

I'm not so sure the Japanese Traditional "Solon Bushi" was such a smart choice - nice idea but a 'hai hai' that's hard to listen to now many decades later. Far better is the pure Stax dancer Funk of "The Challenge" where building missiles and heart transplants are all very well - but can the American government cure one heart of hate or end the poverty inflicted on the ordinary people. Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Children" is turned into something beautiful by Mavis's pleading and heartfelt vocals offset against a genuinely lovely soulful arrangement. But my real poison on here is the Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher and Raymond Jackson original "The Gardner" - a gorgeous message song and a genuine Soul highlight on a forgotten and underrated album. "When Will Be Paid For The Work We Did" is the same – a social consciousness song that rightly demands monetary equality for a culture systematically stripped of its dignity and worth...

A great little record and cool CD reissue. Their entire Stax catalogue is fab frankly - and for me - never dates. Investigate and enjoy…