"If I Have To Wreck L.A. Kent & Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Willie Headen, Smokey Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, Long Gone Miles, Model T Slim, Lowell Fulson and Willie Garland (September 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters – All New To Ace CD with Twelve Tracks Previously Unissued) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Nursing My Aching Head..."

Released 31 July 2020 in the UK, "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" was the first in this Ace Records CD Series. Here is the next instalment that followed in late September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2". And it's just as enjoyable as numero uno... 

By the end of the 50ts, hard-hitting gutbucket Blues had morphed into a more commercial type of shuffling R&B which quickly then became the softer and more upbeat edge of early Soul. These compilations want in their hearts to go back to basics. And mostly they do – especially here. Like the first volume of these two CD compilations dealing with the 60s output of the US Kent & Modern labels (reviewed separately), Volume 2 is a hugely enjoyable listen with a lot of nifty Guitars and shimmering Harmonica warbles. 

And even if you don’t know names like Willie Headen and Long Gone Miles – you should. There is caustic humour too with the blame-game on both sides of the gender-divide being strong with this one. So here are the Black Widow Spiders, Hoodooing Hoodoo Men and Miss Nella Belle with rocks in her pillows and an inability to let her man play with her poodle (that’s just mean)...

UK released Friday, 25 September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1577 (Barcode 029667099929) offers 24 Remastered Tracks, All New to Ace CD compilations (Twelve are Previously Unissued) and it plays out as follows (78:51 minutes):

1. If I Have To Wreck L.A. – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

2. Mama Said – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording, Take 3)

3. If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind - WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 5)

4. Hey Baby - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

5. You Told Me A Lie - SMOKEY WILSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1976 Kent recording)

6. Before Day (Big Mama's Blues) - BIG MAMA THORNTON (1965 US 45-single on Kent 45x424, A-side)

7. War Time Blues (Take 1) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

8. Gotta Find My Baby – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

9. Little Sweet Thing (Take 4) – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x500, 1968 US 45-single A-side)

10. Black Widow Spider (Underdub With Alternate Vocal) – WILLIE GARLAND (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x461, 1968 US 45-single A-side – for B-side see Track 12)

11. Address In My Hand – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

12. Soul Blues – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 US 45-single on Kent 45x461, Instrumental, B-side of "Black Widow Spider" – see Track 10 for an Alternate of the A-side)

13. You’re Too Cold – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

14. Hot Wire Baby – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 2)

15. Baby You’re Wrong (Take 6) - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

16. If I Have To Wreck L.A. (Take 5) – WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

17. Somebody’s Done Hoodooed The Hoodoo Man – MODEL T SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording)

18. Christine – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, A-side – for B-side see Track 19)

19. Baby Don’t Tear My Clothes – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, B-side – for A-side see Track 18)

20. Rocks In My Pillow (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

21. Let Me Play With Your Poodle (Take 2) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

22. Low Down Dirty Shame (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

23. Miss Nella Belle - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

24. Blues Pain - LOWELL FULSON (Originally Unissued Take of Kent 489, appeared also on the September 2001 Japan-Only 4CD compilation "The Complete Kent Recordings 1964-1968" on P-Vine PCD-3066-9)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

(Like Volume 1) the 16-page booklet features informative liner notes courtesy of DICK SHURMAN sat alongside photos of those rare US 45-labels and rare publicity shots of heroes like Little Joe Blue, B.B. King and Big Jay McNeely (dig T-Bone Walker looking cool with a cigarette in his mouth and that huge guitar in hand) while DUNCAN COWELL does his usual spectacular best - the Audio kicking ass on every tune. The fidelity (despite the age) is at times eerily brill. To the listen...

Clever inclusions are eight tracks from those desirable but long-deleted 'P-Vine' CD compilations out of Japan (limited editions of 3000 or less apparently) as well as Alternates of Kent 45s that feel just as good as the released versions. "If I Have To Wreck L.A." opens with a triple-whammy of Previously Unreleased guitar soloing Blues from Willie Headen who comes on like an excited Albert King ripping up and down the frets while he sings of mistreating women. They're damn good, but they're whomped by an Elmore James slashing Smokey Wilson whose 1976 "You Told Me A Lie" is a real find (cool and clear audio). The fantastic continues with great Little Walter-type Harmonica warbling from George Smith guesting on the anti-draft song "War Time Blues" by Luke "Long Gone" Miles. Two more cuts from him hammer home more slices of early-in-the-morning mean and dirty Harp Blues – brilliant inclusions.

Pity poor Willie Garland, his baby is a "Black Widow Spider" who done bit him and then up and left. Willie called the Doctor but the man with the leather bag just shook his head and went into a Harmonica solo in sympathy. Willie Headen returns too and he has his own problems – he wants to stop being a fool for his "Hot Wire Baby" who has returned from California with attitudes and some Mississippi missing (he bought her first shoes at the age of 22). A great guitar-shuffler. And on it goes - a great listen, Bluesy, Shufflers when you need them, Fun moments and those superb unreleased lifting up everything to winner status. 

"Well, look here mama, listen to my song, let me play with your poodle, I mean him no harm... " Luke "Long Gone" Miles saucily implores on "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" - a raucous Tampa Red cover version blessed with fabulous Harmonica from George Smith and the deep suggestive voice of Luke Miles. 

Well, I suggest you get jiggy-jiggy with "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" too, because it's a winner that deserves your loving ham (if you know what I'm saying)...

See also Review for Volume 1