"The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" by SMOKEY HOGG – 78" and 45-single Tracks Recorded 1947 to 1953, All New To CD, Four Previously Unreleased (February 2021 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Rarities Remastered by Duncan Cowell) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Life Is Too Short To Be Worrying Over You..."

Some Blues artists elicit a kind of affection in me that just won't quit – the slinky Folk Blues of Lightning Hopkins – the Harmonica warble of Slim Harpo buzzing around bees – the combo positive message of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on A&M Records in the Seventies – Robert Johnson and those eerie groundbreaking Thirties sides – and on it goes. 

Texas Folk Bluesman (Andrew) Smokey Hogg is the same. This 2021 CD is the kind of Acoustic Guitar, plinking Piano and shuffling snare drum beat I could listen to all the live long day – reed of straw in my mouth and a fishing rod in my hands (ok maybe not the fishing rod in Margate after a thunderstorm). And combined with his similar-to-Lightning Hopkins wily voice - I'm a goner. 

So I'm more than pleased to report that Ace Records' digital instalment number five (see list below) afforded the largely unknown (Andrew) Smokey Hogg does the heartbreak business once again - even if the artwork is dull as Dallas dishwater. Here are the pretty mamas, crooked fortune tellers, devilish preachers, penitentiary holds and good morning little schoolgirl details...

UK released Friday, 5 February 2021 - "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" by SMOKEY HOGG on Ace Records CDCHD 1588 (Barcode 029667101226) is a 24-Track MONO CD compilation of Remasters (Four Previously Unreleased, Most New To CD) that plays out as follows (67:17 minutes):

1. I Don't Want You (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

2. Worrying Over You (June 1948 US 78" on Modern 596, B-side of "Jivin' Little Woman")

3. Everybody Gotta Racket (1950 US 78" on Modern 20-735, A-side - 1947 Recording)

4. Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl (from the 1961 US LP "Smokey Hogg Sings The Blues" on Crown CLP 5226 in Mono - recorded in 1947)

5. The Way You Treat Me (I Got Your Picture) (1950 US 78" on Modern 20-758, A-side)

6. I Want My Baby (But My Baby Don't Want Me) (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)  

7. You Can't Tell Where I'm Goin' (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

8. No Matter What You Do (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

9. When The Sun Goes Down (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

10. Coming Back Home To You Again (from the 1961 US LP "Smokey Hogg Sings The Blues" on Crown CLP 5226 in Mono - recorded in 1950)

11. Kind Hearted Blues - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1950 Modern recording

12. What's That You Got - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1950 Modern recording

13. You'll Need My Help Someday (1950 US 78" on Hollywood 130, A-side)

14. Somebody New (1950 US 78" on Hollywood 130, AA-side)

15. Ain't You Sorry Baby (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 131, A-side)

16. Ruby (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 131, AA-side)

17. Penitentiary Blues Part 1 (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 170, A-side)

18. Penitentiary Blues Part 2 (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 170, AA-side)

19. Baby Shake Your Leg (1952 US 78" on Top Hat 1023, A-side)

20. Fortune Teller Blues (1952 US 78" on Top Hat 1023, AA-side)

21. Where Have You Been (1952 US 78" on Combo 11, A-side)

22. My Gal Gave Me Money - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1951 Combo recording 

23. Instrumental - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1951 Combo recording 

24. Too Late Old Man (1953 US 78" on Modern 896, B-side on "River Hip Mama")

The 12-page booklet has new track-by-track liner notes by fan and Smokey Hogg-expert GUIDO VAN RIJN whose 320-page book "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" is published in 2021 by Agram Blues in the Netherlands (the first in-depth book on him). The text here is peppered with hard-to-find 78"s while Page 5 features the Side 2 label of the "Original Folk Blues" LP from 1967 - five of its tracks featured on this CD. It's a typically informative read that pictures labels and album artwork rarely seen outside of specialist circles. 

As most are 1947 to 1952 recordings issued on varying 78's and early 45s (13 cuts in all) - the Audio is of course cackling and hiss on the worse - but mostly DUNCAN COWELL has once again done a stunning job getting such clarity out of these recordings. The listen is at times bare Blues - just the Guitar and Voice - but then there are the wonderful piano shuffles in the more R&B stabs. But I love the 'feel' Hogg gets - real and unpretentious - and Cowell has done wonders on what must have been difficult transfers. 

The themes rarely veer far from cheatin' gals, sugar daddies praying on those double-dealin' hussies and poor Smokey having to leave lest he reaches for that loaded pistol again. The milkmen in these tales of infidelity and woe leave more than an extra pint and mama likes the rattle of their bottle-holders when they approach the front door (papa usually away on some possibly illegal business). It's great fun in a weird way, but I would have to caution that stuff like "Penitentiary Blues..." is covered in crackle that some may think 'too' much. But then the band shuffle of "Where Have You Been" (Track 21) is both clean as a whistle and great fun – the sitting here wondering when will you come back home vibe sailing out of your speakers with a clarity that is shocking. I just wish more were like it. 

"...Everybody gotta rocket...I gotta racket too..." – he sang on "Everybody Gotta Racket" – his woman giving his money to another man on the other side of town (oh dear). You may not know the name the way you do other legends, but if your baby treats you bad like she do, they Smokey and his guitar mojo hand is the pal for you...

SMOKEY HOGG CDs on Ace Records

1. "Angels In Harlem" (August 1992 UK Ace/Specialty Records CDCHD 419 – Barcode 029667141925)

2. "Deep Ellum Rambler" (January 2001 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 780 – Barcode 029667178020)

3. "Serve It To The Right: The Combo And Modern Recordings 1947-52" 

(December 2002 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 866 – Barcode 029667186629)

4. "Midnight Blues" (November 2004 UK Ace Records CDCHD 1019 – Barcode 029667002820)

5. "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" 

(February 2021 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 1588 - Barcode 029667101226)

"Classic" by THE EVERLY BROTHERS – Their Fifties Columbia and Cadence Records Output Including Three Albums In Full – The 1958 US Debut "The Everly Brothers", their 1958 Second Album "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us", their 1959 Third Album "The Fabulous Style Of..." (1960 UK) Plus Single-Sides, Rarities and Previously Unreleased (February 1992 GERMAN Bear Family 3CD 74-Track LP-Sized Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Let It Be Me..."

In June 2021 – and with copyright laws for material of this age long ago gone out the moral window – I am sure you can find the stunning Fifties Cadence Records beginnings of The Everly Brothers for cash peanuts elsewhere. In fact I'd lay odds that if you listen close enough, some of the remasters from this famously thorough release have probably been dubbed and half-inched for myriad cheaper budget reissues (Bear Family has even sued over suchlike theft). 

So why spend money on this LP-sized behemoth that in late 2021 is fast approaching 30-years of age - old CDs being something of a pariah in the digital domain? Because its 'Bear Family' and they're the absolute biz-schnizz - the very best.

I've owned this LP-Sized beauty for decades now and it still feels like the words 'class act' were coined just to describe it (see photos below provided). There's a heap to discuss, so let's have at it....

Released 10 February 1992 in GERMANY - "Classic" by THE EVERLY BROTHERS on Bear Family BCD 15618 CI (Barcode 4000127156181) is a 3CD LP-Sized 74-Track Box Set of Remastered 1950s Columbia and Cadence Recordings in Mono (1955 to 1959) with Previously Unreleased that plays out as follows:

CD1 (48:06 minutes) 21 Tracks

CD2 (67:44 minutes) 24 Tracks

CD3 (68:39 minutes) 29 Tracks

The LP-sized colour booklet is a beautiful thing to behold that amidst black and whites snaps of the boys with Buddy Holly and other genre-luminaries of the day, are full-page colour plates of Don and Phil - young and fresh-faced – the clean-cut all-American lads with harmonising voices of gold. Pages 35 to 37 offer up an archive-type Columbia & Cadence Records US-based Discography put together by the award-winning musicologist and writer COLIN ESCOTT. It covers November 1955 through to the December 1959 sessions and you get American catalogue numbers for 45-singles, four-track E.P.s and full albums plus subsequent LP/CD reissues carrying tracks that were made in those early years. 

Take for instance the beautiful song "Let It Be Me" – it's on two CDs – Track 9 on Disc 2 is the master for the December 1959 US 45-single A-side of Cadence 1376 – while we find that Track 11 on Disc 3 is an outtake version exclusive to this box set. The discography then also lists the US Mono LP it appeared on – July 1960's "The Fabulous Style Of..." on Cadence CLP 3040 and further to that Cadence CLP 3062, a 1963 best of called "15 Everly Hits 15". Above the master entries are session players, studio dates, and any other relevant info. But the big news is the stunning clear Audio from two hugely experienced Audio Engineers - Rhino's BILL INGLOT and England's 'Boppin' BOB JONES - names collectors would actively seek out when it comes to Exceptional Remasters.

An irritation for me with these master-type discographies is that you get catalogue number references to albums like CLP 3025 for instance without it ever telling you what that LP's title actually is – "The Everly Brothers' Best" on Cadence Records. I always feel they should have a reference to what catalogue number is for what so you know what you're dealing with. Also, despite the Discography not surprisingly being almost-entirely US-based – there is the occasional nod towards UK releases when it warrants it. The 'One O'Clock Lyric version' of "Poor Jenny" famously appears only on the May 1959 UK 45-single on London HLA 8863 (and the British LP apparently) while the 'Ten O'Clock Lyric Version' appears on the US single and LP. This is noted. 

But the big news is the stunning clear Audio from two hugely experienced Audio Engineers - Rhino's BILL INGLOT and England's 'Boppin' BOB JONES - names collectors would actively seek out when it comes to Exceptional Remasters.

In fact if you want to sequence their first three albums from this box set, here’s how: 16/1 = Track 16 on Disc 1, 2/3 = Track 2 on Disc 3 etc

"The Everly Brothers"

January 1958 US Debut Album on Cadence CLP 3003 (Mono)

May 1958 UK Debut Album on London HA-A 2081 (Mono)

Side 1: This Little Girl Of Mine (16/1) / Maybe Tomorrow (10/1) / Bye Bye Love (6/1) / Brand New Heartache (11/1) / Keep-A Knockin' (13/1) Be Bop A Lula (17/1)

Side 2: Rip It Up (15/1) / I Wonder If I Care As Much (5/1) / Wake Up Little Susie (8/1) / Leave My Woman Alone (14/1) / Should We Tell Him (12/1) / Hey Doll Baby (9/1)

"Songs Our Daddy Taught Us"

 November 1958 US Second Album on Cadence CLP 3016 (Mono)

February 1959 UK Second Album on London HA-A 2150 (Mono)

Side 1: Roving Gambler (13/2) / Down In The Willow Garden (17/2) / Long Time Gone (18/2) / Lightning Express (19/2) That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine (20/2) / Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet (14/2)

Side 2: Barbara Allen (21/2) / Oh So Many Years (22/2) / I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail (23/2) / Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rocking Chair) (15/2) / Kentucky (24/2) / Put My Little Shoes Away (16/2)

"The Fabulous Style Of The Everly Brothers"

July 1960 US Third Studio Album * on Cadence CLP 3040 (Mono)

October 1960 UK Third Studio Album *** on London HA-2266 (Mono)

Side 1: Like Strangers (11/2) / Since You Broke My Heart (1/2) / Let It Be Me (9/2) / Oh, What A Feeling (8/2) / Take A Message To Mary (3/2) / Brand New Heartache (11/1)

Side 2:  When Will I Be Loved (12/2) / Rip It Up (15/1) / ('Til) I Kissed You (7/2) / Hey Doll Baby (9/1) / Poor Jenny (5/2) ** / Be Bop A Lula (17/1)

NOTES ("The Fabulous Style Of..."):

* Although this is technically their third US album, "The Fabulous Style Of..." is a compilation that features Four Tracks from the debut while the other eight cuts are the A&B-sides of Four US 45s that hadn't appeared on a US LP up to this point

** the song "Poor Jenny" comes in two forms - the 'Ten O'Clock Lyric Version' that appears on the US albums CLP 3040 and CLP 3062 (Track 5, Disc 2) while the 'One O'Clock Lyric version' appears only on the May 1959 UK 45-single on London HLA 8863 that cut is Track 4 on Disc 2 (the UK LP cut is the Ten O'Clock version)

*** The UK LP variant features a different track list as follows

Side 1: Like Strangers (11/2) / All I Have To Do Is Dream (18/1) / Claudette (19/1) / Oh, What A Feeling (8/2) / Take A Message To Mary (3/2) / Devoted To You (20/1)

Side 2: When Will I Be Loved (12/2) / Bird Dog (21/1) / ('Til) I Kissed You (7/2) / Problems (1 / 2) / Poor Jenny ** (5/2) / Love Of My Life (2/2)

All the huge Billboard Pop hits are here - "Bye Bye Love" (No. 2 in 1957 with "I Wonder If I Care As Much" on the flipside), "Wake Up Little Susie" (No. 1 in 1957), "This Little Girl Of Mine" (No. 26 in 1958), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (No. 1 in 1958 with "Claudette" on the flipside) and so on until "Let It Be Me" in January 1960 (No. 7 on the charts) marked the transition over to Warner Brothers for the rest of the Sixties. "Bird Dog" also hit No. 1 in 1958, "Problems" went to No. 2 and other chart notables include "Take A Message To Mary", "Poor Jenny" and "('Til) I Kissed You". The Brothers charted 14 songs in that period and they are all here is best Audio. 

Bear continued their thorough exploration of the Everlys musical legacy by going all out on the next two sets - "The Price Of Fame 1960-1965" came in January 2006 and covered the first part of the Warner Brothers Years (7CDs) - while "Chained To A Memory 1966-1972" came in June 2006 and its 8CDs+1DVD covered the remaining Warner Brothers catalogue. 

I know "Classic" is expensive as all Bear Family tomes tend to be – but put it to you this way – any Box set that is still on catalogue after nearly 30 years has to have done something right in the first place. Beautiful and then some...

PS: Bear Family followed up this release with a real gem that I've also reviewed - "Studio Outtakes" from February 2006 featured 34 x 1950s Cadence Recordings Outtakes onto 1 CD (79:42 minutes), all Remastered and placed in a Mini Clamshell Box Set with a substantial booklet (Bear Family BCD 15931 AR - Barcode 4000127159311). If you've any love for the Harmony Vocals of the Ev's then you will need that too...

"Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Solomon Burke (as King Solomon), T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Big Jay McNeely, Little Joe Blue, Larry Davis, Fillmore Slim [aka Billy Ray], Flash Terry and more (July 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters with Seven Previously Unissued Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...My New Figure Mama Sure Looks Good To Me..."

By the end of the Fifties, hard-hitting gutbucket Blues had morphed into a more commercial type of shuffling Rhythm & Blues which quickly then became the softer and more upbeat sooth of early Soul. 

Despite emphasising Blues in its title - this first volume of two CD compilations dealing with the US Kent & Modern labels and their 60s output straddles all of those genres really and is a hugely enjoyable listen for it (Volume 2 "If I Have To Wreck L.A." followed in September 2020 and is reviewed separately, pictured below). 

Although Ace say the emphasis is on Blues, most tracks veer towards R&B while all have those witty lyrical vignettes of domestic misery we love where it's always someone else's fault. With that in mind, "Dirty Work Going On..." serves you up clip-winged jealous angels, new figure mama's, fast guns, fine mellow bodies and bad-luck midnight skinny uptight Texas types, so let's get our hands mucky people and have at it...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2020 - "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1571 (Barcode 029667098724) offers 26 Remastered Tracks (Seven are Previously Unissued) that play out as follows (74:14 minutes):

1. Go Ahead - FILLMORE SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1962 Kent Recording)

2. New Figure - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x451, B-side of "S K Blues" - for A-side see 10)

3. Understanding - LITTLE JOE BLUE (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)

4. Hey Hey Baby - T-BONE WALKER (January 1965 US 45-single on Modern 1004, A-side - for B-side see Track 13)

5. It Can Only Hurt For So Long - LARRY DAVIS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1970 Kent Recording)

6. On My Way Back Home (Alternate Take) - FLASH TERRY (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED take of Kent 310, a 1958 US 45-single A-side - for B-side see Track 15)

7. Please Mr. President - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x446, A-side - for B-side see Track 25)

8. Jealous Woman - T-BONE WALKER (1964 recording firs issued in 1992 on the UK Various Artists 3CD compilation "60 Great Blues Recordings" on Cascade CBOXCD 3)

9. Dirty Work Going On (Take 8) - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1964 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)

10. S K Blues - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x451, A-side, for B-side "New Figure" see Track 2)

11. Something About You Baby (Take 7) - LARRY DAVIS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1970 Kent Recording)

12. Fast Gun Annie - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (1962 recording first issued in June 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.2" on P-Vine PCD 3063)

13. Should I Let Her Go - T-BONE WALKER (January 1965 US 45-single on Modern 1004, B-side - for A-side see Track 4)

14. Consider Yourself (Extended) - STACY JOHNSON (1965 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)

15. One Thing We Know - FLASH TERRY (1958 US 45-single on Kent 310, A-side - for alternate of the A-side see Track 6)

16. Let Me Be Your Eagle Baby (Take 1) - KING SOLOMON (1966 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. Blues In G Minor (Blues Guitar) - BIG JAY McNEELY (1968 US 45-single on Modern 45xMX32, B-side of "Deacon's Hop")

18. Love Will Lead You Right - T-BONE WALKER (1964 recording first appeared on the 1988 UK LP compilation "Blues Around Midnight" on Ace Records CH 235) 

19. Almost Midnight (Take 3) - KING SOLOMON (1966 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)

20. Playboy (Underdub) - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Version of the A-side to a US 45-single on Kent 45x367)

21. Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It (Take 3) - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1964 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)

22. Sweet Little Angel - LARRY DAVIS (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-507, A-side)

23. Down Now (Take 3) - B.B. KING (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1961 Kent Recording)

24. Jimmy's Special - LITTLE JOE BLUE (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)

25. Mr. Bad Luck - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x446, B-side - for A-side see Track 7)

26. Texas Queen (Underdub) - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Version of Kent 367)

Tracks 1, 5, 6, 11, 20, 23 and 26 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

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 several tracks from those desirable but long-deleted 'P-Vine' CD compilations out of Japan as well as early Ace releases. "Dirty Work Going On..." opens with a Blues bruiser, the rough and ready "Go Ahead" where Fillmore Slim finally gets a 1962 Kent Records recording an airing. Far funnier and better recorded comes the first of four fab songs from Atlantic Records stalwart Solomon Burke credited as 'King Solomon'. Our robe-be-draped hero is digging his lady's "New Figure" where she may have put on a few pounds but it's in all the right places. Speaking of genre heroes, T-Bone Walker gets hugely enjoyable cuts - the first of which is the very B.B. King shuffle of "Hey Hey Baby" where the big man is prepared to forgive his dirty no-good mistreater of a gal if she'll only agree to come home and face the music never mind his guitar (what a guy). But it gets worse - T-Bone is then afraid to go asleep in "Jealous Woman" 'cause his latest squeeze will stab him in his PJ's if he gawks at his old girlfriend ' that way' again. 

Fantastic audio accompanies the witty brass and bass roll of "S K Blues" where Solomon Burke wants the wig he bought his lady back because she keeps on doing him wrong (the Lord done forgot to give her hair apparently). There is something about his baby that lingers in the mind of Larry Davis, a fabulous slow mooching of a Blues song with nifty guitar work (Take 7 is Previously Unissued and is a genuine find). Heartbreaker and money-taker Billy Ray (Fillmore Slim) jumps in his Cadilac for "Playboy" – or is it a Coupe de Ville? Little Joe Blues has deep regrets in "Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It Too" – naturally this B.B. King-sounding singer finds that the want for too much sugar is on his lady’s side (the man is blemishless). And on it goes...

A great listen, Bluesy, Shufflers when you need them, Fun moments and those superb unreleased along with eight from Solomon Burke and T-Bone Walker lifting up everything to winner status. 

"I got a sweet little angel and I love the way she spread her wings... " - Larry Davis pines on "Sweet Little Angel". He asked her for a nickel and she gave him a twenty-dollar bill. Well, "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" does the same...

"Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Barbara Lynn, Lightnin’ Slim, Mercy Baby, Lazy Lester, Polka Dot Slim, Big Walter, Jake Jackson, Slim Harpo, Leroy Washington, Al Smith and more (August 2017 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters With Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Sugar Coated Love..."

The 'By The Bayou' Series of CD compilations from Ace Records of the UK now numbers 22 titles in June 2021 and runs through four generalised genre themes - Bluesin' By The Bayou - Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou - Boppin' By The Bayou and Swamp Pop By The Bayou - each title numbered on the spine (this set from 2017 is No. 18, see discography list provided below). 

Each is 28-tracks long (so plenty of listening time) and tackle down 'n' dirty Deep South sounds from a large range of American labels specialising in fast-cat 45s - names like Ric, Goldband, Dixie, Carl and whole slew more. This is the Jay D. Miller catalogue out of Louisiana that got turned out on oodles of those Flyright compilation LPs in the 70s, 80s & 90s – so there is also liberal doses of Cajun, Zydeco, Tex Mex, Rock and Roll and Rockabilly choons too. As Flyright clocked up some huge number of reissues – nearly 300 as I recall – I imagine there are many sea-legs left in this CD Series, even if it is at No. 22 already. 

UK-issued, each CD compilation has its share of previously unreleased (eight in this case) and mixes up known names like Soul Singer Barbara Lynn and Blues Boy Lazy Lester with virtual unknowns like T.B. Fisher and Boozoo Chavis & His Zodico Accordian. With Ace's usual attention to track-by-track booklet detail and period photos to compliment the 50s and 60s listens, as you can imagine each comp is a whole heap of hoodoo fun and a proper journey of genre jumpin' discovery. So let's get to the lonesome cigarettes, sugar coated lovers and prison hamburgers (and that's just the left leg)...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1506 (Barcode 029667084222) is a Remastered 28-Track CD compilation with Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks that plays out as follows (73:08 minutes):   

1. Pleadin' - MERCY BABY (June 1958, US 45-single on Ric 955, A-side)

2. I've Been In This Prison - LEROY WASHINGTON (originally issued on the 1981 UK LP "Wild Cherry" on Flyright FLY LP 574)

3. Little Girl Blues (The Blues And My Woman) - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 3 of a track originally on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright FLY LP 524)

4. I Haven't Got A Home - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

5. Better Start Doin' It – HONEY BOY ALLEN – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

6. Cigarettes – SLIM HARPO (from the 1985 Various Artists UK LP "Baton Rouge Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 607)

7. Hoo Doo Blues – LIGHTNIN' SLIM (originally unissued take of the January 1958 A-side to Excello 2131, first released on the 1981 UK LP "The Feature Sides 1954" on Flyright Records FLY LP 583)

8. Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, B-side of "A Thing You Gotta Face")

9. I'm A Lover Not A Fighter – LAZY LESTER (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 6 of Excello 2143, September 1958 US 45-single A-side)

10. Dreaming Dreaming – JOE RICHARDS (1962 US 45-single on Carl 504, A-side)

11. Still In Love With You – AL SMITH – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

12. In The Evening – COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES (from the 1976 US LP "The Legendary Cookie And The Cupcakes" on Goldband GRLP-7757)

13. A Thing You Gotta Face – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, A-side – for B-side see Track 8)

14. Life Gets Hard – JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

15. Sugar Coated Love – BARBARA LYNN (1971 US Copyright Records 2319, A-side)

16. Tee Black – BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, B-side – see Track 19 for A-side)

17. Angel Please – JIMMY ANDERSON & THE JOY JUMPERS (1962 US 45-single on Zynn 1014, B-side to "I Wanna Boogie")

18. Make Me Cry – CLARENCE GARLOW (from the 1987 US LP "Zydeco Birth" on Goldband Records GFCL 103)

19. Hamburgers & Popcorn BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, A-side – see Track 16 for B-side)

20. I Hate To Leave You Baby - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Alternate of a Track on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright Records FLY LP 524) 

21. If I Don't See You - AL SMITH (1959 US 45-single on Goldband 1092, B-side of "I Love Her So")

22. Baby, Baby, Baby - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

23. I Don't Know - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (from the 1986 UK LP "We Gotta Rock Tonight" on Flyright Records FLY LP 612)

24. If The Blues Was Money - BIG WALTER - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

25. Somebody Tell Me - JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

26. 

Tracks 3, 5, 9, 11, 20, 22, 24 and 28 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

NICK ROBBINS handles the clearly homecookin' tapes - some super clean - but many rough as a gutbucket. The audio is always real - full of energy even if the source has clearly been recorded in Aunty Flo's outside lavvy. IAN SADLER handles the track-by-track histories (Lester Johnson is the real name for Lazy Lester, Julius Mullins is Mercy Baby, gunned down at the age of 47,and so on) and of course you get those rare and obscure 45-labels siding the text. Typically well annotated Ace Records 12-page liner notes.  

"Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry..." opens on a suitably rough-recorded raucous Blues stomper, Mercy Baby asking why his woman don't love him all the time - but his "Pleadin'" falls of her cold deaf ears. The Audio takes a leap up with the cool steppin' toe-tapper "I've Been In This Prison" - Leroy Washington lonely in his factory of the Blues – his prison cell jumpin' every night with songs like this. The big moan continues with Lightnin' Slim in all kinds of misery 'cause his women won't let him be (poor chap). It's worse for Ramblin' Hi Harris whose sleepin' in his bed alone - that's when he has a home to lay his worried mind down in.  

Always loved Slim Harpo and his "Cigarettes" is a great little shuffler with witty lyrics – his pals always broke and bumming smokes off of him. Fantastic comes in the shape of the put-you-down "Hoo Doo Blues" – Lightnin' Slim watching his women runnin' 'round with another man (it even has some talk in dialogue and a blow-your-harmonica-son harp solo too). It gets even better - Howlin' Wolf fans will double-take at the set titles "Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by Polka Dot Slim - a fantastic down-in-the-mud Blues shuffle as he moans like the Wolf and plays his harp like Little Walter. It's not audiophile baby, but it's got Soul and a few other neckjerkin' Hoodoo moments 

in-between. 

Other highlights include the simple Harmonica, Guitar and Piano rolls of the Previously Unissued "Still In Love With You" - a real discovery by Al Smith. Rough and ready is the kicking beat in "A Thing You Gotta Face" by Polka Dot Slim - a recording that's barely hanging on by its tape lapels. There's a pair of bare-bones but well recorded shufflers from Jake Jackson that turned up on an obscure 1989 LP - Volume 55 in the Jay Miller Series. And I'm diggin' the I-don't-have-worry Harmonica shuffle in Barbara Lynn's "Sugar Coated Love" - yes, he's got what Babs can use. 

As I recall the Flyright LPs were easy purchases at record fairs and secondhand stores back in the day - but I also remember they were fab one minute and patchy the next. This Ace CD Series seems to be consciously re-writing that 'hotch-potch' mentality and mixing it up into better compilation listens. "I Hate To Leave You Baby..." moaned Lightnin' Slim as he flicked his guitar like Ike Turner in girly pain yet again. 

A blast of a listen and a good indicator of what the whole 'By The Bayou' Series offers... 

BY THE BAYOU CD Compilation Series 

From Ace Records of the UK 

A LIST 

22 Titles correct to June 2021

Focuses mostly on the Louisiana Recordings of Jay D. Miller 

(The Legendary Sessions Series), a lot of which were issued on 

UK Flyright Records LPs in the 70s, 80s and 90s

Boppin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Boppin' By The Bayou (August 2012, Ace CDCHD 1345 - Barcode 029667052023) - No. 1 in the Series

2. Boppin' By The Bayou Again (January 2013, Ace CDCHD 1355 - Barcode 029667053228) - No. 2 in the Series

3. Boppin' By The Bayou: More Dynamite (October 2013, Ace CDCHD 1380 - Barcode 029667056625) - No. 5 in the Series

4. Boppin' By The Bayou: Made In The Shade (September 2014, Ace CDCHD 1415 - Barcode 029667062022) - No. 9 in the Series

5. Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me Mama! (29 June 2015, Ace CDCHD 1443 - Barcode 029667072229) - No. 11 in the Series

6. Boppin' By The Bayou: Drive-Ins & Baby Dolls (28 October 2016, Ace CDCHD 1486 - Barcode 029667077521) - No. 16 in the Series 

7. Boppin' By The Bayou: Flip, Flop & Fly (June 2018, Ace CDCHD 1529 - Barcode 029667089920) - No. 20 in the Series

8. Boppin' By The Bayou: Feel So Good (29 May 2020, Ace CDCHD 1567 - Barcode 029667097727) - No. 22 in the Series

Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Bluesin' By The Bayou (27 June 2013, Ace CDCHD 1368 – Barcode 029667054928) – No. 4 in the Series

2. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough 'n' Tough (28 July 2014, Ace CDCHD 1403 – Barcode 029667060622) – No. 8 in the Series

3. Bluesin' By The Bayou: I'm Not Jivin' (8 June 0216, Ace CDCHD 1471 - Barcode 029667075824) - No. 14 in the Series

4. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry (25 August 2017, Ace CDCHD 1506 - Barcode 029667084222) - No. 18 in the Series

Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES 

1. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou (February 2013, Ace CDCHD 1363 – Barcode 029668053723) – No. 3 in the Series 

2. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin' (27 January 2014, Ace CDCHD 1388 – Barcode 029667057820) – No. 6 in the Series 

3. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies (26 January 2015, Ace CDCHD 1422 - Barcode 029667063425) - No. 10 in the Series 

4. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups (25 September 2015, Ace CDCHD 1448 - Barcode 029667073127) - No. 12 in the Series 

5. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals And Love Sick Souls (29 July 2016, Ace CDCHD 1478 - Barcode 029667076425) - No. 15 in the Series

6. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' (24 November 2017, Ace CDCHD 1514 - Barcode 029667086424) - No. 19 in the Series

7. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp (31 May 2019, Ace CDCHD 1547 - Barcode 029667094528) - No. 21 in the Series

Swamp Pop By The Bayou TITLES

1. Swamp Pop By The Bayou (March 2014, Ace CDCHD 1397 - Barcode 029667058520) - No. 7 in the Series 

2. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Troubles, Tears & Trains (29 January 2016, Ace CDCHD 1462 - Barcode 029667074520) - No. 13 in the Series 

3. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Let's Get Together Tonight (28 April 2017, Ace CDCHD 1499 - Barcode 029667079426) - No. 17 in the Series

"American Epic" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1910s to 1930s Recordings on 78s and Field Recordings Including Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Lead Belly, Blind Gary Davis, Charley Patton, Skip James, Ma Rainey, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, Hopi Indians, Roots Artists etc (June 2017 UK Sony Music/Columbia/Legacy/Third Man Records/Lo-Max 5CD 100-Track Hardback Book Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Bound For The Promised Land... "

First thing's first - I'm reviewing the 5CD Hardback Book Deluxe Edition - a gorgeous thing to look at and behold for damn sure. And in 2021, it has been reduced to below thirty-quid which is a deal if ever there was one. But the listen however is a very mixed bag indeed – yo-yoing from formative genius to scratchy unlistenable and travelling through all points in-between. Here is a basic breakdown...

UK released June 2017 - "American Epic" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/Columbia/Legacy/Third Man Records/Lo-Max 88875099692 (Barcode 888750996923) is 5CD 100-Track Deluxe Edition Hardback Book Set. Each CD is themed by 'area' of the USA and then broken down further to cities that featured prominently during those formative years.

CD1 THE SOUTHEAST – Memphis – Bristol – Johnson City – Louisiana

Recordings from July 1927 to June 1931 - 59:10 minutes (19 Tracks)

CD2 ATLANTA – The Origin Of Commercial Field Recording

Recordings from April 1926 to December 1930 - 52:47 minutes (17 Tracks)

CD3 NEW YORK CITY / EAST COAST – The Birthplace Of Electric Recordings

Recordings from April 1916 to July 1935 - 63:19 minutes (21 Tracks)

CD4 THE MIDWEST – Chicago – St. Louis – Richmond – Grafton

Recordings from Dec 1926 To February 1936 - 74:08 minutes (23 Tracks)

CD5 THE DEEP SOUTH & THE WEST – Birmingham – Jackson – Hattiesburg – New Orleans – Shreveport – Dallas – San Antonio – Los Angeles – San Francisco

Recordings from March 1927 to November 1936 - 66:33 minutes (20 Tracks)

A companion to the multi-award winning 'American Epic' film trilogy – the Hardback 98-Page 10" x 10" Book features many unseen black and whites of artists (of all colours) that haven't had their moment in the recognition sun - in some cases - ever. I can't imagine the amount of hours it must have taken to accumulate these stunning images (all are given whole pages of tribute - see photos provided) or meticulously do the transfers of battered 78s and field recordings - most of which range between 70 and 100 years old.

On that – you need to temper those expectations - the audio restoration is amazing but it also flits from severe crackles and hiss on Disc 1 for The Memphis Jug Band recorded September 1928 to the near almost eerily perfection gained on the iconic November 1936 recording of "Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson, arguably the starting point for all modern Rock music as we know it.

In-between there are many familiar names – from the Blues we get Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Lead Belly, Blind Gary Davis, Charley Patton, Skip James, Ma Rainey, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmie Rodgers and more – from Country and Roots we get The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon and Charlie Poole - alongside genre music like Hopi Indians, Mexican, Hawaiian and loads more.

Each pages affords discography info (if any) on each song that is sided by a paragraph of reminiscences from an artist who knew the singers or can shed a light on their (often) murky back-stories. There are lyrics in English or Spanish or South American and reams of cleanly rendered photographs - men and women on porches with acoustics, fiddles, banjos and jug bottles - a lot of whom seem to be wondering why someone is pointing one of those new fangled cameras at them. Amidst black and whites of recording studio buildings long gone is an occasional 78" represented and oversized Test Pressing (RCA, Victor, Columbia, Bluebird, Paramount etc), cartoon trade adverts for the latest 75c craze and some of the artist portraits – like the full plate given to a young Lead Belly and his girl on Page 46 – are breathtaking – beautiful even.

The listen can at times be taxing – all that crackle – languages you don't understand, themes of poverty and the underbelly of hurt from out-and-out racism – but "American Epic" is never anything less than fascinating and feels like a privilege to be able to eavesdrop on history like this - voices to be heard.

The actor Robert Redford is quoted on the front cover sticker – "...This is America's greatest untold story..." 

Well, rarely has it been afforded such respect and lavish loving attention. Never mind the hiss folks - feel the hustle, the excitement and the sheer lifeforce flowing from all those pioneers we owe so much to...