Modern Downhome Blues Sessions, Vol. 4: Southern Country Blues Guitarists 1948-1952

by N/A

Overview

The fourth in a series spotlighting blues releases from the Bihari Brothers' California-based Modern Records label, this installment features gutbucket country-blues, mostly recorded in Atlanta and Dallas between 1948 and 1952. This isn't polished stuff, and while these sides aren't exactly field recordings, they have that same sort of ragged, immediate intimacy, and what they lack in slickness they make up for with enthusiastic abandon. Highlights include the rousing opening track, "Neglected Woman" (a piano and guitar romp featuring Alexander Herman Moore and Smokey Hogg), "Gonna Write You a Letter," which sports an ominous solo electric guitar turn from Jesse Babyface Thomas, and a tense, nuanced "Milford Blues" by Little Son Jackson. The real delights here, however, are the eight sides (including two takes of "Applejack Boogie") by Pine Top Slim. With easy, sparse, acoustic guitar accompaniment, Pine Top (exactly who he is remains somewhat of a mystery) turns in fine country-blues versions of "Applejack Boogie" and "Baby Please Don't Go." There isn't too much here for the general listener, but collectors and historians of late-period country-blues will find this disc to be a valuable archival document. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	07/19/2005
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667010429
Rank:	119218

Tracks

1. Neglected Woman  - Smokey Hogg  - Alexander Herman Moore  - Jules Taub
2. Carolina  - Smokey Hogg  - Alexander Herman Moore
3. Lillie Mae Boogie  - Smokey Hogg  - Sam Ling  - Alexander Herman Moore
4. If I Lose You Woman  - Smokey Hogg  - Alexander Herman Moore  - Jules Taub
5. Meet Me Tonight Along the Avenue  - Jesse Thomas
6. Gonna Write You a Letter  - Jesse Thomas
7. Applejack Boogie  - Sam Ling  -  Pine Top Slim
8. I'm Gonna Carry On  - Joe Josea  -  Pine Top Slim
9. John Henry  -  Pine Top Slim  -  Traditional
10. Baby Please Don't Go  -  Pine Top Slim  - Joe Williams
11. 13 Highway  - Walter Davis  - Lane Hardin  - Leroy Simpson
12. Bluebird Blues  - Lane Hardin  - Leroy Simpson  - Sonny Boy Williamson
13. Keep 'Em Down  - Lane Hardin  - Jules Taub
14. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You  - Lane Hardin  - Sam Theard
15. Dark Old World  - Big Bill Dotson
16. Thinking Life Over aka Sittin' Down Thinkin'  - Big Bill Dotson
17. Fast Life  -  Pine Top Slim  - Jules Taub
18. Mean Old Frisco  - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup  -  Pine Top Slim
19. Poor Boy  -  Pine Top Slim  -  Traditional
20. Applejack Boogie  - Sam Ling  -  Pine Top Slim
21. Milford Blues  - Melvin "Li'l" Son Jackson  - Jules Taub
22. Talkin' Boogie  - Melvin "Li'l" Son Jackson  - Jules Taub
23. Night Time Anytime aka Tomorrow I May Be Gone  - Jesse Thomas  - Jesse Babyface Thomas
24. Texas Blues  - Jesse Thomas
25. Numbered Days  - Charles Bradix
26. Wee Wee Hours  - Charles Bradix
27. Dollar Diggin' Woman  - Charles Bradix
28. Boogie Like You Wanna  - Charles Bradix

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jesse Thomas   Primary Artist
Big Bill Dotson   Primary Artist
Charles Bradix   Primary Artist
Alexander Herman Moore   Primary Artist
Pine Top Slim   Primary Artist
Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson   Primary Artist
Leroy Simpson   Primary Artist
Smokey Hogg   Primary Artist
Lane Hardin   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Walter Davis   Composer
Jesse Babyface Thomas   Composer
Jon Broven   Project Supervisor
Jim O'Neal   Liner Notes
Sonny Boy Williamson I   Composer
Alexander Herman Moore   Composer
Jools DeVere   Package Design
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Jules Taub   Composer
Roger Armstrong   Archive Research
Sam Ling   Composer
Sam Theard   Composer
Joe Williams   Composer
Pine Top Slim   Arranger
Joe Josea   Composer
Charles Bradix   Composer