Shortcuts 1: God Don't Like It

by God Don't Like It: Some Of The Very Best / Various

Overview

Shortcuts 1: God Don't Like It is a 20-track introduction to the Document label, which specializes in reissuing blues, jazz, folk, country, and gospel recordings dating from the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th. Document's catalog is swarming with unfamiliar names and fascinating recordings that many people have never heard or even imagined. During the '90s, Document's policy was to reissue 78 rpm recordings on CD regardless of sound quality, even if the surface noise made it difficult to hear the music or if the needle skipped on the old platter. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the company has changed hands and the overall quality of Document CDs released since then tends towards excellence. This compilation is guaranteed to move, amuse, entertain, and educate anyone who spends some time absorbing its contents and savoring the blend of genres and styles. Jazz is somewhat underrepresented on this particular volume, although guitarist Teddy Bunn serves up a fine interpretation of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp," and pianist Richard M. Jones is heard with cornetist Willie Hightower's Nighthawks . The Blues is represented here by Son House, Little Brother Montgomery, Roosevelt Sykes, Lightnin' Hopkins, Louisiana-born guitarist Jesse "Babyface" Thomas, singing pianist George Davis, straight-edge-razor-brandishing Perline Ellison, and nine-string guitarist Big Joe Williams. The more rural and/or string instrument-oriented acts are wonderfully diverse. The Three Stripped Gears (mandolin man R.W. Durden and guitarists Cliff Vaughn and Marion Brown) are heard performing the "Black Bottom Strut." The Memphis Jug Band grinds out one of their fiddle- and guitar-driven singalong numbers, Ralph Willis and Brownie McGhee discuss the "Sportin' Life," and Hattie Ellis and Cowboy Jack Ramsey take you out to the middle of the desert and leave you there. Two classic country duos, Kirk & Sam McGee and G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, set a clear precedent for what the Holy Modal Rounders were to sound like in the early '60s. Religion is represented here by the Hall Johnson Choir, the Junior Four Quartet, Elder A. Johnson, who provided the collection's title track, and Elder Charles Beck, who delivers a "Rock and Roll Sermon." Relative to the overall size and depth of the Document catalog, this very enjoyable core sample constitutes a tiny sliver that only begins to hint at the cultural riches therein. Great cover photo too. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	10/05/2004
Label:	Document
UPC:	0714298900125
Rank:	98751

Tracks

1. Another Fool Like Me  - Jesse Thomas
2. Flesh Crawling Blues  - George Davis
3. Lord I Can Ride  -  Johnson  -  Traditional
4. Little Maggie with a Dram Glass in Her Hand  -  Grayson & Whitter
5. I Can Beat You Plenty  -  Memphis Jug Band
6. Wild Cow Moan  - Big Joe Williams
7. Desert Blues  - Hattie Ellis  - Jack "Cowboy" Ramsey
8. Black Bottom Strut  -  Three Stripped Gears
9. Sportin' Life  - Brownie McGhee  - Ralph Willis
10. Rock and Roll Sermon (Pt. 1)  - Elder Charles D. Beck
11. Boar Hog Blues  -  Hightower's Night Hawks  - R.J. Jones
12. Mister Suzie-Q  - Son House
13. Vicksburg Blues  - Little Brother Montgomery
14. I'm on My Way  -  Junior Four Quartet
15. Brown's Ferry Blues  - Kirk McGee  - Sam McGee
16. King Porter Stomp  - Teddy Bunn  - Jelly Roll Morton
17. Razor Totin' Mama  - Perline Ellison
18. Hot Boogie (Too Hot to Handle)  - Roosevelt Sykes
19. God Don't Like It  -  Johnson  -  Traditional
20. Walkin' the Streets  - Lightnin' Hopkins

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hattie Ellis   Primary Artist,Vocals
Brownie McGhee   Primary Artist,Guitar,Spoken Word
Lightnin' Hopkins   Primary Artist,Guitar
Jesse Thomas   Primary Artist
George Davis   Primary Artist
Junior Four Quartet   Primary Artist,Vocals
"Cowboy" Jack Ramsey   Primary Artist
Hightower's Night Hawks   Primary Artist
Perline Ellison   Primary Artist,Vocals
Elder A. Johnson   Primary Artist,Guitar (Electric),Vocals
Teddy Bunn   Primary Artist,Guitar
Big Joe Williams   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
The Hall Johnson Choir   Primary Artist,Vocals
Kirk McGee   Primary Artist
Grayson & Whitter   Primary Artist
Elder Charles D. Beck   Primary Artist
Little Brother Montgomery   Primary Artist,Piano
Roosevelt Sykes   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Sam McGee   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Ralph Willis   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Memphis Jug Band   Primary Artist
Three Stripped Gears   Primary Artist
Son House   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Henry Whitter   Guitar
Fred Below   Drums
Judge Riley   Drums
Jesse Babyface Thomas   Guitar,Vocals
Ransom Knowling   Bass,String Bass
Hal West   Drums
Milton Robie   Violin,Vocals
Ben Ramey   Kazoo,Vocals
John Lindsay   Trombone
Willie Hightower   Cornet
Jab Jones   Jug,Vocals
R.J. Jones   Piano
Abe Bolar   String Bass
McGhee, Kirk   Guitar,Vocals
Rudy Richardson   Drums
Fred Parham   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Simon Anderson   Vocals
Donald Cooks   Bass
G.B. Grayson   Fiddle,Vocals
Charlie Burse   Guitar,Vocals
Marion Brown   Guitar
Sam Price   Piano
Remo Biondi   Violin
Ralph Smith   Vocals
Bud Scott   Banjo

Technical Credits

Gary Atkinson   Cover Art,Producer
R.J. Jones   Composer
Teddy Bunn   Arranger
Traditional   Composer
Big Joe Williams   Composer
Alan Taylor   Digital Remastering
Little Brother Montgomery   Composer
Jelly Roll Morton   Composer
Ralph Willis   Composer