Texas Alexander, Vol. 2: 1928-1930

by Texas Alexander, Alger Alexander

Overview

Document's second volume in the complete reissued works of Alger "Texas" Alexander opens with six titles recorded in New York City in November 1928, presents his complete output for the year 1929, and closes with the first two sides he waxed in collaboration with the Mississippi Sheiks in April 1934. Curiously, Volumes 2 and 3 make erroneous references to 1930, even though this singer made no recordings during that year. Volume 2 is worth having just for the first six tracks, which have backing by guitarists Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang; a trio of Lang, pianist Clarence Williams, and cornetist Joe "King" Oliver, and then by Lang alone. Okeh issued "'Frisco Train Blues" as by Texas Alexander & His Black Tams -- a name that would pop up again some five years later. Alexander's next 15 recordings were made in San Antonio, TX in June and November 1929 with authentic old-style Texas guitar accompaniments by Little Hat Jones and Carl Davis. Coming on the heels of Lang's dazzling technique, the straightforward strumming and picking of Jones and Davis seem to focus even greater attention on Alexander's passionate singing, which sounds to some extent like a premonition of Kansas City's singing bartender Big Joe Turner. Cut in 1934, "Days Is Lonesome" and "Seen Better Days" brought on violinist Bo Chatmon and guitarists Sam Chatmon and (possibly) Walter Vinson, cardinal members of the Mississippi Sheiks, who did in fact record in San Antonio in 1930, but not with Texas Alexander. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	04/01/2022
Label:	Matchbox Recordings / Document
UPC:	0714298200225
Rank:	146116

Tracks

1. Penitentiary Moan Blues
2. Blue Devil Blues
3. Tell Me Woman Blues
4. 'Frisco Train Blues
5. St. Louis Fair Blues
6. I Am Calling Blues
7. Double Crossing Blues
8. Ninety-Eight Degree Blues
9. Ninety-Eight Degree Blues
10. Someday, Baby, Your Troubles Is Gonna Be Like Mine
11. Water Bound Blues
12. Awful Moaning Blues, Pt. 1
13. Awful Moaning Blues, Pt. 2
14. Gold Tooth Blues
15. Johnny Behren's Blues
16. Rolling Mill Blues
17. Broken Yo-Yo
18. Texas Special
19. When You Get to Thinking
20. Thirty Day Blues
21. Peaceful Blues
22. Days Is Lonesome
23. Seen Better Days

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Texas Alexander   Primary Artist,Vocals
Alger Alexander   Primary Artist
King Oliver   Conductor
Little Hat Jones   Guitar
Bo Chatmon   Violin
Clarence Williams   Piano
Lonnie Johnson   Guitar

Technical Credits

Texas Alexander   Composer,Cover Photo
Mary Connolly   Composer
Johnny Parth   Producer
Kevin Witt   Graphic Design
Paul Oliver   Liner Notes