The First of the Guitar Heroes: 1925-1947

by Johnson,Lonnie

Overview

This double-disc import compilation assembled by Fremeaux & Associes puts some 36 cuts together to form an accurate and enduring portrait of blues and jazzman Lonnie Johnson during his first 22 years on the circuit. First the technical stuff: these recordings have been cleaned up considerably and possess fine sound for what they are. Yes, there is some tape hiss, but one can hear everything being played during any given session, and none of the music itself sounds muffled as a result. In addition to a slew of Johnson originals and some choice covers, the sidemen on these dates are equally important -- pianists James P. Johnson, Blind John Davis (who also played bass), Lil Armstrong, and Roosevelt Sykes (who also doubled on bass); singer Clarence Williams; and drummer Alfred Elkins. This is as fine a set of early Lonnie Johnson as one is likely to find -- anywhere. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	07/30/2002
Label:	Fr?Meaux & Associ?S
UPC:	3448960226226
Rank:	252776

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Mr. Johnson's Blues
2. Mean Old Bed Bug Blues
3. Blues in G
4. Guitar Blues
5. Bull Frog Moan
6. From Now on, Make Your Whoopee at Home
7. Deep Minor Rhythm Stomp
8. Hot Fingers
9. Wipe It Off
10. I Got the Best Jelly Roll in Town #2
11. Sam, You Can't Do That to Me
12. What Makes You Act Like That?
13. Let All Married Women Alone
14. Beautiful But Dumb
15. Sleepy Water Blues
16. Cat, You Been Messin' Around
17. Winnie the Wailer
18. There Is No Justice

Disc 2

19. Swing Out Rhythm
20. Blue Ghost Blues
21. She's Only a Woman
22. Jersey Belle Blues
23. I'm Just Dumb
24. Get Yourself Together
25. Crowing Rooster
26. Somebody's Got to Go
27. I Did All I Could
28. In Love Again
29. Rambler's Blues
30. Trouble in Mind
31. Keep What You Got
32. Blues for Everybody
33. Love Is the Answer
34. What a Woman
35. What a Real Woman
36. Falling Rain Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lonnie Johnson   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Gerard Herzhaft   Musical Direction
Andrew Harris   Bass
Nelson Burton   Drums
Blind John Davis   Bass,Piano
Clara Smith   Vocals
John Hughes   Piano
Carl Jones   Vocals
James P. Johnson   Piano
Fred Longshaw   Piano
Lil Armstrong   Piano
Joshua Altheimer   Piano
Roosevelt Sykes   Bass,Drums,Piano
Alfred Elkins   Bass
Clarence Williams   Vocals
Simeon Hatch   Piano
R.J. Jones   Bass,Drums,Piano
Monte Morrison   Bass
Paul Parks   Bass
Alex "Charlie Brown" Hill   Piano
John Arnold   Piano
Spencer Williams   Frottoir
Roy Coulter   Bass

Technical Credits

Joyce Waterhouse   Adaptation
Claude Colombini   Concept
Bernard Fremeaux   Recording Editor
Eddie Lang   Composer
Lonnie Johnson   Composer
Richard M. Jones   Composer
Big Bill Broonzy   Composer
J. Davis   Composer
C. Williams   Composer
Patrick Fremeaux   Concept
Gerard Herzhaft   Text,Collection,Discography