Some Recent Country Blues Collections- Part II

 This month we continue our look at a new series put out by Allegro Records in conjunction with the Document label. The series is under the Classic Blues imprint with each set titled "The Essential" and are budget priced 2-CD sets (each have 36 songs apiece) devoted to reissuing classic blues from both well known artists and and neglected figures.

 So far Allegro/Document has issued 20+ volumes in their new Classic Blues series and we'll take a look at the following: Washboard Sam, Arthur Crudup, Barbecue Bob, Walter Davis, and Victoria Spivey.

 Washboard: Sam The Essential is a well chosen, highly entertaining collection from one of the most popular artists on the early Chicago blues scene. Washboard Sam recorded prolifically in the 30's and 40's cutting hundreds of sides under his own name as well as backing others. This collection spans his peak period from 1935-1947 capturing the sound of the blues in transition from it's country roots to a more sophisticated urban sound often employing larger bands with horns. It's easy to see why he was so popular as the music exudes good natured fun on a mix of blues and hokum propelled by Sam's percussive washboard, his rich powerful vocals and imaginative lyrics. He was also greatly assisted by first class bands usually employing his half brother Big Bill Broonzy on guitar and the exceptional keyboard skills of pianist Black Bob as they blast through mostly up-tempo numbers including classics like "Back Door", "Mama Don't Allow", "Easy Ridin' Mama", "Diggin' My Potatoes" and the hilarious "Soap And Water Blues." The set also features Sam accompanying artists such as Bukka White, Joe McCoy and Frank Edwards.

 Arthur Crudup: The Essential rounds up Crudup's classic material cut for the Victor/Bluebird labels in the 40's. Crudup came to Chicago in 1940 and found the going pretty rough- he was playing for tips on the street and living in a packing crate under an elevated train track. His fortunes changed when he came to the attention of influential producer Lester Melrose who signed him to Bluebird in 1941. Crudup was a fine signer but wasn't more than a rudimentary guitarist yet he had a unique, undeniably catchy sound that caught on with the record buying public. Backed usually by Ransom Knowling on bass and Judge Riley on drums, the hits came steadily by the mid-40's: "Rock Me Mama", "Keep Your Arms Around Me", "Who's Been Foolin' You" plus signature items like "That's All Right" (not a hit at the time) and "Shout, Sister, Shout."

 Between 1930 and 1952 pianist/singer Walter Davis cut over 150 sides remaining one of the most popular and prolific race artists of his day. Today Davis is little remembered which makes Walter Davis: The Essential a fine vehicle to reassess his career. The 36 selections span Davis' entire career from 1930-1952 from early sides for Victor and Bluebird to later sides for the Bullet label. Davis was a fine singer who was accompanied by Roosevelt Sykes on piano up until 1933 until he became more confident of his own playing, developing a solid style of his own. The sides with Sykes produced gems like the hokum flavored "That Stuff You Sell", "Railroad Man Blues", "M.&O. Blues No. 3" and the risqué "Poor Grinder Blues." The real revelation is the many sides with fleet fingered guitarist Henry Townsend who plays some remarkable guitar on songs like the jumping "Sloppy Drunk Blues", "I Just Can't Help It" and "What May Your Trouble Be" among many others. Also worth mentioning is the salacious "I Think You Need A Shot" where Davis leaves little to the imagination about his doctoring abilities!

 Robert Hicks aka Barbecue Bob was a product of the vibrant Atlanta blues scene of the 20's and 30's. Barbecue Bob may not be as well remembered today as his contemporary Blind Willie McTell but during his day he was Atlanta's top recording artist. He cut some 60+ sides between 1927 and 1930 before fast living killed him at the age of 29. It's not hard to see why he was so popular as he was an exciting 12 string guitarist, often playing bottleneck on the instrument, an exceptionally expressive singer and wrote some fine original blues. Barbecue Bob: The Essential is currently the best introduction to his brief career including gems like his first release "Barbecue Blues" (purportedly selling 15,000 copies almost overnight), "Goin' Up The Country", "California Blues" and the lyrically vivid "Chocolate To The Bone." Also included are all four excellent performances by the Georgia Cotton Pickers, a super group featuring Bob, Curley Weaver and Buddy Moss. In writer Stephen Calt's assessment he stated that "For sheer musical verve and punch, Hicks easily rivals Charley Patton."

 Billed as the Queen Of The Blues, Victoria Spivey had a remarkable career influencing a generation of blues singers. In the 20's and 30's she was one of the finest of the classic woman blues singers and more than held her own in a field crowded with great singers like Bessie Smith, Ida Cox and Ma Rainey. Victoria Spivey: The Essential collects some incredible performances cut in a variety of settings between 1927 and 1937 (she had a second career in the 60's cutting a number of albums and running her own label). Like many of her contemporaries she brazenly sang about sex, drugs and other tough topics on songs like "T.B. Blues", "Dope Head Blues", "Murder In The First Degree" and "One Hour Mama." Many of the songs feature the sophisticated guitar of Lonnie Johnson, who duets with Spivey on a couple of tunes, and bigger jazz bands featuring top players like Henry Allen, King Oliver, Eddie Durham and even Louis Armstrong on one cut.

 Musically the music makes for great listening with good song selection and excellent sound quality. Also these are budget priced meaning cost is about what you would pay for a single disc. The only problem are skimpy liner notes and no discography. Of course if you're reading this you have internet access and are just a click away from all kinds of blues information. Try All Music Guide which has bio's on almost all these artists plus thorough discographies and Pre-War Blues & Gospel Records which will provide you with the dates. With that in mind newcomers who are interested in any of these artists will find these CD's the perfect place to start their collection.

-The first part of this article appeared last month. To check it out click here.

Related Links

Allegro Records

Document Records

All Music Guide

Pre-War Blues & Gospel Discography