Roundup Of Notable New Reissues & Historical CD's

 Every once in a while we seem to get a deluge of reissues and classic blues sets that find there way to our mailbox so it's time to take a look at some of the more notable ones. Recent CD's that caught our ear include a deluxe edition of the "London Howlin' Wolf Sessions", Mississippi blues from R.L. Burnside, Johnny Shines and Skip James plus a collection of vintage blues from the vaults of Smithsonian Folkways and 2-CD collection of prime R&B from Chuck Willis.

"Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings" draws together 26 prime cuts from the Smithsonian archives spanning from the 40's to the 90's. The music is primarily acoustic which reflected the mindset at the time that blues was an old time folk music that to be played authentically had to be acoustic. The living breathing tradition of electric blues embodied by Muddy and B.B. were ignored. Despite that limited view of the blues the music here is excellent and varied including well known performers like Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Memphis Slim, Lead Belly, Big Joe Williams, Lightnin' Hopkins and Lonnie Johnson. Highlights include K.C. Douglas' remake of his 48' classic "Mercury Blues", Roosevelt Syke's romping barrelhouse piano on "Ran The Blues Out of My Window", the legendary Son House from 42' on "County Farm Blues", Edith North Johnson & Henry Brown's "Nickel's Worth of Liver" a remake of a song she first cut in 29', rare country blues from Cat Iron on the anti-church number "Jimmy Bell", a beautiful reading of "Careless Love" by Josh White and "Don't Lie Buddy" featuring a duet between White and Lead Belly. Sound is excellent and the 22 page booklet includes informative notes by writer Barry Lee Pearson.

 "The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions" is a document very much of it's era (1970). A somewhat misguided attempt to market an older blues artist to a white audience by adding well known rock stars (Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Stevie Winwood and Ringo Starr). Certainly these men were blues enthusiasts and respectful of the music but there's definitely a clash of cultures going on and things never quite gel. Still blues-rock fans and those who got into the blues through albums like this are obviously the intended market for this new deluxe version. This edition is a 2-CD set with an entire disc of previously unreleased alternate takes/alternate mixes plus three tracks from the same sessions that eventually showed up on the 1974 compilation "London Revisited." Still this record is far better than Chess' earlier psychedelic Wolf album which Wolf succinctly summed up as "birdshit." Wolf's final hurrah came a few years later in 1973 with "Back Door Wolf", his final studio album, a very good, somewhat underrated effort.

 Hightone Records is celebrating the Congressional decree that 2003 is the year of the blues by issuing career retrospectives on important blues artists under their "Heritage of the Blues" banner. First out of the gate are collections by R. L. Burnside and Johnny Shines. Burnside has been prolifically recorded through the years and there's an abundance of his material already crowding the shelves making this set a bit superfluous. Still "No Monkeys On This Train" may make a solid introduction to those unfamiliar with Burnside's raw, hypnotic brand of Mississippi Hill music. The music spans from circa 79'-80' to 94' and includes signature pieces like "Jumper Hangin' On The Line", "Goin' Down South", "Long Haired Doney" mixed in with some very good live cuts interspersed with spoken asides and jokes.

 "Skull & Crossbones Blues" makes for a fine retrospective on Johnny Shines a magnificent slide player, tremendous singer and one time running partner of Robert Johnson. Shines was sadly underrecorded during his prime years but was rediscovered in the late 60's giving him ample time to lay down some fine recordings before his passing in 1992. These 12 tracks span a small sliver of his career from 66'-70' but capture him in a variety of settings from acoustic and electric, solo, and fronting a legendary Chicago band with Big Walter Horton, Otis Spann, and Fred Below. Highlights include the full band romps of "Give My Heart A Break" and "What Kind Of Girl Are You?" to Robert Johnson influenced numbers like "Standing at the Crossroads" and "Rollin' & Tumblin'."

 If Skip James was never rediscovered in the 60's his 1931, session for Paramount would still have cemented his reputation as one of the greatest of all Delta bluesman. These recordings influenced generations of musicians from Robert Johnson (Skip's "Devil Got My Woman" became the basis of Johnson's "Hellhound on My Trail") to Eric Clapton (who recorded James's "I'm So Glad" on the first Cream album). In the 60's James was rediscovered, his skills largely intact, and he enjoyed a successful comeback playing at festivals, colleges, coffeehouses and renewing his recording career. "Studio Sessions: Rare And Unreleased" is a real treat collecting 19 previously unreleased tracks from 1967, likely his final studio sessions. While these aren't on par with his 64' and 65' Vanguard recordings this is a charming set and James' distinctive falsetto vocals are still very effective. James plays solo piano and guitar with high marks going to a fine cover of Bessie Smith's "Backwater Blues" plus traditional numbers like "Jack of Diamonds", "Lazy Bones" and "Sporting Life Blues."

 On "Chuck Willis Wails!: The Complete Recordings 1951-1956" Sundazed presents us with a lovingly crafted 2-CD set from the late R&B shouter and balladeer. The 51 tracks collect everything Willis waxed for Okeh, Epic and Columbia. The music here precedes his rock & roll days with Atlantic ("C.C. Rider", Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes") showing more of an R&B/jump blues emphasis. Included are all his early hits like "My Story," "Goin' to the River," "Don't Deceive Me," "You're Still My Baby", and his most famous number from this period, "I Feel So Bad" (revived by Elvis Presley, among others). There's plenty of forgotten gems plus three previously unissued numbers. Sundazed has done their usual classy job providing all the right touches including detailed liner notes, vintage photos and great sound. A goldmine for collectors and those only familiar with Willis' rock & roll output.

(Jeff Harris)