BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
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Charlie offers up some old noise for the New Year. Every one of these baker’s dozen worth of CDs comes from single artist re-issues. Many of these (all 2015, mostly brand new releases) offer a new look at some of the most important recordings by some of the most significant names in blues history. If you are starting to build your blues library, bolstering an already impressive collection or filling in some gaps, these CDs all represent essential recordings. Remember, if you click on any of the album art to any of these releases you will be taken directly to Charlie’s Bluebeat Music website.
Legendary bluesman Sunnyland Slim introduced his own powerful brand of Mississippi Delta blues piano and helped build post World War II Chicago into a major center for the performance and recording of classic acoustic and electrified blues music. This CD includes his first two albums: Slim's Shout (released on Prestige/Bluesville in 1961, and long unavailable on CD), plus his equally splendid debut LP, Chicago Blues Session (originally issued by 77 Records in 1960). In addition to Sunnyland Slim on vocals and piano, check out the personnel on these sessions. They include: King Curtis (saxophone), Little Brother Montgomery (piano), Robert Banks (organ), Leonard Gaskin, Corky Robertson (bass), Belton Evans, Armund “Jump” Jackson (drums). These sides (1-10) were recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in New Jersey, September 15, 1960 and (11-22) were recorded in Chicago, July 14, 1960.
This collector's edition contains twenty six re-mastered studio tracks made for different labels (Okeh, Columbia, Vocalion, Decca, Bluebird, J.O.B., and Checker) between 1930 and 1953. Included here are her most famous and enduring singles, as well as lesser-know tracks which are just as enjoyable as the classics. Some of the material here isn't available on other collections nor have these magnificent numbers ever been previously compiled on one CD. This beautiful package includes a marvelous sixteen page booklet with detailed recording information.
This CD includes two of Snooks' finest studio albums: his masterpiece New Orleans Street Singer (released on Folkways in 1959), plus the long unavailable, That’s All Right (Prestige/Bluesville 1961). New Orleans Street Singer was a revelation when it was originally released by Folkways Records in 1959. It presented to the world a gifted guitar player and a naturally soulful singer who brought a kind of jazzy New Orleans feel and groove to the folk-blues standards he was covering. The sixteen solo performances contained on this LP have weathered the test of time, as they still sound exciting and vital today. The material consisted of a combination of blues standards, rolling Caribbean rhythms and fiery, Latin-flavored runs.
This collection contains twenty eight re-mastered studio recordings from such labels as Chess, J.O.B., Herald, Bea & Baby and Keyhole. His most famous songs and singles are featured including Five Long Years, plus other highlights like 24 Hours, Third Degree, Nothing but Trouble and I'm Comin' Home among others. Boyd leads the charge on vocals and piano. He is joined by Robert Lockwood, Jr., Lee Cooper (guitar), Willie Dixon (bass), Percy Walker, Fred Below (drums), Ernest Cotton, Robert Crowder (tenor saxophone) and others.
This special collector's edition contains twenty nine re-mastered recordings by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, consisting of a selection of the magnicent early sides released between 1947 and 1960 on the Peacock and Aladdin record labels. Gate of course plays guitar, harmonica, fiddle and sings. He is joined on various sides by Johnny Parker (bass), Jimmy McCracklin, Paul Monday (piano), Duke Barker (drums), Maxwell Davis, Bill Harvey (tenor sax), Jack McVea (alto sax), Fred Ford (baritone sax), Pluma Davis (trombone), among others. All these sides, as you might suspect by the personnel, were all recorded in Houston and Los Angeles. This package includes a sixteen page booklet.
This is the first comprehensive collection of Tampa's post war recordings (1945-53) done for the RCA label. The collection features some of the finest back up musicians of the era including Big Walter Horton, Sonny Boy 2, Little Johnny Jones and Big Maceo. The fifty tracks on two CDs have crisp sound and include four unreleased sides from the vaults of RCA-VICTOR as well as many tracks making their appearance on cd for the first time. Johnny Jones and Big Maceo get vocal slots and the best news is the dreaded blues kazoo doesn't make an appearance until track seventeen on the first disc.
This is one of Delmark Records’ great offerings from the late 1960’s. Originally released in ‘68 this expanded re-issue features five additional tracks and a sixteen page booklet with never before seen photos and goodies. This set features a great band which includes Lee Jackson, Jr. Pettis, Dave Myers as well as very special guest Sunnyland Slim on piano and organ. Raw, gritty, urban blues at its finest...
This is the first compilation to bring together the A and B sides of all Adams’ 45s for the label, along with a couple of unreleased-at-the-time bonus tracks. He is considered to be one of the greatest male vocalists ever to come out of the Crescent City. Adams reputation matches his peers Aaron Neville and Fats Domino. Almost all of the tracks were recorded at the studios of Cosimo Matassa, using the finest New Orleans musicians. Many were produced by the young Mac Rebennack (Dr. John). Mastered mostly from fresh transfers of original Ric and Ron tapes, this is a collection for all lovers of southern soul and R&B, New Orleans style.
One thing is certain about the idiosyncratic J.B. Lenoir, he was a true original. No one ever sounded quite like him and, despite comparisons by some writers to Arthur Crudup, his high pitched vocals were unique. Although J.B. Lenoir only had one hit in the US with Mama Talk To Your Daughter, his influence over the British blues scene was immense. In fact John Mayall was a huge fan and he helped to get his 45s released in the UK. Rocking R&B and topical social commentary are all thrown in the mix.
This quintessential collector's edition contains thirty re-mastered studio tracks, consisting of a selection of the sensational early sides by Wells. Here he is accompanied by such masters as Muddy Waters, Syl Johnson, Earl Hooker, Willie Dixon, and Otis Spann. These sides come from different independent labels, like Profile, Chief and USA Records, between 1953 and 1963. Included here are his most famous and enduring singles: Messin' with the Kid, Come on in This House, Hoodoo Man, and It Hurts Me Too among others. Some of the material here isn't available on other collections, nor have these seminal recordings ever been previously compiled on one CD. This package also includes a sixteen page booklet.
This digitally re-mastered “two-fer” contains a pair of albums from the blues great plus three bonus tracks. King was an innovative instrumentalist and underrated singer, who would move beyond electric blues, R&B and soul to make commercial inroads into funk. However, there was a time in the early and mid-1960s when his records were among the most influential in blues. This quintessential collector's edition includes King's first two albums, originally released by the King label in 1961. They are the long unavailable and splendid debut Freddy King Sings and the instrumental follow-up Let's Hide Away and Dance Away which includes three bonus tracks from the same period. Both albums were, and still are, very complementary to one another and are essential entries into any blues library.
In honor of the musical legacy of three musical giants who left us in 2015 here are four re-issues including the brand new release by Ace Records on B.B. King.
Joe Houston (July 11, 1926 – December 28, 2015) was one of a handful of true wild men of the tenor sax. Houston's Modern/RPM records have never been digitalized till now. These are twenty four romping, wailing sides of music with a message for your feet. This stuff tears me up! Selections include his big hit All Night Long as well as the sax workouts Blowin' Crazy and Houston's Hot House.
Allan Toussaint (January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was perhaps best known as a behind the scenes operator, however, he also released a handful of solo albums over the years. This quintessential collection contains Toussaint's seminal recordings, featuring a variety of the great R&B sides he made for different labels such as RCA, Minit and Seville. This is the material upon which Toussaint's reputation was built. These sensational recordings also feature a virtual who's who of fabulous musicians from the Crescent City scene, including Alvin "Red" Taylor, Justin Adams, Roy Montrell, Frank Fields, and Charles "Hungry" Williams, among others. These sides were recorded in New Orleans between 1958 and 1960.This package includes a sixteen page booklet, vintage memorabilia and detailed liner notes.
This double CD collection covers the creative highpoint in Allen Toussaint’s career combining three original albums, 1970’s Toussaint, 1972’s Life Love and Faith, and Southern Nights from 1975. These releases are essential in understanding this truly influential and much venerated musician, composer and record producer, who has sustained a career since the 1950s. Backing Toussaint are the likes of fellow New Orleans masters Dr. John and The Meters with a 12-page color booklet, detailed notes and bonus tracks.
B.B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015) was the undisputed King of the Blues. This twenty five track CD of mostly previously unissued recordings is drawn from his sessions for Modern Records between 1954 and 1962. Be Careful Baby is a rare thing. It is a B. B. King song that has never been released before in any version. The version of Catfish Blues is from a completely different session to the familiar issued version and, from B. B. 's commentary, appears to be the version he played on the road. There are many comments from B. B. and the band which provide an insight into the recording process and B. B.'s relaxed and informal manner in the studio. The CD ends with a previous unheard interview, recorded backstage at the Fillmore Ballroom in San Francisco with radio station KSAY. So you thought you’ve heard it all? Guess again.
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BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
info