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The Original Sonny Boy Williamson Vol. 1
(John Lee Williamson)
Released: 2007
Label: JSP
Format :[email protected]
Quote:
This set is by the original Sonny Boy Williamson,born in 1914,whose first release was in 1937. This was the well-known Good Morning,Little School Girl,an immediate hit. His unique vocals(he had a speech impediment)and his mastery of the harmonica became well-known throughout the South and other areas where blues were popular. His sidemen on this first disc were Big Joe Williams-guitar,Robert Lee McCoy-guitar,and on some tracks Henry Townsend-guitar with Walter Davis-piano. The tracks vary a bit in the vocal department,with McCoy,Williams and Williamson trading off on lead vocals. A look at the tracks on this disc will reveal several songs familiar to any listener of blues-but the overall feel is the same no matter who is out front. A very relaxed,"real" feel oozes out of this music,which continues through the entire set. The first sixteen tracks on disc two follow the previous formula,with vocals traded off between Williamson,McCoy and Townsend. As with a lot of music recorded during this time,there is some confusion as to who exactly played on which tracks,but that doesn't stand in the way of enjoying this music. The last eight sides feature either Elijah Jones or Yank Rachell on vocals. Jones' vocals are suitably rough sounding and fit quite well in this set. The addition of Rachell's mandolin gives these tracks even more of a down-home feel and is quite a nice addition. Disc three continues in the same vein. The only important addition is piano player Speckled Red,who takes a vocal on You Got to Fix It,otherwise he plays accompaniment to Williamson. Red's piano is out of the barrelhouse style and is a standout. There's someone named Willie Hatcher,who plays mandolin on the last few tracks and really contributes nothing of any comment. Disc four is a bit different than the others in that Sonny Boy is starting to leave behind the country sound and influences so important to his sound. The arrangements and the overall feel is starting to lean toward a more urban sound. The players on this disc are essentially the same as the above discs,the only real addition is Big Bill Broonzy on guitar. His addition gives the tracks an urban feel,that while different, is still in the style of the original Sonny Boy Williamson. Taken as a whole,this set is very fine indeed. Anyone looking for the beginnings of popular blues harmonica,played by a master,should certainly investigate this set. The down-home relaxed vocals, the easy-fitting accompaniment,and harmonica played by a master,are one of the cornerstones of blues music. ~ Stuart Jefferson
The Original Sonny Boy Williamson Vol 1 (Disc A)
Tracklist
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
1. Good Morning, Little School Girl - 3:01
2. Blue Bird Blues - 3:07
3. Jackson Blues - 2:58
4. Got the Bottle Up & Gone - 2:34
5. Sugar Mama Blues - 2:59
6. Skinny Woman - 3:00
ROBERT LEE McCOY
7. Tough Luck - 3:06
8. Prowling Night-Hawk - 3:04
9. Sweet Pepper Mama - 2:43
BIG JOE WILLIAMS
10. I Know You Gonna Miss Me - 3:02
11. Rootin' Ground Hog - 2:57
12. Brother James - 2:53
13. I Won't Be in Hard Luck, No More - 2:39
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
14. Up the Country Blues - 3:19
15. Worried Me Blues - 2:31
16. Black Gal Blues - 2:49
17. Collector Man Blues - 3:19
18. Frigidaire Blues - 3:01
19. Suzanna Blues - 2:59
20. Early in the Morning - 2:48
ROBERT LEE McCOY
21. Project Highway - 2:55
22. My Friend Has Forsaken Me - 3:07
23. Mean Black Cat - 2:43
24. Brickyard - 3:17
25. Mamie Lee - 3:06
26. Take It Easy, Baby - 2:29
Personnel:
John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson - Vocals (1-6, 14-21), Harmonica (1-26)
Robert Lee McCoy - Guitar (1-13, 22-26), Vocals (4, 7-9)
Big Joe Williams - Guitar (1-13), Vocals (10-13)
Henry Townsend - Guitar (14-26)
Walter Davis - Piano (22-26)?
Tracks 1-13 Recorded 5 May 1937. Aurora IL.
Tracks 14-26 Recoreded 11 November 1937. Aurora IL.
The Original Sonny Boy Williamson Vol 1 (Disc B)
Tracklist
ROBERT LEE McCOY
1. I Have Spent My Bonus - 2:55
2. CNA - 3:21
HENRY TOWNSEND
3. Lose Your Man - 3:28
4. All I've Got's Gone - 3:26
5. Ramblin' Mind - 2:56
6. Now I Stay Away - 2:49
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
7. My Little Cornelius - 3:10
8. Decoration Blues - 3:30
9. You Can Lead Me - 3:09
10. Moonshine - 3:01
11. Miss Louisa Blues - 2:56
12. Sunny Land - 3:18
13. I'm Tired Trucking My Blues Away - 2:57
14. Down South - 3:06
15. Beauty Parlor - 3:27
16. Until My Love Come Down - 3:12
ELIJAH JONES
17. Katy Fly - 3:19
18. Big Boat - 3:04
19. Only Boy Child - 3:04
20. Lonesome Man - 2:56
21. Mean Actin' Mama - 2:58
22. Stuff Stomp - 2:45
YANK RACHEL
23. J.L. Dairy Blues - 3:24
24. Rachel Blues - 3:08
25. Lake Michigan Blues - 2:58
Personnel:
John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson - Vocals (7-16), Harmonica (1-2, 7-25)
Robert Lee McCoy - Guitar (1-6), Vocals (1-2)
Big Joe Williams - Guitar (7-16)
Henry Townsend - Guitar (1-6)
Walter Davis - Piano (3-6)
Elijah Jones - Vocals (17-20), Guitar (17-25)
Yank Rachell - Mandolin (7-25), Vocals (21-25)
Tracks 1-6 Recorded 11 November 1937.Aurora IL.
Tracks 7-25 Recorded 13 March 1937. Aurora IL.
The Original Sonny Boy Williamson Vol 1 (Disc C)
Tracklist
YANK RACHEL
1. I'm Wild & Crazy As Can Be - 3:12
2. Honey Bee Blues - 3:04
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
3. My Baby, I've Been Your Slave - 3:05
4. Whiskey Headed Blues - 2:56
5. Lord! Oh, Lord! Blues - 3:02
6. You Give an Account - 3:13
7. Shannon Street Blues - 3:23
8. You've Been Foolin' 'round Town - 2:48
9. Deep Down in the Ground - 3:17
YANK RACHEL
10. When You Feel Down & Out - 3:17
11. Texas Tommy - 3:10
12. It's All Over - 3:00
13. My Mind Got Bad - 3:04
JACKSON JOE WILLIAMS
14. Get Your Head Trimmed Down - 3:13
15. Peach Orchard Mama - 3:21
16. Haven't Seen No Whiskey - 3:23
17. Goin' Up the Mountain - 3:16
SPECKLED RED
18. You Got to Fix It - 3:13
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
19. Number Five Blues - 3:30
20. Christmas Morning Blues - 3:25
21. Susie-Q - 3:14
22. Blue Bird Blues (part 2) - 3:26
23. Little Girl Blues - 3:20
24. Low Down Ways - 3:13
Personnel:
John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson - Vocals (2-9, 19-24), Harmonica (1-24)
Robert Lee McCoy - Guitar (18-24)
Walter Davis - Piano (3)
Elijah Jones - Guitar (1)
Yank Rachell - Mandolin (2-17), Vocals (10-13)
Joe 'Jackson Joe' Williams - Guitar (2-17), Vocals (14-17)
Will Hatcher - Mandolin (18-24)
Speckled Red - Piano (18-24), Vocals (18 )
Track 1 Recorded 13 March 1938 Aurora IL
Tracks 2-17 Recorded 17 June 1938 Aurora IL
Track 18 Recorded 17 December 1938 Aurora IL
The Original Sonny Boy Williamson Vol 1 (Disc D)
Tracklist
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
1. Goodbye Red - 3:11
2. The Right Kind of Life - 3:23
3. Insurance Man Blues - 3:20
4. Rainy Day Blues - 3:21
RAMBLIN BOB (McCOY)
5. Next Door Neighbor - 2:44
6. Big Apple Blues - 3:07
7. Freight Train Blues - 3:04
8. Good Gamblin' - 3:08
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
9. Bad Luck Blues - 2:42
10. My Little Baby - 2:59
11. Doggin' My Love Around - 3:15
12. Little Low Woman Blues - 2:48
13. Good for Nothing Blues - 3:04
14. Sugar Mama Blues No. 2 - 3:10
15. Good Gravy - 2:48
16. T.B. Blues - 3:00
17. Something Goin' on Wrong - 3:09
18. Good Gal Blues - 2:47
19. Joe Louis and John Henry Blues - 2:57
20. Thinking My Blues Away - 2:56
21. I'm Not Pleasing You - 2:47
22. New Jail House Blues - 2:51
23. Life Time Blues - 2:45
24. Miss Ida Lee - 2:58
25. Tell Me, Baby - 2:51
Personnel:
John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson - Vocals (1-4, 9-25), Harmonica (1-25)
Robert Lee McCoy - Guitar (1-8 ), Vocals (5-8 )
Will Hatcher - Mandolin (1-4)
Speckled Red - Piano (1-8 )
Walter Davis - Piano (9-25)
Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar (9-25)
Tracks 1-4 Recorded 17 December 1938 Aurora IL
Tracks 5-8 Recorded 18 December 1938 Aurora IL
Tracks 9-25 Recorded 21 July 1939 Chicago.
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