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Post by AlanB on Sept 30, 2013 10:32:11 GMT -5
Even though most of us don't really consider him Blues, Jackie Brenston was (in my opinion) under-recorded, particularly in the blues genre. He did have some great tunes which I always considered more jazz than blues... This speaks for itself, the few articles written about him were long after his death, usually focusing on the Rockett 88 aspect. Jackie Brenston An ObituaryAs the mysteries surrounding Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm are gradually coming to light, with due recognition accorded to thoseinvolved, it is my sad task to report Jim O'Neal'snews that Jackie Brenston died last Decemberfrom a heart attack. Virtually nothing is known about Brenstonby those other than his close confidants as hewas more than averagely reluctant to part withpersonal information. However, we know he wasa native of Clarksdale, Miss, born 14 August1927, and first appears joining Ike's band in1949 to learn baritone saxophone. After JohnnyO'Neal quit the group Brenston became thefeatured vocalist, and went on to record thelegendary 'Rocket 88' which hit in May '51, catapulting Jackie and Ike to great heights offame. The Chess organisation and Sam Phillips were hard pushed to find a follow up. The next issue, 'My Real Gone Rocket'/'Tuckered Out' was a flop. Why, I don't know, as both songs are exceptionally good jump blues. Brenston blamed Chess for pushing 'Tuckered' when they should have been plugging 'Real Gone' as a sequel to '88'. Desperately wishing to cash in on the for¬tunes promised by the hit, and without much material in the can, shortly after (late '51) they issued 'Juiced'/'Independent Woman' and although the latter was by Brenston, 'Juiced' most certainly was not. It was considered good enough and close enough to Brenston's style to pass, and I am convinced it is in fact Billy 'Red' Love singing (more on this in a future BU). Another flop and contractual wrangling between the Biharis, Sam Phillips, Ike Turner and Chess saw Brenston fall out with Ike. Still riding high on the success of 'Rocket 88', and now under personal contract to Sam Phillips, he left Memphis for Chicago in a bus for which Sam Phillips had ironically paid out over $1500 in an attempt to keep him happy and in the fold. He cut his last issued Chess recordings in Chicago in December '51 with Memphis musi¬cians; this was followed by a totally unissued Chess session of seven titles on 17 April 1953. After that the one hit wonder disappeared. All subsequent details about him are hazy. Next, we know he was back with Ike Turner as he was working with the Kings Of Rhythm in St. Louis in the mid '50s and recorded with them for Federal in Cincinnati in 1957. Then came issues on Sue all recorded in St. Louis but as Ike's music became more pop oriented, the next, and last known, but very good blues by Jackie appeared on Mel Lon 1000 with Earl Hooker's band in support. This was made in 1966 in Chicago. 'Retirement' back in Clarksdale seemed to be the way out after this, and as far as I'm aware he remained there, inactive musically, until his death. Again it is to be regretted that a key and very talented figure in the Delta scene has been lost. Time and space do not allow a full list of his records here but it is intended that BU will publish a complete discography of Ike Turner, the Kings Of Rhythm and possibly associated artists in the not too distant future. Cilia Huggins Blues Unlimited 137/138 (Spring 1980, pps 27-28)
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2013 11:05:02 GMT -5
Thanks Alan. Sad that we don't have more info on his personal life.
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Post by Admin on Oct 10, 2013 4:59:29 GMT -5
Bobby Grant recorded only 2 sides: "Nappy Head Blues" and "Lonesome Atlanta Blues" at a session in Chicago around December of 1927.
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Post by Admin on Nov 4, 2013 3:45:58 GMT -5
Debated on posting this as an under-recorded blues great or simply an under-recorded jazz group...either way, this album is a great collection of blues/jazz/R&B. Al "cake" Wichard.
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Post by Admin on Dec 31, 2013 12:45:45 GMT -5
Mattie Mae Thomas
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Post by AlanB on Jan 1, 2014 8:20:10 GMT -5
Her three songs recorded at Parchman Farm 1939, in their sewing room, were all included in Rosetta Reitz superb 1987 double LP Jailhouse Blues Women's A Capella Songs. See www.wirz.de/music/rosetfrm.htm
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2014 10:33:05 GMT -5
Her three songs recorded at Parchman Farm 1939, in their sewing room, were all included in Rosetta Reitz superb 1987 double LP Jailhouse Blues Women's A Capella Songs. See www.wirz.de/music/rosetfrm.htmThanks for the link Alan. Does anyone have any further information on Mattie Mae? For example, what was she in Parchman for?
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2014 12:11:24 GMT -5
Geeshie WileyAnother female blues singer mentioned in Ted Giaoi's "Delta Blues: The life and times...." is Geeshie Wiley. She recorded three songs in the early 30's. Little is actually known about Geeshie (Her existence in reality has been questioned), but her record "Last Kind Words [blues]" is among the most rare recordings and considered one of the "holy grails" of Paramount recordings. www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=476&mn=230373&pt=msg&mid=11395438
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2014 12:15:25 GMT -5
Kid Bailey
Kid Bailey was a Mississippi Delta bluesman, His one known recording session occurred September 25, 1929, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Little is known about Bailey himself. His voice had a distinctly coarse yet youthful quality, at least four of his recordings have survived: "Rowdy Blues", "Broke and Hungry", "Mississippi Bottom Blues" and "East St Louis Blues", in most digital releases, the tracks have been attributed to "Willie Brown" yet are evidently the same artist credited as "Kid Bailey" on the original 78s.
It has been remarked that, "Although it’s almost a cliché to say this about a blues musician from the American South, Kid Bailey was one of the most enigmatic musicians of the era." There has been some speculation that Kid Bailey was actually blues singer Willie Brown, using a pseudonym. His songs have been covered by Ian A. Anderson, Rory Block, Doug Cox, The Be Good Tanyas, and Thomasina Winslow with Nick Katzman.
His song, "Rowdy Blues" is included on Yazoo Records' compilation album, Master of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charlie Patton.
-wikipedia
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Post by AlanB on Jan 1, 2014 12:26:45 GMT -5
Kid BaileyKid Bailey was a Mississippi Delta bluesman, His one known recording session occurred September 25, 1929, in Memphis, Tennessee. Little is known about Bailey himself. His voice had a distinctly coarse yet youthful quality, at least four of his recordings have survived: "Rowdy Blues", "Broke and Hungry", "Mississippi Bottom Blues" and "East St Louis Blues", in most digital releases, the tracks have been attributed to "Willie Brown" yet are evidently the same artist credited as "Kid Bailey" on the original 78s. It has been remarked that, "Although it’s almost a cliché to say this about a blues musician from the American South, Kid Bailey was one of the most enigmatic musicians of the era." There has been some speculation that Kid Bailey was actually blues singer Willie Brown, using a pseudonym. His songs have been covered by Ian A. Anderson, Rory Block, Doug Cox, The Be Good Tanyas, and Thomasina Winslow with Nick Katzman. His song, "Rowdy Blues" is included on Yazoo Records' compilation album, Master of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charlie Patton. -wikipedia Back in the 70s magazines like Blues Unlimited seemed to thrive on discussing "who was Kid Bailey". It never got resolved and finally in 1993 David Evans attempted to bring together all known "evidence" which he published in Blues Revue Quarterly (as it then was named). Make of it what one will. Attachments:KidBaily.pdf (108.63 KB)
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2014 12:40:19 GMT -5
Back in the 70s magazines like Blues Unlimited seemed to thrive on discussing "who was Kid Bailey". It never got resolved and finally in 1993 David Evans attempted to bring together all known "evidence" which he published in Blues Revue Quarterly (as it then was named). Make of it what one will. I think Evans did a wonderful job of substantiating Kid Bailey as none other than Willie Brown who played with Son House. If Son said the voice was Willie, that is enough for me to believe it!!! But Evans goes much further, providing what I read as indisputable evidence that the two are the same. I also believe Evans is correct about the McCoy relationship...sounds too plausible to be fiction.
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Post by muddylives on Jan 2, 2014 6:32:33 GMT -5
Debated on posting this as an under-recorded blues great or simply an under-recorded jazz group...either way, this album is a great collection of blues/jazz/R&B. Al "cake" Wichard. Jim - Your post got me to revisit these recordings yesterday. This is some very fine music, indeed. I am particularly intrigued by the contributions of two great tenor saxophone players on some of these tracks, particularly the one who plays under a strong Lester Young influence. I wonder who these saxophonists are?
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2014 7:50:02 GMT -5
Jim - Your post got me to revisit these recordings yesterday. This is some very fine music, indeed. I am particularly intrigued by the contributions of two great tenor saxophone players on some of these tracks, particularly the one who plays under a strong Lester Young influence. I wonder who these saxophonists are? acerecords.co.uk/cake-walkin-the-modern-reccordings-1947-48The only one referenced is Bill Day.
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Post by muddylives on Jan 2, 2014 11:41:36 GMT -5
Jim - Your post got me to revisit these recordings yesterday. This is some very fine music, indeed. I am particularly intrigued by the contributions of two great tenor saxophone players on some of these tracks, particularly the one who plays under a strong Lester Young influence. I wonder who these saxophonists are? acerecords.co.uk/cake-walkin-the-modern-reccordings-1947-48The only one referenced is Bill Day. If I am not mistaken, Bill Day was a bass player.
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2014 16:13:53 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken, Bill Day was a bass player. You may be right John. I looked up Bill Day and a photo shows him with a sax (along with a bass and guitar).
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