Nombre total de pages vues

mardi 22 mai 2018

PERCY MAYFIELD/ Complete Recordings



PERCY MAYFIELD West Coast blues master
(Nouvel article remanié et complété)


           
Percy Mayfield, entre blues californien, Rhythm & Blues et même Variétés est un nom majeur de l'histoire de la musique populaire noire. Son influence sur le blues de la Côte Ouest et au-delà a été considérable, autant par son œuvre enregistrée que par ses compositions dont beaucoup sont devenues des standards repris par des dizaines d'artistes: Please send me someone to love, Strange things happening, I need your love so bad, Memory pain (It serves you right to suffer), My mind is trying to leave me. Mayfield est aussi l'auteur de plusieurs succès de Ray Charles dont il a été le compositeur attitré entre 1962 et 1964: Hit the road, Jack, Danger zone, But on the other hand, Tell me how do you feel. Cette fonction de parolier – arrangeur - compositeur a quelque peu occulté la propre discographie de Mayfield qui est fort impressionnante.
            Venu de Louisiane (il est né à Minden le 12 août 1920) à Los Angeles via Houston en 1942, Percy démontre ses talents de compositeur avant de réussir à devenir un des favoris des jeunes Noirs grâce à son apparence physique et sa voix de velours. Il est un subtil baryton qui abaisse curieusement les notes, répète fréquemment la dernière ligne du couplet, insinue plus qu'il ne clame, crée en quelques secondes un climat de tristesse amère qui enveloppe l'auditeur. Il a été très influencé par les sermons de l'église de son enfance. Ses compositions, prêches laïcs, soulignent de façon moralisatrice les faiblesses humaines, les ravages de l'alcool et de l'adultère. Ses textes sont très élaborés avec un sens aigu de la chute finale et un humour en demi-teintes, parfois ravageur. En 1952, il est victime d'un accident de la route qui le défigure et change aussi substantiellement le timbre de sa voix. Dès lors, Mayfield continue à enregistrer sous son nom mais ne se produit plus en public et se consacre surtout à la composition.
            Peu avant sa mort (le 11 août 1984 à Los Angeles), pressé par des admirateurs du monde entier, notamment européens, Percy Mayfield est revenu sur scène. Et, malgré les ans et son apparence physique, tête cabossée, œil exorbité, sa voix prenante, sa présence scénique, son charisme a impressionné ceux qui ont eu la chance de le voir.
            Nous avons désormais réussi à regrouper la totalité de la forte œuvre qu'il a gravée entre 1946 et 1969. Merci à tous ceux qui ont aidé à rassembler ces titres, dont certains n'ont jamais été réédités: Jeannot L., Steve Wisner, Kempen, Xyros, Gyro, KingCake, Dr Hepcat, Klaus...
                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

Revised and completed post & discography
            Percy Mayfield, between blues, R&B and even doo-wop or pop, is a major name of the post war popular music. His influence on the emerging West Coast blues scene and then beyond has been considerable and several of his songs (his own compositions) have become standards, played by dozens of artists to these days (Please send me someone to love, Strange things happening, I need your love so bad, Memory pain (It serves you right to suffer), My mind is trying to leave me; Highway is like a woman....). Percy has also been hired by Ray Charles to write some of his great hits during the mid-60's: Hit the road, Jack, Danger zone, But on the other hand, Tell me how do you feel.
            Born in Minden (Louisiana) on 12 August 1920, Percy came to Los Angeles in 1942 through a short stay in Houston. He demonstrated quickly his great abilities to write and arrange a moving song in a few hours. In 1946, he started to record under his own name, becoming a major artist with his subtle, insinuating, suave baritone voice who can create in a few words a sad, tragic and deeply moving atmosphere. His better compositions – strongly influenced by the Gospel church of his childhood – are very often some kinds of secular sermons which emphasize the human weaknesses and passions from the ravages of the alcohol or the love cheatings, sometimes with more than a touch of bitterness and a wry humour.
            In 1952, he had a terrible car accident who left him disfigured and changed the timber of his voice. From then, he almost stopped to perform on stage but he still continue to record and write songs for himself as well as many R&B artists. A few years before his death from a stroke (11 August 1984 in Los Angeles), Percy Mayfield, under the pressure of his fans all over the world, agreed to make a come back, performing again on festivals and concerts. His physical appearance with his deformed face then seemed to add even something further to his stage charisma and all those who had the opportunity to watch him then were very strongly impressed.
            We have been able to gather by now everything Percy has recorded under his name between 1946 and 1969 with several tracks having never been reissued. Thanks a lot for their help to Jeannot L., Steve Wisner, Kempen, Xyros, Gyro, King Cake, Dr Hepcat, Klaus...
                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT


mercredi 9 mai 2018

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Volume 22



CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Volume 22


           
Le saxophoniste Jim Conley (né en 1931-2006) a participé à d'innombrables séances, généralement derrière des bluesmen comme Memphis Slim, Eddie Boyd, Otis Rush, Jimmy Dawkins, etc... Il a durant quelques années dirigé son propre orchestre dans lequel a figuré Phil Upchurch. Ils ont enregistré deux 45t intéressants. L'un figure ici, l'autre est sur ma chaîne YouTube. Conley a aussi enregistré un LP en Allemagne en 1980.
            Le batteur Bill Warren (1919-2000) est présent lui aussi dans d'innombrables enregistrements et a effectué plusieurs tournées européennes. Son seul 45t gravé sous son nom et dans lequel il chante permet à l'excellent guitariste Craig Horton de particulièrement briller.
            La superbe chanteuse Lady Margo (Joyce Fargo) a commencé sa carrière de chanteuse de Soul blues durant les années 1970 en compagnie d'Arlean Brown puis sous la houlette de Little Mack Simmons, faisant sensation à la "Battle of the Blues between the girls" au Silver Shadow en 1977 avec Koko Taylor et Bonnie Lee. Elle a enregistré une poignée de 45t pour divers labels de Chicago plus Cynthia (curieusement basé à Phoenix, Az!) avant d'embrasser la religion et d'enregistrer à nouveau (pour Jimmy Dawkins) sous le nom de Sister Margo. Il semble qu'elle officie actuellement en Caroline du Sud.
            Beaucoup plus connu, Tom Archia (né Ernest Alvin Archia Jr le 26
novembre 1919 à Groveton, Tx) a appris le saxophone à Houston, participant aux orchestres de Milt Larkin puis T-Bone Walker avec lequel il s'est produit à Chicago durant près d'une année (1942-43). Séduit par les opportunités offertes par la Windy City, Archia y est resté en tant que membre permanent de l'orchestre du Macomba Lounge, propriété de Leonard Chess qui l'a également substantiellement enregistré en tant que leader ou accompagnateur pour son label d'alors, Aristocrat. Après la fermeture du club (suite à un incendie) en 1950, Tom Archia a continué à jouer à Chicago, n'enregistrant plus que sporadiquement en tant que saxophoniste. En 1967, il décida de retourner à Houston, jouant localement jusqu'à sa mort à Houston le 16 janvier 1977.
                                               Gérard HERZHAFT

            Saxophonist Jim Conley (1931-2006) has prolifically recorded behind many bluesmen like Memphis Slim, Eddie Boyd, Otis Rush, Jimmy Dawkins... For some time during the late 50's-early 60's he led his own combo which featured lead guitarist Phil Upchurch, recording two good singles, one featured here, the other on my YouTube channel. He also waxed a LP in Germany in 1980 (My woman, my world, God's peace)
            Drummer Bil Warren (1919-2000) has been playing on numerous sessions and with Chicago bands, coming several times in Europe during the 70's. He has also recorded a single as a vocalist with Craig Horton as lead guitarist and Jump Jackson replacing him on drums.
            The great Soul blues singer Lady Margo (Joyce Fargo) has started her career with Arlean Brown's revue and then with Little Mack Simmons during the 1970's, drawing the attention during the famous Silver Shadow's "Battle of the blues between girls" in 1977 alongside Koko Taylor and Bonnie Lee. She has recorded a handful of 45s for small labels, including Cynthia, based in Phoenix, Az! After that, she turned to religion, recording Gospel for Jimmy Dawkins' Leric label. She is possibly still leading her church in South Carolina.
            Tom Archia (born Ernest Alvin Archia Jr on 26 November 1919 at Groveton, Tx) learned saxophone while in Houston's high school. He started as a member of Milt Larkin's orchestra, backing for almost a year (1942-43) T-Bone Walker in Chicago. With many local opportunities, Archia decided to stay in the Windy City playing every night at Leonard Chess' Macomba Lounge club and recording constantly for the Aristocrat's label as a saxophonist or as a leader. After the Macomba burned and closed definitively in 1950, Tom played a little bit everywhere in Chicago's clubs but recorded only very sporadically as a sideman until 1960. In 1967, he decided to go back to Houston, playing there with several bands until his untimely death on 16th January 1977.
                                                           Gérard HERZHAFT
Tous nos remerciements à Steve Wisner. A lot of thanks to Steve Wisner


CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday. Volume 22
JIM CONLEY, t-sax; Phil Upchurch, g; John Young, pno; Dave Green, og; Richard Evans, bs; Marshall Thompson, dms. Chicago, Ill. 1960
01. Nite-lite slop
02. Carla
BILL WARREN, vcl; Eddie Buster, og; Craig Horton, g; Freddie Young, g; Johnny deLacour, bs; Jump Jackson, dms. Chicago, Ill. 1961
03. Soul guitar (Midnight shuffle)
04. Riding in my Jaguar
LADY MARGO (Joyce Fargo), vcl; band. Chicago, Ill. 1973
05. I had to go
06. I've got just the thing to keep my man
Lady Margo, vcl; Chick Willis, g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1974
07. I've got just the thing I & II
08. This is my prayer to find someone of my own
Lady Margo, vcl; band. Chicago, Ill. 1976
09. Stop by
10. Simply got to make it without you
11. I enjoy loving you
TOM ARCHIA, t-sax; Buster Bennett, t-sax; Bill Owens, pno; Hurley Ramey, g; Dallas Bartley, bs; Jump Jackson, dms. Chicago, ill. July 1947
12. Mean and evil baby (vcl: Sheba Griffin)
13. Cherry (vcl: Sheba Griffin)
14. Ice man blues (vcl: George Kirby)
15. Fishin' pole (vcl: Buster Bennett)
Tom Archia, vcl/t-sax; Leo Blevins, g; Bill Searcy, pno; Lowell Pointer, bs; Robert Henderson, dms. Chicago, Ill. October 1947
16. Jam for Sam
17. Macomba jump
18. Downfall blues (Whiskey)
19. Slumber (Blues at twilight)
Tom Archia, t-sax; Gail Brockman, tpt; Andrew Gardner, a-sax; Gene Ammons, t-sax; Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; Junior Mance, pno; George Freeman, g; Le Roy Jackson, bs; Ike Day, dms. Chicago, Ill. c. October 1948
20. Hey Tom Archia
21. Mckie's jam for boppers
Tom Archia, t-sax; Gene Ammons, t-sax; Willie Jones, pno; LeRoy Jackson, bs: Wesley Landers, dms. Chicago, Ill. 12 November 1948
22. Jam for Boppers
23. Swinging for Christmas
24. Talk of the town
25. The battle
Grâce à notre ami Steve Wisner - un des meilleurs producteurs du Chicago blues des années 1970-80 - les deux titres manquants de Lady Margo sont désormais disponibles en cliquant sur les titres ci-dessus.
Thanks to our faithfull and generous friend Steve Wisner - Remember he produced some of the greatest blues albums of the 1970's - the two hitherto missing Lady Margo's titles are downloadable in clicking on the titles above