CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Volume 5
Ce nouveau volume de cette collection
propose de mettre le projecteur sur plusieurs artistes de Chicago plus ou moins
mal connus.
Le producteur/arrangeur/chanteur et
guitariste Al Perkins, né le 1er
août 1930 à Brookhaven (Mississippi) a connu un certain succès dans les années
60, enregistrant un certain nombre de titres entre blues et soul pour des
labels de Chicago (C.J., USA...), Detroit et Memphis (Hi). Excellent
compositeur, il est l'auteur en particulier du savoureux Homework (que nous proposons ici dans un superbe duo avec la
chanteuse de Soul Betty Bibbs), un titre connu surtout grâce aux versions de
Otis Rush et encore davantage de Fleetwood Mac. Perkins a aussi été un DJ
important de la scène de Detroit, ville où il semble s'être aussi adonné à des
activités moins licites qui lui ont hélas valu d'être abattu en pleine rue le
13 février 1983.
Nous incluons aussi ici (merci à
Jose Yrrabera) le 45t Duke très rare de Otis
Rush (Homework/ I have to laugh)
qui n'a jamais été réédité. Durant cette séance, Otis a aussi gravé plusieurs
titres supplémentaires restés dans les tiroirs mais qu'on aimerait pouvoir un
jour entendre! Otis est aussi très présent sur Cleo's back par le saxophoniste
tenor Abb Locke enregistré en 1983.
Le chanteur et guitariste Grover Pruitt a longtemps été considéré
Enfin, voici deux chanteuses entre
blues et Soul qui n'ont fait qu'un tour sur la scène musicale de Chicago. Carol Ford (accompagnée de Mighty Joe
Young et Lafayette Leake) délivre un formidable Run baby tandis que Cleo
Randle - toujours en compagnie de Mighty Joe - chante aussi deux beaux
blues. Si Carol semble avoir complètement disparue, Cleo a continué une
carrière modeste de chanteuse de Gospel.
Comme d'habitude, toutes vos
remarques sont les bienvenues et me permettent de savoir si ce travail est
utile...
Gérard
HERZHAFT
This 5th volume of our Chicago/ The blues yesterday series starts with the singer/guitarist/producer
Al Perkins (born august 1st 1930 in
Brookhaven, Ms) who enjoyed some success during the 60's with his brand of
blues and Soul. He waxed some 45s for several Chicago (USA, C.J.), Detroit and
Memphis (Hi) labels, particularly his duet with Soul singer Betty Bibbs,
Homework, his own composition that has been made famous through versions of
Otis Rush and Fleetwood Mac. A noted Detroit DJ, Perkins seemed to deal also
with other more underground businesses and, for that, was shot to death in the
streets of Detroit on February 13th, 1983.
Thanks to our friend Jose Yrrabera,
we can post the very rare Otis
Grover
Pruitt who recorded one 45 for Laredo (Mean train) was long thought a young
white rockabilly singer. In fact, he is a black bluesman from Chicago. After
this single, he went onto the West Coast, waxed another very rare single there
(Chain gang farm: if anybody owns it, please send a .mp3 copy!!), then came
back to Chicago, recorded another excellent (and also rare) 45 for Salem (Shake
the flea/ Little girl) and drifted into obscurity. He resurfaced some years
ago, playing in the Chicago clubs. It would be nice if anyone out there could
interview him and - why not? - make him record a whole album?
Carol
Ford is one of those numerous soul/blues singers that tried to get a break
in the Chicago scene and then disappeared. Her juicy Run baby (with the
wonderful Mighty Joe Young) deserves to be heard.
At last, Cleo Randle recorded a good blues 45 (again with Mighty Joe Young)
before recycling herself into the Gospel world.
Thanks again to all those who
constantly loan me and share their precious original records: Alain M., Pierre
Monnery, Hartmut Münnich, Paul de Bruycker, Jean Ballerin and of course Jose,
Fonsoul and all the others...
As usual, all your remarks and such
are welcomed... This is the only way for me to know if this work is really
useful.
Gérard
HERZHAFT
or
CHICAGO/ The Blues
Yesterday
Volume 5
Al Perkins, vcl/g; Luther Tucker, g;
Detroit Jr, pno; band. Chicago, Ill. 1960
01. You cost
too much
02. Please come
back
Al
Perkins, vcl/g; Burgess Gardner, tpt and His Orchestra. Chicago, Ill. 1962
03. I feel
alright
04. It's good
enough
Al
Perkins, vcl; Betty Bibbs, vcl; Luther Tucker, g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1965
05. Homework
Al
Perkins, vcl; band. Chicago, Ill. 1969
06. Yes my
goodness yes
07. So long
Al
Perkins, vcl; Willie Mitchell band. Memphis, Tn. 1972
08. I don't
want to lose I & II
09. I'm so
thankful
Otis Rush, vcl/g; Mighty Joe Young,
g; King Kolax, tpt; Sonny Turner, tpt; Maury Watson, tpt; Monk Higgins, tb;
Johnny Board, t-sax; Abb Locke, t-sax; Lafayette Leake, og/pno; James Green,
bs; Casey Jones, dms. Chicago, Ill. 6-7 septembre 1962
10. Homework
11. I have to
laugh
Abb Lock, t-sax; Otis Rush, g; band.
Chicago, Ill. c. 1983
12. Cleo's back
Grover Pruitt, vcl/g; Freddie Roulette,
st-g; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 1959
13. Mean train
14. Fool for
you baby
Grover Pruitt,
vcl/g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1963
Chain gang farm
Somebody please send some love
Grover
Pruitt, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1969
15. Shake the
flea
16. Little girl
Carol Ford, vcl; Lafayette Leake,
pno; Mighty Joe Young, g; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 1964
17. Run baby
18. Your well
ran dry
Cleo Randle, vcl; Mighty Joe Young,
g; band. Chicago,
Ill. 1966-67
19. Big city
lights
20. The best
man I ever had
21. You got
everything
Thanks to Olivier who has sent me a much better copy of Otis Rush's "I have to laugh":
Merci à Olivier qui m'a envoyé une bien meilleure copie de "I have to laugh" by Otis Rush
