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

There is no one

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

Nothing better

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