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mardi 8 janvier 2019

KING SOLOMON/ Complete Recordings



KING SOLOMON/ Complete Recordings


              
Several bluesmen have used the "King Solomon" moniker, mainly ace pre-war guitarist King Solomon Hill, the pianist and sometimes singer Ellis Walters Jr (1919-63) who recorded under the name King Solomon or Soloman (sic) as well as a session man behind many West Coast bluesmen as Solomon Ellis. Soul star Solomon Burke also recorded as King Solomon as well as jazz tenor saxophonist Clifford Solomon! And there is now a young good bluesman playing and recording under the name King Solomon Hicks!
               But the only "real" King Solomon (his real name) is this blues singer that we are featuring here. Born King Sylvester Lee Melicious Solomon on 12th October 1934 (or 1940? but this year sometimes given seems to be improbable even impossible) at Tallulah, La, he began to sing in his mother's church before creating his own Gospel a-capella quartet.
               When King Solomon comes to Chicago in 1949 to work as a busboy in a restaurant, he listens more and more the blues in the Windy City's clubs, befriending with Sunnyland Slim. Soon one finds him singing the blues at Theresa's or at Du Sable Lounge. But, tired of the hard Chicago's winters, Solomon settles in Los Angeles in 1954, meeting Charles Brown, Lowell Fulson and Maxwell Davis who encourages him to form his own band. During the late 50's, King Solomon and his Soul Brothers Band play regularly in the L.A. area, Charles Wright holding the lead guitar. In 1961, his first autobiographic record Non Support blues Parts I & II hits the West Coast before being taken over by the Checker label, and then climbing to n°39 on Billboard.
               Solomon then tours the Western States for awhile with big stars like B.B. King, Little Milton, Etta James and even opens for Sammy Davis Jr during a couple of weeks in Davis' cabaret in Las Vegas.
               King Solomon records regularly during the 1960's for a large variety of labels, some important like Kent but generally for small independent ones like Don-J, Magnum or his own Mader-D. With a somewhat poor distribution, those records sell quite confidentially with the exception of the small local hit You are nothing but a teenager.
              
During the 1970's, Solomon seeks commercial success in turning his music towards the Rock/ Psychedelic audience, his guitarist Joe Kincaid playing constantly the wah-wah guitar and with heavy bass and drums. This is the music featured on the only album recorded as such by Solomon Energy Crisis, probably during the mid-70's (1977 is the date generally admitted).
               Outside a small article on Blues Unlimited, King Solomon was mainly unknown outside his L.A. area until the excellent Dutch Diving Duck label issued a compilation of some of his best tracks during the mid-80's!

               Today, one doesn't know if King Solomon is still living or if so where he lives. Anyway, his recorded work is much worthy. We have tried to gather the complete recordings by this King Solomon but there still are 5 numbers that have been impossible to find. Thanks by advance to anyone who would have them and would be willing to share!
               Thanks to Diving Duck label, Mr Mightygroove and the excellent Groovy Gumbo blog for their help.
                                                                                       
Gérard HERZHAFT


King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1961
01. Non support blues I & II
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1962
02. I got to move
03. Uncle John's swinging farm
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1963
04. Louisiana groove
05. I'm in love with you
06. My dream
I'm in your corner baby
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1964
07. Separation n°1
08. I want to know
09. Yodeling this morning
10. Scratch my back
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1965
11. Big things
12. You ain't nothing but a teenager
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1966
13. Mr bad luck
14. S.K. blues
15. New figure
16. Let me be your eagle baby I & II
17. Almost midnight
18. Please Mr President
King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1967
19. Separation n°2
20. Little dab will do it
21. Where is my shoe
22. What you got
Skidrow
Brainwashed woman
When a man loves a woman
I don't play that way
King Solomon, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1968
23. Just a little faith
24. Sittin' here thinkin'
King Solomon, vcl; Joe Kincaid, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1969
25. The natural look
26. No woman's no stranger
27. The miracle worker
28. The Moon Walk
29. Love bug
30. Something's wrong with me
King Solomon, vcl; Joe Kincaid, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. c. 1977
31. I got a sweet tooth for your love
32. If I were a strong man
33. Energy crisis
34. Political rag
35. Ain´t it funky ya´ll I & II
36. Sexy baby
37. Get up soul brother
38. Don´t play this song
39. A little dab will do ya


26 commentaires:

  1. King Solomon/ Complete Recordings
    Links are here for a limited time and for personal use ONLY!

    CD1: 1961-69:
    https://mega.nz/#!OQp12KpR!W0YNrp5MAx-euidV6tp6SaJ7XrGHaIxxjkCRo7L4-bI

    CD2: (Energy Crisis LP)
    https://mega.nz/#!bcoHWC5I!HeKcWiIIFow8OAaw42wqOGMtCOpDGSbF7yEfECII-14

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    Réponses
    1. Reup Energy Crisis if possible. Can not find it anywere else and know you had a issue uploading... Blessings

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  2. Thanks again Gerard much appreciated !

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  3. Gracias una vez más por este excelente trabajo.

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  4. Much appreciated. Thank you Gérard.

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  5. Thank you for the great music and for clearing up much confusion with this artist.

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  6. Thank you, Gerard. A great opportunity to listen to an important
    "unknown" blues artist. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Again, a big thank you!

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  7. Thank You So Much For Sharing , Gerard !

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  8. Thank you once again, Gerard, for compiling and making available this wonderful music by a lesser known but very fine artist.

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  9. Good work as usual; the only downside on this occasion is that almost all the tracks end abruptly.
    Thanks a lot!.

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  10. Hi Gerard. A prosperous New Year to you. Thank you very much for the collection of this difficult to find artist.

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  11. Thanks Gérard for this wonderful collection. And you put the Duck tasteful on the table!

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    Réponses
    1. Thanks to you Smokey and the pioneer and excellent work you did with the Diving Duck label. A great hep for all of us blues buffs!

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  12. Thanks Gerald as always for the essay as well as the music !

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  13. Gerard:

    Thanks a lot for another great collection.

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  14. very very BIG thank you from me too

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  15. Merci Gerard , j'apprecie votre toujours excellent travail
    (d'un lecteur de SOUL BAG)

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  16. Please re up. Thanks.

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    Réponses
    1. Ce commentaire a été supprimé par l'auteur.

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    2. The 1961-69 links ar still available:
      CD1: 1961-69:
      https://mega.nz/#!OQp12KpR!W0YNrp5MAx-euidV6tp6SaJ7XrGHaIxxjkCRo7L4-bI
      For the "Energy Crisis", for some reasons, I won't be able to re-up. I guess you can find this album on other blogs.

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  17. Je ne le connaissais pas, merci beaucoup !

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