NOBLE "Thin Man" Watts/ Complete Recordings 1955-68

 

NOBLE WATTS/ Complete Recordings 1955-68

             

Noble "Thin Man" (ce surnom vient de sa ressemblance avec l'acteur William Powell qui incarnait le célèbre détective de Dashiell Hammett au cinéma) Watts (né le 17 février 1926 à DeLand en Floride) a fait des études de musique à l'Université A&M de Floride en compagnie des frères Adderley (Nat et "Cannonball"). Il apprend à jouer du violon et de la trompette mais se spécialise dans le saxophone.

            Après un court passage dans l'orchestre des Griffin Brothers, Noble rejoint Paul 'Hucklebuck" Williams en 1952, enregistrant avec lui de nombreuses séances et accompagnant Dinah Washington, Amos Milburn, Ruth Brown, Lionel Hampton... En 1954, à Chicago, Noble enregistre un premier 45t pour DeLuxe puis en 1955 pour Vee Jay avant de partir s'installer à New York et, là, de véritablement démarrer une carrière de leader de son propre ensemble. Tout en restant toujours fidèle au jazz, Noble Watts est certainement un des saxophonistes les plus terriens de son époque, ne s'éloignant que rarement du blues. Avec l'adjonction du superbe et très imaginatif guitariste Wild Jimmy Spruill, sa musique flirte de plus en plus avec le Rock'n'roll et il émarge au genre avec plusieurs succès instrumentaux comme Blast off, Shakin', Flap Jack et Hard Times (The slop) qui pénètre même dans le Top 50 Pop en 1957.

            Les années suivantes le voient tourner de façon incessante en compagnie des plus grosses vedettes du Rock comme Jerry Lee Lewis, les Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry ou Little Richard.

            Après son mariage avec la belle chanteuses June Bateman, Noble reste davantage autour de New York où il assure les parties musicales des combats de boxe du Harlem Lounge tout en s'occupant activement de la carrière de son épouse avec des réussites comme le classique Possum belly overalls.

            La vogue des saxophonistes de Rock passant de mode dans les années 1960-70, Noble est obligé de réduire considérablement son orchestre et de se produire surtout dans des restaurants chics de la Floride où, lui et June, sont retournés s'installer. "Redécouvert" en 1987 par le producteur Bob Greenlee, Noble retrouve les scènes des festivals et le chemin des studios et enregistre encore plusieurs excellents albums pour Kingsnake/ Alligator ou Ichiban.

            Il décède d'une pneumonie le 24 août 2004 dans sa maison près de Miami.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

            Un grand merci à Pierre Monnery pour son aide

 

Noble "Thin Man" (this nickname coming from a resemblance with William Powell who played the famous Dashiell Hammett's detective) Watts was born on February 17, 1926 in DeLand, Fl and followed musical training at the A&M Florida University alongside such future luminaries like Nat and "Cannonball" Adderley. Although he played violin and trumpet, he specialized into the saxophone.

            After short stints with several bands (The Griffin Brothers), Noble joined the famous Paul Williams Orchestra (Hucklebuck), playing and recording with them for several years. While in Chicago, he recorded some singles but his career started really when he relocated in New York in 1957. While still strongly influenced by the jazz, Noble Watts favoured a much bluesy and gutsy sound that the other saxophonists of the time, in part thanks to the strong presence in his band of Wild Jimmy Spruill, an adventurous, rocking and full of feeling young guitarist. During some years, Noble Watts recorded several hits (Blast off, Shakin, Flap Jack , The slop(Hard Times) that gave him a special notoriety among Rock'n'roll buffs. Noble and his band were constantly touring the USA with big R'n'R names like Jerry Lee Lewis, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry or Little Richard.

            After his marriage with the fine singer June Bateman and tired of being on the road, Noble stayed in New York, taking a steady job as the leading band at the boxing Harlem Lounge and managing his wife's career.

            With the dwindling popularity of the honking saxes, Noble and June went back in Florida, playing mostly on supper lounges and small clubs. Rediscovered by producer Bob Greenlee, Noble resumed his career to tour the blues festivals all around the world and recorded a string of LP's for Alligator and Ichiban.

            He died of pneumonia in his Florida's home on august 24 2004.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

            A lot of thanks to Pierre Monnery for his help

 

 

NOBLE WATTS/ 1955-1968

Noble Watts, t-sax; Jimmy Smith, og; Floyd Smith, g; bs; Chris Colombus, dms. Baltimore, MD. 22 october 1954

01. Mashing potatoes

02. Pig ears and rice

Noble Watts, t-sax; Paul Williams, a-sax; Dabby Moore, tpt; Harlan Floyd, tb; Bobby Parker, t-sax; Lefty Bates, g; Clifton Small, pno; George Washington, bs; Wilfrid Eddleton, dms. Chicago, Ill. 17 december 1955

03 Give it up

04 Pass the buck

05 Big two four

06 South shore drive

07 Great times

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, july 1957

08 Easy going I & II

09 Midnight flight

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, october 1957

10. The slop (Hard times)

11. Walking the floor over you

12. Blast off

13. Rickey tick

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1958

14. The slide

15. The creep

16. Shakin'

17. Flap Jack

18. Hot tamales

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1959

19. Original boogie woogie

20. Mashed potatoes

Noble Watts, t-sax; horns; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Bill Davis, og; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1960

21. The beaver

22. Frog hop

Noble Watts, t-sax; King Curtis, t-sax; Billy Butler, g; Wild Bill Davis, og; bs; Bernard Purdie, dms. New York City, 1962

23. Jookin'

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. Newark, NJ. 1963

24. Florida shake

Limbo authentique

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 1964

25. Noble's theme

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 1965

26. Teen scene

27. Leave that girl alone

28. John Friday's son

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 12 july 1968

29. F.L.A.

30. Thing a majig

 

 

AFBF 1964/ The Complete Sessions

 

A.F.B.F. 1964/ The Complete Sessions

All tracks recorded october 1964 in various locations in Europe

 

Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), vcl/hca.

01. Bye bye bird

Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), vcl/hca; Hubert Sumlin, g.

02. I'm trying to make London my home

03. Got to cut that out

Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), vcl/hca; Hubert Sumlin, g; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Willie Dixon, bs; Clifton James, dms.

04. Dissatisfied

Sleepy John Estes, vcl/g; Hammie Nixon, hca.

05. I'm a tearing little daddy

06. Your best friend is gone

Sunnyland Slim, vcl/pno; Hubert Sumlin, g; Willie Dixon, bs; Clifton James, dms.

07. Come on home baby

08. Everytime I get to drinking I

09. Everytime I get to drinking II

10. Devil is a busy man

11. Be my baby

12. It's you baby

13. Everytime I get to drinkin' III

14. Bassology

15. One room country shack

16. Come on home baby II

17. Going to California

18. Train I ride

19. See see rider

20. C Jam blues

21. I done you wrong

22. Tin Pan alley

23. Theme song

Willie Dixon, vcl/bs; Sunnyland Slim, pno.

24. Nervous

Willie Dixon, vcl/bs; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Hubert Sumlin, g; Clifton James, dms.

25. My babe

John Henry Barbee, vcl/g.

26. Cotton pickin' blues

Lightnin' Hopkins, vcl/g.

27. Ain't it a pity

28. Baby please don't go

29. Come go with me

30. Lightnin's blues

31. Mojo hand

Hubert Sumlin, g; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Willie Dixon, bs; Clifton James, dms.

32. No title boogie

Sugar Pie De Santo, vcl; Hubert Sumlin, g; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Willie Dixon, bs; Clifton James, dms.

33. Baby what you want me to do

34. Rock me baby

35. Slip in mules

36. You got me running

 

Howlin' Wolf was of course on that legendary tour and, in an exceptional shape, he stole the show and tore up audiences all over Europe.

I have already gathered all his possible recordings made during this tour . You can find them on the post

https://jukegh.blogspot.com/2019/12/howlin-wolf-complete-live-recordings.html

 

L.C. "GOOD ROCKIN'"ROBINSON Complete Recordings

                 L.C. "GOOD ROCKIN" ROBINSON Complete Recordings

        

Ce Texan pur sucre ("jusque au bout de mes bottes" disait-il!) né le 15 mai 1915 à Brenham, une bourgade entre Houston et Austin célèbre pour ses crèmes glacées, a affirmé avoir appris les rudiments de la guitare slide auprès de son lointain cousin, le célèbre chanteur/ évangélisateur Blind Willie Johnson qui venait souvent dans la ferme familiale. Mais L.C. (Louis Charles) Robinson a ensuite été considérablement influencé par les stylistes du Western Swing, notamment Bob Dunn et Leon McAuliffe avec qui il se lie d'amitié durant quelques années. C'est McAuliffe qui lui apprend à jouer de la steel-guitare, à plat sur les genoux. C'est aussi avec les musiciens de Western Swing qui gravitent autour de McAuliffe que L.C. apprend le fiddle ainsi qu'une grande partie du répertoire des Texas Playboys de Bob Wills.

         En 1940, comme beaucoup de Texans, L.C. part s'installer à Oakland en Californie afin de travailler dans l'industrie alors bourgeonnante. Il forme un petit orchestre avec son frère, l'harmoniciste et Révérend A.C. Robinson qui pratique Country Music, Gospel et blues. Ses qualités de chanteur et de musicien ainsi que sa forte présence scénique lui valent vite une solide réputation locale. Mais il n'enregistre malheureusement qu'un 45t en 1954 pour le petit label Rhythm. Ses multiples talents de musicien, violoniste, guitariste, steel-guitariste, son vaste répertoire, des blues profonds à la Lightnin' Hopkins jusqu'à des instrumentaux empruntés au Western Swing en font un des favoris du Blues Revival californien des années 60. Avec sa gouaille et son extrême dynamisme, personnage éminemment pittoresque, il séduit de nombreux groupes de rock californien qui l'accueillent volontiers pour faire le boeuf ou qui le prennent en première partie de leurs shows.

         C'est ainsi qu'il ouvre les concerts de Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters. En 1968, il retrouve enfin les chemins des studios, enregistrant un demi album pour World Pacific. Mais c'est avec le Muddy Waters blues band qu'il signe son premier album complet, le splendide Mojo in my hand (Arhoolie) qui voit aussi briller le pianiste Dave Alexander (aka Omar Sharriff). En 1974, il est de nouveau dans les studios pour un deuxième bel album, House cleaning blues, qui n'a jamais été réédité et dans lequel il est accompagné par le pianiste Robert Hooker (un des fils de John Lee) et du superbe guitariste Luther Tucker.

         Apparaissant dans divers programmes télévisés, familier du populaire San Francisco blues festival, L.C. était sur le point d'effectuer une première tournée européenne qui s'annonçait prometteuse lorsqu'il décède d'une crise cardiaque à son domicile de Oakland le 26 septembre 1976.

         Nous avons regroupé tous ses enregistrements aujourd'hui difficiles à trouver. Le magnifique album qu'il a gravé pour Arhoolie (titres en rouge dans la discographie) est couramment disponible en CD et nous vous invitons bien sûr à l'acquérir. Soyez sûrs que ce sera un petit joyau dans votre collection.

                                                        Gérard HERZHAFT

L.C. (Louis Charles) Robinson, born in Brenham (Tx) May 15, 1915, said he was initiated to the slide and steel guitar techniques by the famous Gospel singer Blind Willie Johnson who was one of his relatives. But he was much more influenced by Western Swing steel guitarists Bob Dunn and Leon McAuliffe who introduced him to the musicianship and repertoire of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. At that time, L.C. learnt also to play the fiddle.

In 1940, like so many Texans, L.C. Robinson went to Oakland, California, to work in the burgeoning industry and joined his brother A.C. Robinson's band. His musicianship as well as his stage histrionics gained him quickly a strong local following. Unfortunately, L.C. recorded only one 45 under his own name for the tiny Rhythm label in 1954.

This is the Californian blues and folk revival of the 60's that gave L.C. the opportunity to know most of the then emerging rock blues bands. He very often came to stage to jam with Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat and such and soon opened many of their shows while running his own small combo with young ace pianist Dave Alexander (aka Omar Sharriff). He was also a favorite of the very popular San Francisco Blues Festival.

         In 1968, Robinson waxed half of an LP for World Pacific and in 1971, Arhoolie gave him the opportunity to record Mojo in my hand, a masterpiece of an album, in which he is brilliantly backed by the Muddy Waters Blues Band (for whom he had just opened the Californian tour show).

         Three years later he recorded his second album for Al Smith's Bluesway label, House cleanin' blues with guitarist Luther Tucker's band, once again a very good record which has never been reissued in any form.

         L.C. Robinson was due to fly to Europe for a tour which looked very promising when he died suddenly at his Oakland's home on September 26, 1976.

         

                             Gérard HERZHAFT

L.C. ROBINSON

The Complete Sessions

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g; Big Jim Wilson, t-sax; pno; bs; dms. San Francisco, Ca. 1954

01. Why don't you write to me?

02. If I lose you

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g; Lafayette Thomas, g; Dave Alexander, pno; Malachi Spencer, bs; Barnell Barfield, dms. Berkeley, Ca. 9 september 1968

03. Separate ways

04. Jake rabbit boogie

05. Train time blues

06. Clean your house

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g; Lafayette Thomas, g; Dave Alexander, pno; Willie Pierce, t-sax; Carl Van Green, t-sax; Malachi Spencer, bs; Victor Leonard, dms. Berkeley, Ca. 9 september 1968

07. Bringing my baby back home

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g/fdl; Pee Wee Madison, g; Sammy Lawhorn, g; Pinetop Perkins, pno; Charlie Musselwhite, hca; Calvin Jones, bs; Willie Smith, dms. San Francisco, Ca. 9 september 1971

08. Ups and downs

09. Pinetop's boogie woogie

10. Across the bay blues

11. L.C.'s Shuffle

12. Can't be a winner

13. Mojo in my hand

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g/fdl; Dave Alexander, pno; William Hyatt, bs; Teddy Winston, dms. San Francisco, Ca. 17 december 1971

14. Stop and jump

15. She got it from the start

16. Things so bad in California

17. New train time

18. I'm just a country boy

19. L.C.'s theme

20. I've got to go

L.C. Robinson, vcl/g/st-g/fdl; Robert Hooker, pno; Luther Tucker, g; Lex Boyd Sylva, bs; Ken Swank, dms. San Francisco, Ca. 1974

21. Summerville blues

22. Separation blues

23. Texas blues

24. My baby crossed the Bay

25. Stop now

26. Cross the Bay shuffle

27. Train time

28. Southern bound

29. Standin' in line

30. Trailin' my baby

31. Rockin' with Peggy

32. House cleanin' blues

AFBF 1963/ The Very Complete Sessions

A.F.B.F. 1963

The Very complete sessions

October 1963. Recorded in various locations in Germany, France and Great Britain

Memphis Slim, vcl/pno: M.T. Murphy, g; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

01. Wish me well

02. Blues everywhere I go

03. Slim's boogie

04. Everyday I have the blues

05. John Henry

M.T. Murphy, g; Memphis Slim, pno; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

06. Muphy's boogie

07. Matt's guitar boogie

Willie Dixon, vcl/bs; Memphis Slim, pno; M.T. Murphy, g; Bill Stepney, dms.

08. Nervous

09. Sittin' and cryin' the blues n°1

10. Sittin' and cryin' the blues n°2

11. Crazy for my baby

Lonnie Johnson, vcl/g.

12. Careless love

13. Another night to cry

14. See see rider

Victoria Spivey, vcl/ukulele/piano; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

15. Grant Spivey

16. T.B. blues

Victoria Spivey, vcl; Lonnie Johnson, g; Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), hca; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

17. Black snake blues

Big Joe Williams, vcl/g.

18. I have no friends

19. Cripple and blind blues

20. Down in the bottom

21. Baby please don't go

22. Mean stpefather

Otis Spann, vcl/pno; Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), hca; M.T. Murphy, g; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

23. Going down slow

24. Had my fun

25. Spann's blues

Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), vcl/hca

26. Bye bye bird

27. Sleeping by myself

28. Sonny Boy's harmonica boogie

Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), vcl/hca; M.T. Murphy, g; Otis Spann, pno; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

29. Keep it to yourself

30. The things you do

31. I don't know

32. Nine below zero

33. Walk when I walk

34. Cheatin' blues

35. Sad to be lonesome

36. Someday baby

37. The sky is crying

Muddy Waters, vcl/g.

38. Captain you treat me so mean

39. Rolling stone

Muddy Waters, vcl/g; Otis Spann, pno; M.T. Murphy, g; Willie Dixon, bs; Bill Stepney, dms.

40. Sun rose this morning

41. My home is on the delta

42. Five long years

43. Got my mojo working n°1

Add Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller); hca.

44. Got my mojo working n°2

Finale: Everybody

45. Bye bye blues

LADIES SING THE BLUES/ Volume 5

LADIES SING THE BLUES/ Volume 5

     

     Well... If those ladies featured in the 5th Volume of our series are all good or even great singers, if most of the tracks are good blues with more than a jazz flavor, if they are backed by soulful and very professional bands, they largely stay mostly anonymous artists and with the notable exception of Mabel Robinson, very few is known about her outside their recorded works. At least to me, and despite strong researches through my books and magazines collections and of course the web. Of course, all eventual contributions from readers who'd know better would be greatly appreciated!

            Helen Proctor, a fine singer, recorded only six tracks, two in 1938 and four more the following year when she was the featured singer of Henry "Red" Allen's popular band. We don't know either her whereabouts or what she became after the war.

            Not much is either known about R&B singer Pearl Traylor who recorded between 1945 and 1951 for Modern and Okeh. Several fine tracks with a minor hit with Around the clock Parts I & II. She is backed by great musicians like pianists Hadda Brooks or Willard McDaniel and Chuck Norris on the guitar.

           

Daisy Mae Diggs is also a good jazzy singer from Philadelphia who recorded eight numbers in the mid-50's with her Hepcats, a small jazz group with guitarists Al Russell and Billy Butler. Not much is known about her except that apparently she appeared as a young dancer with the Les Hite's band in the 1933 movie Sing, Sinner, Sing! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=l2z0QFu6udE&feature=emb_logo)

            And now with Mabel Robinson, born Mabel Brown on March 29, 1914 at Cape Charles, Va. Living in Boston since 1931, she started a career as a singer and pianist during the early 1940's, recording six tracks with Sammy Price on the 88s. This led her to be the featured singer on several bands like those of Louis Jordan, Skeets Tolbert, Sammy Davis Sr (father of Sammy Davis Jr) or Roy Haynes. She married Mr Simms in 1939 and appeared as Mabel Robinson Simms, singing and playing piano in numerous

Boston clubs for decades, as a solo act or with numerous bands. In 1956, she formed the Mabel Robinson Trio with her sister Frances Brown, playing as a regular act at the famous Boston's Moulin Rouge situated in the former Hotel Vendome in the Back Bay. She resigned her musical career in 1968 and died in Boston on January 27, 2005 after being honored by the Boston Jazz Society. She apparently didn't record outside the tracks featured here although there are rumours of an album she would have made in the 1950's.

                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

HELEN PROCTOR, vcl; Pat Jenkins, tpt; Sam Massenberg, tpt; Al Cooper, clt/a-sax; b-sax; Rudy Williams, a-sax; Ed Mc Neil, t-sax; Oliver Richardson, pno; Grachan Moncur, bs; Alex Mitchell, dms. New York City, 19 août 1938

01. Someone outside is taking your mind

02. You'll never miss the water

Helen Proctor, vcl; Henry Red Allen, tpt; Buster Bailey, clt; Lil Armstrong, pno; Ulysses Livingston, g; Wellman Braud, bs; O'Neill Spencer, dms. New York City, 13 octobre 1939

03. Blues at midnight

04. Cheatin' on me

05. Let's call it a day

06. Take me along with you

MABEL ROBINSON, vcl; Four Blackamoors, vcls; band. New York City, 23 juillet 1941

07. You don't know my mind

08. Somebody's getting my love

09. Don't give up the old love

10. Search your heart and see

Mabel Robinson, vcl; Sammy Price, pno; William Lewis, g; Herman Autrey, tpt; David Young, t-sax; Vernon King, bs; O'Neill Spencer, dms. New York City, 20 janvier 1942

11. Me and my chauffeur

12. I've got too many blues

PEARL TRAYLOR, vcl; Hadda Brooks, pno; Bill Davis, bs; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 1945

13. Lonesome gal

14. Daddy somebody's got to go

15. Nightmare boogie

Pearl Traylor, vcl; Vernon Biddle, pno; Howard Mc Ghee, tpt; Teddy Edwards, t-sax; James King, a-sax; Robert Kesterson, bs; Roy Porter, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. septembre 1945

16. Playboy blues

17. Around the clock I & II

18. Gee I'm lonesome

Pearl Traylor, vcl; Hadda Brooks, pno; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1946

19. Jive I like

Pearl Traylor, vcl; Teddy Buckner, tpt; Freddie Simon, t-sax; Maurice Simon, b-sax; Willard Mc Daniel, pno; Chuck Norris, g; Warren Owens, bs; Walter Murden, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 26 juin 1951

20. Come on daddy let's play tonight

21. Three ball Sam (The pawnshop man)

DAISY MAE DIGGS, vcl/dms; Al Russell, pno; Joe Sewell, t-sax; Billy Butler, g; Arthur Russell, g; Doc Starkes, bs. Philadelphie, Penn. 31 mars 1955

22. Want me a man

23. Woman trouble (vcls: Al Russell)

24. Lonesome playgirl

25. Stuff you got to watch

Daisy Mae Diggs, vcl/dms; Billy Butler, g; Arthur Russell, g; Jimmy Butts, bs; Gene Johnson, pno; band. Philadelphie, Penn. 1956

26. Hop scotch

27. Frosty's groove

28. Fanny Duncan

29. Corn pone

SIDNEY MAIDEN/ Complete Recordings

SIDNEY MAIDENComplete Recordings (Re-up) 

              

Même si les quelques disques publiés par l'harmoniciste et chanteur Sidney Maiden lui valent une certaine réputation auprès des amateurs, sa vie demeure obscure. Même ceux qui l'ont enregistré ne se rappellent que peu de lui ou ne l'ont pas interviewé.

               Sidney naît en 1923 à Monroe en Louisiane, son père décède ou disparaît quand il a un an. Elevé par sa mère, il travaille très jeune dans une plantation tout en apprenant l'harmonica en écoutant des musiciens locaux mais surtout les disques de John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, une influence qui sera dominante dans sa musique.

               Incorporé en 1942, Sidney sert sur le front Pacifique puis est basé dans le comté de Contra Costa en Californie d'où il est libéré de ses obligations militaires. Il décide de rester en Californie, travaille dans les chantiers navals et s'associe avec K.C. Douglas pour jouer dans les bars fréquentés par les récents migrants noirs venus du Sud Ouest. En 1948, Maiden enregistre avec K. C. Douglas son "hit" Mercury boogie et chante sur la face B l'évocateur Eclipse of the sun, devenu un petit classique du down home blues californien.

               Il forme un petit orchestre, les Blues Blowers, et pendant quelques années joue les week ends un peu partout dans la baie d'Oakland. En 1952, Sidney enregistre à San Francisco une séance pour Imperial dont seulement deux titres (Thinking the blues et Honey bee blues) ont paru sur un 78t.

               On retrouve Maiden dans les studios de Los Angeles trois ans plus tard, gravant un titre d'un 45t qu'il partage avec le guitariste Cool Papa Sadler: Hurry hurry baby.

               A ce moment là et les années suivantes, Sidney vit autour de Fresno, travaillant dans la riche arboriculture de cette région. Il fait partie d'un petit groupe de bluesmen de cette ville comme Al Simmons et Guitar Slim Green qui jouent sous le nom des Boys of Fresno que l'infatigable Johnny Otis enregistre. Une fois de plus Sidney ne grave qu'un titre, Hand me down baby.

               C'est son vieux compère K.C. Douglas, devenu une figure incontournable du blues revival de Californie, qui l'emmène dans les studios pour plusieurs séances pour Chris Strachwitz et Kenneth Goldstein. Maiden accompagne K.C. et le superbe pianiste texan Mercy Dee Walton et enregistre aussi en 1961 un album complet qui paraît sur le label Bluesville et dans lequel l'influence de John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson apparaît considérable.

               Ce disque se vend de façon confidentielle et Sidney disparaît définitivement. Selon Richard Riggins (Harmonica Slim), qui vivait à Fresno, Sidney serait retourné en Louisiane peu de temps après ces séances afin de s'occuper de sa mère. Il serait décédé autour de sa ville natale de Monroe en 1970.

               Ce mp3 rassemble l'intégrale des enregistrements effectués par Sidney Maiden en vedette

               Merci à Kempen, Pierre Monnery et Gerrit Robs pour leur aide dans cette recherche.

                                                                                         Gérard HERZHAFT

               Although the handful of records he made has earned him some reputation among the blues buffs, Sidney Maiden's life and whereabouts are quite obscure and he has unfortunately never been interviewed.

               Born on a plantation near Monroe (La) in 1923, Sidney loses his father at a very early age and has to work in the fields with his mother. He learns the harmonica with local musician and utmost in listening to the records of John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson.

               In 1942, Sidney is drafted and sent on the Pacific front. Discharged in 1945 on a base in the Contra Costa County, Maiden decides to stay in California, works in several plants. He met there K.C. Douglas (see the item on him on this blog), plays with him around the Bay. In 1948 they record a successful 78 for producer Bob Geddins. Sidney blows his harmonica behind K.C. on the famous Mercury boogie and sings as well on the flip, the classic Eclipse of the sun.

               Sidney leads a small band, The Blues Blowers, that play a little bit everywhere and he records for the Imperial label in 1952 a lengthy session. But only two titles are issued (Thinking the blues and Honey bee blues)

               He must waits 1955 to record again (still a sole title, Hurry hurry baby) with the Los Angeles guitarist Cool Papa Sadler.

               At that time and the subsequent years, Sidney resides in the Fresno area, making a living out of the fruit tree industrie. He is part of the small group of downhome bluesmen who live in Fresno (Al Simmons, Guitar Slim Green) called just The Boys of Fresno. They record for Johnny Otis and, once again, Maiden sings only on one title (Hand me down baby).

               His old friend K.C. Douglas who has, meanwhile, become some kind of a folk icon among the Californian blues revival circles brings Sidney again in the studios for several sessions for Chris Strachwitz and Kenneth Goldstein. Maiden blows behind K.C. and the wonderful Texas piano player Mercy Dee Walton. And in 1961 he also manages, at last, to record a good LP under his own name in which he displays a very strong influence of John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson.

               After that, Sidney Maiden disappears completely. Accordingly to Richard Riggins (Harmonica Slim) who also lived in Fresno, Sidney, shortly after his album, went back to Louisiana to take care of his ageing mother and he would have died around Monroe (La) in 1970.

               This mp3 comp gathers all the recordings made by Sidney as a leader.

               Thanks to Kempen? Gerrit Robs and Pierre Monnery for their help and contributions to this article.

                                                                                         Gérard HERZHAFT

SIDNEY MAIDEN/ The Complete Recordings

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; K.C. Douglas, g. Oakland, Ca. 1948

01. Eclipse of the sun

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; band. San Francisco, Ca. 15 avril 1952

02. Working woman

03. Up the river blues

04. Broke and busted

05. Harpin' the boogie

06. Honey bee

07. Honey bee blues

08. Thinking the blues

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; Cool Papa Sadler, g; g; Bee Brown, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 28 juin 1955

09. Hurry hurry baby

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; Guitar Slim Green, g; H. Robinson, pno; Al Simmons, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 1957

10. Hand me down baby

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; Mercy Dee Walton, pno; K.C. Douglas, g; Otis Cherry, dms. Stockton, Ca. 5 février 1961

11. Chicago blues

12. Mercy's party

Sidney Maiden, hca; Mercy Dee Walton, pno; Otis Cherry, dms. Berkeley, Ca. 16 avril 1961

13. Sidney's shuffle

Sidney Maiden, vcl/hca; K.C. Douglas, g. Berkeley, Ca. 16 avril 1961

14. Buy me an airplane

15. Sweet little woman

16. My black name

17. Sidney's fox chase

18. San Quentin blues

19. Tell me somebody

20. Blues and trouble

21. Hand me down baby

22. Sidney's worried life blues

23. Me and my chauffeur

24. Coal black mare

25. I'm going back home