BLUES GUITAR MASTERS/ Vol. 1: WILD JIMMY SPRUILL

BLUES GUITAR MASTERS Vol. 1 WILD JIMMY SPRUILL

               Wild Jimmy Spruill (1934-1996) est né à Fayetteville en Caroline du Nord dans une famille de métayers. Il a appris très jeune la guitare en écoutant les programmes de Country Music à la radio. Quant il arrive à New York en 1955, Spruill est déjà un guitariste assez aguerri pour émarger à quantité de séances d'enregistrement en studio autant en rock, blues, pop, R&B, en particulier pour les frères Bobby et Danny Robinson qui utilisent abondamment sa guitare précise, cinglante, efficace et très virtuose. Le jeu de Spruill apporte énormément à tous les morceaux auxquels il collabore et il participe à de nombreux grands succès aux Hit Parades pour Dave Cortez, Wilbert Harrison, Bobby Lewis, The Shirelles, Buster Brown, Noble Watts, June Bateman, etc.... Il enregistre aussi quelques 45t sous son nom qui ont acquis un statut légendaire auprès des amateurs de blues. En fait, son jeu peut être davantage comparé avec les grands guitaristes de Country des années 50 et 60 comme Hank Garland, Jimmy Bryant ou Joe Maphis qu'aux solistes du blues. Redécouvert brièvement dans les années 1980, Jimmy Spruill est décédé d'une crise cardiaque dans sa chambre d'hôtel alors qu'il était en tournée dans le Sud.

            Nous avons réuni tous les titres enregistrés sous son nom par Jimmy Spruill.

            Nous avons joint à ces titres de Wild Jimmy Spruill quelques autres titres d'autres musiciens tels que Charlie Lucas (Lucas était le bassiste de Spruill) Combo, The Commandos, Horace Cooper et les Storey Sisters dans lesquels la présence de Wild Jimmy est particulièrement

proéminente. Bien sûr, Jimmy a participé à d'innombrables séances d'enregistrement à New York et il contribue généralement à la réussite de tout ce à quoi il émarge!

            Merci à ceux qui nous ont aidé pour ce recueil: Pierre Monnery, Benoît Blue Boy, Blues 4 Sale, Mr Mightygroove.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

          

  Wild Jimmy Spruill (1934-1996) was born in Fayetteville (North Carolina) among a sharecropping family, learning the guitar while listening to Country Music radio programmes, a strong and lasting influence. When arriving in New York in 1955, Spruill is already a masterful guitarist and quickly finds the path of the local studios, particularly those of Bobby and Danny Robinson for whom he recorded a lot of sessions. His clean, sharp, precise, virtuoso and expressive guitar is on the forefront of many records and Hits by Dave Cortez, Wilbert Harrison, Bobby Lewis, The Shirelles, Noble Watts & June Bateman ... He also records some 45s under his name that are highly rated by blues fans all over the world. Anyway, Spruill is certainly not confined to the blues genre and those loving his style should certainly lend an ear to those great Country guitarists of the era like Hank Garland, Joe Maphis or Jimmy Bryant who are in similar style than Spruill. We have gathered here all of his recorded output. Plus some tracks where he is prominently featured by Charlie Lucas (who was Jimmy's bass player), The Commandos, Horace Cooper and The Storey Sisters.

            Rediscovered briefly by some British collectors in the 1980's, Spruill died from a heart attack in his Motel room while he was on tour in the Southern States.

            Thanks a lot to all those who helped to make this comp: Pierre Monnery, Benoit Blue Boy, Blues 4 Sale and Mr Mightygroove.

                                                           Gérard HERZHAFT

Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; band. New York City, 1958

01. Honky Tonk hucklebuck

02. Jumping in

03. Scratch'n'twist

04. Slow draggin'

The Commandos: King Curtis, t-sax; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; pno; bs; dms. New York City, décembre 1958

05. Chicken scratch

06. June's blues

Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; band. New York City, 1959

07. Kansas City march

08. Hard grind

Horace Cooper, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; King Curtis, t-sax; Dan Walters, t-sax; Jimmy Lewis, bs; John Robertson, dms. New York City, 1960

09. The Squeeze I & II

Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Dave Cortez, og/pno; band. New York City, 1960

10. Lonely island

11. Chico Cha Cha

Charlie Lucas Combo: Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Horace Cooper, pno; Ben Walters, t-sax; Charlie Jackson, t-sax; Charlie Lucas, bs; John Robertson, dms. New York City, 1963

12. Jump for joy

13. Walkin'

Wild Jimmy Spruill, vcl/g; Bam Walters, t-sax; Horace Cooper, pno; John Robertson, dms; vcls. New York City, 1964

14. Country boy

15. Scratchin'

Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Irving Johnson, vcl; band. New York City, 1964

16. The rooster

17. Cut and dried

18. Lonesome melody

19. Raisin' hell

Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; band. New York City, c. 1969

20. Party Hardy

Ann & Lillian Storey (as Storey Sisters aka The Twinkles), vcls; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Al Brown Orchestra, band. New York City, 1957

21. Bad motorcycle

22. Sweet Daddy

23. Twinkle twinkle little star

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol.1 - 10

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 1 - 10

En commençant cette série "Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday", je ne croyais certainement pas continuer jusqu'au n° 18 (et certainement au-delà)! Le matériel enregistré concernant ce Chicago Blues et très souvent jamais réédité est absolument considérable....Et témoigne de la grandeur de ce genre!
Voici pour ceux qui les ont râtés un petit rappel des dix premiers volumes de cette série originale. Et merci encore à tous ceux qui m'ont aidé à confectionner cette série.

When I started these "Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday" series, I certainly didn't expect to stretch it till the volume 18 (and I hope to be able to go beyond!). The music recorded during those post war decades in Chicago is absolutely considerable by its quantities and also its quality, a true testimony of the greatness of the genre.
For those who neglected or missed the first ten volumes of this very original series here are the links. And a lot of thanks to all those who have helped me to build it!


                                                    Gérard HERZHAFT

CHBlYy1:

http://www18.zippyshare.com/v/64735410/file.html

CHBlYy2

http://www.mediafire.com/download/spsn14p444cdp5k/MP3CHBlYy2.zip

CHBlYy3:

https://mega.nz/#!Ztw3FQJI!IuaLXoINwfIb731AJ3CIY3t_kUQLq3M21CcHSgdx3ow

CHBlYy4:

http://www6.zippyshare.com/v/54253843/file.html

CHBlYy5:

http://www41.zippyshare.com/v/77278972/file.html

CHBlYy6:

http://www73.zippyshare.com/v/25572864/file.html

CHBlYy7:

http://www42.zippyshare.com/v/32940756/file.html

CHBlYy8:

http://www75.zippyshare.com/v/88596641/file.html

CHBlYy9:

http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/60293462/file.html

CHBlYy10:

http://www47.zippyshare.com/v/92043345/file.html

Et les textes et discos sont/ And the texts and discographies are:

CHICAGO/ The blues Yesterday 1-10

 

INDIANAPOLIS COUNTRY BLUES/ New Links

INDIANAPOLIS COUNTRY BLUES/ New Links

Pour répondre aux demandes...Nouveaux liens/
By public demand New links for:

Indianapolis Country blues Vol. 1

 

Indianapolis Country blues Vol. 2

 

 

NEW LINKS/ NEW YORK CITY BLUES Series

NEW LINKS/ NEW YORK CITY BLUES SERIES

Nouveaux liens pour la série "New York City blues"/
New links for the New York City blues series

New York City blues Vol. 1 (Betty james- B. Brown - A. Scales)
New York City blues Vol. 2 (Cousin Leroy - Square Walton - LeGrand Mellon)
New York City blues Vol. 3 (Guitar Crusher - June Bateman - Bee Bee Queen)
New York City blues Vol. 5 (Little Luther - Bob Kornegay - B.B. King Jr)

et n'oubliez pas/ And don't forget
June Bateman (cf l'article dans ce blog/ see the post in this blog)

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 18

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 18

            Let's go for another trip to Chicago blues (yesterday of course) with, this time, three mostly obscure artist.

            Willie Weems was the lead guitar player of the Soul act, The Dontells/ The Turks (with singers Nate Pendelton and Leroy Dandridge) who recorded in Chicago for Daran and Vee Jay. But Willie recorded only one 45 under his name, the mostly instrumental Greens (Onions!)/ Stuff time. We have here also included another single waxed the same year under the "Singing Sam" tag with female singer Kitty Grove. Apparently, Willie died in Saginaw (Michigan) some years ago.

           

Singer Edna Mc Raney (from Covington, Ms) was a member of the Jackie Brenston and Eddie Johnson's bands, recording with each. She was featured in several Chicago clubs during the early 1950's. Outside this, the facts about her are sparse and her whereabouts and life are mostly unknown. Here are all the known tracks she recorded with, unfortunately, only a fragment of Yes, I know. (Thanks for anyone having the complete title and willing to share)

            Bandleader and tenor sax player Gay Crosse is mostly known for having hosted a young John Coltrane in his band during some months in 1951-52. Born in Mobile, Al. 15th August 1916, Celestra S. Crosse moved to Cleveland during the early 1930's, learned the saxophone, was strongly influenced by Louis Jordan and formed a band which played in many clubs and venues in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago where Gay Crosse and His Good Humor Six recorded several sessions for King, Mercury (much sought after titles) and RCA-Victor. He then tried his luck (this time with Coltrane in his band) in Philadelphia (waxing one session for Gotham) and then Nashville, recording his last most well known session for the Republic label. But the success eluded him and he disbanded his Good Humor Six around 1955, opening the Gay's Drive in Bar B Q restaurant in Cleveland where Gay was also the cook! But the musical bug was strong enough and Gay Crosse resumed his band during the 1960's playing regularly in the Cleveland clubs and venues until his death on 9 March 1971.

           

Muddy Waters entering on stage. Lyon, Fr. 16 july 1979

Last but not least, and as a special bonus for you, we have a part of the Muddy Waters' concert hold in the Roman Theatre in Lyon (France) before an audience of 4000+ in July 1979. I was strongly involved in this special event, helping the Scorpio Agency (until then dedicated to Rock groups) to gather a line-up of the best bluesmen available (we had then the opportunity to feature Sugar Blue, Luther Allison, Taj Mahal, B.B. King and of course Muddy on a show which started at 7. PM until 3 o'clock in the morning) and I was backstage most of the time, chatting with all those great people until 6.00 the next morning. Muddy who had to go to London the next day, and liking so much to be in B.B.'s company, didn't bother to go to his hotel and quit the festival just to take his morning plane!

            Thanks a lot to J. Charles for providing those very rare (and very good) live tracks. Thanks also to Mr Mightygroove and his excellent blog http://soul-in-groove.eklablog.com/.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

CHICAGO/ THE BLUES YESTERDAY Vol. 18

WILLIE WEEMS, g; Leroy Dandridge, vcl on +/bs; Kitty Grove, vcl on *; Willie Weems, g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1967

01. Ooh baby!*

02. Move it baby†

Willie Weems, g; Nate Pendleton, og/vcls; Leroy Dandridge, bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 1967

03. Greens

04. Snuff time

EDNA Mc RANEY, vcl; Jackie Brenston, b-sax/vcl; horns; Phineas Newborn Jr, pno; Calvin Newborn, g; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 15 décembre 1951

05. Hi-Ho baby

06. 88 boogie

07. Lovin' time blues

Edna Mc Raney, vcl; Eddie Johnson, t-sax/vcls; Claude Jones, pno; Johnny Pate, bs; Oliver Coleman, dms. Chicago, Ill. avril 1952

08. Back up

Edna Mc Raney, vcl; Eddie Johnson, t-sax; band. Chicago, Ill. 1953

09. Yes I know (fragment)

10. Edna's boogie

GAY CROSSE, vcl/t-sax; Eddie Harris, tpt; Charlie Ross, pno; Edward Lee, g; John Latham, bs; Walter Carson, dms/vcls. Cincinnati, Oh. 28 juin 1946

11. Gay's blues

12. My heart (vcl: Walter Carson)

Gay Crosse, vcl/t-sax; Eddie Harris, tpt; Jewell Grant, a-sax; Charlie Ross, pno; Bill Lewis, g; John Latham, bs; Walter Carson, dms. Chicago, Ill. 16 août 1949

13. Saturday night fish fry

14. Pelican's hop

Gay Crosse, vcl/t-sax; John Coltrane, a-sax; Charles Wright, dms; band. Philadelphia, Penn. 1950

15. Fat Sam from Birmingham

16. Bittersweet

Gay Crosse, vcl/t-sax; Stanley Turrentine, tpt; John Coltrane, a-sax; Stan Laughlin, pno; Alvin Jackson, bs; Oliver Jackson, dms. Nashville, Tn. 1952

17. Easy rockin'

18. No better for you

19. Tired of being shoved around

20. G.C. Rock

MUDDY WATERS, vcl/g; Pinetop Perkins, pno; Luther Johnson Jr, g; Bob Margolin, g; Jerry Portnoy, hca; Charles Calmese, bs; Willie Smith, dms. Lyon, Fr. 15 juillet 1979

21. Champagne and reefer

22. Honey bee

23. Hoochie coochie man

24. Kansas City (vcl: Pinetop Perkins)

HOMESICK JAMES/ Early Recordings and Life

HOMESICK JAMES/ Complete Early Recordings 1952-64

Malgré une production discographique relativement abondante et plusieurs interviews qu'il a donnés, la vie réelle de Homesick James reste confuse. Il s'est longtemps fait appeler James Williamson et a prétendu être le cousin (voire le demi-frère) de John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson;. guitariste de Elmore James durant plusieurs années à la fin des 50's, il a changé de patronyme, son nom de famille devenant James, lui-même se proclamant le cousin germain d'Elmore et bien sûr son seul héritier musical légitime! En fait, Homesick James est né William Henderson, près de Somerville, une grosse bourgade du centre du Tennessee.

Sa date de naissance est aussi très sujette à caution. D'abord (et longtemps) située le 3 mai 1914, Homesick a ensuite presque constamment donné le 30 avril 1910 et même à plusieurs occasions le 30 avril 1904! Mais plusieurs témoignages de proches ou d'amis font penser qu'il était en fait bien plus jeune et qu'il serait né aux alentours de 1920-24. Ce qui cadrerait beaucoup mieux avec son apparence physique telle qu'on a pu la juger de visu depuis la fin des 60's. Ainsi qu'avec celle de ses parents qui sont apparus, en pleine forme et visiblement pas plus âgés que 70 ans, à ses côtés au Nashville Heritage Festival en 1976!

            En effet, William grandit dans une famille de musiciens: sa mère Cordellia Henderson Rivers est une guitariste et chanteuse de blues. Son père, Plez Rivers est membre du célèbre Broadnax Fife and Drum band qui animait les pique-niques, mariages, bals... jusqu'à Nashville durant les années 20 et 30. Enfin, son oncle, Tommy Johnson (aucun rapport avec le grand bluesman du Delta), était lui aussi un bluesman d'importance du Tennessee central amène son neveu à Memphis sans doute dans les années 30 et lui fait rencontrer Peetie Wheatstraw, alors résident d'un club de Beale Street, John Estes, Yank Rachell, John Lee Williamson, Big Walter Horton, John Henry Barbee et Little Buddy Doyle derrière lequel il aurait enregistré pour la première fois en 1939 pour Bluebird.

C'est probablement à ce moment-là (et non pas vers 1929 comme il l'a parfois affirmé) qu'il se fait appeler James Williamson et qu'il gagne Chicago en compagnie de John Henry Barbee. On le retrouve vite parmi les habitués de Maxwell Street et il est certainement membre des orchestres de Memphis Minnie puis (à la fin des années 40) de Johnnie Temple, rencontrant par la même occasion pour la première fois Elmore James. Il n'est guère certain d'ailleurs qu'il ait pratiqué la guitare slide avant cette rencontre.

Lorsqu'il a enfin l'occasion en juin 1952 d'enregistrer cinq titres en leader sous le nom de James Williamson pour le label Chance, il alterne les pièces avec et sans slide. Mais c'est une de ces dernières, Johnnie Mae qui lui vaut un petit succès à Chicago. Il récidive donc en janvier 1953, cette fois en compagnie de Johnny Shines et Lazy Bill Lucas, gravant enfin Homesick, interprété totalement à la Elmore, alors très populaire. C'est un vrai succès commercial (sans doute la meilleure vente pour le label Chance) et cela pousse William Henderson à s'appeler définitivement Homesick James et à capitaliser à la fois sur sa slide guitare et sa supposée parenté avec Elmore. Il retourne une nouvelle fois dans les studios pour Chance en août 1953, gravant une somptueuse séance accompagné de Snooky Pryor, magnifique à l'harmonica.

Il participe alors à plusieurs orchestres, particulièrement celui d'Elmore James derrière lequel il enregistrera à plusieurs reprises. Mais, à part une séance pour Atomic H en 1954 sous le nom ed Jick and His Trio (! et jamais éditée), Homesick ne retrouve les chemins des studios en leader qu'en 1962, un 45t pour Colt qui couple Can't afford to do it et Set a date, une fois encore deux très beaux titres. En 1963, il grave une grande version du classique Crossroads pour USA. Ces disques, largement confidentiels, ne lui rapportent rien, sauf une réputation auprès des bluesfans de plus en plus nombreux dans le monde qui s'intéressent à ce guitariste slide qui, à la mort d'Elmore en 1963, semble être son continuateur désigné.

C'est cette renommée, développée par la revue anglaise Blues Unlimited, qui pousse Sam Charters à le contacter et l'enregistrer pour ce public du blues revival: un bel album pour Prestige (Bluesfrom the Southside) en compagnie de Lafayette Leake et Lee Jackson et surtout quatre titres pour l'anthologie Chicago/ The blues today dont le succès international va lui permettre de tourner fréquemment en Europe. Parallèlement, Homesick grave encore quelques beaux titres pour Spivey (avec son vieil ami John Henry Barbee) et Decca (sous la houlette de Willie Dixon).

Si une grande partie de cette première oeuvre a été souvent rééditée, plusieurs séances rares, inédites ou/et introuvables apparaissent enfin ici dans leur chronologie. Merci à tous ceux qui ont permis ce travail, notamment Steve Wisner et Jim O. (pour la rareté absolue de la séance Atomic H de 1954) ainsi que Xyros dont le blog Don't ask me... est indispensable à tout amateur de blues.

                                                                      Gérard HERZHAFT

            Despite a large discography and many interviews, the truth about the early years of Homesick James' life are still a little bit hazy. He called himself James Williamson for a very long time, pretending to be a first cousin to John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, then one of the most famous bluesman. As a guitarist of Elmore James, he then said repetedly he was also his first cousin and, at Elmore's death, his sole legitimate musical heir!

            In fact, Homesick James was born William Henderson at Longtown (Tennessee). Generally his given birthdate (based on Homesick's statement) was 30 April 1910 although he frequently said "30 April 1904". In fact, several accounts from relatives and friends give a much later birthdate, around 1920-24. Which would fit much more with his physical appearance until 1976 when he played alongside with his parents (who neither seemed to be aged more than 70) at the Nashville Heritage Festival.

            His mother Cordellia Henderson Rivers was a very good blues and gospel singer and guitarist while his father Plez Rivers was a staunch member of the locally well known and in-demand Broadnax Fife and Drums Band. And his uncle, a Tommy Johnson (no relation with the Delta bluesman of the same name) was also a well known bluesman in this part of the Tennessee State. This Johnson brought the young William to Memphis during the late 1930's where he had the chance to meet and play with many recording bluesmen including Sleepy John Estes, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, John Henry Barbee and Little Buddy Doyle with whom he could have even recorded in 1939.

            It's only then that William Henderson named himself James Williamson. During the early 1940's he and John Henry Barbee went to Chicago where they were featured together on Maxwell Street's market. Wiliamson also played with Memphis Minnie (a strong and lasting influence, particularly on his vocal) and Johnnie Temple, probably meeting in Temple's band Elmore James who taught him how to play the slide.

            Anyway, James Williamson first recorded as a leader and under this name in 1952 and 1953 for the Chance label, three sessions with two local hits, Johnnie Mae and particularly the very Elmorish Homesick that prompted William Henderson-James Williamson to at last become Homesick James!

            After Chance collapsed, Homesick recorded again either as Elmore's sideman or several short sessions for small labels like Atomic H (under the odd moniker Jick and his trio, never issued), La Salle (a whole still unissued session), Colt or USA, particularly in 1963 a striking version of Crossroads. Those records bring Homesick a strong reputation to the fledgling european blues community, particularly through the pioneering British mag Blues Unlimited. All those led Sam Charters to go to Chicago and record a whole album by Homesick for Prestige and then a noted contribution to the best-selling series Chicago/ The Blues today. At the same time, James waxed also several lesser known sessions for Spivey and Willie Dixon.

            If a large part of Homesick's early discography has been reissued, several odd, unissued or unobtainable tracks appear here for the first time in their chronological place. Many thanks to all those whose help made this possible, particularly Steve Wisner, Jim O. and Xyros whose blog Don't ask me... is of course a must for any blues buff!

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

HOMESICK JAMES Discography