Release Date: May 20, 1997.
Recording Time: 70 minutes.
Recording Date: November 9, 1925 - March 16, 1929.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5330) Studio Recording.
Styles: Classic Female Blues.
There isn't a whole lot of Bertha "Chippie" Hill available in any audio format. In 1997 Document released 24 of her classic early recordings, and that CD still stands as the definitive monument to her artistry. Trained to perform in vaudeville while still a girl, then schooled in theatrical presentation by Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey, and King Oliver, she outgrew the vaudeville upbringing and perfected a straightforward blues delivery while making these records during the years 1925-1929. Her first sessions were shared with cornetist Louis Armstrong and pianist Richard M. Jones, composer of "Trouble in Mind" and more than a few of the other songs heard on this collection. Anyone seeking insights about blues, jazz, and human nature needs to savor Louis Armstrong's interactions with Bertha "Chippie" Hill. She is also backed by Richard M. Jones' Jazz Wizards (with clarinetist Artie Starks doing his best to complement her passionate delivery); guitarist Lonnie Johnson, who recorded during this period with artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Texas Alexander, and Eddie Lang; guitarist Scrapper Blackwell and pianist Leroy Carr; pianist and songwriter Georgia Tom (Thomas A. Dorsey); and guitarist Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker) and bassist Bill Johnson of New Orleans. The gravitational pull of the blues is nicely counterweighted by "Non-Skid Tread," an amusing study in hokum for kazoo and continuo. Bertha "Chippie" Hill had a nice comeback during the 1940s, during which she received international recognition. Even as her later recordings are powerful and well worth exploring, the recordings she made in the 1920s define her as an individual and, to some extent, the entire human race as a species. ~ arwulf arwulf
Abridged from this album's original booklet notes.
The majority of Bertha Chippie Hill's records were made for the General Phonograph Corporation and later for the Okeh Phonograph Corporation, and issued on their Okeh label. Consequently the company's A. and R. man in Chicago, Richard M. Jones influenced the choice of material Chippie Hill was to record, the majority of the songs being written by him. Fortunately he wrote some excellent blues and was a fine pianist too, being present on many of the tracks on this CD. Ten selections also feature the remarkable cornet playing of Louis Armstrong. Louis had taken a tough decision to break away from King Oliver's band in late 1924 and soon thereafter joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in New York. On his return to Chicago in early November 1925, the very first records he was to make were Low Land Blues and Kid Man Blues accompanying Chippie Hill. The first of his classic Hot Five records were made for Okeh just three days later. Within a few months Louis was back in the Okeh studios to accompany Chippie again. This session produced one of the most outstanding jazz inspired blues records of alt time Trouble In Mind. Louis' long introduction sets the theme for Chippie, who passionately belts out the words. Rudi Blesh, in his book "Shining Trumpets" was absolutely right in describing her singing on this record as fervent. Jones' own band accompanies Chippie on five titles. As was the case for any New Orleans musician, Jones surrounded himself with other men from the crescent city including Preston Jackson, Cliff "Snag" Jones and the outstanding Johnny St. Cyr. Shirley Clay had the unenviable task of filling in Louis' shoes in which he does a creditable job. The first two sides made for Vocalion in mid-October 1928. Some Cold Rainy Day and Weary Money Blues, find Chippie with Georgia Tom and Tampa. The two final sides bring Georgia Tom and Tampa Red back into the studio to accompany Chippie in her last recordings from the early stage of her career. Fortunately the veteran jazz pioneer Bill Johnson (he was 56 when this record was made) was present on string bass. His big, sonorous tone drives these two sides and is as good an example of superlative New Orleans bass playing that has ever been recorded. I Ain't Gonna Do lt No More is a lovely slow blues, beautifully sung by Chippie with Bill Johnson slapping the bass strings, moving back and forth between 2/4 and 4/4 time. Pratt City Blues is an absolute gem with the usual expected fine vocal from Chippie but it is Bill Johnson again who drives the band accompaniment. He slaps the bass in the introduction and then, in typical New Orleans bass style, switches to bowing a single chorus before returning to slapping the strings throughout the rest of the side. At one point a band member cries out, "pull it boy", referring to the time honoured New Orleans style of pulling the strings away from the bass and allowing them to snap back against the neck. ~ CoIin J. Bray, 1997 Document Records
Credits: Louis Armstrong - cornet, guest artist, performer, primary artist; Scrapper Blackwell - composer, guest artist, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Colin J. Bray - liner notes; Leroy Carr - piano; Shirley Clay - cornet, performer, primary artist; Harry Eller - composer; Cliff Friend - composer; Georgia Tom - piano, primary artist; Bertha "Chippie" Hill - composer, primary artist, vocals; Preston Jackson - trombone; Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon - speech/speaker/speaking part; Bill Johnson - sax (baritone); Clifford "Snags" Jones - drums; Richard M. Jones - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals, speech; Irving Mills - composer; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Ikey Robinson - banjo; Johnny St. Cyr - banjo; Artie Starks - clarinet, sax (alto); Tampa Red - guest artist, guitar; Allen Toussaint - composer; Two Boys - vocals; Unknown - composer; Unknown Artist - piano; Gerhard Wessely - remastering.
Tracklist:
01. Low Land Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
02. Kid Man Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
03. Lonesome, All Alone And Blue - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
04. Trouble In Mind (9510) - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
05. Georgia Man - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
06. Leavenworth Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
07. Panama Limited Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
08. Street Walker Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
09. Pleadin' For The Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
10. Pratt City Blues (9950) - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
11. Mess, Katie, Mess - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
12. Lovesick Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
13. Lonesome Weary Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
14. Do Dirty Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
15. Sport Model Mama - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
16. Some Cold Rainy Day - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
17. Weary Money Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
18. Hard Time Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
19. Christmas Man Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
20. Trouble In Mind (C-2509) - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
21. Hangman Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
22. Non-Skid Tread - Scrapper Blackwell And The Two Roys With Chippie Hill
23. I Ain't Gonna Do It No More - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
24. Pratt City Blues - Bertha "Chippie" Hill
Recording information (all titles recorded in Chicago):
Tracks 1, 2: 9 November 1925
Tracks 3 to 5: 23 February 1926
Track 6: 14 June 1926
Tracks 7, 8: 15 June 1926
Tracks 9 to 11: 23 November 1926
Tracks 12, 13: 26 November 1926
Tracks 14, 15: 14 May 1927
Tracks 16, 17: 13 October 1928
Tracks 18, 19: 16 October 1928
Tracks 20, 21: 1 November 1928
Tracks 22: c. 15 February 1929
Tracks 23, 24: c. 16 March 1929