Label: Fuel 2000 Records.
Release Date: September 12, 2006.
Recording Time: 50 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Styles: Chicago Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues, Regional Blues, Modern Electric Blues.
Early sides from underrated mouth harp man.
James Edward ‘Snooky’ Pryor makes much in the sleeve otes of this fine set of how his clean living – absolutely no dope whatsoever – is the reason for his longevity. Still alive and kicking at 85, Pryor has recorded more since his re-emergence with the excellent Snooky in 1987 than at any other time. This set, though, goes back to the beginning, opening with the boisterous Snooky & Moody’s Boogie and the splendid Telephone Blues, which were cut for the tiny Planet label in 1948. Featuring Floyd and Moody Jones (the former actually dubbed Pryor ‘Snooky’), Pryor demonstrates a harmonica prowess to match any of the great Chicago stylists of the post-war era (see Little Walter, for example). The remainder of the set gathers together the sides he recorded for the St Louis label, J.O.B. His first single, Boogy Fool (backed with Raisin’ Sand), featured ‘Baby Face’ Leroy Foster on guitar and Alfred Ekins on bass. It showed that Pryor could also swing with a relentless and propulsive urgency. While this collection acts as a rounded introduction, there are several tracks that have never been issued before. It also reveals a major talent who has never been given a decent crack of the whip.
Credits: Bill Dahl - compilation producer, liner notes, project coordinator; Len Fico - compilation producer, project coordinator; Jesse Fishman - digital transfers, mastering; Les Gruseck - photography; Stacie Heyen - artwork; Snooky Pryor - primary artist.
Tracks: 1) Snooky and Moody's Boogie; 2) Telephone Blues; 3) Boogy Fool; 4) Raisin' Sand; 5) Fine Boogie; 6) I'm Getting Tired; 7) Going Back on the Road; 8) Hold Me in Your Arms; 9) (Real) Fine Boogie; 10) Harp Instrumental; 11) Cryin' Shame; 12) Eighty Nine Ten; 13) Stop the Train Conductor; 14) Walking Boogie; 15) Uncle Sam Don't Take My Man; 16) Boogie Twist; 17) I Can't Feel Good No More; 18) Big Guns.
Tracks: 1) Snooky and Moody's Boogie; 2) Telephone Blues; 3) Boogy Fool; 4) Raisin' Sand; 5) Fine Boogie; 6) I'm Getting Tired; 7) Going Back on the Road; 8) Hold Me in Your Arms; 9) (Real) Fine Boogie; 10) Harp Instrumental; 11) Cryin' Shame; 12) Eighty Nine Ten; 13) Stop the Train Conductor; 14) Walking Boogie; 15) Uncle Sam Don't Take My Man; 16) Boogie Twist; 17) I Can't Feel Good No More; 18) Big Guns.