Label: Wolf Records.
Release Date: 1989.
Releases: 1989, 1998.
Recording Time: 47 minutes.
Recording Date: May 4, 1937 - March 14, 1947.
Compilation Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Chicago Blues, Regional Blues.
Recording information: Aurora, IL (05/04/1937-03/14/1947); Chicago, IL (05/04/1937-03/14/1947).
This 16-track collection traces the recording career of Johnson working with various piano and guitar accompanists from the '30s to the '40s in a variety of settings. Johnson's had a straightforward manner of putting over a blues-tinged number, and her no frills approach is heard to good effect on numbers like "I Drink Good Whiskey," "Got a Man in the 'Bama Mines," and "He Roars Like a Lion." The various tracks have fine support from Blind John Davis, Joshua Altheimer, George Barnes, Big Bill Broonzy, Eddie Miller, Black Bob, Willie B. James, and others providing sparse but effective backing on all the numbers. Johnson is one of the true hidden treasures in female blues and this excellent collection shows exactly why.
by Cub Koda
Personnel: Merline Johnson (vocals); Willie B. James, Big Bill Broonzy (guitar); George Barnes (electric guitar); Eddie Miller , Aletha Robinson, Black Bob Hudson, Joshua Altheimer, Blind John Davis (piano); Ransom Knowling (bass); Fred Williams (drums).
Liner Note Author and Editor: Daniel Gugolz.
Credits: Joshua Altheimer - piano; George Barnes - guitar (electric); Big Bill Broonzy - guest artist, guitar; Blind John Davis - guest artist, piano; Grainger - composer; Daniel Gugolz - editing, liner notes; Black Bob Hudson - piano; Willie B. James - guitar; Merline Johnson - composer, primary artist, vocals; Eddie Miller - piano; Aletha Robinson - piano; Erik Trauner - cover design; Fred Williams - drums.
Tracks: 1) Love Shows Weakness; 2) New Muddy Water Blues; 3) He Roars Like a Lion; 4) I Drink Good Whiskey; 5) Working on the Project; 6) I'm Not Your Fool; 7) My Baby Left Me; 8) Got a Man in the 'Bama Mines; 9) I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water, No. 2; 10) Black Gypsy Blues; 11) You Know It Ain't Right; 12) Patrol Wagon Blues; 13) Blues Everywhere; 14) Some Day I'll Be Gone Away; 15) You Don't Know My Mind; 16) Bad Whiskey Blues.
Tracks: 1) Love Shows Weakness; 2) New Muddy Water Blues; 3) He Roars Like a Lion; 4) I Drink Good Whiskey; 5) Working on the Project; 6) I'm Not Your Fool; 7) My Baby Left Me; 8) Got a Man in the 'Bama Mines; 9) I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water, No. 2; 10) Black Gypsy Blues; 11) You Know It Ain't Right; 12) Patrol Wagon Blues; 13) Blues Everywhere; 14) Some Day I'll Be Gone Away; 15) You Don't Know My Mind; 16) Bad Whiskey Blues.