Blind Dog Radio

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1939-1941) by Sonny Boy Williamson

Label: Document Records.
Release Date: 1991.
Releases: August 15, 1992; September, 2000; April 5, 2005.
Recording Time: 72 minutes.
Recording Date: July 21, 1939 - April 4, 1941.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (07/21/1939-04/04/1941).

Styles: Acoustic Chicago Blues, Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Harmonica Blues.

The third volume in Document's impressive five-part series of Sonny Boy Williamson collections includes a raft of great sides recorded between July 1939 and April 1941. Beginning with Williamson's classic "T.B. Blues," Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1939-1941) cycles through two dozen great performances, including "Tell Me, Baby," "My Little Machine," and "Jivin' the Blues," with accompaniment from a trio of strong sidemen: Big Bill Broonzy, Walter Davis, and Blind John Davis. Casual listeners may not find this as immediately interesting as a career-spanning compilation like Sugar Mama, but there's plenty of interest for nearly any level of fan.
by Thom Owens

A comprehensive collection, recorded between 1939 and 1941, which shows the brilliant blues pioneer beginning to make the transition from rural to urban blues. (Note: this is the Sonny Boy Williamson who was murdered in 1948, not the one who toured England with the Yardbirds in 1963). Everything here is exceptional, including a somber reading of Victoria Spivey's "TV Blues. However, the most ear-opening stuff is from a 1940 session on which Williamson is backed by a drummer and the brilliant boogie-woogie pianist Joshua Altheimer; here, the beat is everything (see "Dealing With the Devil" or "War Time Blues") and Williamson is clearly laying the groundwork for both the Chicago blues and rock & roll. 

Liner Note Author: Keith Briggs. 

Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson I (vocals, harmonica); Big Bill Broonzy (guitar); Joshua Altheimer, Walter Davis, Blind John Davis (piano); Fred Williams (drums). 
Unknown Contributor Roles: William Mitchell; Willie Mitchell. 

Credits: Joshua Altheimer - piano; Keith Briggs - liner notes; Big Bill Broonzy - guitar; Blind John Davis - piano; Walter Davis - piano; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Walter Roland - composer; Traditional - composer; Fred Williams - drums; Sonny Boy Williamson II - composer; Sonny Boy Williamson I - composer, harmonica, primary artist, vocals.

Tracks: 1) T. B. blues; 2) Something going on wrong; 3) Good gal blues; 4) Joe Louis and John Henry blues; 5) Thinking my blues away; 6) I'm not pleasing you; 7) New jail house blues; 8) Life time blues; 9) Miss Ida Lee; 10) Tell me, baby; 11) Honey bee blues; 12) I been dealing with the devil; 13) War time blues; 14) Train fare blues; 15) Decoration day blues no. 2; 16) New early in the morning; 17) Welfare store blues; 18) My little machine; 19) Jivin' the blues; 20) Western Union man; 21) Big Apple blues; 22) Springtime blues; 23) My baby made a change; 24) Shotgun blues; 25) Coal and iceman blues.