Label: Catfish Records.
Release Date: October 26, 1999.
Recording Time: 66 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: August 11, 1927 - September 30, 1934.
Styles: Acoustic Texas Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Texas Blues.
Whereas bluesman Alger "Texas" Alexander's recorded works have been reissued chronologically in three volumes by Document, Catfish's single-disc sampler 98 Degrees Blues is an excellent choice for those who seek a more modest overview of the man's accomplishments. Historically speaking, any of Texas Alexander's recordings are worth investigating, given his influence upon musicians with whom he worked like his cousin Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins, Lowell Fulson, and Howlin' Wolf. Catfish covers the primary timeline of Alexander's recording career (1927-1934) with 22 examples that sum up his approach to singing the blues. Most of his best accompanists are represented here. They include guitarists Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, Little Hat Jones, and Willie Reed; pianists Clarence Williams and Eddie Heywood, Sr.; cornetist Joe "King" Oliver (sounding terrific on "Tell Me Woman Blues") and members of the Mississippi Sheiks. Texas Alexander was not an admirable person. He was a troubled individual who served jail time for murdering his wife, and even anticipated the slaying on his "Polo Blues," which the folks at Catfish thoughtfully did not include in this album. While his problems and flaws make him less than endearing, the musical evidence is well-worth investigating, for he was an exceptionally fine and passionate vocalist. It is fitting that the title track references the average body temperature of a living, breathing human being, for Alexander operated with the audio equivalent of stage presence, and sang from the heart with disarming immediacy. Exposure to this collection could easily cause some listeners to actively pursue ownership of his complete recorded works as reissued by Document.
by arwulf arwulf
Credits: Texas Alexander - composer, primary artist, vocals; Bo Chatmon - violin; Sam Chatmon - guitar; Eddie Heywood - piano; Lonnie Johnson - guitar; Little Hat Jones - guitar; Eddie Lang - guitar; Ken Romanowski - liner notes; Traditional - composer; Clarence Williams - piano.
Tracks: 1) Boe Hog Blues; 2) Ninety-Eight Degrees Blues; 3) Deceitful Blues; 4) Work Ox Blues; 5) Awful Moaning Blues, Pt. 1; 6) Easy Rider Blues; 7) Seen Better Days; 8) Section Gang Blues; 9) St. Louis Fair Blues; 10) Mistreatin' Woman; 11) Penitentiary Moan Blues; 12) Mama I Heard You Brought It Right Back Home; 13) Lonesome Valley Blues; 14) No More Women Blues; 15) I Am Calling Blues; 16) Last Stage Blues; 17) Tell Me Woman Blues; 18) Yellow Girl Blues; 19) Frost Texas Tornado Blues; 20) Justice Blues; 21) One Morning Blues; 22) Long Lonesome Day Blues.