Blind Dog Radio

House Rockin' & Hip Shakin', Vol. 3 - Killer Swamp Blues (Excello) by Various Artists

Label: Hip-O
Release Date: August 11, 1998
Recording Time: 55 minures
Recording Date: February 1, 1951 - 1973

Styles: Delta Blues, Regional Blues, Swamp Blues, Blues Revival, Chicago Blues, Club/Dance, Electric Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Harmonica Blues, Juke Joint Blues, Jungle/Drum'n'Bass, Louisiana Blues, Modern Electric Blues

This third volume of Excello Records treasures rounds up some obvious big names from the label's catalog of blues stars (Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, Arthur Gunter, etc.) along with marvelous one-shots like The Fat Man (reported to be Sunnyland Slim), Robert Garrett, Leroy Washington and the mysterious Blue Charlie. The song selection is superb, pairing up obscure tracks with big names (Lightnin' Slim's "The Strangest Feelin'" contains the strangest guitar sound) and definitive selections for the lesser lights aboard, Jimmy Reed soundalike Jimmy Anderson turning in a grade-A version of Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee" along the way. Three not-to-be-missed highlights are Guitar Gable's original version of the swamp-pop classic "This Could Go On Forever"; Clarence Samuels' "Chicken Hearted Baby," with barnyard guitar from Johnny Copeland (his very first session; and the correct 45 single version of Lazy Lester's "I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter," making its first appearance on compact disc after years of the alternate take being issued instead. Perhaps the strongest volume in the series to date.
by Cub Koda

Credits: Jimmy Anderson - harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Geese August - bass; Classie Ballou, Jr. - primary artist; Blue Charlie - primary artist; Skippy Brooks - piano; Austin Broussard - drums; Sammy Brown - drums; Sylvester Buckley - harmonica; Louis Campbell - guitar; Isaiah Chatman - guitar; Johnny Copeland - guitar; Jimmy Dawkins - Composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Shy Guy Douglas - performer, primary artist, vocals; Eugene Dozier - guitar; Clarence "Jockey" Etinne - drums; Fat Man - performer, primary artist; Al Foreman - guitar; guitar Gable - guitar, performer, primary artist; Robert Garrett - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Laura Graven - coordination; Cornelius Green - composer; Arthur Neal Gunter - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Jeff Hannusch - liner notes, producer; Slim Harpo - composer, harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Burnell Hayney - drums; Silas Hogan - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Robert Holmes - composer; T. House - composer; Joe Jammer - guitar; James Johnson - guitar; Joe Johnson - vocals; Joe Johnson - primary artist; Moody Jones - bass; King Karl - vocals; Lazy Lester - harmonica, performer, primary artist; Lightnin' Slim - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - guitar; Lonesome Sundown - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Bobby McBride - bass; Andy McKaie - producer; J. Miller - composer; J.D. Miller - composer; J. Moore - composer; James Moore - composer; Charles Morris - composer; Tom Moulton - digital remastering; Olympic Runners - composer; Fats Perrodin - bass; Bruce Resnikoff - executive producer; Rudolph Richard - guitar; Clarence Samuels - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Paul Santos - art direction; Harry Simoneaux - saxophone; Mitch Steele - coordination; Tony Stevens - bass; Sunnyland Slim - piano; Guitar Taylor - bass; Rufus Thibodeaux - bass; Lionel Torrence - Sax (tenor); Greg Vaughn - digital remastering; Mike Vernon - producer; Alfred Wallace - drums, vocals; Leroy Washington - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Katie Webster - piano; Jerry West - composer; A.G. White - guitar; James Williams - bass; Pete Wingfield - keyboards; Snooky Young - composer.

Tracks: 1) My Little Queen Bee (Got a Brand New King) - Slim Harpo; 2) Lost Without Love - Lonesome Sundown; 3) This Could Go on Forever - Guitar Gable; 4) She's My Kinda Girl - Shy Guy Douglas; 5) I'm a King Bee - Jimmy Anderson; 6) Chicken Hearted Baby - Clarence Samuels; 7) I'm a Lover Not a Fighter - Lazy Lester; 8) Quit My Drinkin' A/K/A When I Quit Drinkin' - Robert Garrett; 9) I'm Gonna Kill That Hen - Blue Charlie; 10) Dirty Woman Blues - Joe Johnson; 11) The Strangest Feelin' - Lightnin' Slim; 12) Crazy Me - Arthur Neal Gunter; 13) Confusion - Classie Ballou, Jr.; 14) 1011 Woodland - Jimmy Dawkins; 15) Airport Blues - Silas Hogan; 16) Glad I Don't Worry No More - Fat Man; 17) Give Me My Rights (When I'm Not Wrong) - Leroy Washington; 18) My Home Ain't Here - Lonesome Sundown; 19) My Starter Won't Work - Lightnin' Slim; 20) Tip on in, Pt. 1 - Slim Harpo.