Label: Jazz Archives.
Release Date: 1980.
Release Info: Vinyl, LP, Compilation (JA-46).
Recording Date: November 17, 1939 - September 23, 1940.
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Country Blues, East Coast Blues, New Orleans Blues, Piano Blues, Regional Blues, Vaudeville Blues.
The now-defunct Jazz Archives label came out with two LPs in 1980 that featured trumpeter Red Allen as a sideman in the late '30s, accompanying blues and vaudevillian singers. The first set has four numbers apiece with Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon and Blue Lu Barker, six on which Allen backs Lee Brown and two with Johnny Temple. Clarinetists Buster Bailey, Rupert Cole and Fess Williams also help out in spots. Unfortunately the same extensive liner notes are used on both LPs so the one on the first volume refers to Rosetta Howard and Helen Proctor, neither of whom appear. Collectors of 1930s blues and novelty singers in particular will enjoy this hard-to-find LP. ~ Scott Yanow
Credits: Henry "Red" Allen - Primary Artist, Trumpet; Lil Armstrong - Composer, Performer, Piano; Buster Bailey - Clarinet; Blue Lu Barker - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Danny Barker - Guitar; Janet Blair - Layout [Typesetting And Liner Layout]; Perry Bradford - Composer; Wellman Braud - Bass; Lee Brown - Composer, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Bo Chatman - Composer; Rupert Cole - Clarinet; Harry Dial - Composer; Marvin Goldsmith - Executive-Producer; Gus Horsley - Composer; Floyd Hunt - Composer; Mike Jackson - Composer; Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon - Composer, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Louise Manning - Coordinator; Clement Meadmore - Layout [Cover Layout]; Sam Price - Piano; Andy Razaf - Composer; Jack Sohmer - Liner Notes; Johnny Temple - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Unknown Artist - Bass; Unknown Artist - Drums; Jerry Valburn - Executive-Producer, Supervised By [Technical Supervision], Mastering; Clarence Williams - Composer; Fess Williams - Clarinet; J. Mayo Williams - Composer; Walter Martin - Washboard.
Tracklist:
A1. You Know Jim Don't Shake - Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon
A2. Wasn't It Nice? - Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon
A3. When They Play The Blues - Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon
A4. Something Is Goin' On Wrong - Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon
A5. Never Brag About Your Man - Blue Lu Barker
A6. You Been Holding Out Too Long - Blue Lu Barker
A7. Handy Andy - Blue Lu Barker
A8. Jitterbug Blues - Blue Lu Barker
B1. Mississippi Water Blues - Lee Brown
B2. Little Leg Woman - Lee Brown
B3. Perlina Blues - Lee Brown
B4. Midnight Dream - Lee Brown
B5. Ripley Rumbling Blues - Lee Brown
B6. Rolling Stone - Lee Brown
B7. Baby, Don't You Love Me No More? - Johnny Temple
B8. Corrine Corrina - Johnny Temple
The discography has "Lee Brown or Lil Armstrong" on piano for B1, B2.