Label: Story of Blues.
Release Date: January, 1992.
Recording Time: 56 minutes.
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Recording Date: May 13, 1930 - September 29, 1939.
Styles: Piano Blues, Avant-Garde Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Hard Bop, Post-Bop, Soul Jazz.
Much of this music, which was leased in the early '90s by Da Music from the Document label, has since been reissued by Document in more comprehensive sets. However, these performances, which emphasize blues pianists (even if most of the leaders are actually singers) are mostly well worth hearing in any format. Included on this CD are the complete (and rather slim) output of Judson Brown, Pigmeat Terry, Harry "Freddie" Shayne, Jesse James, Frank Busby, and James Carter; all of them only led one two-song session apiece, aside from James (who recorded four songs) and Brown (who only made a single side). In addition, there are four numbers by singer Bob Robinson's Bob-Cats and one number by Albert Clemens, who is probably Cripple Clarence Lofton. There are quite a few interesting and rare performances on this CD, which is becoming pretty scarce itself. - Review by Scott Yanow.
Credits: Big Bill Broonzy - guitar; Judson Brown - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; James Carter - accordion, performer, primary artist, vocals; Albert Clemens - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Bill Gaither - guitar; Honey Hill - piano; Jesse James - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Mr. Sheiks - trumpet; Sam (Sammy) Price - piano; Bob Robinson - performer, primary artist, trumpet, vocals; Freddie Shayne - composer, piano, vocals; Pigmeat Terry - vocals.
Tracks: 1) You Don't Know My Mind Blues - Judson Brown; 2) Moaning The Blues - Pigmeat Terry; 3) Black Sheep Blues - Pigmeat Terry; 4) Original Mr. Freddie Blues - Harry 'Freddie' Shayne; 5) Lonesome Man Blues - Harry 'Freddie' Shayne; 6) Down In The Alley - Bob Robinson; 7) Makin' A Fool Out Of Me - Bob Robinson; 8) Can Use It Myself - Bob Robinson; 9) She's A Mellow Thing - Bob Robinson; 10) Policy Blues - Albert Clemens; 11) Sweet Patuni - Jesse James; 12) Southern Casey Jones - Jesse James; 13) Lonesome Day Blues - Jesse James; 14) Highway 61 - Jesse James; 15) 'Leven Light City - Frank Busby; 16) Prisoner Bound - Frank Busby; 17) Death Letter Blues - James Carter; 18) Death Cell Blues - James Carter.