Label: EPM / Blues Collection.
Release Date: March 20, 1995.
Recording Time: 69 minutes.
Recording Date: 1937 - 1941.
Release Info: Compilation (158312) Studio Recording.
Styles: Piano Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Country Blues.
Born in Texas, singing blues pianist Curtis Jones cut a lot of records in Chicago during the late 1930s, had a hit single on the Parrot label in 1953, and enjoyed a comeback during the '60s that led him to Europe where he lived out the rest of his days as a respected, internationally acclaimed artist. His complete early works (1937-1953) were reissued on four volumes by Document during the '90s; simultaneously, EPM Musique brought out a collection of 25 tracks drawn from his prewar period (1937-1941). What is sure to make EPM's disc much preferable for most 21st century listeners is the use of noise reduction technology to deliver crisper, clearer transfers. Additionally, the titles are well-selected, allowing for a stylistic range from the low-down slowly ambling approach (typified by his two most famous tunes "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and "Tin Pan Alley") to the bouncier, swing-paced jive of "Who You're Hunchin'," "Solid Jive," "It's a Solid Sender," and "Itty Bitty Jitter Bug." For sound quality, selection, and compact convenience, EPM's Lonesome Bedroom Blues 1937-1941 is virtually unmatched. For a more exhaustively complete history of this artist's early works, the four volumes on Document are quite thorough, and will eventually be reissued and remastered to improve the playback experience -- something to look forward to. ~ arwulf arwulf
Credits: Jean Buzelin - cover design; Jacques Demetre - photography; Jazz Gillum - harmonica; Willie B. James - guitar; Hobson Johnson - guitar; Curtis Jones - piano, vocals, composer, primary artist; Ransom Knowling - bass; Washboard Sam - washboard; Fred Williams - drums.
Tracks: 1. Lonesome Bedroom Blues; 2. Blues and Trouble; 3. Drinking and Thinking Blues; 4. Schoolmate Blues; 5. My Baby's Getting Buggish; 6. Highway 51 Blues; 7. It's Low Down Dirty Shame; 8. Who You're Hunchin'; 9. Black Gypsy Blues; 10. Night Life Blues; 11. Down In the Gutter; 12. Heavy Hip Mama; 13. Solid Jive; 14. Sugar Bowl Blues; 15. Down Town Blues; 16. Blues Memories; 17. It's a Solid Sender; 18. Low Down Worried Blues; 19. Worryin' My Heart for You; 20. Too Many Blues; 21. Itty Bitty Jitter Bug; 22. Don't Leave Me Baby; 23. Glamour and Glory Blues; 24. Her Love Will Get It; 25. Tin Pan Alley.
1-4 (rec. 1937), 5-10 (rec. 1938), 11-12 (rec. 1939), 13-16 (rec. 1940), 17-25 (rec. 1941).