Label: Document Records.
Release Date: January 1, 1991.
Recording Time: 71 minutes.
Recording Date: January 23, 1930 - February 11, 1931.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5068) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Piedmont Blues, Pre-War Country Blues, Regional Blues, Pre-War Blues.
The music on this CD, the sixth of seven Document discs that trace Lonnie Johnson's recording career during the 1925-1932 period, alternates between blues and hokum. Johnson performs good-time vocal duets with Spencer Williams (such as "Keep It to Yourself" and "The Bull Frog and the Toad") and Clara Smith (an excellent four-song session from 1930 including "What Makes You Act Like That" and "Don't Wear It Out"), plus a variety of solo numbers. Other highlights include the two-part "I Got the Best Jelly Roll in Town," "I Have to Do My Time," and "Let All Married Women Alone." ~ Scott Yanow
Abridged from this album's original booklet notes.
After the desperation of "Headed For Southland" (see DOCD-5067), the two part I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town formed a light-hearted interlude in Lonnie Johnson's 23rd January 1930 session. Featuring some impressive guitar, even by Johnson’s high standards, it’s the first tryout of a song which, as Jelly Roll Baker, he was to record again more than once. The singing on this version is remarkable, given the very slow tempo. For the last two titles of the session, Lonnie switched to piano, which he hadn’t played on disc since 1926; by 1930, he had worked out a favourite accompaniment, featuring a staccato, four-to-the-bar chordal bass part, over which are laid darting right hand figures that are clearly inspired by his guitar playing.
As 1930 continued, and the Depression worsened, Lonnie Johnson was still in demand at Okeh; he and Spencer Williams made their last hokum duets in February and May, with James P. Johnson again superb on piano, and Lonnie seeming to respond to his challenge. Hokum apart, Lonnie was still cutting solo blues; I Can't Stand These Blues, he proclaimed, summing up the approach to lyrics that he explained to Val Wilmer in 1963: “The heartaches and the things that have happened to me in my life - that’s what makes a good blues singer.” Deep Sea Blues is a disguised version of "Empty Bed Blues", perhaps acquired when touring with Bessie Smith in 1929. On Long Black Train and I Have To Do My Time, the accompanist is listed as “unknown” by "Blues & Gospel Records", but there seems no reason to doubt that it’s Johnson on both piano and guitar. No More Troubles Now surely represents an attempt to sustain interest in his emotional odyssey as heard on disc, by setting up a contrast with the gloomy songs for which he was known.
In October, Johnson was paired with Clara Smith, Columbia’s "Queen of the Moaners", for four duets on which they sparred with evident enthusiasm, their rich voices admirably suited to one another. The oddly titled Got The Blues For Murder Only can’t have done much for his sales in Mexico, with its scurrilous, if undeniably witty, view of life there. Southland is All Right With Me startles the present day listener with its defence of a region whose racist system many blacks had left with relief. ~ Chris Smith, 1991 Document Records
Credits: Alex Hill - piano; James P. Johnson - guest artist, piano; Lonnie Johnson - composer, guitar, piano, primary artist, vocals; Tommy Jordan - vocals; Hans Klement - remastering; Johnny Parth - compilation producer, producer; Chris Smith - liner notes; Clara Smith - guest artist, primary artist, vocals; Clarence Williams - piano, sound effects, washboard; Spencer Williams - percussion, primary artist, vocals.
Tracklist:
1. I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town, Part 1 - Lonnie Johnson;
2. I Got The Best Jelly Roll In Town, Part 2 - Lonnie Johnson;
3. She Don't Know Who She Wants - Lonnie Johnson;
4. Don't Drive Me From Your Door - Lonnie Johnson;
5. The Dirty Dozen - Lonnie Johnson And Spencer Williams;
6. Keep It To Yourself - Lonnie Johnson And Spencer Williams;
7. I Just Can't Stand These Blues - Lonnie Johnson;
8. Deep Sea Blues - Lonnie Johnson;
9. The Bull Frog And The Toad - Lonnie Johnson And Spencer Williams;
10. The Monkey And The Baboon - Part 2 - Lonnie Johnson And Spencer Williams;
11. Long Black Train - Lonnie Johnson;
12. I Have To Do My Time - Lonnie Johnson;
13. No More Troubles Now - Lonnie Johnson;
14. Sam, You Can't Do That To Me - Lonnie Johnson;
15. You're Getting Old On Your Job - Clara Smith And Tommy Jordan (Lonnie Johnson);
16. What Makes You Act Like That? - Clara Smith And Tommy Jordan (Lonnie Johnson);
17. You had Too Much - Clara Smith And Tommy Jordan (Lonnie Johnson);
18. Don't Wear It Out - Clara Smith And Tommy Jordan (Lonnie Johnson);
19. Got The Blues For Murder Only - Lonnie Johnson;
20. Let All Married Women Alone - Lonnie Johnson;
21. Southland Is All Right With Me - Lonnie Johnson;
22. Blues Is Only A Ghost - Lonnie Johnson.
Notes:
All titltes recorded in New York City.
Tracks 1 to 4: 23 January 1930;
Tracks 5 to 6: 7 February 1930;
Track 7: 23 April 1930;
Track 8: 26 April 1930;
Tracks 9, 10: 5 June 1930;
Tracks 11, 12: 5 August 1930;
Tracks 13, 14: 11 September 1930;
Tracks 15 to 18: 31 October 1930;
Tracks 19, 20: 22 November 1930;
Tracks 21, 22: 11 February 1931.