Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order (1934-1938) by Frank "Springback" James & George Curry
Release Date: February 15, 1994.
Recording Time: 63 minutes.
Recording Date: August 23, 1934 - November 2, 1938.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5289), Remastered.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Piano Blues.
During the 1990s a great wave of historic blues reissues produced by Document brought dozens of long-overlooked artists out of obscurity, making hundreds of rare recordings available for classic blues lovers to enjoy and learn from. Eighteen records originally released under the name Frank "Springback" James were compiled onto one CD in 1994, along with three sides by George Curry with James among the players accompanying him. James' first recordings, made for Gennett's Champion imprint in 1932, were never issued and appear to have vanished. This collection opens with four sides cut in Richmond, IN in August 1934. For these solo recordings, Frank James chose to sing rather plaintively about feeling lonesome, forsaken, and mistreated, as bluntly indicated in the song titles. "Snake Hip Blues" implies at least a temporary remedy for those emotions in the form of sexual energy. Six titles -- "Stingaree Mama Blues" through "Lonesome Love Blues" -- were recorded in Chicago in 1935 and sold to the public on Decca records with the artist identified for the first time as Frank "Springback" James. His slow- and medium-tempo blues are well-crafted and the boogie-woogie "Springback Papa" stands as the liveliest number of all. By this time, James' technique had improved and he was accompanied by guitarist Willie B. James. The duo waxed six more sides for Bluebird in December 1936. The last two sides issued under the name Frank "Springback" James were recorded for Vocalion in June 1937 with Fred Williams working the drums. Vocalion also hosted his final appearance in a recording studio. It was November 2, 1938, the singer was George Curry, and James was joined by guitarist Hobson "Hop" Johnson and an unknown string bassist. Curry was billed as "Leroy's Best Friend," an allusion to Leroy Carr, who died in April 1935 from an illness exacerbated by chronic alcoholism. During the '30s, record producers developed a habit of posting little claims right on the label purporting to link little-known artists with more famous names. Pianist Jimmie Gordon, for example, was billed by Decca as "Peetie Wheatstraw's Brother" simply because his "Bed Springs Blues" was issued on the flipside of a Wheatstraw title. In 1940, Little Bill Gaither recorded the tribute “Life of Leroy Carr” and was accurately advertised by Okeh records as "Leroy's Buddy." Whether George Curry actually knew Carr or not is impossible to verify, but Carr's influence on both James and Curry is clearly detectable. ~ arwulf arwulf
Credits: George Curry - Composer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Frank "Springback" James - Piano, Primary Artist; Willie B. James - Guitar; Hobson "Hop" Johnson - Guitar; Johnny Parth - Producer; Chris Frazer Smith - Liner Notes; Unknown Artist - Washtub Bass; Gerhard Wessely - Remastering; Fred Williams - Drums (probably).
Tracklist:
01. Frank's Lonesome Blues - Frank James
02. Forsaken Blues - Frank James
03. Mistreated Blues - Frank James
04. Snake Hip Blues - Frank James
05. Stingaree Mama Blues - Springback James
06. Springback Papa - Springback James
07. Rusty Can Blues - Springback James
08. Texas Heifer Blues - Springback James
09. Poor Coal Loader - Springback James
10. Lonesome Love Blues - Springback James
11. See For Yourself - Springback James
12. New Red Cross Blues - Springback James
13. I'm On My Way - Springback James
14. Unkindness Blues - Springback James
15. Will My Bad Luck Ever Change? - Springback James
16. Poor Coal Passer - Springback James
17. Hard Driving Mama - Springback James
18. Hellish Ways - Springback James
19. You're Forever On My Mind - George Curry ("Leroy's Best Friend")
20. Back In My Cell Again - George Curry ("Leroy's Best Friend")
21. My Last Five Dollars - George Curry ("Leroy's Best Friend")
Recording date, location, matrix, catalog number:
01. August 23, 1934, Richmond, Indiana, 19671-, Champion 50018
02. August 23, 1934, Richmond, Indiana, 19672-, Champion 50017
03. August 23, 1934, Richmond, Indiana, 19673-, Champion 50017
04. August 23, 1934, Richmond, Indiana, 19674-, Varsity 6055
05. May 15, 1935, Chicago, 90000-A, Decca 7119
06. May 15, 1935, Chicago, 90001-A, Decca 7091
07. May 15, 1935, Chicago, 90012-A, Decca 7091
08. May 15, 1935, Chicago, 1⁄2 90013-A, Decca 7119
09. July 15, 1935, Chicago, 90153-A, Champion 50076
10. July 15, 1935, Chicago, 90160-A, Champion 50076
11. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01888-1, Bluebird B-6777
12. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01889-1, Bluebird B-6824
13. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01890-1, Bluebird B-6777
14. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01891-1, Bluebird B-7116
15. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01892-1, Bluebird B-6824
16. December 21, 1936, Chicago, 01893-1, Bluebird B-7116
17. June 22, 1937, Chicago, C-1940-1, Vocalion 03625
18. June 22, 1937, Chicago, C-1941-1, Vocalion 03625
19. November 2, 1937, Chicago, C-2370-1, Vocalion unissued
20. November 2, 1937, Chicago, C-23772-1, Vocalion unissued
21. November 2, 1937, Chicago, C-23773-2, Vocalion unissued
Notes:
Original recordings from the collections of Werner Benecke, Joe Bussard, Bob Graf, Daniel Gugolz, Hans Maitner, Roger Misiewicz, Johnny Parth, Guido van Rijn, Tom Tsotsi.