Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order (1934-1941) by "Brownsville" Son Bonds & Charlie Pickett
Release Date: 1991.
Recording Time: 65 minutes.
Recording Date: September 6, 1934 - September 24, 1941.
Release Info: Compilation (WBCD-003) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Memphis Blues, Country Blues, Regional Blues.
This is an above average collection from Wolf Records in Vienna, both in terms of audio quality and content. The 18 songs by "Brownsville" Son Bonds, recorded between 1934 and 1941, are in surprisingly decent sound, for the most part, with no horrendous flaws to mar the collection. The songs are all good and the playing generally inspired, especially on the later tracks, where Bonds added a kazoo to his sound and really takes off, in a more rocking and freewheeling way than even Tampa Red. The diversity of the material is also a surprise -- four of the songs are rough, fervent gospel numbers, including the extraordinarily beautiful "I Want to Live So God Can Use Me," "Ain't That News," and "Give Me That Old Time Religion," cut by Bonds working as "Brother Son Bonds" (with Hammie Nixon backing him up on vocals and jug). They fit in well with their raw quality amid the lusty country blues numbers ("All Night Long," "She Walks Like My Woman," etc.) that make up the rest of this disc. The guitar-harmonica duets between Bonds and Nixon are especially pleasing, but Bonds' voice, surging and soaring, is the real show, especially on the early numbers, where the recordings really don't do justice to his guitar. The last four songs on this disc feature Charlie Pickett on vocals and guitar, and were recorded in 1937, with Nixon linking one of Pickett's songs with the rest of this collection. ~ Bruce Eder
Wolf Records Review:
Son Bonds was from Brownsville,Tenn. and played guitar in the style of Sleepy John Estes. On this CD are all his recordings from 1934-41. Hammie Nixon plays harp on some Songs… This is Tennessee Blues!!!
Credits: Son Bonds - Guitar, Kazoo, Primary Artist, Vocals; Lee Brown - Primary Artist; Brownsville Son Bonds - Primary Artist; The Delta Boys - Primary Artist; Robert Dixon - Research (discographical details); Sleepy John Estes - Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; John Godrich - Research (discographical details); Hans Klement - Remastering; Hammie Nixon - Harmonica, Jug, Primary Artist, Vocals; Paul Oliver - Liner Notes; Johnny Parth - Producer; Phil Pickett - Primary Artist; Charlie Pickett - Primary Artist; Raymond Thomas - Bass, Primary Artist, Vocals.
Tracklist:
01. All Night Long - Brownsville Son Bonds
02. She Walks Like My Woman - Brownsville Son Bonds
03. Weary Worried Blues - Brownsville Son Bonds
04. Back And Side Blues - Brownsville Son Bonds
05. I Want To Live So God Can Use Me - Brother Son Bonds
06. Ain't That News? - Brother Son Bonds
07. Give Me That Old Time Religion - Brother Son Bonds
08. In My Father's House - Brother Son Bonds
09. Trouble Trouble Blues - Hammie And Son
10. Tennessee Worried Blues - Hammie And Son
11. I'll Work Up To You Someday - Son Bonds
12. Old Bachelor Blues - Son Bonds
13. Black Gal Swing - The Delta Boys
14. Get Up And Go - The Delta Boys
15. Every Time My Heart Breaks - The Delta Boys
16. 80 Highway Blues - Son Bonds
17. A Hard Pill To Swallow - Son Bonds
18. Come Back Home, Little Girl - Son Bonds
19. Crazy 'Bout My Black Gal - Charlie Pickett
20. Trembling Blues - Charlie Pickett
21. Let Me Squeeze Your Lemon - Charlie Pickett
22. Down The Highway - Charlie Pickett
Recording date, location, matrix, catalog number:
01. September 6, 1934, Chicago, C-9396-, Decca 7022
02. September 6, 1934, Chicago, C-9397-, Decca 7022
03. September 6, 1934, Chicago, C-9403-A, Champion 50064
04. September 6, 1934, Chicago, C-9404-A, Champion 50064
05. September 8, 1934, Chicago, C-9412-B, Decca 7039
06. September 8, 1934, Chicago, C-9413-, Decca 7039
07. September 8, 1934, Chicago, C-9414-, Decca 7024
08. September 8, 1934, Chicago, C-9415-, Decca 7024
09. September 11, 1934, Chicago, C-9444-, Decca 7040
10. September 11, 1934, Chicago, C-9445-, Decca 7040
11. April 22, 1938, New York, 63660-A, Decca 7558
12. April 22, 1938, New York, 63661-A, Decca 7558
13. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064918-1, Bluebird B-8852
14. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064919-1, Bluebird B-8915
15. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064920-1, Bluebird B-8891
16. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064921-1, Bluebird B-8927
17. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064922-1, Bluebird B-8927
18. September 24, 1941, Chicago, 064923-1, Bluebird B-8950
19. August 2, 1937, New York, 62467-A, Decca 7762
20. August 2, 1937, New York, 62468-A, Decca 7762
21. August 3, 1937, New York, 62487-A, Decca 7707
22. August 3, 1937, New York, 62488-A, Decca 7707