Release Date: June 9, 1994.
Recording Time: 66 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5238).
Recording Date: May 14, 1935 - April 22, 1938.
Styles: Delta Blues, Pre-War Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Chicago Blues.
Temple's first recordings, beginning with the classic "Lead Pencil Blues" and three other songs (best of all, "Pig Boat Whistle") from his May 14, 1935 sessions for Vocalion. "Lead Pencil Blues" was the first known use on record of the "walking bass" (Temple called it "running bass") figure on the bottom string, which would become a blues commonplace in just a few years, popularized by Robert Johnson. Alas, these were also the most country-sounding records that Temple ever recorded--their lack of success convinced producers that Temple needed a more sophisticated sound, and all of his subsequent sessions, beginning 18 months later with "New Vicksburg Blues," feature a prominent piano sharing the spotlight with the guitar, and the latter instrument played by Charlie McCoy. It's all solid Chicago blues, "Louise Louise Blues," "Snapping Cat," and "So Lonely and So Blue" all being worth the price of the disc by themselves. Much of the later material, especially from the 1938 sessions backed by the Harlem Hamfats, is very smooth, commercial Chicago blues. Most of the sources are in better than decent condition, except for a very noisy "Beale Street Sheik," which can be forgiven as a previously unissued Vocalion side. ~ Bruce Eder
Credits: Joshua Altheimer - Piano; David Evans - Liner Notes; Fred Flynn - Drums; John Lindsay - Standup Bass; Horace Malcolm - Piano; Kansas Joe McCoy - Guitar; Johnny Parth - Producer; Johnnie "Geechie" Temple - Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals; The Harlem Hamfats - Accompanying Performers; Gerhard Wessely - Remastering.
Tracklist:
01. Lead Pencil Blues (It Just Won't Write) - Johnnie (Geechie) Temple
02. Jacksonville Blues - Johnnie (Geechie) Temple
03. Big Boat Whistle - Johnnie (Geechie) Temple
04. The Evil Devil Blues - Johnnie (Geechie) Temple
05. New Vicksburg Blues - Johnnie Temple
06. Louise, Louise Blues - Johnnie Temple
07. Snapping Cat - Johnnie Temple
08. So Lonely And Blue - Johnnie Temple
09. New Louise, Louise Blues - Johnnie Temple
10. Peepin' Through The Keyhole - Johnnie Temple
11. Pimple Blues - Johnnie Temple
12. East St. Louis Blues - Johnnie Temple
13. Gimme Some Of That Yum Yum Yum - Johnnie Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
14. Hoodoo Women - Johnnie Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
15. Mama's Bad Luck Child - Johnnie Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
16. Mean Baby Blues - Johnnie Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
17. Beale Street Sheik - Johnny Temple
18. What Is That Smells Like Gravy? - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
19. Every Dog Must Have His Day - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
20. Fare You Well - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
21. Stavin' Chain - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
22. County Jail Blues - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
23. Gonna Ride 74 - Johnny Temple And The Harlem Hamfats
Recording date, location, matrix, catalog number:
01. May 14, 1935, Chicago, C-983-B, Vocalion 03068
02. May 14, 1935, Chicago, C-984-B, Vocalion 02987
03. May 14, 1935, Chicago, C-986-B, Vocalion 03068
04. May 14, 1935, Chicago, C-987-A, Vocalion 02987
05. November 12, 1936, Chicago, 90980-A, Decca 7244
06. November 12, 1936, Chicago, 90981-A, Decca 7244
07. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91246-A, Decca 7416
08. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91247-A, Decca 7337
09. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91248-A, Decca 7337
10. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91249-A, Decca 7316
11. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91250-A, Decca 7444
12. May 14, 1937, Chicago, 91251-A, Decca 7316
13. October 6, 1937, New York, 62653-A, Decca 7385
14. October 6, 1937, New York, 62654-A, Decca 7385
15. October 6, 1937, New York, 62655-A, Decca 7416
16. October 6, 1937, New York, 62656-A, Decca 7444
17. October 28, 1937, Chicago, C-2046-2, Vocalion unissued
18. April 22, 1938, New York, 63670-A, Decca 7456
19. April 22, 1938, New York, 63671-A, Decca 7495
20. April 22, 1938, New York, 63672-A, Decca 7495
21. April 22, 1938, New York, 63673-A, Decca 7532
22. April 22, 1938, New York, 63674-A, Decca 7456
23. April 22, 1938, New York, 63675-A, Decca 7532