Release Date: 2003.
Recording Time: 51 minutes.
Recording Date: 1951 - 1954.
Release Info: Compilation (UV 102) Studio Recording.
Styles: Chicago Blues, Country Blues, Regional Blues.
The template for J.B. Lenoir's best songs found his high, reedy vocals floating over his Jimmy Reed-styled electric guitar rhythms while twin saxes wailed and drummer Al Gavin struggled to find the beat, all of which congealed into a unique spin on the Chicago blues sound. The recordings on this collection, however, recorded for Joe Brown's J.O.B. label between 1951 and 1954, have a sparser feel, generally just Lenoir's vocals and guitar, with Sunnyland Slim on piano and Alfred Wallace at the drum kit. The Reed influence is even more obvious on these tracks (check out "How Much More," which could be a parody of Reed, except it isn't). And the writing, always a strong point for Lenoir, whose intelligent street politics and balanced view of male/female relationships put him well ahead of the curve for blues lyrics, falls into cliché here more than it doesn't. With the exception of the striking "I Say Um the Way I Feel," there are no songs on this anthology that reach the lyrical levels of "Eisenhower Blues," "Korea Blues," "Mama Talk to Your Daughter," or any of the other fine compositions he recorded for the Chess and Parrot labels. The sound quality is also sort of muffled, giving these tracks a bootleg feel. All of this adds up to the reason why this release shouldn't be your introduction to this unique bluesman's work. Don't be scared off, though, because these half-formed, unassuming songs do grow on you, if only because of the singer's conviction. Later in his career Lenoir would find the right words to match that conviction. Try Vietnam Blues on Evidence first, and then circle back for this one. ~ Steve Leggett
Credits: Artwork By (Design, Cover Art) - Alfio Antognetti; Artwork By (Direction) - Giorgio Mangora; Written By - J.B. Lenoir.
Tracklist:
01. Let's Roll (Take 2) - J.B. Lenoir
02. People Are Meddling (In Our Affairs) - J.B. Lenoir
03. (I Wanna) Play A Little While - J.B. Lenoir
04. Louise - J.B. Lenoir
05. How Much More - J.B. Lenoir
06. The Mountain - J.B. Lenoir
07. I Have Married - J.B. Lenoir
08. I'll Die Tryin' - J.B. Lenoir
09. The Mojo (Take 4) - J.B. Lenoir
10. How Can I Leave - J.B. Lenoir
11. I Want My Baby (Take 4) - J.B. Lenoir
12. Slow Down Woman (Take 2) - J.B. Lenoir
13. Let's Roll (Take 1) - J.B. Lenoir
14. The Mojo (Take 1) - J.B. Lenoir
15. I Want My Baby (Take 1) - J.B. Lenoir
16. Slow Down Woman (Take 1) - J.B. Lenoir
17. I Sing Um The Way I Feel (Take 18) - J.B. Lenoir
18. I Feel So Good (Take 21) - J.B. Lenoir
The 1951-54 J.O.B. Sessions.
Recorded 1951 - 54
Made by appointment of International Blues Archives LTD.
A Division of Comet Records
(Universe Label)