Broke And Hungry by Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters (Yank Rachell, Hammie Nixon, Mike Bloomfield)
Release Date: July 18, 1995.
Recording Time: 47 minutes.
Recording Date: March 3, 1964.
Release Info: Studio Recording (DD-608).
Styles: Country Blues, Memphis Blues, Piedmont Blues, Regional Blues, Blues Revival.
* * *
Nothing on this set rivals his best '60s-era recordings for the Delmark label (those can be found on The Legend of Sleepy John Estes), but this album is still worthwhile. Estes is joined by the most sympathetic accompanists he would ever know: Hammie Nixon on harmonica and Yank Rachell on mandolin and second guitar. Michael Bloomfield, then a fiery young guitarist just appearing on the Chicago scene, joins in on a few tunes, too. But not even his presence can rouse the somnolent Estes. ~ Brian Beatty
Delmark DD 608 (1992):
"The Tennessee Blues Poet" was Pete Welding's description of John Adam Estes, a.k.a. Sleepy John. It correctly emphasizes his ability as a writer of classic blues and hints at the tremendous power of his voice, so ridden with life experience that most assumed he was already in his 80s when he made his first records in 1929. He's accompanied here fellow Brownsvillians Yank Rachell, mandolin; and Hammie Nixon, harmonica; plus a young Mike Bloomfield quietly adding his powerhouse guitar on four tracks. John went from this album to the Newport Folk Festival, Europe and eventually was a member of the first blues group to tour Japan where he even made the charts.
Credits: Stu Black - Engineer; Michael Bloomfield - Guest Artist, Guitar; Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Composer; Sleepy John Estes - Composer, Guitar, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals; Ray Flerlage - Cover Photo, Photography; Kate Hoddinott - Packaging; Zbigniew Jastrzebski - Cover Design; Bob Koester - Liner Notes, Producer; Robert G. Koester - Liner Notes, Producer; Hammie Nixon - Harmonica; Public Domain - Composer; Yank Rachell - Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals.
Tracklist:
01. Broke And Hungry - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
02. Black Mattie - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
03. 3:00 Morning Blues - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
04. Beale Street Sugar - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
05. Everybody Oughta Change - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
06. Olie Blues - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
07. So Glad I'm Livin' - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
08. Al Rawls - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
09. Freedom Loan - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
10. The Girl I Love - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
11. Electric Chair - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
12. Sleepy John's Twist - Sleepy John Estes, The Tennessee Jug Busters
Personnel: Sleepy John Estes - Guitar, Vocals; Hammie Nixon - Harmonica; Yank Rachell - Mandolin, Guitar; Mike Bloomfield - Guitar (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5).
Written-By – Estes (tracks: 2, 4 to 6, 8, 9, 11, 12); Crudup (track 7).
Recorded March 3, 1964; Sound Studios, Inc.