Release Date: May 18, 1999.
Recording Time: 75 minutes.
Recording Date: May 21, 1971 - March 1971.
Release Info: Arhoolie - CD 9015, CD, Album.
Personnel: Joe Lee "Big Joe" Williams - vocals & guitar; Austen Pete - vocals and guitar, also plays second guitar behind Big Joe; John "Shortstuff" Macon - vocals & (rattling) guitar; Glover Lee Connor - vocals; Amelia Johnson - vocals.
Joe Lee "Big Joe" Williams (1903-1982) was a legendary country bluesman. A performer for over 40 years, Williams began his career in the 1920s playing at local fish fry's, house parties, and work camps in Mississippi and Alabama. He eventually traveled north to St. Louis in 1934, where he recorded his iconic hit "Baby, Please Don't Go." In 1971, Arhoolie founder Chris Stratchwitz arranged to meet and record Williams in Crawford, Mississippi. Due to a performance rights issue, the recording was not released until 1999.
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Joe Lee "Big Joe" Williams, famous for his emotional singing, his 9-string guitar, and his composition "Baby Please Don't Go", was not only one of the pioneer Mississippi blues singers/guitarists, but also a talent scout and record producer. Big Jor produced this remarkable set of recordings in his hometown of Crawford, MS, in 1971 by gathering talented relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances to hopefully present their songs to the wider world. Although belatedly, this CD brings you some of the most moving, pure, and authentic country blues ever put on records. Thanks, Big Joe!
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Although Williams takes lead vocals on eight of the 26 songs on this disc, and plays his distinctive guitar throughout, it's billed to Big Joe Williams & Friends since the majority of the tracks feature other Mississippi singers on vocals. Williams was trying to bring other singers from his region to the attention of folklorist/Arhoolie owner Chris Strachwitz; most of this CD was recorded by Strachwitz in May 1971 in Crawford, MS, although seven songs were done at a Mississippi radio station a few months earlier. Because of Williams' oft-secondary role, it would have to be considered a secondary item in the Williams' catalog, but it's still pretty solid Mississippi country blues. The performances are pretty tight and focused, and the guitar work good, especially the slide. None of the other singers -- Austen Pete (who also plays second guitar behind Williams), John "Shortstuff" Macon (who plays what's listed on the sleeve as "rattling" guitar), Glover Lee Connor, and Amelia Johnson -- are as arresting as Williams, but none are bad. The fidelity on the Strachwitz-recorded material is good; the quality of the material done at the radio station is less clear, but not hard to listen to. Williams recorded "Baby Please Don't Go" several times, but the one here is certainly good and a highlight of the disc. ~ Richie Unterberger
Credits: Graphic Design - Morgan K. Dodge; Guitar - Austen Pete, Big Joe Williams; Guitar (Rattling) - John "Shortstuff" Macon; Producer - Big Joe Williams; Recorded By, Producer, Liner Notes, Photography By - Chris Strachwitz; Vocals - Amelia Johnson (tracks: 13 to 16), Austen Pete (tracks: 6, 10, 17), Big Joe Williams (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 7, 19, 23, 24), Glover Lee Connor (tracks: 4, 20), John "Shortstuff" Macon (tracks: 8, 9, 11, 12, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26).
Tracklist:
- 01. Back Home Blues - Big Joe Williams [04:22]
- 02. Baby Please Don't Go - Big Joe Williams [02:44]
- 03. Saturday Night Women - Big Joe Williams [03:42]
- 04. Been in Crawford Too Long - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:59]
- 05. Sugar Diabetes Blues - Big Joe Williams [02:46]
- 06. Run Here Jailer with the Key - Big Joe Williams & Friends [01:55]
- 07. Take Me Out of the Bottom - Big Joe Williams [03:06]
- 08. Bird Nest - Big Joe Williams [03:02]
- 09. Corrina - Big Joe Williams & Friends [01:49]
- 10. I Walked All Night Long - Big Joe Williams & Friends [05:20]
- 11. Sugar on the Bottom - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:23]
- 12. Bad Luck - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:45]
- 13. Checkin' Out - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:18]
- 14. My Last Girl / Don't Treat Her Wrong! - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:40]
- 15. Can't Listen No More - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:16]
- 16. Don't Stay Long - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:45]
- 17. I'm Wild about My Jelly Roll - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:04]
- 18. Moanin' 'Fo Day - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:19]
- 19. I'm Leavin' This Town - Big Joe Williams [03:32]
- 20. I Don't Know Why - Big Joe Williams & Friends [03:11]
- 21. My Baby Stopped Drinking Water - Big Joe Williams & Friends [01:32]
- 22. Good Times Here, Better Down the Road - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:01]
- 23. Shake It Enough for Me - Big Joe Williams [02:33]
- 24. Mary Frances - Big Joe Williams [03:05]
- 25. My Baby Don't Stand No Foolin' - Big Joe Williams & Friends [01:56]
- 26. She Have Broken My Heart - Big Joe Williams & Friends [02:34]
#1 - #19 recorded in Crawford, Mississippi on May 21, 1971.
#20 - #26 recorded at a radio station in Starkville, Mississippi, ca. March 1971.
Sessions organized and directed by Joe Lee Williams in his hometown of Crawford, Miss. in 1971 by gathering talented relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances.