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Country Blues => Super Electrical Recordings! => Topic started by: uncle bud on August 19, 2003, 06:57:06 PM

Title: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 19, 2003, 06:57:06 PM
So I'm thinking I want to consolidate the Blind Lemon stuff I have spread out over numerous CDs, break down and buy the JSP. While I have most of Lemon's output, it's really spread out over too many discs with much repetition and so the JSP set is attractive. It's a pure rip off of the Documents vol 1-4, same track order and all, for a fraction of the price.

Those of you who have it, how does it sound? Have they cleaned up some of the Paramount and Document atrocities? Can you hear him in all his lemony goodness? The Yazoo "Best of" was very nicely done. I don't expect that level of clean-up. But is there any?

uncle bud
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 20, 2003, 12:14:42 PM
Hey, UB,
I'm thinking of gettin' the BLJ set, too. I have the BWMcT set and it sounds great (finally heard the second and third versions of Broke down Engine). I don't have any Yazoo of Willie to compare to but its quite a bit cleaner than the one vol. of Document I have. There've been several discussions re: JSP on the Woodshed and they get kudos every time. Especially if the remastering is done by an R.T. Davies (if I remember correctly) He did the Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong 5s and 7s sets, which are supposed to be stellar. I couldn't find any info on their site about which engineer did the remastering. I'll probably go for the Blind Blake, as well, eventually.
All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Slack on August 20, 2003, 01:49:46 PM
Dunno if you want to wait a week - but I ordered the box yesterday.  I figured it was time to replace my Yahoo BWJ cassettes. :P  ...which come to think of it, won't allow a true apple to apple comparison... so, I say just buy it.  $25 for 4 BWJ CD's?  How can you possibly go wrong?

cheers,
slack

Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 20, 2003, 08:11:07 PM
Agreed. Pretty much a no brainer. I was just curious as to whether they merely copied the Documents outright or cleaned them up. The JSP team have a reputation for doing good work in that regard, as waxwing notes re. the Jelly Roll and Armstrong collections.  Buying the Hot 5s and 7s on Columbia is supposedly a waste of $$ compared to the JSP, not just for price but for quality of remastering. (I have the Jelly Roll set and it's a fun one.)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 20, 2003, 10:38:01 PM
UB, is there a recording of Sweet Substitute, or Substitution Blues on that set? I've only heard the Dave van Ronk version from the early '60s (...Sings the Blues), and have often looked for the original. I've never seen it on any Morton compilation. Thanks.
All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: frankie on August 21, 2003, 04:33:33 PM
UB, is there a recording of Sweet Substitute, or Substitution Blues on that set?

Sweet Substitute isn't on that set, but is on this one:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000001NO/qid=1061508342/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-1816062-4136857 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000001NO/qid=1061508342/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-1816062-4136857)

The JSP set is a great deal if you're looking for Jelly's band recordings.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 21, 2003, 08:29:28 PM
Yes, I have the Last Sessions disc Frank references above, and it's also worth getting.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 21, 2003, 11:07:23 PM
Thanks, Frankie and UB. Man, a week doesn't go by without anoyher CD cropping up that I must have. Must be why I'm working all this overtime. But it wreaks havoc on my Guit time. Can't wait to hear the original version, though.
All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: blueshome on July 11, 2004, 03:44:25 PM
Perhaps you have already been down this road, but I just picked JSP's 4 CD collection of Paramounts. Wow!
OK a lot of the stuff I have on vinyl  (at the bottom of the cupboard so not easily played) but there are some really interesting items and some real obscurities. We got Marshall Owens, Lonnie Clark (doing a piano based version of Broke Down Engine), George Hannah (only seen in the Defender ads never heard) etc. Mostly good sound too.


Phil
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Richard on July 12, 2004, 12:15:26 PM
 :o I'll have a look on the dreaded Amazon sounds interesting.

Sharpening your fingers ready for Exeter ;) Now I know which way up to hold the guitar I may take you up on your offer of a  short lesson if you are still brave and willing :-X
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: blueshome on July 12, 2004, 01:25:56 PM
Richard,

Red Lick have it.

Phil
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Slack on July 24, 2004, 10:32:21 AM
Phil,

Thanks for the heads up on this set.  I'm only about half way through the set, but I agree, it is a great one. One of those 'gotta haves'!  I am especially enjoying the piano tracks.  One of Port Townsend's favorites, the one and only Guitar Queen Del Rey, takes piano blues and adapts them to guitar (she likes a challenge!) - I recognized one of the piano tracks from her arrangement of it - so that was a pleasant surprise.  A couple of noisy cuts, but I admire JSP for putting those tunes out there also... great stuff. 

The set is on the Weenie Juke and folks can sample tracks by request.

cheers,
slack
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 18, 2004, 12:39:45 PM
I've just received this set after sampling it on the Juke and ordering through www.absound.ca. It is tremendous, absolutely great listening (with minor quibbles about performance notes errors etc). The music is the thing here. A really great collection of relatively obscure material. I have quite a few country blues CDs but there is a lot of material here I do not have. The selection is a little like walking into one of John Miller's classes at PT: what interesting tune is next? JSP deserve kudos for this one. Highly recommended purchase.

Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 19, 2004, 09:24:09 AM
Masters of Memphis Blues (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002EQQN4/qid=1092931581/sr=1-79/ref=sr_1_79/002-8471818-3138451?v=glance&s=music) includes Furry Lewis, Frank Stokes (Beale St. Sheiks w/ Dan Sane and the Victor Recordings), some Gus Cannon (leftover tracks from their odd Sleepy John and Gus Cannon 2-CD set?), Robert Wilkins, Little Buddy Doyle, and Allen Shaw. Believe these are complete recording for Furry, Stokes, and Wilkins, so worth it in spades.

Texas Blues (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000285J06/qid=1092931154/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/002-8471818-3138451?v=glance&s=music) - complete Henry Thomas, Ramblin' Thomas, Willie Reed, Oscar Woods, Little Hat Jones, Black Ace, Smith Casey. A no brainer if you don't have this stuff.

Also, some I hadn't seen:

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000UACWG/qid=1092931374/sr=1-33/ref=sr_1_33/002-8471818-3138451?v=glance&s=music)

Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009XH3X/qid=1092931302/sr=1-25/ref=sr_1_25/002-8471818-3138451?v=glance&s=music)

Plus one I just received:

Memphis Minnie (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CER8H/qid=1092931302/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/002-8471818-3138451?v=glance&s=music) - alas, they omit numerous Kansas Joe tracks on this set. Still pretty great, but a serious flaw to not include complete Minnie and Joe material.

Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Montgomery on August 19, 2004, 10:30:10 AM
I believe they're going to do a Kansas Joe box seperately, or so I heard.  First they have to copy it from the Documents...
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 19, 2004, 11:29:10 AM
I believe they're going to do a Kansas Joe box seperately, or so I heard.

Good news. Such great material throughout his career, from the Minnie stuff, to stuff with Charlie, to Harlem Hamfats....

Quote
First they have to copy it from the Documents...

You mean remaster, don't you...  ;D
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: outfidel on August 19, 2004, 06:12:33 PM
Those Memphis & Texas box sets look terrific, even if I have some (most?) of the stuff already.

I saw posted on another forum that JSP will release a Blind Boy Fuller box set in early September. JSP is also releasing a box set called "Spread The Word" (various) which will feature Washington Phillips, and in October they'll release "Guitar Evangelists" box set that will include Blind Willie Johnson.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: ryan on August 20, 2004, 12:54:26 AM
Hey guys/gals I also enjoyed this set alot.  Just heads up as there is a jsp set of memphis blues due out on tuesday.  Frank Stokes etc. will be featured on this release.
Ryan
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Eldergreene on August 25, 2004, 03:05:19 AM
There's also a very fine 'Paramount Blues' set that is a glorious mix of all styles, incl quite a bit of piano blues, which often loses out to guitar stuff in prewar reissues - remastering is about as good as it can be, for Paramounts..
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: frankie on August 25, 2004, 03:55:06 AM
There's also a very fine 'Paramount Blues' set that is a glorious mix of all styles

Been talking about that one over yonder (http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?Itemid=47&?topic=473.0)...
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: ryan on January 28, 2005, 10:13:27 PM
just thought I'd let y'all know jsp just released their latest box-set called Guitar Evangelists.? looks great but I gotta wait..........for payday.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Tail Dragger on February 21, 2005, 10:28:55 AM
I purchased the four BLJ Document discs years ago. However, while reading a review of the JSP set, it stated that MOST of BLJ's sides were included.  If I'm not mistaken, the JSP set is his complete Paramount sides, which means that JSP issued his entire catalog with the exception of the two sides he released on Okeh ("Black Snake Moan"/"Match Box Blues").  A small "flaw" given that the JSP set is so cheap, but it just seems odd that JSP should release everything but two tracks.

Tail Dragger
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on February 21, 2005, 07:38:47 PM
Hi Taildragger - I think the JSP set has the Okeh sides but will have to check it at home.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: ozrkreb on February 21, 2005, 08:31:04 PM
The JSP set does include Black Snake Moan and Matchbox blues. Overall, I think the JSP box sets are unrivaled when you consider what you get and how little you pay.

Az
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Tail Dragger on February 21, 2005, 09:08:49 PM
Overall, I think the JSP box sets are unrivaled when you consider what you get and how little you pay.

Can't argue with you there.

Tail Dragger
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on May 07, 2005, 10:58:46 PM
Hi all,
I just picked up one of these sets yesterday, "Legends of Country Blues", that has been out for a while, I believe, and that contains on 5 discs all the early recordings of:
   * Skip James
   * Son House
   * Bukka White
   * Tommy Johnson
   * Ishmon Bracey
The front cover announces "Remastered for Unprecedented Listening Quality"; I know people have been back and forth on the sound quality of the various JSP sets, but in this set I think the sound is terrific.  I'm really pleasantly surprised.  I'm not at all an audiophile either--I'm perfectly comfortable dealing with a good bit of surface noise.  The sound here is significantly clearer on the Tommy Johnson and Ishmon Bracey material than any any re-issues of the same cuts I have heard previously.  I haven't listened to the Skip James or Bukka stuff yet, but the Son House sounds very clear also.  I'm really pleased with the set, and has been pointed out elsewhere on this thread, you can't beat the price.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Junior on May 12, 2005, 10:29:00 PM
I don`t have the BLJ set (yet), but I have several of the JSP sets, including the Louis Armstrong, Big Bill Broonzey, Memphis Minnie, and Big Joe Williams (with others), Jimmie Rodgers, Masters of Memphis Blues, Blind Willie Mctell, and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. They are all great sounding, and the price is right. I have some of these recordings on other CDs, and the JSP sets are all better sounding than the ones I owned previously. I, for one, am grateful to JSP for these sets.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: GerryC on May 14, 2005, 07:55:17 AM
Whole hearted concurrence from this neck of the woods. I have the JSP sets of Big Bill, Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and the Memphis and Texas sets. At last I can hear properly what my treasured vinyl often only hinted at! When I first came across them on the Red Lick website, I thought, "?15 for 5 CDs? Is that each or all in?" and I had to phone Red Lick to find out. The slightly weary enthusiasm of the guy I spoke to made me suspect that it was not the first time that the question had been posed  :-[ . BLJ is next. BTW, they have now issued a second box-set of Memphis Minnie, which may include some of the duets with Kansas Joe. I can't confirm this as I have not yet acquired the set. Everything I've had so far from JSP has been kick-ass good!!

Cheerily,

Gerry C
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on May 14, 2005, 10:09:31 AM
JSPs second volume of Memphis Minnie contains her complete recorded works from 1937-1953, with the exception of the 4 titles she recorded for Chess.  So no Joe duets. Second guitar on most of the titles is played by Little Son Joe.  There's some nice mandolin by Charlie McCoy on the first disk of the set.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: lebordo on May 14, 2005, 08:58:27 PM
I just picked up the JSP's Big Joe Williams and the Stars of Mississippi Blues.? Interesting collection of atrists.




Henry Townsend's total contribution is guitar accompaniment on 1 track.? Jump Jackson's, drums on 4 tracks.? Sonny Boy has a few more appearances -- harmonica accomp on 26 tracks.? I'm not sure why Townsend or Jackson rated cover mention, when other accompaniests appear on as many or more tracks: Ransom Knowling with (bass, 12 tracks), Alfred Elkins (bass, 6 tracks),T J Green (bass, 4 tracks)? Dad Tracy ( violin, 4 tracks), Chasey Collins (washboard, 4 tracks), and Robert Lee McCoy (guitar, 4 tracks).

I guess that's the one problem I've found with the JSP sets -- the music is great and the price is fantastic (I've got 7 sets so far, and have paid between $5 for BLJ and $20 for Big Bill).? But I've found many errors on their track lists and discographical info, and even titles on the front of the CD.? Careless.? Sloppy.? Whatever, it's annoying.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on May 15, 2005, 10:03:02 AM
I guess that's the one problem I've found with the JSP sets -- the music is great and the price is fantastic (I've got 7 sets so far, and have paid between $5 for BLJ and $20 for Big Bill).? But I've found many errors on their track lists and discographical info, and even titles on the front of the CD.? Careless.? Sloppy.? Whatever, it's annoying.

I agree. The packages are quite sloppy and seem thrown together without much thought or care. That's part of why they're cheap I guess. I'm always surprised by the raves about the sound of some of them as well. The Lemon set seems no different really than the Documents to me. The Yazoo "Best of" is far superior. The Memphis set, a great roster, suffers similar sound quality issues IMO. I am no audiophile, not by a long shot. I am very curious to hear the set with Tommy Johnson and Ishman Bracey, since it sure would be nice to hear those guys cleaned up a bit. But despite these complaints, like many of us, I have quite a few of their sets, and more to come no doubt. The Mountain Blues package is my latest and it is very enjoyable, some great fiddle material.

Anyway, like you I have very mixed feelings about JSP (didn't even mention how they get their music)...
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Montgomery on May 17, 2005, 06:57:38 AM
Yeah, I'm always surprised too that people are so impressed with JSP's sound quality.  Some of their early sets sounded good because they were stealing from the best, most notably Bear Family (Jimmie Rodgers, Carter Family, etc.) and Revenant (Patton).  Most of their more recent sets sound as bad as, if  not worse than, the Documents.  I got a free copy of their recent Mountain Blues set...lots of great music, atrocious sound.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on May 29, 2005, 11:21:33 AM
A while back (perhaps several years?) I remember reading an article in the? NY Times regarding the expiration of copyright protection outside the US and how it would affect the right to re-issue earlier (50 years?) material and royalties being paid to the copyright holder. The focus was on music that was more mainstream than what we gravitate to, but perhaps this explains the appearance of sets on JSP, Proper, and the other non-US labels. Can anyone add to, correct, and/or clarify this?

With respect to Memphis Minnie, there's a good book "Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues" by Paul Garon and? Beth Garon that is readily available that fans of her music will find interesting.

Stuart
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on May 29, 2005, 02:03:57 PM
A while back (perhaps several years?) I remember reading an article in the? NY Times regarding the expiration of copyright protection outside the US and how it would affect the right to re-issue earlier (50 years?) material and royalties being paid to the copyright holder. The focus was on music that was more mainstream than what we gravitate to, but perhaps this explains the appearance of sets on JSP, Proper, and the other non-US labels. Can anyone add to, correct, and/or clarify this?

Hi Stuart - yes, this is essentially correct as far as I know, though copyright is murky territory. The added twist that prompts a certain amount of debate is the digital copying of other people's recent work to restore this music. So, for instance, were I in the UK, I could copy remastered Yazoo discs, mess with the EQ a bit and put out my own set of cheap Charley Patton, or Blind Lemon or whatever. JSP has been sued by Bear Family for allegedly doing this, and Bear Family is supposedly putting digital signatures into their remastered recording projects now.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on May 30, 2005, 06:36:47 AM
Thanks, Uncle Bud

I checked and the article was in the January 2, 2003 edition of the NY Times. The Times site has an abstract, but

http://www.library.yale.edu/~llicense/ListArchives/0301/msg00008.html

has the full text for those who are interested.

Stuart
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: GhostRider on May 30, 2005, 10:45:39 AM
Hey Stuart:

Being a big fan of Memphis Minnie, I bought the Garon book you mention with great anticipation.

I was extremely disappointed. Almost nothing about her music, most of the book was psycodrivel about the deep inner meaning of her lyrics. I thought it was by far the worst old blues biography I have ever read :(.

Maybe I missed something. What aspects of the book appealed to you?

Alex
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on May 30, 2005, 11:29:16 AM
Hello Alex:

What I liked was that it was a source of information that was neither easily accessible nor available in one place until the book was written. I tend to be rather lenient when it comes to rendering a critical evaluation of the various books on one of our favorite subjects. Sometimes all the information is not there and the author is writing the book in addition to having a full time job and out of pure interest. Of course its easy to interpret this view as the words of an apologist or perhaps to someone just making excuses for less than an ideal finished product (one that often doesn't have the benefit of the editorial rigors or the scrutiny of outside readers as do those that are published by major presses), but since there is so little out there and not an overabundance of resources to work with, I tend to look at most anything that makes a contribution to our knowledge of the whole person behind the music a plus. I also tend to read around the "Psychobabble" as it can often be impressionistic, shallow, and misleading. But I'm not necessarily correct in my approach toward, or view of, the interpretations of others.

Having said that, you are under no obligation to be of the opinion that "Woman With Guitar" is a good book. You are entitled to have different and higher standards than I do. No argument here. I wish that the source material existed so that excellent biographies were available for all of the deserving musicians of the past, but sometimes the historical material is no longer extant, as those of us who work in this area are at times forced to say.

On a related topic, have you seen the documentary "Say Amen, Somebody" which featured Rev. Thomas Dorsey? If so, what did you think of it?

Stuart
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: GhostRider on May 30, 2005, 02:21:40 PM
Stuart:

Thanks for your views.

As to higher standards, I'm sure that the only two beings on earth who think that I have "higher standards" are Mr.s Slack and Unkie Bud.

I have not seen the documentary that you mention. Is it worth searching out?

Alex
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on May 30, 2005, 03:00:55 PM
Alex:

I believe that it is. I first heard "Georgia Tom" on the Yazoo Big Bill Broonzy re-issues some 35 years ago. Subsequently I learned about his conversion from a Chicago blues performer to a gospel composer following the tragic death of his wife and their infant. I found "Say Amen, Somebody" fascinating and moving. I think that it provides insight into an important part of American culture for people like myself who would otherwise not know much about it. Plus I thought that it contains great music and is an very moving human story.

Stuart
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on May 30, 2005, 03:32:24 PM
As to higher standards, I'm sure that the only two beings on earth who think that I have "higher standards" are Mr.s Slack and Unkie Bud.

Alex, really now, you know I'd never accuse you of having high standards.

Stuart, thanks for the recommendation re. Say Amen, Somebody. I haven't seen it. I did see a film called the Story of Gospel Music which featured some Georgia Tom.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Slack on May 30, 2005, 05:19:11 PM
Quote
As to higher standards, I'm sure that the only two beings on earth who think that I have "higher standards" are Mr.s Slack and Unkie Bud.

Alex, really now, you know I'd never accuse you of having high standards.

UB, Alex has high standards -- he's just a little confused, but we'll try to straighten him out again. (Looking forward to PT Alex)..

Actually Alex, when comparing you to the Texas Legislature, I think you have extremely high standards.  :P

OK something related to content... Stuart, I'm interested in the documentary also.  I just joined Netflix on their $10 a month deal (I know, I'm behind the times and cheap) and I'm looking for good movies to add to my queue list.  Cannot find this title however.

Cheers,
slack
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: outfidel on June 30, 2005, 04:57:46 AM
BIG BILL BROONZY - Volume 2 : 1937-1940
CD $28.98
4 CDs, 101 tracks, recommended

Due next week. This slice of mid period Big Bill continues his small group recordings of uncomplicated, good time music, and takes us to within a couple of years - 40 titles - of the end of his pre-war career.

These sessions were built around Bill's engaging vocals and accomplished guitar work with key support from a succession of talented pianists - Black Bob, Joshua Altheimer and Blind John Davis. The rest of the musicians and particularly the trumpet and clarinet players who feature on many sessions are something of a mixed ability group, but the overall sound is tight and confident, and was by all accounts very popular in its day. The original purchasers of these records though would have bought only a fraction of them, and consequently would have been less aware of the reworking of material - sometimes many times over - which a chronological reissue like this so cruelly exposes. Of course all blues singers who were extensively recorded did this, but somehow it is made more obvious by the consistently slick treatment it gets here.

That said there are many outstanding performances in this set, and some of the reworkings offer more wit and invention than is apparent on first hearing. Highlights include You Do Me Any Old Way/ Trucking Little Woman/ Trouble And Lying Woman/ Baby I Done Got Wise/ Oh Yes and Unemployment Stomp, an upbeat tone being maintained even when dealing with themes of poverty, violence and infidelity. Bill also had a gift for tapping his rural roots and memories of the south, and songs like Plow Hand Blues and Going Back To Arkansas would have resonated with many in his Chicago audience. The weakest disc is disc 3, but even here there are classics like Just A Dream and two strong, ingratiating performances from the 1938 Carnegie Hall "From Spirituals To Swing" concert, where Big Bill was drafted as a replacement for the murdered Robert Johnson. Listening to the laughter at Bill's lyrics in Done Got Wise and the warm applause you wonder whether Mr. Johnson would have come across as well to the white audience - I doubt it.

Many of the best tracks here have of course featured in numerous "best of " compilations including Columbia's "Good Time Tonight" (Col 467247), but I wouldn't be without some of the fine, less anthologized tracks like Dreamy Eyed Baby. Sound on this set is generally excellent, and like Volume 1 becomes more impressive when compared to a sample of previous reissues - presentation is typically less noisy, clearer and with a fuller dynamic range. This set is also much easier to listen to than the often noisy complete works on Document. Add decent notes from Neal Slaven, ignore the usual budget packaging and you have another winner from JSP. (DPR)

source: Roots & Rhythm (http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/roots/New_Releases/latest_062905.htm#BIG%20BILL%20BROONZY)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on June 30, 2005, 07:27:39 AM
I see in the same newsletter that Bukka White's Tacoma LP is being reissued on CD, I think for the first time.  This was his first recording after being rediscovered and in my opinion his best post-war work.  Booker accompanies himself on piano on Drunk Man Blues, and there's a spoken cut which is a remembrance of White's meeting with Charley Patton when White was a young boy.  If I remember correctly, Patton gave White a teaspoon of whisky and White decided he was going to grow up to be a "great man like Charley Patton".
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: blueshome on August 07, 2005, 09:48:17 AM
Just picked up the latest JSP issue - Atlanta Blues.

This has Julius Daniels, Curley Weaver, Peg Leg Howell, PLH Gang,Sloppy Henry and Lil McClintock all in one place. Spound is generally good, especially the Peg Leg stuff which I was attracted to by JMM's disertations.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on August 07, 2005, 10:41:13 AM
Thanks for the heads up, re: JSP "Atlanta Blues" set. It doesn't appear to have been released in the U.S. as of yet.

Stu
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on August 07, 2005, 11:02:14 AM
It looks like the release date in the U.S. is 8/23. Here's a cut and paste info sheet/ track list from one of the pre-order sites FYI:

Atlanta Blues: Big City Blues From The Heartland
 
Availability:  August 23, 2005
 
List Price $28.98 
Category Blues, Miscellaneous, Rock/Pop, Box Sets, Oldies Collections
Label Jsp Records
Orig Year 2005
CDU Part# 6900044
Catalog# 7754
Discs 4
Street Date Aug 23, 2005
Studio/Live Studio
Mono/Stereo Stereo
Additional Info Remastered; Box Set

TRACK LISTING

   Song Title
 
  1. Mamma Was A Sailor - Julius Daniels
  2. Ninety-Nine Year Blues - Julius Daniels
  3. Slippin' And Slidin' Up The Golden Street - Julius Daniels
  4. Ball And Chain Blues - Julius Daniels
  5. Richmond Blues - Julius Daniels
  6. Goin' To Tell God How You Doin' - Julius Daniels
  7. Crow Jane Blues - Julius Daniels
  8. It's The Best Stuff Yet - Curley Weaver
  9. Ta Ta Blues - Curley Weaver
  10. Baby Boogie Woogie - Curley Weaver
  11. Sweet Petunia - Curley Weaver
  12. Dirty Deal Blues - Curley Weaver
  13. No No Blues - Curley Weaver/Eddie Mapp
  14. Wild Cat Kitten - Curley Weaver
  15. Trixie - Curley Weaver
  16. Leg Iron Blues - Curley Weaver
  17. Some Cold Rainy Day - Curley Weaver
  18. Soemtime Mama - Curley Weaver
  19. Oh Lawdy Mama - Curley Weaver
  20. Dirty Mistreater - Curley Weaver
  21. Tippin' Tom - Curley Weaver
  22. Birmingham Gambler - Curley Weaver
  23. You Was Born To Die - Curley Weaver
  24. Tricks Ain't Walking No More - Curley Weaver
  25. Black Woman - Curley Weaver
  26. City Cell Blues - Curley Weaver
  27. Empty Room Blues - Curley Weaver
  28. Two Faced Woman - Curley Weaver
  29. Fried Pie Blues - Curley Weaver
  30. Brown Skin Woman - Curley Weaver
  31. I Keep On Drinkin' - Curley Weaver
  32. My Baby's Gone - Curley Weaver
  33. Ticket Agent - Curley Weaver
  34. Some Rainy Day - Curley Weaver
  35. Tampa Strut - Georgia Browns
  36. Decatur Street 81 - Georgia Browns
  37. Joker Man - Georgia Browns
  38. Who Stole De Lock - Georgia Browns
  39. Next Door Man - Georgia Browns
  40. Coal Man Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  41. Please Ma'am - Peg Leg Howell
  42. Tishamingo Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  43. New Prison Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  44. Fo' Day Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  45. New Jelly Roll Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  46. Fairy Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  47. Beaver Slide Rag - Peg Leg Howell
  48. Papa Stobb Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  49. Sadie Lee Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  50. Too Tight Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  51. Peg Leg Stomp - Peg Leg Howell
  52. Turkey Buzzard Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  53. Turtle Dove Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  54. Broke And Hungry Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  55. Monkey Man Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  56. Moanin' And Groanin' Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  57. Hobo Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  58. Skin Game Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  59. Low-Down Rounder Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  60. Chittin' Supper - Peg Leg Howell
  61. Rock And Gravel Blues - Peg Leg Howell
  62. Georgia Crawl - Henry Williams & Eddie Anthony
  63. Lonesome Blues - Henry Williams & Eddie Anthony
  64. Tantalizing Bootblack - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  65. Mean Florida Blues - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  66. Try That Thing - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  67. Tickle Britches - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  68. Wringing That Thing - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  69. Worrying Blues - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  70. Warm Wipe Stomp - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  71. Everthing's Coming My Way - Macon Ed & Tampa Joe
  72. Say I Do It - Sloppy Henry
  73. Long Tail Disconnected Mama - Sloppy Henry
  74. Royal Palm Special Blues - Sloppy Henry
  75. Canned Heat Blues - Sloppy Henry
  76. Furniture Man - Lil McClintock
  77. Don't Think I'm Santa Claus - Lil McClintock
  78. Sow Good Seeds - Lil McClintock
  79. Mother Called Her Child To Her Dying Bed - Lil McClintock
  80. Buggy Man Jail House Blues - Lillie Mae
  81. Mama Don't Want It - Lillie Mae
  82. Bootie Wah Bootie - Lillie Mae
  83. Wise Like That - Lillie Mae
 
NOTES

Full title: Atlanta Blues: Big City Blues From The Heartland
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on September 16, 2006, 06:10:29 PM
Hi all,
I thought I would revive this thread since JSP has put out quite a few sets recently that have not been mentioned here.  I picked up one yesterday that some of you probably already have or have seen, called "Shake That Thing!  East Coast Blues 1935--1953".  It is a four-disc set and focuses on the music of three musicians, in the main:  Gabriel Brown, who is featured on 41 cuts, Dan Pickett, with 18 cuts, and Ralph Willis, with 46 cuts.  It has been a treat listening through the set.  I had very sketchy exposure to Dan Pickett and Ralph Willis in the past and had never heard Gabriel Brown before, so it is really interesting to hear their music in such large doses. 
Gabriel Brown, discussed elsewhere on this forum in a thread started by Bunker Hill, was an excellent and varied guitarist, with a smooth singing style.  The most peculiar aspect about what he did is his seeming inability to tune his guitar, but he played really well, and I have never heard a Country Blues player who worked so much in dropped-D tuning.  He has a lot of great tunes in it.  Dan Pickett was an excellent singer, with a vocal tone reminiscent of Tommy McClennan's and an exciting, sort of "revved up" sound, both vocally and instrumentally.  He plays a lot of slide in Vestapol as well as many numbers played in E position in standard capoed very high.  Ralph Willis seems to come more out of the East Coast mainstream, with the strong Blind Boy Fuller influence that most musicians from that region in his generation (Gabriel Brown has some of that influence, too) show.  It's not fair to Willis to imply that's all he had going for him, though.  He has a fair number of pieces that show no Fuller influence, and a couple, that surprisingly sound as though they may have been influenced by Robert Johnson's playing in A.  A couple of Willis's later pieces have a cavernous reverb that's a bit tough to take, but it's a small number.
I have been really pleased with this set on the initial run-through, and it has the standard JSP cost advantage:  four discs for $30.45 at my local Tower Records.  The notes are better than I'm accustomed to getting from JSP, too.
All best,
Johnm   
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on October 14, 2006, 05:43:22 PM
Hi all,
I haven't had a chance to listen to it all yet, but I picked up today the "Blind Boy Fuller, Volume 2" set from JSP.  It is a four-disc set, and in addition to all the Fuller titles not included on the first JSP set of his music it also includes 13 tracks from Bull City Red, including a couple which must have Rev. Davis on guitar by the sound of it, 10 cuts by the obscure Cedar Creek Sheik, Phillip McCutcheon (I'm amazed anyone considers it possible that he was black), 4 cuts by 'Roosevelt' Antrim (I don't know why his name had the marks around it), 6 cuts from Virgil Childers, 4 cuts from Sonny Jones, 6 cuts from Floyd "Dipper Boy" Council, 2 cuts by Welly Trice, 8 cuts by Rich Trice, 6 cuts by Frank Edwards and 4 cuts by Dennis McMillon.  At this point I have listened to everything except the Fuller cuts, and I think the set is excellent without even taking his cuts into consideration, with lots of real finds, both in terms of repertoire and the players themselves, several of whom are quite obscure.  I picked the set up at my local Tower Records store which is having a going-out-of-business sale--too bad, because it was a good store and there were some nice people who worked there, but the cost of the set was $24.36, which, given the amount and rarity of the music on the set, is almost like giving it away.  I look forward to getting to know this music a lot better.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on October 14, 2006, 11:51:10 PM
10 cuts by the obscure Cedar Creek Sheik, Phillip McCutcheon (I'm amazed anyone considers it possible that he was black),
Weird isn't it? When two of his ten were first released on a Flyright Piedmont collection in 1972 reviews in both Blues Unlimited and Blues World commented something along the lines that "surely this is a white hillbilly singer". But after four editions of B&GR he's still listed so I guess the acid test is whether or not he's in Tony Russell's country discography and, if not, then there must be some kind of evidence that points to his being black!
Quote
4 cuts by 'Roosevelt' Antrim (I don't know why his name had the marks around it)
Probably means that's the way it either appeared in company ledgers or record label.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on October 15, 2006, 12:13:59 AM
Apologies for hijacking a thread of this title but with regard to Cedar Creek Sheik (McCutcheon) and Roosevelt Antrim, Old Tramp paired them on a 1989 LP entitled Carolina Blues Guitar. I thought folk might like to see what was said in the only review the record received (Ray Templeton, Blues & Rhythm 44, May 1989):

Cedar Creek Sheik's records were issued on Bluebird, one of the few record labels of the pre-war era which did not segregate its artists into different numerical series on the basis of their race. This, together with the fact that a couple of his recordings have a fairly authentic blues sound, has led to a confusion whereby he has been assumed to have been black. He is listed in Dixon & Godrich, although with a footnote to the effect that "he may be a white artist".[*see note] Indeed he is, as Bruce Bastin suggests in Red River Blues (page 197) and as is pretty obvious from listening to his complete recorded works on this album. "Only Riding My Mule" and possibly "Something Good" could really be mistaken for the work of a black artist. The rest is very much the kind of material associated with white country singer's car songs, a couple of depression songs; indeed the presence of a couple of blues-styled songs is by no means untypical. It's fascinating stuff, if you are into old time guitar playing, as the Sheik was more than a fair picker and his songs are all interesting (the lyrics sound as if they might be original, but this is said from a point of view lacking encyclopaedic knowledge of the hillbilly repertoire). All in all, it's well worth hearing, but most of it has little claim to inclusion on an album of this title.

Roosevelt Antrim, on the other hand, is a true country bluesman, with a kind of crying toned voice that recalls that Delta obscurity William Harris, but a guitar style that is firmly in the Carolina tradition of Blind Boy Fuller. Incidentally while Dixon & Godrich hedged their bets as to whether or not he accompanies himself here, the discography on the sleeve has no such problems. I must admit that I would most likely never have thought otherwise, if D & G hadn't raised the doubt. In any case, I like these tracks a lot and Antrim stands out as one of those minor figures whose work shows that a tradition is just that, and not just the private concern of a few major figures.
Overall, this is a most interesting compilation, with plenty of good moments and much to engage the mind of the country blues student, By and large, the sound is pretty good, too.
[*since removed from B&GR4 - BH]
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on October 15, 2006, 09:51:18 AM
Thanks very much for this additional information, Bunker Hill.  It seems right on topic to me, especially since it seems unlikely the Cedar Creek Sheik or Roosevelt Antrim will ever wind up with threads devoted to them exclusively.  I would just add that I think that the Cedar Creek Sheik's songs have a lot of charm, and that one of their unusual features is a cast of characters who appear in more than one of the songs, Miss Etta Prince and Jimmy among them.  It's a bit like Charlie Patton using actual historical personages, e.g. Tom Rushen and Jim Lee, to appear in his songs.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on October 17, 2006, 10:31:06 PM
JSP boxsets are for me like shopping at the U.S. wholesale warehouse chain Costco. You get lots of stuff real cheap. Some of it is crap quality, and most of it you don't have time to consume so it tends to sit on the shelf waiting for the day. Fortunately the iPod has extended my available listening hours by at least 100%

I have the Blind Blake set. The sound quality is fairly hopeless IMO but nonetheless I'm glad it's there. I also scored the Delmore Brothers complete in my unending pursuit of the roots of Doc Watson, excellent set. I intend to get BLJ, BWM and Jelly Roll Morton sets based on good reviews.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on October 29, 2006, 02:01:11 PM
I bought the Hoagy Carmichael 1924-1946 4 disk set yesterday. It's really great, has the master John RT Davis's touch where you feel like you're listening to a real 78, rather than a 78 extruded by montrous machinery onto CD. If you like this sort of stuff it's a must have. I love Hoagy and play a lot of his tunes on guitar so this was a no-brainer purchase for me.

I'm listening to March of The Hoodlums right now with Eddie Lang playing real hot with a stompin' little jazz band, you can hear everything, including a triangle celeste at one point. Magic release for weenies into old jazz/popular/standards from one of the all time great songwriters and composers. Hoags, Bix, Louis, Lang, Venuti et al turn up on Naxos and other specialist (and cheapo exploitation) labels and I own a lot of them but these cuts have never sounded better.

The accompanying booklet is 83 pages long and is the icing on the extremely detailed and well baked cake. Five stars.
Title: Big Bill Broonzy JSP Vol. 3
Post by: Stuart on February 08, 2007, 07:17:01 PM
It looks like JSP will be releasing a Vol 3. of Big Bill Broonzy sides on Feb. 20. It's titled "The War And Postwar Years - 1940-1951," contains 4 CDs with 98 cuts in all.
Title: Re: Big Bill Broonzy JSP Vol. 3
Post by: uncle bud on February 08, 2007, 07:48:36 PM
Thanks for the info, Stuart.

Now can someone in the UK send JSP a teenager to deal with their website? I mean, what a nightmare...

Title: Re: Big Bill Broonzy JSP Vol. 3
Post by: Richard on February 08, 2007, 11:43:26 PM
Calvin........ Uncle Bud has got a job for you....................  ;)
Title: Re: Big Bill Broonzy JSP Vol. 3
Post by: mississippijohnhurt1928 on February 13, 2007, 06:29:50 PM
Haha, that is a pretty low quality main page, the least attractive and most obnoxious part being that everything is in capital letters.

And I also see that there is a Sunnyland Slim boxed set on the way (if it hasn't been released already.)
Title: Re: Big Bill Broonzy JSP Vol. 3
Post by: mississippijohnhurt1928 on February 14, 2007, 10:56:30 AM
And Even More Obnoxious Is The Pictures.

Most Of Them Are Decent Sizes But Then Big Bill Broonzy Comes Up At Probably 3000 x 3000 Pixels.

And a lot of them will not even load!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on March 30, 2007, 11:18:36 AM
Worth posting the tracklist here, I think, since this is one of JSP's true compilations, like the Paramount Masters set. Note that it includes the recently discovered Son House sides. There's a lot of great music on this set for those who don't already have it elsewhere. I'm more of a complete recordings person myself, especially for a lot of these artists, but this is still a good looking collection.

Disc: 1    
1. Cottonfield Blues Part 1 - Garfield Akers        
2. Bedside Blues - Jim Thompkins        
3. Mississippi Bottom Blues - Kid Bailey        
4. Poor Boy Blues - Sam Butler        
5. I'm Leavin' Town - William Harris        
6. Hittin' The Bottle Stomp - Mississippi Jook Band        
7. Last Kind Words Blues - Geeshie Wiley        
8. Third Street Woman Blues - Blind Willie Reynolds        
9. Muddy Water Blues - Freddie Spruell        
10. Fare Thee Well Blues - Joe Calicott        
11. That Won't Do - Arthur Petties        
12. Four O'Clock Flower Blues - Willie '61' Blackwell        
13. Evil Devil Woman Blues - Joe McCoy        
14. The Jail House Blues - Sam Collins        
15. Black Spider Blues - Robert Lockwood        
16. Traveling Riverside Blues Take 1 - Robert Johnson        
17. Baltimore Blues - Charlie McCoy        
18. Down The Big Road Blues - Mattie Delaney        
19. You Scolded Me And Drove Me - Mississippi Bracey        
20. Milk Cow Blues - Freddie Spruell        
21. Ten Pound Hammer - Mose Andrews        
22. Noiseless Motor Blues - Willie '61' Blackwell        
23. Jailhouse Fire Blues - Walter 'Buddy Boy' Hawkins        
24. 4A Highway - Freddie Spruell        
25. Times Has Done Got Hard - King Solomon Hill        

Disc: 2    
1. Mississippi County Farm Blues - Son House        
2. When The Levee Breaks - Joe McCoy        
3. Ninety Nine Blues - Blind Joe Reynolds        
4. Snake Doctor Blues - Jelly Jaw Short        
5. Little Girl In Rome - Otto Virgial        
6. It's Cold In China Blues - Mississippi Moaner        
7. Bald Eagle Blues - Willie '61' Blackwell        
8. Boodle-De-Bum Blues - Bogus Ben Covington        
9. Bull Frog Blues - William Harris        
10. Dangerous Woman - Mississippi Jook Band        
11. Shaggy Dog Blues - Buddy Boy Hawkins        
12. Devil In The Lion's Den - Sam Collins        
13. Quarrellin' Mama Blues - Arthur Petties        
14. Devil And My Brown Blues - Sam Butler        
15. Take A Little Walk With Me - Robert Lockwood        
16. Last Time Blues - Charlie McCoy        
17. Dough Roller Blues - Garfield Akers        
18. The Crowing Rooster - Walter Rhodes        
19. Motherless Child Blues - Geeshie Wiley        
20. Married Woman Blues - George Torey        
21. She's Young And Wild - Willie '61' Blackwell        
22. Cherry Ball - Mississippi Bracey        
23. Bad Notion Blues - Otto Virgial        
24. Don't Cry Baby - Freddy Spruell        
25. Rowdy Blues - Kid Bailey        

Disc: 3    
1. My Buddy Blind Papa Lemon - King Solomon Hill        
2. Snatch It Back Blues - Walter 'Buddy Boy' Hawkins        
3. Machine Gun Blues - Willie '61' Blackwell        
4. Revenue Man Blues - Arthur Petties        
5. Mr Freddie's Kokomo Blues - Freddie Spruell        
6. Over To My House - Geeshie Wiley        
7. Barefoot Blues - Jelly Jaw Short        
8. Jumpin' And Shoutin' Blues - Garfield Akers        
9. Look Who's Coming Down The Road - Georgia Pine Boy        
10. Traveling Mama Blues - Joe Calicott        
11. Leavin' Here Blues - William Harris        
12. Got The Blues About Rome - Otto Virgial        
13. Young Heifer Blues - Mose Andrews        
14. Skippy Whippy - Mississippi Jook Band        
15. Yellow Dog Blues - Sam Collins        
16. You Can't Keep No Brown - Sam Butler        
17. Tallahatchie River Blues - Mattie Delaney        
18. Stered Gal - Mississippi Bracey        
19. Motherless And Fatherless Blues - Mississippi Mudder        
20. Don't Misuse Me, Baby - Willie '61' Blackwell        
21. I'm Gonna Train My Baby - Robert Lockwood        
22. Out On Santa Fe Blues - Arthur Petties        
23. It's Hard Times - Joe Stone        
24. Your Good Man Is Gone - Freddie Spruell        
25. Cold Woman Blues - Blind Joe Reynolds        

Disc: 4    
1. Clarksdale Moan - Son House        
2. Adam And Eve In The Garden - Bogus Ben Covington        
3. Lonesome Man Blues - George Torey        
4. Leaving Home Blues - Walter Rhodes        
5. Loving Lady Blues - Sam Collins        
6. Early Mornin' Blues - William Harris        
7. Number Three Blues - Walter 'Buddy Boy' Hawkins        
8. Tell Me Baby - King Solomon Hill        
9. Little Boy Blue - Robert Lockwood        
10. Cottonfield Blues Part 2 - Garfield Akers        
11. Chalk My Toy - Willie '61' Blackwell        
12. Barbecue Bust - Mississippi Jook Band        
13. Two Time Blues - Arthur Petties        
14. Back Door Blues - Joe Stone        
15. Way Back Down Home - Freddie Spruell        
16. Skinny Leg Blues - Geeshie Wiley        
17. Meat Cutter Blues - Joe McCoy        
18. Mississippi Moan - Mississippi Moaner        
19. Married Man Blues - Blind Willie Reynolds        
20. Jefferson County Blues - Sam Butler        
21. Rampaw Street Blues - Willie '61' Blackwell        
22. I'll Overcome Someday - Mississippi Bracey        
23. Good Boy Blues - Arthur Petties        
24. Grand Daddy Blues - Jelly Jaw Short        
25. Let's Go Riding - Freddie Spruell    
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on March 30, 2007, 09:48:04 PM
Hi all,
Whew, that is some track list!  I'm curious, though--does anyone actually think that Sam Butler (BoWeavil Jackson) was from Mississippi, or that George Torey was?  I thought Butler was thought to be from Alabama, and that Torey's origins were unknown, though I believe his two sides were recorded in Birmingham. 
All best,
Johnm 
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on March 30, 2007, 11:53:02 PM
I'm curious, though--does anyone actually think that Sam Butler (BoWeavil Jackson) was from Mississippi.....?  I thought Butler was thought to be from Alabama...
W-e-l-l a Paramount advert for one of his releases (so long ago can't remember whether for Jackson or Butler) stated he was from the Carolinas. Don't know if anybpody followed that line of enquiry.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on March 31, 2007, 06:27:09 AM
Georgia Pine Boy is the name on the list that jumped out at me as a probable non-Mississippian.  Turns out it's a pseudonym for Joe McCoy. 

It's been suggested that Bogus Ben Covington was from Alabama as well.  At least Johnny Parth put him on the Alabama: Black Country Dance Bands disk.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: tommersl on March 31, 2007, 07:48:50 AM
For me Butler/Bo Weavil Jackson is the same guy as Blind Joe Reynolds. I don't know whether he was from Mississippi but maybe his style is related to the Delta. So wasn't Lockwood Jr. and King Solomon and about 40% of the others, weren't from Mississippi Callicot and Akers and others.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on March 31, 2007, 08:25:06 AM
For me Butler/Bo Weavil Jackson is the same guy as Blind Joe Reynolds.
I know this is moving away from discussion but there's no suggestion of that in Gayle Wardlow's Blues Unlimited feature. Here's one of two photos of Reynolds this supplied, I think, by his niece. The other photo first appeared in BU 142 (Summer 1982) which was on the reverse of his American Foundation For The Blind registration card issed 1/1/1965, using the name Joe Sheppard.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on March 31, 2007, 09:05:06 AM
For those interested, the other photo of Joe Reynolds and the Gayle Dean Wardlow article on him are reprinted in Wardlow's "Chasin' That Devil Music". 
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on March 31, 2007, 09:09:18 AM
Hi all,
I don't think it is possible that Joe Reynolds and Sam Butler are one and the same.  Their touch and left-hand vocabulary, especially in standard tuning, are completely different.  They bear some vocal similarity.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on March 31, 2007, 09:10:33 AM
For those interested, the other photo of Joe Reynolds and the Gayle Dean Wardlow article on him are reprinted in Wardlow's "Chasin' That Devil Music". 
Oh yes I forgot it was reprinted in there but I wonder why they never bothered showing the other side of the card!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: tommersl on March 31, 2007, 11:35:52 AM
Hi Bunker, I have Gayle Dean Wardlow's Chasin' book and I read it through straight and backward direction several times, unless I missed it I didn't see any place he wrote Reynolds wasn't Jackson. Sure I'd be curious to hear what he say about it. I also heard Gayle Dean Wardlow has an upcoming book on Robert Johnson. The man is the encyclopedia of the Delta Blues.
Tommersl
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on March 31, 2007, 12:04:56 PM
Hi Bunker, I have Gayle Dean Wardlow's Chasin' book and I read it through straight and backward direction several times, unless I missed it I didn't see any place he wrote Reynolds wasn't Jackson.
So are you saying that GDW is of the belief that they are the same, but has never gone into print with this theory? Sorry, I'm somewhat confused (which ain't nothing new!) ;D

GDW, popped up here a fortnight ago, if still out there Gayle how about putting this to rest for us?
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on March 31, 2007, 12:20:43 PM
Highly doubtful Reynolds and Butler are the same person, IMO. As JohnM points out, their guitar styles, touch, vocabulary etc. are quite different. Their voices, while in the same general ballpark, are also audibly different.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: banjochris on March 31, 2007, 11:12:18 PM
Also, Bo Weavil Jackson looks like this:
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Eldergreene on April 02, 2007, 12:56:55 PM
G'day all, just to echo the recommendation for this set - I received it today, & am very pleased with the selection & sound quality; about half the tracks I'm familiar with, from having previously had them on vinyl, but I've never heard them this clean - I doubt there are many here who don't know most of this stuff, but if there is, this is a MUST BUY, IMO.So much great music for so cheap...
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: tommersl on April 02, 2007, 07:58:08 PM
I see a Robert Johnson song listed as "Travelin Riverside #1", does anyone who has the package can tell whether this song is the same with the Travelin on the 2cd Complete Recordings (the 41 RJ tracks)?
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on May 07, 2007, 05:48:13 PM
Hi all,
I picked up this set last week and it is outstanding, but it has one notable curiosity:  The third track from the end of the program is listed as being Arthur Pettis's "Good Boy Blues", but is, in fact, a track by Webster Taylor, the name of which escapes me.  It is kind of odd that such an error would actually pass into the final product.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: outfidel on May 07, 2007, 09:09:03 PM
It is kind of odd that such an error would actually pass into the final product.

Clearly, JSP needs to hire Weenie Jukesters to do quality control. ;)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on July 18, 2007, 08:10:11 AM
The latest Roots and Rhythm catalog indicates that the 5-CD JSP set "Ma Rainey - Mother of the Blues" has just arrived. I believe Cheapfeet and I were wishing for this awhile back. Ask and ye shall receive. Though it could have been more timely, as I was already buying the Documents. :P
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on July 18, 2007, 09:10:12 AM
You're right UB, I've been waiting for this for a while . . . wow 5 CDS . . . I'm assuming this will be complete . . . & I almost purchased a Yazoo Ma Rainey recently but was scared off by the small # of tracks . . . so got Yazoo Henry Thomas instead . . .
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on July 18, 2007, 11:04:19 AM
That Ma Rainey set sounds great, Uncle Bud and Cheapfeet!  Just to let folks know, I merged a thread on the recent JSP Mississippi Blues set with this thread. Since that set is no longer new, I figured it could reside here with discussion of the other JSP re-issues.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on July 22, 2007, 11:41:37 AM
. . . where's the best (i.e. cheapest!) place to order such stuff offa the web? Thanks
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on July 22, 2007, 11:56:17 AM
Probably the cheapest in Canada is Amazon.ca, especially if you order two JSP sets, since you will then get free shipping. They're currently listing the Ma Rainey set for $24.99 (cheaper than the US Amazon) and the Mississippi Rare Cuts set at $30.99 for some reason. May be better deals out there but I don't know them.

Self-serving Weenie site information: If you do order from Amazon.ca, you can start your search from the Weenie Juke page here http://www.weeniecampbell.com/juke/playing.php to give Weenie a little cut of the sale to offset site costs (and hopefully again some day, Juke costs). Just enter Ma Rainey in the Canada Amazon search box, and then complete your shopping normally. Anything you add to your cart and buy within 24 hours, Weenie gets a cut.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on July 22, 2007, 12:00:23 PM
Thanks UB, will do, almost forgot about the Weenie link!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on July 23, 2007, 09:09:59 AM
Thanks again UB, I just ordered the Ma Rainey & the Mississippi collection through the Weenie link (i hope it worked!) & also that 'Too Late' from Document . . . I think I got my eyes on a Weenie Calender  now . . .
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on August 08, 2007, 09:03:51 AM
Got the 'Mississippi Rare Cuts' & the Ma Rainey boxes the other day & am trying to make my way through them in a busy week of gigs . . . the Mississippi box is a revelation: Garfield Akers, Jim Thompkins, Sam Butler, William Harris, Geeshie Wiley, Blind willie Reynolds, Freddie Spruell, Joe Calicott, Arthur Petties, Willie '61' Blackwell, Sam Collins Mississippi Bracey, Mose Andrews, Buddy Boy Hawkins, King solomon Hill, Otto Virgial, Bogus Ben Covington, Walter Rhodes, etc. are all new to me. I am stunned at the quality of the playing & songwriting of these men & women & am staggered at the amount of new tunes I will be wanting to learn! & of course I finally have the 2 Son House 1930 recordings I needed . . . I'm not even all the way through the collection & It's already worth the money I spent . . .
Couple issues: I am becoming a completist & I will be wanting the couple or several titles missing of some of these performers' work, hoping JSP will release a 2nd volume offering the remaining titles of these artists . . .
JohnM, you mentioned the 3rd last track is mislabelled, is not Arthur Petties but Webster Taylor . . . anyone know what track this actually is?
I find the remastering (?) quite good & most of the tracks sound just great, lively & full.
There are too many highlights & surprises to mention but King solomon Hill's Lemon tribute is fantastic . . . & Geeshie Wiley's 'Last Kind Words Blues' is too cool . . . & etc.
I've only gotten through the first Cd of the Rainey box but the remastering to my novice ears is great . . . much better than the remastering I've heard on the Rainey tracks I've had on compilations . . . & the project seems to be a labour of love by Max Haymes . . . good liner notes . . . . Minor Complaint: don't think this is her complete output . . . don't know how much is missing but my Too Late Vol 11 from Document has a take of 'Stormy Sea Blues' which is one of two: JSP box only has one 'SSBlues' so I'm thinking several or many alternate takes aren't here . . . too bad . . .
Canada Post was pretty rough on the package, Rainey box beat up a little & a couple cracked CD jewel cases but endurable . . .
Kudos to JSP on these releases . . .
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on August 08, 2007, 10:57:43 AM
Did my own investigative work through Penguin Guide to Blues, Google & Amazon:
3rd last track on JSP's Mississippi Blues Rare Cuts 1926-1941 is NOT Arthur Petties' 'Good Boy Blues' but 'Big Road' Webster Taylor's 'Sunny Southern Blues' . . . man, how could they make these kind of mistakes?

**Edited to add . . . JSP's 'Ma Rainey, Mother of the Blues'
More investigative work (thanks to Document) shows that there are at least 3 alternate takes of Ma Rainey songs not on this box:
'Stormy Sea Blues' (take 2, c.August 1925) & 'Broken Hearted Blues' (take 1, c.march 1926) both of which can be found on Document's 'Too Late Vol. 11' AND
'Jealousy Blues' (take 4, c.march 1926) which can found on 'Too Late Vol. 13' . . .
 . . . both CDs are on sale but not for long apparently . . .
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: mississippijohnhurt1928 on August 18, 2007, 11:29:06 AM
On Sept. 25, JSP will release Legendary Country Blues Performers featuring 104 tracks from Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell, Brownsville Son Bonds and Charlie Pickett.

I have heard that it is the COMPLETE pre-war recordings of all the artists mentioned above.

I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
(https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi53.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg65%2Fbillhaley5%2FBoxOnTheWay.jpg&hash=7058f7d84933036d854b4a91bbe27a0b3736ea48)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 18, 2007, 11:43:03 AM
I have to say, I'm looking forward to this one. Think I'll head over to Down Home Music right now and pre-order.

All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on August 18, 2007, 11:53:18 AM
A sensible and logical project. I'm amazed that it's not been tackled before.

Bet Georges Adins 1962 photo was scanned from Story Of The Blues (p.134), you can tell by the way it has been cropped.  >:D

Estes's wife told Georges that the dress she's seen wearing was 100 years old and been passed down through her family! You want useless information? I'm the man to see....  ;D
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 18, 2007, 12:08:42 PM
I say bring on the useless info, BH. Yours beats hell outa whats spewed out on every newspaper I see.-G-

Boy, it is a good pick of John.

All for now,
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 18, 2007, 12:11:42 PM
At 4 CDs, this would not seem to be complete. SJE's complete recordings take up 2 CDs on Document and Yank's take up 2 on Wolf. The prewar SJE is possibly complete (though I haven't checked), Yank content surely is not. Worth comparing tracklists if you can. The tracks are listed on the Amazon UK site  (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legendary-Country-Blues-Artists-Sleepy/dp/tracks/B000TWI812/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/203-9869055-5589511#disc_1). Didn't JSP include some SJE stuff on one of their jug band sets?
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Bunker Hill on August 18, 2007, 12:37:42 PM
At 4 CDs, this would not seem to be complete. SJE's complete recordings take up 2 CDs on Document and Yank's take up 2 on Wolf. The prewar SJE is possibly complete (though I haven't checked), Yank content surely is not. Worth comparing tracklists if you can. The tracks are listed on the Amazon UK site  (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legendary-Country-Blues-Artists-Sleepy/dp/tracks/B000TWI812/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/203-9869055-5589511#disc_1). Didn't JSP include some SJE stuff on one of their jug band sets?
I'm fairly sure you are right on both counts. However the rare Estes post war items that appeared on the Barrelhouse and St George LPs (see Stefan's discography) have been included. I think these were discussed hereabouts last year. Perhaps a Weenie put a good word in for their inclusion.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on August 18, 2007, 12:44:37 PM
No cuts by SJE as leader, but four cuts by Noah Lewis's Jug Band with SJE on guitar, "Ham" Lewis on jug and 2 with Yank on mando and 2, recorded two days later, with "unknown" on mando (could certainly be Yank, I think) and Mrs. Van Zula Carter Hunt adding vocals on the last day.

Bear in mind, JSP manages to cram (at some loss of audio) about 24-25 cuts per CD, where Document is usually around 15-16 per CD.

All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on August 18, 2007, 12:53:27 PM
Quote
At 4 CDs, this would not seem to be complete.

This set does indeed contain all pre-war recordings by the artists in question.  The Wolf CDs came in at around 20 tracks each, fewer, I guess, on the Rachell disks.  And the Rachell Volume 1, if I recall correctly, had the 3 tracks with Rachell on vocals that are on the Document Estes Volume 1 and also on the first Estes disk here. 

By the way, there were a LOT of unissued Yank Rachell recordings in the 1930s - 15 titles in all. More's the pity.

I'm excited about this one.  I've had the Estes Document disks for a long time, but have never been able to score the Rachell or Bonds and Pickett disks.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on August 19, 2007, 08:36:42 AM
The Document Sleepy John CDs are 24 and 26 tracks respectively, the Wolf CDs of Yank Rachell are 20 tracks each. I don't know that I can recall Documents with 16 tracks. Most of mine are in the 20 to 24 range. There are 30 Yank Rachell tracks on the compilation. With the three that dj mentions already on the SJE disks, that leaves 7 tracks unaccounted for, doesn't it? I'm not near my CDs.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: mississippijohnhurt1928 on August 19, 2007, 04:02:24 PM
The Document Sleepy John CDs are 24 and 26 tracks respectively, the Wolf CDs of Yank Rachell are 20 tracks each. I don't know that I can recall Documents with 16 tracks. Most of mine are in the 20 to 24 range. There are 30 Yank Rachell tracks on the compilation. With the three that dj mentions already on the SJE disks, that leaves 7 tracks unaccounted for, doesn't it? I'm not near my CDs.

Perhaps when JSP says complete recordings they are thinking only of Rachell's records which were released under his name.

Forgive me if that's wrong, I haven't seen the track list yet.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on August 19, 2007, 04:59:57 PM
The Penguin Guide To Blues Recordings, though it doesn't list specific tracks, gives the impression that:

1.  The three tracks that are on the Document Sleepy John Estes Volume 1 are not on the Wolf Yank Rachel CDs
2.  The Wolf Rachel CDs do include the titles by Elijah Jones (6) and "Jackson" Joe Williams (4) on which Rachel plays

The 10 tracks listed above plus the 30 extant Rachel recordings not including the 3 on Sleepy John Estes Volume 1 yield 2 20 track CDs.  Can anyone out there confirm that this is the case?
     
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: mississippijohnhurt1928 on August 22, 2007, 10:06:05 AM
Well, as I said earlier, JSP is shceduled to release a "Sleepy John Estes & Friends" set in September.

That looks like it should be very good.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on September 15, 2007, 07:25:26 AM
I have the Louis Armstrong Hot Fives and Sevens, Lang / Venuti, Delmores #1, Hoagy, Atlanta Blues, Lemon, Blake, Jelly Roll Morton. Looking forward to the Sleepy John Estes & friends set.

Interesting... this one (http://www.amazon.com/Early-Years-1946-1957-Chet-Atkins/dp/B000R4S6BO) sneaked by me, released in August. Chet's early days, listening to the samples on Amazon clearly much more Travis influenced than later stuff, heard a lovely snippet of St Louis Blues, a tune I've been mildly obsessed with of late so this one is indispensable for me:
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on September 15, 2007, 10:55:08 AM
Re: JSP Box sound quality . . .

Having listened to the Mississippi box, Lemon & a few others I would have to say that many of the JSP boxes actually don't sound that great. On the MS box especially, when compared to same tracks from other compilations, the JSP remastering was significantly muddier & dampened. At this point in my 78 era listening I'd take lively pops & scratches transfers over dampened less noisy transfers any day. Also on the MS box I noticed select tracks suffer from a kind of digital 'chirping' just in the background, no doubt due to the dampening process. At their prices JSP are probably reckoning they will be reaching a larger audience that don't appreciate the 'natural' sounds of a 78 . . . still, I would have to think the majority of their customers are experienced fans of the 78 era & would want the most complimentary transfers. I think it's possible that some of their 'remastering' isn't done at all for the sake of the integrity of the music but to hide the fact that they are rereleasing the catalogue of other labels. Still, for me, their prices & 'complete' ish release agenda are winning out in the end . . . so what am I bitching about?!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on September 17, 2007, 09:13:35 AM
Cheapfeet - agree about some sloppiness in track names/info and variable sound quality. Some sound is good, some not so good. Depends a lot on the "source" as well.

Basically, I think it all comes down to doing it on the cheap. There is not the same kind of care one finds with the best re-issue labels like Old Hat. JSP notes, while often informative, need a good edit most of the time, too, right through the layout stages. Sound on many Yazoo releases is better, and it's worth having Yazoos -- which rarely feature complete recordings -- in addition to yer Documents or JSPs for just this reason if you're a CB nut, IMO.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on September 17, 2007, 09:47:20 AM
...agree about some sloppiness in track names/info...Basically, I think it all comes down to doing it on the cheap...

The "Essential" series (Document Records/Allegro Music) has its share of errors as well. I picked up the "Essential Washboard Sam" CD a while back and discovered that the track listing was for a Lonnie Johnson compilation --there's nothing like attention to detail!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on November 24, 2007, 06:04:42 PM
Picked up the Sleepy John Estes and Chet Atkins sets today so they're out there.

Haven't had much time to listen to them except to say there are some excellent prewar SJE tracks I'd not heard before, previously I only had the excellent old Yazoo CD

The Chet 5 CD set is a great source for fingerpicking arrangements of tunes from all over the map, thankfully not overdone in the production department as was to happen in later years. There are a few weird double tracking and other experiments; the sleevenotes indicate he may have been poking fun at Les Paul, and I would add probably Travis's wacky sped-up stuff too in some cases; but they don't overpower the whole thing. I will certainly be learning some tunes with ideas from this set, only problem is which ones to chose, there are so many I'd like to play.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on November 27, 2007, 11:28:23 PM
I just ran across a JSP set: "A Richer Tradition - Country Blues & String Band Music"

Here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Richer-Tradition-Country-String-1923-1942/dp/samples/B000W7S8DW/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

It looks interesting. Anyone out there have it?

Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on November 28, 2007, 06:03:04 AM
It's in stock at my local store, I read the track list and decided to go home and compare with what I have.  There is enough new material on there that I will be picking it up this week. Will post a mini review.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on November 28, 2007, 11:16:49 AM
One minor correction - it's A Richer Tradition Country Blues and String Band Music. It's worth posting the tracklist here IMO. Based on this alone, this looks like a really great compilation for those who don't have a lot of this material already.

Disc: 1    
1. Guitar Blues - Sylvester Weaver    
2. Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay - Edward Andrews    
3. Sundown Blues - Daddy Stovepipe    
4. Salt Lake City Blues - Papa Charlie Jackson    
5. Whiskey and Gin Blues - South Street Trio    
6. James Alley Blues - Richard Rabbit Brown    
7. Goin' to Leave You Blues - Big Boy Cleveland    
8. Hey Lawdy Mama/The France Blues - Papa Harvey Hull, Long "Cleve" Reed    
9. Chicken Can Waltz the Gravy Around - David Crockett, Stovepipe No. 1    
10. Bamalong Blues - Andrew & Jim Baxter    
11. Man Trouble Blues - Jaybird Coleman    
12. Blue Coat Blues - Tom "Blue Coat" Nelson    
13. Frisco Whistle Blues - Ed Bell    
14. Two Ways to Texas - Emery Glen    
15. Gravel Camp Blues - Lewis Black    
16. T and T Blues - Mooch Richardson    
17. Death Bell Blues - Tom Dickson    
18. C.C. & O. Blues - Pink Anderson, Simmie Dooley    
19. Middlin' Blues - George "Bullet" Williams    
20. Rolling Log Blues - Lottie Kimbrough    
21. Kyle's Worried Blues - Charlie Kyle    
22. Bull Frog Blues - William Harris    
23. Sobbin' Woman Blues - Elizabeth Johnson & Her Turpentine Tree-O    
24. Miss Meal Cramp Blues - Alec Johnson    
25. Unknown Blues - Tarter & Gay    

Disc: 2    
1. Jail House Blues - Whistler & His Jug Band    
2. Blues, Just Blues, That's All - Old Southern Jug Band    
3. String Band Blues - Kansas City Blues Strummers    
4. Black Cat Blues - Old Pal Smoke Shop Four    
5. Dirty Guitar Blues - Leecan & Cooksey    
6. Boodle-Am-Shake - The Dixieland Jug Blowers    
7. Quill Blues - Big Boy Cleveland    
8. Jug Band Special - Whistler & His Jug Band    
9. Cold Morning Shout - South Street Trio    
10. Violin Blues - Johnson Boys    
11. Winner, Easy - The Blue Boys    
12. G. Burns Is Gonna Rise Again - Johnson, Nelson & Porkchop    
13. I Got a Gal - James Cole String Band    
14. Jazz Fiddler - Lonnie Carter, Walter Jacobs    
15. Knox County Stomp - Tennessee Chocolate Drops    
16. Adam and Eve - Tommie Bradley    
17. Runnin' Wild - James Cole & His Washboard Band    
18. Giving It Away - Birmingham Jug Band    
19. Jackson Stomp - Mississippi Mud Steppers    
20. Rising Sun Blues - King David's Jug Band    
21. Travelin' Railroad Man Blues - Alabama Sheiks    
22. Old Hen Cackle - Coleman & Harper    
23. Ted's Stomp - Louie Bluie, Ted Bogan    
24. Dusting the Frets - Dallas Jamboree Jug Band    
25. Arkansas Traveler - The Nashville Washboard Band
   
Disc: 3
1. Original Stack O'Lee Blues - Little Harvey Hull, Long "Cleve" Reed    
2. Tuxedo Blues - Daddy Stovepipe, Whistlin' Pete    
3. Mean Conductor Blues - Ed Bell    
4. Back Door Blues - Emery Glen    
5. Spanish Blues - Lewis Black    
6. Helena Blues - Mooch Richardson    
7. I Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop - Ben Covington    
8. Rising River Blues - George Carter    
9. She Could Toodle-Oo - Hambone Willie Newbern    
10. Weak Minded Woman - Willie Baker    
11. Old Rock Island Blues - Lonnie Coleman    
12. Cairo Blues - Henry Spaulding    
13. I Ain't Givin' Nobody None - Mae Glover    
14. Showers of Rain Blues - Edward Thompson    
15. Framer's Blues - Eli Framer    
16. If I Call You Mama - Luke Jordan    
17. Never Drive a Stranger from Your Door - Willie Lee Harris    
18. Mississippi Swamp Moan - Alfred Lewis    
19. Paddlin' Madeline Blues - Gitfiddle Jim    
20. Shaking Weed Blues - Tommy Settlers    
21. South Carolina Rag - Willie Walker    
22. Beans - El Morrow, Beans Hambone    
23. Poor Jane Blues - Jack Gowdlock    
24. Window Pane Blues - Tommie Bradley    
25. Hot Jelly Roll Blues - George Carter    

Disc: 4
1. Labor Blues - Tom Dickson    
2. Goin' Away Blues - Lottie Kimbrough    
3. No Baby - Charlie Kyle    
4. Early Mornin' Blues - William Harris    
5. Dreaming Blues - Willie Reed    
6. Weeping Willow Blues - George Carter    
7. Way Down in Arkansas - Hambone Willie Newbern    
8. Wild About My Loving - Lonnie Coleman    
9. Indian Squaw Blues - Freezone    
10. Florida Bound - Edward Thompson    
11. God Didn't Make No Monkey Man - Eli Framer    
12. Tallahatchie River Blues - Mattie Delaney    
13. Diamond Ring Blues - Walter Taylor    
14. Bedside Blues - Jim Thompkins    
15. Lonesome Midnight Dream - Willie Lee Harris    
16. Billy Goat Blues - John Byrd    
17. That Won't Do - Arthur Pettis    
18. Ghost Woman Blues - George Carter    
19. "Toby" Woman Blues - Gene Campbell    
20. Rollin' Dough Blues - Jack Gowdlock    
21. Starvation Farm Blues - Bob Campbell    
22. Farewell to You Baby - Carl Martin    
23. Teasin' Brown Blues - Louie Lasky    
24. Married Woman Blues - George Torey    
25. Dago Blues - Virgil Childers    
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on November 28, 2007, 05:40:03 PM
Thanks for posting the track list of that set, Andrew.  That looks like another "must have" set.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on December 03, 2007, 05:16:20 PM
A very mini review of A Richer Tradition Country Blues and String Band Music: It's excellent, great program, great sound. As you would expect there's a lot of cool material mixed with bordering-on-the-totally-crazed jug band music.

Some of the tracks strike me as pretty sophisticated, jug band instruments playing old jazz progressions. I find that pretty inspiring in terms of what you can do with that instrumentation. Some of the vocalists, mandolinists and washboard players stand out as being seriously good. The jug players are all over the map style-wise. Some clearly have had a few and think they're Louis Armstrong...

Sound quality seems to be good to excellent, I A-B'd with some Yazoo tracks. I haven't listened to all of it yet but I believe JSP have done a fine job and it's easy to predict this will become a classic. Great for playing to the uninitiated to confirm their suspicions that you really are crazy, though nothing will ever beat the Mississippi Mud Steppers' Alma Waltz for that.

Alma isn't on here but Jackson Stomp is; I just made a quick comparison, the version of Jackson Stomp on the JSP is better than the Yazoo mix on Before The Blues Vol 1. I have nothing negative to say about this release.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Michael Kuehn on December 09, 2007, 07:44:41 AM
I picked up the "A Richer Tradition" boxed set, and immediately discovered some mislabeling on Disc A -- haven't gotten to the others yet, so I don't know if this carries on to the rest.

Cut 13 is labeled at Ed Bell's 'Frisco Whistle Blues,' which clearly it's not. That is cut 12. 'Two Ways to Texas' is listed as 14, but it is actually 13. Mooch Richardson's 'T And T Blues' should be cut 15, not 16. Tom Nelson's 'Blue Coat Blues' I think is cut 16, not 12 -- I'm only guessing at this one, since I know he was a fiddler and this is a fiddler's tune. And Lewis Black's 'Gravel Camp Blues' is cut 14 -- I think -- not 15 as shown. But otherwise I'm not familiar with some of the artists, so it's hard to tell what else might be screwed up.

Somewhat disappointed in the mistakes, but the music is great. It was worth the price if only for 'James Alley Blues' by Richard Rabbitt Brown. What a great song -- interesting guitar work, great vocals, and some of the most peculiar lyrics I've heard in a long time: "Sometimes I think that you too sweet to die, And another time I think you oughta be buried alive."

Mike
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on December 09, 2007, 09:26:52 AM
Yeah I'd noticed that track displacement, hadn't gotten around to checking if it was the Gracenote DB used by iTunes that was wrong or the disc vs. packaging track listing. Thanks for sorting it out. I didn't notice any probs on the other discs.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Michael Kuehn on December 09, 2007, 10:26:07 AM
Yeah, I thought at first it might be Gracenote DB also -- so I wanted to check all that before posting. Good to know that the other discs are okay.

Mike
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on December 09, 2007, 11:30:59 AM
I picked up "A Richer Tradition" in my foray to Down Home yesterday, in disappointment that they didn't have Lead's Last Sessions.-F-, but I haven't had a chance to listen, yet. Thanks for the heads up on the mis-info.

So, I was thinking as I was perusing several of the JSP boxes, "Crap, do I have this one or not?" over one or the other. I guess I need to make a list. But the JSP site is so out there with massive graphics that you have to crawl all over to get any info (info not being their strong suit-G-). Does anyone know where one could find, A) a list of all JSP boxed sets and B) info on remastering of the various sets. I can't find any info on the "A Richer Tradition" box at all.

Anyway, I though maybe we could create a list here. Later we could branch out into some of the other companies that do boxed sets as well. (Light goes on! -  say, does the Penguin Guide have an index by labels?) Anyway, under the assumption that there is no easily discoverable list, I thought i'd start out with the JSP boxes I have. Maybe we should categorize by genre, mine all falling into pre war blues, I guess.

[Edit] Ok, I found the catalogue list on the JSP site, but, since I already typed in all the info, I'll post it anyway and folks can add to it if they want. The JSP list is a graphic and I'm not savvy enough to export it to any text formats.

JSP7706 - Blind Lemon Jefferson - The Complete Classic Sides
JSP7711 - Blind Willie McTell - The Classic Years 1927-1940
JSP7714 - Blind Blake - All The Published Sides
JSP7715 - Legends of Country Blues - The Complete Pre-War Recordings of SH,  SJ, BW, TJ & IB
JSP7716 - Memphis Minnie - Queen of Country Blues - 1929-1937
JSP7723 - The Paramount Masters
JSP7730 - Texas Blues - Early Blues Masters From The Lone Star State
JSP7745 - Memphis Jug Band With Cannon's Jug Stompers (John R. T. Davies)
JSP7752 - Memphis Shakedown - More Jug Band Classics
JSP7754 - Atlanta Blues - Big City Blues From The Heartland
JSP7781 - When The Levee Breaks - Mississippi Blue - Rare Cuts 1926-1941
JSP7798 - A Richer Tradition - Country Blues And String Band Music 1923-1942

So, noticing as I went through that Davies was credited with remastering the MJB-CJS box, I have to say, I really like Richard Nevins remastering of the JB material on Ruckus Juice and Chittlins, Vol. 1, a lot better. Down Home still didn't have Vol. 2 in stock so I had to order that, too.

All for now.
John C.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on December 09, 2007, 11:46:21 AM
Wax, I know what you mean about JSP's appalling web site. I would build them one for free if they asked just so I could find things.

Here's a partial solution. http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.asp?qsrch=A&WRD=JSP+Records&z=y

You'll see a lot of items that were recorded later than the stuff we're interested in.

Don't bother doing the same search at Amazon, the results are mixed in with all kinds of unrelated junk.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on December 09, 2007, 12:03:41 PM
JSP at Elderly:

http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=JSP+records&x=7&y=5
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on December 09, 2007, 12:07:36 PM
Way to go Stuart, that's a much cleaner list and grouped by category.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 07, 2008, 03:25:04 PM
I would appreciate any input regarding the JSP, Proper. any others you may recommend, box sets with regards to sound quality and packaging. Any favorite collections?? I have just ordered the Blind Blake box on JSP. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

RJ
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Johnm on January 07, 2008, 04:05:29 PM
Hi rjtwangs,
Welcome to Weenie Campbell!  If you click on "Tags" up near the top of your page, just left of center, you will find categories of tags for Yazoo Records, Document Records, JSP and Proper.  Click on the appropriate tag and you will be given a variety of threads that discuss the re-issues put out by these various labels.  Since the answer to your question can be found in these threads I am going to merge this thread with the JSP thread.
all best,
Johnm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 08, 2008, 06:17:12 PM
Thanks John, I've read the tags about the JSP box sets, but, they are all dated 2005, is there an update? Have they gotten any better? I guess I have the same question about the Proper box sets. If not I guess I'll just get the the sets that are available. Thanks for all the help. Are you folks familiar with Bluebeat Music??

RJ
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on January 09, 2008, 08:05:53 PM
We've started a new weenie series in the content management part of the site. It's all about making worthwhile liner notes more accessible, substantial CD liner notes often being necessarily in so small a typeface they are very hard to read.

First up is A Richer Tradition, Country Blues and String Band Music. We've obtained, um, partial permission to do this, and will remove them if any additional copyright holders object. Several folks around here happen to like this release and so it seemed like a good place to start. Neil Slaven's liner notes are a damn good read being informative, interesting and droll throughout.

To access the notes for the four CDs click on the left menu item 'Album Info', or click here (http://weeniecampbell.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=10&id=128&Itemid=126).

Feedback, suggestions and requests are welcome, it would be nice to build this up a little bit in future.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on January 10, 2008, 09:19:25 AM
I gave CD B of the Blind Lemon Jefferson JSP box a listen the other day & really enjoyed it . . . the multpile takes of Matchbox Blues are very interesting & thank god for that sole record from the Okeh session: the sound quality is so much better than the Paramount stuff. Altho', again, Lemon sounds better on Yazoo I'm constantly surprised how much better some of Lemon's stuff sounds, overall, than I remember.

p.s. River, I think the liner note thread is a great idea. Hope this is something that can continue . . .
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on January 10, 2008, 07:57:05 PM
Review of a couple JSP box sets over at Big Road Blues

http://sundayblues.org/ (http://sundayblues.org/)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 10, 2008, 08:15:23 PM
As for a complete list of JSP box sets and other releases try this, it's from CD Universe, I hope this helps...

RJ

http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?style=music&HT_Search=xlabel&HT_Search_Info=JSP+%28UK%29

Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 12, 2008, 10:24:03 AM
I would like to hear opinions on the two JSP Blind Boy Fuller sets, please. Are both sets essential.

RJ
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: jostber on January 15, 2008, 01:58:48 AM
This looks like a goodie:

(https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Felderly.com%2Fimages%2Frecordings%2F10%2FJSP7767.jpg&hash=45500fdc61dbe4a8847a5a4cc5221ab559057c24)

Any opinions?
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on January 15, 2008, 07:55:22 AM
I would like to hear opinions on the two JSP Blind Boy Fuller sets, please. Are both sets essential.

Well, it depends. Fuller is essential to me because I love his music (I have the Documents however). There is a certain amount of repetition across his entire oeuvre, but not so you could separate between Vol 1 and 2 here. So I guess it depends how much you can take. ;) Vol 2 has later ensemble stuff involving Sonny Terry and Bull City Red, so that's of interest. Vol 2 of JSP also gives you the Bull City Red tracks under his own name, which I really enjoy. Plus Virgil Childers, and then regional Fuller sound-alikes like Floyd Council, and the Trice brothers.

One thing you may want to keep in mind is that Document has been featuring many of their Fuller discs (on which the JSP sets are based) in their Specials section (not currently active, waiting for the next newsletter). They were going for $4-6 or so, I think.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on January 15, 2008, 09:09:44 AM
I'll agree with Andrew on the Fuller sets.  I don't have either of these, but only because I have all the music on various Document Cds.  Fuller's material on volume 1 is, I think, slightly stronger than on volume 2, but volume 2 has the advantage of having a variety of other artists on the last 2 disks.  But hey, it's Fuller, so why not get 'em both? 

I do have the Big Bill Broonzy Volume 3.  In fact, I have all of his JSP sets.  Volume 3 is essentially all of his postwar recordings that were aimed at an African-American audience.  It's an enjoyable set, with some stuff that sounds like his small group recordings from before the war (ok, some of them ARE from before the war), some stuff that's nudging towards early R&B, and some solo material.  The sound is in general pretty good because the source recordings have survived in better shape than some of his prewar records.  The set doesn't give you a complete picture of Broonzy's music, but it's enjoyable listening and highly recommended.
       
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 15, 2008, 12:01:43 PM
Thanks for your input guys I really appreciate it. I just got the Blind Blake 5cd box, Vol.1 of Blind Boy Fuller, and these three collections, 'Shake em' on Down', 'A Richer Tradition', and 'Mississippi Blues'. From the Boulevard Vintage label came, 'Down Home Chicago Blues Classics, 1946-1956'. Now all I need is a few weeks to listen to them all!!

RJ
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on January 15, 2008, 06:26:26 PM
BBF Vol 2 is really good, fun and interesting, like this website!
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on January 15, 2008, 08:02:38 PM
Thanks Rivers, I'll be ordering that as well. I ordered from Bluebeat Music on Saturday and received all of these box sets(6) on Monday, I was amazed, so I ordered more today. I would highly recommend Charlie and Bluebeat to everyone here!!

RJ
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: CF on January 23, 2008, 07:50:20 PM
Got 'Big Joe Williams & the Stars of the Mississippi Blues' & the Jimmie Rodgers JSP boxes today.
Big Joe box is really good. It's got completish Joe up to 1951, complete Tommy McClennan, Robert Petway & Willie 'Poor Boy' Lofton. Honeyboy Edwards' 1942 LOC recordings seem complete altho' I thought I read somewhere there were interview/talking excerpts that didn't make it here?
The audio is superior to many JSP boxes partly due to the hi fidelity of the source recordings. It's impressive how good McClennan's recordings ('39-'42) sound, like he's in the room with you.
These are all really great recordings but there is definately a samness in their styles that can wear on you if you try to listen to all 6 hours of the box like I did today!
The notes are good & by Neil Slaven. He quotes Honeyboy at length who has offered some of the only information we have on McClennan & Petway . . . who sound crazily similar to me on my first listen.
I only noticed a couple of not too troublesome goofs in the personnel & dates.
One of the better JSP sets I have.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Minnesota Dave on January 24, 2008, 06:42:51 AM
JSP has two Paramount boxes. I just ordered Paramount Masters. What are the differences between this one and the other one?

Thanks,

Dave
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Stuart on January 24, 2008, 08:22:41 AM
JSP has two Paramount boxes. I just ordered Paramount Masters. What are the differences between this one and the other one?

Assuming you are referring to "Paramount Old Time Recordings," it contains mostly "country," "hillbilly," or "old timey" material from the White side of the catalog.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Minnesota Dave on January 24, 2008, 08:32:00 AM
JSP has two Paramount boxes. I just ordered Paramount Masters. What are the differences between this one and the other one?

Assuming you are referring to "Paramount Old Time Recordings," it contains mostly "country," "hillbilly," or "old timey" material from the White side of the catalog.

Yep. That's what I'm referring to. I guess I could have referred to it better. Thanks for the scoop. I'm glad I went for the Masters box first.

Dave
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: banjochris on January 24, 2008, 05:32:55 PM
JSP has two Paramount boxes. I just ordered Paramount Masters. What are the differences between this one and the other one?

Assuming you are referring to "Paramount Old Time Recordings," it contains mostly "country," "hillbilly," or "old timey" material from the White side of the catalog.

Yep. That's what I'm referring to. I guess I could have referred to it better. Thanks for the scoop. I'm glad I went for the Masters box first.

Dave

And speaking as someone who loves old-time music and owns the set, I wouldn't be in a huge rush to pick up that Paramount Old-Time Recordings Set.
Chris
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Minnesota Dave on January 26, 2008, 07:13:51 PM
Why's that, Chris?

Okay, I have a question for you guys. I asked this on another forum and came up with nothing. In the Richer Tradition set from JSP, On disc A, there are incorrect track listings. I have it all figured out except for track 16. What is the song and artist on disc A, track 16?

Thanks.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: waxwing on January 26, 2008, 07:19:01 PM
Hey Dave,

Go to the top of the page and check the menu on the left. Find and select the item Album Info (under Resources). Then select A Richer Tradition disc A, scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the corrections.

All for now.
John C. (born in Minneapolis-G-)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on January 26, 2008, 08:47:50 PM
Hey Dave,

Go to the top of the page and check the menu on the left. Find and select the item Album Info (under Resources). Then select A Richer Tradition disc A, scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the corrections.

All for now.
John C. (born in Minneapolis-G-)

And as it stands now, you have to be logged in to actually see that menu item. Just in case anyone is not seeing it...

So it looks like your track is Blue Coat Blues, by Blue Coat Tom Nelson, if I'm reading it right. I don't have the record myself so can't say one way or the other.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Rivers on January 26, 2008, 09:35:12 PM
That would be correct, track 16 shuffles up to 12 and the next 4 tracks go down a notch. When I've really had nothing better to think about I've found myself wondering why. Was it a late breaking change and they forgot to tell tell the printer?

Simon: "Really Nigel I love the emotional intensity created by Blue Coat Tom Nelson's tune paired with Jaybird Coleman. Let's move it from 16 to 12".
Nigel: "My dear boy. I just sent the notes to the printer"
Simon: "Never mind, they're used to us screwing up the documentation. What do they expect for 29 bucks anyway?"
Both: (laughter)

Unlikely I admit. Maybe somebody screwed up the copy. Or the master, or both. Sabotage inside JSP? Do Yazoo or Document have an operative in there? Whatever it's a great little comp, way off the mainstream mostly. The f/up in the notes adds to its charm, after you've recovered from severe puzzlement first time through. I love disc 2, seeing as how it's packed with extremely rowdy jug band selections.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: Minnesota Dave on January 27, 2008, 06:10:06 AM
Hey Dave,

Go to the top of the page and check the menu on the left. Find and select the item Album Info (under Resources). Then select A Richer Tradition disc A, scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the corrections.

All for now.
John C. (born in Minneapolis-G-)

Thanks! I suppose I should have figured that out myself but you can't tell what that song is by listening to the lyrics.

--Dave [born in Mpls. and still there!]
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: rjtwangs on February 07, 2008, 05:13:27 PM
I just got the JSP box sets on Sleepy John Estes with Yank Rachell, the second Blind Boy Fuller, The first Big Bill Broonzy and the Proper Lonnie Johnson box. So far I am really enjoying the Sleepy John stuff, I love the sound of the mandolin. I may have to buy one!!

RJ
Title: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: outfidel on October 07, 2008, 08:49:52 PM
from the latest Roots & Rhythm catalogue

Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues
VARIOUS ARTISTS

JSP JSPCD 77109
CD $28.98

Due later this week. Four CD set with 100 tracks recorded between the 1920s and 1950s on the subject of hard times and the response to it and even though this programmed some months ago seems highly appropriate to the situation the country finds itself in. Then, as now, the working class and African Americans in particular were the hardest hit by downturns in the economy, natural disasters and shortage of work and used the creative medium of the blues to express their feelings. This collection ranges from Blind Blake's No Dough Blues to Leroy Carr's Depression Blues to Big Joe Williams' Providence Help The Poor People to Jack McVea's Inflation Blues and much, much more.

BARBECUE BOB: Bad Time Blues/ BLACK IVORY KING: Working For The P.W.A./ SCRAPPER BLACKWELL: Down And Out Blues/ Hard Time Blues/ BLIND BLAKE: No Dough Blues/ BARBECUE BOB: We Sure Got Hard Times/ LUCILLE BOGAN: Red Cross Man/ SON BONDS: Old Bachelor Blues/ JOHN BRIM: Tough Times/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Starvation Blues/ Unemployment Stomp/ W.P.A. Blues/ CLARENCE 'GATEMOUTH' BROWN: Depression Blues/ BUMBLE BEE SLIM: Chain Gang Bound/ Hobo Jungle Blues/ When I Get My Money/ BOB CAMPBELL: Starvation Farm Blues/ GENE CAMPBELL: Levee Camp Man Blues/ LEROY CARR: Hard Times Done Drove Me To Drink/ The Depression Blues/ ANDY CHATMAN: Hard Times On Me Blues/ COUSIN JOE: Post-War Future Blues/ GEORGE CURRY: Back In My Cell Again/ BLIND TEDDY DARBY: Meat And Bread Blues/ WALTER DAVIS: Red Cross Blues/ TOM DICKSON: Labor Blues/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Warehouse Man Blues/ CARRIE EDWARDS: Hard Time Blues/ SLEEPY JOHN ESTES: Government Money/ Hobo Jungle Blues/ ALFRED FIELDS: '29 Blues/ CALVIN FRAZIER: Welfare Blues/ GENE GILMORE: Charity Blues/ JIMMIE GORDON: Don't Take Away My P.W.A./ GUITAR SLIM & JELLY BELLY: Keep Straight Blues/ Working Man Blues/ LANE HARDIN: Hard Time Blues/ KING SOLOMON HILL: Times Has Done Got So Hard/ SMOKEY HOGG: Hard Times/ Unemployment Blues/ TONY HOLLINS: Stamp Blues/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Strike Blues/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: High Cost Low Pay Blues/ Reconversion Blues/ J.B. HUTTO: Things Are So Slow/ FRANK 'SPRINGBACK' JAMES: New Red Cross Blues/ ALEC JOHNSON: Miss Meal Cramp Blues/ LONNIE JOHNSON: Four-O-Three Blues/ Hard Times Ain't Gone No Where/ FLOYD JONES: Ain't Times Hard/ Stockyard Blues/ CHARLEY JORDAN: Days Of The Weeks Blues/ Starvation Blues/ Tough Times Blues/ JACK KELLY: R.F.C. Blues/ J.B. LENOIR: Eisenhower Blues/ CARL MARTIN: I'm Gonna Have My Fun/ Let's Have A Good Deal/ CHARLIE MCCOY: Charity Blues/ Northern Starvers Are Returning Home/ ROBERT LEE MCCOY: I Have Spent My Bonus/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: The Panic's On/ FRED MCMULLEN: Dekalb Chain Gang/ JACK MCVEA: Inflation Blues/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Nothing In Rambling/ Sylvester And His Mule Blues/ THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS: Sales Tax/ BUDDY MOSS: Hard Time Blues/ RED NELSON: Relief Blues/ When The Soldiers Get Their Bonus/ HAMBONE WILLIE NEWBERN: Shelby County Workhouse Blues/ SAMPSON PITTMAN: Welfare Blues/ JOE PULLUM: Bonus Blues/ YANK RACHELL: Hobo Blues/ TAMPA RED: Turpentine Blues/ WALTER ROLAND: C.W.A. Blues/ Red Cross Blues/ Red Cross Blues No.2/ SONNY SCOTT: Coal Mountain Blues/ OLLIE SHEPARD: Hard Times Is On Me/ WILLIE 'LONG TIME' SMITH: Homeless Blues/ CHARLEY SPAND: Hard Time Blues/ SPECKLED RED: Welfare Blues/ JOE STONE: It's Hard Time/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Living In A Different World/ Sunny Road/ SONNY TERRY & BROWNIE MCGHEE: Red Cross Store Blues/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Cotton Picking Blues/ EDDIE VINSON: Bonus Pay/ Luxury Tax Blues/ WASHBOARD SAM: C.C.C. Blues/ CASEY BILL WELDON: W.P.A. Blues/ PEETIE WHEATSTRAW: 304 Blues/ Jungle Man Blues/ When I Get My Bonus/ Working On The Project/ JOSHUA WHITE: Welfare Blues/ BIG JOE WILLIAMS: Providence Help The Poor People/ L.C. WILLIAMS: Strike Blues/ JIM WYNN: Shipyard Woman 
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: jostber on October 08, 2008, 05:31:31 AM
Seems like a mighty fine compilation with some real winners. A fine cover too:

(https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61Bzb2QMUFL._SS500_.jpg&hash=1869c84b5cf7683bd2f5a94ee47370e679420a07)

Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Johnm on January 12, 2009, 05:04:45 PM
Hi all,
Please don't consider this a review in the formal sense, but I picked up this set last week, and consider it to be one of the more boring JSP re-issue sets I've purchased, primarily because fully a third of it seems to be comprised of covers of "Red Cross Store"--one or two or three, perhaps, but ten or twelve?  It really becomes stupefying after a while.  I have a pretty high boredom threshold when it comes to this music, but I found it a major chore to listen to more than one disc of this set consecutively.  The earliest and latest stuff on the set tends to be more interesting, but the music from the mid-late '30s turns out for the most part to be desperately dull.  I will say that Peetie Wheatstraw really shines in comparison to most of his contemporaries represented here.  I don't think I ever fully appreciated before how time-challenged Smokey Hogg was--he really appears to have had no sense of time at all.  I would say unless you are writing a doctoral dissertation on this material, don't make it a high priority item for purchase.
all best,
Johnm
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: dj on January 13, 2009, 04:22:31 AM
Quote
fully a third of it seems to be comprised of covers of "Red Cross Store"

I don't know, John.  If the track list outfidel posted is accurate, the compilers shower remarkable restraint in leaving off Sonny Terry's "The Red Cross Store", Walter Davis' "Red Cross Blues Part 2", and both of Sonny Scott's versions.   ;D
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Rivers on January 13, 2009, 04:10:42 PM
Not to mention Fred McDowell, Leadbelly, Pete Harris and Lonzie Thomas... it could have been worse...
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: dj on January 13, 2009, 05:02:00 PM
Wow, that's 14 versions, without even breaking a sweat.   
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Johnm on January 13, 2009, 06:15:33 PM
Hi all,
I wish it had had versions by Lonzie Thomas and Pete Harris--it would have been a hell of a lot more interesting.  But upon re-thinking dj's and Rivers' points, I'l re-cast my initial assessment of the set, and say that if you are looking for a set that could be worse, this is the one to get.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Stuart on January 13, 2009, 08:57:38 PM
John:

Thanks for taking the time to give us your honest evaluation. I value your opinion. When this set was first released, I was intrigued by the thematic nature of the set, but I chose not to put it on my short list as I already have some of the cuts on other CDs. As you say, it's probably best relegated to the category of dissertation source material. Perhaps this one should be placed under the heading of, "For the Completist."
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Bunker Hill on January 14, 2009, 12:22:54 AM
Given the current economic climate maybe JSP has spotted a potential "gap in the market"!  :P
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Richard on January 14, 2009, 01:23:13 PM
BH, very good ;)
Title: Re: Ain't Times Hard - Political & Social Commentary In The Blues (JSP)
Post by: Mr.OMuck on January 14, 2009, 01:37:34 PM
Quote
if you are looking for a set that could be worse, this is the one to get.

HEEEYYAAAAWWWWWKKKKK! WAAHHHH! HHHAAA! HAAAAA! :P  (this is meant to indicate uproarious laughter)
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: lindy on November 15, 2009, 06:58:24 PM

For those of you who are not on the list for announcements from Roots and Rhythm, check it out:

"A limited time sale on every title in JSP's catalog of box sets - over 30% discount on more than 140 titles - until December 31st, 2009 only."

Details here:

http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/roots/JSP_Box_Set_Intro.htm

Lindy
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: RobBob on November 16, 2009, 11:23:25 AM
If you are looking for JSP box sets, here's a good deal:

http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/roots/JSP%20Box%20Sets/JSP_Boxes_Blues_2.htm
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on December 18, 2009, 02:27:05 PM
Does any one have, or has anyone seen the "Breaking Out Of New Orleans, 1922-1927" set?  If so , could you comment on the quality of the liner notes and whether there is any discographical information at all?  I'm interested in dipping my toe a little deeper into early jazz, and this seems like an easy way to to this, but I'd really prefer to know at least personnel and year of recording of the tracks.

If the JSP set doesn't have any of this info, can anyone recommend a better/alternate source for this material?
   
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: lindy on December 18, 2009, 03:36:25 PM

DJ:

I cannot answer your question about the liner notes, but if they are anything like the notes in the three JSP box sets that I just got in the mail last week, most likely they will be real thin on detail.

This is a situation where I hope you still have a turntable in your home. I think one of the best selections of early New Orleans material was put out by Columbia back in the 1960s. It's called "The Sound of New Orleans, 1917-1947," and it was the first part of a series called "Jazz Odyssey." The big difference between this 3-LP set and the JSP set you are talking about is that the JSP set has several tunes each from a fairly small number of bands, whereas the Columbia LPs have one song each from a large number of bands. Of course, you'll hear a lot of Louis Armstrong because he played in a lot of bands, which is wonderful. The notes in the Columbia set are detailed, and the large-format booklet has lots of great pictures of the old masters who did not move from New Orleans up river to St. Louis or Chicago: Bebe Ridgley, "Slow Drag" Pavageau (great nickname), Alphonse Picou, George Lewis, etc.

If you're able to listen to internet radio during the morning hours of 9-noon, central time, wwoz.org has a New Orleans music show Mon-Fri in that time slot. If I remember right, Tuesdays and Thursdays are particularly good for '20s and '30s New Orleans recordings. The DJ on Fridays, Bob French, is 100% local color.

Finally, get yourself on a plane and go down and see it all for yourself, Frenchmen Street is where it's all happening, plus Fritzel's club on Bourbon. Before you go, read Tom Sancton's book, "A Song for My Fathers," about "The Mens" (plus Sweet Emma Barrett) who made up the first Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Breathtaking music, enjoy your discovery period.

Lindy



Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on December 18, 2009, 06:19:30 PM
Most of the JSP sets I have are actually quite good about discographical information, in fact.

Perhaps banjochris will speak up here. He recommended the New Orleans set to me, which I still have not picked up yet.  I did get the Jazz the World Forgot discs from Yazoo that he said are even better. They really are wonderful, really great material, no regrets whatsoever, and have song by song notes with year (though not date) of recording, but not comprehensive discographical info about personnel.

The thread is here: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=128&topic=4237.0
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: lindy on December 18, 2009, 07:37:21 PM
Most of the JSP sets I have are actually quite good about discographical information, in fact.

Whoops, I'm mixing up discographies with liner notes. I recently bought the "Western Swing and Country Jazz," "When the Levee Breaks Mississippi Blues," and the "Frankie Lee Sims/Mercy Dee Walton" box sets. The discographic info is all there like it's supposed to be, but it's the liner notes that are slim. The Sims/Walton notes are a bit better, two whole pages dedicated to each player individually, but still not a whole lot of information. For the others the liner note writers pretty much give one sentence to each band or player then move on to the next.

I guess I'm showing my age here. Basic discographical info is good, the who-what-when-where for each song, but I liked the days when record companies paid people to write detailed liner notes. In the last couple of weeks I've also bought a lot of the Prestige/Bluesville CDs that have been on sale at Oldies--Pete Franklin, Baby Tate, Gary Davis, Mercy Dee Walton, and Emma Barrett. All of those CDs have the original liner notes from their LP versions, written by people like Samuel Charters, Art Rosenbaum, Larry Cohn, and a guy name Herb Friedwald who knew all the old New Orleans players in the 50s and 60s. The Columbia LP set I suggested to DJ has a 32-page booklet, same size as the box the records came in, with 20 pages of text written by Frederic Ramsey. Lotta meat there. The JSP box sets I just bought don't have anything like that, might be part of the reason why the sets are so cheap.

Lindy

 
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: uncle bud on December 18, 2009, 07:48:41 PM
Yup, I was referring to discographical information that dj had asked about (assuming that's what he meant). Recording dates, personnel, instrumentation. Raw data. Notes like you describe are certainly wonderful to get wherever you can, naturally. Some people still do it right. Old Hat are very good, as is much of the stuff I've seen on Smithsonian Folkways.
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: banjochris on December 19, 2009, 01:21:11 AM
Perhaps banjochris will speak up here. He recommended the New Orleans set to me, which I still have not picked up yet.  I did get the Jazz the World Forgot discs from Yazoo that he said are even better. They really are wonderful, really great material, no regrets whatsoever, and have song by song notes with year (though not date) of recording, but not comprehensive discographical info about personnel.

The "Breaking Out of New Orleans" set lists all the personnel and dates of recording for each track. As far as discography it's rather odd. Some of the tracks are listed with record numbers, e.g. Ory's Sunshine Orchestra "Krooked Blues" is listed as Sunshine 3001, but most of the tracks are listed with matrix numbers only, no label info or record number. I'm not sure why they do this; they should either put both or neither, I think. Granted that you can tell who some of the numbers are for (C-1237 is probably Vocalion, IIRC) it does seem a bit pointless. The important stuff (personnel and date) is there though.
Chris
Title: Re: JSP Boxed Sets--Blind Lemon & Others
Post by: dj on December 19, 2009, 03:52:10 AM
Thanks, Chris.  Usually JSP does a pretty good discographical job, but what always worries me about their more obscure collections is what they did with "It's Hotter In Hawaii", where there is no discographical information and reading the notes leaves you no wiser about the music than when you strarted.  Great music, though.
Title: JSP Box Sets
Post by: jopoke on October 23, 2011, 07:00:45 AM
A local music store, here in OKC, has many used JSP box sets in stock.  They had around 30 sets and most are 12-14 dollars.  Here's their website : http://guestroom-records.com/

I picked up the Riley Puckett set, which is very good.

Take it easy, Joe
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