BARBECUE BOB (Robert Hicks) — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 • 1927-1928 | DOCD-5046 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Barbecue Bob," who was born Robert Hicks, gained his nickname because he worked as a chef at a barbecue place. A warm singer and extroverted guitarist, Barbecue Bob has had his entire output (recorded during 1927-1930) reissued on three Document CDs. Vol. 1 has 21 unaccompanied performances (all of the sessions except two from New York were recorded in Atlanta) plus the two-part "It Won't Be Long Now," which teams Hicks with hs brother, guitarist/vocalist "Laughing Charley" Hicks. Other highlights include "Barbecue Blues," "Mississippi Heavy Water Blues," "Poor Boy a Long Ways From Home," "Brown-Skin Gal," an early version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" (from 1927), "Fo Day Creep," and "Chocolate to the Bone."  Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Robert Hicks was an extrovert young man of 24 when Columbia’s Dan Hornsby arranged his first recording session in March 1927 and had only moved into Atlanta from the countryside a few years before. When he recorded, Hicks was working as a chef at Tidwell’s Barbecue, and the company nicknamed him Barbecue Bob (using his real name as a pseudonym for his solitary gospel record!). He and his elder brother Charlie had learned guitar, along with their friend Curley Weaver, from Curley’s mother; all three played in a similar style, favouring the big, booming sound of the 12-string guitar, and relishing the contrast of pulsing bass riffs with the whine of a bottleneck on the treble strings. Barbecue Blues was a good seller, but it was at his second session, in New York in June 1927, that Bob firmly established himself with black record buyers, DOCD-5037
Tracklist :
1    Barbecue Bob–    Barbecue Blues    3:09
2    Barbecue Bob–    Cloudy Sky Blues    3:07
3    Barbecue Bob–    Mississippi Heavy Water Blues    3:05
4    Barbecue Bob–    Mamma You Don't Suit Me!    3:07
5    Barbecue Bob–    Brown Skin Gal    3:02
6    Barbecue Bob–    Honey You Don't Know My Mind    3:08
7    Barbecue Bob–    Poor Boy A Long Ways From Home    3:00
8    Barbecue Bob–    When The Saints Go Marching In    3:06
9    Barbecue Bob–    Jesus' Blood Can Make Me Whole    3:03
10    Barbecue Bob–    Easy Rider Don't You Deny My Name    2:54
11    Barbecue Bob–    Thinkin' Funny Blues    3:22
12    Barbecue Bob–    My Mistake Blues    3:18
13    Barbecue Bob–    Motherless Chile Blues    3:10
14    Barbecue Bob–    How Long Pretty Mama    3:20
15    Barbecue Bob And Laughing Charley–    It Won't Be Long Now ~ Part 1    3:29
16    Barbecue Bob And Laughing Charley–    It Won't Be Long Now ~ Part 2    3:23
17    Barbecue Bob–    Crooked Woman Blues    2:48
18    Barbecue Bob–    'Fo Day Creep    3:02
19    Barbecue Bob–    Blind Pig Blues    3:12
20    Barbecue Bob–    Waycross Georgia Blues    3:06
21    Barbecue Bob–    Going Up The Country    3:10
22    Barbecue Bob–    Chocolate To The Bone    2:49
23    Barbecue Bob–    Hurry And Bring It Back Home    3:03
Credits :
Guitar, Vocals – Charlie Hicks (tracks: 15, 16)
Vocals, Guitar – Barbecue Bob