MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 • 1931-1934 | DOCD-5085 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Document's third helping of the Mississippi Sheiks' chronologically arranged "complete works" is stocked with 23 OKeh, Paramount, and Bluebird recordings made in Atlanta, GA, Grafton, WI, New York, NY, and San Antonio, TX, during the "lean years" of 1931-1934. One reason the Sheiks were able to maintain some measure of popularity and continue making records during a time when phonograph companies were shutting down and established artists had difficulty finding regular work was their practiced ability to appeal to both white and black listeners. The violin that they took turns playing was in that sense the key to success, as live audiences and the record-purchasing public really went in for the Southern rural sound that characterized this fiddle-and-guitar group during the first half of the 1930s. Credit is also due to the strongly steeped chemistry between Walter Vinson and the brothers Lonnie, Sam, and Bo Chatman. Bo succeeded as a solo act under the name Bo Carter by specializing in "dirty blues" that teemed with amusing sexual metaphors. On this intriguing collection, Bo is credited as the creator of such colorful titles as "Bed Spring Poker" and "I've Got Blood in My Eyes for You."  arwulf arwulf

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. The Mississippi Sheiks wrapped up their two days in Atlanta with four titles which show off Walter Vinson‘s guitar playing to particular advantage, as well as including some clever lyrics: When You’re Sick With The Blues is hokum, but Bed Spring Poker gives an unusual warning of the dangers of sexual gambling. I’ve Got Blood In My Eyes For You was one of four titles from these sessions issued on Columbia, the parent company of Okeh. Around the time Columbia 14660-D was released, in June 1932, the Sheiks were recording for Paramount, which was in turn to terminate its 12/13000 race series towards the end of that year. The last two discs issued were both by the Mississippi Sheiks; all through the Depression they had been favourites with black record buyers, and it’s not surprising that they were Paramount’s last throw of the dice. Nor, perhaps, is it surprising that much of the session was devoted to remakes and rewrites. Inevitably, they cut further – and very fine – versions of Stop and Listen and Sitting On Top Of The World, and Don’t Wake It Up (taken at a tearing speed) and Please Baby were second attempts at songs recorded in Atlanta the previous year. Shooting High Dice used the tune of W. C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues”, while New Shake That Thing was a tribute to the enduring popularity of Papa Charlie Jackson‘s hit from 1925, given engaging new lyrics that celebrate the ability of Southerners to have fun. Apart from reworking old numbers, the Sheiks also made some excellent originals: She’s Crazy About Her Lovin’ showcases some of the finest and most intuitive playing recorded by either Vinson or Lonnie Chatmon, and He Calls That Religion is a biting attack on clerical hypocrisy. The most unusual song was the last: I’ll Be Gone, Long Gone is unsurprising in being one more lyric to the melody of “Sitting On Top Of The World”, but, uniquely for the Sheiks, it is a piano-guitar duet. As usual, Walter Vinson is the guitarist and vocalist. Even in 1933, there was still a little recording of blues singers going on, and in June of that year the Mississippi Sheiks were allocated a block of eight Columbia matrices, although only two titles were issued. Despite the standard discography, there are two guitars present along with Lonnie’s fiddle. One of the guitars is Walter Vinson; the other has been assumed to be Bo Carter. It’s quite possible, but the duetting, especially on Kitty Cat Blues, has a heavier, more percussive touch than that on “Sales Tax” (see DOCD-5086), where Bo is definitely present, and the second guitarist might be Charlie McCoy, who settled in Chicago about this time. Bo Carter was definitely present on 26th and 27th March 1934 and he is said by “Blues & Gospel Records” to be the vocalist and guitarist for the Sheiks on these dates, with Sam Chatman on second guitar, and Lonnie on violin as usual. Walter Vinson might be present on one of the sessions, as may be heard on DOCD-5086. Vinson was definitely present at both sessions, but it appears that he was absent for the titles on this album; the guitar picking is characteristic of Bo Carter. After much listening it can be concluded that Bo is the singer as well. Unsurprisingly, he recorded a version of Sitting On Top Of The World, although he gave it ingenious lyrics about the numbers game. It’s Done Got Wet was a joyful celebration of the end of Prohibition, with a scat episode, and Bo Carter imitating Walter’s intrusive “r” (“Oh-rit’s done got wet”, etc.). These six titles are all notable for the superb interplay between Bo’s guitar and Lonnie’s violin, which produces a quite different sound to that of the usual Sheiks duo. DOCD-5085
Tracklist :
1    Shake Hands And Tell Me Goodbye 2:54
Violin [Prob.] – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Walter Vincson
2    Bed Spring Poker 3:08
Violin [Prob.] – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Walter Vincson
3    When You’re Sick With The Blues 3:07
Violin [Prob.] – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Walter Vincson
4    I’ve Got Blood In My Eyes For You 3:13
Violin [Prob.] – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Walter Vincson
5    Shooting High Dice 3:25
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
6    Isn’t A Pain To Me 3:42
Guitar – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals – Lonnie Chatman
7    She’s Crazy About Her Lovin’ 2:59
Guitar, Vocals [Poss.] – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals [Poss.] – Lonnie Chatman
8    Tell Me To Do Right 3:29
Guitar, Vocals [Poss.] – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals [Poss.] – Lonnie Chatman
9    The New Stop And Listen Blues 3:44
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
10    Go ‘Way Woman 3:22
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
11    New Shake That Thing 3:02
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
12    The New Sittin’ On Top Of The World 3:09
Guitar – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals – Lonnie Chatman
13    He Calls That Religion 3:29
Guitar – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals – Lonnie Chatman
14    Don’t Wake It Up 3:33
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
15    Please Baby 3:31
Guitar – Walter Vincson
Violin, Vocals – Lonnie Chatman
16    I’ll Be Gone, Long Gone 3:16
Guitar, Vocals – Walter Vincson
Piano – Unknown Artist
17    Kitty Cat Blues 3:12
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
18    Show Me What You Got 3:08
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
19    Hitting The Numbers 2:58
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
20    It’s Done Got Wet 3:16
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
21    Pencil Won’t Write No More 2:53
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
22    I Am The Devil 3:06
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman
23    Baby, Please Make A Change 3:09
Guitar [Prob.] – Sam Chatman
Violin – Lonnie Chatman
Vocals, Guitar – Bo Chatman