SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 5 • 1945-1947 | DOCD-5059 (1991) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A comprehensive collection of the great blues pioneer's final work, recorded between 1945 and 1947. (This is the Sonny Boy Williamson who was murdered in 1948, not the one who toured with the Yardbirds in England in 1963).

Most of the tracks here include electric guitar (check out Willie Lacey's Charlie Christian licks on "Sugar Gal" and "Alcohol Blues") and drums. The overall sound is eerily prescient of Chicago blues (the great Willie Dixon is present on bass on several of the songs), the jump blues style of Louis Jordan ("Apple Tree Swing"), and rock & roll. AllMusic

Abridged from this ablum’s original booklet notes. Between 1944 and the end of his career (and life) in 1948, Sonny Boy Williamson had gone from strength to strength. He had already made reference in song to his appreciation of artists like Fats Waller and he seemed determinedly updating his sound. More and more of Sonny Boy‘s recordings featured a solid up tempo beat, often provided by drummers such as Jump Jackson or Judge Riley, and the guitarists and the pianists that he favoured (Willie Lacy, big Bill Broonzy and Blind John Davis – even Big Maceo and the ever adaptable Tampa Red for one session) were also capable of moving with the times, providing jazzier accompaniments to show off Sonny Boy‘s ever increasing skills on the harmonica. For his last sessions Sonny Boy continued the mix as before but now the performances had more punch and a marked, deliberate swing. He still returned to his roots, recording such tracks as Bring Another Half Pint. The term ‘swing’ seems to have replaced the previous ‘jump’ in a couple of tracks like Rub A Dub, Polly Put The Kettle On and Mellow Chick Swing. Having weathered the recording bans and the war years with his popularity unimpaired, Sonny Boy was the undisputed leader and trend setter for blues harmonica players all over the country. Sadly Sonny Boy Williamson would not go onto explore his musical range further. He was murdered on his way from a gig at the Plantation Club on the early morning of 1st June 1948. Attacked and robbed, Sonny Boy managed to get back to his flat. When his wife Lacey Belle opened the door she was confronted by the awful sight of Sonny Boy covered in blood, swaying on his feet. “Lord have mercy” were his final words before slipping into unconsciousness from which he never awoke. As the five volumes presented on Document of his entire output attest, the legacy and influence of Sonny Boy Williamson 1st, has been pivotal both upon fellow and future blues harmonica players. DOCD-5059
Tracklist :
1        Early In The Morning 3:02
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
2        The Big Boat 2:59
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
3        Stop Breaking Down 2:57
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
4        You're An Old Lady  3:12
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
5        Sonny Boy's Cold Chills 3:06
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
6        Mean Old Highway 3:25
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
7        Hoodoo Hoodoo 2:55
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
8        Shake The Boogie 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
9        Mellow Chick Swing 2:36
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
10        Polly, Put The Kettle On 2:30
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
11        Lacey Belle 2:52
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
12        Apple Tree Swing 2:26
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
13        Wonderful Time 3:04
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
14        Sugar Gal 3:01
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
15        Willow Tree Gal 3:13
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
16        Alcohol Blues 2:50
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
17        Little Girl 2:54
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
18        Blues About My Baby 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
19        No Friend Blues 2:52
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
20        I Love You For Myself 3:02
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
21        Bring Another Half A Pint 3:05
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
22        Southern Dream 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
23        Rub A Dub 2:41
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
24        Better Cut That Out 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson