JAZZ GILLUM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 • 1941-1946 | DOCD-5199 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The third of four volumes that include all of Jazz Gillum's recordings (other than a later album) features 25 more vocals by the fine 1930s-style harmonica player. 20 of the selections are from 1941-42 while the final five (from 1945-46) find him playing and singing in an unchanged style. Guitarist Big Bill Broonzy is on all but the final selection and the pianists are Horace Malcolm, Blind John Davis, Roosevelt Sykes or Big Maceo. Gillum was an effective if not overly distinctive singer while his harmonica solos are fairly basic, particularly compared to Sonny Boy Williamson and the soon-to-be discovered Little Walter. The tunes include "Me And My Buddy," "War Time Blues," "I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town" (a different variation of "We're Going To Move To The Outskirts Of Town"), "You're Tearing Your Playhouse Down" and "Whiskey Head Buddies." Scott Yanow
 
Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. This collection picks up the Jazz Gillum story during the session of July 1941! On this date Washboard Sam was replaced by one Amanda Porter (also known as Ann Sortier or Sorter the wife of Charlie McCoy) a lady whose collection of household utensils makes Sam’s scullery appear impoverished. Hear Jazz Gillum and Big Bill Broonzy strain to remain serious as Amanda clouts, scrapes or rattles everything in sight; pots, pans and what sounds like the kitchen sink! At times the affect is similar to the arrival of a piece of modern sculpture at the bottom of a lift-shaft. The last song done that day was Gillum’s hymn to male bonding Me and My Buddy,
Me and my buddy never will have no fallin’ out ‘Cos we got wise to wimmin; we know what it’s all about.

Did Gillum and Big Bill  have a falling out, perhaps over the authorship of Key To The Highway? It is strange that, despite their long association there is no mention at all of Jazz Gillum in Big Bill Broonzy’s autobiography. By the time of Gillum’s next session Pearl Harbor had been attacked and the US was at war. In these last two sessions before the Petrillo ban on recording took effect Jazz knocked out sixteen titles including his version of Casey Bill Weldon’s Outskirts Of Town and Tell Me Mama, a number previously passed around between Big Bill and Louis Lasky. Two tracks, Water Pipe Blues and You’re Tearing Your Playhouse Down did not see issue until well into the age of the long playing record. It is some measure of Bill Gillum’s popularity that of the sixty six sides he had cut for Bluebird since 1936 these were the first to stay in the can. If these were Jazz Gillum’s glory days they were soon to be cut short when Uncle Sam tore his playhouse down by inducting him into the army. Gillum remained in the service until 1945 when he returned to civilian life and tried to pick up the reins of his recording career while supporting himself by working at more mundane jobs. At his first post-war session he took advantage of the presence of Roosevelt Sykes to record Five Feet Four over Sykes’ “44s” backing. For a couple of years it seemed as if the old times had revived – but there were soon to be some major changes in public taste that would spell the end for Jazz and a lot of his contemporaries. DOCD-5199
Tracklist :
1        I Got Somebody Else 3:02
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
Washboard – Amanda Sorter
Washtub Bass [possibly] – Al Collins
Washtub Bass [probably] – Alfred Elkins
2        Maybe You'll Love Me Too 3:11
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
Washboard – Amanda Sorter
Washtub Bass [possibly] – Al Collins
Washtub Bass [probably] – Alfred Elkins
3        It Looks Bad For You 2:49
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
Washboard – Amanda Sorter
Washtub Bass [possibly] – Al Collins
Washtub Bass [probably] – Alfred Elkins
4        Me And My Buddy 3:05
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
Washboard – Amanda Sorter
Washtub Bass [possibly] – Al Collins
Washtub Bass [probably] – Alfred Elkins
5        It's All Over Now 2:53
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
6        War Time Blues 2:44
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
7        You Are Doing Me Wrong 2:51
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
8        One Letter Home 2:39
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
9        Down South Blues 3:14
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
10        You Drink Too Much Whiskey 3:03
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
11        No Friend Blues 2:53
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
12        From Now On 2:39
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [probably] – Horace Malcolm
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
13        I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town 2:58
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
14        I Couldn't Help It Blues 2:56
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
15        My Big Money 2:54
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
16        Woke Up Cold In Hand 2:47
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
17        Water Pipe Blues 2:50
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
18        Tell Me, Mama 3:12          
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals – Jazz Gillum
19        Deep Water Blues 3:18
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals – Jazz Gillum
20        You're Tearing Your Playhouse Down 2:52
Double Bass [possibly, or], Washtub Bass [possibly] – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
21        Go Back To The Country 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
22        Five Feet Four 3:04
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
23        Afraid To Trust Them 3:24
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
24        Whiskey Head Buddies 2:50
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
25        Reckless Rider Blues 3:02
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum

JAZZ GILLUM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 4 • 1946-1949 | DOCD-5200 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The fourth and final Document volume that reissues all of Jazz Gillum's recordings (other than his first two lost numbers and a later Lp) finds the singer and harmonica player performing in a style unchanged from the late 1930s even as the music world changed around him. He still sounded quite enthusiastic during this last batch of goodtime and lowdown blues, and the backup groups (with either Big Maceo, James Clark, Eddie Boyd or Bob Call on piano and the talented guitarist Willie Lacy being a major asset) are excellent. Highlights include "Roll Dem Bones," "You Got To Run Me Down," "Signifying Woman," "The Devil Blues" and "Gonna Be Some Shooting." Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. After their session with Roosevelt Sykes, Jazz Gillum’s studio association with Big Bill Broonzy seems to have come to an end and in February 1946 he was working with the great Big Maceo Merriweather on piano, Baby Doo Caston on guitar and Alfred Elkins on bass. All that was missing from the classic bar-band line-up of the early fifties was the drummer and at his next session in September of the same year Gillum introduced Judge Riley to fill the gap. Given the largely conservative attitude of RCA Victor one can only speculate as to what Gillum was actually playing in the clubs at this time. In the studio he continued to use this basic line-up up until his last, unissued, session for Victor in 1950. By this time the second southern invasion, led by Muddy Waters, had taken place and the writing was on the wall for Gillum’s generation of blues singers. Some, like Tampa Red had the adaptability to try to move along with the new trend while others, led by Big Bill, took a deliberate backward step for the benefit of the white folklorists. Others still either retired or just fell on tough times. Jazz Gillum seems to have been one of the latter and was forced to find means to support himself and his family outside music. In an interview with Paul Oliver in 1959 Muddy Waters remarked that he hadn’t seen Jazz Gillum in ten years. His reputation, coupled with the increased white interest in blues led to his recording along with Memphis Slim for the Folkways Label in 1961. He later worked at the folk club The Fickle Pickle and was poised to take a role in the “boom” of the 1960s when his death came on March 29th 1966. Fulfilling the prophecy of one of his last Victor recordings that there was Gonna Be Some Shooting he was shot in the head during an argument and was dead by the time he arrived at hospital. For the tastes of today’s, white, blues fan Jazz Gillum was never one of the leading lights on the blues scene of the thirties and forties but neither was he one to be ignored. He sold a lot of records. Although his harmonica style became outdated as soon as John Lee Williamson appeared, it did add a touch of country to balance the random clarinets, saxophones and trumpets that were coming to dominate the blues of the late thirties. Jazz continued to move with the times himself and by the end of his career was working with drummers and electric guitarists while using his heavy voice to good effect on songs that were as often as not written by Washboard Sam. His main objective as a performer was to entertain and in that he certainly succeeded. DOCD-5200
Tracklist :
1        Fast Woman 3:12
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
2        All In All Blues 2:52
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
3        Keep On Sailing 2:43
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
4        Look On Yonder Wall 2:59
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
5        Long Razor Blues 2:51
Double Bass – Alfred Elkins
Guitar – Leonard Caston
Piano – Big Maceo Merriweather
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
6        I'm Gonna Train My Baby 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – James Clark
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
7        Roll Dem Bones 2:45
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – James Clark
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
8        Can't Trust Myself 2:56
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – James Clark
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
9        I'm Not The Lad 3:13
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – James Clark
Vocals – Jazz Gillum
10        The Blues What Am 2:34
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
11        Gonna Take My Rap 3:08
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals – Jazz Gillum
12        You Got To Run Me Down 2:29
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
13        Chauffer Blues 2:35
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
14        Hand Reader Blues 3:05
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
15        Country Woman Blues 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
16        You Should Give Some Away 3:01
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
17        Take A Little Walk With Me 3:01
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
18        What A Gal 3:08
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
19        Signifying Woman 2:45
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
20        The Devil Blues 2:50
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
21        Jazz Gillum's Blues 2:54
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
22        Take One More Chance With Me 3:02
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Pete Franklin
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
23        Gonna Be Some Shooting 3:00
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Pete Franklin
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
24        Look What You Are Today 2:53
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Pete Franklin
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum
25        A Lie Is Dangerous 2:29
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Pete Franklin
Piano – Bob Call
Vocals, Harmonica – Jazz Gillum