SLEEPY JOHN ESTES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • Volume 1 ★ 1929-1937 | DOCD-5015 (1990) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For those with enough interest, Document's Complete Works, Vol. 1 (1929-1937) is invaluable, offering an exhaustive overview of Sleepy John Estes' early recordings. The early to mid-'30s were the most fruitful years of Estes' long career, during which he recorded most of the best songs of his career: "The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair," "Someday Baby Blues," "Milk Cow Blues," "Drop Down Mama," and "Down South Blues." Of course, these are all available on I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929-1941, along with a more regimented set of classic performances from the late '30s. All of which leaves Complete Works, Vol. 1 (1929-1937) as a mixed blessing, more intriguing and important for serious fans than those simply wishing to get a taste of what made Sleepy John Estes great.  Thom Owens

Abridged from this albums booklet notes. John Norris of Jazz Beat Magazine once wrote of Sleepy John Estes The emotional impact of his singing is overwhelming and when he really gets wound up in his music he sings with great power.
 
Sleepy John Estes was in many ways the personification of the blues. His pleading vocals were always on the point disintegrating into a cry either of help or of joy. His guitar playing, which could either be used as a thumping rhythm or as a remarkable, strong and precise lead, were a direct line to the life of poverty that he lived and his experiences in the Brownsville, Tennessee where he was born and where he died.

This is the first of two volumes covering Sleepy John Estes early and, arguably, his best recordings, which he made between 1929 and 1941 before he slipped into obscurity until being re-discovered during the great blues revival of the 1960s. These recordings show John as an innovator and like Big Joe Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee) and Big Bill Broonzy he was willing and able to move on with the times, bringing his music from the country and into the city (Chicago). Like Big Joe Williams, Sleepy John Estes was as comfortable playing with a band as he was playing solo.

The recordings on Volume One have the feel of a string band with the ever present James Yank Rachel on mandolin. Also accompanying Sleepy John Estes on several tracks are Jab Jones playing stomping barrelhouse. piano and Hammie Nixon on harmonica. Elsewhere harmonica is provided by the mysterious “Tee”. The total sound of these early sides is extraordinary. When Estes and his band hit an up-tempo piece, as on Cow Cow Blues or Wat’cha Doin?, the effect is both precarious and thrilling at the same time. In among the slow blues such as autobiographical Street Car Blues and Poor John Blues are the stomping Stop That Thing and I Want To Tear It Down. The success of another up-beat number, Drop Down Mamma lead to its re-issue by public demand on 78 in Britain during the 1940s. This is low down blues and good time music at their best. DOCD-5015
Tracklist :
1    Sleepy John Estes–    The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair 2:55
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano [possibly] – Johnny Hardge
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
2    Sleepy John Estes–    Broken-Hearted, Ragged And Dirty Too 3:16
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
3    Sleepy John Estes–    Divin' Duck Blues 3:10
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
4    James "Yank" Rachel* & Sleepy John Estes–    Little Sarah 3:07
Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
5    Sleepy John Estes–    Black Mattie Blues 3:20
Harmonica – 'Tee'
Mandolin – James Rachel
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
6    James "Yank" Rachel & Sleepy John Estes–    T-Bone Steak Blues 3:43
Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
7    Sleepy John Estes–    Milk Cow Blues 2:59
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
8    Sleepy John Estes–    Street Car Blues 3:11
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
9    Sleepy John Estes–    Expressman Blues 2:59
Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
10    Sleepy John Estes–    Whatcha Doin'? 2:59
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
11    Sleepy John Estes–    Poor John Blues 2:48
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
12    Sleepy John Estes–    Stack O' Dollars 3:01
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
13    Sleepy John Estes–    My Black Gal Blues 2:58
Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
14    Sleepy John Estes–    Sweet Mama 2:55
Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
Piano – Jab Jones
Vocals, Mandolin – James "Yank" Rachel
15    Sleepy John Estes–    Down South Blues 3:06
Harmonica, Speech – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
16    Sleepy John Estes–    Stop That Thing 2:40
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
17    Sleepy John Estes–    Someday Baby Blues 2:58
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
18    Sleepy John Estes–    Who's Been Telling You Buddy Brown Blues 3:18
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
19    Sleepy John Estes–    Married Woman Blues 3:11
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
20    Sleepy John Estes–    Drop Down Mama 3:08
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
21    Sleepy John Estes–    Government Money 3:09
Guitar [possibly] – Son Bonds
Guitar [probably] – Charlie Pickett
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
22    Sleepy John Estes–    I Wanta Tear It All The Time 2:57
Guitar [possibly] – Son Bonds
Guitar [probably] – Charlie Pickett
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Kazoo – Lee Brown
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
23    Sleepy John Estes–    Vernita Blues 3:06
Guitar [possibly] – Son Bonds
Guitar [probably] – Charlie Pickett
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes
24    Sleepy John Estes–    I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 3:02
Guitar [possibly] – Son Bonds
Guitar [probably] – Charlie Pickett
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon
Kazoo – Lee Brown
Vocals, Guitar – Sleepy John Estes

SLEEPY JOHN ESTES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • Volume 2 ★ 1937-1941 | DOCD-5016 (1990) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second half of Document's two-part series covering the early recordings of Sleepy John Estes includes a few excellent performances, though it isn't quite as interesting as the first. The only real classics on tap are "Floating Bridge" and "Everybody Oughta Make a Change," which leaves the rest of this lengthy compilation a mixed blessing for any but the most dedicated of listeners. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s booklet notes. This album begins with Sleepy John Este’s account of how he came close to drowning when a car he was riding in skidded off a temporary bridge. It’s typical of the man, in that it deals with events and people from his immediate experience and in its constricted, emotional singing, matched by Hammie Nixon’s melancholy harmonica. It’s typical also in the element of paradox involved; this terrifying experience is recounted to the tune of “Careless Love” (a tune he later used to sing about the fact that he’d gone “Stone Blind”!) John Norris of ‘Jazz Beat Magazine’ once wrote of Sleepy John Estes “The emotional impact of his singing is overwhelming and when he really gets wound up in his music he sings with great power.” Sleepy John Estes was in many ways the personification of the blues. His pleading vocals were always on the point of disintegrating into a cry, either of help or of joy. His guitar playing, which could either be used as a thumping rhythm or as a remarkable, strong and precise lead, were a direct line to the life of poverty that he lived and his experiences in the Brownsville, Tennessee, where he was born and where he died. Volume Two of his recordings continues to reveal Sleepy John Estes as a significant blues artist of the pre-war blues era. In addition to long time friend and music companion Hammie Nixon, several tracks find Sleepy John in the company Robert Lee McCoy, also known as Robert Nighthawk, Son Bonds and there is the possibility of an appearance of Charlie Pickett. Between them they produce some excellent blues such as Brownsvillle Blues, Hobo Jungle Blues and Special Agent. Drop Down is one of two recordings to feature the lively washboard playing of Ann Sortier, the girlfriend of Robert Lee McCoy. There is the strange, semi-religious blues Time Is Drawing Near. Tell Me How About It has some explicit things to say about “Mister Tom” and his son-in-law “Mister Robert”, making its chorus heavily ironic. Don’t You Want To Know has all the originality of Estes’ more serious lyrics – e.g. the reference to Major Bowes, who ran a radio talent show. Sleepy John recorded and appeared extensively between 1961 and 1975 following his re-discovery and though his performances were strong and satisfying they did hide both the magic and vitality of his early recordings which Document now presents. DOCD-5016
Tracklist :
1    Sleepy John Estes–    Floating Bridge    3:07
2    Sleepy John Estes–    Need More Blues    2:51
3    Sleepy John Estes–    Jack And Jill Blues    2:35
4    Sleepy John Estes–    Poor Man's Friend (T Model)    3:05
5    Sleepy John Estes–    Hobo Jungle Blues    2:54
6    Sleepy John Estes–    Airplane Blues    2:50
7    Sleepy John Estes–    Everybody Oughta Make A Change    2:47
8    Sleepy John Estes–    Liquor Store Blues    2:26
9    Sleepy John Estes–    Easin' Back To Tennessee    2:40
10    Sleepy John Estes–    Fire Department Blues (Martha Hardin)    3:04
11    Sleepy John Estes–    Clean Up At Home    2:33
12    Sleepy John Estes–    New Someday Baby    2:47
13    Sleepy John Estes–    Brownsville Blues    3:05
14    Sleepy John Estes–    Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)    2:48
15    Sleepy John Estes–    Mailman Blues    2:52
16    Sleepy John Estes–    Time Is Drawing Near    2:20
17    Sleepy John Estes–    Mary Come On Home    2:19
18    Sleepy John Estes–    Jailhouse Blues    2:54
19    Sleepy John Estes–    Tell Me How About It (Mr. Tom's Blues)    2:25
20    Sleepy John Estes–    Drop Down (I Don't Feel Welcome Here)    2:44
21    The Delta Boys–    Don't You Want To Know    3:08
22    The Delta Boys–    You Shouldn't Do That    2:30
23    The Delta Boys–    When The Saints Go Marching In    2:59
24    Sleepy John Estes–    Lawyer Clark Blues    3:05
25    Sleepy John Estes–    Little Laura Blues    2:27
26    Sleepy John Estes–    Working Man Blues    2:57
Credits :
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Sleepy John Estes (tracks: 1 to 14, 18 to 26), Son Bonds (tracks: 24 to 26)
Guitar [possibly] – Charlie Pickett (tracks: 1 to 14), Robert Lee McCoy (tracks: 15 to 17), Sleepy John Estes (tracks: 15 to 17), Son Bonds (tracks: 1 to 14)
Harmonica – Hammie Nixon (tracks: 1 to 6), Robert Lee McCoy (tracks: 15, 18 to 20)
Kazoo – Son Bonds (tracks: 21 to 23)
Lead Vocals – Sleepy John Estes (tracks: 21 to 23)
Speech – Son Bonds (tracks: 26)
Vocals – Raymond Thomas (tracks: 21 to 23), Sleepy John Estes (tracks: 1 to 20, 24 to 26), Son Bonds (tracks: 21 to 23)
Washboard [probably] – Ann Sorter (tracks: 19, 20)
Washtub Bass – Raymond Thomas (tracks: 21 to 26)