PEETIE WHEATSTRAW — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 6 · 1938- 1940 | DOCD-5246 (1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vol. 6 in the complete works of Peetie Wheatstraw as reissued by Document covers a timeline from October 1938 to April 1940, opening with the last three recordings on which he ever played piano and following his progress through a fine swing-inflected session that took place in New York with pianist Sammy Price, guitarist Teddy Bunn, and drummer O'Neil Spencer; a real Chicago blues outing with guitarist Lonnie Johnson and harmonica handler Rhythm Willie Hood, and the first five titles from a phenomenally satisfying date featuring three of New York's greatest jazz musicians: trumpeter Jonah Jones, pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong, and drummer Big Sid Catlett. While Peetie had previously made records that ventured into jazz territory (see "Throw Me in the Alley" with trombonist Ike Rodgers on Vol. 2), interacting with musicians of this caliber was a fresh development and hearing him in this company is a treat not to be missed. Note that Sam Price dutifully played Wheatstraw's signature intro on the first version of "Possum Den Blues," then abandoned it on take two and never looked back. Why did Peetie cease playing piano for keeps on his own records in 1939? According to an informed theory advanced by his biographer Paul Garon, Peetie's relations with the musicians' union might have deteriorated to the point where he was permitted to sing in a recording studio but not to play any instruments. In any case, what you get here is an excellent sampler of Peetie Wheatstraw's later work that taps into four decidedly different sessions, including the only date he ever shared with a jazz trumpeter. "I Want Some Sea Food" was partly inspired by Fats Waller's recording of "Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)," which was cut about nine months earlier. Peetie's tune references vaginal pungency even more directly than his 1936 recording (see Vol. 3) of "The First Shall Be Last and the Last Shall Be First," which contains a reference to limburger cheese. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Black Horse Blues 3:08
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
2.    Sugar Mama 3:06
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
3.    Me No Lika You 3:04
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
4.    Possum Den Blues (take A) 2:50
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
5.    Possum Den Blues (take B) 2:54
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Uncredited] – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
6.    Little Low Mellow Mama 2:56
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
7.    A Working Man's Blues 2:54
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
8.    One To Twelve (Just As Show) 3:06
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
9.    Let's Talk Things Over 2:48
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
10.    Sinking Sun Blues 2:52
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
11.    Easy Way Blues 2:48
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
12.    Machine Gun Blues 2:46
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
13.    Beer Tavern 2:30
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
14.    You Can't Stop Me From Drinking 2:31
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
15.    I Want Some Sea Food 2:32
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
16.    Rolling Chair 2:30
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
17.    Love Bug Blues 2:37
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
18.    Confidence Man 2:23
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
19.    Big Apple Blues 2:55
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
20.    Big Money Blues 2:52
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
21.    Chicago Mill Blues 2:45
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
22.    Five Minutes Blues 2:49
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
23.    Two Time Mama 3:02
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw 

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