BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 1 · 1931-1934 | DOCD-5261 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first of nine releases devoted to Slim's music. As with many Document releases, the sound is pretty uneven. But considering that "Rough Rugged Road Blues," and recorded in October of 1931, was one of the last sides ever issued by Paramount, and that no copies were known to exist until 1992, one has to live with the considerable surface noise on that number, and on "Honey Bee Blues," and the even worse sound on "Stumbling Block Blues" and "Yo Yo String Blues" (on which one can barely tell that a song is there beneath the scratchiness). "Chain Gang Bound," by comparison, sounds almost like a modern recording, despite dating from exactly the same era. The six Paramount sides here are the only recordings here on which Slim played his own guitar, and his style is clean and engaging, with some very deft slide playing in evidence. The other cuts, mostly for Vocalion, generally sound considerably better and were recorded with piano accompaniment, or a band with piano and guitars, and they have a more sophisticated urban sound, anticipating R&B more than they resemble Slim's earlier rural-style songs. His vocals are also considerably more expressive and show a far greater range. Slim's Vocalion debut, "Greasy Greens" and "I'm Waiting On You," cut in New York, are remarkable performances for 1932. His subsequent sides were all cut in Chicago, and are more readily identifiable with that city's then-burgeoning blues tradition -- none of the Chicago sides are quite as unexpected as the four New York sides, but they're all eminently listenable. The eight sides cut by Bumble Bee Slim & His Three Sharks -- a pretty fair band featuring piano, guitar, and mandolin -- features "Someday Things Will Be Breaking My Way," a song more familiar to modern listeners as "Sitting On Top of the World" and immortalized by Albert King and Cream. "Runnin' Drunk Blues" is a delightful, sprightly rag; and on the latest songs on this volume, the guitar returns to the fore, most notably on "Dead and Gone Mother," which features three guitars. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Rough Rugged Road Blues 3:11
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
2.    Bumble Bee Slim–    No Woman No Nickel 3:27
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
3.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Stumbling Block Blues 2:43
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
4.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Chain Gang Bound 3:33
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
5.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Yo Yo String Blues 3:24
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
6.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Honey Bee Blues 3:18
Vocals, Guitar – Bumble Bee Slim
7.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Greasy Greens 2:54
Guitar – Willie B. James
Piano – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
Vocals [Male] – Unknown Artist
8.    Bumble Bee Slim–    I'm Waitin' On You 2:58
Guitar – Willie B. James
Piano – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
9.    Bumble Bee Slim–    B And O Blues 3:01
Guitar – Willie B. James
Piano – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
10.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Queen Bee Blues 3:15
Guitar – Willie B. James
Piano – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
11.    Amos Easton–    M And O Blues - Part I 3:03
Piano [Prob.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
12.    Amos Easton–    M And O Blues - Part II 2:31
Piano [Prob.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
13.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Someday Things Will Be Breaking My Way 3:09
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
14.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Baby So Long 2:55
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
15.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Lost Confidence Blues 3:20
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
16.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    The New B And O Blues 3:18
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
17.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Wrecked Life Blues 2:57
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
18.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Runnin' Drunk Blues 3:10
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
19.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    East St. Louis Blues 3:09
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
20.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Three Sharks–    Busy Devil 3:12
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Poss.] – Ted Bogan
Mandolin [Prob.] – Howard Armstrong
Piano [Poss.] – Jimmie Gordon
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
21.    Amos–    Squalling Panther Blues 3:21
Guitar – Unknown Artist, Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
22.    Amos–    Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On 3:17
Guitar – Unknown Artist, Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
23    Amos–    Dead And Gone Mother 2:59
Guitar – Unknown Artist, Unknown Artist, Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim 

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 · 1934-1935 | DOCD-5263 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The opening six songs on this volume, which covers the period from November 1934 until April 1935, are decidedly different in texture from much of the material that preceded them in Slim's output. With no more than a guitar or two and perhaps a mandolin backing him up, his music leans less toward the kind of urban R&B sound that his early Vocalion tracks did. The playing is superb, with Carl Martin and Ted Bogan showing off a special virtuosity, while Slim's vocals are brilliantly expressive. The sound is rather rough on some of the material here, leading one to believe that there aren't many copies around of several of these songs -- "Way Down In Georgia" and "There You Stand" would not pass muster for release on most labels, being nearly inaudible amid their extreme surface noise. When Slim resumed his piano-based recording in early 1935, he took on a more sophisticated and less rural sound, and his voice became stronger in this mode, far more expressive and involved, alternately playful, sly, or mournful. The guitar accompaniment on some of the late February 1935 tracks, however, are notable as they include Big Bill Broonzy in the session -- one of these, "Milk Cow Blues," will prove a major frustration, a magnificent, classic piece of Chicago blues with great playing all around, but almost unlistenable because of the surface noise on the master source, which, one assumes, was irreplaceable. But "Everybody's Fishin'," which follows, is so clean and delightful that it almost makes up for the sonic sins of the earlier song. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1.        I Tried Everything I Could    2:56
2.        My Troubles    3:04
3.        Blues Before Daylight    2:54
4.        Running Bad Luck Blues    3:14
5.        You Can't Take It Baby    2:53
6.        Way Down In georgia    2:49
7.        My Black Gal Blues No. 1    2:54
8.        My Black Gal Blues No. 2    2:52
9.        Bleeding Heart Blues    2:42
10.        Let's Pitch A Boogie Woogie    2:28
11.        Tired Of Your Low Down Nasty Ways    2:48
12.        Good Evening Blues    2:55
13.        Farewell Mistreater Blues    3:08
14.        B And O Line Blues    2:51
15.        Good Woman Blues    2:26
16.        Some Old Rainy Day    3:06
17.        There You Stand    3:01
18.        Tell Me What It's All About    3:03
19.        You Gotta Change Your Way    3:09
20.        Milk Cow Blues    3:03
21.        Everybody's Fishing    3:03
22.        Guilty Woman Blues    3:06
23.        Big 80 Blues    2:38
24.        Bricks In My Pillow    3:05
Credits : 
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy (tracks: 17 to 22), Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 10), Carl Martin (tracks: 1 to 6), Charlie McCoy (tracks: 7 to 9, 11 to 16), Ted Bogan (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Piano – Black Bob (tracks: 18 to 22), Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 17), Charles Segar (tracks: 10), Jimmie Gordon (tracks: 7 to 16), Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 23, 24)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim, Ted Bogan (tracks: 6)  

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 4 · 1935 | DOCD-5264 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.        Policy Dream Blues    2:45
2.        If The Blues Was Whiskey    2:47
3.        Right From Wrong    2:57
4.        Feather Bed Blues    2:55
5.        What's Wrong?    3:06
6.        Mean Bloody Murder Blues    3:08
7.        Walking And Drifting Blues    3:18
8.        When The Sun Goes Down    3:13
9.        Can't You Trust Me No More?    3:04
10.        Where Was You Last Night?    3:04
11.        I Done Lost My Baby    3:03
12.        I'm Needing Someone (Exactly Like You)    3:01
13.        The Death Of Leroy Carr (Dedicated To The Memory Of Leroy Carr)    3:08
14.        Smokey Mountain Blues    3:09
15.        Sail On Sail On Blues    3:01
16.        Hey Lawdy Mama    2:49
17.        I Keep On Drinking - Part 1    3:04
18.        I Keep On Drinking - Part 2    3:09
19.        Sometimes Blues    2:50
20.        Steady Roll Mama Blues    3:14
21.        Fattenin' Frogs For Snakes    2:45
22.        Lemon Squeezing Blues    2:53
23.        When The Sun Goes Down    2:45
24.        Sail On Little Girl - No. 3    3:07
25.        Cold Blooded Murder - No. 2    2:52
Credits : 
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy (tracks: 9 to 12, 23 to 25), Charlie McCoy (tracks: 1 to 8, 17 to 22), Scrapper Blackwell (tracks: 13 to 15)
Guitar [Prob.] – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 16)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Piano – Black Bob (tracks: 9 to 12), Jimmie Gordon (tracks: 1 to 8, 13 to 22)
Piano [Poss./Or] – Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 23 to 25)
Piano [Prob./Or] – Black Bob (tracks: 23 to 25)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim, Washboard Sam (tracks: 12)
Washboard – Washboard Sam (tracks: 11, 12)

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 5 · 1935-1936 | DOCD-5265 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Shelley Armstrong–    How Long How Long Blues    2:53
2.    Shelley Armstrong–    You Don't Mean Me No Good    2:43
3.    Shelley Armstrong–    New B & O Blues    2:49
4.    Shelley Armstrong–    Prison Bound Blues    3:13
5.    Bumble Bee Slim–    My Old Pal Blues (Dedicated To The Memory Of Leroy Carr)    3:07
6.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Last Respects (Dedicated To The Memory Of Leroy Carr)    3:05
7.    Shelley Armstrong–    Sloppy Drunk Blues    2:47
8.    Shelley Armstrong–    D.B.A. Blues    3:13
9.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Rhythm Riffers–    I'll Take You Back    3:00
10.    Bumble Bee Slim And His Rhythm Riffers–    Sick And Tired Of Singing The Blues    2:57
11.    Bumble Bee Slim–    New When The Sun Goes Down    2:45
12.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Happy Life Blues    3:01
13.    Bumble Bee Slim–    When Somebody Loses    2:45
14.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Ramblin' With That Woman    2:47
15.    Bumble Bee Slim–    This Old Life I'm Living    2:44
16.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Dumb Tricks Blues (take 1)    3:15
17.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Dumb Tricks Blues (take 2)    2:58
18.    Bumble Bee Slim–    New Orleans Stop Time    2:48
19.    Bumble Bee Slim–    You Got To Live And Let Live    2:42
20.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Hard Rocks In My Bed    2:34
21.    Bumble Bee Slim–    Who's Been Here Today    3:20
22.    Bumble Bee Slim–    I Done Caught My Death Of Cold    3:07
23.    Bumble Bee Slim–    No More Biscuit Rolling Here (take 1)    2:57
24.    Bumble Bee Slim–    No More Biscuit Rolling Here (take 2)    2:40
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Bass – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9 to 12, 18 to 24)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon (tracks: 13 to 19, 22 to 24), Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Guitar [Poss./Or] – Charley Jordan (tracks: 7), Willie B. James (tracks: 7)
Guitar [Prob.] – Peetie Wheatstraw (tracks: 5), Willie B. James (tracks: 1 to 6, 11, 12)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Percussion [Poss.] – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 18, 19)
Piano – Black Bob (tracks: 18 to 24), Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 13 to 17)
Piano [Poss./Or] – Peetie Wheatstraw (tracks: 7, 8)
Piano [Prob./Or] – Jimmie Gordon (tracks: 7, 8)
Piano [Prob.] – Jimmie Gordon (tracks: 1 to 5, 9 to 12), Peetie Wheatstraw (tracks: 6)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Speech – Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 15)
Trumpet – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim, Jimmie Gordon (tracks: 9)
Vocals, Guitar [Prob.] – Memphis Minnie (tracks: 18)

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 6 · 1936 | DOCD-5266 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.        Meet Me In The Bottom (Hey Lawdy Mama)    2:49
2.        No Good Woman (Fighting Blues)    2:48
3.        When The Music Sounds Good    2:48
4.        When I Get My Money (I Mean That Bonus)    3:07
5.        New Bricks In My Pillow    2:32
6.        New Big 80 Blues    2:29
7.        New Policy Dream Blues    2:57
8.       Back In Jail Again    2:35
9.        Wet Clothes Blues    2:49
10.       Any Time A Night    2:55
11.        Fast Life Blues    2:49
12.        Rock Hearted Woman    3:04
13.        Cry On! Cry On!    3:05
14.        Ease Me Down    2:53
15.        Hard Driving Man    2:54
16.        Must I Keep On Crying    2:58
17.        Funny Feelin'    3:08
18.        Lady Friend (Get Yourself A Job)    3:03
19.        Letter Writing    3:10
20.        Upside Down (Since My Baby Get Away)    2:17
21.        New How Long How Long    2:50
22.        Honest Confession    3:10
23.        Christmas And No Santa Claus    3:05
24.        Buggie Bed    2:58
Credits : 
Clarinet, Vocals [2nd Voice/Poss.] – Arnett Nelson (tracks: 3)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Bill Gaither (tracks: 13 to 24)
Guitar [Poss.] – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 7, 9 to 12)
Guitar [Prob.] – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 1), Tampa Red (tracks: 3)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Piano – Honey Hill (tracks: 13 to 24), Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 5 to 12), Peetie Wheatstraw (tracks: 1, 2)
Piano [Prob.] – Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 3, 4)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Speech – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 3)
Trombone – Roy Palmer (tracks: 3)
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim, Peetie Wheatstraw (tracks: 2)

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 7 · 1936-1937 | DOCD-5267 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.        I'se Gonna Break 'Em Down    3:19
2.        Blue Expression Blues    3:08
3.        Head Whippin' Party    3:02
4.        Santa Claus Bring Me A New Woman    2:37
5.        I'm Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down    2:45
6.        Every Goodbye Ain't Gone    3:16
7.        True Blue    3:05
8.        Please Baby    2:51
9.        Green Country Gal (No More To Say)    2:54
10.        If I Could Speak My Mind    2:45
11.        The Jive Of Mine    2:37
12.        Past And Gone    3:07
13.        Hobo Jungle Blues    2:57
14.        Slave Man Blues    3:13
15.        My Big Moments    3:13
16.        I'll Meet You In The Bottom    2:53
17.        Meet Me At The Landing    2:47
18.        Big Six    2:54
19.        Just Yesterday    2:56
20.        Rough Treatment    2:40
21.        Pains In My Body    3:16
22.        I'm Having So Much Trouble    2:59
23.        Rising River Blues (take 1)    3:02
Credits : 
Bass – Unknown Artist (tracks: 18 to 20)
Clarinet [Poss.] – Arnett Nelson (tracks: 7 to 17)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy (tracks: 7 to 16), Bill Gaither (tracks: 1 to 12), Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 22, 23)
Guitar [Prob.] – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 17), Willie B. James (tracks: 22, 23)
Kazoo, Percussion – Unknown Artist (tracks: 1)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Piano – Black Bob (tracks: 7 to 17), Honey Hill (tracks: 1 to 12)
Piano [Poss.] – Frank James (tracks: 21 to 23)
Piano [Prob.] – Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 18 to 20)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Slide Whistle – Unknown Artist (tracks: 13)
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
Washboard – Unknown Artist (tracks: 1)

BUMBLE BEE SLIM — Volume 9 · Unissued Tests & Alternate Takes 1934-1951 | DOCD-5570 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Good Morning (take A)    3:01
2.    Good Morning (take B)    3:06
3.    Muddy Water (take A)    2:55
4.    Muddy Water (take B)    2:29
5.    Baby Fare You Well (take A)    2:55
6.    Baby Fare You Well (take B)    2:57
7.    Happy Life Blues (take B)    2:56
8.    Who's Been Here Today (take 2)    2:54
9.    When The Music Sounds Good (take 1)    2:47
10.    I'm Going To Live My Life Alone (take 1)    3:13
11.    I'm Going To Live My Life Alone (take 2)    3:19
12.    One Lonesome Day (take 1)    2:51
13.    One Lonesome Day (take 2)    2:49
14.    Pains In My Body (take 1)    3:07
15.    It Ain't No Trouble (take 1)    2:55
16.    It Ain't No Trouble (take 2)    3:07
17.    12 O'clock Midnight (take 2)    2:59
18.    Uncertain Blues (take 2)    3:05
19.    Cross The Country (take 1)    3:08
20.    Cross The Country (take 2)    3:02
21.    You Brought Me Here (take 2)    3:05
22.    Going Back To Florida (take 2)    3:05
23.    Sometimes    2:33
24.    Tiny's Boogie    2:30
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone – Maurice Simon (tracks: 23)
Baritone Saxophone – Jewell Grant (tracks: 23)
Bass – Billy Hadnott (tracks: 23, 24)
Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist (tracks: 7, 8, 12, 13)
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson (tracks: 10, 11)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Bill Owsley (tracks: 19 to 22)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Drums – Oscar Lee Bradley (tracks: 23, 24)
Drums [Prob.] – Fred Williams (tracks: 10, 11, 18 to 22)
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy (tracks: 5, 6, 10, 11), Herman "Tiny" Mitchell (tracks: 23, 24), Unknown Artist (tracks: 7, 14 to 17)
Guitar [Or] – Charlie Jackson (tracks: 1, 2)
Guitar [Prob./Or] – Willie Bee James (tracks: 1, 2)
Guitar [Prob.] – Big Bill Broonzy (tracks: 1, 2), Carl Martin (tracks: 3, 4)
Liner Notes – Jerry Zolten
Piano – Aletha Robinson (tracks: 18 to 22), Black Bob (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 10, 11), Unknown Artist (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 14 to 17), Willard McDaniel (tracks: 23, 24)
Piano [Prob.] – Myrtle Jenkins (tracks: 12, 13)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Speech – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 9)
Tenor Saxophone – Maxwell Davis (tracks: 23)
Trombone – Roy Palmer (tracks: 10, 11)
Trumpet [Poss.] – Alfred Bell (tracks: 18)
Vocals – Bumble Bee Slim
Whistling – Bumble Bee Slim (tracks: 12)

THE HOKUM BOYS & BOB ROBINSON — The Complete Recorded Works 1935-1937 In Chronological Order | DOCD-5237 | RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Although hokum had its heyday from 1928-31, the name of the Hokum Boys was revived for some recording dates during the years 1935-37. This CD features selections from a couple very different editions of the Hokum Boys, plus numbers from the related Chicago Five and Bob Robinson. The first seven numbers find the double entendres less subtle than earlier, the music more country-blues-oriented, and the selections featuring Big Bill Broonzy and Casey Bill Weldon on guitars and vocals, and sometimes pianist Black Bob, bassist Bill Settles, and Washboard Sam on washboard. The other performances have singer Bob Robinson (who was with the 1929 version of the band) as a dominant vocalist, Arnett Nelson taking erratic clarinet solos and the supporting cast including on various numbers Broonzy, Black Bob, and trumpeter "Mr. Sheiks." Although not quite up to the level of the 1929 Hokum Boys, there are many fun performances on this CD, including "Keep Your Mind On It," "Nancy Jane," "Do You Catch On," "You Can't Have None of That," "Down in the Alley," and "Just Diddling Around." Two previously unreleased alternate takes are included on the recommended 25-song program. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    The Hokum Boys–    Caught Us Doing It 2:36
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Speech – Teddy Edwards
Vocals, Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
2.    The Hokum Boys–    I Ain't Going That Way 3:02
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
3.    The Hokum Boys–    Keep Your Mind On It 3:02
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
Guitar, Vocals – Big Bill Broonzy
Washboard, Vocals [Uncredited] – Washboard Sam
4.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Get It 3:02
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals – Casey Bill Weldon
Washboard, Vocals [Uncredited] – Washboard Sam
5.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Get It 3:06
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals – Casey Bill Weldon
Washboard, Vocals – Washboard Sam
6.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Tell My Mama On You 2:57
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals [Vocal Chorus] – Casey Bill Weldon
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals – Teddy Edwards
7.    The Hokum Boys–    Nancy Jane 3:00
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar, Vocals – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals [Vocal Chorus] – Casey Bill Weldon
Piano – Black Bob
8.    Chicago Five–    I Ain't Gonna Do It 3:19
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Guitar [possibly] – Tampa Red
Guitar [probably] – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [possibly] – Black Bob
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Washboard [probably], Wood Block [probably], Percussion [effects, probably] – Washboard Sam
9    Chicago Five–    I'm A Gamblin' Man 2:56
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Guitar [possibly] – Tampa Red
Guitar [probably] – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [possibly] – Black Bob
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Washboard [probably], Wood Block [probably], Percussion [effects, probably] – Washboard Sam
10.    The Hokum Boys–    Do You Catch On 3:07
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
11.    The Hokum Boys–    Something Good 2:59
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
12.    The Hokum Boys–    Every Man For Himself 3:03
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
13.    The Hokum Boys (2)–    You Can't Have None Of That 3:03
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
14.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Down In The Alley 3:28
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
15.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Makin' A Fool Out Of Me 3:18
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
16.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Can Use It Myself 3:07
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
17.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    She's A Mellow Thing 3:07
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
18.    The Hokum Boys–    Swing That Thing 2:55
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
19.    The Hokum Boys–    Georgia Mule 2:51
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
20.    Bob Robinson Trio–    Crying For Love 2:57
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
21.    Bob Robinson Trio–    Heart-Breaking Blues 2:53
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
22.    The Hokum Boys–    It Started In The Garden Of Eden 2:53
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
23.    The Hokum Boys–    It Started In The Garden Of Eden 2:51
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
24.    The Hokum Boys–    Just Diddling Around 2:55
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
25.    The Hokum Boys (7)–    You Got Your Ribs Out Of Pawn 2:59
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 

MA RAINEY — The Complete 1928 Sessions In Chronological Order with TUB JUG WASHBOARD BAND, TAMPA RED & GEORGIA TOM | DOCD-5156 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ma Rainey's final 23 recordings find her stubbornly bucking the tides of stylistic change by working with accompanists who played up the rural folk blues element. Exhibit A is her Tub Jug Washboard Band, a scruffy little outfit securely moored by the sounds of Carl Reid huffing on a whiskey jug with banjo licks by Martell Pettiford, kazoo and washboard by one Herman Brown, and Georgia Tom Dorsey at the piano. The blend of sounds and textures was very successful, and it is this session that gave the world "Hear Me Talking to You," the "Hustlin' Blues," and "Prove It on Me Blues," a proud statement from a woman who prefers the intimate company of other females. With "Daddy Goodbye Blues" Rainey appears like the setting sun as she scales her accompaniment down to Dorsey's piano and some very fine guitar playing by Hudson Whitaker, also known as Tampa Red. These are some of the most authentically bluesy recordings of her entire career. In the refrain from the "Black Eye Blues," an unflinching report on domestic violence, the singer addresses her abuser with the words: "You low down alligator/just watch me, sooner or later/I'll catch you with your britches down." Rainey's last two recordings were duets performed in October and December 1928 with singing banjoist Papa Charlie Jackson. "Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues" depicts two old friends faced with economic hardship. Charlie Jackson's other important appearance on records was as the gritty vocalist with Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals on the 1926 recording of "Salty Dog." He is the perfect counterpart for Ma Rainey on her very last record. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1    Ma Rainey–    Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues    2:28
2    Ma Rainey–    Log Camp Blues    2:54
3    Ma Rainey–    Hear Me Talking To You    3:00
4    Ma Rainey–    Hustlin' Blues    2:36
5    Ma Rainey–    Prove It On Me Blues    2:40
6    Ma Rainey–    Victim Of The Blues    2:34
7    Ma Rainey–    Traveling Blues    2:43
8    Ma Rainey–    Deep Moaning Blues (take 1)    2:58
9    Ma Rainey–    Deep Moaning Blues (take 2)    2:43
10    Ma Rainey–    Daddy Goodbye Blues    3:12
11    Ma Rainey–    Sleep Talking Blues (take 1)    3:10
12    Ma Rainey–    Sleep Talking Blues (take 2)    3:16
13    Ma Rainey–    Tough Luck Blues    3:05
14    Ma Rainey–    Blame It On The Blues    3:09
15    Ma Rainey–    Sweet Rough Man    3:05
16    Ma Rainey–    Runaway Blues    2:26
17    Ma Rainey–    Screech Owl Blues 2:56
Piano [Poss.] – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Ma Rainey
18    Ma Rainey–    Black Dust Blues 2:52
Piano [Poss.] – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Ma Rainey
19    Ma Rainey–    Leaving This Morning    3:08
20    Ma Rainey–    Black Eye Blues (take 1)    3:18
21    Ma Rainey–    Black Eye Blues (take 2)    3:12
22    Ma Rainey And Papa Charlie Jackson–    Ma And Pa Poorhouse Blues 3:03
Vocals – Ma Rainey
Vocals, Banjo – Papa Charlie Jackson
23    Ma Rainey And Papa Charlie Jackson–    Big Feeling Blues 2:45
Vocals – Ma Rainey
Vocals, Banjo – Papa Charlie Jackson

BIG BILL BROONZY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 5 • 1936-1937 | DOCD-5127 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Big Bill Broonzy recorded a great deal in Chicago during the 1930s, and fortunately, every one of the selections (except for a few that cannot be located) have been reissued on CD by the Austrian Document label in this "complete" series. In addition to selections with a trio (which includes pianist Black Bob and bassist Bill Settles), Broonzy is heard on this fifth volume with the Hokum Boys (on "Nancy Jane"), the Midnight Ramblers (which include Washboard Sam) and the Chicago Black Swans, a band similar to the Harlem Hamfats that adds guitarist Tampa Red). The final four numbers return to the trio format but add trumpeter Punch Miller to two of the songs. Throughout, Broonzy is heard in prime form. Among the selections are "Big Bill's Milk Cow No. 2," "Nancy Jane," "Detroit Special," "Out With the Wrong Woman," "Southern Flood Blues" and "Let's Reel and Rock." Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. In 1934 Big Bill Broonzy had recorded Milk Cow Blues for Bluebird (see volume two of this series) and it had been a sufficient hit for him to assay a Milk Cow Blues No. 2 for ARC, this time filling out the sound by utilising Black Bob‘s piano for support. This basic line-up of guitar, piano, string bass and woodblocks was given an extra dimension when Charlie McCoy was added playing the mandolin. Charlie, like Big Bill, was a jobbing musician about Chicago. He had found his niche when, along with his brother ‘Hallelujah’ Joe McCoy he became part of the basic line-up of the Harlem Hamfats. This group used a ‘New Orleans’ front line of trumpet and clarinet backed-up by a piano and a guitar/mandolin/drums rhythm section. The session with Charlie produced Bill’s complaint about his addiction to playing craps in Seven-Eleven (“My point was a nine, I stopped at six – and that trey came flyin”‘) and about his girl-friend’s bad actin’ in You Know I Got A Reason. (Is there an accusation of lesbianism in the line “You say that woman you run with is your lady friend, it don’t look much like it for the shape I caught y’all in”?) During the same period, May / June 1936, Bill was still performing as part of The Hokum Boys, singing and playing the guitar on Nancy Jane a number they had recorded before, without it being released, as far back as 1930. A further Big Bill / Black Bob session took place in the September of 1936. It included Black Widow Spider in which Bill may have mixed his genders by representing himself as a spider with “red stripes under my belly” after making it sore by “crawlin’ down your wall”. The same combination also recorded in November of that year, one track, Out With The Wrong Woman being issued as by The Midnight Ramblers. Several songs and alternative takes of material recorded around this time, i. e. Cherry Hill Take 2, were not issued until they appeared on LP in the late 60s / early 70s. On the 26th January 1937 Big Bill Broonzy took the vocal and guitar part for a group called the Chicago Black Swans. This was a loose collection of musicians including Herb Morand and Arnett Nelson, the front line of the Hamfats. The same group recorded the same two titles on the same day with vocals by Mary Mack for release as by The State Street Swingers. Further confusion is added by the fact that Bill had already recorded Don’t Tear My Clothes (presumably implicitly “No. 1”, see volume three of this series) with a group known as The State Street Boys whose more rural sound had been built around the violin of Zeb Wright. Never slow to adapt to trends Bill featured a trumpet and drums on his next session (although he refers to a cornet on Come Up To My House). After cutting his commentary on the recent flooding of the Ohio River in his magnificent Southern Flood he brought forward “Mr Sheiks” and Fred Williams to up-date his sound to that of Big Bill’s Orchestra (?). “Mr Sheiks“, whose identity has been the subject of much speculation, was no Herb Morand and two days later Big Bill Broonzy was back in the studio to try again – this time in the company of Ernest ‘Kid Punch’ Miller, who came, like Morand, from a New Orleans background and was one of the foremost jazzmen of his generation. Hedging, Bill also cut for his older audience on this session producing the delicately picked Horny FIog which included references to the south, north migration along with the wonderful line dismissing his troublesome girlfriend: “I’m tired of poppin’ my belly for you”. DOCD-5127
Tracklist :
1        Big Bill's Milk Cow No. 2 (A) 3:07
2        W.P.A. Blues (B) 3:01
3        I'm A Southern Man (B) 2:47
4        Nancy Jane (C) 3:00
5        Lowland Blues (D)    3:02
6        Seven-Eleven     (D)    2:57
7        You Know I Got A Reason (D) 2:49
8        Oh, Babe (D)    3:08
9        Detroit Special  (E) 2:50
10        Falling Rain  (E) 3:17
11        Black Widow Spider (F) 2:52
12        Cherry Hill  (G) 3:12
13        Out With The Wrong Woman (H) 2:57
14        Don't Tear My Clothes No. 2 (I)    2:42
15        You Drink Too Much (I) 3:08
16        Southern Flood Blues (J) 3:13
17        My Big Money     (J) 3:12
18        My Woman Mistreats Me (J) 3:00
19        Let's Reel And Rock (J) 3:15
20        Come Up To My House (J) 3:11
21        Get Away (K) 2:57
22        Terrible Flood Blues (K) 3:04
23        Little Bug (K) 3:05
24        Horny Frog [Take 1] (K) 3:08
Credits :
(A) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; “Heebie Jeebies”, wood blocks  01/05/1936
(B) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass “Heebie Jeebies” woodblocks on 3. 27/05/1936
(C) The Hokum Boys: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Casey Bill Weldon, guitar, vocal / chorus; Black Bob, piano: Bill Settles, stand-up bass.   11/06/1936
(D)  Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Punch Miller, trumpet on 15, 16, 17; Leeford or Aletha Robinson, piano; own guitar on 15, 16, 17; Fred Williams, drums. 03/09/1936
(E) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Probably Horace Malcolm, piano; Charlie McCoy, mandolin. Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass.  16/09/1936
(F)  Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; probably Myrtle Jenkins, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass.  28/10/1936
(G) Chicago Black Swans: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied probably by Herb Morand or possibly Alfred Bell, trumpet; Arnett Nelson, clarinet; Black Bob, piano; possibly Tampa Red, guitar; unknown, percussion. 19/11/1936
(H) Midnight Ramblers: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; unknown, stand-up bass; possibly Washboard Sam, scat vocal. 19/11/1936
(I) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; probably Myrtle Jenkins, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass. 26/01/1937
(J) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by “Mr. Sheiks (Alfred Bell), trumpet, on 16, 17, 19, 20; possibly . Fred Williams. drums on 19 and 20. Bill Settles, stand-up bass; possibly Fred Williams, drums on 19, 20. 29/01/1937
(K) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Punch Miller, trumpet on 21, 23; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass; Fred Williams, drums on 23 / woodblocks on 22, 24. 31/01/1937