AL MILLER — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order 1927-1936 | DOCD-5306 (1994) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Even though mandolinist Al Miller should really be counted among the pioneers of Western swing, his blend of country dance and hokum blues seems to have pushed him to the periphery of historic music appreciation circles. Indeed, were it not for Document's handsome complete edition of 1995, Miller's recorded legacy would have receded to a position even further off of most peoples' cultural radar. His earliest-known records were cut in Chicago on July 15, 1927 and issued on the now-legendary Black Patti label. "I Found a Four-Leaf Clover" sounds like a precedent for Emmett Miller & His Georgia Crackers, largely because Al's voice was similarly pitched. The main difference is that Emmett Miller liked to yodel -- his direct descendant appears to have been Hank Williams. The instrumental "Saturday Night Hymn" is a fine example of a whimsical blues played on mandolin, and was originally pressed with a title by Kid Brown & His Blue Band on the flip side. A little over 80 years after it was released, one of the few copies of this platter known to exist was being offered on the rare record circuit for more than $4,400.00. Although in many ways "Saturday Night Hymn" might be the very best recording this artist ever made, the CD is considerably more affordable and provides an additional 25 songs. One of the few individuals even tentatively identified in the discography is a guitarist with the surname Rodgers, and "I Would If I Could" was released on Paramount as by Miller and Rodgers. In February 1929 Miller began making records in a style that aimed to please the growing audience for Chicago's increasingly popular hokum blues. Miller's lasting achievement as a composer was a raunchy number with the attention-getting title "Somebody's Been Using That Thing." He recorded it five times, and the three issued takes are sprinkled throughout this album. In June 1934 Tampa Red cut a rowdy cover version for Bluebird that worked well for Tampa without, it seems, doing very much for Miller, who had frankly based much of his acquired hokum technique on records by Tampa Red, Georgia Tom, and a group specifically billed as the Hokum Boys.

The hokum formula demanded a full range of smutty lyrics laid over simple bluesy melodies that anybody could sing along with. One of hokum's major exponents was Tampa's cohort Lovin' Sam Theard. In March 1929 the second version of "Somebody's Been Using That Thing" was waxed by Al Miller & His Market Street Boys, which was nothing more than Miller and Rodgers with pianist Frank Melrose sitting in. There are 13 additional recordings from 1929 that use the same instrumentation with no one except Miller identified. Much of the material was directed at a Prohibition-era audience looking for naughty good-time music to listen to while partying with friends. Titles like "I Found Your Key-Hole," "It Ain't Killed Nobody Yet," "Gimme a Li'l Taste," and "That Stuff Ain't No Good" are typical of this mini-genre's hedonistic fixations. "Thirty First and State," with open references to prostitution, is one of several tunes inspired by the fast life on Chicago's South Side. "Let Me Put My Shoes Under Your Bed," on the other hand, is a nicely phrased love song, similar to what mild-mannered Ollie Shepard like to sing during the late '30s and early ‘40s. This collection and Al Miller's primary discography close with four sides cut for Decca in February 1936. Billed as Al Miller & His Swing Stompers, the group consisted of Miller, now apparently handling a guitar; an unidentified string bassist; pianist Cripple Clarence Lofton; and a frowsy clarinetist named Odell Rand, who did most of his recording with the Chicago-based Harlem Hamfats. Further instances of Al Miller's artistry may be found among the discographies of Lofton and vocalists Mozelle Alderson, Luella Miller, and Red Nelson Wilborn, as well as King Mutt & His Tennessee Thumpers. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1    Al Miller–    I Found A Four-Leaf Clover    2:27
2    Al Miller–    Someday Sweetheart    2:17
3    Al Miller's String Band–    Saturday Night Hymn    2:47
4    Miller And Rodgers–    I Would If I Could (21061)    2:29
5    Al Miller–    Mister Mary Blues    2:44
6    Al Miller–    Somebody's Been Using That Thing (14799)    2:34
7    Al Miller–    On An Island All By Myself    2:43
8    Al Miller–    No Fish For Me    2:40
9    Al Miller And His Market Street Boys–    Somebody's Been Using That Thing (C-3080)    2:44
10    Al Miller And His Market Street Boys–    I Would If I Could (C-3083)    2:59
11    Al Miller–    It Ain't Killed Nobody Yet    2:46
12    Al Miller–    Maybe You'd Feel That Way Too    2:43
13    Al Miller–    Don't Be A Fool    2:56
14    Al Miller–    I Found Your Key-Hole    3:04
15    Al Miller–    Thirty First And State    3:14
16    Al Miller–    It Must Be Good    2:50
17    Al Miller–    Let Me Put My Shoes Under Your Bed    2:55
18    Al Miller–    That Stuff Ain't No Good    2:53
19    Al Miller–    Gimme A Li'l Taste    3:00
20    Al Miller–    Somebody's Been Using That Thing Part II    2:50
21    Al Miller–    That Stuff You Sell    2:29
22    Al Miller–    Bone Blues    2:38
23    Al Miller And His Swing Stompers–    It's Got To Be Done    2:22
24    Al Miller And His Swing Stompers–    Juicy Mouth Shorty    2:20
25    Al Miller And His Swing Stompers–    Truckin' Old Fool    2:28
26    Al Miller And His Swing Stompers–    Ain't That A Mess?    2:43

BIG BILL BROONZY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 9 • 1939 | DOCD-5131 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During the latter half of 1939, blues guitarist/singer Big Bill Broonzy was near the height of his fame and was recording quite prolifically. For the ninth of 11 Document CDs in the comprehensive Broonzy series, he is joined throughout by pianist Joshua Altheimer and either bassist Ransom Knowling (the first nine numbers) or drummer Fred Williams. The erratic clarinetist Odell Rand (who also plays some alto sax) is on the first session and does not help things much, but Broonzy is so strong that it really does not matter. Among the more notable numbers are "She Never," "Too Many Drivers," "That's All Right Baby" and "Dreamy Eyed Baby," while "Just a Dream No. 2" is a remake/continuation of his hit from earlier in the year. Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Big Bill Broonzy was as popular and prolific an artist in 1939 as at any time in his career. For his first session after the Memphis Five date in February Bill called upon the talents of Odell Rand and Ransom Knowling for back up to his own guitar, Josh Altheimer‘s piano and Fred Williams drums. Knowling was probably one of the most sought-after bass players in the city, listen to his slapping on Ride Alberta Ride to see why, and Rand never seemed to want for work for his clarinet, although listening to some of the lack-lustre and lifeless performances here it is hard to see just what Bill appreciated about his work. Maybe he just thought it helped to produce a more sophisticated overall sound. One stand-out track from this session is She Never, a tale of female duplicity that inspired many, Brownie McGhee and the obscure Harvey Hill among them, to produce versions of their own at a later date. Even more popular was Too Many Drivers, (“you told me you had one driver – you got two or three”) which further extended the “female as automobile” metaphor so prevalent in blues lyrics and which spawned a post war hit for Lowell Fulson. It was back to old standbys Josh Altheimer and drummer Fred Williams for his next round in the studio which produced a follow up to Bill’s hit Just A Dream, labelled No. 2, on which Altheimer plays a cascading piano part while Williams bashes away at the drums with far more force than finesse. In view of his later trips to these shores Big Bill Broonzy‘s observation, on Dreamy Eyed Woman, that “if you was born in England I believe you would ‘pass’ over there” may seem prescient but it was only a facet of his oft-made contention that “beauty is only skin deep – ugly is to the bone”. By the end of 1939 war had broken out in Europe and, although America was not yet directly involved, Europe’s misfortune, after the WPA and CCC and other manifestations of Roosevelt’s New Deal, represented a final nail in the coffin of depression in America. It looked as if Bill’s Big Money might come round again. DOCD-5131
Tracklist :
1        Just Wondering (A) 2:45
2        Keep On A-Smilin'     (A) 2:43
3        She Never  (A) 2:43
4        Woodie Woodie  (A) 2:54
5        Too Many Drivers (A) 2:34
6        You Can't Win (A) 2:40
7        Ride, Alberta, Ride  (A) 2:48
8        That's All Right Baby (A) 2:55
9        Please Be My So And So  (A) 2:42
10        I.C. Blues  (B) 3:00
11        Cotton Choppin' Blues (B) 2:45
12        Hot Dog Mama (B) 2:40
13        Dreamy Eyed Baby (B) 2:48
14        My Last Goodbye To You (B) 2:36
15        Don't You Want To Ride (B) 2:47
16        Don't You Be No Fool (B) 2:44
17        Just A Dream No. 2 (B) 2:47
18        Tell Me What I Done (B) 2:53
19        Oh Yes (B) 2:33
20        I'm Still Your Sweetheart, Baby     (C) 2:46
21        Down And Lost In Mind (C)    2:52
22        Let's Have A Little Fun (C)    2:55
23        Messed Up In Love (C)    2:42
Credits :
(A) BBB, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Odell Rand, clarinet / alto sax; Joshua Altheimer, piano; Ransom Knowling, stand-up bass. 11/05/1939
(B) BBB, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Joshua Altheimer, piano (except on 19); Fred Williams, drums. 14/09/1939
(C) BBB, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Joshua Altheimer, piano; Fred Williams, drums. 08/12/1939

KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 : 1936-1937 | DOCD-5039 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Another invaluable offering from the blues archivists at Document, Kokomo Arnold's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1936-1937) compiles 22 performances, recorded between May 1936 and March 1937. Despite the inclusions of a few Arnold classics, including "Dark Angel" and "Wild Water Blues," the disc is a mixed blessing. The combination of a long running time, chronological sequencing, and poor fidelity make for a difficult listen. While serious blues listeners won't have a problem with any of these factors, beginners are advised to look elsewhere first. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. On 22 May 1936 Decca proposed to record sessions with two of its female artists and needed a backing group. Both of the ladies came from a St. Louis background and belonged to the same loose aggregation of performers that included primitive trombonist Ike Rogers, pianists Henry Brown and Roosevelt Sykes, Charlie Jordan and… Peetie Wheatstraw. One of them, “Signifying” Mary Johnson had achieved her current surname by being married to blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson between 1925 and 1932. Alice Moore had a similar story, having recorded for Paramount during 1929-30 and joining Decca in 1934. She had worked with Peetie Wheatstraw before, so he was an obvious choice to back her up. And for a guitarist? Wheatstraw usually worked with Charlie Jordan or Casey Bill Weldon though, of late, Mayo Williams had paired him off with Kokomo Arnold. The results open this 3rd volume of the complete works of Kokomo Arnold. His efforts, both before and after this session, in the support of Peetie Wheatstraw and Roosevelt Sykes will be found on volumes dedicated to those worthies. Alice Moore had a somewhat nasal voice nicely set off by Wheatstraw’s rolling piano and some untypical single string work from Kokomo who only busts out with his trademark bottleneck rushes here and there on Three Men and I’m Going Fishing Too (a title that must have appealed to the angler in Arnold). Only one of the Mary Johnson tracks was issued; an ode to Delmar Avenue (actually Boulevard), formerly Morgan Street, a famous St. Louis thoroughfare running west from the Mississippi. Mary was just as tough voiced as her nickname made her out to be. Decca decided on a little experiment in July of 1936 when they incorporated Kokomo into Oscar’s Chicago Swingers a sort of Harlem Hamfats set-up backing the vocals of Lovin’ Sam Theard. Just how successfully Kokomo’s unique sound fitted in with a group that consisted of two guitars, a clarinet, piano and drums you can judge yourself. Kokomo’s career had about two years to run at this date. He was still recording under his own name and if his performances were getting to be a little stereotyped he could still pull minor blues masterpieces like Wild Water Blues out of the bag and was far from being a burnt out case. He was always a strong personality and in the final analysis would do what suited him best. At the moment he was sitting pretty, he worked for money as much as any enjoyment he might gain, and with his booze business to fall back on he could take or leave the music game at his choice. DOCD-5039
Tracklist :
1    Alice Moore–    Grass Cutter Blues 2:54
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
2    Alice Moore–    Telephone Blues 2:55
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
3    Alice Moore–    Dark Angel 3:06
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
4    Alice Moore–    Money Tree Man 3:02
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
5    Signifying Mary Johnson–    Delmar Avenue 3:02
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
6    Alice Moore–    I'm Going Fishing Too 3:04
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
7    Alice Moore–    Three Men 3:08
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
8    Kokomo Arnold–    Shake That Thing 2:38
Piano – Unknown Artist
9    Oscar's Chicago Swingers–    Try Some Of That    2:57
10    Oscar's Chicago Swingers–    My Gal's Been Foolin' Me    2:40
11    Kokomo Arnold–    Running Drunk Again 3:06
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
12    Kokomo Arnold–    Coffin Blues 3:15
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
13    Kokomo Arnold–    Lonesome Road Blues 2:57
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
14    Kokomo Arnold–    Mister Charlie 2:40
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
15    Kokomo Arnold–    Backfence Picket Blues    3:05
16    Kokomo Arnold–    Fool Man Blues    3:05
17    Kokomo Arnold–    Long And Tall    2:45
18    Kokomo Arnold–    Salty Dog    2:47
19    Kokomo Arnold–    Cold Winter Blues    3:08
20    Kokomo Arnold–    Sister Jane Across The Hall    2:37
21    Kokomo Arnold–    Wild Water Blues    3:12
22    Kokomo Arnold–    Laugh And Grin Blues    3:07
Credits :
Clarinet – Odell Rand (tracks: 9, 10)
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Drums – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 9, 10), Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Piano – Albert Ammons (tracks: 9, 10)
Vocals – Alice Moore (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7), Signifying Mary Johnson* (tracks: 5), Sam Theard (tracks: 9, 10)
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 8, 11 to 22)