SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 • 1937-1938 | DOCD-5055 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A comprehensive collection of the highly influential blues pioneer's 25 earliest works, recorded in 1937 and 1938. (Note: This is the Sonny Boy Williamson who was murdered in 1948, not the one who toured England with the Yardbirds in 1963).

Several of these songs, of course, have become blues standards, particularly "Good Morning School Girl," which has been covered countless times (the Yardbirds, Ten Years After, and others), and there's a surprising variety here; "Got the Bottle Up and Gone," for example, has an obvious jug band feel to it that's thoroughly at odds with the haunted sound of "Decoration Blues," or the proto-swamp "Up the Country Blues" (a song that clearly influenced Slim Harpo). AllMusic

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. In a brief life of thirty four years Sonny Boy Williamson achieved immortality as the pioneer of what was to become part of the post war electric sound of the Chicago Blues. To allow the harmonica, sometimes described as a ‘semi-legitimate’ instrument, to compete in a band environment, with drums, usually a piano and recently amplified guitars Sonny Boy literally embraced the microphone along with the harmonica to great effect. Often he would dove-tailing and blend the sound of the instrument with the beginning or end his songs lines. His popularity and influence were immense and survive until today. His techniques paved the way for many blues artists, including Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) Williamson, Little Walter, Junior Wells and many others. This, the first of five remarkable volumes from Document of the complete recordings of the father of amplified blues harmonica, demonstrates how Sonny Boy Williamson 1st brought the instrument from the country to the city and turned the small, pocket sized instrument into a major voice in the blues. In 1934 Sonny Boy moved to north to Chicago where he worked Maxwell Street and as a sideman with numerous blues groups at the local clubs. Sonny Boy‘s first recordings (that feature on this album) were accompanied by Big Joe Williams and Robert Lee McCoy (later to become famous as Robert Nighthawk) was made at the Leland Hotel, Aurora, Illinois, on the 5th May 1937 for the Bluebird label. The first track, Good Morning, School Girl, was not an unknown tune but Sonny Boy brought to it a set of lyrics that have stayed with it ever since. His attractive short tongued delivery and clean swinging harp playing became a hit and has since become a much recorded blues classic tune. Other tracks in this first session include the personal Blue Bird Blues dedicated to Sonny Boy‘s wife Lacey Belle, and the perennial Sugar Mama Blues. Sonny Boy went on to record another session in November 1937, Black Gal Blues from this set has become known as “Wild About You Baby”, while Early In The Morning was a reworking of the number usually associated with pianist Walter Roland. It is probably an indication of the interest in their new found star that the Bluebird label offered Sonny Boy another session in March 1938, which saw 10 songs being cut. Tracks from this session include My Little Cornelious (which is another version of “Blue Bird Blues”) and the reflective masterpiece Decoration Day, a markedly up-beat version of “You Can Lead Me”. The Mandolin of Yank Rachell fills out the sound on this set and lends a brittle driving force to the faster numbers. The fastest, I’m Tired Trucking My Blues Away sees Big Joe Williams guitar setting a furious pace behind Sonny Boy‘s virtuoso harmonica playing. This track really rocks and is an indication of the direction in which Sonny Boy Williamson the 1st was to take his music over the next few years. DOCD-5055
Tracklist :
1        Good Morning, School Girl 2:58
Guitar – Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
2        Blue Bird Blues 3:04
Guitar – Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
3        Jackson Blues 2:53
Guitar – Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
4        Got The Bottle Up And Gone 2:30
Guitar – Joe Williams
Guitar, Vocals – Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
5        Sugar Mama Blues 2:55
Guitar – Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
6        Skinny Woman 2:57
Guitar – Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
7        Up The Country Blues 3:16
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
8        Worried Me Blues 2:28
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
9        Black Gal Blues 2:45
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
10        Collector Man Blues 3:15
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
11        Frigidaire Blues 2:58
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
12        Suzanna Blues 2:56
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
13        Early In The Morning 2:45
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
14        Project Highway 2:52
Guitar [probably] – Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
15        My Little Cornelius 3:07
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
16        Decoration Blues 3:27
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
17        You Can Lead Me 3:05
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
18        Moonshine 2:58
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
19        Miss Louisa Blues 2:52
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
20        Sunny Land 3:14
Guitar, Speech [possibly] – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin, Speech [possibly] – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
21        I'm Tired Trucking My Blues Away 2:53
Guitar, Speech [possibly] – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones, Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
22        Down South 3:03
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
23        Beauty Parlor 3:24
Guitar – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
24        Until My Love Come Down 3:09
Guitar, Speech [possibly] – Joe Williams, Elijah Jones
Mandolin, Speech [possibly] – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
25        Honey Bee Blues 3:02
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson

SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 2 • 1938-1939 | DOCD-5056 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1938-1939) picks up where the first volume left off, reissuing 24 tracks from the 13-month period of June 1938 to July 1939. Unfortunately, there weren't as many classic performances during this era, leaving this the odd one out from the many volumes in this set. Serious blues fans will still find much of interest here, including versions of "Susie-Q" and "You've Been Foolin' Round Town," plus a second stab at his classic "Sugar Mama Blues."  Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. By 1938 any lingering doubts Bluebird might have had about Sonny Boy Williamson had been laid to rest and they had him in the studio three times that year. Sonny Boy was joined by Big Joe Williams and Yank Rachell during his second session in the studio and it is speculated to be the latter playing guitar on the rather hastily arranged title track My Baby I’ve Been Your Slave. For the second number Yank Rachell is on his more usual instrument, the Mandolin, to contribute to the crisp backing of Whiskey Headed Blues, a number that has since been given various treatments by artists such as Tommy McClennan and John Lee Hooker. On Shannon Street Sonny Boy describes getting drunk in Jackson and his wife’s reaction to the event. Alcohol and Sonny Boy Williamson were not a good mix and he would have increasing problems with it throughout his life. Deep Down In The Ground is built on the base of another song “Stack of Dollars”, a song associated with Sleepy John Estes and often performed by Big Joe Williams. For the next session Sonny Boy Williamson found himself in the recording company of Robert Lee McCoy (Nighthawk) on guitar, Rufus ‘Speckled Red’ Perryman on piano and an unknown (speculated to be Willie Hatcher) on mandolin. This time round the songs were more of a mixture and Sonny Boy illustrates that both he and his Harmonica have made the transition from a country style of playing to a big city environment sound. On the tracks Little Girl Blues and Low Down Ways it is almost impossible to believe that the same man can be both playing and singing. Other tracks include the swing dance numbers Susie Q, and Goodbye Red which is a reply to Harlem Hamfats’ hugely successful “Oh Red!”. These upbeat, foot tapping, down-home numbers are balanced by the urban inspired tracks Insurance Man and The Right Kind Of Life. More innovations were to follow on the 1939 session where Sonny Boy was joined by Walter Davis and Big Bill Broonzy. One of the outstanding tracks Little Low Woman Blues has Sonny Boy playing a high register harmonica which foreshadows the sound of Jimmy Reed. Big Bill‘s guitar work is more sophisticated than that of Sonny Boy‘s previous partners, shown to good effect on the tracks Good For Nothing Blues and Sugar Mama Blues No.2 where his delicate runs and fills almost over-shadow the harmonica. On the final track Good Gravy Big Bill and Sonny Boy spark off each other to perform a bravura performance that really swings. DOCD-5056
Tracklist :
1        My Baby, I've Been Your Slave 3:02
Guitar, Speech [possibly] – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin, Speech [possibly] – Yank Rachell
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
2        Whiskey Headed Blues 2:54
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
3        Lord, Oh Lord Blues 2:59
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
4        You Give An Account 3:10
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
5        Shannon Street Blues 3:20
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
6        You've Been Foolin' 'Round Town 2:45
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Mandolin – Yank Rachell
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
7        Deep Down In The Ground 3:14
Guitar – "Jackson" Joe Williams
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
8        Number Five Blues 3:27
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
9        Christmas Morning Blues 3:21
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
10        Susie-Q 3:10
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
11        Blue Bird Blues - Part 2 3:22
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
12        Little Girl Blues 3:17
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
13        Low Down Ways 3:10
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
14        Goodbye Red 3:10
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
15        The Right Kind Of Life 3:20
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
16        Insurance Man Blues 3:17
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
17        Rainy Day Blues 3:16
Guitar [probably] – Robert Lee McCoy
Mandolin [probably] – Willie Hatcher
Piano – Speckled Red
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
18        Bad Luck Blues 2:39
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
19        My Little Baby 2:56
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
20        Doggin' My Love Around 3:12
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
21        Little Low Woman Blues 2:45
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
22        Good For Nothing Blues 3:01
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
23        Sugar Mama Blues No. 2 3:07
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Walter Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
24        Good Gravy 2:45
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson

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)