KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 2 : 1935-1936 | DOCD-5038 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For completists, specialists, and academics, Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1935-1936) is invaluable, offering an exhaustive overview of Kokomo Arnold's early recordings. For less-dedicated listeners, the disc is a mixed blessing. There are some absolutely wonderful, classic performances on the collection -- "Policy Wheel Blues" and "'Cause You're Dirty" to name just two -- but the long running time, exacting chronological sequencing, and poor fidelity (all cuts are transferred from original acetates and 78s) are hard to digest. The serious blues listener will find all these factors to be positive, but casual listeners will find the collection of marginal interest for the very same reasons. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. By 1935 Kokomo Arnold was firmly ensconced in Chicago. He was still a country boy to many of his associates but, never an unworldly man; he was quickly getting wise to the big city and its ways. Despite his dedication to his basement bootlegging business and a strong desire to “go fishing instead” he had become a fixture on the local entertainment scene, working beside most of the big names in the blues at that time. The session on July 23th 1935 saw the first use of a piano to support his highly personal slide style and speculation among collectors has it that this was his first collaboration with Peetie Wheatstraw. It was during the period covered by this albujm that Kokomo returned to Milk Cow Blues; covering his own hit in an attempt to recreate its success. This concentration on a winning theme may have made sense commercially but artistically Kokomo had much more to offer. He drew his subject matter from all over and if in April he was celebrating that rural scourge/hero the boll weavil by July he was commenting on the big city preoccupation of Policy. The mysterious John Russell also reappears in the sub title to Big Leg Woman where he seems to be giving Kokomo considerable trouble. I wonder if this was a real person who Kokomo felt the need to castigate in song or a fictional character from black urban mythology. DOCD-5038
Tracklist :
1    Kokomo Arnold–    Southern Railroad Blues    2:59
2    Kokomo Arnold–    Bo Weavil Blues    3:04
3    Kokomo Arnold–    Busy Bootin'    2:27
4    Kokomo Arnold–    Let Your Money Talk    2:47
5    Kokomo Arnold–    'Cause You're Dirty    2:59
6    Kokomo Arnold–    Tonic Head Blues    2:48
7    Kokomo Arnold–    Policy Wheel Blues    2:54
8    Kokomo Arnold–    Travelling Rambler Blues    2:54
9    Kokomo Arnold–    Stop, Look And Listen    3:04
10    Kokomo Arnold–    Doin' The Doopididy    2:57
11    Kokomo Arnold–    The Mule Laid Down And Died    2:51
12    Kokomo Arnold–    Big Leg Mama (John Russel Blues)    2:40
13    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues - No. 3    2:50
14    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues - No. 4    2:53
15    Kokomo Arnold–    Down And Out Blues    3:02
16    Kokomo Arnold–    Model "T" Woman Blues    2:54
17    Roosevelt Sykes–    Jet Black Snake    3:18
18    Kokomo Arnold–    I'll Be Up Someday    3:04
19    Kokomo Arnold–    I Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff    2:36
20    Kokomo Arnold–    Desert Blues    2:50
21    Kokomo Arnold–    Bull Headed Woman Blues    2:53
22    Kokomo Arnold–    Sundown Blues    2:38
23    Roosevelt Sykes–    The Honey Dripper    2:47
Credits :
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 17, 23)
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 1 to 16, 18 to 22)
Vocals, Piano – Roosevelt Sykes (tracks: 17, 23)

ROOSEVELT SYKES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • Vololume 1 (1929-1930) DOCD-5116 (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This volume, the first in a seven-part series collecting all of Roosevelt Sykes' recordings between 1929 and 1942, begins with the classic "44 Blues" and includes 22 more sides from late 1929 and early 1930. Also including several duets with Mae Bell Miller and Bee Turner, it is essential for hardcore fans of blues piano. Rovi Staff

Tracklist :

1 –Roosevelt Sykes "44" Blues 2:58

2 –Roosevelt Sykes All My Money Gone Blues 2:50

3 –Roosevelt Sykes The Way I Feel Blues 2:52

4 –Roosevelt Sykes Henry Ford Blues 3:05

5 –Roosevelt Sykes I'm Tired Of Being Mistreated 3:34

6 –Roosevelt Sykes Boot That Thing 2:54

7 –Dobby Bragg Fire Detective Blues 3:03

8 –Dobby Bragg Little Sow Blues 3:09

9 –Dobby Bragg Single Tree Blues 2:46

10 –Mae Belle Miller Trouble Everywhere Blues 3:05

11 –Mae Belle Miller Working Man On The Seas 2:41

12 –Mae Belle Miller Beale And Main Blues 3:19

13 –Roosevelt Sykes Long Tall Man Blues 3:04

14 –Roosevelt Sykes Skeet And Garret 3:04

15 –Roosevelt Sykes Roosevelt's Blues 2:47

16 –Roosevelt Sykes Ten And Four Blues 3:08

17 –Roosevelt Sykes Black River Blues 3:09

18 –Roosevelt Sykes Bury That Thing 2:58

19 –Roosevelt Sykes Home Of Your Own Blues 2:55

20 –Roosevelt Sykes Lost All I Had Blues 3:15

21 –Roosevelt Sykes Poor Boy Blues 2:57

22 –Bee Turner Jivin' Jelly Roll Blues 3:15

23 –Bee Turner Rough Treatin' Daddy 2:30

Credits :

Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth

Cornet [Probably] – Oliver Cobb (tracks: 22, 23)

Guitar – Harry Johnson (tracks: 19 to21), Oscar Carter (tracks: 2-5)

Vocals – Bee Turner (tracks: 22, 23), Mae Belle Miller (tracks: 10 to13), Oscar Carter (tracks: 5)

Vocals [Speech, Probably] – Edith Johnson (tracks: 9)

Vocals [Speech] – Stump Johnson (tracks: 18)

ROOSEVELT SYKES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • Volume 2 (1930-1931) DOCD-5117 (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Part of the most ambitious series of Roosevelt Sykes reissues ever undertaken, Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1930-1931) features 24 tracks of prime blues piano, everything Sykes recorded during the year-long period between June of 1930 and June of 1931. Though there aren't as many classic tracks here as on other volumes, there are highlights: a remake of one of his more famous sides, this time called "Kelly's 44 Blues," and a couple of risqué titles ("Nasty but It's Clean," "Big Time Woman"). That's enough to make it of interest to completists and serious fans, though the long running time, chronological sequencing, and poor fidelity could make for difficult listening. Thom Owens
Tracklist :
1 32-20 Blues 3:05
Roosevelt Sykes
 2 Give Me Your Change 3:00
Roosevelt Sykes
 3 I Love You More and More 3:03
Roosevelt Sykes
4 Kelly's 44 Blues 2:52
Roosevelt Sykes
5 3-6 and 9 2:54
Roosevelt Sykes
 6 We Can Sell That Thing 2:33
Roosevelt Sykes
 7 Conjur Man Blues 3:06
Roosevelt Sykes
8 Cotton Seed Blues 2:51
Roosevelt Sykes
9 No Good Woman Blues 3:02
Roosevelt Sykes
10 Drinkin' Woman 2:45
Roosevelt Sykes
11 Papa Sweetback Blues 3:19
Roosevelt Sykes
12 He Treats Me Like a Dog 3:00
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: St. Louis Bessie
13 Meat Cutter Blues 2:55
Roosevelt Sykes
14 Side Door Blues 2:46
Roosevelt Sykes
15 Big Time Woman 2:46
Wilton Crawley
Roosevelt Sykes
16 Thanksgivin' Blues 2:45
Roosevelt Sykes
17 Kelly's Special 2:43
Roosevelt Sykes
18 Don't Put the Lights Out 2:48
Roosevelt Sykes
19 No Settled Mind Blues 2:37
Roosevelt Sykes
20 As True As I've Been to You 3:06
Roosevelt Sykes
21 Hard Luck Man Blues 3:13
Roosevelt Sykes
22 Don't Squeeze Me Too Tight 2:52
Roosevelt Sykes
23 You So Dumb 3:26
Roosevelt Sykes
 24 Nasty But It's Clean 3:02
Roosevelt Sykes

ROOSEVELT SYKES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • Volume 3 (1931-1933) DOCD-5118 (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1932-1933) continues its chronological overview of Roosevelt Sykes' early recordings. As on the previous volume, Sykes reworks his "44 Blues," hits a few highlights ("Sail on Black Sue," "Highway 61 Blues"), tries his hand at a double entendre or two, and invites a few guests. (Actually, most of the tracks are features for outside vocalists, including Emerson Houston, Clarence Emerson, "Stump" Johnson, and Carl Rafferty.) Also in common with most Document collections, the lengthy running time, chronological sequencing, and fair audio quality are enough to make it a bit off-putting for most listeners. Thom Owens
Tracklist :
 1 Hard Luck Blues 2:50
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Emerson Houston
2 Strange Man Blues 2:54
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Emerson Houston
3 Sail on Black Sue 3:12
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Johnson's Jazzers
4 Barrel of Whiskey Blues 2:51
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Johnson's Jazzers
5 Prisoner's Blues 2:45
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Matthew McClure
6 Mosby Stomp 3:15
Roosevelt Sykes
7 Mr. Sykes Blues 3:09
Roosevelt Sykes
8 Highway 61 Blues 3:09
Roosevelt Sykes
9 Jelly Roll Mill 3:07
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Eithel Smith
10 In Here With Your Heavy Stuff 3:03
Isabel Sykes
11 Don't Rush Yourself 2:50
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Isabel Sykes
12 I Done You Wrong 2:51
Roosevelt Sykes
13 Sad and Lonely Day 2:22
Roosevelt Sykes
14 Try My Whiskey Blues 2:53
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Clarence Harris
15 Lonesome Clock Blues 3:09
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Clarence Harris
16 Found a Note on My Door 2:50
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Frank Pluitt
17 New 44 Blues 2:57
Roosevelt Sykes
18 Working Dollar Blues 3:04
Roosevelt Sykes
19 Big Legs Ida Blues 2:52
Roosevelt Sykes
20 Devil's Island Gin Blues 2:59
Roosevelt Sykes
21 Dresser With the Drawers 2:32
Carl Rafferty / Roosevelt Sykes
22 Mr. Carl's Blues 3:32
Roosevelt Sykes
feat: Carl Rafferty
23 She Showed It All 3:03
Napoleon Fletcher