TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 15 • 1951-1953 | DOCD-5215 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    Boogie Woogie Woman    (A) 2:23
2    Tampa Red–    She's A Cool Operator    (A) 3:01
3    Tampa Red–    I Won't Let Her Do It    (A) 2:44
4    Tampa Red–    Green And Lucky Blues     (A) 2:46
5    Tampa Red–    I'm Gonna Put You Down (B) 2:49
6    Tampa Red–    Look a There, Look A There     (B) 2:41
7    Tampa Red–    True Love (B) 2:42
8    Tampa Red–    But I Forgive You     (B) 2:51
9    Tampa Red–    Too Late Too Long     (C) 3:00
 

10    Tampa Red–    I'll Never Let You Go (C) 2:20
11    Tampa Red–    Al Mixed Up Over You (C) 2:47
12    Tampa Red–    Got A Mind To Leave This Town    (C) 2:37
13    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Please Mr. Doctor     (D) 2:49
14    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    I Should Have Loved Her More    (D) 2:58
15    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Baby Please Don't     (D) 2:57
16    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Beat That Bop (D) 3:07
17    Tampa Red–    So Crazy About You Baby (E) 3:00
18    Tampa Red–    So Much Trouble (E) 2:59
19    Tampa Red–    If She Don't Come Back  (E) 2:34
20    Tampa Red–    Big Stars Falling Blues (F) 3:08
21    Tampa Red–    Rambler's Blues (F) 2:42
22    Tampa Red–    Evalena (F) 2:27

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

SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 4 • 1941-1945 | DOCD-5058 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A comprehensive collection of the pioneer bluesman's work during the World War II years, with the exception of the period of the infamous Musician's Union ban on recording. Some of the topical songs--"Win the War Blues" and "We Got to Win"--comment directly on then current events, but there also songs adapted from other blues singers.

"Ground Hog," for example, is a variant of Tony Hollins' "Crawlin' King Snake," while "She Don't Love Me That Way" cribs from Sleepy John Estes. The overall sound, however, splits the difference between the earlier country blues of Sonny Boy Williamson's Bluebird Records period and the proto-Chicago blues to come. AllMusic

Abridged from this album’s booklet notes. From the date of his first recordings in 1937 (Document DOCD-5055) until his death a decade later Sonny Boy Williamson was the undisputed king of the blues harmonica, at least in Chicago. Although there were plenty of other artists using the instrument only William ‘Jazz’ Gillum achieved anything like the popularity of the boy from Jackson, Tennessee and even Jazz could never claim the mastery that Sonny Boy underlined with every performance. The period spanned on this Volume encompasses the bulk of World War Two and the infamous ban on recording brought about by James C. Petrillo. Petrillo became president of the Chicago local of the musician’s union in 1922, and was president of the American Federation of Musicians from 1940 to 1958. Petrillo dominated the union with absolute authority. His most famous actions were banning all commercial recordings by union members from 1942 – 1944 and again in 1948 to pressure record companies to give better royalty deals to musicians. Although Sonny Boy never commented on this event he was very vocal about the conflict which he saw as a chance for the black American to both prove himself and improve his lot. Check Up On My Baby is a rallying call track to prevent Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo from ‘treatin’ your baby wrong’, while Win The War Blues sees Sonny Boy fantasizing that “Uncle Sam” is going to give me a Thunderbolt. The usual amount of women seems to be involved in his life and this is reflected on the tracks Mattie Mae, Stella Brown, Black Panter Blues and Desperado Woman. Panter is an American variant of panther and the description of this lethal lady is described in the lyric “You should have heard me holler, I didn’t have time to swaller”. In contrast to this is She Was A Dreamer. Other songs in the session include Ground Hog Blues a variant of a Tony Hollins hit called “Crawlin’ King Snake” and She Don’t Love Me That Way which gathers in verses associated with sources as disparate as Sleepy John Estes and Lil Green‘s “Why Don’t You Do Right”. Another track Million Year Blues later became a hit for Eddie Boyd, whilst My Black Name Blues re-uses some lines from Leroy Carr‘s “Twenty Four Hours”. DOCD-5058
Tracklist :
1        Drink On, Little Girl 3:07
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass [probably] – William Mitchell
2        Mattie Mae Blues 3:07
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass [probably] – William Mitchell
3        I'm Gonna Catch You Soon 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
4        Million Years Blues 3:05
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
5        Shady Grove Blues 2:52
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
6        Sloppy Drunk Blues 3:16
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
7        She Was A Dreamer 2:39
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
8        You Got To Step Back 2:58
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
9        Ground Hog Blues 2:44
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
10        Black Panter Blues 2:33
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
11        Broken Heart Blues 2:50
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
12        She Don't Love Me That Way 2:42
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washboard – Washboard Sam
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
13        My Black Name Blues 2:46
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washboard – Washboard Sam
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
14        I Have Got To Go 2:47
Guitar – Charlie McCoy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washboard – Washboard Sam
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
15        Love Me, Baby 3:23
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
16        What's Gettin' Wrong With You? 2:50
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
17        Blues That Made Me Drunk 3:00
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
18        Come On, Baby, And Take A Walk 2:49
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Washtub Bass – Alfred Elkins
19        Miss Stella Brown Blues 2:50
Drums – Armand "Jump" Jackson
Guitar – Ted Summitt
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
20        Desperado Woman Blues 2:39
Drums – Armand "Jump" Jackson
Guitar – Ted Summitt
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
21        Win The War Blues 2:48
Drums – Armand "Jump" Jackson
Guitar – Ted Summitt
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
22        Check Up On My Baby Blues 2:45
Drums – Armand "Jump" Jackson
Guitar – Ted Summitt
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
23        G.M. & O. Blues 2:43
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Bill Sid Cox
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
24        We Got To Win 2:43
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Bill Sid Cox
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
25        Sonny Boy's Jump 2:50
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Bill Sid Cox
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
26        Elevator Woman 2:41
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Bill Sid Cox
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson

SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 5 • 1945-1947 | DOCD-5059 (1991) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A comprehensive collection of the great blues pioneer's final work, recorded between 1945 and 1947. (This is the Sonny Boy Williamson who was murdered in 1948, not the one who toured with the Yardbirds in England in 1963).

Most of the tracks here include electric guitar (check out Willie Lacey's Charlie Christian licks on "Sugar Gal" and "Alcohol Blues") and drums. The overall sound is eerily prescient of Chicago blues (the great Willie Dixon is present on bass on several of the songs), the jump blues style of Louis Jordan ("Apple Tree Swing"), and rock & roll. AllMusic

Abridged from this ablum’s original booklet notes. Between 1944 and the end of his career (and life) in 1948, Sonny Boy Williamson had gone from strength to strength. He had already made reference in song to his appreciation of artists like Fats Waller and he seemed determinedly updating his sound. More and more of Sonny Boy‘s recordings featured a solid up tempo beat, often provided by drummers such as Jump Jackson or Judge Riley, and the guitarists and the pianists that he favoured (Willie Lacy, big Bill Broonzy and Blind John Davis – even Big Maceo and the ever adaptable Tampa Red for one session) were also capable of moving with the times, providing jazzier accompaniments to show off Sonny Boy‘s ever increasing skills on the harmonica. For his last sessions Sonny Boy continued the mix as before but now the performances had more punch and a marked, deliberate swing. He still returned to his roots, recording such tracks as Bring Another Half Pint. The term ‘swing’ seems to have replaced the previous ‘jump’ in a couple of tracks like Rub A Dub, Polly Put The Kettle On and Mellow Chick Swing. Having weathered the recording bans and the war years with his popularity unimpaired, Sonny Boy was the undisputed leader and trend setter for blues harmonica players all over the country. Sadly Sonny Boy Williamson would not go onto explore his musical range further. He was murdered on his way from a gig at the Plantation Club on the early morning of 1st June 1948. Attacked and robbed, Sonny Boy managed to get back to his flat. When his wife Lacey Belle opened the door she was confronted by the awful sight of Sonny Boy covered in blood, swaying on his feet. “Lord have mercy” were his final words before slipping into unconsciousness from which he never awoke. As the five volumes presented on Document of his entire output attest, the legacy and influence of Sonny Boy Williamson 1st, has been pivotal both upon fellow and future blues harmonica players. DOCD-5059
Tracklist :
1        Early In The Morning 3:02
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
2        The Big Boat 2:59
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
3        Stop Breaking Down 2:57
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
4        You're An Old Lady  3:12
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Big Maceo
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
5        Sonny Boy's Cold Chills 3:06
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
6        Mean Old Highway 3:25
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
7        Hoodoo Hoodoo 2:55
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
8        Shake The Boogie 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
9        Mellow Chick Swing 2:36
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
10        Polly, Put The Kettle On 2:30
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
11        Lacey Belle 2:52
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
12        Apple Tree Swing 2:26
Double Bass – Willie Dixon
Drums – Charles Saunders
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
13        Wonderful Time 3:04
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
14        Sugar Gal 3:01
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
15        Willow Tree Gal 3:13
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
16        Alcohol Blues 2:50
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Willie Lacey
Piano – Eddie Boyd
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
17        Little Girl 2:54
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
18        Blues About My Baby 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
19        No Friend Blues 2:52
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
20        I Love You For Myself 3:02
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
21        Bring Another Half A Pint 3:05
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
22        Southern Dream 2:47
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
23        Rub A Dub 2:41
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
24        Better Cut That Out 2:59
Double Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Judge Riley
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson