MEMPHIS JUG BAND — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 : 1927-1928 | DOCD-5021 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the greatest of all jug bands and possibly the most influential, the Memphis Jug Band recorded extensively from 1927-1930. All of its recordings (other than three sessions from 1934) have been reissued by the European Document label on three CDs. The original version of the group consisted of Will Shade on harmonica, guitar, and/or vocals; Ben Ramey on kazoo; guitarist/signer Will Weldon; and Charlie Polk on jug. During the year-long period covered in this CD, the only significant personnel change was the addition of Vol Stevens on banjo-mandolin and guitar. The good-time music that they performed ranged from blues to pop numbers and even a couple waltzes. All three of the Document CDs are fairly equal in quality, with the second volume getting a slight edge. Among the highlights of Vol. 1 are "Memphis Jug Blues," "I Packed My Suitcase, Started to the Train," "Kansas City Blues" (recorded just a few days after Jim Jackson's famous version), the heated "Beale Street Mess Around," and a previously unreleased "She Stays Out All Night Long." Fun music that still communicates to today's listeners. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1        Sun Brimmers Blues (Take 2) 3:06
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Weldon
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
2        Stingy Woman--Blues (Take 2)  3:08
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Weldon
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
3        Memphis Jug--Blues (Take 1) 3:27
Guitar, Vocals – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug, Vocals – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
4        Newport News--Blues (Take 1) 3:04
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo, Vocals [Poss.] – Ben Ramey
Vocals [Speech] [Poss.] – Will Weldon
5        Sometimes I Think I Love You 3:02
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Guitar, Voice [Shouts] – Will Weldon
Harmonica – Shakey Walter
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
6        Sunshine Blues 2:31
Guitar – Will Shade
Guitar [?], Vocals, Composed By – Will Weldon
Harmonica – Shakey Walter
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
7        Memphis Boy--Blues 2:52
Guitar, Vocals – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Vocals, Kazoo – Ben Ramey
8        I'm Looking For The Bully Of The Town 2:35
Guitar, Vocals – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Vocals, Kazoo – Ben Ramey
9        I Packed My Suitcase, Started To The Train 3:17
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals, Composed By – Jennie Clayton
10        State Of Tennessee Blues 3:15
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals, Composed By – Jennie Clayton
11        Bob Lee Junior Blues 3:08
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Composed By – Will Shade
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals, Composed By – Jennie Clayton
12        Kansas City Blues 2:50
Guitar – Vol Stevens
Guitar, Vocals – Will Weldon
Harmonica, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Kazoo, Vocals – Ben Ramey
13        Beale Street Mess Around 3:00
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Vol Stevens
Harmonica – Will Shade
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
14        I'll See You In The Spring, When The Birds Begin To Sing 3:03
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Vol Stevens
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
15        Snitchin' Gambler--Blues (Take 2) 3:08
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
16        Evergreen Money Blues 3:21
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Jug – Charlie Polk
Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
17        Coal Oil Blues 3:25
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Vol Stevens
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
18        Papa Long Blues 2:55
Guitar – Will Weldon
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Vol Stevens
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
19        Peaches In The Springtime 3:11
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar, Vocals – Will Weldon
Jug – Charlie Polk
Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Vocals, Kazoo – Ben Ramey
20        She Stays Out All Night Long 3:00
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Guitar – Will Weldon
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals, Guitar, Composed By – Will Shade

MEMPHIS JUG BAND — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 2 : 1928-1929 DOCD-5022 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Memphis Jug Band was quite popular from 1927-1930, particularly if one judges the group by its many recordings (which fill up three CDs in this series). The second volume has slightly better material than the other two CDs, but all are easily recommended. During 1928 and 1929, the Memphis Jug Band featured its leader Will Shade on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, and guitarist Charlie Burse (guitarist Will Weldon and banjo-mandolist Vol Stevens from the first group departed by 1929). The band also included the highly expressive kazoo playing of Ben Ramey and Jab Jones' enthusiastic jug playing (an improvement on his predecessor Charlie Polk). Additionally, there are two selections included in which the band accompanies singer Minnie Wallace and there are a few guest musicians and singers on various tracks. Among the many high points of the spirited program are "She Stays Out All Night Long," "Lindberg Hop," "Stealin' Stealin'," "Jug Band Waltz," "The Old Folks Started It," and "Memphis Yo Yo Blues." An important if often overlooked genre of vintage American music. Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. When the Memphis Jug Band reassembled in September 1928 to cut eight titles for Victor, they began in larky mood. New member (on disc at least) Jab Jones sang what was nominally a tribute to Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic the previous year, but his version of the Lindyhop is a crazy, almost surrealist one. Sugar Pudding, a version of “Take Your Fingers Off It”, marked the debut of Jones’s thunderous jug, replacing the less forthright Charlie Polk. The other new member was the extrovert Alabaman guitarist and singer Charlie Burse. He was one of the singers on both On The Road Again, whose chorus refers to Monk Eastman’s eponymous gang, active in New York in the late 1890s, and the hybrid A Black Woman Is Like A Black Snake, with its 12 bar verse and 8 bar chorus. The cryptic Whitewash Station opened proceedings on 15th September, followed by the Memphis Jug Band’s most famous number, the beautiful Stealin’ Stealin’, relaxed, nostalgic, and superbly played. The two waltzes that closed the session, though unusual on race records, were probably no novelty to the band, which would have been expected to play such pieces for dancing by both blacks and whites. It was a year before the band returned to the microphones, and violinist Milton Roby (correct spelling) was added in place of Vol Stevens, bringing his broad, bluesy tones, learned on the medicine shows, to four songs that sound very much of that milieu — some of them obviously cleaned up for recording — and also to two provocative, sexy vocals by Minnie Wallace: Dirty Butter has fine piano and The Old Folks Started It has complex harmonica from Will Shade. A two day session in October 1929 began with the band in slightly lackluster mood, though they perked up for Tired Of You Driving Me. This date saw the debut on record of Tewee Blackman, Will Shade‘s guitar teacher, older than Shade, and a very accomplished player. His arpeggio style is heard on more records than the standard discography allows, but he was seldom heard to better effect than on Memphis Yo Yo Blues and K. C. Moan. The first title featured the forthright, sensual singing of Hattie Hart, interwoven, like Minnie Wallace’s, with imaginative harmonica work. K. C. Moan is perhaps the Memphis Jug Band‘s finest recording, excellent two guitar work supporting long, drawn-out notes on the harmonica and an intricate kazoo solo from Ben Ramey, apart from Shade the only member of the band who’d played on their first records. The vocal completes a spellbinding performance. The session ended with a light-hearted song about marital violence (a singletree, or swingletree, is the crosspiece of a plough). With a nonchalant “bam-bam-be-deedle-am”, the Memphis Jug Band left the recording studio. By May, 1930, when the Memphis Jug Band next recorded, unemployment in the US stood at over four million. The band, doubtless recognising that folks wanted to be lifted out of their troubles, didn’t let the Depression affect their music, as can be heard on Document DOCD-5023. DOCD-5022
Tracklist :
1    Memphis Jug Band–    She Stays Out All Night Long 2:50
Composed By, Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar – Will Weldon
Jug – Charlie Polk
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Mandolin Banjo [banjo-mandolin] – Vol Stevens
Speech [several of the band] – Unknown Artist
2    Memphis Jug Band–    Lindberg Hop (Overseas Stomp) 2:16
Composed By – J.B. Jones
Composed By, Guitar – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug, Vocals – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Mandolin Banjo [banjo-mandolin] – Vol Stevens
3    Memphis Jug Band–    Sugar Pudding 2:43
Composed By – J.B. Jones
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Mandolin Banjo [banjo-mandolin] – Vol Stevens
Vocals [trio] – Unknown Artist
4    Memphis Jug Band–    A Black Woman Is Like A Black Snake 2:45
Composed By – J.B. Jones
Composed By, Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar, Vocals – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Unknown Artist
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
5    Memphis Jug Band–    On The Road Again 2:46
Composed By – J.B. Jones
Composed By, Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar, Vocals – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Unknown Artist
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
6    Memphis Jug Band–    Whitewash Station Blues 2:42
Composed By – J.B. Jones
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug, Lead Vocals – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Mandolin Banjo [banjo-mandolin] – Vol Stevens
Vocals [group] – Unknown Artist
7    Memphis Jug Band–    Stealin', Stealin' 2:55
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse, Vol Stevens
Jug, Lead Vocals – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals [group] – Unknown Artist
8    Memphis Jug Band–    Jug Band Waltz 2:47
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse, Vol Stevens
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
9    Memphis Jug Band–    Mississippi River Waltz 2:40
Composed By – Ben Ramey
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse, Vol Stevens
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
10    Memphis Jug Band–    I Can't Stand It 2:19
Composed By, Guitar – Will Shade
Guitar, Vocals [probably] – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo, Vocals [probably] – Ben Ramey
Violin – Milton Robie
11    Memphis Jug Band–    What's The Matter? 2:49
Composed By, Guitar, Lead Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar, Vocals – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo, Vocals – Ben Ramey
Violin – Milton Robie
12    Minnie Wallace–    Dirty Butter 2:39
Composed By, Vocals – Minnie Wallace
Guitar [probably] – Will Shade
Piano [possibly] – Johnnie Hodges
Violin [probably] – Milton Robie
Vocals [refrain] – Unknown Artist
13    Minnie Wallace–    The Old Folks Started It 2:55
Composed By, Vocals – Minnie Wallace
Guitar [probably] – Charlie Burse
Harmonica [probably] – Will Shade
Jug [probably] – Jab Jones
Violin [probably] – Milton Robie
14    Memphis Jug Band–    Feed Your Friend With A Long-Handled Spoon 2:57
Composed By, Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Violin – Milton Robie
15    Memphis Jug Band–    I Can Beat You Plenty (That Hand You Tried To Deal Me) 3:10
Composed By, Harmonica – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Violin – Milton Robie
Vocals [group] – Unknown Artist
16    Memphis Jug Band–    Taking Your Place 2:38
Composed By – Mattie Nelson
Composed By [possibly], Harmonica, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
17    Memphis Jug Band–    Tired Of You Driving Me 2:48
Composed By – Mattie Nelson
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo, Vocals – Ben Ramey
18    Memphis Jug Band–    Memphis Yo-Yo Blues 2:30
Composed By – Jenny Pope
Guitar – Charlie Burse, Tewee Blackman
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Jab Jones
Vocals – Hattie Hart
19    Memphis Jug Band–    K.C. Moan 3:03
Composed By, Guitar, Lead Vocals [possibly] – Tewee Blackman
Guitar, Vocals [trio, possibly] – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo, Vocals [trio, possibly] – Ben Ramey
20    Memphis Jug Band–    I Whipped My Woman With A Single-Tree 3:03
Composed By, Lead Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Jab Jones
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Piano – Charlie Nickerson
Vocals [trio] – Unknown Artist

MEMPHIS JUG BAND — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 : 1930 | DOCD-5023 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third of three Document CDs has all of the Memphis Jug Band's 1930 recordings. Despite the onset of the Depression, the influential band's good-time style was unchanged and actually had improved a bit during the past couple of years. Will Shade was still its leader and alternated between guitar, harmonica, and vocals. The other original member was Ben Ramey on kazoo. During 1930, such players as mandolinist Charlie Burse, Hambone Lewis, and Jab Jones on jug, singer Charlie Nickerson, Vol Stevens on banjo-mandolin, and even guest vocalist/guitarist Memphis Minnie (on "Bumble Bee Blues" and "Meningitis Blues") passed through the band. Among the more memorable selections of their highly enjoyable CD are "Everybody's Talking About Sadie Green," "Cocaine Habit Blues," "Fourth Street Mess Around," "Going Back to Memphis," "Move that Thing," and "He's in the Jailhouse Now."  Scott Yanow

The Memphis Jug Band Complete Works Vol. 3 (1930) features timeless blues recordings with legendary performers Will Shade, Ben Ramey, Charlie Burse, Hambone Lewis, Hattie Hart, Memphis Minnie, and Charlie Nickerson. This collection captures the essence of Memphis blues at its finest. DOCD-5023
Tracklist :
1    Memphis Jug Band–    Everybody's Talking About Sadie Green  3:53
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Composed By – Charles Nickerson
Guitar – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo, Voice [Speech, Prob.] – Ben Ramey
Mandolin – Charlie Burse
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
2    Memphis Jug Band–    Oh, Ambulance Man 2:40
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals – Hattie Hart
Vocals, Guitar – Will Shade
3    Memphis Jug Band–    Cocaine Habit Blues 2:47
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Harmony Vocals – Unknown Artist
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Vocals – Hattie Hart
Vocals, Kazoo – Ben Ramey
4    Memphis Jug Band–    Jim Strainer Blues 3:20
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Piano – Unknown Artist
5    Memphis Jug Band–    Cave Man Blues 3:05
Composed By – Charles Pope
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Guitar, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Violin – Milton Robie
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Voice [Speech] – Unknown Artist
6    Memphis Jug Band–    Fourth Street Mess Around 3:15
Guitar, Composed By – Will Shade
Harmony Vocals – Unknown Artist, Unknown Artist
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Mandolin – Charlie Burse
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
7    Memphis Jug Band–    It Won't Act Right 2:28
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Guitar, Vocals, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Voice [Speech] – Unknown Artist
8    Memphis Jug Band–    Bumble Bee Blues 2:49
Composed By – Minnie McCoy
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Vocals, Guitar – Memphis Minnie
9    Memphis Jug Band–    Meningitis Blues 3:14
Composed By – Minnie McCoy
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Vocals, Guitar – Memphis Minnie
10    Memphis Jug Band–    Aunt Caroline Dyer Blues 3:04
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Guitar, Voice [Poss. Speech] – Charlie Burse
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
11    Memphis Jug Band–    Stonewall Blues 3:26
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Guitar, Vocals – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
12    Carolina Peanut Boys–    Spider's Nest Blues 3:03
Composed By – Jennie Mae Clayton
Guitar – Charlie Burse, Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals – Hattie Hart
13    Memphis Jug Band–    Papa's Got Your Bath Water On 2:26
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals, Composed By – Hattie Hart
Vocals, Harmonica – Will Shade
14    Charlie Nickerson–    Going Back To Memphis 2:20
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Guitar, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Hambone Lewis
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Vocals [Group Vocals] – Memphis Jug Band
15    Memphis Sheiks–    He's In The Jailhouse Now 3:06
Banjo, Mandolin – Vol Stevens
Composed By – Burt Murphy*
Guitar, Harmony Vocals [Poss.] – Charlie Burse
Harmonica – Will Shade
Jug – Jab Jones
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
16    Carolina Peanut Boys–    Got A Letter From My Darlin' 2:55
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Unknown Artist
Kazoo – Ben Ramey
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Vocals [2nd Vocals], Voice [Speech] – Unknown Artist
17    Memphis Sheiks–    'Round And 'Round 3:00
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Jug – Unknown Artist
Kazoo, Harmony Vocals – Ben Ramey
Mandolin [Poss.] – Will Weldon
Mandolin [Prob.] – Vol Stevens
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Vocals [2nd Vocals] – Unknown Artist
18    Carolina Peanut Boys–    You May Leave But This Will Bring You Back 2:58
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Harmony Vocals – Ben Ramey
Jug – Unknown Artist
Mandolin [Poss.] – Will Weldon
Mandolin [Prob.] – Vol Stevens
Vocals – Charlie Nickerson
Vocals [2nd Vocals] – Unknown Artist
19    Carolina Peanut Boys–    Move That Thing 2:57
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Harmony Vocals – Ben Ramey
Jug – Unknown Artist
Mandolin [Poss.] – Will Weldon
Mandolin [Prob.] – Vol Stevens
Vocals [2nd Vocals] – Unknown Artist
Vocals, Voice [Speech], Composed By – Charlie Nickerson
20    Carolina Peanut Boys–    You Got Me Rollin' 2:26
Guitar – Charlie Burse
Harmonica, Composed By – Will Shade
Harmony Vocals – Ben Ramey
Jug – Unknown Artist
Mandolin [Poss.] – Will Weldon
Mandolin [Prob.] – Vol Stevens
Vocals [2nd Vocals] – Unknown Artist
Vocals, Voice [Speech] – Charlie Nickerson