Broonzy couldn't have dreamed of the fame he was to find in Europe for the six years until his death in 1958. But these tracks are from the early part of his career and were made for mainly black American audiences. They are full of charm and, taken within the context of the music, skilful and appealing instrumental solos. There was a clarity in Broonzy's diction and a powerful swing to his guitar playing that has enabled these tracks to have a life of their own almost 60 years after they were made. This is the real Broonzy--a hard diamond in contrast with the man who, during the 1950s, realised that his European audiences wanted him to be a simple farm hand singing of cotton and molasses. He played up to the image even though he had been an urban factory worker and a professional entertainer for 30 years by then. So this is the essence of Broonzy, and what an enjoyable experience it is! Most of the great classic songs associated with him are here in their original versions, "Key To The Highway", "When I Been Drinking" and "Night Time Is The Right Time" amongst them. --Steve Voce
Broonzy couldn't have dreamed of the fame he was to find in Europe for the six years until his death in 1958. But these tracks are from the early part of his career and were made for mainly black American audiences. They are full of charm and, taken within the context ofthe music, skilful and appealing instrumental solos. There was a clarity in Broonzy's diction and a powerful swing to his guitar playing that has enabled these tracks to have a life of their own almost 60 years after they were made. This is the real Broonzy--a hard diamond in contrast with the man who, during the 1950s, realised that his European audiences wanted him to be a simple farm hand singing of cotton and molasses. He played up to the image even though he had been an urban factory worker and a professional entertainer for 30 years by then. So this is the essence of Broonzy, and what an enjoyable experience it is! Most of the great classic songs associated with him are here in their original versions, "Key To The Highway", "When I Been Drinking" and "Night Time Is The Right Time" amongst them.--Steve Voce
Album Notes: Personnel includes: Big Bill Broonzy (vocals, guitar); Cripple Clarence Lofton, Bumble Bee Slim, Georgia Tom, Hannah May, The Hokum Boys, The Chicago Black Swans, The State Street Boys.
Titles on disc 1
1.: Bull Cow Blues
2.: Rising Sun Shine On
3.: I Can't Be Satisfied
4.: Saturday Night Rub
5.: Too-Too Train Blues
6.: Come On Mama (with Georgia Tom/Hannah May)
7.: Midnight Special
8.: Can't You Trust Me No More (with Bumble Bee Slim)
9.: Brown Skin Shuffle
10.: How You Want It Done
11.: My Stove's In Good Condition (with Lil Johnson)
12.: Big Bill Blues
13.: Long Tall Mama
14.: Monkey Man Blues (with Cripple Clarence Lofton)
15.: Mr. Conductor Man
16.: Pig Meat Strut
17.: Rukus Juice Blues
18.: Crazy About You (with The State Street Boys)
Titles on disc 2
1.: Don't Tear My Clothes No. 2 (with Chicago Black Swans)
2.: Key To The Highway
3.: Jivin' Mr. Fuller Blues
4.: Where Were You Last Night (with Bumble Bee Slim)
5.: Stove Pipe Stomp
6.: Mountain Blues
7.: Southern Blues
8.: Nancy Jane (with The Hokum Boys)
9.: My Big Money
10.: St. Louis Woman Blues (with St. Louis Jimmy Oden)
11.: I Feel So Good
12.: Looking For My Baby
13.: C.C. Rider (take A)
14.: That Number Of Mine
15.: Black Cat Rag (with The Hokum Boys)
16.: You May Need My Help Someday
17.: Martha Blues/Just Wondering
18.: You Got To Hit The Right Lick/Rockin' Chair Blues/All By Mys
Advantages: Some really good songs Disadvantages: A lot of it sounds very similar
...’, originally written by someone credited as ‘mc.daniel’. I’ve no idea who he is, sorry. The song takes a wry look at attempting to reconcile a relationship and should raise a smile.
Following on is another blues cover of ‘Hey Hey’, originally by ‘BigBillBroonzy’ – you just have to smile don’t you! It’s a laid back piece with a nice little sliding guitar riff (Though not actually done with a slide).
Now we have a Clapton Classic (TM), ‘Tears in Heaven’ – written about his son who fell out of a sky scraper. It’s a very emotional song that benefits the striped down approach it gains from being part of an unplugged session. There’s more song to it than the original.
There’s not really much that could top that, but one track still to come...
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Advantages: Some new snippets of information Disadvantages: A lot of old information
..." with Dave Evans, that Bon Scott was Perth Pipe Band Under-17 drum champion, and "Crabsody In Blue" was written in homage to Blues Ointment, a crab treatment cream.
Unfortunately, it only adds to the confusion over the track "Baby Please Don't Go", which I have been attempting to ascertain who actually wrote. This book describes it as a Van Morrison song, then on the next page refers to it as a Muddy Waters standard. Does this mean Van the man wrote it? If so, why is it credited to Joe Williams on "Jailbreak '74", and Broonzy on "High Voltage"? Is Van's real name Williams? Or Broonzy? Help....
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Advantages: Slick blues sound, sounds absolutely top notch. BEWARE! Geniuses at work! Disadvantages: None. No - none at all.
...sharp as a razor and a heart made of gold.
I had a guitar hanging just about waist high,
And I'm gonna play this thing until the day I die. "
- Ten Long Years
Classic blues here, and one of B.B.'s top tracks from the 50's. It's a sad track about his woman of 10 years leaving him after a happy relationship. All the vocals are taken on by B.B., and the strong baseline emphasises the tragedy in the song, and the backing piano add that little bit of class to the song. This is the first time we really see what I love so much about this album – there's plenty of verse, but it's at least equalled by guitar solo sections, which sound absolutely superb.
- Key To The Highway
A cover this time, of a track penned by old blues star 'BigBillBroonzy', a slow track that allows Clapton's 'note-heavy' style to shine through, while King's style fits...
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helpful 12.08.2001
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