I hadn’t heard of Mosaic Select until the other I heard a story on Fresh Air about a new Boogie-Woogie Box set released released by them. Mosaic appears to be somewhat like an American grown Bear Family records specializing in box sets of jazz artists - especially of well known jazz artists little known recording periods. I’m not really an expert in jazz by any means - but these sets look fantastic - The Complete Charlie Parker on Benedetti? Yes Please.

Mosaic’s three disc set of boogie-woogie might be the first serious look at boogie woogie and blues piano in the pre-war era. The set is limited to 5,000 copies and priced at $49 which is high considering the set it self looks like a JSP Box, but without the shadiness and with excellent and extremely well documented notes.

I’m going to pick three tracks, one from each disc just to sample the set, the first track is a showy piece (even for a boogie woogie number) by Meade Lux Lewis - that is a perfect example of the style and just a great composition. The next is an star-studded number with Pete Johnson on piano and Hot Lips Page on trumpet and the great Joe Turner on vocals who complains about the tempo being too fast at the end of this unissued take. I think the tempo is is just right - and the last third of the side has some of the best call and response from a vocalist and his band that I’ve heard. The last track is from the great Cripple Clarence Lofton with a track that sounds like proto-southern soul, wonderful play between the drummer and Lofton, though it features more Lofton’s warbly voice than his fantastic piano skills (though he gets his lines in), I’m just in love with this track.

Buy It Here!!

Meade Lux Lewis - Bear Cat Crawl (1938)
Pete Johnson And His Boogie Woogie Boys - Jump For Joy (1939)
Cripple Clarence Lofton - Strut That Thing (1935)

A long time ago, This album was requested when I was posting a bunch of out of print things - and I’m finally making good on that promise. Trix Records was one of the best of the blues labels in post-war era though it never had the break through artists that would help propel Chess and others to major label status. This album Detroit After Hours is a collection of their musicians playing on the same piano and recored live at a house in Detroit’s “The Valley” a former black neighborhood that was the center of black entertainment after the war and was demolished over time in the 70s and 80s to make way for a freeway. The music is lively and really capture the spirit of a blues after hour party and all these songs are wonderful.

Pick a song or pick the full album.

Chuck Smith - The Train Is Coming (1973)

Detroit After Hours Vol. 1 (zip file)

I promise. It’s been a rough few months, thanks for sticking around.

I posted a track by Speckled Red way back in June of 05and it’s still up to download, which is remarkable I think. I don’t revisit too many of my old posts, there are far too many blues people to unearth to repeat the same dozen artists that CD compilations seems to be happy to produce. Speckled Red is also so fun and lively; this track will surely get you out of your seat - and it also provides a great counterpoint to the question I always get “Why are the blues so depressing?”

Speckled Red - You Got To Fix It (1938)

I’ve really been enjoying the Tiger Administration Page for Wordpress, created by the guys over at Orderedlist. It’s so much cleaner and easier to navigate than the standard administration page - and it looks really nice too.

Kansas City Frank Melrose, also known as Broadway Rastus, recorded a couple of sides for Paramount in the late 20s. Funnily enough, the two sides Melrose was first known for were the alternative unissused takes of his songs, the song presented here today are the ones actually released in the Winter of 1929. Whoopee Stomp is a simple dance number with Melrose’s playful piano in a duet with Tommy Taylor’s drums - it’s quiet breezy and makes you want to stomp yr feet and pray that winter is finally over.

Kansas City Frank Melrose - Whoopee Stomp (1929)

A reader sent me this me this song the other day to get my help identifying the actual performer of the song. The compilation it comes from lists this song as being preformed by Cool Papa Smith who I don’t have any reference for, the compilation also calls Funny Paper Smith, Funny Pappa Smth, so it’s not the best researched CD. The song is If You Change Your Ways Woman, which I only know that Big Maceo sang, but it is possible that the song title is wrong also.

Anyone know this song?

“Cool Papa Smith” - If You Change Your Ways Woman (link fixed) (m4a file)

It’s been pretty overcast and gray here in Greensboro the last couple of days - and this side by Ben Abney captures that rainy day blues sound so perfectly. Abney recorded and lived in Charlotte, NC a town more known for its country music recordings than the blues musicians that recorded there, but this track is a solid if not special piano number from Abney. He’s sort of a klutzy stride piano player - but it has its charm - but the atmospshere of the song is what really sells it.

Ben Abney -What Makes Your Heart So Hard (1936)

I mean, I don’t want to get political - but today is pretty fantastic.

Dusky Dailey was a Texas (perhaps by the way of Louisiana) piano player who recorded a handful of blues songs in the late 30s both as a solo preformer and as band leader. I prefer his solo work, which is rough and more exciting than the smooth blues of his big band work both both settings show off his amazing skills on the keys and his less than amazing singing voice. This track Flying Crow Blues was recorded by a few other blues artists before him, most notable Black Ivory King - though I think this might be my favorite.

Dusky Dailey - Flying Crow Blues (1937)

Three Fifteen and His Squares might be the best blues band name I’ve heard, it sounds straight out of 80s power-pop not piano blues in the 1930s. The band itself is as enigmatic as its name, Dave Blunston is the vocalist on these tracks and the rest of the band, and where they are from/how they got their name is unknown. The band most likely hails from Louisiana because of references to Texas Avenue and the horn work is very hot jazz/New Orleans. Blunston isn’t much of a vocalist, but he holds the tracks together and allows for the backing band to do some incredible work.

Three Fifteen and His Squares - Drop My Stuff (1937)

I’m heading out to Nashville to see my nephew this weekend and hopefully will be able to get some quality record shopping in while we aren’t babbling over how cute the baby is, though I mean, it might be the cutest baby ever. Even cuter than Suri.

Hastings Street should have made my shortlist for favorite blues songs. It has a great piano performance by Charlie Spand, whose might be my favorite piano player in the pre-war era. And then it has a great guitar performance by Blind Blake, what more can you want out of a blues side?

Charlie Spand with Blind Blake - Hastings St. (1929)

I’ve been on hold with my ISP for the past hour now, and I keep getting transferred across the globe and company and yet have been able to talk to someone in the right department. I mean that seems like it should be the easiest part. So if this post is filled with errors, it’s because I’m typing with my phone between my head and my shoulder.

Kingfish Bill Tomlin recorded four sides for Paramount in 1930 most likely both on piano and vocals, though it’s up for debate if he’s playing the piano. He’s a unique blues singer, with a great big voice that bellows out from the speakers. The last part of the side is my favorite as Tomlin decides to speak the last verse way off beat with the piano. Really fantastic.

Kingfish Bill Tomlin - Hot Box (1930)