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BLUES FROM THE 50s

Click on the to hear a music sample.

$12.98

TRACKLISTING
1. St. Pete Florida Blues - Ray Charles, R. Charles, 158s
2. Alley Corn - Earl Hooker, E. Hooker, 163s
3. Sweet Angel - Earl Hooker, L. Bagan, Smith, 187s
4. Goin' To New Orleans - Little Sam Davis, S. Davis, 159s
5. She's So Good To Me - Little Sam Davis, S. Davis, 132s
6. On The Hook - Earl Hooker, E. Hooker, 162s
7. Goin' Home To Mother - Little Sam Davis, S. Davis, 155s
8. 1958 Blues - Little Sam Davis, S. Davis, 139s
9. Jammin' - Earl Hooker, E. Hooker, 136s
10. Ride Hooker Ride - Earl Hooker, E. Hooker, 164s
11. After Hours - Earl Hooker, A. Parrish, 170s
12. Jealous Man - Johnny Lewis, J. Hill Louis, 152s
13. She's Taking All My Money - Johnny Lewis, J. Hill Louis, 164s
14. Ridin' Home - Leslie Louis, J. Hill Louis, 141s
15. Don't Do It Again - Leslie Louis, J. Hill Louis, 149s
16. Alley Blues - Jimmy Wilson, C. Jones, 180s
17. Walkin' The Streets - Lightnin' Hopkins, H. Stone, 162s SAMPLE (642KB)
18. Mussy Haired Woman - Lightnin' Hopkins, H. Stone, 175s
19. Goin' Back Home Today - Willie Baker, W. Baker, 167s
20. A Fool No More - Eddie Hope & The Mannish Boys, McArthur, 143s
21. Lost Child - Eddie Hope & The Mannish Boys, McArthur, 127s

1) Ray Charles - Born Ray Charles Robinson, he attended the school for the blind in St. Augustine, FL. I met Ray Charles at the Mary Elizabeth Hotel, a hotel in Miami located in what is today known as Overtown. I arranged for him to come to my recording studio on West Flagler Street where we recorded four tracks, one of which is included on this CD, "St. Pete Florida Blues" (1951).
2) Earl Hooker - Master slide guitarist, born in 1930 in Clarksdale, he is John Lee Hooker's first cousin. He was in his early 20's working in a funky club in Arkansas when our paths crossed. I cut eight tracks with him at a tiny recording studio, one of which was a remake of the classic "Black Angel Blues", later entitled "Sweet Black Angel". Other releases on this CD from the Rockin' label are "Alley Corn", "On
the Hook", "Jammin'", "Ride Hooker Ride", and "After Hours". I released Hooker on my Rockin' label in 1952. Unfortunately, Earl died at the early age of 41 in Chicago, April 1970.
3) Willie C. Baker - aka W.C. Baker worked for me as a shipping clerk. I recognized his talent as a Blues singer and guitar player and recorded several tracks, one of which is on this album, "Goin' Back Home Today" (1953).
4) Lightnin' Hopkins - This CD includes two tracks, "Walkin' the Streets" and "Mussy Haired Woman" from Texas Bluesman "Lightnin'" Sam Hopkins. These tracks were released on my Chart label. Hopkins went on to become one of the foremost Blues guitarists and singers of the 50s and 60s. I met Hopkins in Texas in 1956. Born in Centerville, Texas on March 15, 1912, he passed away January 30, 1982.
5) Little Sam Davis - Veteran harp blower Davis learned harmonica at age 8. He left the Mississippi delta and headed for Florida to work in the orange groves. In 1952 he cut four sides for my Rockin'l abel (with Hooker providing accompaniment), "Goin' to New Orleans", "She's Good to Me", "Goin' Home to Mother", and "1958 Blues", all included on this CD.
6) Johnny Lewis & Leslie Louis - aka one man band Joe Hill Louis. He moonlights on four tracks as
Johnny Lewis and Leslie Louis due to contractual obligations elsewhere. These tracks include Johnny
Lewis' "Jealous Man" and "She's Taking All My Money", and Leslie Louis' "Ridin' Home" and "Don't Do It Again".
7) Eddie Hope and Mannish Boys - Some of the best early releases on the Marlin label were by Eddie Hope and the Mannish Boys. "A Fool No More" and "Lost Child" are cult collectors items, showing that I could match anything the Chicago Blues companies could bring to the market.
8) Jimmy Wilson - Called "Mr. Tin Pan Alley", Jimmy Wilson recorded four tracks for Chart in 1956. This CD includes "Alley Blues", a reworking of his old hit with down-home guitar work by Johnny Fuller.