Arhoolie Presents American Masters, Vol. 2: 15 Down Home Urban Blues Classics

by DOWN HOME URBAN BLUES CLASSICS

Overview

A collection of urban blues from various releases in Arhoolie's catalog, this album starts out with some straightforward boogie blues with Sonny Boy Williamson, then moves into proto-rock & roll with Big Mama Thornton and some stride piano from Big Joe Duskin. Earl Hooker provides some slower guitar blues, and Charlie Musselwhite updates the blues harp tradition a bit in "Up and Down the Avenue." John Littlejohn exemplifies the Chicago scene and Joe Turner brings it back to proto-rock & roll. Katie Webster brings a full band into the picture with a higher tempo number involving the whole range of instruments, and Omar Shariff (not the actor) pumps out some stripped down piano blues with emotion at the core laid bare. Bee Houston almost sounds like a ska musician, Juke Boy Bonner combines guitar and bluesharp, and Good Rockin' Robinson presents a wailing, although rather rare, blues violin instrumental along with his vocals. Piano Red almost sounds like he's singing along with a player piano, Johnny Young provides another look at the more contemporary Chicago scene, and the album finishes on Charles Ford with a stuttering approach for the band and a rocking little solo line for his guitar. There are certainly urban blues compilations of better quality (such as the Blues Masters series on Rhino), but this one isn't bad as a quick sampler. Give it a listen if you can't find the more comprehensive items locally, and start digging deeper from there. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	11/05/1996
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297010228
Rank:	141565

Tracks

1. Pontiac Blues  - Sonny Boy Williamson
2. Big Mama's Bumble Bee  - Big Mama Thornton
3. Cincinnati Stomp  - Big Joe Duskin
4. Anna Lee  - Earl Hooker  - Elmore James  - Marshall Sehorn
5. Up & Down the Avenue  - Charlie Musselwhite
6. Been Around the World  - John Funchess  - John Littlejohn
7. Wine-O-Baby Boogie  - Pete Johnson  - Big Joe Turner  - Joe Turner
8. I Know That's Right  - John Lumsdaine  - Katie Webster
9. The Raven  - Omar Shariff
10. You Think I'm Your Good Thing  - Bee Houston
11. Going Back to the Country  - Juke Boy Bonner  - Weldon Bonner
12. Ups and Downs  - L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson
13. Atlanta Bounce  - Willie Perryman  -  Piano Red
14. Wild, Wild Woman  - Johnny Young
15. Gibson Creek Shuffle  - Charles Ford  - Robben Ford

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Omar Shariff   Primary Artist
Bee Houston   Primary Artist
Johnny Young   Primary Artist
Charles Ford   Primary Artist
Sonny Boy Williamson II   Primary Artist
John Littlejohn   Primary Artist
Earl Hooker   Primary Artist
Katie Webster   Primary Artist
Charlie Musselwhite   Primary Artist
Big Mama Thornton   Primary Artist
Pete Johnson   Primary Artist
Juke Boy Bonner   Primary Artist
Big Joe Turner   Primary Artist
Piano Red   Primary Artist
L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson   Primary Artist
Big Joe Duskin   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Dix Bruce   Design,Artwork,Photo Restoration
Earl Hooker   Composer,Performer
Charles Ford   Performer
Elmore James   Composer
Charlie Musselwhite   Composer,Performer
Joe Turner   Composer
John Littlejohn   Performer
Johnny Young   Composer,Performer
Piano Red   Performer
Juke Boy Bonner   Performer
Marshall Sehorn   Composer
Katie Webster   Composer,Performer
Omar Shariff   Composer
Tom Diamant   Editing,Producer
Big Joe Duskin   Composer,Performer
Big Mama Thornton   Performer
Bee Houston   Composer
Willie Perryman   Composer
Weldon Bonner   Composer
John Funchess   Composer
John Lumsdaine   Composer
Wayne Pope   Cover Design,Design
L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson   Performer,Composer
Robben Ford   Composer
Chris Strachwitz   Photography,Producer,Editing
Big Joe Turner   Performer,Composer
Sonny Boy Williamson II   Composer,Performer