The Modern Recordings 1948-1950

by Jimmy McCracklin

Overview

Although McCracklin had already been recording for a few years, his association with Modern marked his first reasonably long tenure with an established label. This 25-track disc covers his first stay with the company, covering a half dozen singles, three songs that first showed up on the 1981 Ace album And His Blues Blasters, and ten demos, outtakes, and alternate takes that were previously unissued. It's solid small-combo West Coast jump blues, sometimes embellished by the tenor saxophone of Maxwell Davis. It's more interesting on the speedy, jumpy numbers, although McCracklin was competent at setting an after-hours vibe on the slower ones. The drums-piano-guitar trio, especially guitarist Robert Kelton, gets into a real frenetic groove on the 1948 instrumental "Blues Blasters' Shuffle"; "Hamburger Joint" is a silly novelty whose spoken repartee verges on sleaziness. In a more serious mood are two previously unissued McCracklin solo piano demos, "Mistreating Me" and "Bad Health Blues." ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/27/1999
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667172028
Rank:	155036

Tracks

1. Reelin' & Rockin'
2. Deceivin' Blues
3. Beer Drinkin' Woman
4. I'll Get a Break Someday
5. Love When It Rains
6. Deceivin' Blues
7. I Think My Time Is Here
8. Josephine
9. Bad Condition Blues
10. Blues Blasters' Shuffle
11. Oh! I'm in Love
12. You Deceived Me
13. Gotta Cut Out
14. Up and Down Blues
15. Racket Blues
16. Bad Health Blues
17. Just Won't Let Her Go
18. Don't Mistreat Me
19. Cold Hearted
20. Your Heart Ain't Right
21. Hamburger Joint
22. Crying Blues
23. Mistreating Me
24. Bad Health Blues
25. 1942 Boogie

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jimmy McCracklin   Primary Artist
Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters   Primary Artist
Robert Kelton   Guitar

Technical Credits

Jules Taub   Composer
Ray Topping   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Jimmy McCracklin   Composer
Van Alexander   Composer
Peter Chatman   Composer