Sunnyland Slim • Blues & Rhythm Series Classics (1947 - 1948)

Review by arwulf arwulf

This installment in the Classics complete Sunnyland Slim chronology opens with two sides he cut in 1947 for the Aristocrat label in the company of guitarist Muddy Waters and bassist Ernest "Big" Crawford. Sunnyland expresses his own brand of murderous intent on "Johnson Machine Gun," threatening to arm himself and become "a walking cyclone" from Saginaw to highway 94. (Interested parties should consult a map of Michigan in order to fully appreciate the geographical span of his descriptive rage.) Two sessions from December 1947 resulted in eight recordings that were issued on the Victor label. Something interesting happened here. With the amazing Blind John Davis in command of the piano, Sunnyland was able to concentrate on singing with all his heart, punctuating the verses with loud whoops and hollers. Add guitarist Big Bill Broonzy, bassist Ransom Knowling, and drummer Judge Riley, and you've got one formidable Chicago blues quartet backing up a vocalist who holds nothing back. During the year 1948 Sunnyland Slim recorded for a lot of small labels. His Hy-Tone recordings appeared under the heading of Sunnyland Slim & His Sunny Boys. Four of these (Hy-Tone 32 and 34) feature the leader's high gritty voice and fine piano with Lonnie Johnson's amplified guitar and an excellent string bassist named Andrew Harris. On two titles issued as Hy-Tone 37, Sunnyland's band is completely unidentified. This is a shame, as the nameless tenor saxophonist contributes his share of expressive solos. Two more sides for Aristocrat feature a burning alto saxophonist named Alex Atkins, a heavy-handed plucked bass solo by "Big" Crawford, and the unmistakable electrified guitar of Muddy Waters. Two titles released on the Opera record label as by "Delta Joe" are duets between Sunnyland Slim and electric guitarist Leroy Foster. Although a title like "Roll, Tumble and Flop" might at first imply jump music, this tune and its flip side fall back on the traditional slow drag blues lament. The four tracks closing out this compilation were recorded for the Tempo-Tone label with Little Walter blowing the harmonica, both Floyd Jones and Muddy Waters playing guitars, and Leroy Foster knocking the drums. With both Little Walter and Floyd Jones singing up a storm, Sunnyland Slim was able to focus his energies on the task of playing enough piano to round off one of the toughest of the postwar Chicago blues bands.

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Revisión por arwulf arwulf

Esta entrega en la cronología completa del clásico Sunnyland Slim se abre con dos lados que cortó en 1947 para el sello Aristocrat en compañía del guitarrista Muddy Waters y el bajista Ernest "Big" Crawford. Sunnyland expresa su propia marca de intenciones asesinas en "Johnson Machine Gun", que amenaza con armarse y convertirse en "un ciclón ambulante" desde Saginaw hasta la carretera 94. (Las partes interesadas deben consultar un mapa de Michigan para apreciar completamente el alcance geográfico de su ira descriptiva.) Dos sesiones de diciembre de 1947 dieron como resultado ocho grabaciones que se emitieron en el sello Victor. Algo interesante sucedió aquí. Con el increíble Blind John Davis al mando del piano, Sunnyland pudo concentrarse en cantar con todo su corazón, puntuando los versos con fuertes gritos y gritos. Agregue al guitarrista Big Bill Broonzy, al bajista Ransom Knowling y al baterista Judge Riley, y tendrá un formidable cuarteto de blues de Chicago que respalda a un vocalista que no tiene nada. Durante el año 1948 Sunnyland Slim grabó para muchas etiquetas pequeñas. Sus grabaciones de Hy-Tone aparecieron bajo el título de Sunnyland Slim & His Sunny Boys. Cuatro de estos (Hy-Tone 32 y 34) cuentan con la voz audaz del líder y el piano fino con la guitarra amplificada de Lonnie Johnson y un excelente bajista de cuerdas llamado Andrew Harris. En dos títulos emitidos como Hy-Tone 37, la banda de Sunnyland está completamente sin identificar. Esto es una pena, ya que el saxofonista tenor sin nombre contribuye con su parte de solos expresivos. Dos lados más para Aristocrat incluyen a un saxofonista alto y ardiente llamado Alex Atkins, un solo de bajo robusto de "Big" Crawford, y la inconfundible guitarra electrificada de Muddy Waters. Dos títulos lanzados en el sello discográfico Opera como "Delta Joe" son duetos entre Sunnyland Slim y el guitarrista eléctrico Leroy Foster. Aunque un título como "Roll, Tumble and Flop" podría implicar en un principio la música de salto, esta melodía y su lado opuesto recaen en el tradicional lamento de blues de arrastre lento. Las cuatro pistas que cerraron esta compilación se grabaron para el sello Tempo-Tone con Little Walter tocando la armónica, Floyd Jones y Muddy Waters tocando guitarras, y Leroy Foster tocando la batería. Con Little Walter y Floyd Jones haciendo una tormenta, Sunnyland Slim fue capaz de concentrar sus energías en la tarea de tocar el piano suficiente para completar una de las bandas de blues de Chicago de posguerra más difíciles.

1 Johnson Machine Gun (1947) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim

2 Fly Right, Little Girl (1947) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim

3 Farewell Little Girl (12-10-47) trad., Sunnyland Slim

4 Broke and Hungry (12-10-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
5 Illinois Central (12-10-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
6 Nappy Head Woman (12-10-47) Broonzy, Sunnyland Slim
7 Across the Hall Blues (12-31-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
8 Walking With the Blues (12-31-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
9 Sweet Lucy Blues (12-31-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
10 No Whiskey Blues (12-31-47) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
11 Jivin' boogie (1948) Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
12 Brown Skin Woman (1948) Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
13 My Heavy Load (1948) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
14 Keep Your Hands Out of My Money (1948) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
15 5 Foot 4 Gal (1948) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
16 I've Done Your Wrong (1948) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
17 She Ain't Nowhere (04-?-48) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
18 My Baby, My Baby (04-?-48) Luandrew, Sunnyland Slim
19 Roll, Tumble and Slip (I Cried) [1948] Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
20 Train Time (4 O'clock Blues) [1948] Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
21 Hard Times (1948) Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
22 School Days (1948) Unknown, Sunnyland Slim
23 Blue Baby (1948) Jacobs, Sunnyland Slim
24 I Want My Baby (1948) Jacobs, Sunnyland Slim




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