| Details / Tracklist: |
1.1 Floating Bridge1.2 Need More Blues1.3 Jack and Jill Blues1.4 Poor Man's Friend (T Model)1.5 Hobo Jungle Blues1.6 Airplane Blues1.7 Everybody Oughta Make a Change1.8 Liquor Store Blues1.9 Easin' Back to Tennessee1.10 Fire Department Blues1.11 Clean Up at Home1.12 New Someday Baby1.13 Brownsville Blues1.14 Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)1.15 Mailman Blues1.16 Time Is Drawing Near1.17 Mary Come on Home1.18 Jailhouse Blues1.19 Tell Me How About It (MR. Tom's Blues)1.20 Drop Down (I Don't Feel Welcome Here)1.21 Don't You Want to Know1.22 You Souldn't Do That1.23 When the Saints Go Marching in1.24 Lawyer Clark Blues1.25 Little Laura Blues1.26 Working Man Blues |
 | | Number of discs: |
1 |
| | Description: | This album begins with Sleepy John Este's account of how he came close to drowning when a car he was riding in skidded off a temporary bridge. It's typical of the man, in that it deals with events and people from his immediate experience and in it's constricted, emotional singing, matched by Hammie Nixon's melancholy harmonica. It's typical also in the element of paradox involved; this terrifying experience is recounted to the tune of 'Careless Love' (a tune he later used to sing about the fact that he'd gone 'Stone Blind'!) John Norris of 'Jazz Beat Magazine' once wrote of Sleepy John Estes "The emotional impact of his singing is overwhelming and when he really gets wound up in his music he sings with great power." Sleepy John Estes was in many ways the personification of the blues. His pleading vocals were always on the point of disintegrating into a cry, either of help or of joy. His guitar playing, which could either be used as a thumping rhythm or as a remarkable, strong and precise lead, were a direct line to the life of poverty that he lived and his experiences in the Brownsville, Tennessee, where he was born and where he died. Volume Two of his recordings continues to reveal Sleepy John Estes as a significant blues artist of the pre-war blues era. In addition to long time friend and music companion Hammie Nixon, several tracks find Sleepy John in the company Robert Lee McCoy, also known as Robert Nighthawk, Son Bonds and there is the possibility of an appearance of Charlie Pickett. Between them they produce some excellent blues such as Brownsvillle Blues, Hobo Jungle Blues and Special Agent. Drop Down is one of two recordings to feature the lively washboard playing of Ann Sortier, the girlfriend of Robert Lee McCoy. There is the strange, semi-religious blues Time Is Drawing Near. Tell Me How About It has some explicit things to say about 'Mister Tom' and his son-in-law 'Mister Robert', making it's chorus heavily ironic. Don't You Want To Know has all the originality of Estes' more serious lyrics e.g. The reference to Major Bowes, who ran a radio talent show. Sleepy John recorded and appeared extensively between 1961 and 1975 following his re-discovery and though his performances were strong and satisfying they did hide both the magic and vitality of his early recordings which Document now presents.Recording date, location, matrix, catalog number:
1. August 2, 1937, New York City, 62465-A, Decca 7442
2. August 2, 1937, New York City, 62466-A, Decca 7365
3. August 3, 1937, New York City, 62479-A, Decca 7365
4. August 3, 1937, New York City, 62480-A, Decca 7442
5. August 3, 1937, New York City, 62481-A, Decca 7354
6. August 3, 1937, New York City, 62482-A, Decca 7354
7. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63647-A, Decca 7571
8. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63648-A, Decca 7491
9. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63649-A, Decca 7516
10. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63650-A, Decca 7571
11. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63651-B, Decca 7516
12. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63652-A, Decca 7473
13. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63653-A, Decca 7473
14. April 22, 1938, New York City, 63654-A, Decca 7491
15. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93004-A, Decca 7789
16. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93005-A, Decca 7789
17. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93006-A, Decca 7814
18. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93007-A, Decca 7814
19. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93008-A, Decca 7766
20. June 4, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, 93009-A, Decca 7766
21. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064915-1, Bluebird B-8915
22. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064916-1, Bluebird B-8852
23. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064917-1, Bluebird B-8891
24. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064924-1, Bluebird B-8871
25. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064925-1, Bluebird B-8871
26. September 24, 1941, Chicago, Illinois, 064926-1, Bluebird B-8950
© 1990 by Document Records | | | No. of tracks: |
26 |
| | Manufacturer No.: |
DCU5016.2 |
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