BluEsoterica *** Jim O'Neal

SRC-1910 KEEP IT TO YOURSELF: ARKANSAS BLUES, Volume 1 – Solo Performances. Featuring various Arkansas performers recorded by Louis Guida in 1976: W.C Clay, Nelson Carson, Reola Jackson, Mack White, Willie Wright, Herbert Wilson, Willie Moore, Trenton Cooper, and the first recordings released in the U.S. by future Fat Possum artist CeDell Davis. Most tracks feature vocals & guitar; CeDell plays harp on one track; Trenton Cooper does some piano tunes, and Reola Jackson sings an a cappella number recorded at the state prison – you can hear the sound of a cell door closing. This was originally released by Rooster Blues in 1983 and was reissued on CD as Stackhouse Recording Company’s first release. Album compilation and liner notes by Louis Guida and Jim O'Neal.

W.C. Clay, Vocal & Guitar (23 May 1976, Elaine, Arkansas): King Biscuit Time – Opening Theme; Keep It To Yourself; Someday Baby Blues; Standing At My Window; Reola Jackson, Vocal (26 March 1976, Cummins Prison Women’s Unit, Varner, Arkansas): I’ll Take Care Of You;  Nelson Carson, Guitar & Commentary (12 May 1976, Shelter Club, Texarkana, Texas): Roaring Twenties Rag; Hill Country Blues; Mack White, Vocal & Guitar (12 June 1976, Winchester, Arkansas): Old Time March; Willie Wright, Vocal & Guitar (7 April 1976, Sweet Home, Arkansas): John Henry; Standing Around Crying; Willie Moore, Vocal & Guitar (25 April 1976, Jungle Hutt, Pine Bluff, Arkansas): Willie’s Blues; Herbert Wilson, Vocal & Guitar (5 May 1976, White Swan Café, Helena, Arkansas): Hello Central; Trenton Cooper, Piano (9 June 1976, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas): That’s Boogie!; Educator’s Blues; Fish Tail Theme; CeDell Davis, Vocal & Guitar/Harmonica# (24 March, 31 March(+) 1976, Pine Bluff, Arkansas): Let Me Play With Your Poodle; Lonely Nights (+); Big G Boogie (#); How Much More; Willie Wright, Vocal & Guitar (7 April 1976, Sweet Home, Arkansas); The Natchez Burning; W.C. Clay, Vocal & Guitar (23 May 1976, Elaine, Arkansas): What’d I Say; King Biscuit Time – Closing Theme

Volume 2 is out!

SRC-1916 MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM: ARKANSAS BLUES, Volume 2 -- The Bands is now available, featuring Calvin Leavy, Queen Bee (Essie Smith, now known as Essie "The Blues Lady" Neal) & the Soul Seekers, Harmonica Slim (Travis Blaylock, who recorded several singles in California in the 1950s and '60s), Texarkana Five (featuring Nelson Carson on guitar), Duke Bradley, the Sounds of Soul (featuring James Seals and Julius Gibson from Osceola, Arkansas), and the Cummins Prison Band, all recorded by Louis Guida in 1976 at nightclubs, artists' homes and a prison unit in Arkansas. Raw and real! Album compilation and liner notes by Louis Guida and Jim O'Neal.

QUEEN BEE & THE SOUL SEEKERS

Essie Smith, vocal/guitar; Mary Smith, bass; Merrill Smith, drums

(8 May 1976, Smith home, Prattsville)

1. SHAKE YOUR BUTT (Smith)  3:14

 

DUKE BRADLEY, vocals and guitar

J.C. Haynie, bass; Travis Dodds, drums; Leonard Smith, organ

(10 April 1976, Jungle Hutt, Pine Bluff)

2. SAME THING THEY DID TO ME (King) 3:56

3. EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (Nix) 5:04

4. YOU DON’T LOVE ME (Cobbs)  4:55

 

SOUNDS OF SOUL

James Seals, vocals/drums; Julius Gibson, guitar; A.D. Robinson, organ; Johnny Razor, bass

(21 April 1976, Julius Gibson home, Osceola)

5. THE RED ROOSTER (Dixon)  3:19

6. LAUNDROMAT BLUES (Jones) 4:14

7. WOKE UP THIS MORNING (King)  3:30

 

CUMMINS PRISON BAND

Louis L. Mosley, vocal(8); Willie Slater, vocal(9)/drums; William T. Wright, guitar; Charles Ice, bass; Jesse Youngblood, guitar

(18 March 1976, Varner)

8. DRUNK (Liggins)  1:46

9. DON’T START ME TALKIN’ (Williamson) 3:40

 

TEXARKANA FIVE with HARMONICA SLIM

John Walton, vocal (10)/bass; Nelson Carson, guitar; Travis Blaylock, vocal(12)/harmonica(12); Travis Matthews, guitar; Frank Howard Jr., drums

(12 May 1976, Shelter Club, Texarkana, Texas)

10. MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM (Easton/Moss) 2:33

11. TEXARKANA HOP (Carson/Matthews) 3:51

12. YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT (Blaylock-Glenn) 3:24

 

CALVIN LEAVY, vocals and guitar

Hosea Leavy, bass; Paul Brown, organ; Cecil Parker and John Patrick Brown, drums

(12 March 1976, Party Lounge, North Little Rock)

13. CONSIDER YOURSELF (Coleman) 4:37

14. DON’T TREAT ME THIS WAY (Leavy) 3:27

 

QUEEN BEE & THE SOUL SEEKERS with RICHARD SMITH

Richard Smith, vocal/harmonica; Essie Smith, guitar; Mary Smith, bass; Merril Smith, drums

(8 May 1976, Smith home, Prattsville)

15. JUMP (Smith) 3:44

 

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