Etta James – Tell Mama (Cadet LPS 802)

Etta James – Tell Mama (Cadet LPS 802) Review

Cadet Records 1967 – LPS 802

 

notes:

Tell Mama is the seventh studio album by American singer 
Etta James. Her second album release for Cadet Records, 
Released in 1968 on Cadet Records (LPS 802), Tell Mama marked 
one of the greatest comebacks in soul music history. Recorded
 primarily at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, 
Alabama, the album revitalized Etta James' career by 
combining Southern soul, blues, gospel, 
and R&B into one unforgettable recording.
Backed by the celebrated Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, 
Etta delivered some of the most emotionally charged performances 
of her career. Her powerful voice perfectly matched producer
 Rick Hall's raw Southern sound, resulting in timeless classics 
such as Tell Mama, I'd Rather Go Blind, and Security.
Today, Tell Mama remains one of the finest soul albums ever 
recorded and an essential LP for collectors of vintage soul and blues vinyl.


credits:

Etta James – lead vocals
Jimmy Johnson – guitar
Albert Lowe Jr. – guitar
David Hood – bass
Roger Hawkins – drums
Keyboards

The keyboard personnel varied slightly between sessions:

August 1967 sessions

Dewey "Spooner" Oldham – piano, organ
Carl Banks – organ

November–December 1967 sessions

Barry Beckett – organ
George Davis – piano
Marvell Thomas – piano (selected tracks)
Carl Banks – organ (selected tracks)
Horn Section
Charles Chalmers – tenor saxophone
Floyd Newman – baritone saxophone
Aaron Varnell – tenor saxophone
James Mitchell – saxophone (later sessions)
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller – trumpet
Recording Sessions by Date
August 22, 1967

Recorded:

Steal Away
Don't Lose Your Good Thing
Just a Little Bit

Personnel:

Etta James
Jimmy Johnson
Albert Lowe Jr.
David Hood
Roger Hawkins
Dewey Oldham
Carl Banks
Charles Chalmers
Floyd Newman
Aaron Varnell
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller
August 23, 1967

Recorded:

I'd Rather Go Blind
Watch Dog
I'm Gonna Take What He's Got

Same core Muscle Shoals band as above.

August 24, 1967

Recorded:

Tell Mama
The Love of My Man
It Hurts Me So Much

Same personnel as the August sessions.

November 30 – December 6, 1967

Recorded:

The Same Rope
Security
My Mother-in-Law
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Personnel changes:

Barry Beckett replaced Dewey Oldham on many organ parts.
George Davis and Marvell Thomas shared piano duties.
James Mitchell joined the horn section on several tracks.

Recording studio: FAME Studios
Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Recording dates:
August 22–24, 1967
November 30 – December 6, 1967
Producer: Rick Hall
Recording engineer: Rick Hall
Arranger: Rick Hall

trackslist:

A1 Tell Mama
Written-By – Carter*
A2 I'd Rather Go Blind
Written By – Foster
Written-By – Jordan*
A3 Watch DogWritten-By – Rosco Gordon
Written-By – Covay*
A4 The Love Of My Man
Written-By – Townsend*
A5 I'm Gonna Take What He's Got
Written-By – Covay*
A6 The Same Rope
Written-By – Caston*, Webber*
B1 Security
Written-By – Redding*
B2 Steal Away
Written-By – Hughes*
B3 My Mother-In-Law
Written-By – George David*, Lee Diamond
B4 Don't Lose Your Good Thing
Written By – Robert Killen
Written-By – Hall*, Oldham*
B5It Hurts Me So Much
Written-By – Chalmers*
B6 Just A Little Bit
Written-By – Rosco Gordon

link

Sonny Boy Williamson II – King Biscuit Time (Arhoolie)

 

 

 

 

 

 Sonny Boy Williamson II – King Biscuit Time (Arhoolie) | Classic Blues Album

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arhoolie records 1970    lp 2020

 

 

notes:

Sonny Boy Williamson II – King Biscuit Time (Arhoolie)
Few blues musicians left a legacy as influential as 
Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck "Rice" Miller). 
His distinctive harmonica style, expressive vocals, and 
unforgettable radio performances helped shape 
modern electric blues. King Biscuit Time, released by 
Arhoolie Records, preserves some of the finest broadcasts
 from the legendary King Biscuit Time radio show, 
offering listeners an authentic glimpse into 
Arkansas blues during its golden era.
Originally broadcast on KFFA Radio in Helena, Arkansas, 
King Biscuit Time introduced countless listeners to 
Delta blues legends. Sonny Boy Williamson became the 
program's best-known performer, blending traditional 
country blues with a modern, amplified sound that would
 inspire generations of musicians, including Eric Clapton, 
The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Paul Butterfield, 
and countless blues harmonica players.
The Arhoolie collection captures Williamson at his most relaxed
 and spontaneous. Unlike polished studio recordings, these
 performances reveal the raw energy of live radio, complete
 with his witty introductions, conversational singing style, 
and extraordinary harmonica improvisations.
Musically, King Biscuit Time is rooted in classic Delta blues
 while hinting at the emerging Chicago electric sound. Williamson's
expressive harmonica phrases, rhythmic accompaniment, 
and charismatic vocals make every performance feel intimate and immediate.
For blues collectors, this Arhoolie release is far more than a historical 
document. It preserves performances that might otherwise have 
been lost and remains one of the essential recordings for 
anyone interested in the development of post-war blues.
Today, King Biscuit Time stands as one of the finest collections 
documenting Sonny Boy Williamson II's remarkable talent and the
 enduring influence of the King Biscuit radio broadcasts 
on American blues history.

credits:

Line-up / Musicians

Because King Biscuit Time is a compilation drawn from 
several recording sessions, the personnel varies by session.

Trumpet Records sessions – August 5, 1951

Tracks:

Do It If You Wanna
Cool, Cool Blues
Come On Back Home
Stop Crying
West Memphis Blues
I Cross My Heart
Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues
Pontiac Blues

Personnel

Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck "Rice" Miller) – vocals, harmonica
Willie Love – piano
Elmore James – guitar
Joe Willie Wilkins – guitar
Leonard Ware – bass
Unknown – drums

Trumpet Records session – March 12, 1951

Tracks

Eyesight to the Blind
Crazy About You Baby

Personnel

Sonny Boy Williamson II – vocals, harmonica
Willie Love (probably) – piano
Henry Reed – bass
Unknown – guitar
Joe Dison – drums
Trumpet Records session – December 4, 1951

Tracks

Nine Below Zero
Mighty Long Time
She Brought Life Back to the Dead
Stop Now Baby
Mr. Downchild
Too Close Together

Personnel

Sonny Boy Williamson II – vocals, harmonica
Willie Love – piano
Joe Willie Wilkins – guitar
Cliff Bivens (Givens) – bass
broom percussion & bass vocal on "Mighty Long Time"
Unknown – drums
KFFA "King Biscuit Time" radio broadcast – May 1965

Tracks

V-8 Ford
Stormy Monday
Right Now
Come Go With Me

Personnel

Sonny Boy Williamson II – vocals, harmonica
Houston Stackhouse – guitar
James "Peck" Curtis – drums
Sonny Payne – announcer (heard during the broadcast)

Bonus track

Dust My Broom (Elmore James)

Personnel

Elmore James – vocals, guitar
Sonny Boy Williamson II – harmonica
Leonard Ware – bass

Recording Studios
Trumpet Records Sessions (1951)
Trumpet Records Studio
Jackson, Mississippi
Producer: Lillian McMurry
Recorded for Trumpet Records using the original ACA/DRC masters.
KFFA Broadcast (1965)
KFFA Radio Studio
Helena, Arkansas
Recorded live during the daily King Biscuit Time program by Chris Strachwitz, 
preserving one of the last surviving broadcasts featuring Sonny Boy Williamson II.

 tracklist:

A1    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Do It If You Wanna    
A2    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Cool, Cool Blues    
A3    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Come On Back Home    
A4    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Stop Crying    
A5    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Eyesight To The Blind    
A6    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    West Memphis Blues    
A7    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    I Cross My Heart    
A8    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Crazy About You Baby    
B1    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Nine Below Zero    
B2    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Mighty Long Time
B3    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    She Brought Life Back To The Dead    
B4    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Stop Now Baby    
B5    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Mr. Downchild    
B6    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues    
B7    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Pontiac Blues    
B8    Sonny Boy Williamson [II]    Too Close Together 

 

 

 

 

 link

 

 

 

 

 

Willie Mitchell – The Hit Sound Of Hi SHL 12034 LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willie Mitchell – The Hit Sound Of (Hi Records SHL 12034)  Rare Soul Instrumental LP Review 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Records 1967 ‎– SHL 12034

 

 

 notes:

Willie Mitchell – The Hit Sound Of (Hi Records SHL 12034)
Few musicians shaped the unmistakable Memphis soul 
sound like Willie Mitchell. Long before becoming the 
celebrated producer behind Al Green's greatest recordings,
Mitchell established himself as one of the finest trumpeters, 
bandleaders, arrangers and producers of the 1960s.
Released by Hi Records as SHL 12034, The Hit Sound Of captures 
Mitchell and his accomplished orchestra performing a collection 
of soulful instrumental interpretations of contemporary hits.
 Blending southern soul, rhythm & blues, jazz and pop 
influences, the album showcases the polished horn 
arrangements and tight rhythm section that would
 soon define the legendary Hi Records sound.
Recorded in Memphis, the LP demonstrates Mitchell's remarkable
talent for transforming familiar melodies into sophisticated
 instrumental performances. Rich brass sections, crisp guitar
 work and deep grooves make this album a favorite among
 collectors of classic instrumental soul.
For collectors of rare soul LPs, early Hi Records releases and
instrumental R&B, this album is an excellent addition to any vinyl collection.

credits:

Recording sessions

The Hit Sound Of Willie Mitchell is not a single-session album.
 It compiles instrumental recordings made between approximately 
1966 and early 1968, including several previously 
released Hi singles and newer studio recordings.
Nearly all tracks were recorded at Hi Recording Studio (Royal Studios) 
in Memphis under Willie Mitchell's supervision while he was 
simultaneously becoming Hi Records' principal producer.

Probable session personnel
Hi Records rarely printed complete musician credits on LP jackets 
during this era, and no surviving AFM sheets have been published 
for this album. Based on Hi Records documentation and the
 musicians regularly employed by Willie Mitchell during 
1966–1968, the lineup is believed to have been:

Leader
Willie Mitchell – trumpet, bandleader, arranger
Rhythm section
Teenie Hodges – guitar
Leroy Hodges – bass
Charles Hodges – organ, piano
Howard Grimes – drums
Additional or earlier personnel (depending on recording date)
Reggie Young – guitar (appears on some earlier 1966 sessions)
Bobby Emmons – organ
Tommy Cogbill – bass
Al Jackson Jr. – drums on some earlier Hi recordings
Horn section
James Mitchell – tenor saxophone, horn arrangements
 Fred Ford - Tenor Saxophone 
Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
Charles Chalmers – baritone/tenor saxophone
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller – trumpet
Wayne Jackson – trumpet
Ben Cauley – trumpet
These musicians formed the evolving Hi Rhythm Section and 
Memphis horn unit that became the signature
 Hi Records sound during the late 1960s.

Recording studio
Hi Recording Studio (Royal Studios)
Memphis, Tennessee
Recording engineer: Ray Harris
Custom tube recording equipment
Famous for its warm drum sound and close-miked
 horn arrangements developed by Willie Mitchell.

tracklist:

A1 Mercy
Written-By – Ray Harris (3)
A2 Treat Her Right
Written-By – R. Head*
A3 When A Man Loves A Woman
Written-By – Wright*, Lewis*
A4 Land Of 1000 Dances
Written-By – C. Kenner*
A5 So Rare
Written-By – J. Sharpe*, J. Herst*
A6 Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
Written-By – Louiguy
B1 Searching For My Love
Written-By – Robert Moore
B2 Barefootin'
Written-By – R. Parker*
B3 Winchester Cathedral
Written-By – G. Stephens*
B4 Shotgun
Written-By – DeWalt*
B5 Misty
Written-By – E. Garner*, Burke*
B6     Sticks And Stones
Written-By – T. Turner*

 

 link