Elmore James ‎– To Know A Man (1969)

Elmore James – To Know A Man (1969) 

Blue Horizon records 1969  ‎– 7-66230

 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation

 

 notes:

A Deep Blues Document from Elmore James
To Know A Man is a striking blues LP attributed to legendary slide 
guitarist Elmore James, released on the historic UK label Blue Horizon Records 
(catalog number 7-66230). This record stands as part of the enduring legacy
 of electric blues, where raw emotion, slide guitar power, and soulful expression define every groove.
For collectors and blues enthusiasts, this release represents both a historical
 artifact and a deep dive into the sound that shaped modern rock and blues guitar traditions.
This LP captures the essence of Elmore James’ unmistakable style: explosive slide
 guitar phrasing, gritty vocal delivery, and a deeply emotional blues structure
 rooted in the Mississippi tradition.
While many Blue Horizon releases helped revive interest in classic blues during
 the UK blues boom, this particular pressing has become a sought-after item among vinyl collectors.

Crédits

This album is  a  studio album session, but a posthumous compilation 
of Elmore James’ final recordings and alternate takes, mainly from his
 late studio work (1960–1963) before his death in 1963.
Main recording period
1951–1963 (with focus on late 1950s–1963 final sessions)
Especially tracks from his Fire Records / Bobby Robinson period (1959–1963)
 Key recording locations (historical sessions)
Chicago, Illinois (main late-career studio base)
New York (Fire Records sessions)
Various small R&B/blues studios used by Fire/Chief/Meteor affiliates
Because To Know a Man is a compilation, personnel varies by track, 
but the core Elmore James sound units include:
 Elmore James
Slide guitar, vocals
Leader of all sessions
 Key backing musicians (Broomdusters & Fire sessions era)
J.T. Brown – tenor saxophone (early & Fire-era recordings)
Johnny Jones – piano (frequent late-session pianist)
Homesick James – guitar (occasionally)
Odie Payne – drums (Chicago blues session drummer)
Frank Kirkland – drums (some Fire sessions)
Eddie Taylor / Sammy Lee Bully / other Chicago session players (varies by date
Compiled and produced by Blue Horizon Records (UK)
Compilation supervised with liner notes by blues historians
Sleeve notes commonly credited to Mike Leadbitter (Blues Unlimited)

   

 Coordinator – Mike Vernon, Richard Vernon 
    Producer – Bobby Robinson

 Tracklist

    To Know A Man Volume 1
    Hand In Hand / I Have A Right To Love My Baby / Hand In Hand     (7:45)
A1.1     Tape Announcement     
A1.2     Hand In Hand - Take 1 3:10
Written-By – E. James*
A1.3     Tape Announcement And Band Tuning     0:25
A1.4     I Have A Right To Love My Baby 2:45
Written-By – E. James*
A1.5     Hand In Hand - Take 2 (Last Verse) 1:25
Written-By – E. James*
Hand In Hand - Take 3     (3:15)
A2.1     Tape Announcement     
A2.2     Hand In Hand - Take 3
Written-By – E. James
A3     Hand In Hand - Take 4  3:04
Written-By – E. James
A4     Everyday I Have The Blues 3:26
Written-By – P. Chatman*
Dust My Broom     (3:48)
B1.1     Tape Announcement And Speech     0:50
B1.2     Dust My Broom 2:58
Written-By – E. James*
It Hurts Me Too     (3:24)
B2.1     Tape Announcement     
B2.2     It Hurts Me Too - Take 1
Written-By – M. London*
Talk To Me Baby / Can't Stop Loving My Baby     (5:30)
B3.1     Tape Announcement     
B3.2     [False Start] Talk To Me Baby - Take 1 3:00
Written-By – E. James*
B3.3     Tape Announcement     
B3.4     Can't Stop Loving My Baby 2:30
Written-By – E. James*
Got To Move     (4:06)
B4.1     Tape Announcement     
B4.2     Got To Move
Written-By – J. Williamson*
Manhattan Slide     (3:36)
B5.1     Tape Announcement     
B5.2     Manhattan Slide
Written-By – E. James

To Know A Man Volume 2
Twelve Year Old Boy     (4:15)
C1.1     Speech And Tape Announcement     0:45
C1.2     Twelve Year Old Boy 3:30
Written-By – M. London*
Elmore Jumps One     (4:10)
C2.1     Tape Announcement     
C2.2     Elmore Jumps One - 1st False Start     0:25
C2.3     Elmore Jumps One - 2nd False Start     0:30
C2.4     Elmore Jumps One - Take 1 3:15
Written-By – E. James*
I Believe / I Gotta Go Now     (7:55)
C3.1     I Believe - Take 1  3:40
Written-By – E. James*
C3.2     Speech And Announcement     0:35
C3.3     I Gotta Go Now 3:40
 Written-By – E. James*
Back In Mississippi     (3:40)
C4.1     Musicians In Discussion: Speech Only     
C4.2     Back In Mississippi     
Second Fiddle Man     (2:30)
D1.1     Unidentified Singer Possibly "Bushy Head"     
D1.2     Tape Announcement     
D1.3     Second Fiddle Man
Written-By – Bushy Head
Make My Dreams Come True     (3:37)
D2.1     Tape Announcement     
D2.2     Make My Dreams Come True - False Start     0:35
D2.3     Make My Dreams Come True - Take 3 3:02
Written-By – E. James*
Mean Mistreatin' Mama     (4:30)
D3.1     Tape Announcement     
D3.2     Mean Mistreatin' Mama - Take 1 Incomplete     1:35
D3.3     Mean Mistreatin' Mama - Take 2 2:55
Written-By – E. James*
D4     Mean Mistreastin Mama - Take 3 2:50
Written-By – E. James*
Sunnyland     (2:25)
D5.1     Tape Announcement     
D5.2     Sunnyland - Take 1
Written-By – E. James*
Footrace To A Resting Place / Wrong Doing Woman     (5:35)
D6.1     Unidentified Singer Possibly "Bushy Head". Speech     
D6.2     Footrace To A Resting Place 3:05
Written-By – Bushy Head
D6.3     Tape Announcement     
D6.4     Wrong Doing Woman 2:30
Written-By – Bushy Head

 

  

 

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