Josh White The Remaining Titles 1941 - 1947

Josh White, vocal, guitar.

Including;
Libby Holman, vocal.

With contributions by
Brownie McGhee, vocal, guitar.
Sonny Terry, harmonica.
Bill White, vocal.
John Simmons, stand-up bass.
J.C. Heard, drums.
And others…

Genres; blues, folk blues, Carolina blues

Informative booklet notes by Dave Moore
Detailed discography.

During the 1940s Josh White made the transition from blues and gospel performer to night-club and cabaret act. His repertoire expanded accordingly to encompass ballads and folk songs of the white tradition. Based on the evidence of his recordings, this change-over was thought to have occurred around 1944, when folk songs and ballads first appeared on his discs. But now, new evidence dates recordings of such material for Keynote, initially believed to have been made in 1947, to the period of 1941-42. And hence, if this unconfirmed evidence is correct, it appears that Josh began recording songs other than blues and gospel some two or three years earlier than was once assumed. Continued...

Robert Shaw The 1971 Party Tape

This CD includes a 22 page booklet, an article by Ben Conroy, a list of all Robert Shaw's recordings and what key they are played in by Konrad Nowakowski, a list of all unissued recordings by Robert Shaw by Konrad Nowakowski, photographs, musician personnel, and original discographical details.

By the time he was a teenager, Robert Shaw would slip away from the farm to hear Jazz musicians play in the clubs and roadhouses in and around Houston. As soon as he was able Robert sought out a piano teacher and paid for the lessons out of his own earnings. The ragtime elements and the "barrelhouse" piano style that he learnt at this time were to influence his playing throughout his life. The barrelhouse piano style that Shaw played employs a heavy, hard-hitting contact coupled with a fast release. The name of this style came from the barrelhouses, where it was performed in sheds lined with beer and whisky, an open floor and a piano on an elevated platform in the corner of the room. Shaw learnt this unique style of playing from other Jazz Musicians in the Fourth Ward, Houston, which was the centre of black entertainment in the city. Continued...

Vocal Blues & Jazz Vol 3 1921 - 1928

Genres: Blues, Classic Blues, Female Blues Vocal, Jazz.
Informative booklet notes by Steve Tracy.
Detailed discography

Volume three of this three volume series presents an interesting selection of blues influenced popular and vaudeville tunes of the day. At the time of this CDs production most of the recordings were not included in the collectors Bible 'Blues and Gospel Records' which is regarded by many as a comprehensive discography.

The range of subject matter across these tracks covers many aspects of every day life but the main theme is love; Cora Green and Hamtree Harrington's trade insults with comedy dialogue on If I Can't Get In and Marjorie Royce uses her full bodied voice on the humorous My Daddy's Growin' Old. Gertrude Dwyer delivers her suggestive material with panache... Continued...

Joseph Robichaux 1933

Genre: New Orleans Jazz.
Informative booklet notes by Howard Rye.
Detailed discography.

It has been said of Joe Robichaux (by Herbert Friedwald) that, "He was a participant in most of the interesting musical developments in New Orleans throughout a fruitful career which spanned almost a half-century." What he is principally remembered for, though, is for having led the only band based in New Orleans to make a substantial body of recordings during the 1930s. Continued...

Pete Johnson The St Louis Parties 1954

Leadbelly and Josh White 1937 - 1946

The Remaing Titles

Lead Belly, vocal, 12-string guitar.
Josh White, vocal, guitar.

With contributions by;
Paul Howard Mason, zither.
Brownie McGhee, vocal, guitar.
Sonny Terry, harmonica.
Willie "The Lion" Smith, piano.
"Pops" Foster, bass.
Pete Seeger, vocal, banjo.
And others.

Genres: Blues, guitar; 12-string guitar; Folk.
Informative booklet notes by Dave Moore.
Detailed discography.

Leadbelly kicks off with an Untitled song (from the 1937 Library of Congress session) about the 1898 Spanish American War, which transformed the U.S.A. into a world power. The track "Ain't Going Down" is from the live New York radio station WNYC Leadbelly session introduced by Woody Guthrie. In another radio session 2 months later Leadbelly recorded "Don't Lose Your Daddy" and "You Can't Lose Me Charlie". With the entry of the U.S.A. into World War 2, Leadbelly recorded supportive songs such as "Uncle Sam Says", "If You Want To Do Your Part", "Hitler Song" and "Dear Mr. President/President Roosevelt". Leadbelly also contributed to the war effort by performing for the Armed Forces Radio Service a version of "Rock Island Line". Continued...

Jazzin' The Blues 1943 - 1952

Genres: Female Blues singers, Female Jazz singers, Classic Blues Singers.

Informative booklet notes written by Steven C. Tracy.
Detailed discography.

The great vaudeville blues singers who first emerged on record in 1920 with the recordings of Mamie Smith were a varied group in term of talent, technique, and repertoire. A number of them outlasted the vaudeville blues craze through their capabilities with a pop song, while others benefitted from the revival of interest in Dixieland jazz, and still others updated to a jazzier approach that fit in with the updated urban blues styles of the 1930s and 1940s. Of course, there were those artists who mixed these approaches in their work and, of course, performers who faded into obscurity due to an inability to update or a decision to retire. Continued...

Vocal Blues & Jazz Vol 4 1938 - 1949

Vaughn De Leath - Dancing The Devil Away (1920-1929)

Genre: 1920s Popular
Informative booklet notes by Gillian Atkinson.
Discography.

Vaughn De Leath CDs Vaughn De Leath, although forgotten today, was a household name in the 1920s. Born in Mt. Pulaski, IL, in 1884, she joined the showbiz world in 1921, singing over the WJZ radio station in Chicago. Her success in the pioneering days of Radio broadcast was probably down to her ability to accompany herself on banjo, ukulele, guitar and piano and also to her enduring strength, being able to entertain for hours in the days when there was an excess of air time. By 1923 she was the first woman executive to run a radio station, WJZ and a small network of low power stations. In 1925 she went back to full time performing. She had begun her recording career in 1920 and throughout the decade she recorded for just about every record label. In 1928 not only was she the featured guest of Voice of Firestone Radio Hour’s first programme but she also appeared on experimental television broadcasts. By this time she had become known as “The First Lady of Radio” and although she successfully sued another singer who had used this moniker, she recorded her last side for Crown records in 1931 and then disappeared into obscurity, dying 12 years later in Buffalo, New York. The extraordinary breadth of her repertoire and flexible style can be heard by the on this CD.

Country Music Pioneers On Edison (1922-1929)

Country Music Pioneers on Edison Records (1922-1929)

Various Artist
Genres: Vintage Country / Old Timey
16 page, illustrated, informative, booklet notes by Lawrence Tedder

Almost since the time that recording sound became a reality, record companies both large and small continually sought out new idioms of entertainment to keep ahead of their competitors. For some unknown reason, however, country music recording was continually overlooked - citing it more as a folk tradition, than an actual vehicle for profit. Continued...

Jazz and Blues On Edison Volume 1 (1920-1929)

Various Artsts.
Genres: Blues, Classic Blues, Jazz.

16 page, informative, illustrated booklet notes by Lawrence Tedder.
Discography.

For those of you who believe that there is little jazz or blues on the Edison label will be pleasantly surprised by this CD. Thomas Edison�s dislike of Jazz and Dance Music was well known. He was once quoted as saying: I always play Jazz records backwards, they sound better that way. Despite his personal views, Jazz Bands and Dance Orchestras were issued on his label, many recording for no other company, and on this CD we give you the best of the best. So we must consider ourselves fortunate that Edison saw fit to put his personal views aside, and record these groups� efforts for future generations to listen to and enjoy. Continued...

The Golden Gate Orchestra - Crazy Words, Crazy Tune (1925 - 1929)

Genres: Jazz, Dance Band.
Informative booklet notes by Gillian George
Discography

In this, the fourth release of the Edison/Document series, the popular American music of the late 1920's is represented here to good effect by The Golden Gate Orchestra. The Golden Gate Orchestra however were to all intents and purposes a pseudonym for the well-established California Ramblers.
The history of the California Ramblers and their ever changing line up is well documented elsewhere, however, the liner notes to "The California Ramblers 1925-1928" (Timeless Records) by Hans Eekhoff are recommended. Continued...