Original Blues Classics

[Late]

Couldn't find an existing thread on this now defunct series, so...now we have one! The Original Jazz Classics (OJC) series gets a lot of attention, but its sister series is discussed far less. It's a wide field, but what OBC discs do you spin the most? Favorites? Under-the-radar gems?

I actually don't have many discs from this series, but one I return to is:

Original Blues Classics • Were there only 209 discs total?

Or maybe there weren't even 209...

[kh1958]

Here's one.

[Joe]

I've always loved this OBC.

[Late]

16 minutes ago, Joe said:

I've always loved this OBC.

I don't own it, but listened just today to this on YouTube. !!

4 hours ago, kh1958 said:

Here's one.

I don't know that one; will have to check it out.

[Chuck Nessa]

All the Lonnie Johnsons on Prestige are worth investigating.

[mikeweil]

9 hours ago, Chuck Nessa said:

All the Lonnie Johnsons on Prestige are worth investigating.

Yes!

[kh1958]

Jimmy Witherspoon (with T Bone Walker), Evenin' Blues

Willie Dixon and Memphis Slim, Willie's Blues

Edited October 24, 2022 by kh1958

[Joe]

Also excellent (if maybe a bit obscure):

[John L]

Lightnin' playing acoustic guitar here.   It works well for this one. 

[Late]

1 hour ago, John L said:

Lightnin' playing acoustic guitar here.   It works well for this one. 

That's one OBC I do have. I really enjoy it. ("Grampa's gettin' old too!")

Listened to both Pink Anderson and Jimmy Witherspoon on YouTube.  OBC discs are harder to come by these days, but decluttr does have some. Clifford Scott on the above-mentioned Witherspoon is.

[Joe]

All those Lightnin' Hopkins dates are pretty essential. Wasn't there a box set of them back on the OJC/OBC glory days?

My fave is SOUL BLUES, which can be heard/had on this 2fer. 

[mikeweil]

2 minutes ago, Joe said:

Wasn't there a box set of them back on the OJC/OBC glory days?

https://www.discogs.com/release/7303380-Lightnin-Hopkins-The-Complete-Prestige-Bluesville-Recordings

[Joe]

25 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7303380-Lightnin-Hopkins-The-Complete-Prestige-Bluesville-Recordings

Much grass!

 

[Dan Gould]

I gotta figure out if I do or don't have the Arbee Stidham with King Curtis and John Wright (and verify who is right, the part of the back tray card that says John Wright - piano or the blurb that says its John Young). Either way that's a helluva typo.

[Chuck Nessa]

54 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

I gotta figure out if I do or don't have the Arbee Stidham with King Curtis and John Wright (and verify who is right, the part of the back tray card that says John Wright - piano or the blurb that says its John Young). Either way that's a helluva typo.

It was John Wright and he recorded his "Nice 'n Tasty" date the next day.

[Dan Gould]

Thanks Chuck. I'd have been surprised if it had been Young instead. 

[Late]

Okay, I have a shortage of acoustic Lightnin' that needs to be rectified...

[Late]

Well, based on what I could find, what I could afford, and what I previewed, I added these titles to the collection:

• John Lee Hooker: The Country Blues
• John Lee Hooker: Burning Hell
• Robert Pete Williams: Free Again
• Sunnyland Slim: Slim's Shout

 

[Late]

Forgot to add these two, which I also picked up. (Long overdue on the Spann.)

• Otis Spann: The Blues Never Die
• Lightnin' Hopkins: Last Night Blues

[John L]

14 hours ago, Late said:

Forgot to add these two, which I also picked up. (Long overdue on the Spann.)

• Otis Spann: The Blues Never Die
• Lightnin' Hopkins: Last Night Blues

Yes, that is one of my favorite Otis Spann albums, a great one!

This is another truly great one, by far the very best Eddie Kirkland on record (IMO).  

Edited October 28, 2022 by John L

[Late]

46 minutes ago, John L said:

Full album

Thanks for posting that—I'm completely unfamiliar with Kirkland. Also, I didn't know that Tru-Sound was a short-lived subsidiary of Prestige. And the record has Oliver Nelson on it (while in a supporting role only). 

The track "Saturday Night Stomp" reminds me of Long John Hunter.

[John L]

4 hours ago, Late said:

Full album

Thanks for posting that—I'm completely unfamiliar with Kirkland. Also, I didn't know that Tru-Sound was a short-lived subsidiary of Prestige. And the record has Oliver Nelson on it (while in a supporting role only). 

The track "Saturday Night Stomp" reminds me of Long John Hunter.

Oliver Nelson AND King Curtis on the horns.  Billy Butler plays second guitar.   

Eddie Kirkland was a major figure, along with John Lee Hooker, in the early post-war Detroit scene.  He made some very good early records both solo and in duet with Hooker (It's Time For Lovin' to Be Done is a classic).  His later LPs are a mixed bag but it all came together for this one.   

[JSngry]

Oliver Nelson is a non-factor on that record. FWIW.

[Joe]

Two more. The Shakey Jake date features Jack McDuff and Bill Jennings; the 'Spoon date features a lineup of Pepper Adams, Bill Watrous, Roger Kellaway, Richard Davis, and Mel Lewis.

[Chuck Nessa]

No saxophones on this one