All of the performers on this album are obscure, except for entrepreneur Jesse Johnson and guitar stylist Lonnie Johnson.

All of the performers on this album are obscure, except for entrepreneur Jesse Johnson and guitar stylist Lonnie Johnson. Lonnie Johnson introduced the single-string flat-picking style that he made famous; the ringing, sliding clarity of which provided inspiration for T-Bone Walker, B. B. King and a host of other moderns. But he greatly influenced his contemporaries as well, as can be heard in Clifford Gibson's accompaniment to Jimmy Strange, in this collection. Lonnie Johnson's presence on many of the Gennett records by, or accompanied by, Henry Johnson and His Boys, is aurally certain, but even the Gennett files obscure this fact by listing Lonnie - and probably all the personnel - under pseudonyms. But that doesn't keep Henry Johnson and His Boys, with Jelly Roll Anderson, from supplying several of the high spots on this album. With his stentorian, brash, articulate delivery of often wry lyrics, combined with the Henry Johnson crew's slide guitar on 'Good Time Blues', Anderson leaves a remarkable impression. The presence of a slide guitar is itself unusual on a St. Louis session. 'I. C. Blues' is noteworthy for its being rendered in a minor key, unusual for folk blues, but less so on the jazz atmosphere typical of many St. Louis performances. The Johnson boys on their own turn in some unusual performances, too, even boast a celeste solo on 'Barbecue Blues' and a sobbing, honking fiddle on 'Down Home Special'. The many territory bands that used St. Louis as a hub resulted in the presence of jazz sidemen as routine accompaniment to many singers. A typical combination is the cornet and piano accompanying Bert Hatton's 'Freakish Rider'. From Red Mike Bailey to Jesse Johnson and from Jimmy Strange to Georgia Boyd, an outstanding feature of this collection is that it makes clear what a diversity of styles could still fit comfortably within the notion of the 'St. Louis Blues'.

Cast & Crew

Director: 

Track Listing

• Jelly Roll Anderson - Free Woman Blues
• Jelly Roll Anderson - Good Time Blues
• Jelly Roll Anderson - Salt Tear Blues
• Jelly Roll Anderson - I.C. Blues
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Blue Hawaii
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Hawaiian Harmony Blues
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Down Home Special
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Neck Bones And Beans
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Ash Can Stomp
• Henry Johnson's Boys - Barbecue Blues
• Bert 'Snake Root' Hatton - Down In Black Bottom
• Bert 'Snake Root' Hatton - Freakish Rider Blues
• Jesse Johnson - I Wish I Had Died In Egyptland - Part 1
• Jesse Johnson - I Wish I Had Died In Egyptland - Part 2
• Spider Carter - Please Please Blues
• Spider Carter - Dry Spell Blues
• Spider Carter - Don't Leave Me Blues
• Ell-Zee Floyd - Snow Bound And Blue
• Red Mike Bailey - Back To Memphis Tenn-O-See
• Red Mike Bailey - Neck Bone Blues
• Jimmy Strange - Quarter Splow Blues
• Jimmy Strange - No Limit Blues
• Georgia Boyd - Never Mind Blues
• Georgia Boyd - I'm Sorry Blues

Additional Details

Label: Document Records

Genre: Blues

Language: English

Run Time: 69 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 06/03/22

UPC: 714298518122