Five Discs You Might Have Missed (V. 16)

Here's another theme that FBF hasn't visited in a long time - over eight years.  With this theme, we look at five recordings released over the years that listeners might have missed for one reason or another when they were first on the shelves.  Some of them may not have ever made the streaming venue and may be out of print, but they are well worth seeking out for blues fans.  

Like we posted last week, a lot of people don't listen to physical product anymore, but those that don't are missing out on a lot of treats, such as liner notes - which enabled me to learn so much more about my favorite blues artists, band and recording info - who played what instruments and where the albums were recorded, discovering songs on albums that I never heard on the radio that I really liked, and even the great album art and pictures that accompanied many of these albums.

Music is more convenient and accessible these days for sure, but I sure miss the days of thumbing through the music sections in record stores and finding a treasure that I wasn't expecting.  That's actually how I got into the blues in the first place nearly forty years ago - seeing the cover of Showdown!, in the JAZZ section of a record store of all places.  If I had not stumbled onto that album, I might never have stumbled onto the blues.  

Okay, enough of that....here are five excellent albums that you might have missed over the years.

John Watkins - Here I Am (Blues Reference):  I first heard Watkins on Alligator's The New Bluebloods collection and his featured track, "Chained To Your Love" was my favorite song on the album.  Loved the passionate vocals and crisp guitar work and keyboards (Jimmy Johnson played rhythm guitar - I think Watkins was in his band at the time, and St. James Bryant played keyboards).  Seems like the liner notes mentioned that Watkins had an album released in France, which he did on Blue Phoenix in 1985.  I was not able to track that album down for many years, but finally tracked down a used copy of the reissued release on Blues Reference.  

It was a long search, but well worth it.  I really liked his mix of blues, soul, and R&B.  He offered fine covers of several blues classics, adding his own personal touches to his versions, his original songs and his band support was first rate.  That was the only release that Watkins had during his heyday.  I heard that he left Chicago and ended up in Detroit.  I was able to find him on Facebook and have chatted with him a couple of times on Messenger, telling him I tracked down his album.  He seems to be doing fine, said he had fond memories of making the record.  He is still performing as evidenced by several videos on YouTube.

Hip Linkchain - Airbusters (Evidence Records):  I had no idea about Hip Linkchain (born Willie Richard in Jackson, MS in 1936 and died from cancer in Chicago in 1989).  In my correspondence via email with Twist Turner during the late 90's, I heard about him - Twist played drums for him frequently.  I was able to hear a couple of tracks on a UK anthology around that time and I liked what I heard, rock-solid Chicago blues, for sure, but had not ever seen any other releases except for this album, which was originally released on the Dutch label Black Magic in the mid-80's and reissued by Evidence in the early 90's.  

Dick Shurman produced the album and features some top notch musical support (Barrelhouse Chuck, Jon McDonald, Ted Harvey, Robert "Huckleberry Hound" Wright, Big John Trice, etc...).  Ten of the fourteen songs are originals and while there's nothing fancy on these tracks, if you're a big fan of good ol' down and dirty Chicago blues, you will love this set.  I'm going to revisit Twist Turner's book, Blues With A Twist, to read some of the stories he wrote about Hip Linkchain - hey, grab that book if you haven't already.  It's a keeper, too.  This was actually Hip's last recording before he passed, and it's not very difficult to find a copy online - I found my copy at the Little Big Store - a surprise purchase while thumbing through the stacks of CDs.

Big Mojo Elam and his Chicago Blues Band - Mojo Boogie! (St. George):  Another album I found thumbing through the Blues section of the Little Big Store.  Elam was a bass player in Chicago, playing with Luther Allison and appearing on Delmark's Sweet Home Chicago anthology, and also appearing on the wonderful And This Is Maxwell Street collection on one track with Robert Nighthawk.  

Elam only recorded one studio album (he also cut a live set in the late 70's for the Storyville label, which was also titled Mojo Boogie).  This is a really hot set of traditional Chicago blues with Studebaker John on guitar (his slide work is superb), Twist Turner on drums, and Little Mac Simmons on harmonica.  Elem sounds great on vocals and the song list is pretty good, too.  I kind of bought this as an afterthought the day I was shopping, but it ended up being my favorite of the bunch.

Smokey Wilson - Round Like An Apple:  The Big Town Recordings 1977 - 1978 (Ace Records UK):  Yet another surprise find at the Little Big Store, I first heard Wilson when he recorded for Bullseye Blues in the 90's and he was quite electrifying to me.  His gravelly Wolf-like vocals and his gritty guitar work really grabbed you by the collar.  I loved all three of his Bullseye releases.....I really miss that label and the others listed here as well.

Wilson released two albums on the Big Town label, which was owned by the Bihari Brothers, who recorded numerous blues and R&B artists in the 50's and 60's, such as B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins, and many others.  By the late 70's, their recordings had dwindled down, but they managed to release two albums on Smokey Wilson (Blowin' Smoke and Sings The Blues).  This set captures songs on those albums, plus five unreleased tracks.  Wilson sounds fine on these tunes, not quite as menacing as his later releases, but still pretty powerful.  It was a nice predecessor for what was to come.

Ben Wiley Payton - Diggin' Up Old Country Blues (no label):  Payton was born and raised in Greenwood, moving to Chicago as a teen, later worked in several industries and eventually he became a pastor in a church in Chicago, also serving as a minister of music during his earlier years, accompanying the choir often on guitar.  He performed as a youth in local soul bands, playing guitar and singing backup, He was able to play the blues in several bands in Chicago including the Wolf Band, subbing for an ailing Hubert Sumlin, and played with Bobby Rush's road band for a time before stepping back to help his wife raise their five daughters.

In his later years, he returned to Mississippi, where he began to get into the blues of his home state.  He relocated to Clarksdale and managed to release a pair of albums of his own unique approach to the Delta blues he grea up listening to and playing.  This 2006 release was his first one and he wrote all new songs that were a snug fit with the traditional sounds of the region.  His relaxed vocals and guitar playing make this a great album to listen to when you're just chilling out at the end of the day.  This one might be a little harder to find than the others, but if you do find it, you'll be glad you did.