The Very Best Of Champion Jack Dupree
Label: Collectables
Blues
As a reissue and compilation label, Collectables gets it right most of the time. With this overview of New Orleans piano boss Champion Jack Dupree's early- to mid-'50s sides, they get it right all the way down the line. This set commences with Dupree's period with Brownie McGhee (two tracks of a four-track session credited to Big Tom Collins entitled "Heart Breaking Woman" and "Watching My Stuff"). He had recorded with other labels before King, but it is on these sides that he developed his reputation. The majority of this material was recorded in either New York or Cincinnati from 1953 to 1955. Despite his being in either of these locales, Dupree's New Orleans piano blues style is everywhere evident. Check out "Ain't No Meat on de Bone," with its powerful shuffle and second-line rhythm stride. The deep left-hand rhythmic attack in Dupree's style made his music infectious and gave it a presence and urgency that was all delight. Even on the slower-tempoed tunes, such as the talking blues "Walkin' Upside Your Head," the Crescent City's moaning, honking (Willis Jackson plays tenor saxophone on a number of cuts here), and strolling blues tradition is everywhere evident. The other remarkable thing about this set is that Dupree wrote or co-wrote 17 of the 28 cuts featured. Dupree's talented wife Lucille wrote another ten cuts especially for him. To be sure, this is a testament to a particular kind of technical and emotional blues genius that is seldom recognized as one of the great contributions to the music of the era -- Dupree is better known for his 1960s material. Walkin' the Blues, with its expert track selection, superior sound, and a fine set of liner notes by Victor Pearlin, is an essential purchase not only in the Dupree catalog, but also for any serious shelf of New Orleans and/or piano blues music.
By Thom Jurek, All Music Guide.
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01. Heart Breaking Woman
02. Watchin' My Stuff
03. Ain't No Meat On De Bone
04. The Blues Got Me Rockin'
05. Tongue Tied Blues
06. Please Tell Me Baby
07. Walkin' Upside Your Head
08. Rub A Little Boogie
09. Hard Feeling
10. Camille
11. Harelip Blues
12. Two Below Zero
13. Let The Doorbell Ring
14. Blues For Everybody
15. Walking The Blues
16. Daybreak Rock
17. That's My Pa
18. She Cooks Me Cabbage
19. Failing Health Blues
20. Stumbling Block
21. Mail Order Woman
22. Silent Partner
23. House Rent Party
24. Big Leg Emma's
25. Overhead
26. Me And My Mule
27. So Sorry, So Sorry
28. Sharp Harp
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