Jimmy WITHERSPOON - Spoon So Easy 1997

Jimmy WITHERSPOON - Spoon So Easy 1997

Blues

By the mid-'50s, it seemed that Jimmy Witherspoon's brand of Kansas City blues was going permanently out of style; Big Joe Turner was starting to turn toward rock & roll, and many of the older singers were no longer recording. Witherspoon, who was only in his early 30s, was flexible enough to fit into different situations, so the Chess label (best known for its intense Chicago blues) took a chance on him. This CD contains most of Witherspoon's records for the Chess and Checker labels: five that were issued and nine that remained in the vaults until the release of this CD in 1990. Unfortunately, Witherspoon did not have any hits during this era (his comeback would not really get going until his appearance at the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival) but fortunately, these records did survive. Spoon is actually heard in good form, and even if the personnel is mostly unidentified, he received suitable backup. Since all but three of Witherspoon's Chess recordings are on this CD (which clocks in around 39 minutes), one does wonder why it was not decided to make this a "complete" set.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**  
Transferred from the original analogue mono tapes by DOUG SCHWARTZ, "Spoon So Easy" was released in 1990 in the USA on CHD-93003. It was a 12-track LP and 14-track CD (with the two CD bonus tracks being "Mack & Jay" and "Just To Prove My Love To You"). This early Chess compilation is a mix of 7" singles, an LP track and several previously unreleased outtakes. The period is 1954 and 1955 on Chess' subsidiary label CHECKER.
"It Ain't No Secret" is Checker 826, "When The Lights Go Out" and "I Can Make It With You" are the A & B of Checker 798 and "I Don't Know Why (Why Do I Love You Like I Do)" is Checker 826. "Goin Down Slow" is off the Anthology LP "Blues: Shoutin' Swingin' And Makin' Love" (Chess LP 412) while the other 8 tracks are all previously unreleased. Willie Dixon composed the excellent "Live So Easy" (previously unreleased), "I Can Make It With You" and the sexed-up single that should have charted "When The Lights Go Out".
Soundwise - it's good - rather than great - but in 2009, the transfer quality of 1990 is really showing its age - especially in the light of Erick Labson's stunning remasters of almost all the Chess catalogue in 1998 and onwards in the 2000s. The short but affectionate liner notes are by MARY KATHERINE ALDIN of the LIVING BLUES Magazine.
Slow blues - a couple of shouters - it's a good set, and cheap too - but like so many of the Chess compilations of the period, it's in real need of an upgrade.
By  Mark Barry.
**
Jimmy Witherspoon- (Vocals),
Willie Dixon- (Bass),
Eddie Chamblee- (TenorSax),
Jay McShann- (Piano),
Harold Ashby- (TenorSax).
**
01. It Ain't No Secret 2:56
02. Ain't Nobody's Business 2:40
03. Live So Easy 2:45
04. Congratulations 2:10
05. I Can Make It Without You 2:10
06. Goin' Down Slow 2:14
07. When The Lights Go Out 2:50
08. Crying 3:07
09. T.W.A. 2:33
10. Danger 3:10
11. I Don't Know Why (Why Do I Love You Like I Do?) 2:40
12. Garfield Avenue 3:11
13. Mack & Jack 3:39
14. Just To Prove My Love To You 2:36
**
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Jimmy WITHERSPOON & Ben WEBSTER - Roots 1962

Jimmy WITHERSPOON & Ben WEBSTER - Roots  1962

Jazz

Jimmy Witherspoon laid out two great records in 1962 on Reprise, 'Spoon' and this one. 'Roots' places the great blues singer and guitarist in the company of saxophonist Ben Webster, trumpeter Gerald Wilson, and a rhythm section consisting of pianist Ernie Freeman and drummer Jim Miller. The mood is laid-back, down-home, and full of emotion and sentiment. The warmth of Witherspoon's voice on material like Your Red Wagon, I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water, Key to the Highway (in one of the more unique versions ever recorded), and Jimmy Rushing's Did You Ever is on the other side of lonesome. Webster and Wilson underscore the sung lines with fills that accent the deep blue in Witherspoon's vocal. Jay McShann's Confessin' the Blues is a more jazzed-up arrangement, but Witherspoon's deep in the R&B groove here, taking a hint from Joe Turner. The finger-popping read of Turner's It's a Low Down Dirty Shame is in the gutbucket; the rhythm section swings hard. It's not as raucous as the original, but Witherspoon's smooth, clear, and deep register is beautifully complemented first by Wilson's solo and then by Webster's. The real stunner is near the end, when the band takes on Big Bill Broonzy's Just a Dream, where Witherspoon wails and moans the blues. It's just chilling. This is one of those recordings that is a true hidden classic. It was reissued on CD in 2006 by Collectables.
By Thom Jurek. AMG.
**
Jimmy Witherspoon-  Vocals
Ben webster-  Tenor Sax
Gerald wilson-  Trumpet
Ernie Freeman-  Piano
Herman Mitchell-  Guitar
Ralph Hamilton-  Bass
Jim Miller-  Drums
**
A1. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water 3:56
A2. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town 3:36
A3. Key to the Highway 2:54
A4. Did You Ever 3:24
A5. Confessin' the Blues 3:00
A6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 2:31
B1. Your Red Wagon 5:12
B2. Rain Is Such a Lonesome Sound 3:01
B3. Cherry Red 3:15
B4. It's a Low Down Dirty Shame 3:02
B5. Just a Dream 3:00
B6. Please, Mr. Webster 3:32
**
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Jimmy WITHERSPOON with Brother Jack McDuff - The Blues Is Now 1967

Jimmy WITHERSPOON with Brother Jack McDuff - The Blues Is Now 1967

Blues

For 1967's THE BLUES IS NOW, vocalist Jimmy Witherspoon paired up with organist extraordinaire Jack McDuff. Recorded in only one day, the album is a fascinating blues/jazz ...    Full Descriptionhybrid that showcases Witherspoon's bold, soulful vocals and McDuff's simmering organ lines. McDuff also serves as the arranger and conductor here, leading the band through a funky take on "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" (a tune Jimmy Smith would also expertly cover a year later), two Witherspoon originals (the sultry "Late One Evening" and "Part Time Woman," a slow-paced tale of betrayal), and more. Although THE BLUES IS NOW is billed as a Witherspoon/McDuff record, guitarist Melvin Sparks is also a formidable presence on the album, with his searing blues riffs stealing the spotlight on numerous tracks.
CD Universe.
**
Jimmy Witherspoon recorded a series of excellent albums for Verve in the late '60s. Unfortunately, these have not received the attention they deserve, and are frequently relegated in Witherspoon's huge catalog. The Blues Is Now is arguably the finest of these recordings, and Witherspoon's voice is in top form and hugely expressive. Like all of the artist's albums of the decade, it's not the most consistent of listening experiences, but that's of little interest when songs and performances are as good as "My Baby's Quit Me" and Witherspoon's own "Late One Evening." A light-night blues classic, this is Witherspoon at his most relaxed and assured and is a joy to listen to.
**
Danny Turner- Sax, Flute
Jimmy Witherspoon- Vocals
Melvin Sparks- Guitar
Jymie Merritt- Bass guitar
Brother Jack Mcduff- Organ
Leo Johnson- Sax, Flute
Ray Appleton- Drums
**
01.Sweet Slumber
02.I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
03.Past Forty Blues
04.S.K. Blues
05.Late One Evening
06.Part Time Woman
07.Good Rocking Tonight
08.I Won't Tell a Soul
09.My Baby's Quit Me
10.My Money's Long This Morning, Baby
**
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Jimmy WITHERSPOON - California Blues 2005

Jimmy WITHERSPOON - California Blues 2005
Label: Membran
4Cd Box Set
*More Details Are in The (Covers & Info)*

Blues

One of the great blues singers of the post-World War II period, Jimmy Witherspoon was also versatile enough to fit comfortably into the jazz world. Witherspoon was born on August 8, 1920, in Gurdon, AR. As a child, he sang in a church choir, and made his debut recordings with Jay McShann for Philo and Mercury in 1945 and 1946. His own first recordings, using McShann's band, resulted in a number one R&B hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business, Pts. 1 & 2" on Supreme Records. Live performances of "No Rollin' Blues" and "Big Fine Girl" provided 'Spoon with two more hits in 1950.

The mid-'50s were a lean time, with his style of shouting blues temporarily out of fashion; singles were tried for Federal, Chess, Atco, Vee Jay, and others, with little success. Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival (HiFi Jazz) from 1959 lifted him back into the limelight. Partnerships with Ben Webster or Groove Holmes were recorded, and he toured Europe in 1961 with Buck Clayton, performing overseas many more times in the decades to follow; some memorable music resulted, but Witherspoon's best 1960s album is Evening Blues (Prestige), which features T-Bone Walker on guitar and Clifford Scott on saxophone. As the '70s began, Witherspoon decided to take a short break from live performances, settled in Los Angeles, took a job as a disc jockey, and continued making records. In 1971 Witherspoon teamed up with former Animals vocalist Eric Burdon for the album Guilty. Unfortunately it sold poorly. By 1973 his short retirement from live performances was over. Witherspoon was ready to get back on the road and assembled an amazing band featuring a young Robben Ford on lead guitar. Those live shows had received positive reviews, rejuvenating Witherspoon's move toward a definite rock/soul sound. He traveled to London in 1974 to record Love Is a Five Letter Word with British blues producer Mike Vernon. Vernon had produced critically acclaimed British blues albums by John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After. By the early '80s, Witherspoon was diagnosed with throat cancer. Although he remained active and was a popular concert attraction, the effect of the disease on his vocals was obvious. Witherspoon passed away on September 18, 1997, at the age of 77.
By Bob Porter, Scott Yanow & Al Campbell.
**
CD1
01. Roll on Katy
02. Gone with the Blues
03. Bar Fly Blues
04. Please Stop Playing These Blues, Boy
05. Christmas Blues
06. Cain River Blues
07. Ain't Nobody's Business
08. Back Water Blues
09. Frogimore Blues
10. In the Evening
11. Early Morning Blues
12. Money Eyes Woman
13. Call Me Baby
14. Sweet Loving Baby
15. Jump Children
16. Doctor Blues
17. Big Fine Girl
18. No Rollin' Blues
19. I'm Goin' Around in Circles
20. I'm Just a Country Boy
21. There Ain't Nothing Better
22. I'm Just Wondering

CD2
01. I Done Found Out
02. Sweet Lovin' Baby
03. Ain't Nobody's Business
04. No Rollin' Blues
05. Big Fine Girl
06. Failing by DeGrees
07. New Orleans Woman
08. Fickle Woman
09. Have a Ball
10. Good Jumpin'

CD3
01. I'm Just a Lady's Man
02. There Ain't Nothing Better
03. Love My Baby
04. Love and Friendship
05. Good Jumping aka Jump Children
06. I'm Just A Country Boy
07. Slow Your Speed
08. Geneva Blues aka Evil Woman
09. I'm Just Wandering (Part 1)
10. I'm Just Wandering (Part 2)
11. Baby, Baby
12. Sweet Lovin' Baby
13. The Doctor Knows His Business aka Doctor Blues
14. Rain, Rain, Rain
15. Thelma Lee Blues

CD4
01. Groove's Groove
02. California Bleus
03. Wonderful World
04. Misty
05. Walking on a Tightrope
06. Slow Blues in G
07. Song for My Father
08. My Friend
09. Lonesome Road Blues
10. On Say a Joy
11. Danger Zone Is Everywhere
12. Time Has Come
**
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Jimmy WITHERSPOON - Baby, Baby, Baby 1963

Jimmy WITHERSPOON - Baby, Baby, Baby 1963
Label: Obc
Audio CD: (July 1, 1991)
Recorded in New York City on May 6, and in Los Angeles on July 8, 1963

Blues

Between 1963 and 1966, Jimmy Witherspoon recorded seven albums for Prestige; this is the first one. What makes it exceptional is the first-rate personnel accompanying him, with Leo Wright (as) Kenny Burrell (g) Bobby Bryant (tp) Jimmy Allen (ts) and Gildo Mahones (p) all giving superb support. Most of the songs are 12-bar blues, and many are of the way-downhome variety: IT'S A LONESOME OLD WORLD, I CAN'T HARDLY SEE, LONELY BOY BLUES, and ROCKS IN MY BED being very good performances of this kind. Sometimes Witherspoon comes across in a listless manner, singing in a monotone, as if the blues he's singing had REALLY overtaken him, but the sidemen keep the proceedings rolling along fine. Some of the later Prestige releases (six of them are on OBC CD reissues) are better as a whole, but most of these sides are very nice, with the 8-bar blues I'LL GO ON LIVING among his very best single tracks. Definitely worth checking out.
By  Bomojaz.
**
Tracks 1-8
Kenny Burrell- Guitar
Leo Wright- Tamburine,Alto Sax
Gildo Mahones- Piano
George Tucker- Bass
Jimmie Smith- Drums

Tracks 9-12
Bobby Bryant- Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jimmy Allen- Tenor Sax
Ernie Freeman- Piano
Herman Mitchell- Guitar
Jimmy Bond- Bass
Arthur Wright- Harmonica
Jimmy Miller- Drums
**
01. Mean Old Frisco 3:10
02. Rocks In My bed 2:43
03. Bad Bad Whiskey 3:05
04. Baby, Baby, Baby 3:02
05. Sail On Little Girl 2:47
06. One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer 2:59
07. Lonely Boy Blues 2:48
08. Blues and trouble 2:53
09. Endless Sleep 1:12
10. I'll Go On Living 3:44
11. I Can't Hardly See 2:39
12. It's A Lonesome Old World 3:30
**
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