LIVING CHICAGO BLUES SERIES Vol. IV

Nowhere has blues been so transformed as in Chicago. To this day, gritty, electric blues fills its night air. Alligator's Living Chicago Blues series is "all about exposing Chicago blues talent to new audiences". The hope was blues would "not be resigned to mere history". As a minimum, each volume features four artists with session players as historically rich as the recordings themselves. They are obscure, unknown, and not originally from Chicago. However, Volume IV contains some of the city's best vocalists, guitarists, harpists, and pianists. It features the most diverse songwriting, and unfortunately, the greatest number of deceased artists. At the time of these recordings, none of these real deal musicians were big names in the blues.
After you listen to this bona fide album, it will be harder to come to grips with the fact they still aren't. Amos Milburn was Detroit Junior's idol. His "half-sing half-talk" vocal style features on his selections. With only occasional rattling piano, "If I Hadn't Been High" is homey, and speaks to the men. Saxophones ignite Junior's upper register on "Some Nerve". Minor key blues, when performed on piano, creates a whole new sub-genre. As proof, listen to "Somebody To Shack". Using a contented rhythm, it tells a story. Instrumentation isn't important or necessary here. West side guitar is defined as "alternating stinging single-note leads with powerful, distorted chords". Listen to Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, best known for his seven year stint with Muddy Waters, perform it to a tee. Strong rhythm, as on "Look What You Done" is Johnson's essential magic as well. On "Just Like Mama Said", Willie Smith gets slap happy on drums while Johnson sounds like Otis Rush. This is the style of blues I originally fell in love with.
The departed artists begin with Queen Sylvia Embry. She had everything to be "Chicago's next great blues woman". The way she spits out the words force you to listen, and pay attention because he commands it. Her exemplary vocals and mighty guitarists on "Going Upstairs" are the album's surprise smash, while Dino Alvarez is the disc's most impressive drummer. Big Leon Brooks idolized Little Walter. These remarkable recordings feature Brooks recovering from serious heart and lung problems, and sounding like Junior Wells. "Blues For A Real Man" accurately describes all the music on this album. "Country Boy" stresses the importance of family and a simple life. Brooks' and Embry's brilliant bands are the most rounded. Andrew Brown's versatility allowed him to gig at cocktail lounges, black social club dances, and basement bars. With soul-swooning vocals and Albert King guitar licks, Brown creates a deep trance on the omnipotent "I Got News For You". Definitely another uncovered treasure. There are four volumes in the Living Chicago Blues series. Originally issued in the late '70s on six LPs, every song in the collection has been put onto four CDs, each lasting over an hour long. Until a more modern series of recordings is made, these four premium samplers remain the most authoritative reflection of Chicago blues. Volume IV is one of those desert island discs that your CD player won't want to eject. However, you should get any of them as fast as you can. If you've never been to a Chicago blues bar, any of these CDs will let you know what you are missing.
--- Tim Holek

Track Listing
1. If I Hadn't Been High - Detroit Junior
2. Some Nerve - Detroit Junior
3. Somebody To Shack - Detroit Junior
4. I Got Money - Detroit Junior
5. Somebody Have Mercy - Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson
6. Got To Have Money - Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson
7. Just Like Mama Said - Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson
8. Look What You Done - Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson
9. Going Upstairs - Queen Sylvia Embry
10. Blues This Morning - Queen Sylvia Embry
11. Tired Of Being Pushed Around - Queen Sylvia Embry
12. Please Let Me Stay - Queen Sylvia Embry
13. Blues For A Real Man - Big Leon Brooks' Blues Harp Band
14. Thirteen Years In Prison - Big Leon Brooks' Blues Harp Band
15. Country Boy - Big Leon Brooks' Blues Harp Band
16. My Life Ain't The Same - Big Leon Brooks' Blues Harp Band
17. I Got News For You - Andrew Brown
18. Morning, Noon and Night - Andrew Brown
19. Two Years - Andrew Brown

CD 4 = http://massmirror.com/5f282ddb211bc7d05605dc9f9f7046f6.html
pass = bluestown.blogspot.com
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