Memphis Slim - The Folkways Years, 1959-1973 '2000

Tracks list

       These 21 tracks, selected from the recordings Memphis Slim did for
Folkways, tend to be in solo piano or sparsely accompanied arrangements, as one
would figure since Folkways was a traditionally oriented label. Still, it
doesn't sound like a forced or awkward attempt to steer the pianist toward an
outdated approach. It's just on the quiet and restrained side, and not different
from numerous recordings Memphis Slim did for more commercially minded labels
throughout his career. Although half of the material is just Slim alone at the
piano (sometimes singing, sometimes not), it does actually show him in a variety
of contexts. Willie Dixon accompanies him on bass on a few numbers; Jazz Gillum
does the vocal and harmonica for "Key to the Highway" (which is actually a track
on which Memphis Slim was the sideman, not the featured artist); Matt Murphy
plays electric guitar on a few songs; Pete Seeger joins Memphis Slim and Dixon
on "Midnight Special"; and there are actually drums by Jump Jackson on a couple
of tunes. It's assured piano blues whatever the situation, not among his very
best recordings, but certainly respectable. Unfortunately, the liner notes,
quite detailed in most respects, do not give the dates of recordings for the
individual tracks; from the sound of things, most of these date from 1959 and
the early 1960s, although the title indicates a timespan of 1959-1973. Three of
the cuts were previously unreleased, including "Every Day I Have the Blues," the
atypical organ instrumental "The Gimmick," and the piano instrumental "The Dirty
Dozens." ~ Richie Unterberger

Tracklist:
1.01 - Memphis Slim - Joogie Boogie (3:27)
1.02 - Memphis Slim - I Left That Town-Harlem Bound (2:20)
1.03 - Memphis Slim - Key to the Highway (2:58)
1.04 - Memphis Slim - Chicago Rent Party (3:57)
1.05 - Memphis Slim - Stewball (3:36)
1.06 - Memphis Slim - The Dirty Dozens (2:52)
1.07 - Memphis Slim - Beer Drinking Woman (2:32)
1.08 - Memphis Slim - Walking Blues (3:12)
1.09 - Memphis Slim - Pinetop's Boogie Woogie (4:12)
1.10 - Memphis Slim - San Juan Blues (2:23)
1.11 - Memphis Slim - Prison Bound (3:27)
1.12 - Memphis Slim - If the Rabbit Had a Gun (3:02)
1.13 - Memphis Slim - Backwater Blues (3:46)
1.14 - Memphis Slim - You Name It (2:17)
1.15 - Memphis Slim - M&O Blues (3:40)
1.16 - Memphis Slim - Every Day I Have the Blues (2:26)
1.17 - Memphis Slim - Just a Dream (4:14)
1.18 - Memphis Slim - Midnight Special (1:51)
1.19 - Memphis Slim - The Bells (2:37)
1.20 - Memphis Slim - Mean Old Frisco (3:24)
1.21 - Memphis Slim - The Gimmick (3:50) 

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