My New Year's resolution for 2013 is to buy more raggedy Louisiana music.  Then right on cue this wonderful Arhoolie collection drops: 27 Cajun country rockers, weepers, and waltzes, originally issued via George Khoury's various labels between 1947-57.  Comes bound in a CD-sized hardback book / case, with 88 pages of detailed notes by David Sax + lots of terrific, previously unpublished photos.  I am a total sucker for this sound. And Nathan Abshire's "Boora Rhumba"?  Good night!  http://www.npmusic.org/Abshire_BooraRhumba.mp3

"Compilation of early gospel recordings spanning from 1927 - 1955.  Sanctified blues by the Two Gospel Keys, Mother McCollum, Blind Roosevelt Graves, Lottie Bracey, Sister O.M Terrell, & Rev. IB Ware. Beautiful slow country gospel by the Anglin Brothers & Delmore Brothers. Intense vocal performances by the New Gospel Keys, Elder Richard Bryant, the Silent Grove Baptist Church Congregation, & much more!  All killer no filler compilation that rocks hard & gets deep & sad too.  Old school "tip on" cover.  Limited one-time pressing of 1200." - Mississippi.  [just want to note that the great Bozie Sturdivant is heard singing lead with the Silent Grove Baptist Church, rather than with Elder Richard Bryant as stated on the sleeve]

"Based on four years of fieldwork throughout the state, the Florida Folklife Program released the two-album, 27-track 2LP 'Drop on Down in Florida' in 1981. The album was intended to highlight African American music traditions for a statewide public audience, blues and sacred traditions in particular. In recent years, the Folklife Program sought the opportunity to produce an expanded reissue of the album that would include previously unissued fieldwork recordings and photos. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork materials now housed in the State Archives of Florida, the expanded reissue includes nearly 80 previously-unreleased minutes of music on 28 new tracks, plus numerous photos documenting the musicians and communities that perpetuated these traditions.

"Notable among the previously unreleased tracks are additional musical selections and personal narratives from one-string musician Moses Williams, four-shape-note Sacred Harp singing from an African American community in the Florida Panhandle, and recordings from the Richard Williams family in the blues and gospel-blues traditions. The reissue also includes new track notes from respected music scholars David Evans and Doris J. Dyen; reflective essays from past and present folklorists with the Florida Folklife Program, including Peggy A. Bulger, Dwight DeVane, Doris J. Dyen, and Blaine Waide; and an extensive essay on African American one-string instrument traditions by David Evans.

"The 2012 edition of 'Drop on Down in Florida: Field Recordings of African American Traditional Music 1977–1980' highlights the significance of the previously unreleased material. In addition, it calls attention to the importance of the original LP and makes its contents available once again, this time to a larger audience." - Dust-to-Digital.  One of my all-time favorites --- so great to see it reissued / expanded / done right.  

Original vinyl pressing of this seminal, elusive title now just reissued in expanded form by Dust-to-Digital (see above).  Heavy gatefold sleeve, thick booklet, the works.  A personal favorite.  Sealed copies, the sleeves show minor storage wear at the corners.  Restocked and moving fast.

“Over a three year period in the late 1990s, Charlie Brooks embarked on two long field recording trips in Madagasikara. Brooks primarily concentrated on the more remote north and west regions of the island. Upon his return in 1999 he pressed 200 copies of a triple record and stored them under his bed for the last ten years. The three themed LPs: Vocal, Valiha Marovany, and Miscellaneous Instruments were released as the now out of print MR-061 Fihavanana. This single LP collection compiles seventeen tracks from Fihavanana. Comes with a twelve page booklet of photography and notes.” – Mississippi

“Compilation of recent field recording made by Chris Kirkley (Sahel Sounds).  All tracks feature acoustic guitar players & vocalists from Senegal & Northern Mali, with the exception of the last song which is a rocking Tuareg electric guitar band.  Beautiful music by some of Africa's finest griots. At times melancholic and at others romantic pop music.  Old school tip on cover. Comes with a 16-page full color booklet featuring descriptive notes & beautiful never before published photos.” – Mississippi

Subtitled “A Selection of Commercially Recorded Black Religious Music, 1921-1953,” this compilation delivers as promised, tracing the development of gospel singing from jubilees through to quartets such as the Fairfield Four. Tracks selected by gospel scholar William H. Tallmadge.

Track listing:
Wings Over Jordan – I’m Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table
Wiseman Sextette – I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray
Utica Institute Jubilee Singers – Oh Mary Don’t You Weep
Virginia Female Singers – Don’t You Want to be a Lover of the Lord
Birmingham Jubilee Singers – I Heard the Preachin’ of the Elders
Cornfed Four – Waitin’ at the Gate
The Golden Gate Quartet – Jonah
Norfolk Jazz Quartet – Swinging the Blues
Famous Blue Jays of Alabama – Jesus Met the Woman at the Well
Dunham Jubilee Singers – I Dreamed of the Judgment Morning
Bill Landford Four – You Ain’t Got Faith
Heavenly Gospel Singers – This Old World is in a Bad Condition
The Georgia Peach and Her Gospel Singers – Do Lord Send Me
Selah Jubilee Singers – I Want Jesus to Walk Around My Bedside
Alphabetical Four – Precious Lord, Hold My Hand
The Fairfield Four – A Love Like a River

"Part three in Mississippi Records' series exploring the rawest side of gospel music (part one being the 'Life is a Problem' compilation & part two being the 'Oh Graveyard, You Can't Hold Me Always' compilation).  Moving ballads sit side-by-side with incredibly rocking, crunchy guitar workouts.  The recordings span the 1950s through to the '80s...but the sound is timeless & consistently soulful like you won't believe.  Artists include Precious Bryant, Isaiah Owens, The Hickory Bottom Harmoneers, Boyd Rivers, the Straight Street Holiness Group, & many more.  We are very proud of this one.  Housed in an old school tip-on sleeve." - Mississippi (note: Rev. Charlie Jackson plays guitar on the song by Ike Gordon, and the Rev. Charles White track listed on the sleeve is actually Sister O.M. Terrell)

“M for Mississippi” is a wonderful new DVD that provides brief, evocative portraits of some of the current blues singers in Mississippi. The overall impression is of musicians who do this for love (especially since, as a number of the artists point out, if you’re doing it in the hopes of making money, you won’t bother doing it for too long). Cadillac John, his hands quivering, implores his baby to give it all to him. RL Boyce in his element, holds court at a house party. Pat Thomas goes from his extremely energetic descriptions of his visual art to a mellow delivery of his blues. Jimmy “Duck” Holmes at the juke that’s been in his family for decades. The biggest news to me is 80-ish year-old LC Ulmer, who has a lovely, light delivery and comes across as quite the sweetheart.

“This timely road movie will explore the thriving underbelly of a dying American art form in the land where it began – Mississippi. Planned as a weeklong journey through the birthplace of the blues, M for Mississippi seeks to capture the proverbial ‘real deal’ in its home where it is most comfortable and authentic – the jukes, the front yards, the cotton fields. More than just a collection of concert performances, the film will collect the sounds, the images and the feel of both the performers and their native landscape – an environment essential to their livelihoods and inseparable from their art.” - Broke and Hungy.  See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppNyyI1-SK8

Soundtrack to the DVD, this features 50 Miles friend RL Boyce getting about as free as free can be, the sweet touch of LC Ulmer, Robert “Bilbo” Walker’s heartfelt take on “Bring It On Home,” T-Model Ford and his grandson Stud kicking it out, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes advising us to slow down (I’m trying, Duck!), and plenty more. Some come very obviously out of a particular tradition (Wesley Jefferson reworking “Smokestack Lightning,” Terry “Harmonica” Bean’s slightly more frantic take on a John Lee Hooker / Doctor Ross boogie, etc.) while others are more idiosyncratic.

Track listing:
Big George Brock and the Houserockers – M for Mississippi
The Wesley Jefferson Blues Band – The Wolves are Howling
RL Boyce and Lightnin’ Malcolm – Ain’t It Alright
Terry “Harmonica” Bean – I’m a Bluesman
Jimmy “Duck” Holmes – Slow Down, Slow Down
The Mississippi Marvel and Lightnin’ Malcolm – Black Mattie’s Face
T-Model Ford and Stud – Hip Shakin’ Woman
Cadillac John Nolden and Bill Abel – Give It All to Me, Baby
Pat Thomas – The Woman I Love
The Robert “Bilbo” Walker Band – Bring It On Home
LC Ulmer – Rosalee

Restocked, lower price!  Several years ago Fat Possum bought the rights to the recorded archive of folklorist George Mitchell, which resulted in the release of several CDs and a slew of 7”s, a fair number of which are also stocked here. This budget-priced 7CD box compiles all of the material released on those 45 7”s, plus a full CD of extra tracks.  Mitchell’s recordings and books such as Blow My Blues Away and Ponce de Leon have had a substantial impact on 50 Miles of Elbow Room, so this will get a special mention in these parts. 

For many years, the recordings made by George Mitchell as he traveled the south needed to be procured in a similar manner to which Mitchell learned about the musicians he recorded: following up on a lead here or a reference there, analyzing some scrap of information that might prove to be key, and generally a lot of asking around.  A music enthusiast from an early age, Mitchell’s first trip to hang out with blues musicians took place in 1961, when he was only 17 years old.  Over the next 20 years, he proceeded to periodically record, interview, and photograph many great blues artists.  Along the way he made the first recordings of some artists who later went on to great renown, such as RL Burnside and Otha Turner, as well as some of the earliest “revival” sessions with pre-war stars such as Sleepy John Estes and Furry Lewis.  Mostly he recorded people who remain largely unfamiliar to modern listeners, but whose music offers great rewards: the massive “Georgia Drumbeat” stomp of James Davis, the deep and inscrutable blues of Cecil Barfield, the stately slide guitar gospel of Leon Pinson, the ancient-sounding blues of Lonzie Thomas, the stunning high and lonesome tunes of John Lee Ziegler, beautiful a cappella spirituals, and on and on.  Particularly noteworthy is the amount of material from the Chattahoochee Valley region, which was largely ignored by other folklorists of the time. 

Though these recordings are consistently outstanding, what makes this material truly special to me is the manner in which it transports the listener to a different place and time, giving a sense of how the blues existed during a period when the status of the musicians who played it was often starting to fade in their communities.  That said, the performances often have an intimate and relaxed feel to them, as befits a music played for the joy of a few.  In his liner notes to this box set, Sam Sweet sums it up quite well, “A detailed picture of 20th century black musical culture in the rural South emerges from the recurring themes in Mitchell’s archive: kids learning instruments from their relatives or family friends; musicians spending their entire life within the distance of one or two towns; musicians forming irreplaceable and lifelong musical partnerships; people staging non-church-related concerts and parties for themselves in the woods and fields near their homes.  What Mitchell amassed over his 20 years in the field is as good a picture of that world as any of us are ever going to get.”

For this project, Qbico Records brought together a bunch of open-minded musicians from a multitude of backgrounds and generations, with the objective of everyone coming together for a collective throw-down.  Side B is a notable hoot.  Recorded live at Tonic on March 18, 2004.  Found a couple more of these, very last copies. 

“Thunderously heavy two LP set from Qbico documenting a night in New York where some of the hardest working lungs still in the service of liberated fire - Arthur Doyle, Perry Robinson, Daniel Carter, Charles Waters, Shanir Ezra Blummenkranz and Andrew Barker - plotted various tactical formations with brains of a whole other order, including Ed Wilcox of Temple Of Bon Matin, Nuuj of Pengo/Asthmatic, Dave Cross Of Coffee, Leslie Q and Vinnie Paternostro. Freely-improvised avant-guerilla spurt in the spirit of the LAFMS/MEV and avant/rock coalitions like BAG. First time Doyle has played together with Robinson and Carter since the loft-scene days of the 1970s... Comes in absurd full-colour gatefold sleeve with poem from Steve Dalachinsky.” – David Keenan, The Wire / Volcanic Tongue

side A:
Steve Dalachinsky- Phenomena of interference (excerpt)
Andrew Barker/Charles Waters duo & trio with Daniel Carter
side B:
Andrew Barker/Charles Waters/Daniel Carter/Shanir-Ezra Blumenkranz/Perry Robinson 5et
side C
Arthur Doyle/Nuuj duo
Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble with special guests Daniel Carter and Perry Robinson
side D
Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble with special guest Daniel Carter
Arthur Doyle solo

“Double LP set documenting two Qbico hosted nights in Denmark that featured a big band free jazz wig-out led by saxophonist Daniel Carter (Test/Other Dimensions In Music et al) and featuring Vin Paternostro on soprano sax, Marc Gade on tuba, Pernaus Salon on recorder, soprano sax and clay flute 'Qbico' on balalaika, vocals, percussion and violin and Ed Wilcox (Temple Of Bon Matin et al) on drums and harmonica.  There's also some premier trio blats led by Carter alongside Paternostro and Wilcox that succeeds in raising the roof and a particularly massive side-long work from Denmark's own Family Underground.” – Volcanic Tongue

Side A:
Global Experience Orchestra
Side B:
Family Underground
Sides C and D:
Daniel Carter/Vin Paternostro/Ed Wilcox

"Over the course of three decades, beginning in the late 1950s, songwriter, musician, producer, and entrepreneur David Lee released fourteen 45s and two LPs on his Impel, Washington Sound, and SCOP (“Soul, Country, Opera, and Pop”) labels, run out of his record shop in Shelby, North Carolina. He wrote most of the songs himself, including his biggest hit, “You’re Letting Me Down,” which he recorded in 1971 with a then-unknown young Greenville, South Carolina soul singer named Ann Sexton. This first-ever anthology of Mr. Lee’s career features an array of unheralded soul and African American gospel groups from the North/South Carolina borderlands, including Joe Brown and the Singing Mellerairs, Brown Sugar Inc., the Yakety Yaks, and pioneering teenage “salt and pepper” combo the Constellations. Pressed in an edition of 500, the vinyl LP includes an eight-page booklet of detailed liner notes, a vintage SCOP promotional newsletter, and a coupon for free MP3s of all fourteen tracks, twelve of which have never before been reissued." - Paradise of Bachelors

“This series of archival 78 transfers was originally released in 1995 on CD only. Now for the first time on vinyl, a deluxe gatefold presentation and limited edition pressing. Reissue produced by Hisham Mayet (Sublime Frequencies) in conjunction with Yazoo Records. Compiled here are many of the greatest performances of world and ethnic music ever recorded. This volume represents a trip around the world, stopping at each port to sample one of that country's finest recordings of its indigenous music. Each of these recordings was captured at a period during the golden age of recording when traditional styles were at their peak of power and emotion. Included inside are extensive notes and beautiful period photographs that work together with the music to communicate an exciting sense of discovery. Early 20th century recordings from Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, India, Mozambique, Ukraine, Trinidad, Kazakhstan, Ceylon, Tibet and elsewhere, compiled by archivist Pat Conte.” – Outernational.  Nice price on these great Outernational sets.

"Compilation of truly great sorrowful American ballads recorded between 1927 & 1943.  Songs mostly about murder, death & broken heartedness.  Lots of intense minor chords & stark gritty vocals. Artists include Emry Arthur, Bascom Lamar Luncsford, Red Hot Old Mose, The DeZurik Sisters, Shortbuckle O'Rourke & Family, Jimmie Tarlton, Mississippi John Hurt & more.  Mountain bluesmen & songsters presenting their darkest & most intense work.  Old school 'tip on' sleeves." - Mississippi

All-time killer gospel comp finally reissued. "A collection of spiritual and gospel songs performed in informal non-church settings between 1965 and 1973. Most are guitar-accompanied and performed by active or former blues artists. 'Most records of black religious music contain some form of gospel singing or congregational singing recorded at a church service. This album, though, tries to present a broader range of performance styles and contexts with the hope of showing the important role that religious music plays in the Southern black communities and in the daily lives of individuals.' --David Evans, from the liner notes. LP, 16-page 11"x11" booklet, tip-on sleeve, 16 photographs." - Dust-to-Digital. Hear Robert "Nighthawk" Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiW3Loz2aw0, Blind Pete Burrell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXG-yVEo1rc, Eddie Lee Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTE_3TT37ZE, and oh man Pattie Rosemon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvyvqIqhwsw

“A compilation of Georgia bluesmen who play all in a style of their own.  Truly great recordings made by George Mitchell between 1979-1981.  Features the hypnotic sounds of John Lee Ziegler, the incredibly rockin' drum & guitar music of James Davis, the hair-stands-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck voice & guitar of William Robertson (Also known as Cecil Barfield!), the unique doaist playing of Jimmy Lee Williams & the ragged & beautiful music of Jim Bunkley.  Really just the best blues music you could ever hope to hear.  Another testament to the brilliant ear of George Mitchell, who traveled the south in search of the real stuff & found it.  Old school ‘tip on’ cover.” – Mississippi. 

Note 9 of the 12 tracks on this collection were previously compiled on the Georgia Blues Today LP on Flyright, which sold like crazy out of here when it was in stock.  Here's what was said about that one:

A killer compilation that spotlights distinctive and under-recognized Georgia blues musicians who were recorded by George Mitchell in the late '70s. Cecil Barfield, who was known as William Robertson when this record was issued, has a unique take on country blues - particularly in his moaning, somewhat nasal singing style - which was sometimes almost as inscrutable as Charley Patton. Jimmy Lee Williams you may have heard on his very fine but somewhat overlooked collection released on Fat Possum. His blues is warm and inviting, which you might expect from a singer who is requesting that you hoot your belly. John Lee Ziegler delivers some stunning high and lonesome blues, somewhat in the vein of Blind Pete Burrell or perhaps Robert Pete Williams' treatments of spirituals, accompanied by Rufus Jones' nice spoon work.

Of particular interest to me is James Davis, who played a barely-recorded instrumental blues style known as "drum music" and/or "Georgia drumbeat". The drumming seems to be in the tradition of fife-and-drum bands from the region, with James' electric guitar taking the lead with snaky riffs. Anyone who has an affinity for the more rocking northern Mississippi-style blues will probably find plenty to love in Mr. Davis' music.

"Heavy compilation of hard to find Gospel 7"s. A meditation on mortality & the meaning of life.  Side A features some fairly lo-fi but intense & emotional performances.  Side B gets even more lo-fi, but also a bit more rocking.   Mostly guitar based ensembles & solo performers with the occasional sparse organ & drums.  Artists include Mira Jean Clark, Rev. R Henderson, the Whirlwinds, Ike Gordon, Bishop McDaniels & many more.  Comes with a bonus 7" featuring the amazing Ethel Proffit on guitar & vocals performing "Death is not the end" & "Life is a battle"!  One of our best compilations ever & not for the feint of heart. Old school "tip on" cover." - Mississippi. (note: the liners state Rev. Charlie Jackson may be the guitarist on the Ike Gordon track; I'd be very surprised if that's the case)

"The first stereo recordings of the Fiery choral sounds of Sacred Harp singing! Recorded by Alan Lomax at Corinth Baptist Church in 1959.  Over 300 singers performing shape note music, shaking the walls & doors.  Very intense and beautiful performances.  Liner notes by Nathan Salsburg with excerpts from essays by Alan Lomax. Limited one time pressing." - Mississippi

“We Juke Up in Here follows music producers Roger Stolle and Jeff Konkel as they explore what remains of Mississippi’s once-thriving juke joint culture.  The film is told largely from the vantage point of Red Paden, proprietor of the legendary Red’s Lounge in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  Paden, a true Delta character and jack-of-all-trades, has been running his blues and beer joint for more than 30 years – providing one of the region’s most reliable live blues venues and an authentic stage for a cavalcade of veteran blues performers, both legendary and obscure.  Featured artists include Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Big George Brock, Hezekiah Early, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, Robert Lee “Lil’ Poochie” Watson, Elmo Williams, and Louis “Gearshifter” Youngblood.  Told through live music performances, character-driven interviews, and rare on-camera blues experiences, We Juke Up in Here takes viewers below the surface of the quasi-legal world of real Delta jukes while it’s still living and breathing.

“We Juke Up In Here is a joint production of Broke & Hungry Records and Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art.  The project reunites the team that produced the award-winning 2008 blues film M for Mississippi. Includes deleted and extended scenes, artist biographies and a photo gallery.” – Three Forks  See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pb3lDkoqD4