Memphis Slim: Worried Life Blues-Quadromania Jazz Edition

Read About This Recording

One of the most significant and prolific of blues pianists, Memphis Slim developed his own style early on. He was born as Peter Chatman in Memphis in 1915, adopting the name of Memphis Slim from the start of his career. Influenced by Roosevelt Sykes, Slim was an original by the time he made his first recordings and was always a personable and effective singer.

After freelancing in the South, he moved to Chicago in the late 1930s, began recording as a leader in 1940, frequently worked with guitarist Big Bill Broonzy and led the House Rockers in the late 1940s. He introduced Everyday I Have The Blues years before Joe Williams had it as a hit with Count Basie, and adapted his style successfully to the changing musical trends of the 1950s. Slim toured Europe with bassist Willie Dixon in 1960, liked the atmosphere and in 1962 permanently moved to Paris. He continued staying very busy performing the music he loved up until the time of his death in 1988.

Worried Life Blues is a four-CD set that features Memphis Slim at several different periods in his career. The first disc has his earliest recordings as a leader from 1940-41, often-rollicking performances that sometimes include Jazz Gillum on harmonica and the washboard of Washboard Sam. The selections include Diggin' My Potatoes No. 2, Blues At Midnight and the hit Grinder Man Blues.

The second CD features Memphis Slim during 1948-50 when he led his House Rockers, a group that included altoist Alex Atkins and either Ernest Cotton or Timothy Overton on tenor. The band lives up to its name. The third disc is from Jan. 16, 1961, a lowdown blues set that sometimes has Slim joined by Jazz Gillum and guitarist Arbee Stidham. The final CD dates from 1969-75 and features Memphis Slim still in prime form in Paris, clearly enjoying himself.

Listeners and blues fans will have no difficulty enjoying this wide-ranging and historic package which, although spanning 35 years, has a consistent unity in its joyful performances. Highly recommended.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Imported from Europe!

Remastered!

CD 1 (TT: 70:48): Blues at Midnight; Diggin' My Potatoes No. 2; The Jive Blues; Last Pair of Shoes Blues; Miss Ora Lee Blues; Blue Evening Blues; Beer Drinking Woman; You Didn't Mean Me No Good; Grinder Man Blues; Empty Room Blues; Shelby County Blues; I See My Great Mistake; Old Taylor; I Believe I'll Settle Down; Jasper's Gal; You Got to Help Me Some; Two of a Kind; Whiskey Store Blues; Maybe I'll Loan You a Dime; Me, Myself and I; You Gonna Worry Too; This Life I'm Living; Caught the Old Coon at Last; Lend Me Your Love.

CD 2 (TT: 63:32): Midnight Jump; Messin' Around; Lovin' Man Blues; Lonesome; You and I; Timsy's Whimsy; Frisco Bay; Restless Nights; If You Live That Life; Love at Sight; Jumping Bean; A Letter Home; Grinder Man Blues; Slim's Boogie; Mistake in Life; The Girl I Love; Mean Little Woman; Slim's Blues; Having Fun; Flock Rocker; I Guess I'm a Fool; Really Got the Blues; Mother Earth.

CD 3 (TT: 42:57): Worried Life Blues; I Don't Want My Rooster Crowin' After the Sun Goes Down; Lonesome in My Bedroom; Diggin' My Potatoes; In the Evenin'; I Feel So Good; Rockin' Chair Blues; Baby Gone; Cow Cow Blues; Miss IDA B.; Forty-Four Blues; Trouble in Mind.

CD 4 (TT: 51:54): Bye Bye Will Be on My Way; Letter Home; Memphis Slim USA; Born With the Blues; Rocking the House; I Wanna Dance; Coco Boogie; Fat Cat; Chunkin'; Lonely Nights; Walk On; Pretending I'm Happy; The Natural Fact; Blues Universal; She's Gone for Twelve Shoes; My Walking Shoes; When I'm Gone; T.W.A.

Memphis Slim, Vocals/Piano; Alex Atkins, Alto Sax; Ernest Cotton, Timothy Overton, Tenor Saxes; Leroy Bachelor, Alfred Elkins, Big Crawford, Betty Overton, Basses; Washboard Sam, Washboard; Lillie Mae Kirkman, Vocals; Jazz Gillum, Vocals/Harmonica; Arbee Stidham, Vocals/Guitar; Leon Hooper, Drums; Peter Chatman & His Washboard Band; The House Rockers.