Post Description

The serious blues collectors out there probably have most, if not all, of these performances from 1934-1947 on other albums in their music libraries, but the overall quality of the selections on OKeh Chicago Blues, not to mention the outstanding liner notes by Jim O'Neal, still makes this compilation a worthwhile item to own. Columbia Records engaged in its last significant vinyl reissue campaign during the early 1980s, resulting in this fine two-LP set among many other titles that concentrated on vintage material. After the compact disc became the standard format for music in the mid 1980s, several of these tracks later appeared on releases in Columbia's excellent Roots N' Blues series.Named after the initials of its founder, Otto K.E. Heinemann, OKeh (pronounced "o-kay") Records debuted in 1918 and earned its place in history as the first label to have a race hit, vaudevillian Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues" in 1920. In 1926, after having released many notable early blues, jazz, and country sides, its controlling interest was acquired by Columbia. By 1935, the Great Depression caused the imprint to be put on hiatus, but it was resurrected during the 1940-1946 period as an outlet for Chicago blues recordings. All of the material on this double album was produced by Lester Melrose, who often leased artists with whom he had signed management contracts to competing labels. For example, music buyers were as likely to find Melrose-associated entertainers making records for Decca as they were for RCA Bluebird. Since the sides featured here were originally released not only on OKeh, but on Vocalion and Columbia as well, a more appropriate title would have been Lester Melrose's Chicago Blues, although it doesn't have quite the same cachet. The producer-manager was also known for recording blues musicians in a small group format, regardless of their performing styles. By the late 1930s, many of these ensembles included rhythm sections with bass and drums, which would become a defining characteristic of postwar Chicago blues in the late 1940s and 1950s. Melrose's innovations, however, were viewed by some as influences that diluted and homogenized the music, resulting in somewhat formulaic releases. Although blues from the Windy City did become more rhythmically compelling after the establishment of notable new bloods such as Muddy Waters in the postwar years, Melrose's contributions to the genre still should not be discounted, if for no other reason, due to the impressive roster of artists whom he managed and recorded.

1. Good Doing Daddy (previously unissued) - Big Boy Teddy Edwards
2. Hollywood Stomp - Victoria Spivey & Her Chicago Four
3. Blues and Trouble (previously unissued) - Curtis Jones
4. Brownskin Woman Swing - Roosevelt Scott
5. Miss Ora Lee Blues - Peter Chatman & His Washboard Band
6. Born for Bad Luck - Brownie McGhee
7. Weed Head Woman - Champion Jack Dupree
8. 15 Cents a Day - Roosevelt Sykes (The Honey Dripper)
9. Crawlin' King Snake - Tony Hollins
10. Confessin' the Blues - Peter Cleighton
11. I Am Sailin' (previously unissued) - Memphis Minnie
12. Just Had to Holler (previously unissued) - Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars)
13. I Can't Write (previously unissued) - Big Bill & His Rhythm Band
14. Bad Whiskey Blues (previously unissued) - The Yas Yas Girl (Merline Johnson)
15. Tennessee Woman Blues (previously unissued) - Johnny Shines
16. Delta Pine Blues (previously unissued) - Johnny Shines
17. Ride, Ride Mama (previously unissued) - Johnny Shines
18. Evil-Hearted Woman Blues (previously unissued) - Johnny Shines
19. Jitterbug Blues (previously unissued) - Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield)
20. Hard Day Blues (previously unissued) - Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield)
21. Burying Ground Blues (previously unissued) - Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield)
22. P Vine Blues - Big Joe Williams
23. Bad and Weak Hearted Blues (previously unissued) - Big Joe Williams
24. King Biscuit Stomp - Big Joe Williams
25. I'm a Highway Man - Big Joe Williams
26. Banta Rooster Blues - Big Joe Williams
27. Mean Step Father Blues (previously unissued) - Big Joe Williams
28. House Lady Blues - Big Joe Williams
29. Don't You Leave Me Here - Big Joe Williams

Genre: Blues
Style: Country Blues, Chicago Blues, Piedmont Blues
Year: 1982