Arhoolie Presents American Masters, Vol. 8: 15 Piano Blues & Boogie Classics

by 15 Piano Blues & Boogie Classics / Various

Overview

For Volume Eight of its American Masters budget series, Arhoolie tackles the "blues piano" theme, with a crushing emphasis on the boogie-woogie styles of various Chicago, Kansas City, Texas, Louisiana, and Delta players. The pacing of this album does get predictable after a while (fast boogie, slow blues, fast boogie, slow blues...), but there's so much stylistic diversity here that the formula never gets tiresome. Producer Chris Strachwitz wisely avoids instrumental overkill (the trademark of most blues piano anthologies) by including several outstanding vocal performances by the likes of Mercy Dee Walton, Omar Sharriff, Johnny Young (who duets with Otis Spann), and Clifton Chenier (backed by Elmore Nixon). But in the end, the speed demons get to flaunt plenty of their pounding instrumental fare -- the main culprits being Pete Johnson, Big Joe Duskin, Katie Webster, and Lafayette Leake. This is a no-frills package (no liner notes whatsoever and minimal track info), but the music is without a doubt spectacular. ~ Ken Chang

Product Details

Release Date:	02/25/1997
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297010822

Tracks

1. Dollar Bill Boogie  - Big Joe Duskin
2. Have You Ever Been Out in the Country  - Mercy Dee
3. Whistling Alex Moore's Blues  - Alexander Herman Moore  - Whistlin' Alex Moore
4. Moaning and Groaning  - Otis Spann  - Johnny Young
5. Katie's Boogie Woogie  - Katie Webster
6. Cruel Hearted Woman  - Thunder Smith
7. The Ma Grinder  - Robert Shaw
8. Why Did You Go Last Night?  - Clifton Chenier  - Elmore Nixon
9. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie  - Pinetop Perkins  - L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson  - Pinetop Smith
10. San Francisco Can Be Such a Lonely Town  - Omar Shariff
11. Rocket Boogie "88", Pt. 1  - Pete Johnson
12. Sugar Hill (Pt. 1)  - Booker T. Washington White  - Bukka White
13. You Ain't Got a Chance  - Willie Perryman  -  Piano Red
14. Cold Chills  - Henry Gray  -  Piano Red
15. On the Spot Boogie  - Lafayette Leake  - Charlie Musselwhite

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Omar Shariff   Primary Artist
L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson   Primary Artist
Piano Red   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Henry Gray   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Big Joe Duskin   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Lafayette Leake   Primary Artist,Piano
Elmore Nixon   Primary Artist,Piano
Charlie Musselwhite   Primary Artist,Vocals,Harmonica
Robert Shaw   Primary Artist
Whistlin' Alex Moore   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Johnny Young   Primary Artist
Pete Johnson   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Pinetop Perkins   Primary Artist,Piano
Katie Webster   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Mercy Dee   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Mercy Dee Walton   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Otis Spann   Primary Artist,Piano
Thunder Smith   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Bukka White   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Clifton Chenier   Primary Artist,Vocals,Accordion

Technical Credits

Thunder Smith   Performer,Composer
Tom Diamant   Editing,Producer
Bukka White   Composer,Performer
Dix Bruce   Design,Artwork,Photography
Clifton Chenier   Composer,Performer
Elmore Nixon   Composer,Performer
L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson   Performer,Composer
Wayne Pope   Design,Cover Design
Alexander Herman Moore   Composer
Booker T. Washington White   Composer
Chris Stracbwitz   Editing,Producer
Piano Red   Composer,Performer
Pinetop Smith   Composer
Henry Gray   Composer
Big Joe Duskin   Composer,Performer
Chris Strachwitz   Editing,Producer,Cover Photo
Lafayette Leake   Composer,Performer
Willie Perryman   Composer
Charlie Musselwhite   Composer,Performer
Robert Shaw   Composer,Performer
Whistlin' Alex Moore   Composer
Johnny Young   Composer,Performer
Pete Johnson   Composer,Performer
Pinetop Perkins   Performer
Katie Webster   Composer,Performer
Mercy Dee   Composer,Performer,Cover Photo,Photography
Omar Shariff   Composer
Otis Spann   Composer,Performer