Various Artists - Blues From Maxwell Street: Historic Recordings From 1960 and 1965 [CD]

Field recordings made in July 1960 by Paul Oliver and Donald R. Hill. This reissue has been extended to CD length by the inclusion of three singles, issued on Gray's eponymous label a few years later. The 45s and the LP are all scarce items, and this is a welcome release in the music collecting world. 

James Brewer plays very assured guitar on his arrangement of a Peetie Wheatstraw song. 

Daddy Stovepipe's simple, vigorous, understandably brief performances offer an interesting glimpse of a mostly non-blues repertoire. Stovepipe once remarked that 'Old Time Religion' would sell better than 'foxtrots and blues, adding that 'I've got blues but I don't like blues much. I don't like to play them. Them wine-heads ain't got nothing to give you. The white folks, that's where your money is.' 

King David (because he played on his harp) was Maxwell Street Jimmy's accompanist but is heard solo here. He was a disciple of John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson. Five tracks show what King David can do but he does it enjoyably, playing and singing with fervor and stomping an energetic foot. 

Blind Arvella Gray ticks a lot of romanticizing boxes, as a former hobo, gandy dancer, gambler, dope dealer and stickup artist. He was blinded and lost two fingers of his left hand when he was shot. His subsequent determination to survive on his own terms compels admiration - it's not hard to see why John Henry resonated strongly with him. His bottleneck guitar work was unsurprisingly simple. That said, these are forceful performances, which include some unusual images. BLUES FROM MAXWELL STREET is a vivid and valuable impression of what was going on at street level (literally) in 1960, and for a more rounded picture of Chicago blues, it's a necessary presence alongside the studio output of Chess, Vee-Jay Cobra and the like.

Track Listing

Daddy Stovepipe (Johnny Watson)
- South Of The Border
- Tennessee Waltz
- Old Time Religion
- The Monkey & The Baboon

James Brewer
- I'm So Glad Good Whiskey's Back

King David
- Fannie Mae
- Sugar Mama
- Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl
- .38 Pistol
- 44 Blues

Blind Arvella Gray
- Corinne, Corinna
- Have Mercy, Mr. Percy
- Railroad Worksongs & John Henry
- Have Mercy, Mr. Percy No. 2
- Freedom Riders
- Freedom Bus
- You Are My Dear
- Deborah
- John Henry
- The Walking Blues