VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60s Vol. 01, Dirty Work Going On [2020] + VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60's Vol. 02, If I Have to Wreck L.A. [2020]

BLUES KENT & MODERN

VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60s Vol. 01, Dirty Work Going On [2020] + VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60's Vol. 02,  If I Have to Wreck L.A. [2020]

VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60s Vol. 01, Dirty Work Going On [2020]

A 26-track CD compiled and annotated by noted blues authority Dick Shurman. This features nine artists who recorded for the Kent-Modern labels and contains material from the early to mid-60s. The songs are heavily influenced by the pacesetting presence of B.B. King, rhythm and blues, funk and social consciousness in the lyrics as the civil rights movement brought change and turbulence. There's some pretty rare stuff here, as most tracks are new to UK CD. Eight have only been released on limited editions of 300 by P-Vine in 1999, while seven are completely unreleased. Look out for a second volume later in the year. (Amazon)

VA - Kent & Modern Records Blues Into the 60's Vol. 02,  If I Have to Wreck L.A. [2020] 

The second of our compilations featuring the blues recordings the Bihari brothers made in the 1960's. The CD is centred around 11 sides from Willie Headen and Willie Garland. Willie Headen's Dootone sides have been well represented, but this time out his great Modern sides are featured. There are also seven outings for Long Gone Miles with George Smith featured on harmonica. The lesser-known 'Before Day (Big Mama's Blues)' from Willie Mae Thornton's Modern 45 kicks off with a great bit of chat form her, and a previously unknown Smokey Wilson track is also included. The compilation is rounded off by a terrific Model T Slim session produced by Bruce and Michael Bromberg. Of the 24 tracks, only six were released at the time. Eight came out on extremely limited edition P-Vine CD's at the turn of the century, while seven are previously unreleased. (Amazon)

Together, the two collections evoke a time and place that feel increasingly remote. When this music was created it was during a time of change, for the blues and for society, and the music and sociopolitical perspectives heard here are well worth a look back.

==========================================================

===========================================================

Track lists

CD1

01 Fillmore Slim Go Ahead (Take 3) 2:31

02 King Solomon New Figure 2:50

03 Little Joe Blue Understanding 2:20

04 T-Bone Walker Hey Hey Baby 2:23

05 Larry Davis It Can Only Hurt for So Long 2:30

06 Flash Terry On My Way Back Home (Alt) 2:44

07 King Solomon Please Mr President 3:27

08 T-Bone Walker Jealous Woman 2:33

09 Little Joe Blue Dirty Work Going On (Take 8) 2:41

10 King Solomon S K Blues 3:05

11 Larry Davis Something About You Baby (Take 7) 3:26

12 Fillmore Slim Fast Gun Annie 2:28

13 T-Bone Walker Should I Let Her Go 2:28

14 Stacy Johnson Consider Yourself (Extended) 3:48

15 Flash Terry One Thing We Know 2:56

16 King Solomon Let Me Be Your Eagle Baby (Take 1) 2:55

17 Big Jay McNeely Blues in G Minor (Blues Guitar) 1:57

18 T-Bone Walker Love Will Lead You Right 2:56

19 King Solomon Almost Midnight (Take 3) 3:05

20 Fillmore Slim Playboy (Underdub) 2:38

21 Little Joe Blue Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (Take 3) 3:03

22 Larry Davis Sweet Little Angel 3:23

23 B.B. King Down Now (Take 3) 3:07

24 Little Joe Blue Jimmy's Special 2:15

25 King Solomon Mr Bad Luck 3:22

26 Fillmore Slim Texas Queen (Underdub) 3:14

CD2

01 Willie Headen If I Have to Wreck LA (Take 1) 3:35

02 Willie Headen Mama Said (Take 3) 2:46

03 Willie Headen If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind (Take 5) 3:34

04 Willie Headen Hey Baby (Take 3) 3:32

05 Smokey Wilson You Told Me a Lie 4:19

06 Big Mama Thornton Before Day (Big Mama's Blues) 3:47

07 Long Gone Miles War Time Blues 3:13

08 Long Gone Miles Gotta Find My Baby 2:48

09 Long Gone Miles Little Sweet Thing (Take 4) 3:19

10 Willie Garland Black Widow Spider (Underdub with Alt Vocal) 3:05

11 Willie Garland Address in My Hand 2:37

12 Willie Garland Soul Blues 3:05

13 Willie Headen You're Too Cold (Take 1) 3:00

14 Willie Headen Hot Wire Baby (Take 2) 3:55

15 Willie Headen Baby You're Wrong (Take 6) 2:59

16 Willie Headen If I Have to Wreck LA (Take 6) 3:59

17 Model T Slim Somebody's Done Hoodooed the Hoodoo Man 2:39

18 Model T Slim Christine 3:14

19 Model T Slim Baby Don't Tear My Clothes 2:13

20 Long Gone Miles Rocks in My Pillow (Take 4) 3:36

21 Long Gone Miles Let Me Play with Your Poodle (Take 2) 2:01

22 Long Gone Miles Low Down Dirty Shame (Take 4) 3:14

23 Long Gone Miles Miss Nella Belle 3:29

24 Lowell Fulson Blues Pain 4:40

=============================================================

=============================================================