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Was Junior Wells really the Godfather of Soul in addition to being the Godfather of the Blues? He once said that James Brown stole his act, and while James Brown developed it to a degree Junior Wells never did, they both had the same kind of approach to music and “on the 1” personalities, so I think it’s a credible statement. I saw this late ’50s performance of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” that made me think it just might be true.
If you haven’t heard the story about Junior Wells explaining to a judge why he had to have his first harmonica, check this out.
Junior Wells was recorded for the first time when he replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters’ band in 1952. In 1953, he made his first records as a leader.
Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Louis Myers play on the 1953-54 Willie Dixon-produced recording, Blues Hit Big Town, which was released in 1977 under Junior Wells’ name. The first six songs were recorded on June 8, 1953, with Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica), Elmore James (guitar), Dave Myers (guitar, electric bass), Johnnie Jones (piano), Willie Dixon (bass), Odie Payne (drums). The rest of the songs (a few more are on the album than are represented on YouTube playlist) were recorded on April 15, 1954, by Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica), Muddy Waters, Louis Myers (guitar), Otis Spann (piano), Willie Dixon (bass), Fred Below (drums).
Throughout his career, Junior Wells performed and recorded with many other guitarists, including Sammy Lawhorn, Louis Myers, Byther Smith and Phil Guy. He had a longstanding partnership with Buddy Guy, from 1965 until his death in 1992. Before this, he performed and recorded with Earl Hooker in the mid-late ’50s. (His last solo record Come On In This House featured six guest guitarists.)
The Earl Hooker and Junior Wells Band, mid-late 1950s. This is the only album that captures their collaboration; there aren’t any films or live recordings, but they were a regular unit in the late ’50s into the early ’60s (I don’t even know the duration of their partnership but would like to, if you have any info, please comment). They recorded the first version of “Messin’ With the Kid.”
The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band opens up vol. 1 of the highly influential Sam Charters-produced 3-album series Chicago / The Blues / Today! with five songs. This was the first time Buddy Guy and Junior Wells recorded together (recorded 1965, released 1966). J.B. Hutto and the Hawks and Otis Spann’s South Side Piano round out vol. 1.
In the ’60s-early ’70s, most rock collections contained at least one of these three. I had vol. 2, which was my introduction to Otis Rush. Currently available as 3-CD set and MP3s.Hoodoo Man Blues, 1965, followed soon after (on Delmark). Buddy Guy used a Leslie speaker from an organ on this whole record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TeWyFhN8vEPLAYLIST
The playlist isn’t ordered/notated as well as I would have liked, but I loaded it with strong live performances with good sound and some of my personal favorites (like his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason”). I hope you enjoy it.On the first video on the playlist, Otis Rush backs him up on “Hoodoo Man Blues” at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1966.
The second through the fourth videos were filmed at Theresa’s (South Side Chicago nightclub). Check out the timing and interaction, especially on the third video on the playlist, just labeled “Junior Wells Buddy Guy.” You’ve heard people say “What you don’t play is as important as what you do play”? That’s really evident here in the way Junior enforces a rest on Buddy in “Country Girl” (song is on It’s My Life Baby! ).
It’s My Life Baby! (1966) features live performances from Pepper’s Lounge on Chicago’s South Side as well as studio tracks; recorded with Buddy Guy, Walter Beasley (guitars), Leroy Stewart (bass), Fred Below or Little Al (drums). This is my favorite, I think, but it’s hard to say it’s better than any of the others.
The ninth video is one I always go back to. Titled “Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Blues Band Newport Folk Festival, 1968,” there’s something really nice about it.
Southside Blues Jam (songs 42-49, recorded December 1969, January 1970).
Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Play the Blues (1972), number 50 on the playlist; Eric Clapton and Jay Geils and some other rockers are guests on this album (click on title to see personnel breakdown).
Messin’ With the Blues, concert footage from 1974, Montreux. This is the concert film that “Messin’ With the Kid,” “Ten Years Ago” “Mystery Train,” “Hoodoo Man Blues” and “Hoochie Coochie Man” came from (on playlist, numbers 11-16).
Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Alone & Acoustic (1981) is just what it sounds like. “Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” (of course) “Big Boat” and “High-Heeled Sneakers” are my favorites.
This Arlen Roth-produced instructional video is as much about Junior Wells’ philosophy of music as technique (although he goes into that, too), so it should be of interest to any musician, but especially blues harp players. Looks like late ’80s-early ’90s.
Here’s a useful Buddy Guy discography, but I couldn’t locate a similar one for Junior Wells.
*************** GITTAR AND HARP SLINGERS ***************
This short playlist includes Robert Nighthawk, Muddy Waters and Elmore James (playing what I’m thinking would be their less-well-known songs, if there are such things—pretty sure every song here is someone’s favorite) as well as Chuck Berry’s first big hit (for its opening 4 seconds) and several other people on their level, but focuses primarily on people you might not have otherwise heard (about a dozen HAVE previously appeared in an OBR). The “big names” are included for context, but there are many, many heavy-hitters who anyone can say I should have included but didn’t (we all know Earl Hooker, Freddie King, Hound Dog Taylor and Albert King were monsters who could penetrate armor with their playing). I may end up adding them, but for now, I’m more interested in introducing some different people.
By the way, Lil’ Son Jackson’s “Rockin’ & Rollin’” from 1950 is the first recording of “Rock Me, Baby” (number 35 on playlist).
Doc Terry’s “Running Blues” ends the playlist on what sounds to me like a different note from the rest of it.
Many, many thanks to El Pauling for this tremendous blues harp collection!
*************** LAFAYETTE THOMAS ***************
Lafayette “The Thing” Thomas would fit right in on the playlist above, some of his hits would for sure, but the first time I heard him, his playing was so much more subtle. He appeared “out of nowhere” on the Little Brother Montgomery half of a double-record set, Urban Blues (other record was Roosevelt Sykes, that’s who I bought it for). When Little Brother’s album was first released in 1961, it was called Tasty Blues (see songs 30-33 for a sampling). I like everything he does and have been meaning to put a playlist together for some time.
Someone mentioned that his “Cockroach Run” (second song on playlist, 1955) was probably the inspiration for Link Wray’s “Rumble” from 1958 (I used the turnaround from “Cockroach Run” for the basis of the turnaround in a couple passes of my recent take on EP182).
*************** ETC. ***************
I’m sorry I haven’t made my way to all of you to comment on you January Challenge songs. I am aiming to correct that before long.
I welcome your comments and suggestions. Watch this space for part 3 of the Muddy Waters Blues Roots.
Don D.
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