Red River Blues Various Artists (Ram Records)

£11.50

Genre:
Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 725

The Ram Series continues with a fine collection of blues and R&B recordings, highlighted by the complete sessions of the late Jeff (Sonny Boy) Williamson - the only known recording of this Louisiana harp player.

The tiny Shreveport Ram label was the brainchild of the late Myra Smith who, in the mid-50s, recorded country rockabilly and blues at her tiny handbuilt studio. Myra was also a brilliant guitarist who played old-time Carlton family-style guitar and loved downhome blues. On many of her sessions she would turn the tape machine on and then step out into the studio and play on the sessions.

Strapped for money, she was not able to release all her masters on singles and in the 60s she gave up the Ram label to concentrate on publishing and songwriting with her partner, Margaret Lewis. The pair set up operation in Nashville making demos, including the big hit Reconsider Me for Shelby Singleton.

This latest volume of the Ram story, Red River Blues, concentrates on the blues and R&B sessions that she produced in the late 50s and early 60s with artists such as Jeff (Sonny Boy) Williamson, TV Slim, Elgie Brown and Vincent Williams. These masters were the fruits of my research at Shreveport several years ago. They add to our knowledge of Shreveport blues, whose history goes back to the early days of blues recording, when the city produced such greats as Leadbelly, the Shreveport Homewreckers and Black Ivory King.

Forthcoming CDs in this series will deal with rockabilly and hillbilly, and the rocking girls at Ram who performed at the world famous Louisiana Hay Ride which broadcast out of Shreveport. Through the 50s the Hay Ride helped to establish the careers of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Horton.

The Myra Smith Ram legacy rolls on and her part in the indie story is assured.

By Ray Topping

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Mailman Mailman - Sonny Boy Williamson

  • 02 Preview Pretty Lil Thing - Sonny Boy Williamson

  • 03 Preview I Gotta Cry - Sonny Boy Williamson

  • 04 Preview You Better Sit Down - Sonny Boy Williamson

  • 05 Preview Lee Street Blues - June 'Bug' Bailey

  • 06 Preview Gimmie Gimmie - Elgie Brown

  • 07 Preview Rushin' - Banny Price

  • 08 Preview You'll Be Back - Elgie Brown

  • 09 Preview Let Me Feel It - Elgie Brown

  • 10 Preview The Fight - T V Slim with Eddie Williams

  • 11 Preview Goin To Calif - T V Slim with Eddie Williams

  • 12 Preview The Fight - T V Slim

  • 13 Preview Darling Remember - T V Slim

  • 14 Preview Flat Foot Sam - T V Slim & His Heartbreakers

  • 15 Preview Darling Remember - T V Slim & His Heartbreakers

  • 16 Preview Hey Pretty Baby - Sherman (Blues) Johnson

  • 17 Preview Something's Wrong Baby - Little Melvin Underwood

  • 18 Preview Little Melvin's Gonna Move - Little Melvin Underwood

  • 19 Preview Tryin' To Make A Fool Of Me - Vincent Williams

  • 20 Preview Going Back To Chicago - Vincent Williams

  • 21 Preview Don't Play No Woman For No Fool - L C Steel

  • 22 Preview Hot Tamales & Bar-B-Que - Chico Chism & His Jetanairs

  • 23 Preview Romp & Stomp - Chico Chism & Jerry & Garland

  • 24 Preview Watch Out - Jesse Thomas

  • 25 Preview My Baby - Jesse Thomas

  • 26 Preview Anything You Want - Jesse Thomas

  • 27 Preview Guitar Riff - Jesse Thomas

  • 28 Preview Everything I Do For You - Jesse Thomas

Delivery & Returns

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We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

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You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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