RST

RST
	Artist Title: Label: Format: Price:	St. Louis Jimmy Oden 1932-1948 RST LP $12
Warm and inviting blues from the great St. Louis Jimmy Oden, who is perhaps best remembered these days as the composer “Going Down Slow,” which became a standard recorded by Howlin’ Wolf and many others. On this LP, Oden is often accompanied on piano by Roosevelt Sykes and his vocal delivery provides a reflective, end-of-the-night vibe, which is one that frequently resonates with me these days. On a couple tracks there is nice accompaniment from an unknown violinist, somewhat in the Mississippi Sheiks style; indeed “Six Feet in the Ground” is to the tune of “Sitting on Top of the World”. The two songs with Muddy Waters and His Blues Combo (circa 1948) are also standouts, with Muddy taking some barbed, honey-bee style guitar solos. Limited stock. Track Listing: Patrol Wagon Blues Warning Spirit Blues My Dream Blues Six Feet in the Ground Pipe Layin’ Blues Some Sweet Day Silk Worm Blues The Road to Ruin Thick and Thin Come Day Go Day Lost Ball Blues St. Louis Woman Blues Can’t Stand Your Evil Ways My Story Blues Florida Hurricane So Nice and Kind
	Artist Title: Label: Format: Price:	Sloppy Henry Complete Recordings in Chronological Order (1924-1929) RST LP $10
To be upfront about it, I'm predisposed to like a guy called Sloppy Henry who sings songs with titles like "Long, Tall, Disconnected Mama". Be that as it may, the reasons that I enjoy the work of Mr. Henry don't end with the labels of his records. Waymon "Sloppy" Henry was a singer who had a background in vaudeville and recorded several 78s from 1924-'29. Approximately half of his discography consists of fine blues songs where he's backed by the piano of Eddie Heywood. He also cut a few sides with Peg Leg Howell on guitar and great sawing violin from Eddie Anthony that are among my favorite prewar blues tunes. "Say I Do It" is particularly noteworthy: "Pete run with Mose because he powdered his nose and even wore ladies' hose...Say I do it, ain't nobody seen me, you sure got to prove it 'bout me..." Mr. Henry could also be a remarkably wistful singer, giving as much melancholy feeling to "Some Sweet Rainy Day" as he does to "The Best Cheap Car in the Market is a Ford". The subject matter of the lattermost number might not jibe with the usual 21st century picture of a bluesman, (the piano and cornet accompaniment probably doesn't, either) but I can't say that hinders my enjoyment of the song. Some of the source 78s are pretty rough on this one (conveniently, all on side A), so a couple bucks have been knocked off our usual mark-up, giving a bit more incentive to pick up on the sounds of Sloppy Henry. Track listing: Tom Cat Rag Cannon Ball Blues Foggy Morning Blues Bobbed Haired Woman Blues Traveling Blues Goose-Pecked Man Alias Charley Jones Blues Run Away Blues Canned Heat Blues (with Peg Leg Howell) Say I Do It (with Peg Leg Howell) Long, Tall, Disconnected Mama (with Peg Leg Howell) Royal Palm Special Blues (with Peg Leg Howell) Hobo Blues The Best Cheap Car in the Market is a Ford Jomo Man Blues Some Sweet Rainy Day