Smokey Wilson – Round Like An Apple: The Big Town Recordings 1977-1978 – Ace Records CDCHD 1123

In 1970, after the death of his mother, Smokey Wilson left the U.S. South and made his way westward to Los Angeles, CA.  Wilson was confident that the blues-loving people of California would value and embrace his brand of genuine Mississippi blues.  It wasn’t long before Wilson was a fixture at the big city’s many joints.  Soon, however, Wilson yearned for a musical home base of his own.  After becoming a part owner of a blues club named The Casino Club, he eventually sold his share in the business, and in 1972 bought The Pioneer Club in the Watts area of southern Los Angeles.  The venue was situated at the corner of 88^th and Vermont, a building that had the joint’s name in large block and script lettering diagonally across the totality of the structure’s front.  For over 20 years, Wilson held court at his club.  Besides using it as the home base for his performing, nearly every blues artist on the Los Angeles landscape, young and old, made the night spot their adopted home.  Blues giants the likes of Pee Wee Crayton, Percy Mayfield, Albert Collins, and Big Joe Turner performed at the club amidst its vibrant atmosphere.  Blues harmonica giants George “Harmonica” Smith and Shakey Jake and were also regulars, as were younger blues up-and-comers such as blues guitar sensation Hollywood Fats and the brilliant blues harmonica wizard William Clarke. 

This 2006 17-song compilation includes five never-before released selections, with ten being Wilson originals, and the remaining sides being very tasty covers of works by Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Howlin’ Wolf, Roy Brown, Tampa Red, Little Johnny Taylor, Elmore James, and one tune penned by record executive Herman Lubinsky.

In both 1977 and 1978, Wilson recorded collections for the Bihari brothers’ (Lester, Jules, Saul, and Joe) Big Town label, those albums being entitled Blowin’ Smoke and Smokey Wilson Sings The Blues.  Simply, the excellent cuts on this enhanced CD represent an important aspect of Wilson’s career long before he would enjoy a more mainstream awareness in the blues realm, and comprise an essential component of understanding his early career and how it played a role in his rising star years down the road.

Below are the tracks from this highly recommended compilation, one your collection would profit from!