John Brim – The Chronological John Brim 1950-1953 – Classics 5086

Here’s a phenomenal collection for fans of tough post-war Chicago blues to sink their teeth into, one with many of Brim’s best-known blues, plus a number of rarities, as well.  But as an overview of Brim’s terrific work, this one’s hard to beat.

Brim made his way to Chicago in 1945 from Indianapolis, Indiana, married his drummer wife, Grace, two years later, and began his recording career with a small Detroit label named Fortune Records with the stellar blues piano man Big Maceo lending support.

In Chicago, Brim recorded for a number of labels including Random, Parrot, JOB, and Chess (Checker). 

This collection finds rarities such as tunes with Brim’s wife Grace at the microphone including “Strange Man,” “Mean Man Blues,” “Going Down The Line,” “Leaving Daddy Blues,” “Man Around My Door” and “Hospitality Blues,” cuts that include blues piano giants Roosevelt Sykes and Sunnyland Slim on piano.

Interesting and timeless Chicago blues also cohabitate easily here.  Whiles “Humming Blues” is a very interesting selection that includes an intense wordless group vocal backdrop, with Chicago blues piano patriarch Sunnyland Slim and bassist Moody Jones lending support, while “(You Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Rattlesnake” is a tough timeless Chicago outing with blues harmonica phenom Little Walter plying his considerable harmonica proficiencies, paired with Willie Dixon’s always-solid bass work.

Of course, no summary of Brim’s work would be complete without “Ice Cream Man,” again with Little Walter wailing superb blues harmonica phrases.  Of course, rockers Van Halen took this Brim masterwork and made a fortune from it.

“Tough Times” is a tremendous Brim commentary on economic conditions, one that endures as the years move forward; it is timeless in its message.

And, “Gary Stomp” is a raucous instrumental workout, something very rare for Brim, a rocking excursion in honor of his then hometown of Gary, Indiana.  The blues giant Jimmy Reed plays harmonica on this track.

Brim’s voice is always assured without any unnecessary bombastic qualities, and his guitar is workmanlike and ultimately durable in all the ideal ways.

Across the panorama of this collection, a host of Chicago’s top-flight blues artists contribute to Brim’s magnificent output, indicating Brim’s high notoriety, including the aforementioned Sunnyland Slim, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Roosevelt Sykes, Moody Jones, Willie Dixon, and Grace Brim, plus additional top-name musicians such as bassist Ernest “Big” Crawford, drummers Alfred Wallace, Elga Edmonds, and Fred Below, guitarists Louis Myers and Eddie Taylor, and saxophone man Ernest Cotton, among many others.

Yes, this collection leaves out “I Would Hate To See You Go (Be Careful),” a song that was a hit for rockers The J. Gels Band, and “You Got Me Where You Want Me,” but nonetheless this is a solid introduction to the breadth of Brim’s living catalogue of first-rate Chicago blues.

The picture below of Curt and John Brim was taken in South Bend, Indiana.

Below are the unparalleled tracks of this CD.

Song Titles

• Strange Man
• Mean Man Blues
• Dark Clouds
• Lonesome Man Blues
• Going Down The Line
• Leaving Daddy Blues
• Young And Wild
• I Love My Baby
• Trouble In The Morning
• Humming Blues
• Man Around My Door
• Hospitality Blues
• Hard Pill To Swallow
• Drinking Woman
• Don’t Leave Me (No Name Blues)
• Moonlight Blues
• (You Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Rattlesnake
• It Was A Dream
• Lifetime Baby
• Ice Cream Man
• Tough Times
• Gary Stomp

This is indeed an extremely essential CD!