Last Week's Recording Reviews

Essential Blues Recording

Pee Wee Crayton – Groundbreaking West Coast Electric Guitar Inventions

Pee Wee Crayton – The Modern Legacy Volume 1 – Ace Records CDCHD 632

23 glorious cuts of innovative west coast blues! Crayton’s was an impeccable blend of touch, tone, and the dualities of restraint and energy, all infused with the resonance of blues guitar master T-Bone Walker looming in the background. But, make no mistake, Crayton was never an imitator; no, these selections reveal a master at work, and whether it’s blues, ballads, boogies, or pure instrumentals, Crayton’s musical revelations stand firm upon their own distinguished virtues!

Culled from Modern label sides from the 1948-1951 era, these are Los Angeles blues worthy of the highest accolades. Sure, some way-too-deep-in-the-blues-weeds enthusiasts will grumble that only roughly 50% of what is offered here originally emerged as single releases, with the remainder not made available until into the 1980s and 1990s. These same complainers will bemoan that “I Love You So,” Crayton’s greatest Modern release isn’t found here, but they’re not getting “it.”

The initially released selections and later-released sides found across the landscape of this amazing Crayton anthology provide unequivocal testimony to his elevation to the higher stratus of blues artists, and that he was significantly responsible, as were others at the time, of taking early electric blues and raising and melding it into a firmer R&B format.

Crayton was always a formidable singer and songwriter; without exception. However, what really cooks throughout this collection is his combustible guitar stylings. There is no doubt that Crayton could fashion and deploy astounding single-string guitar soloing attacks, but when coupled with his sweet, flaming, and rapid placement of jazz-infused chords, he altered the way blues artists operated. It brought the electric style of playing forward in a major way, and Crayton’s ambitious style ushered in a flamboyant framework.

Blazing fiery instrumentals abound; one listen to “Pee Wee’s Wild” will leave the listener frenzied and exhausted! Crayton’s solo outlines presented and achieved new cascades of sound.

Overall, what this amazing collection yet again brings to the fore is that Crayton was a true blues guitar innovator.

Below are the astounding tracks of this superlative collection.

Song Titles

Texas Hop
Central Avenue Blues
Bounce Pee Wee
T For Texas (Mistreated Blues)
Rosa Lee
Blues After Hours
I’m Still In Love With You
Pee Wee’s Boogie
Louella Brown
From Blues To Boogie
Please Come Back
Rock Island Blues
Rockin’ The Blues
Change Your Way Of Lovin’
Pee Wee’s Wild
Black Gal
Boogie Woogie Upstairs
When Darkness Falls
Bop Hop
My Everything
Blues For My Baby
Tired Of Travelin’
Austin Boogie

This is an essential blues document for any serious collection!

Prior Essential Review Links

Junior Wells – A Working Modern Chicago Blues Band Captured

Various Blues Artists – Chicago Blues Mastery

John Lee Hooker – The Early Best From The Blues Boogie Man

Buddy Guy – Chicago Blues Legend At His Best

Jimmy Dawkins – A West Side Chicago Blues Master Roars

Fenton Robinson – Chicago Blues, Mellow And Versatile

Jimmy Johnson – Singular Blues Sound All His Own

Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers – Raw, Rough, And Gritty Chicago Blues

Lightnin’ Hopkins – Houston’s Master Blues Storyteller

Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell – Chicago Blues Harmonica Master And Disciple Forge Creative Brilliance

Albert Collins – Collins’ Delivers On His First Alligator Records Label Release

The Johnny Shines Band – Post-War Blues Virtuoso At The Height Of His Abilities

Various Artists – Astonishing Post-War Chicago Blues

Reverend Gary Davis – Astounding Blues, Gospel, And Ragtime Without Equal

Carey Bell – Chicago Blues Harmonica Giant Carrying The Torch Forward

Lazy Lester – Swamp Blues By One Of The Genre’s Legendary Masters

Sonny Boy Williamson – Chicago Blues Harmonica Titan Delivers Via His First Full-Length Collection

Byther Smith – Tough Unyielding Chicago Blues

Various Artists – A Pre-War Delta Blues Necessity

Blind Lemon Jefferson – Pre-War Texas Blues Guitar Giant’s Sterling Output

Floyd Jones – Chicago Bluesman Deserving Of Higher Esteem

Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee Williamson) – Revolutionary Blues Harmonica Giant’s Earliest Recordings

Little Walter – Chicago Blues Harmonica Titan’s Best

Johnny Young – Classic Chicago Blues The Wholly Satisfies

Johnny B. Moore – Chicago Blues Of The 1980s And 1990s That Stand The Test Of Time

Washboard Sam – Washboard Blues By The Instrument’s Master

Peetie Wheatstraw – The Devil’s Son-In-Law’s Earliest Blues

Buddy Guy – Guy Imparts His Blues On An Eager South Side Chicago Audience

The Aces – Legendary Chicago Blues Band Delivers

Furry Lewis – Blues By The Memphis Blues Ambassador

Lightning Hopkins – Texas Blues King’s Extremely Magnificent Work

R.L. Burnside – Mississippi Blues At Its Maximum Potency

Muddy Waters – Unparalleled Chicago Blues By The Master

Howlin’ Wolf – A Blues Force Of Nature

Big Bill Broonzy – Celebrated Chicago Bluesman’s Sensational Earliest Recorded Output

Various Artists – Astounding Early Delta Blues

Robert Johnson – The Delta Blues Legend’s Complete Recorded Works

Blind Blake – Elite Blues Fingerpicker Steeped in Jazz And Ragtime Influences

Roosevelt Sykes – Sykes’ High-Level Ensemble Work

Freddy King – The Leading Blues Guitar Instrumentalist

Various Artists – Barrelhouse Blues 1927-1936 – Ten-Year Glimpse Into Extraordinary Early Blues Piano

John Lee Hooker – Hooker At His Early Rawest

Bukka White – Muscular Acoustic Blues That Astounds

Blind Willie McTell – Compelling And Nimble Piedmont Style-Based Blues

Jimmy Rogers – Rogers Establishes Himself As A Major Bluesman

T-Bone Walker – Those Sweet Mellow Sounds Of West Coast Blues

Freddie King – Exhilarating And Diverse Late Period Freddie King That Wholly Captures His Broad Talents

Willie Kent – The Modern Blues Sounds Of A Respected Chicago Blues Icon

Mighty Joe Young – An Exceedingly Rewarding Blues Trek

Bobby Bland – The Marvelous Blues Musings Of A Vocal Giant

Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) – Post-War Chicago Blues Harmonica Genius Unfurled

Otis Rush – Modern West Side Chicago Blues That Forever Reshaped The Music’s Path Forward

Magic Slim Blues Band – Remarkable Outing By A Burgeoning Chicago West Side Blues Star

B.B. King – 1950’s Era Blues By The True King Of The Blues

Big Maceo – Fertile Period Chicago Piano Blues By A Master Of The Genre

Son House – Delta Blues – Early Delta Blues That Helped Define The Genre

Tommy McClennan – Roughhewn And Exuberant Mississippi Blues

Blind Boy Fuller – Fuller’s Earliest And Arguably Best Works

Duke Robillard & His All-Star Band – A Modern-Day Blues Collection Dedicated To Taste, Touch, Collaboration, And Tone

Elmore James – The Emotional Heights Of A Modern Slide Blues Slide Guitar Master

Fred McDowell – Slashing Delta Blues Slide Guitar And Arresting Vocals That Assault The Senses

Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers – An Inferno Of Primal, Wild, And Uncompromising Chicago Blues

Lurrie Bell – Mercurial Son – Quite Possibly The Best Blues CD Of The Last 30 Years

B.B. King – King’s Sacred Roots Astound

Big Joe Turner – Boss Of The Blues, Indeed

Vance Kelly – Call Me – Supremely Versatile Blues Melds By An Obscure Yet Renowned Chicago

Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling – Moss’s Most Fulfilling Collection Yet

Albert King – Celebrated Bluesman’s Sensational Early Output With Electrifying Bonus Selections

Little Walter – Chicago Blues Harmonica Giant’s Best 1953-1959 Yield

Dr. Isaiah Ross – One-Man Blues Band Tour De Force

Junior Wells – Wells At The Pinnacle Of His Blues Power

Albert Collins – Collins’ Earliest Best

The Jimmy Dawkins Band – A West Side Chicago Blues Master Wails

Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – Post-War Chicago Blues Harmonica Giant’s Incomparable Genius Delivered

Billy Boy Arnold – Post-War Chicago Blues Harmonica Giant Blazingly Shines

Albert King – King’s Blues Genius Unfurls

The Dig 3 – The Bar Is Set Extraordinarily High With This Exemplary

Barrelhouse Chuck And The All-Star Blues Band – His Blues Shines Ever So Brightly Across This Exceptional Collection

Johny Shines – Post-War Blues Genius At The Summit Of His Vast Capabilities

Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – Strong Early Output From An Illustrious Post-War Blues Harmonica Colossus

Various Artists – Mysterious, Grand Mississippi Blues Greats Presented

Johnie Lewis – Alabama Rural Blues In The Big City

Forrest City Joe And Polka Dot Slim – Surprisingly Phenomenal Blues By Two Relative Unknowns

“Gatemouth” Brown – Brown’s Early Best To Be Found Right Here

Anthony Big A Sherrod With The Cornlickers – Unmatched Contemporary Blues

Billy Flynn And Friends – Riveting Modern Blues From A Bluesman In Constant Demand

Koko Taylor – Chicago Blues Matriarch At The Height Of Her Considerable Blues Powers

Wynonie Harris – R&B And Jumo Blues Master Thrills

Buddy Guy – Chicago Blues Icon At His Unsurpassed Greatness

Various Artists – Swamp Blues Paradise

The Dig 3-The Bar Was Set Amazingly High With This Great Band’s Initial 2022 Output

Charlie Musselwhite – Musselwhite’s Apex Collection

Scrapper Blackwell – Blackwell Shines On His Own Soaring Merits

B.B. King – King’s Instrumentals Astound

John Lee Hooker – Hooker Drones His Enrapturing Brand Of Blues

Junior Watson – The Man Can Jump And Swing!

Kokomo Arnold – Arnold’s Earliest Blues Astounds

Black Ace – A Mostly Unheralded Bluesman’s Lofty Proficiencies Shine

Little Milton – Milton Finds His True Contemporary Musical Style

Skip James – Outstandingly And Exclusively Compelling Blues

Carl Martin / Willie “61” Blackwell – A Joyous Romp Through Early Blues And Related Musical Varieties

Jerry McCain – McCain’s Thrilling Visions As The Blues Fosters In Rock-N-Roll

J.T. “Funny Paper” Smith – Lyrical Virtuosity Unfolds

Clifford Gibson – Meticulous Guitar Attributes And Incredible Lyrics Around

Lonesome Sundown – Swamp Blues Genius

Johnny Shines And Robert Lockwood – Post-War Blues Virtuosos At The Pinnacles Of Their Titanic Competencies

Guitar Slim – Slim’s Specialty Records Gems Shine Brightly

Junior Wells – Wells Grandly Holds Court On His Home Turf

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani – Intense, Substantial Blues Harkening Back In All The Right Ways

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup – Unique Blues That Led To A Wider Musical Renaissance

Lightnin’ Slim – Two-For-One Swamp Blues Genius

Slim Harpo – Swamp Blues Treasures Aplenty

Magic Sams Blues Band – Thrilling Sophomore Effort On Delmark Records

St. Louis Jimmy Oden – Oden’s Recordings Highly Impress

Dr. Ross – Unequaled One-Man Blues Band, But Here With A Bit Of Assistance

The Aces – Legendary Chicago Blues Band And Guests Thrill In A “Live” Setting

Various Artists – Astounding Compilation Of Various Styled Blues Artists From Numerous Regions

Blind James Campbell And His Nashville Street Band – That Glorious Multi-Genre Street Music

B.B. King – King Thrills A Rapt Chicago Audience

Georgia Tom (Thomas A. Dorsey) – The Diverse Blues And Gospel Genius Of A Chicago Legend

Sonny Boy Williamson (11-Rice Miller) – The Early Blues Genius Of A Harmonica Titan

Barrelhouse Chuck With Erwin Helfer – Two Blues Piano Masters Dazzlingly Glow Throughout This Incomparable Set

Chuck Higgins – Powerful Saxophone Fervor Unfurls

J.B. Hutto & His Hawks – Slashing Chicago Blues At Its Riotous Best

Various Artists – 1950 Was Indeed A Great Blues And R&B Year

Various Artists – Great Texas Blues Emerges From The Shadows Of Obscurity

Jimmy Johnson – Outstanding Chicago Blues From A Very Gifted Artist

Howlin’ Wolf – Introducing The Wolf To A Hip New Audience

The Son Seals Blues Band – The Recorded Debut Of A Tough Chicago Bluesman

Muddy Waters – Waters And His Crew At The Height Of Their Blues Powers

Muddy Waters – Blues Giant And His Team At The Pinnacle Of Their Acoustic Blues Supremacies

Son Seals – Bluesman’s Sophomore Alligator Records Blues Collection Electrifies

Billy Boy Arnold – Post-War Chicago Blues Harmonica Titan’s Best

Kid Ramos – A Magnificent Manuscript Of A Personal Spiritual Journey

Lightning Hopkins – Houston’s Grand Blues Narrator Once Again Conveys His Contemplations

Sonny Boy Williamson (II-Rice Miller) – Post War Chicago Blues Harmonica Giant’s Supremacies On Full Display

John Brim – The Supreme Works Of One Of Chicago’s Most Talented War Bluesmen

Recommended Blues Recording

Sonny Terry – Harmonica Giant’s Contemporary Period Blues Brilliance

Sonny Terry – Whoopin’ – Alligator Records ALCD 4734

Terry was indeed a titan in the blues world. His long association with guitarist and fellow singer Brownie McGhee saw the pair perform for multitudes of fans everywhere. Terry enjoyed a 60-year musical career, one that modestly began by busking on the Carolina streets and eventually found him gracing the stages of international venues.

In his mid-teen years, Terry lost his ability to see, with his father teaching him how to play the harmonica. This led to Terry’s street playing where he befriended the highly influential blues guitarist and vocalist Blind Boy Fuller, resulting in a partnership that eventually found the two recording for the Vocalian label.

Terry was an acoustic blues harmonica artisan whose trademark style was fashioned in a piercing and “whooping” manner that was and continues to be adopted by blues musicians the world over.

On this ten-cut release, Terry is paired to very great effect with Texas blues rock guitarist Johnny Winter, legendary blues bassist and songwriter Willie Dixon, and drummer Styve Homnick. Terry’s signature warm harmonica tenor is on full display in all its terrific and engaging glory. The humble instrument, in Terry’s hands, is a rhythmic driving force, always framed within his astounding control, with his pleasing throaty vocals conveying his blues expressions, all the while his signature audible harmonica ”whoops” gracing his contributions.

It’s as if Terry finally found his latter-day blues allies among all involved, with Winter highly reverential on guitar and piano, and Dixon laying a rock-solid low-end framework. Homnick’s percussion is ideally constructed.

In many ways, this is Terry’s ultimate work, a three-day recording project that endures for its quality and excitement 41 years later.

Highly recommended!