The brief and dazzling life of MCM Records was a labor of love that
captured many treasurable live performances from the last flowering of
the classic Chicago Blues age. A young French woman Marcelle Chailleux
Morgantini was married to Jacques Morgantini who changed her life into
American jazz and blues.
Guitarist Jimmy Dawkins was a good friend and helped them in Chicago to meet and hear the many good blues musicians that played at the different clubs in Chicago. Marcelle returned from her Chicago pilgrimage filled with excitement. Says Jacques Morgantini: It was the year of Marcelle’s 50th birthday and she came into some money from her family. She said to me, “I do not want an expensive coat or jewels – I want to go to Chicago to record the blues. She knew that it could only be done if she had her own record label and complete artistic control. Marcelle made three trips to Chicago in 1975,1976 and 1977 and arrived with her Nagra machine, a small mixing desk and a selection of microphones.
She recorded live: Magic Slim, Big Mojo Elem,John Littlejohn, Eddie Clearwater,Eddie Taylor, Bobby King,Jimmy Johnson, Luther Johnson Jr.,Willie Kent, James Lyons,Hip Lankchan,Big Vocie Odom,Bluebloos McMahon, Joe Carter and Jimmy Dawkins at “Ma Bea’s”, “Golden Slipper”, “Queen Bea’s”, and “Big Duke’s”, on Chicago west and south side. Many of the blues musicians had not recorded before and can only been found on the Storyville label that issued all the recordings on CD’s. She was at the right place at the right time.
Guitarist Jimmy Dawkins was a good friend and helped them in Chicago to meet and hear the many good blues musicians that played at the different clubs in Chicago. Marcelle returned from her Chicago pilgrimage filled with excitement. Says Jacques Morgantini: It was the year of Marcelle’s 50th birthday and she came into some money from her family. She said to me, “I do not want an expensive coat or jewels – I want to go to Chicago to record the blues. She knew that it could only be done if she had her own record label and complete artistic control. Marcelle made three trips to Chicago in 1975,1976 and 1977 and arrived with her Nagra machine, a small mixing desk and a selection of microphones.
She recorded live: Magic Slim, Big Mojo Elem,John Littlejohn, Eddie Clearwater,Eddie Taylor, Bobby King,Jimmy Johnson, Luther Johnson Jr.,Willie Kent, James Lyons,Hip Lankchan,Big Vocie Odom,Bluebloos McMahon, Joe Carter and Jimmy Dawkins at “Ma Bea’s”, “Golden Slipper”, “Queen Bea’s”, and “Big Duke’s”, on Chicago west and south side. Many of the blues musicians had not recorded before and can only been found on the Storyville label that issued all the recordings on CD’s. She was at the right place at the right time.
CD 1: MAGIC SLIM
Magic Slim (g, voc), Alabama Junior Pettis (g) Nick Holt (b) & Douglas Holt (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 9, 1976
01. Magic Slim - That's All Right (5:55)
02. Magic Slim - Slim's Bump (3:57)
03. Magic Slim - Going Down Slow (7:21)
04. Magic Slim - Born In Missouri (6:43)
05. Magic Slim - Let Me Love You (6:11)
06. Magic Slim - The Things I Used To Do (7:34)
07. Magic Slim - That Ain't Right (4:02)
08. Magic Slim - Honest I Do (3:40)
09. Magic Slim - Nineteen Years Old (6:33)
10. Magic Slim - Born On A Bad Sign (7:00)
11. Magic Slim - Please Love Me (4:01)
CD 2: BIG MOJO ELEM, JOHN LITTLE JOHN
(on tracks 1-5, 7, 10-11) Big Mojo Elem (b, voc), Willie James Lyon (g) , Wayne Bennett (g), Freddy Below (d)
Recorded live at Golden Slipper, Chicago, October 12, 1977
(on tracks 6, 9 & 12) John Littlejohn (g, voc), Larry Burton (g) , Aaron Burton (b), Candy Utah (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 8, 1976
01. Big Mojo Elem - Drowning On Dry Land ( 5:11)
02. Big Mojo Elem - Every Night And Every Day ( 3:33)
03. Big Mojo Elem - Black Nights ( 4:45)
04. Big Mojo Elem - Hush ( 5:18)
05. Big Mojo Elem - Red Light ( 5:03)
06. John Littlejohn - Dream ( 7:12)
07. Big Mojo Elem - Mojo Boogie ( 2:41)
08. Big Mojo Elem - Living In Paradise ( 2:32)
09. John Littlejohn - Twelve Years Old Boy ( 5:57)
10. Big Mojo Elem - Every Night And Every Day ( 3:32)
11. Big Mojo Elem - Long Meter Stomp (11:59)
12. John Littlejohn - Reconsider Baby ( 3:39)
CD 3: EDDIE CLEARWATER, EDDIE TAYLOR
(On tracks 1-6, 10 & 12) Eddie Clearwater (g, voc), Jimmy Dawkins (g) , Sylvester Boines(b), Freddy Below (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 5, 1976
(on tracks 7-9 & 11) Eddie Taylor (g, voc), Lacy Gibson (g), Hayes Ware (b), Freddy Below (d)
Recorded live at Golden Slipper, Chicago, October 24, 1977.
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 8, 1976
01. Eddy Clearwater - Let's Jam (4:51)
02. Eddy Clearwater - I Came Up The Hard Way (6:48)
03. Eddy Clearwater - Three Ways To Skin A Cat (5:32)
04. Eddy Clearwater - Black Night (9:17)
05. Eddy Clearwater - Chicago Dailey Blues (9:26)
06. Eddy Clearwater - Hoochie Coochie Man (6:52)
07. Eddie Taylor - Jackson Town Blues (4:07)
08. Eddie Taylor - Train Fare Home (5:57)
09. Eddie Taylor - Route 66 (A One A Two) (5:47)
10. Eddy Clearwater - Rock Me Baby (6:34)
11. Eddie Taylor - Blues For Luc (4:18)
12. Eddy Clearwater - The Things I Used To Do (8:16)
CD 4: BOBBY KING
Bobby King (g, voc), Leonard Gil (g), Harry Mitchum (b), Bill Warren (d), Muddy Waters Jr (voc, on 7 & 10).
Recorded at Quuen Bee's, Chicago, October 9, 1975.
01. Bobby King - Reconsider Baby ( 5:34)
02. Bobby King - My Babe ( 5:31)
03. Bobby King - Everyday I Have The Blues ( 7:18)
04. Bobby King - The Chaser ( 4:04)
05. Bobby King - Sweet House Chicago ( 2:32)
06. Bobby King - Bad Luck ( 3:19)
07. Muddy Waters - Old Folks Boogie (13:46)
08. Bobby King - Stormy Monday Blues ( 7:18)
09. Bobby King - Hoochie Coochie Man ( 8:17)
10. Muddy Waters - Everything Gonna Be Alright ( 4:00)
CD 5: JIMMY JOHNSON, LUTHER JOHNSON JR., WILLIE KENT
(on tracks 1-4) Jimmy Johnson (g, voc), Jimmy Dawkins (g), Sylvester Boines (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, October 15, 1975
(on tracks 5-7, 11-14) Luther Johnson Jr (g, voc)., Willie James Lyons (g), Willie Kent (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, October 17, 1975
(on tracks 8-10) Willie Kent (b, voc), Willie James Lyons (g), Big ‘Guitar’ Red (g), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, October 17, 1975
01. Jimmy Johnson - So Many Roads (6:28)
02. Jimmy Johnson - Crosscut Saw (4:08)
03. Jimmy Johnson - Ma Bea's Rock (3:13)
04. Jimmy Johnson - Feel So Bad (4:23)
05. Luther Johnson Jr. - I Believe My Time Ain't Long (4:54)
06. Luther Johnson Jr. - All Your Love (4:38)
07. Luther Johnson Jr. - You Gotta Have Soul (4:15)
08. Willie Kent - Little Red Rooster (4:16)
09. Willie Kent - Nineteen Years Old (4:08)
10. Willie Kent - What Will Tomorrow Bring (4:12)
11. Luther Johnson Jr. - Got A Mind To Travel (4:31)
12. Luther Johnson Jr. - Can You Use A Man Like Me (3:54)
13. Luther Johnson Jr. - I Got To Be Crazy (4:04)
14. Luther Johnson Jr. - Got Papers On You Baby (3:32)
CD 6: JIMMY DAWKINS, HIP LANKCHAN
(on tracks 1-4, 9-10) Jimmy Dawkins (g, voc), Richard Kirch (g), Sylvester Boines (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at Big Duke's, Chicago, November 10, 1976.
(on tracks 5-8 & 14) Hip Lankchan (g, voc), Jimmy Miller (g) , Ernest Gatewood (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 1, 1976
(on tracks 11-12) Jimmy Johnson (g, voc), David Matthews (g), Ike Anderson (b), Dino Neal (d)
Recorded live at Golden Slipper, Chicago, October 19, 1977
(on track 13) Alabama Junior Pettis (g, voc), Magic Slim (g), Nick Holt (b), Douglas Holt (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 9, 1976
01. Jimmy Johnson - So Many Roads (6:28)
02. Jimmy Johnson - Crosscut Saw (4:08)
03. Jimmy Johnson - Ma Bea's Rock (3:13)
04. Jimmy Johnson - Feel So Bad (4:23)
05. Luther Johnson Jr. - I Believe My Time Ain't Long (4:54)
06. Luther Johnson Jr. - All Your Love (4:38)
07. Luther Johnson Jr. - You Gotta Have Soul (4:15)
08. Willie Kent - Little Red Rooster (4:16)
09. Willie Kent - Nineteen Years Old (4:08)
10. Willie Kent - What Will Tomorrow Bring (4:12)
11. Luther Johnson Jr. - Got A Mind To Travel (4:31)
12. Luther Johnson Jr. - Can You Use A Man Like Me (3:54)
13. Luther Johnson Jr. - I Got To Be Crazy (4:04)
14. Luther Johnson Jr. - Got Papers On You Baby (3:32)
CD 7: BIG VOICE ODOM, JIMMY DAWKINS
Andrew Odom (voc), Jimmy Dawkins (g, voc) Jimmy Johnson (g) , Sylvester Boines (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, October 28, 1976
Tracks 10 & 11, same place and personnel, recorded on October 16, 1975.
01. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Going To California (7:41)
02. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - I Don't Know (7:37)
03. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Thrill Is Gone (5:25)
04. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Stormy Monday Blues (5:45)
05. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - All For Business (5:17)
06. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Rock Me Baby (4:43)
07. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Wonder Why (4:33)
08. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - Sitting Here Wondering (6:43)
09. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - I Can't Go On The Way (6:54)
10. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - I Want To Know (8:59)
11. Big Voice Odom, Jimmy Dawkins - I've Been Mistreated (7:29)
CD 8: BLUEBLOOD McMAHON, JOE CARTER
(on tracks 1-9) Andrew MacMahon (voc), John Littlejohn, Jimmy Dawkins & Larry Burton (g), Aaron Burton (b), Candy Utah (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, November 8, 1976
(on tracks 10-12) Andrew MacMahon (voc), Jimmy Dawkins (g), Richard Kirch (g) Sylvester Boines (b), Tyrone Centuray (d)
Recorded live at Big Duke's, Chicago, November 10, 1976
(on tracks 13-14) Louis Meyers (g), Joe Carter (g, voc) Dave Meyers (b), Freddy Below (d)
Recorded live at "Ma Bea's", Chicago, October 14, 1975.
01. Andrew McMahon - Go Get Me Baby (4:43)
02. Andrew McMahon - I Wonder Why (4:12)
03. Andrew McMahon - Change My Way Of Living (4:47)
04. Andrew McMahon - You Got To Help Yourself (4:33)
05. Andrew McMahon - Give Up And Let Me Go (2:50)
06. Andrew McMahon - What Would We Do Later On (4:06)
07. Andrew McMahon - You Don't Have To Go (5:36)
08. Andrew McMahon - It Hurts Me Too (5:37)
09. Andrew McMahon - Got My Mojo Working (4:16)
10. Andrew McMahon - Little Red Rooster (3:39)
11. Andrew McMahon - So Glad (4:14)
12. Andrew McMahon - Stranger In Your Land (5:04)
13. Joe Carter - Worried About My Baby (4:29)
14. Joe Carter - It Hurts Me Too (4:07)
