Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe - In Chronological Order (4 CD, 1991/FLAC)

 

Recording as Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie at their 1929 debut recording session the couple cut six numbers, three featuring Kansas Joe as a vocalist, two with Minnie taking the vocals and the third found them duetting. These recordings weren’t afforded immediate issue but were released over a period of time. For example, the coupling Bumble Bee / I Want That was not on sale until some fifteen months later. It was to be the suggestive Bumble Bee (“Got the best stinger I’ve ever seen”) that was to make Memphis Minnie. So successful was the song that Victor “borrowed” Minnie to record a version fronting a caucus of the Memphis Jug Band. Vocalion then responded with Bumble Bee No. 2 and New Bumble Bee. The song was such hot property on the race market that in the last six months of 1930, unreleased recordings apart, there were no fewer than five versions, on three different labels, of Bumble Bee  three of which are present on this compilation. The sheer drive of the two guitars, the strength of imagery and intuitive awareness of one another’s musical needs made for a perfect team. Take a song like, When The Levee Breaks, that lyrically mirrors the harsh realities of living near the artificial river banks with lines like, “If it keep on raining, levee’s gonna break an’ all these people have no place to stay” whilst the twin guitar rhythms help create a complete fusion of feeling. On less intense, more hokum based numbers like She Wouldn’t Give Me None or Can I Do It For You a variant on the “Mama Let Me Lay It On You” theme) the duo display astonishing empathy in their guitar playing, most notably by Minnie. To quote guitarist Woody Mann on her technique “she seemed to be able to pick sounds from all around Memphis and integrate them into her playing”. As main vocalist Memphis Minnie can be heard on Mister Tango Blues and I’m Talking About You and give good insight into her ability to modulate her voice to suit the mood of the lyric. Whether it be slow meaningful blues or up-tempo lighter material she judiciously croaks, moans, twists and cracks her voice to achieve a fine sense of the dramatic.

Vol. 1

01 - I Want That

02 - That Will Be Alright

03 - Goin' Back to Texas

04 - 'Frisco Town

05 - When the Levee Breaks

06 - Bumble Bee (148712)

07 - I'm Gonna Bake My Biscuits

08 - Mister Tango Blues

09 - She WOuldn't Give Me None

10 - What Fault You Find of Me Part 1

11 - What Fault You Find of Me Part 2

12 - I'm Talking About You

13 - Bumble Bee (MEM-773)

14 - Can I Do It For You Part 1

15 - Can I Do It For You Part 2

16 - I'm Going Back Home

17 - Bumble Bee Blues (59993)

18 - Meningitis Blues

19 - I Never Told a Lie

20 - I Don't Want No Woman I Have to Give My Money to

21 - Georgia Skin

22 - I Don't Want No Woman (C-5817)

23 - I'm Wild About My Stuff

Vol. 2

01 - Memphis Minnie-Jitis Blues (take A)

02 - Good Girl Blues

03 - My Mary Blues

04 - Plymouth Rock Blues

05 - Cherry Ball Blues

06 - Botherin' That Thing

07 - Bumble Bee, No. 2

08 - Georgia Skin Blues

09 - New Dirty Dozen

10 - New Bumble Bee

11 - Frankie Jean (That Trottin' Fool)

12 - I'm Talking 'bout You, No. 2

13 - She Put Me Outdoors

14 - Pile Drivin' Blues

15 - I Called You This Morning

16 - Grandpa and Grandma Blues

17 - Garage Fire Blues

18 - What's the Matter with the Mill

19 - North Memphis Blues

20 - Beat It Right

21 - Preachers Blues

22 - Shake Mattie

23 - My Wash Woman's Gone

Vol. 3

01 - I Don't Want That Junk Outa You

02 - Crazy Cryin' Blues

03 - Tricks Ain't Walking No More

04 - Don't Bother It

05 - Today Today Blues

06 - Lay My Money Down (If You Run Around)

07 - Hard Down Lie

08 - Somebody's Got To Help You

09 - Pickin' The Blues

10 - Let's Go To Town

11 - Soo Cow Soo

12 - After While Blues

13 - Fishin' Blues

14 - Jailhouse Trouble Blues

15 - Outdoor Blues

16 - Where Is My Good Man

17 - You Stole My Cake

18 - Kind Treatment Blues

19 - You Know You Done Me Wrong

20 - Joliet Bound

21 - Stranger's Blues

22 - Socket Blues

Vol. 4

01 - My Butcher Man

02 - Too Late

03 - Ain't No Use Trying To Tell On Me

04 - Stinging Snake Blues

05 - Drunken Barrel House Blues

06 - I Got To Have A Little More

07 - Someday I'll Be In The clay

08 - Evil Devil Woman Blues

09 - Going Back Home Blues

10 - Meat Cutter Blues

11 - You Got To Move - Pt 1

12 - Keep It To Yourself

13 - Keep It To Yourself (Alt)

14 - Chickasaw Train Blues (Low Down Dirty Thing)

15 - Banana Man Blues (I Don't Want That Thing)

16 - You Got To Move - Pt 2

17 - Hole In The Wall

18 - Give It To Me In My Hand (Can I Go Home With You)

19 - Squat It

20 - Moaning The Blues