Hank Crawford - Dig These Blues (1966) [vinyl>flac]

Hank kicks back and blows soulfully - working in a variety of groups with hip players that include Wendell Harrison, Ali Mohammed, Wilbur Brown, and Leroy Cooper. The overall sound is similar to Crawford's other work on Atlantic - nothing too challenging, but in a soulful mode that's always pretty tight. Titles include "New Blues", "Hollywood Blues", "These Tears", "HC Blues", and "The Crazy Saloon". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

This LP in many ways could easily be considered one of Hank Crawford's finest albums released on Atlantic records. It showcases Hank in some excellent groupings and performing some great soul jazz-jazz blues styled tunes. Highlights include the title track “Dig These Blues”, “Don't Get Around Much Anymore” and "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" featuring Marcus Belgrave on trumpet. The final tune, "Bluff City Blues," features Hank on piano, also heard on "The Crazy Saloon". Overall some deep soul grooves that clearly express Crawford's wonderful versatility and phenomenal musicianship.

Atlantic Records, SD 1436, 1966

Recorded 13th April, 1964 (A4,B1,B3); 10th December, 1964 (A1,A3,A5);
and 11th February, 1965 (A2,B2,B4) in New York City

Personnel:

Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone (#A1,A2,A4-B3), Piano (#A3,B4)

Oliver Beener - Trumpet (#A1,A3,A5)

Phil Guilbeau - Trumpet (#A1,A3,A5)

Jimmy Owens - Trumpet (#A2,B2,B4)

Marcus Belgrave - Trumpet (#A2,B2,B4)

John Hunt - Trumpet (#A4,B1,B3)

Julius Brooks - Trumpet (#A4,B1,B3)

Wendell Harrison - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A3,A5)

Abdul Baari - Tenor Saxophone (#A2,B2,B4)

Wilbur Brown - Tenor Saxophone (#A4,B1,B3)

Leroy Cooper - Baritone Saxophone (#A1,A3-B1,B3)

Howard Johnson - Baritone Saxophone (#A2,B2,B4)

Ali Mohammed - Bass (#A1,A3,A5)

Charlie Green - Bass (#A2,B2,B4)

Edgar Willis - Bass (#A4,B1,B3)

Bruno Carr - Drums (#A1,A3-B1,B3)

Milt Turner - Drums (#A2,B2,B4)

Track Listing:

A1. Dig These Blues {Hank Crawford} (4:33)

A2. Don't Get Around Much Anymore {Duke Ellington, Bob Russell} (5:02)

A3. The Crazy Saloon {Hank Crawford} (2:58)

A4. H. C. Blues {Hank Crawford} (2:48)

A5. These Tears {Hank Crawford} (2:35)

B1. Hollywood Blues {Hank Crawford} (3:18)

B2. Baby Won't You Please Come Home {Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams} (5:46)

B3. New Blues {Phineas Newborn} (4:23)

B4. Bluff City Blues {Hank Crawford} (3:52)

Credits:

Supervision - Nesuhi Ertegün & Arif Mardin

Recording Engineer - Phil Lehle, Tom Dowd

Cover Design - Marvin Israel

Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff