Jimmy Witherspoon - Spoon Sings And Swings (1966) [vinyl]

Arguably Spoon's greatest album, this is superb music! Spoon was far more than a blues-shouter, just listen to 'Send Me Someone To Love'. Recorded in a London pub with the terrific support of British tenorman Dick Morrissey and one of the finest rhythm sections ever to emerge in the UK.
Writing in 1967, David Illingworth claimed this was Spoon's best record since his collaborations with Ben Webster, I wouldn't disagree. ~ grumpy

Review by David Illingworth ~ Jazz Journal, February 1967:
Undoubtedly the best Witherspoon album for many a year, though perhaps my pleasure was enhanced by the memory of several performances by Morrissey and Spoon. It is in fact a Quintet on this record; a complete whole, singer and backing. South and Bates create a solid background, and Seamen blasts the session along like an after-burner. The boy from Sutton County Grammar School gives Spoon the best tenor backing he has had since Ben Webster was behind him. On occasions he comes on like the old Fats Domino man Herb Hardesty—a direct rhythm-and-blues attack, but not vulgar. Those who have heard this combination over the past year or so will need no encouragement to buy this LP—the recording has been well done, despite the limitations the warm little room at Barnes may have suggested in this respect. Spoon is in fine form, and this is perhaps, his best recording ever—uncluttered by an all-star backing. The less interesting spots are the fast / Gotta Girl and Kansas City and Percy Mayfield's over-sentimental Someone To Love. But the word is less not least. Buy it.

01 - I Gotta Girl ( Who Lives On A Hill )
02 - Trouble In Mind
03 - Nobody Knows How I Feel This Morning
04 - New Down Home Blues
05 - Kansas City
06 - Compact Car
07 - Piney Brown's Blues
08 - Big Fine Girl
09 - Send Me Someone To Love
10 - Lotus Blossom
11 - St Louis Blues
12 - Things Are getting Tougher Than Tough (bonus)
13 - I'll Be So Glad (bonus)

Jimmy Witherspoon (vc), Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d)
Bulls Head, Barnes, London - May 23, 1966

Americans In Europe (1966-7)

Re-upped from the Crypt

An album of out-takes from LPs issued by the UK Fontana label in the late 60s and, as far as I know, never issued on CD. Included are two extra tracks from the Jimmy Witherspoon recording from the Bull's Head, Barnes that I posted earlier. Overall, there's some great straight ahead jazz here - enjoy!

01 - Bud Meets Eddie (Bud Freeman & Eddie Miller)
02 - Things Are Getting Tougher Than Tough (Jimmy Witherspoon)
03 - Time On My Hands (Earl Hines)
04 - Laura (Bud Freeman)
05 - I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (Wild Bill Davison)
06 - Diane (Eddie Miller)
07 - Can't We Talk It Over (Earl Hines)
08 - I'll Be So Glad (Jimmy Witherspoon)
09 - Church House Blues (Sir Charles Thompson)
10 - La Rosita (Ben Webster)

All tracks recorded in London 1966-7, apart from track 9 recorded in Paris.

Jimmy Witherspoon - Midnight Lady Called the Blues

Jimmy Witherspoon - Midnight Lady Called the Blues
Muse 5327, 1987

1. New York City Blues
2. The Barber
3. Blinded By Love
4. Happy Hard Times
5. Something Rotten In East St. Louis
6. Midnight Lady Called The Blues
7. Blues Hall Of Fame

Bass – Wilbur Bascomb
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Calvin Newborn
Piano, Arranged By, Producer – Dr. John
Producer – Pomus*
Saxophone [Alto], Arranged By – Hank Crawford
Saxophone [Tenor] – David "Fathead" Newman
Trumpet – Charlie Miller
Vocals – Jimmy Witherspoon

WOW was this one ever a fabulous surprise! I bought this and a Shirley Scott at the same time and hit home runs on both. Not only is this a relatively unknown Spoon album but the band is mostly Mac's mid eighties aggregation that included Fathead Newman, Hank Crawford and Charlie Miller! Everything is produced, arranged and written by Doc Pomus (click for bio) and Doctor John. There is even a picture of the elusive Doc Pomus, certainly one of the two greatest white Blues and R&B songwriters ever! (see evidence here), the other guy would be Dan Penn.

If looking at those titles isn't enough to back me up on that statement take a look at the list of people who have recorded Doc Pomus songs here. Kind of staggering isn't it?

This is one terrific little jewel of an album and I'm quite pleased to be able to share it with y'all.