Mercury Records Collection: EmArcy MG-36014: Joe Turner And Pete Johnson

MG-36014: Joe Turner And Pete Johnson

Label Type :	blue EmArcy type B silver rim
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	YMG 36014A MF2 A1 I
	SIDE-B	YMG 36014B MF1 A1 I

Comments

Both the disc and the cover in perfect mintish condition!

Inside The Groove

A great, jazzy and bluesy session featuring Joe Turner, from original National recordings.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Against the LP's title itself, Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson plays together only on A-1, A-2 and A-3. Other tracks include Big Joe Turner's similar sessions. Furthermore, A-5 was not even by Joe Turner (it was performed by Linda Hopkins with Johnny Otis Orchestra, from original Savoy recording).

However, the whole contents of this LP (except A-5) presents that the Big Joe Turner was still living in his artistic peak in the late 1940s. Actually this LP is not containing legendary Turner=Johnson duo in the 1930s, but this is also an another fine example of Joe Turner's artistry as a great R&B singer.

Another good point for this LP is, that most of the tracks sounds rather good, although it was originally recorded for 78rpm releases. I can say, EmArcy staffs and enginners in the 1950s surely did a good job for the release!

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

9 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	11591 (NSC33/4)	S.K. Blues (Public Domain)	-
A-2	11592 (NSC35)	Johnson And Turner Blues (Johnson - Turner)	-
A-3	11593 (NSC36)	Watch That Jive (Johnson - Turner)	-
A-4	11594 (NSC340)	Howlin' Winds (Turner)	-
A-5	11595 (SLA13014)	Doggin' The Blues (Hopkins - Otis)	-
SIDE-B
B-1	11596 (NSC338)	Whistle Stop Blues (Turner)	-
B-2	11597 (NSC337)	Last Goodbye Blues (Johnson)	-
B-3	11598 (NSC313)	Rocks In My Bed (Ellington)	-
B-4	11599 (NSC314)	Careless Love (W.C. Handy)	-
B-5	11600 (NSC314)	Wee Baby Blues (Public Domain)	-
B-6	11752 (NSC311)	Nobody In Mind (Public Domain)	-

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

A-1, A-2, A-3:
Frank Newton (tp), Don Byas (ts),
Pete Johnson (p), Leonard Ware (g), Al Hall (b), Harold “Doc” West (ds),
Joe Turner (vo).
Recorded in New York City on February 2, 1945.

B-5:
unknown (p), unknown (b), unknown (ds),
Joe Turner (vo).
Recorded in Chicago, IL on October 12, 1946.

B-3, B-4, B-6:
Charles Gray (tp), Riley Hampton (as), Otis Finch (ts),
Ellsworth Liggett (p), Ike Perkins (g), Robert Moore (b), James Adams (ds),
Joe Turner (vo).
Recorded in Chicago, IL on November 29, 1947.

A-4, B-1, B-2:
Possibly the same personnel as B-3.
Recorded in Chicago, IL on December 9, 1947.

A-5:
Don Johnson (tp), George Washington (tb),
Walter Henry (as), Lorenzo Holden (ts), James von Streeter (ts),
Johnny Otis (vib),
Devonia Williams (p), Pete Lewis (g), Mario Delagarde (b), Leard Bell (ds),
Linda Hopkins (vo), The Barreleers (vocal group).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on January 9, 1951.