Strange Kind Of Feeling

Jerry McCain and Others

 

Deep South Gospel

The Southern Sons

 

Clownin' With The World

Sonny Boy Williamson

 

Delta Blues-1951

Big Joe Williams/Willie Love/Luther Huff

 

Alligator Records

 

Beginning in 1950 a tiny label from Jackson, Mississippi released a flurry of blues, gospel, country and early rockabilly sides. Alligator Records has had the foresight and conviction to re-release these rockin' tracks that are for the most part unknown to the average Joe. According to Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, the Trumpet recordings are a treasure. "Trumpet was unlike and other label of its era and in many ways served as a model for Alligator. We are not in the business of reissues," he said, "but this is wonderful, timeless music that needs to be heard." Now all that's left for me to do is echo those words. This is great stuff.

 

Strange Kind Of Feeling opens with five cuts from Tiny Kennedy. (Two are previously unreleased.) Clayton Love & His Shufflers contribute two numbers and the remaining seven tracks feature Jerry "Boogie" McCain. You'd be hard pressed to find early blues performed with such finesse and passion. I guess it just goes to show you that even forty years ago the radio played music for the sake of mindless entertainment instead of cranking out the good stuff.The Southern Sons are an a cappella gospel group. I'll tell you one thing, I'd much rather listen to their brand of religious tunes than anything Stryper could ever dream of recording. This is the real thing. The eight songs on the Sonny Boy Williamson disc are previously unreleased (With the exception of a limited number of local platters released in 1951.) and all are gems. The remaining eight cuts feature Willie Love, one of Sonny Boy's sidemen. The material here ( and on the other discs) is priceless. Delta Blues-1951 is a real find. Big Joe WIlliams & His 9-String Guitar provide eight of the eighteen cuts. Wow. This tickles me almost as much as winning Megabucks. (If you think Eric Clapton, Unplugged, was gnarly, then you'll love this.) Luther Huff unleashes the next four tracks steeped in his inimitable style. Six tunes by Willie Love & His Three Aces close the disc. Phew. I'll readily admit that even though I've never heard any of this stuff before, I've become immediately and irrevocably hooked. And this is just the beginning. Alligator has plans to continue the Trumpet Series by re-issuing three more discs by the end of the year. I can't wait. (SC)

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