Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940 to 1994

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Ma Rainey
guitar:
Little Son Joe (on 1940-06-27) and Memphis Minnie (on 1940-06-27)
vocals:
Memphis Minnie (on 1940-06-27)
Memphis Minnie2:45
2I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
alto saxophone and tenor saxophone:
Louis Jordan (US jazz, blues and r&b musician and songwriter) (on 1941-11-22)
double bass:
Dallas Bartley (on 1941-11-22)
drums (drum set):
Walter Martin (1930-40s drummer) (on 1941-11-22)
piano:
Arnold Thomas (on 1941-11-22)
trumpet:
Eddie Roane (on 1941-11-22)
vocals:
Louis Jordan (US jazz, blues and r&b musician and songwriter) (on 1941-11-22)
cover recording of:
I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town (on 1941-11-22)
writer:
Roy Jordan and William Weldon (blues slide guitar player)
publisher:
MCA, Inc. (this was the US media company that became Universal Studios, Inc. in Dec 1996)
Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five2:52
3Mean Old ’Frisco Blues
Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup2:37
4Bourgeois Blues
recording of:
The Bourgeois Blues
lyricist and composer:
Lead Belly
arranger:
Alan Lomax (US ethnomusicologist) and John A. Lomax
Lead Belly2:19
5Mean Old World
T‐Bone Walker2:55
6Evil Gal Blues
cover recording of:
Evil Gal Blues
lyricist:
Lionel Hampton
composer:
Leonard Feather
publisher:
Modern Age Music Co.
Dinah Washington2:54
7I Wonder
Cecil Grant3:00
8Blood on the Moon
Hot Lips Page2:26
9Chicago Breakdown
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1945-10-15)
drums (drum set):
Charles “Chick” Sanders (on 1945-10-15) and Charles Saunders (on 1945-10-15)
guitar:
Tampa Red (on 1945-10-15)
piano:
Big Maceo Merriweather (on 1945-10-15)
lead vocals:
Big Maceo (on 1945-10-15)
recording of:
Chicago Breakdown (on 1945-10-15)
lyricist and composer:
Maceo Merriweather
Big Maceo2:56
10Angels in Harlem
Doctor Clayton3:05
11Billie’s Blues
recording of:
Billie’s Blues
lyricist:
Billie Holiday
composer:
Billie Holiday (until 1936-08-01)
publisher:
Basart Editions
Billie Holiday3:48
12Hoodoo Hoodoo
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1946-08-06)
double bass [bass]:
Ransom Knowling (on 1946-08-06)
guitar:
Willie Lacey (on 1946-08-06)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, 1914–1948) (on 1946-08-06)
piano:
Blind John Davis (on 1946-08-06)
Sonny Boy Williamson2:56
13Good Rockin Tonight
Roy Brown and His Mighty Men2:58
14Chicken Shack Boogie
Amos Milburn2:50
15Trouble Blues
Charles Brown2:23
16Crawlin’ Kingsnake
recorded in:
Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1948-09)
producer:
Bernard Besman
guitar:
John Lee Hooker (US blues singer, songwriter & guitarist) (in 1948-09)
vocals:
John Lee Hooker (US blues singer, songwriter & guitarist) (in 1948-09)
recording of:
Crawling King Snake (in 1948-09)
lyricist and composer:
John Lee Hooker (US blues singer, songwriter & guitarist)
publisher:
Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Doors Music Company and Modern Music Publishing Co., Inc.
John Lee Hooker3:01
17When Things Go Wrong With You (It Hurts Me Too)
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1949-03-24)
bass:
Ransom Knowling (on 1949-03-24)
drums (drum set):
Odie Payne (American Chicago blues drummer) (on 1949-03-24)
guitar and kazoo:
Tampa Red (on 1949-03-24)
piano:
Johnnie Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (on 1949-03-24)
vocals:
Tampa Red (on 1949-03-24)
Tampa Red3:04
18Cairo Blues
Lil’ Son Jackson2:50
19Black Angel Blues
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1949-07, on 1949-09-12)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1949-07)
guitar:
Robert Nighthawk (in 1949-07)
piano:
Sunnyland Slim (blues pianist) (in 1949-07)
vocals:
Robert Nighthawk (in 1949-07)
recording of:
Sweet Black Angel (Black Angel Blues) (on 1949-09-12)
lyricist and composer:
R. Nighthawk
publisher:
Testament Music
is based on:
Black Angel Blues
Robert Nighthawk3:04
20Mardis Gras in New Orleans
Professor Longhair2:55
21Every Day I Have the Blues
Lowell Fulson2:33
22Double Crossing Blues
performer:
Esther Phillips (Little Esther)
cover recording of:
Double Crossing Blues
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis Quintette feat. Little Esther Phillips2:48
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Rollin’ and Tumblin’ (Part 1)
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1950-02)
double bass [bass]:
Ernest "Big" Crawford (in 1950-02)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (in 1950-02)
vocals:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (in 1950-02)
recording of:
Rollin’ and Tumblin’ (Morganfeld arrangement) (in 1950-02)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
M. Morganfield (blues musician)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Watertoons (BMI-affiliated - publisher associated with Muddy Waters) and Watertoons Music
version of:
Roll and Tumble Blues
Muddy Waters53:01
2Mother Earth
Memphis Slim and The Houserockers2:45
3Please Send Me Someone to Love
producer:
Art Rupe
baritone saxophone:
Charles H. Waller (on 1950-08-16)
double bass:
Red Callender (on 1950-08-16)
drums (drum set):
Lee Young (40s-60s US jazz drummer, then producer/A&R) (on 1950-08-16)
guitar:
Gene Phillips (US jump blues guitarist & singer) (on 1950-08-16)
piano:
Edward Truman Beal (on 1950-08-16)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Maxwell Davis (1940s tenor sax and arranger “The Father of West Coast R&B”) (on 1950-08-16) and Richard Wells (sax) (on 1950-08-16)
vocals:
Percy Mayfield (on 1950-08-16)
recorded at:
Universal Recorders in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1950-08-16)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1987)
recording of:
Please Send Me Someone to Love (on 1950-08-16)
lyricist and composer:
Percy Mayfield (until 1950)
publisher:
ATV Music
Percy Mayfield32:56
4Dust My Broom (I Believe My Time Ain’t long)
recording of:
Dust My Broom
additional lyricist and additional composer:
Robert Johnson (1930s blues legend)
lyricist and composer:
Elmore James
publisher:
ARC Music (world and ethnic music label), Flair Publishing and MPCA King of Spades
version of:
I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom
Elmore James2:45
5How Many More Years
recorded in:
Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1951-05-14)
drums (drum set):
Willie Steele (on 1951-05-14)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (on 1951-05-14)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1951-05-14)
piano:
Ike Turner (on 1951-05-14)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2013)
recording of:
How Many More Years (on 1951-05-14)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett (in 1951)
Howlin’ Wolf2:43
6Black, Brown and White
recording of:
Black, Brown and White
lyricist and composer:
Big Bill Broonzy
publisher:
Warner Chappell Overseas Holdings Ltd.
Big Bill Broonzy3:09
7Rocket ’88’
baritone saxophone:
Jackie Brenston (on 1951-03-03)
bass guitar:
Jesse Knight (on 1951-03-03)
drums (drum set):
Willie Sims (on 1951-03-03)
guitar:
Willie Kizart (on 1951-03-03)
piano:
Ike Turner (on 1951-03-03)
tenor saxophone:
Raymond Hill (on 1951-03-03)
vocals:
Jackie Brenston (on 1951-03-03)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1991)
recording of:
Rocket “88” (on 1951-03-05)
lyricist and composer:
Jackie Brenston (until 1951-03-03)
writer:
Ike Turner
Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats42:50
8Juke
Little Walter & His Night Cats2:45
9Five Long Years
Eddie Boyd2:42
10Mean Old World
Little Walter & His Night Cats2:56
11I Smell a Rat
recorded in:
Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1953)
baritone saxophone:
Fred Ford (baritone saxophonist) (in 1953)
double bass [bass]:
Albert Winston (R&B bassist) (in 1953)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Leard Bell (R&B drummer) (in 1953)
guitar:
Pete Lewis (R&B guitarist) (in 1953)
piano:
Devonia Williams (US R&B pianist/singer) (in 1953)
tenor saxophone:
James Von Streeter (in 1953)
trombone:
George Washington (jazz trombonist) (in 1953)
trumpet:
Don Johnson (1950s' R&B trumpeter) (in 1953)
vibraphone [vibes]:
Johnny Otis (in 1953)
vocals:
Big Mama Thornton (in 1953)
orchestra:
Johnny Otis Orchestra (in 1953)
recording of:
I Smell a Rat (in 1953)
writer:
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
publisher:
Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI)
Big Mama Thornton1:42
12Gabbin’ Blues
Big Maybelle2:43
13(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1954-01-07)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (on 1954-01-07)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below (on 1954-01-07)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1954-01-07) and Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (on 1954-01-07)
harmonica:
Little Walter (blues performer and songwriter) (on 1954-01-07)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1954-01-07)
vocals:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1954-01-07)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1954)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1984), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 225)
recording of:
I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (on 1954-01-07)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Bug Music Ltd., Campbell Connelly, Hello Mr. Wilson, Hoochie Coochie Music, Jewel Music Pub Co Ltd (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Willie Dixon Music
Muddy Waters3.852:48
14The Things That I Used to Do
alto saxophone:
Gus Fontenette (on 1953-10-26)
bass guitar [bass]:
Lloyd Lambert (on 1953-10-26)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Oscar Moore (on 1953-10-26)
guitar:
Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones (Eddie Jones) (on 1953-10-26)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1953-10-26)
tenor saxophone:
Charles Burbank (on 1953-10-26) and Joseph Tillman (on 1953-10-26)
trumpet:
Frank S. Mitchell (trumpet) (on 1953-10-26)
vocals:
Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones (Eddie Jones) (on 1953-10-26)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1953-10-26)
recorded at:
J&M Music Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (on 1953-10-26)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1984)
recording of:
The Things That I Used to Do (on 1953-10-26)
lyricist and composer:
Eddie Jones (US blues guitarist, aka Guitar Slim)
publisher:
Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Venice Music
Guitar Slim and His Band23:03
15Eisenhower Blues
J.B. Lenoir2:57
16Okie Dokie Stomp
recording of:
Okie Dokie Stomp
composer:
Pluma Davis
publisher:
Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI), Universal Duchess Music Corp., シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Gatemouth Brown with The Pluma Davis Orchestra2:35
17Come Back Baby
cover recording of:
Come Back Baby
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) and Walter Davis (American blues singer and pianist)
publisher:
Progressive Music (publisher), Rightsong Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
version of:
Come Back Baby
Ray Charles3:07
18How Long, How Long Blues
Jimmy Rushing4:52
19Cherry Red
Joe Turner and His All-Stars3:27
20San Francisco Bay Blues
Jesse Fuller3:03
21I Can’t Quit You Baby
cover recording of:
I Can’t Quit You Baby
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Conrad Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Hoochie Coochie Music
Otis Rush3:08
22Three Hours Past Midnight
Johnny “Guitar” Watson3:32
3▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Freight Train
guitar:
Elizabeth Cotten
vocals:
Elizabeth Cotten
recording of:
Freight Train
lyricist and composer:
Elizabeth Cotten
Elizabeth Cotten2:46
2Junker’s Blues
Champion Jack Dupree3:12
3Sweet’s Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon5:19
4Living With the Blues
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee2:53
5Shake ’em on Down
Mississippi Fred McDowell2:36
6Spoonful
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1960-06)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below (in 1960-06)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1960-06)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1960-06)
lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1960-06)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2010), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 154) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 219)
recording of:
Spoonful (in 1960-06)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Hoochie Coochie Music, Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Mathews Music
Howlin’ Wolf52:43
7Pardon Denied Again
Robert Pete Williams4:44
8Freddie
Mance Lipscomb2:40
9Hide Away
recording of:
Hide Away
composer:
Freddie King (US blues singer & guitarist) and Sonny Thompson (US R&B bandleader and pianist)
Freddie King2:37
10Goin’ Back to Florida
recorded in:
Houston, Texas, United States (on 1959-01-16)
recording engineer:
Samuel B. Charters (on 1959-01-16)
guitar:
Lightnin’ Hopkins (on 1959-01-16)
vocals:
Lightnin’ Hopkins (on 1959-01-16)
recording of:
Goin' Back to Florida
lyricist and composer:
Lightnin’ Hopkins
Lightnin’ Hopkins3:13
11Trust My Baby
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1960-09-15)
producer:
Marshall Chess
editor:
Ron Malo
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1960-09-15)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1960-09-15)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood, Jr. (on 1960-09-15) and Luther Tucker (on 1960-09-15)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1960-09-15)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1960-09-15)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1960-09-15)
recording of:
Trust My Baby (on 1960-09-15)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
Sonny Boy Williamson2:45
12Drivin’ Wheel
Junior Parker2:37
13Bright Lights, Big City
recording of:
Bright Lights, Big City
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy Reed (blues musician)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Conrad Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Jimmy Reed2:46
14Stormy Monday Blues
recording of:
Call It Stormy Monday (but Tuesday Is Just as Bad)
lyricist and composer:
T‐Bone Walker (US blues musician & songwriter, 1910–1975)
publisher:
Wixen Music Publishing, Inc. (ended), Burlington Music Co., Ltd., Songs Of The Knoll, 日音 Synch事業部 (NICHION, INC. Synch Division), Peermusic III, Ltd. (BMI) (until 2018-11-01), Gregmark Music Inc (Gregmark) (from 1959 to present), Lord and Walker Publishing (from 1959 to present) and Raleigh Music Group (RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC) (from 2018-11-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Scandinavia AB (in 1994)
Bobby “Blue” Bland4:10
15Tongue Lashing
Albert Collins2:50
16Worry, Worry
recording of:
Worry, Worry
writer:
Davis Plumber and Jules Taub
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
B.B. King6:31
17Baby Scratch My Back
recording of:
Baby, Scratch My Back
lyricist and composer:
James Moore (aka Slim Harpo)
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co.
Slim Harpo2:53
18Think
Jimmy McCracklin2:28
19Wang Dang Doodle
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-12-07)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1965-12-07)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1965-12-07) and Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (on 1965-12-07)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1965-12-07)
saxophone [sax]:
Gene Barge (on 1965-12-07) and Donald Hankins (Saxophonist) (on 1965-12-07)
tenor saxophone:
Gene Barge
background vocals:
Willie Dixon (on 1965-12-07)
lead vocals:
Koko Taylor
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1965-12-07)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1995)
cover recording of:
Wang Dang Doodle (on 1965-12-07)
lyricist:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
Koko Taylor43:00
20Early in the Morning
recording engineer:
Stu Black (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
producer:
Robert G. Koester
double bass:
Jack Myers (US blues bassist) (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
drums (drum set):
Billy Warren (US blues drummer) (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
electric guitar:
Buddy Guy (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Junior Wells (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
recorded at:
Sound Studios in Chicago, Illinois, United States (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
cover recording of:
Early in the Morning (from 1965-09-22 until 1965-09-23)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, 1914–1948)
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd.
Junior Wells4:48
21Sweet Home Chicago
Johnny Shines3:30
4▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Crosscut Saw
Albert King2:33
2Every Night and Every Day
recording engineer:
Stu Black
producer:
Robert G. Koester
bass:
Mack Thompson (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Odie Payne III (Drummer) (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25)
guitar:
Magic Sam (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25) and Mighty Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25)
piano:
Stockholm Slim (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25)
vocals:
Magic Sam (from 1967-07-12 until 1967-10-25)
Magic Sam3:08
3Why I Sing the Blues
recording engineer:
Joe “Ears” Zagarino (in 1969-01) and Bill Szymczyk (in 1969-01)
engineer:
Joe Zagarino
producer:
Bill Szymczyk
bass:
Gerald “Fingers” Jenmott (in 1969-01)
guitar:
B.B. King (in 1969-01) and Hugh McCracken (in 1969-01)
piano:
Al Kooper and Paul Harris (American keyboardist/pianist session player) (in 1969-01)
vocals:
B.B. King (in 1969-01)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1969)
recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (in 1969-01)
recording of:
Why I Sing the Blues (in 1969-01)
writer:
Dave Clark (record promoter and musical consultant who worked with B.B. King) and B.B. King
publisher:
ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc., Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated), Pamco Music Inc. and Sounds Of Lucille, Inc.
B.B. King8:34
4Everybody Knows About My Good Thing, Part 1
Little Johnny Taylor3:19
5Little Bluebird
Little Milton6:55
6Your Turn to Cry
Jimmy Johnson5:52
7Down Home Blues
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2000)
recording of:
Down Home Blues
composer:
George Jackson (US soul songwriter/vocalist)
Z.Z. Hill5:12
8Your Husband Is Cheatin' on Us
Denise LaSalle4:38
9How Long This Must Go On
Roosevelt 'Bubba' Barnes and The Playboys4:03
10Jr. Blues
Junior Kimbrough6:43
11Big Legged Mamas Are Back in Style
Taj Mahal4:17
12Stubborn Woman
Tutu Jones3:20
13Cities Need Help
assistant engineer:
Spencer Starnes (bassist) and Steve Starnes
engineer and producer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
mixer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer) and Mike Krowiak
bass:
Tommy Shannon
drums (drum set):
Chris Layton
guitar:
Buddy Guy
piano:
Johnnie Johnson (US jazz/blues/rock’n’roll pianist)
vocals:
Buddy Guy
recorded at:
Arlyn Studios (sister of Pedernales Studio) in Austin, Texas, United States
mixed at:
RPM Sound Studios in New York, New York, United States
recording of:
Cities Need Help
writer:
Buddy Guy
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
Buddy Guy5:32
14You
Billy Branch6:33
15Between Midnight and Day
Cory Harris3:35