VA - Bluesin' By The Bayou: Aint' Broke, Ain't Hungry (2017)

The “By The Bayou” series leaps to Volume 18 with a return to the blues of South Louisiana, bringing you rare or previously unissued tracks from stars of the genre such as Lightnin’ Slim, Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo, plus a host of little-known or completely unknown performers. We also have two artists who you would never think performed in the downhome style – Barbara Lynn and Cookie (aka Huey Thierry) – but who sound right at home, with an unknown harmonica player setting the tone on Barbara’s track whilst Cupcakes guitarist Marshall Laday supports Cookie with some mean blues pickin’. In fact there are several tracks here that will have air-guitar virtuosos reaching for their imaginary axes.

We reveal in the booklet that the much-reported birthplace of Lightnin’ Slim may be another creation of this enigmatic performer. Sorting out the different takes of his songs has proven complicated because he was inclined to sing subtle changes in the lyrics whilst performing identical guitar work. This time we have had the support of a dedicated fan who prefers to remain anonymous but provided detailed analysis. As for Slim Harpo, ‘Cigarettes’ is one of my favourites amongst his lesser-known titles.

As always there are a handful of mystery singers. Was there really a “Ramblin’ Hi Harris”, for example, or was his name created later by J.D. Miller? Another rarity is an artist whose record doesn’t appear in that veritable tome The Blues Discography 1943-1970. T.B. Fisher may have escaped notice there but he is proof of what a great ear Huey Meaux had for all manner of music. The man had a real knack for spotting talent and bringing out their best on vinyl, and I’ll wager there will be many a blues aficionado hunting for Fisher’s disc once it’s been heard.

TRACKLIST

01. Mercy Baby - Pleadin'
02. Leroy Washington - I've Been In This Prison
03. Lightnin' Slim - Little Girl Blues
04. Ramblin' Hi Harris - I Haven't Got A Home
05. 'Honey Boy' Allen Pierre - Better Start Doin' It
06. Slim Harpo - Cigarettes
07. Lightnin' Slim - Hoo Doo Blues
08. Polka Dot Slim - Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry
09. Lazy Lester - I'm A Lover Not A Fighter
10. Joe Richards - Dreaming, Dreaming
11. Al Smith - Still In Love With You
12. Cookie & The Cupcakes - In The Evening
13. Polka Dot Slim - A Thing You Gotta Face
14. Jake Jackson - Life Gets Hard
15. Barbara Lynn - Sugar Coated Love
16. Boozoo Chavis & His Zodico Accordian - Tee Black
17. Jimmy Anderson & The Joy Jumpers - Angel Please
18. Clarence Garlow - Make Me Cry
19. Boozoo Chavis & His Zodico Accordian - Hamburgers & Popcorn
20. Lightnin' Slim - I Hate To Leave You Baby
21. Al Smith - If I Don't See You
22. Ramblin' Hi Harris - Baby, Baby, Baby
23. Lightnin' Slim - I Don't Know
24. Big Walter - If The Blues Was Money
25. Jake Jackson - Somebody Tell Me
26. Al Smith - I Love Her So )
27. T.B. Fisher - Don't Change Your Mind
28. Unknown Artist - I'm Gonna Find My Baby