• 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL
• THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 6 BONUS TRACKS
• 4 1/2 stars all music guide

There's simply no sound in the blues as instantly recognizable, and as easy to play and sing as the music of the great Jimmy Reed. Even though he is one of the bestselling bluesmen of all time, most blues historians consider Reed to be a minor figure in the Chicago blues pantheon. Despite being a merely average guitarist and harmonica player (in a city littered with talent), he possessed a warm, friendly voice, lyrical phrasing and a sense of melody that
appealed to record buyers. Presented here is Reed's second album, Rockin' with Reed, originally released by the Vee-Jay label in 1959.

PERSONNEL:

JIMMY REED - (vocals, lead guitar and harmonica) plus:
A1: Remo Biondi, Eddie Taylor (g), Earl Phillips (d). September 11, 1958.
A2: Same as A1. December 12, 1957.
A3 & A6: Eddie Taylor (g) Earl Phillips (d). September 5, 1957.
A4, B2-B3: Same as A1. May 28, 1958.
A5: William “Lefty” Bates, Eddie Taylor (g), Earl Phillips (d). March 26, 1959.
A7: William “Lefty” Bates, Jimmy Reed, Jr, (g), Al Duncan (d). Late 1962.
A8: Mary Lee “Mama” Reed (vc), William “Lefty”’ Bates (g, b), Earl Phillips (d). Rec. 1961.
A9, B6: Eddie Taylor, John Littlejohn (g), Albert King (d). December 29-30, 1953.
B1: Same as A1. March 12, 1958.
B4-B5: Same as A3 & A6. April 3, 1957.
B7: Mary Lee “Mama” Reed (vc), William “Lefty” Bates, Eddie Taylor (g), Willie Dixon (b), Earl Phillips (d). March 29, 1960.
B8: Same as A5. December 15, 1959.
B9: Mary Lee “Mama” Reed (vc), William “Lefty” Bates, Eddie Taylor (g), Marcus Johnson (b), Earl Phillips (d). August 7, 1959.

(*) BONUS TRACKS. Not on the original LP.

TRACKS:

A1 GOING TO NEW YORK
A2 A STRING TO YOUR HEART
A3 ENDS & ODDS
A4 CARESS ME BABY
A5 TAKE OUT SOME INSURANCE
A6 THE MOON IS RISING
A7 SHAME, SHAME, SHAME (*)
A8 BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (*)
A9 YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO (*)

B1 DOWN IN VIRGINIA
B2 I KNOW IT’S A SIN
B3 WANNA BE LOVED
B4 BABY, WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND
B5 MY BITTER SEED
B6 ROCKIN’ WITH REED
B7 BIG BOSS MAN (*)
B8 FOUND LOVE (*)
B9 BABY WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO (*)