Jimmy Witherspoon

2 LPs ON 1 CD + 3 BONUS TRACKS

With a musical career that spanned over five decades, the great Jimmy Witherspoon crossed over into R&B, swing, gospel, and jazz, but his roots were always in the blues. His deep and mellow voice and impeccable taste also made him a successful jazz-blues crossover artist. This quintessential release includes two of Witherspoon’s finest albums from the early Sixties: Roots (Reprise 1961), and the self-titled Jimmy Witherspoon (Crown 1960). The former is a true hidden classic with accompaniment by saxophonist Ben Webster, trumpeter Gerald Wilson, and a rhythm section consisting of pianist Ernie Freeman and drummer Jim Miller. The warmth of Spoon’s voice can be heard on material like “Your Red Wagon,” “I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water,” “Key to the Highway” (in one of the most unique versions ever recorded), and Jimmy Rushing’s lonely “Did You Ever”. The latter album is filled with both studio and live recordings from his 1947-1951 sides on the Modern label. These outstanding LPs have been remastered and packaged together in this very special collector’s edition, which also includes 3 bonus tracks from the same period.

PERSONNEL:

JIMMY WITHERSPOON, vocals, plus:

BEN WEBSTER, tenor saxophone
GERALD WILSON, trumpet
ERNIE FREEMAN, piano
HERMAN MITCHELL, guitar
RALPH "CHUCK" HAMILTON, bass
JIM MILLER,
and The Jay McShann Orchestra, among others.

Recorded in California, 1949-1962.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01 I’D RATHER DRINK MUDDY WATER
02 I’M GONNA MOVE TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
03 KEY TO THE HIGHWAY
04 DID YOU EVER
05 CONFESSIN’ THE BLUES
06 NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT
07 YOUR RED WAGON
08 RAIN IS SUCH A LONESOME SOUND
09 CHERRY RED
10 IT’S A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME
11 JUST A DREAM
12 PLEASE, MR. WEBSTER
13 AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS (IF I DO)
14 NO ROLLIN’ BLUES
15 BIG FINE GIRL
16 FAILING BY DEGREES
17 NEW ORLEANS WOMAN
18 I DONE FOUND OUT
19 SWEET LOVIN’ BABY
20 FICKLE WOMAN
21 HAVE A BALL
22 GOOD JUMPIN’
23 HARD WORKIN’ BLUES (*)
24 I’M JUST A LADIES MAN (*)
25 DON’T EVER MOVE A WOMAN INTO YOUR HOUSE (*)

TOTAL TIME: 77:44 min