Search - Roosevelt Sykes :: Sings the Blues

Darn if these aren't some good tunes. Thanks, Mr. Sykes!

Horse Snakes | Portland, OR USA | 08/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A few months ago I found this for a $1 in a used record bin. My copy is real old and on the Crown label. The record didn't list any credits or give any info about the music, but all I have to do is throw it on and listen and know that from the smile that won't leave my face, that this is Chicago style blues at it's best. I don't know the band members names, but there is an excellent electric hollowbody guitarist, a stand up bass player, and drummer accomanying Mr. Sykes on piano and vocals of course. Although I'm not a big jazz fan, the jazz leanings that this group has going sound great. Almost like the band on Tom Waits' Blue Valentine. Anyways, Roosevelt's vocals are about the best in the business and his lyrics are real clever, too. He's definitely no slouch on the piano either. By the time he recorded this, he had already been makin' records for 40 years, but this is not the work of someone who is burned out. Listening, I can't help but think that he really, truly loves playing his music."

1962 Blues Album Rarity By "The Honeydripper" Given A Great

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 07/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Sings The Blues" is part of Ace Records "HIP POCKET" series (famous UK reissue label) - 5" card repro sleeves of rare and iconic albums from across many genres. This November 2006 re-issue replicates that ultra-rare US-only 1962 album "Sings The Blues" on Crown Records CLP 5287. It's a proper remaster from the original analogue tapes and the sound is SUPERB - loud and clear - a typically superb job done by one of Britain's best re-issue labels.



The band for the album consisted of:

ROOSEVELT "The Honeydripper" SYKES on Piano

OETT "Sax" MALLARD on Saxophone

WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass

ARMAND "Jump" JACKSON on Drums



The music is slow piano-based blues with a slight New Orleans twist on some of the tracks - a sort of harder version of Fats Domino. All songs are Sykes originals, while 2, 3 and 6 to 10 are originals co-written with JOE JOSEA - who also did the liner notes on the rear sleeve. It doesn't say who played the excellent guitar work on "Gone With The Wind", "Out On A Limb" and especially "Casual Friend" - but it's all good.



A nice album then - nicely presented. Highly recommended.



PS: For other titles in the ACE RECORDS "HIP POCKET" series - see LISTMANIA in Amazon where I've posted all 23 titles so far."