Of the multitude of
r&b labels to have come from the Windy City, Mercury Records can proudly claim to be among the most diverse. Their roster expanded beyond talent in and around Chicago and over time they enlarged the scope of their releases into the genres of
country,
pop, and
rock & roll. The two-CD Midwest Blues (1996) contains prominent material drawn from the archives of the imprint's first decade (1945-1955), focusing chiefly on local and regional artists. At first, Mercury's primary emphasis was urbane jump,
jive, and
orchestral counterparts to the comparatively raw Delta style that had seeped up from the southeastern United States. The contents are presented in a chronological fashion, commencing appropriately enough with the
boogie-woogie shouter "It's Just the Blues" by the Four Jumps of Jive, whose membership boasted bassist
Willie Dixon. This is followed by seminal sides by vocalist
Sippie Wallace, featuring support from pianist
Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings on
Wallace's co-composition "Bedroom Blues." Performances by the trio led by guitarist/vocalist
T-Bone Walker are underscored by an early reading of "My Baby Left Me," with pianist/vocalist
Marl Young & His Orchestra providing the accompaniment. The pair of disparate
Dinah Washington selections includes an upscale big-band arrangement of "Joy Juice" circa 1946 and the markedly different bawdy double entendre of the rural and relaxed "Long John Blues" (aka "Dentist Blues"). Among the additional essentials on Midwest Blues are primal platters by
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson ("Railroad Porter Blues" and "Gonna Send You Where I Got You From"),
Sunnyland Slim ("Mud Kickin' Woman," "Gin Drinkin' Baby"),
Memphis Slim ("No Mail Blues," "Drivin' Me Mad" -- with vocals by
Terry Timmons -- and "Train Time"), and lesser-known acts such as
Myra Taylor,
Ray Snead, and
Sax Mallard, whose aggregate was graced by pianist
Roosevelt Sykes during this era. Last but certainly not least are three distinct caches of
Big Bill Broonzy -- one on electric guitar as a leader of
the Fat Four, as well as another highly charged offering with
Broonzy instrumentally augmented by bassist
Ransom Knowling and a final batch backed by
the Big Little Orchestra, the latter turning in a definitive take of "Southbound Train." The
Robert Jr. Lockwood titles, which have been previously difficult to locate on compact disc, are a major coup for inclined parties. His covers of "Dust My Broom" -- purportedly learned from
Robert Johnson -- and
Big Boy Crudup's "I'm Gonna Dig Myself a Hole" are alone worth the price of admission. The superior audio quality is further incentive for collectors and the curious alike to find not only Midwest Blues, but the other three anthologies extracted from the Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story (1945-1955) eight-volume box set. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
