Wynonie Harris – Rocks
Bear Family – BCD 17746
Rock Mr. Blues – Good Rockin’ Tonight – Blodshot Eyes – Quiet Whiskey – Just Like Two Drops Of Water – Git With The Grits – Mr. Blues Is Coming To Town – All She Wants To Do Is Rock – That’s Me Right Now – Bite Again, Bite Again – Adam Come And Get Your Rib – Rot Gut – Good Morning Judge – My Playful Baby’s Gone – Lovin’ Machine – Git To Gittin’ Baby – Drinkin’ Wine Spoo-Dee-O-Dee – All Night Long – Blowin’ To California – Lollipop Mama – All She Wants To Is Mambo – Shake That Thing – Keep On Churnin’ (‘Til The Butter Comes) – I Want My Fanny Brown – Sittin’ On It All The Time – Grandma Plays The Numbers – Good Mambo Tonight – I Feel That Old Age Coming On – Bad News Baby (There’ll Be No Rockin’ Tonight) – Wasn’t That Good
Wynonie Harris was with Roy Brown and Joe Turner, one of those who paved the way and helped to forge the sound of Rock’n’Roll. His loud, powerful, and raspy voice would make the wall tremble and the wallpaper fall, the perfect description of a blues shouter.
This 30-track collection covers the years 1947 to 1954 (with one exception, That’s Me Right Now from 1957) of rich and wild recordings made for King Records during which Harris reigned on the Rhythm’n’Blues charts. Strangely, after this prosperous period, Harris, one of the originators of Rock’n’Roll, fell out of fashion when the genre swept the nation. Harris was probably too old to seduce a young audience. The other “problem” was his material. Harris sang mainly about drinking booze, partying, the consequences with justice, and… women. Though highly danceable and addictive, and more than often hilarious, his repertoire featuring songs like All She Wants To Do Is Rock, Lovin’ Machine, Shake That Thing, Sittin’ On It All The Time, Keep On Churnin’ (Till The Butter Comes), and Wasn’t That Good, was probably a tad too bold and risqué for the teenage market.
Nevertheless, Harris’s brand of Jump Blues always benefited from swingin’ and smokin’ backing bands. The arrangements were super tight, and with musicians like Hot Lips Page, Mickey Baker, Todd Rhodes, Buddy Tate (who played with Count Basie for nearly ten years), Johnny Griffin (an ex-member of Lionel Hampton’s band), Cat Anderson (Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder), you couldn’t go wrong. Moreover, having such first-rate and hot musicians, Harris was clever enough to let them room to play. The best example can be found in Quiet Whiskey, which features the twin sax attack of Red Prysock (Tiny Bradshaw) and David van Dyke who, in less than 2’30“, trade solos like there was no tomorrow.
If you don’t own any Harris records, this compilation album is the perfect introduction to the party, and one of the pillars on which you must build your Rock’n’Roll discography. The booklet and the flawless selection will also make it a must-have for the others.
Available here.
And if you’re a fan of Wynonie Harris and beautiful objects, you should consider buying Wynonie “Mr Blues” Harris, still on Bear Family. This limited edition is a superb reproduction of a French 10 inch LP on magenta vinyl. Available here.
