Chicago - The Blues Yesterday Volume 22
Chicago - The Blues Yesterday Volume 22
01. Nite-lite slop 02. Carla Jim Conley - tenor saxophone Phil Upchurch - guitar John Young - piano Dave Green - organ Richard Evans - bass Marshall Thompson - drums. Chicago, Ill. 1960 03. Soul guitar (Midnight shuffle) 04. Riding in my Jaguar Bill Warren - vocals Eddie Buster - organ Craig Horton - guitar Freddie Young - guitar Johnny deLacour - bass Jump Jackson - drums. Chicago, Ill. 1961 05. There is no one 06. I had to go 07. I've got just the thing to keep my man Lady Margo (Joyce Fargo) - vocals + band. Chicago, Ill. 1973 08. I've got just the thing I & II 09. This is my prayer to find someone of my own Lady Margo - vocals Chick Willis - guitar + band. Chicago, Ill. 1974 10. Stop by 11. Simply got to make it without you 12. I enjoy loving you 13. Nothing better Lady Margo (Joyce Fargo) - vocals + band. Chicago, Ill. 1976 14. Mean and evil baby (vcl: Sheba Griffin) 15. Cherry (vcl: Sheba Griffin) 16. Ice man blues (vcl: George Kirby) 17. Fishin' pole (vcl: Buster Bennett) Tom Archia - tenor saxophone Buster Bennett - tenor saxophone Bill Owens - piano Hurley Ramey - guitar Dallas Bartley - bass Jump Jackson - drums. Chicago, ill. July 1947 18. Jam for Sam 19. Macomba jump 20. Downfall blues (Whiskey) 21. Slumber (Blues at twilight) Tom Archia - vocals, tenor saxophone Leo Blevins - guitar Bill Searcy - piano Lowell Pointer - bass Robert Henderson - drums. Chicago, Ill. October 1947 22. Hey Tom Archia 23. Mckie's jam for boppers Tom Archia - tenor saxophone Gail Brockman - trumpet Andrew Gardner - aalto saxophone Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone Claude Mc Lin - tenor saxophone Junior Mance - piano George Freeman - guitar Le Roy Jackson - bass Ike Day - drums. Chicago, Ill. c. October 1948 24. Jam for Boppers 25. Swinging for Christmas 26. Talk of the town 27. The battle Tom Archia - tenor saxophone Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone Willie Jones - piano LeRoy Jackson - bass Wesley Landers - drums. Chicago, Ill. 12 November 1948
Saxophonist Jim Conley (1931-2006) has prolifically recorded behind many bluesmen like Memphis Slim, Eddie Boyd, Otis Rush, Jimmy Dawkins... For some time during the late 50's-early 60's he led his own combo which featured lead guitarist Phil Upchurch, recording two good singles, one featured here, the other on my YouTube channel. He also waxed a LP in Germany in 1980 (My woman, my world, God's peace)
Drummer Bil Warren (1919-2000) has been playing on numerous sessions and with Chicago bands, coming several times in Europe during the 70's. He has also recorded a single as a vocalist with Craig Horton as lead guitarist and Jump Jackson replacing him on drums.
The great Soul blues singer Lady Margo (Joyce Fargo) has started her career with Arlean Brown's revue and then with Little Mack Simmons during the 1970's, drawing the attention during the famous Silver Shadow's "Battle of the blues between girls" in 1977 alongside Koko Taylor and Bonnie Lee. She has recorded a handful of 45s for small labels, including Cynthia, based in Phoenix, Az! After that, she turned to religion, recording Gospel for Jimmy Dawkins' Leric label. She is possibly still leading her church in South Carolina.
Tom Archia (born Ernest Alvin Archia Jr on 26 November 1919 at Groveton, Tx) learned saxophone while in Houston's high school. He started as a member of Milt Larkin's orchestra, backing for almost a year (1942-43) T-Bone Walker in Chicago. With many local opportunities, Archia decided to stay in the Windy City playing every night at Leonard Chess' Macomba Lounge club and recording constantly for the Aristocrat's label as a saxophonist or as a leader. After the Macomba burned and closed definitively in 1950, Tom played a little bit everywhere in Chicago's clubs but recorded only very sporadically as a sideman until 1960. In 1967, he decided to go back to Houston, playing there with several bands until his untimely death on 16th January 1977. ---Gérard Herzhaft, jukegh.blogspot.com
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