Roosevelt Sykes

Roosevelt Sykes - Hard Drivin' Blues (1975)

Roosevelt Sykes began making records in 1929, and kept churning out his own pungent brand of blues and boogie for many decades. When the music heard on this album was recorded in January 1962 and May 1963, Sykes was in the process of ripening into a sanguine creature even more interesting and provocative than his earlier selves had been. By the time these recordings finally appeared in 1975 as Hard Drivin' Blues on Chicago's Delmark record label, Sykes had enjoyed one hell of a comeback as an internationally acclaimed master of the blues; he toured extensively, playing tiny saloons and massive music festivals, even recording at times with electrically amplified instrumental backing. All throughout the second half of the 1970s, the one-man, one-piano Hard Drivin' Blues album was warmly received by those lucky enough to have caught Sykes live and in person, and it still stands as one of the very finest recordings in his entire discography. Highlights include the picturesquely humbled "She's Got Me Straddle a Log," the gradually paced "Slidell Blues," and its geographically linked cousin, the rowdy "North Gulfport Boogie." Three of these performances are manifestations of Sykes' perpetual preoccupation with human sexuality: the convivial "I Like What You Do (When You Do What You Did Last Night)," the rosy tribute to his woman's "Dresser Drawers," and the infamous "Kickin' Motor Scooter," destined to reappear years later as "Dirty Mother for You." There are plenty of Roosevelt Sykes albums to choose from; this one is essential, fundamental, and indispensable.

Genre - Blues
Styles - Piano Blues, Acoustic Blues, Regional Blues, St. Louis Blues
Time - 46:59
Format - mp3@192 Kbps
Size - 65 mb

Tracks
01. Kickin' Motor Scooter
02. Red-Eyed Jesse Bell
03. I Like What You Do (When YouDo What You Did Last Night)
04. New Fire Detective Blues
05. North Gulfport Boogie
06. Watch Your Step (If You Just Can't Be Good)
07. Ho! Ho! Ho!
08. Key to Your Heart
09. We Gotta Move
10. Dresser Drawers
11. Living the Right Life
12. Run This Boogie
13. Slidell Blues
14. Mistake in Life
15. You So Small
16. Concentration Blues
17. She's Got Me Straddle a Log

Credits
Roosevelt Sykes (vocals, piano)
Homesick James Williamson (guitar)

Label
Delmark, 1975

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Roosevelt Sykes - Is Blue and Ribald (1977)

omehow the esteemed Sykes charges through this low-rent production like a high-priced quarterback, scoring and then coming back around for the field goal. The independent blues label that released this was based out of Columbia, SC, and their production is on the cheap side, with flimsy vinyl, generic printing, and a recording sound that might make the listener imagine that the fellow with the microphone wasn't sure how close he was supposed to get. Sykes was allowed to re-record material he had already committed to posterity a few times already, as well as completely extemporize an instrumental inspired by a swipe through a deck of cards, which must be the boogie-woogie equivalent of a John Cage composition. He even picks up a guitar for the only time in his recorded career, and although the instrument sounds in need of repair and the song is wretched, he manages to pull off an impressive lead break, especially for a pianist. He seems to have been in a rowdy mood, which saves the day in terms of what have could have been a substandard album. After playing a filthier than usual "Dirty Mother for You," he follows up with an arrogant number entitled "Put Up or Shut Up," the type of material the artist does with glee. The only trick the label seems to have missed is promoting this as a filthy or sexy record. The title doesn't quite indicate how many numbers of this sort are on the record, and how much free rein Sykes is given. This certainly isn't the set he would play if there were little old ladies in the front row. Or maybe it would be! (from AMG)


Tracklist

1 Ice Cream Freezer Sykes
2 Too Many Fingers Sykes
3 It Hurts So Good Sykes
4 Get Back, Baby Sykes
5 Buggy Ride Sykes
6 E.Z. Cherry Sykes
7 Dirty Mother for You Sykes
8 Put Up or Shut Up Sykes
9 Peach in Egypt Sykes
10 The Woman Is in Demand Sykes
11 Thanks, But No Thanks Sykes
12 Ace Boogie Sykes
@ 320 KBPs

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