Jesse Thomas

On Blues Is a Feeling, the late guitarist-vocalist Jesse Thomas delivers straightforward, rural-sounding blues in an intimate, drumless session from 1992 with pianist Jodie Christian and second guitarist John Primer. Thomas was 81 years old at the time of this recording, just three years before his death. And though his voice sounds somewhat frail here-and probably would’ve been overwhelmed by the sound of drums-Primer and Christian provide light, elegant accompaniment that puts Thomas’ soft yet expressive vocals in the foreground. And Thomas proves to be a humorous storyteller on tunes like “Married Woman Blues,” “She Throwed Me Clothes Outdoor” and “Santa Claus.”

Various Artists - Red River Blues: Shreveport Blues from RAM Records (1999) {Ace Records CDCHD725 rec 1955-1961}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 203 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 149 Mb
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© 1955-61, 1999 Ram Records / Red River Records / Ace Records CDCHD 725
Rhythm and Blues / Blues

Recorded between the mid-'50s and mid-'60s, most of this electric blues and R&B was laid down at Mira Smith's studio in Shreveport, LA, appearing on tiny labels like Ram, Jo, Clif, Speed, and Red River; a dozen of the tracks were previously unreleased. This is pretty tenuous ground for a compilation, and it should be pointed out that Smith also recorded some other styles in her studio that are not represented here; also, the disc is filled out by five cuts done elsewhere in Shreveport by Jesse Thomas in the early '60s. Nonetheless, it's a pretty fair collection of early electric Louisiana blues, TV Slim the only name likely to evince even faint recognition from most collectors.

To discover the origins of rock & roll, one has to return to the music of the 1930s and '40s, when the blues and rhythm & blues ruled the airwaves. The musical geniuses of these genres were primarily African American, although a few Anglo artists crossed over into the earthy music played in dance halls and on the radio. Few of these artists cashed in like their spiritual descendants a generation later. Nonetheless, they have left a legacy in song of their rich tradition. This CD is part of a series that traces the colorful history of rock & roll to its source. Making an appearance are New Orleans R&B giants Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Other well-known artists include B.B. King, Wynonie Harris, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Louis Jordan, Champion Jack Dupree, and the Sons of the Pioneers…