Willie's Blues is Willie Dixon's debut album, released in 1959.[1] Given almost equal credit on the album was his piano accompanist, Memphis Slim, who played on all of the tracks, and wrote the two numbers that were not penned by Dixon.[5]
| Willie's Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1959 | |||
| Recorded | December 3, 1959 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 39:25 | |||
| Label | Prestige Bluesville : BVLP-1003 | |||
| Producer | Esmond Edwards | |||
| Willie Dixon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
The album was issued on the Prestige Bluesville record label in the vinyl format.[6] According to the original liner notes, the album was recorded during a two-hour recording span, in between flights.[1][5] It was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.[5]
The album was re-issued on CD in June 1992 on Charly - catalog reference CDCHD 349.[6]
Critical reception
editThe Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote: "Imbued with a dark, after-hours ambience, the album is Dixon's strongest solo recording."[4]
Track listing
edit- All songs written by Willie Dixon, except where indicated.
- "Nervous" 3:15
- "Good Understanding" 2:15
- "That's My Baby" 3:22
- "Slim's Thing" (Memphis Slim) 3:24
- "That's All I Want Baby" 2:15
- "Don't You Tell Nobody" 2:09
- "Youth to You" 3:24
- "Sittin' and Cryin' the Blues" 3:23
- "Built for Comfort" 2:32
- "I Got a Razor" 4:14
- "Go Easy" (Memphis Slim) 5:52
- "Move Me" 3:20[1]
Personnel
edit- Willie Dixon - double bass, vocals
- Memphis Slim - piano
- Gus Johnson - drums
- Wally Richardson - guitar
- Al Ashby - tenor saxophone
- Harold Ashby - tenor saxophone
- Technical
- Esmond Edwards - supervisor
- Dale Wright - liner notes[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Stephen Cook (1959-12-03). "Willie's Blues - Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 37.
- ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 202.
- ^ a b c Liner notes from BVLP-1003 - original vinyl album
- ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 277. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ "Willie's Blues - Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim | Credits". AllMusic. 1959-12-03. Retrieved 2014-01-31.