Bluebird Recordings 1939-1942

• Artist: Tommy McClennan
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 29, 1997
• Total Time: 119:26
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

McClennan's hoarse, shouted vocals, spoken vaudeville asides and scrappy guitar work make for a pretty irresistible combination, especially in light of the simple fact that most blues fans have never been exposed to his music in large doses. This double disc rounds up every known extant side recorded for Bluebird between 1939 to 1942, when the label dropped him for problems with alcohol. The music on here comes from five sessions and is uniformly excellent, if a bit samey. But it is blues at its most intense and unfettered, and tracks like "Bottle It Up and Go," "You Can Mistreat Me Here," "Baby Please Don't Tell On Me," "New Shake 'Em On Down," and "Baby Don't You Want to Go?" (the latter his adaption of "Sweet Home Chicago") are full of energy and verses worth requoting. This set is one of the true hidden treasures of the "Bluebird" period in blues history and, as such, deserves a much, much wider hearing. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
You Can Mistreat Me Here (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:42)
New Shake 'Em on Down	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(3:07)
Bottle It up and Go	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:46)
Whiskey Head Woman (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:58)
Brown Skin Girl (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:42)
Cotton Patch Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:45)
Baby Don't You Want to Go	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:55)
Baby, Please Don't Tell on Me	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:41)
I'm Going Don't You Know	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:41)
New Highway 51	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:48)
She's Just Good Huggin' Size	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:57)
My Little Girl (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:49)
My Baby's Gone (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:42)
It's Hard to Be Lonesome (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:36)
My Baby's Doggin' Me	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:38)
She's a Good Looking Mama (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:49)
Whiskey Head Man	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:48)
New Sugar Mama (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:55)
Down to Skin and Bones Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:39)
Katy Mae Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:43)
Love With a Feeling	Hudson Whittaker	Tommy McClennan	(2:58)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Drop Down Mama	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:50)
Black Minnie (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:53)
Elsie Blues (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:57)
Des'e My Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(3:14)
Cross Cut Saw Blues [Alternate Take]	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:40)
Cross Cut Saw Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:44)
Classy Mae Blues (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:45)
You Can't Read My Mind	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:58)
Travelin' Highway Man	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:58)
Deep Blue Sea Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:59)
I'm a Guitar King (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:47)
It's a Crying Pity	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:49)
Mozelle Blues (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:54)
Blues Trip Me This Morning (Lyrics)	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(3:00)
Mr. So and So Blues	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:43)
Roll Me, Baby	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(3:01)
I Love My Baby	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(3:05)
Shake It Up and Go	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:54)
Blue as I Can Be	Tommy McClennan	Tommy McClennan	(2:42)
Bluebird Blues	Tommy McClennan, John Williamson	Tommy McClennan	(2:56)
Boogie Woogie Woman	Robert Petway	Tommy McClennan	(2:58)

Credits

Tommy McClennan (Vocals), Vincent Caro (Compilation Producer), Paul Brizzi (Digital Restoration), Dennis Ferrante (Transfers), Ransom Knowling (String Bass), Robert Petway (Guitar), Nicky Lindeman (Design), Michael Omansky (Executive Producer), Mary Katherine Aldin (Liner Notes), Dennis Ferrante (Digital Remastering), Tommy McClennan (Guitar), Robert Petway (Vocals)