Similar Albums:
Sonet Blues Story,
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1943-1950),
Volume 2 (1945-1950),
Trouble in Mind 1935-1941,
1944-1946,
Hard Drivin' Blues,
Complete Blue Horizon Sessions,
Clownin' with the World,
Complete Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936),
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1928-1930)
- Artist: Roosevelt Sykes
- Rating:
- Release Date: April 23, 2004
- Type: Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Blues
Review
This Delmark CD issue is taken from Roosevelt Sykes' first early-'50s recordings for the Regal label, with a few tracks taken from the early '60s, and issued by Delmark originally. Sykes was fresh from a long tenure with RCA Victor and Bluebird, and artistically hungry for the first time in at least a decade. The sides here reflect that fresh-start feel. Sykes performs here like a young lion artist who is trying to blow the doors off the joint to prove himself, rather than as a seasoned veteran. There are three different sessions here: one from March 14, 1950 (with Jump Jackson on drums), another from April 10, 1951 (with J.T. Brown on tenor sax, Ransom Knowling on bass, and Jackson on drums), and a final one from May 17, 1963 (with St. Louis Jimmy on vocals on four of the nine). This stuff is the Sykes' mother lode. Not only have none of these tracks ever appeared on CD before, nine of them are issued here for the very first time anywhere. Here is the piano-pumping, wailing singer, digging deep and having a ball on the title track, "Drivin' Wheel," "Rock It," "Green Onion Top," "44 Blues," and "West Helena Blues," with 12 others in the mix. Sound quality here is pretty much great and the sequencing is primo. This is an indispensable addition to any Roosevelt Sykes' shelf, and one hell of an introduction for novices. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Drivin' Wheel | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:52) |
| West Helena Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:58) |
| Wonderin' Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:18) |
| Monkey Face Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:55) | |
| Rock It | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:58) |
| Chicago Boogie | Roosevelt Sykes | (1:39) | |
| Security Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (3:03) |
| Soon Forgotten | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:41) | |
| Green Onion Top | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:37) |
| Mail Box Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:51) |
| 44 Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (3:32) |
| Complete This Order | Roosevelt Sykes | (3:27) | |
| Blues 'N' Boogie | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:32) |
| Winter Time Blues | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:48) |
| Rock It [Alternate Take] | Roosevelt Sykes | (3:01) | |
| My Resolution | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:41) | |
| Kickin' Motor Scooter | Roosevelt Sykes | Roosevelt Sykes | (2:39) |
