Little Milton Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)

• Artist: Little Milton
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 17, 1997
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

Milton Campbell was a blues chameleon in his early recording career for Sun and Bobbin, changing styles seemingly with every record he made. But he found his groove -- a Bobby Bland-style R&B with a bluesy edge to it -- when he came to Chess Records in 1963. These 16 tracks collect the highlights of his six-year tenure at the label, featuring the hits "We're Gonna Make It," "Who's Cheating Who?" and "If Walls Could Talk." The majority of the sides feature strong horn charts courtesy of Oliver Sain and Gene Barge, the core of Milton's sound during this period. The stylistic connection of Milton to Bland is no more stronger evidenced than on his cover of "Blind Man," but equal mention in the soulful department must go to the heart-wrenching ballad "Let Me Down Easy" and "Poor Man's Song," one of two songs collected here that Campbell had a hand in writing. Interesting updates of Little Willie John's "All Around the World" ("Grits Ain't Groceries"), Chuck Willis' "I Feel So Bad" and Rosco Gordon's "Just a Little Bit" complete the package. As part of MCA's Chess 50th Anniversary Series, this sweats the two-disc Welcome to the Club: The Essential Chess Recordings down to a perfect introductory package to this sometimes misunderstood (is he blues? soul? R&B?) artist. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
We're Gonna Make It	Carl Smith, Gene Barge, Raynard Miner, Billy Davis, Clifton William Smith	Little Milton	(2:40)
So Mean to Me	Oliver Sain, Milton Campbell	Little Milton	(2:33)
Blind Man (Lyrics)	Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott	Little Milton	(3:23)
Who's Cheating Who?	Raynard Miner, Clifton William Smith, Jerry Hayes	Little Milton	(2:57)
We Got the Winning Hand	Shena DeMell	Little Milton	(2:50)
Man Loves Two (Man's Temptation)	Joseph Bracho, Charles Ciorra	Little Milton	(3:00)
I Feel So Bad	Chuck Willis	Little Milton	(4:03)
More and More	Jerome Kern, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Don Juan, Allan Reuss, Pea Vee, Tommy Karen, Rainy Robinson	Little Milton	(2:45)
Let Me Down Easy	Maurice Dollison	Little Milton	(2:42)
Grits Ain't Groceries	George Jones, Titus Turner	Little Milton	(2:39)
Just a Little Bit	Rosco Gordon, Dexter Gordon, Ralph Bass, Fats Washington, John Thornton, Piney Brown	Little Milton	(2:23)
Let's Get Together	Chick Webb, Chester Powers, Maurice Dollison	Little Milton	(3:01)
Poor Man's Song	Milton Campbell, James Blumberg	Little Milton	(2:44)
I Play Dirty	Pearl Woods	Little Milton	(2:31)
Baby I Love You (Lyrics)	Jimmy Holiday	Little Milton	(2:44)
If Walls Could Talk	Bobby Miller	Little Milton	(3:06)

Credits

Tom Washington (Piano), Phil Upchurch (Guitar), David Hines (Trumpet), Little Milton (Guitar), John Watson (Trombone), Billy Davis (Producer), Little Milton (Vocals), Sonny Thompson (Piano), Donny Hathaway (Keyboards), Oliver Sain (Sax (Alto)), Phil Chess (Producer), Calvin Carter (Producer), Oliver Sain (Sax (Baritone)), Jerry Walker (Drums), James Carr (Sax (Tenor)), Maurice Jennings (Drums), Geary Chansley (Photo Research), Doug Schwartz (Assembly), The Gems (Vocals), Louis Satterfield (Bass), Murray Watson (Trumpet), Fontella Bass (Piano), Larry Prothe (Trumpet), Cash McCall (Guitar), Erick Labson (Digital Remastering), Gerald Sims (Guitar), Mary Katherine Aldin (Photography), Ira Gates (Drums), Maurice White (Drums), Oliver Sain (Producer), Leonard Chess (Producer), The Radiants (Vocals), Joe Campbell (Trumpet), Leonard Caston (Piano), Roosevelt T. Williams (Bass), Floyd Morris (Piano), Charles Stepney (Piano), George Patterson (Saxophone), Robert "Sax" Crowder (Sax (Baritone)), Ben Branch (Sax (Tenor)), Junie Osaki (Design), Lawrence Taylor (Sax (Alto)), Lawrence Taylor (Sax (Baritone))