Walk 'em: Decca Sessions

• Artist: Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 02, 1996
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Blues

Review

A fine 24-track distillation of Johnson's lengthy career for Decca, during which he and his musicians served as a key link between Harlem big bands, jump blues, and R&B. Spanning 1941 to 1952, the focus is on the bluesier and/or more uptempo sides credited to either Buddy or sister Ella, as well as tracks with Johnson associations cut by Arthur Prysock and Harold "Geezil" Minerve. Several of the Johnson clan's most celebrated performances are here: "Walk 'Em" (a sort of signature tune for Buddy), Ella's original version of "Since I Fell For You," Ella's huge R&B hits "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" and "When My Man Comes Home," and Buddy's 1949 Top 20 pop hit, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" (surely one of the greatest baseball/pop novelties ever). Some of the raunchy sax breaks are signposts for a style that would become prevalent in R&B and early rock'n'roll; the gritty instrumental "Shake 'Em Up," for instance, anticipates the sound of Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk" by four years. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Walk 'Em	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:52)
Since I Fell for You	Buddy Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:16)
Baby You're Always on My Mind	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra, Ella Johnson & the Bee Jays	(3:11)
Boogie Woogie's Mother-In-Law [Instrumental]	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:11)
You Gotta Walk That Chalk Line		Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:39)
I Don't Know What's Troublin' Your Mind	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:15)
Be Careful (If You Can't Be Good)	Buddy Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:09)
Root Man Blues	B. Johnson	Harold "Geezil" Minerve, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:15)
'Til My Baby Comes Back	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:25)
I'm Gonna Jump in the River	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra, Ella Johnson & the Bee Jays	(3:20)
Talking About Another Man's Wife	B. Johnson	Harold "Geezil" Minerve, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:59)
No More Love	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:05)
Shake 'Em Up [Instrumental]	Buddy Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:17)
Satisfy My Soul	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:01)
Stormy Weather	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:18)
Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:19)
That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch	Buck Ram, Noble Sissle	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:09)
They All Say I'm the Biggest Fool	Buddy Johnson	Arthur Prysock, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:17)
Fine Brown Frame	J. Mayo Williams, Guadalupe Cartiero	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:05)
You'll Get Them Blues	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:56)
Southern Echoes	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:18)
When My Man Comes Home	B. Johnson, J. Mayo Williams	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:09)
Please Mr. Johnson	B. Johnson	Ella Johnson, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(2:56)
Shufflin' and Rollin' [Instrumental]	B. Johnson	Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra	(3:12)

Credits

Arthur Prysock (Performer), Buddy Johnson (Piano), Buddy Johnson (Main Performer), Ella Johnson (Performer), Roger Armstrong (Archive Research), Ray Topping (Archive Research), Jon Broven (Compilation), Harold "Geezil" Minerve (Performer), Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra (Main Performer), Duncan Cowell (Post Producer)