martin oldsberg wrote:
Are you sure this is SBW I? Robert Nigthawk did some stuff with Rythm Willie -- know for his top octave fluency -- and I´ve seen these cuts attributed to other players several times (not to take anything from SBW, but I´ve never heard him play much in the top octave -- perhaps I´ve yet to learn?).
This is incorrect. Rhythm Willie never recorded with Robert Nighthawk. John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson recorded quite a bit with Robert McCoy/Nighthawk, and was an excellent first position player who spent a lot of time at the top end of the harp. Since Nighthawk never recorded with any harp player other than Williamson him until the 1960s, I think we can safely say that the Nighthawk recordings referred to below do in fact feature Williamson on harp.
The complete Rhythm Willie discography consists of 16 recordings. I'm a little surprised that some European label hasn't compiled them onto a "Complete Rhythm WIllie" CD yet, since all of the recordings are out of copyright protection now over there. For those who are interested, here is the list of every known Rhythm Willie recording:
RHYTHM WILLIE DISCOGRAPHY
(Based on Blues & Gospel Records 1902-1943, Blues Records 1943-
1970, and personal research.)
PEETIE WHEATSTRAW Chicago Sept. 14, 1939 Peetie Wheatstraw, vocals; probably Lee Brown, piano; possibly Lonnie Johnson or Bill Gaither, guitar; Rhythm Willie, hca; unknown drums 91776-A You Can't Stop Me From Drinkin' Decca 7692, Wolf B.O.B 8 CD
91777-A I Want Some Seafood Decca 7657 91778-A Rollin' Chair Decca 7676 91779-A Love Bug Decca 7676, Blues Col./EPM CAD-465 91780-A Confidence Man (or Confidence Blues) Decca 7692 (Rhythm Willie is not present on 91775-A from this session) (All above titles also issued on Document DOCD-5246)
LEE BROWN Chicago Sept. 14, 1939 Lee Brown, piano and vocals, Rhythm Willie, hca; poss. Bill Gaither or Lonnie Johnson, gtr; unknown drums 91781-A Little Brownskin Girl Decca 7686
91782-A Lock And Key Blues Decca 7654
91783-A Treated Like A Dog Decca 7654
91784-A My Drivin' Wheel Decca 7686, Yazoo 1053
(All above titles issued on RST Records/Blues Documents album BD-2005 and Document CD DOCD-5344)
RHYTHM WILLIE & HIS GANG Chicago Oct. 10, 1940 Rhythm Willie, hca; unknown piano, bass; poss. Red Saunders, drums
C-3407-1 New Block And Tackle Blues Okeh 05856
C-3408-1 Breathtakin' Blues Okeh 05960
C-3409-1 Bedroom Stomp Okeh 05856
C-3410-1 Boarding House Blues Okeh 05960
(All above titles also on Wolf WSE 109)
EARL BOSTIC ORCHESTRA--RHYTHM WILLIE, HARMONICA New York City Sept. 1947 Earl Bostic, as; Rhythm Willie, hca; poss. R. Jones, tp; R. Powell, as/cl; T. Barnett, ts; G. Parker, p; J. Shirley, g; V. King, b; C. Cruickson, d 275 Willie's Boogie Aladdin/Pathe-Marconi 1561321 (F)
276 untitled boogie unissued
277 untitled unissued
278 untitled slow blues unissued
RHYTHM WILLIE, HIS HARMONICA AND ORCHESTRA Chicago 1950 Rhythm Willie, hca; unknown saxes; p; b; d (poss. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra) UB50-1062 Wailin' Willie Premium PR-866, Sundown CG708-06(NL)
UB50-1063 I've Got Rhythm Premium PR-866
I got a Robert Nighthawk cd a few months ago that contains his pre-war recordings. I've been listening to it again over the last few days. SBW I plays on a lot of the tracks. In reference to the recent thread on SBW I's technical skill, you might be surprised at what he does on some of the records. There's some top octave stuff that's really good. In general his playing is better than it was on a lot of his recordings as a leader.
A search on "Robert Lee McCoy" or "Robert Nighthawk" should turn it up. The cd I have is on the Wolf label, but I think there's at least one more.
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