[Harp-L] Re: Rhythm Willie

[John Kally <jkally3@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Tom.  After reading your email I did a little more digging on  
the Net I turned up more info at this record collector's site  
covering the Miracle and Premium labels.  You have to go down quite a  
bit but there is a pic of Willie's "Wailin Willie" (c-jam blues)  78  
which is the flip side of "I got rhythm" along with  a little write- 
up about Willie that quotes Scott Dirk's article and has other  
info.   But, unfortunately,  I'm no closer to actually hearing this  
again.  King records bought some of the Miracle masters, maybe the  
Premiums also,  and so I'm guessing maybe Ace has this stuff now if  
anyone does.  Many years ago Bob Koester (Delmark Records) told me   
he had acquired  (or was about to acquire) some Rhythm Willie  
masters  but I don't know  what happened to those.
Anyway, I agree, I wish someone would put this stuff out  so the rest  
of the harp world can see what the fuss is all about.   His postwar  
output deserves to see the light of day again.
On Oct 6, 2006, at 9:01 AM, Tom Ball wrote:

> As to John Kally's question regarding RW's version of "I Got  
> Rhythm," it was recorded in 1950 w/ possibly Memphis Slim's  
> Orchestra and released on Premium PR-866. To my knowledge this has  
> not been reissued. He did do some 1947 recordings with Earl  
> Bostic's band, but only one cut ("Willie's Boogie") was issued on a  
> now-out-of-print French LP (Aladdin/Pathe Marconi 1561321.) This is  
> the sample referred to by Xavier.  To repeat Xavier's post, part of  
> the song is here: http://harmonica.typepad.com/harmonica_ramblings/ 
> files/Q2EX3.mp3
>
> Altogether Rhythm Willie appeared (either as a leader or a sideman)  
> on 16 sides from 1939 to 1950 (plus 3 more unissued sides w/  
> Bostic.) It's a shame none of the reissue labels has chosen to  
> group these together on CD.
>
> cheers and best to all,
>
> Tom Ball
> Santa Barbara CA