Search - Jimmy Mccracklin :: 1945-1948

Early West Coast R&B

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 04/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

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Jimmy McCracklin was an early key figure on the West Coast R&B scene. Born in 1921 in Arkansas, but raised in St. Louis, he settled in LA after the war and began cutting sides for tiny regional labels such as Globe and J&M Fullbright. In 1947 he moved to San Francisco and hooked up with Bob Geddins, the major blues producer in the SF/Oakland area. This CD collects McCracklin's first 22 sides, done for a handful of labels, and most of them are spectacular.



McCracklin is especially effective on slow, down-home numbers, and their are quite a few here to choose from. MISS MATTIE LEFT ME, MEAN MISTREATED LOVER, BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, RAILROAD BLUES, AND JIMMY'S BLUES, among others, are all down-home heartbreakers. Except for the first few sessions where J.D. Nicholson accompanies on piano, Jimmy accompanied himself, and his piano playing is reminiscent of the rolling style heard in Chicago. Most of the sessions feature only vocal with piano and maybe guitar and drums (Little Red [dms] is terrific on MISS MINNIE LEE), one session features a jump band with excellent Prince Harrison on tenor. McCracklin didn't have his first big hit until 1958, when THE WALK made it to number 7 on the charts, but these early sides should bring joy to any immediate post-war blues fan. The sound is also very good, for the most part, considering these were done for miniscule labels without the best technical resources. Worth checking out.

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