Big Bill Broonzy

Complete Recorded Works (c. November 1927 – 15th September 1951)

Vol. 10: 26th January to 17th December 1940

Featuring the recordings of:

Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Joshua Altheimer, piano; Fred Williams, drums. Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Joshua Altheimer, piano; Washboard Sam, washboard. Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Blind John Davis, piano; Fred Williams, drums. Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Memphis Slim, piano; Ransom Knowling, stand-up bass.

Genres: Blues, City Blues, Urban Blues, Chicago Blues, Arkansas Blues, Guitar Blues, Country Blues Guitar, Blues Piano,

Abridged from this album’s original booklet noes. Big Bill Broonzy recalled that his piano playing partner Josh Altheimer died on February 18th 1940, an assertion disputed by sessions files that record his presence on 17th April and 10th June of that year. However, by September Blind John Davis was back at the keyboard and it was around that time that Bill began to work with Peter Chatman, better known today as “Memphis Slim”, a name Bill claimed to have bestowed himself. He was still sticking to his basic sound and all the sides cut under his own name in 1940 featured only his own guitar, a piano and either Fred Williams‘ thudding drumming or contributions from Ransom Knowling on bass or Washboard Sam‘s sud-busting. Most interesting is his reply to the Carolina singer Blind Boy Fuller‘s Jivin’ Big Bill Blues of July 1939 (to be heard on DOCD 5095), Jivin’ Mr. Fuller Blues. Big Bill Broonzy never seemed to run out of ideas for his songs. Not only was he keeping himself supplied he was producing material for other artists. On the 17th April date he put forward the theory that as it was Leap Year “the women got to take care of the men (I gotta get even somehow)”. She would pay the bills and he would wear the ‘nation sack tied round his waist. The answer to the question What Is That She Got? would appear to be an eye affliction as the Annie referred to seems to spend most of her life winking at judges and cops. Washboard Sam brightened up the last session on which Bill and Josh worked together. His vigorous scrubbing seemed to spark off a reaction in the piano player and titles like Lone Wolf Blues and Midnight Steppers have a zip to them that was sometimes missing from Big Bill’s more elaborate productions involving clarinets and saxophones. So, at the end of 1940 Big Bill Broonzy was still on top, searching around for a replacement for Josh Altheimer and working the clubs and the house rents with people like Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim and Memphis Minnie.

DOCD-5132