Arthur Crudup may well have been Elvis Presley's favorite bluesman. The swivel-hipped rock god recorded no less than three of "Big Boy's" Victor classics during his seminal rockabilly heyday: "That's All Right Mama" (Elvis' Sun debut in 1954), "So Glad You're Mine," and "My Baby Left Me." Often lost in all the hubbub surrounding Presley's classic covers are Crudup's own contributions to the blues lexicon. He didn't sound much like anyone else, and that makes him an innovator, albeit a rather rudimentary guitarist (he didn't even pick up the instrument until he was 30 years old).Around 1940, Crudup migrated to Chicago from Mississippi. Times were tough at first; he was playing for spare change on the streets and living in a packing crate underneath an elevated train track when powerful RCA/Bluebird producer Lester Melrose dropped a few coins in Crudup's hat. Melrose hired Crudup to play a party that 1941 night at Tampa Red's house attended by the cream of Melrose's stable: Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Lil Green. A decidedly tough crowd to impress -- but Crudup overcame his nervousness with flying colors. By September of 1941, he was himself an RCA artist.Crudup pierced the uppermost reaches of the R&B lists during the mid-'40s with "Rock Me Mama," "Who's Been Foolin' You," "Keep Your Arms Around Me," "So Glad You're Mine," and "Ethel Mae." He cut the original "That's All Right" in 1946 backed by his usual rhythm section of bassist Ransom Knowling and drummer Judge Riley, but it wasn't a national hit at the time. Crudup remained a loyal and prolific employee of Victor until 1954, when a lack of tangible rewards for his efforts soured Crudup on Nipper (he had already cut singles in 1952 for Trumpet disguised as Elmer James and for Checker as Percy Lee Crudup).In 1961, Crudup surfaced after a long layoff with an album for Bobby Robinson's Harlem-based Fire logo dominated by remakes of his Bluebird hits. Another lengthy hiatus preceded Delmark boss Bob Koester's following the tip of Big Joe Williams to track down the elusive legend (Crudup had drifted into contract farm labor work in the interim). Happily, the guitarist's sound hadn't been dimmed by Father Time: his late-'60s work for Delmark rang true as he was reunited with Knowling (Willie Dixon also handled bass duties on some of his sides). Finally, Crudup began to make some decent money, playing various blues and folk festivals for appreciative crowds for a few years prior to his 1974 death.--by Bill Dahl
Arthur Big Boy Crudup - Complete Recorded Works Vol.1 (1941-1946) (1993)
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an important transition figure between 1930s Chicago blues, early R&B, and rock & roll, being an early influence on Elvis Presley. On this first of four Document CDs that reissue all of his recordings from the 1940s and '50s, Crudup mostly performs duets with either Joe McCoy or Ransom Knowling on bass or Melvin Draper, Charles Saunders, or Jump Jackson on drums. The first session is unusual in that Crudup is heard on acoustic guitar, but he was playing electric by 1942 and was largely distinctive from the start. Among the more memorable of the 24 numbers (which conclude with a pair of trio selections with Ransom Knowling and drummer Judge Riley) are "Black Pony Blues," "Standing at My Window," "Gonna Follow My Baby," "Give Me a 32-20," "Mean Old Frisco," "Raised to My Hand," "Cool Disposition," and "That's Your Red Wagon." All four of these Crudup discs are easily recommended to blues collectors.--by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1. Black Pony Blues 3:23
2. Death Valley Blues 3:15
3. Kind Lover Blues 3:07
4. If I Get Lucky 3:06
5. Standing At My Window 2:50
6. Gonna Follow My Baby 2:51
7. Give Me A 32-20 2:53
8. My Mama Don't Allow Me 3:10
9. Mean Old 'Frisco Blues 2:38
10. Raised To My Hand 3:09
11. Cool Disposition 3:10
12. Who's Been Foolin' You 3:17
13. Rock Me Mama 2:59
14. Keep Your Arms Around Me Mama 2:34
15. Dirt Road Blues 3:08
16. I'm In The Mood 3:03
17. That's Your Red Wagon 3:14
18. She's Gone 3:03
19. Ethel Mae 3:08
20. So Glad You're Mine 2:48
21. Boy Friend Blues 3:01
22. No More Lovers 2:48
23. You Got To Reap 3:00
24. Chicago Blues 3:10
Arthur Big Boy Crudup - Complete Recorded Works Vol.2 (1946-1949) (1993)
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right" (which he first recorded in 1946) became a hit for Elvis Presley eight years later. Strangely enough, three of the four songs that Crudup recorded on Sept. 6, 1946 all have the same "That's All Right" melody, although each utilize different lyrics. (Crudup was clearly more talented as a lyricist than as a composer.) Nevertheless, he is heard in prime form on the five sessions from 1946-1949, all of which have him joined by the driving bassist Ransom Knowling and drummer Judge Riley. The trio digs into such numbers (in addition to "That's All Right") as Crudup's "After Hours," "Gonna Be Some Changes Made" (which has Big Boy using the words of the standard "There'll Be Some Changes Made" but turning the song into a blues), "Hey Mama, Everything's All Right," "Dust My Broom," and "Shout Sister Shout." Timeless blues.--by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1. Crudup's After Hours 2:57
2. I Want My Lovin' 3:01
3. That's All Right 2:55
4. I Don't Know It 2:52
5. Cry Your Blues Away 3:11
6. Crudup's Vicksburg Blues 3:14
7. Gonna Be Some Changes Made 2:45
8. Train Fare Blues 2:47
9. Katie Mae 3:04
10. Hey Mama, Everything's All Right 2:57
11. Hoodoo Lady Blues 3:04
12. Lonesome World To Me 3:14
13. Roberta Blues 2:48
14. Just Like A Spider 3:17
15. Some Day 2:59
16. That's Why I'm Lonesome 3:06
17. Tired Of Worry 2:46
18. Dust My Broom 2:41
19. Hand Me Down My Walking Cane 2:46
20. Shout Sister Shout 2:42
21. Come Back Baby 2:38
22. You Know That I Love You 2:45
Arthur Big Boy Crudup - Complete Recorded Works Vol.3 (1949-1952) (1993)
The third of four Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup Document CDs (which completely reissue his recordings from the 1940s and '50s) features the singer/guitarist in trio settings, mostly with bassist Ransom Knowling and drummer Judge Riley. Crudup's expressive vocals and the driving rhythm section make such songs as "She's Just Like Caldenia," "Oo-Wee Darling," "Anytime Is the Right Time," "Love Me Mama," "Where Did You Stay Last Night," and "Goin' Back to Georgia" quite memorable. Listening to these consistently exciting performances gives listeners strong clues as to where rock & roll came from.--by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1. Mercy Blues 2:49
2. She's Just Like Caldonia 2:56
3. Mean Old Santa Fe 2:30
4. Behind Closed Doors 2:41
5. She Ain't Nothin' But Trouble 2:52
6. Oo-Wee Darling 3:00
7. Anytime Is The Right Time 2:58
8. My Baby Left Me 2:31
9. Nobody Wants Me 2:45
10. Star Bootlegger 2:39
11. Too Much Competition 2:54
12. Second Man Blues 2:53
13. Pearly Lee 2:50
14. Love Me Mama 3:11
15. Never No More 3:06
16. Where Did You Stay Last Night 2:50
17. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole 3:18
18. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole (alt. take) 3:01
19. Goin' Back To Georgia 2:41
20. Mr. So And So 2:41
21. Do It If You Want To 2:46
22. Keep On Drinkin' 2:40
Arthur Big Boy Crudup - Complete Recorded Works Vol.4 (1952-1954) (1993)
Tracklist
1. Worried About You Baby 3:05
2. Late In The Evening 3:04
3. Lookin' For My Baby 2:33
4. Nelvina 2:59
5. My Baby Boogies All The Time 3:09
6. I Wonder 2:19
7. Baby I've Been Mistreated 3:05
8. You Didn't Mean A Word 3:05
9. Open Your Book 2:44
10. Tears In My Eyes 2:47
11. Tears In My Eyes (alt. tk.) 3:02
12. Gonna Find My Baby 2:45
13. Make A Little Love 3:10
14. I Love My baby 2:41
15. My Wife And Women 2:25
16. The War Is Over 2:54
17. Fall On Your Knees And Pray 2:56
18. If You Ever Been To Georgia 2:35
19. Help Me To Bear This Heavy Load 2:43
20. I Love You 2:48
21. She's Got No Hair 2:03
22. Looka There, She Got No Hair 2:03
23. I Love Her Just The Same 2:11
Info:
FLAC 200MB each cd.
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