Acrobat Music

The Complete Trumpet, Ace & Checker Singles 1951-62
The Complete Trumpet, Ace & Checker Singles 1951-62

Sonny Boy Williamson II
Styles: Blues
Catalogue Number: ADDCD3235
Blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson II performed originally during the 1930s and ‘40s as Aleck or Alex Miller, Rice Miller and Little Boy Blue before adopting the name of earlier blues artist Sonny Boy Williamson, born around the same time but who died in 1948 – during the 1940s they were both using the name. For the same of avoiding confusion, it’s easier to refer to the artist who is the subject of this collection using the “Sonny Boy Williamson II” nomenclature. Like many blues performers, he came from Mississippi, but built his reputation on radio in West Memphis, Arkansas, in the late ‘40s, during which time he married Howlin’ Wolf’s sister and taught him to play harmonica. Between 1951 and 1955 he released twenty-five titles on the Trumpet and Ace labels, and when Trumpet went bankrupt in 1955, and was acquired by Chess, he continued recording for the Chess subsidiary Checker label through into the ‘60s, becoming one of the US bluesmen who toured Europe during the ‘60s blues boom and influenced many future rock performers. This great value 51-track 2-CD set comprises all his recordings released during this period on Trumpet, Ace and Checker, and includes the classic “Eyesight To The Blind” along with along with the Elmore James version of “Dust My Broom”, and the R&B hits “Don't Start Me Talkin'” and “Keep It to Yourself”. It encapsulates his recordings during a key period of his career, and is an excellent showcase for his distinctive style as a blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player.

Disk 1:
Track Title Artist
1 Eyesight To The Blind Sonny Boy Williamson II
2 Crazy About You Baby Sonny Boy Williamson II
3 Do It If You Wanna Sonny Boy Williamson II
4 Cool Cool Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II
5 Stop Crying Sonny Boy Williamson II
6 Come On Back Home Sonny Boy Williamson II
7 I Cross My Heart Sonny Boy Williamson II
8 West Memphis Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II
9 Pontiac Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II
10 Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II
11 Dust My Broom Elmore James with Sonny Boy Williamson II
12 Mighty Long Time Sonny Boy Williamson II
13 Nine Below Zero Sonny Boy Williamson II
14 Mr Down Child Sonny Boy Williamson II
15 Stop Now Baby Sonny Boy Williamson II
16 Too Close Together Sonny Boy Williamson II
17 Cat Hop Sonny Boy Williamson II
18 She Brought Life Back To The Dead Sonny Boy Williamson II
19 Getting' Out Of Town Sonny Boy Williamson II
20 Red Hot Kisses Sonny Boy Williamson II
21 Going In Your Direction Sonny Boy Williamson II
22 From The Bottom Sonny Boy Williamson II
23 Empty Bedroom Sonny Boy Williamson II
24 No Nights By Myself Sonny Boy Williamson II
25 Boppin' With Sonny Boy Sonny Boy Williamson II
Disk 2:
Track Title Artist
1 Don't Start Me Talkin' Sonny Boy Williamson II
2 All My Love In Vain Sonny Boy Williamson II
3 Let Me Explain Sonny Boy Williamson II
4 Your Imagination Sonny Boy Williamson II
5 Keep It To Yourself Sonny Boy Williamson II
6 The Key (To Your Door) Sonny Boy Williamson II
7 Fattening Frogs For Snakes Sonny Boy Williamson II
8 I Don't Know Sonny Boy Williamson II
9 Born Blind Sonny Boy Williamson II
10 Ninety Nine Sonny Boy Williamson II
11 Wake Up Baby Sonny Boy Williamson II
12 Your Funeral And My Trial Sonny Boy Williamson II
13 Cross My Heart Sonny Boy Williamson II
14 Dissatisfied Sonny Boy Williamson II
15 Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide Sonny Boy Williamson II
16 Unseeing eye Sonny Boy Williamson II
17 The Goat Sonny Boy Williamson II
18 It's Sad To Be Alone Sonny Boy Williamson II
19 Temperature 110 Sonny Boy Williamson II
20 Lonesome Cabin Sonny Boy Williamson II
21 Trust My Baby Sonny Boy Williamson II
22 Too Close Together Sonny Boy Williamson II
23 Stop Right Now Sonny Boy Williamson II
24 The Hunt Sonny Boy Williamson II
25 One Way Out Sonny Boy Williamson II
26 Nine Below Zero Sonny Boy Williamson II
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