JIMMY WITHERSPOON BABY BABY BABY Label Original Blues Classics Original Release: 1963
Format: Flac
Veteran singer Jimmy Witherspoon is in good voice on this CD reissue, performing a dozen two- to four-minute songs that include such blues standards as Duke Ellington's "Rocks in My Bed," "Bad Bad Whiskey," "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" and "It's a Lonesome Old World." He is joined by a quintet featuring altoist Leo Wright and guitarist Kenny Burrell on the first eight numbers and a background septet (with trumpeter Bobby Bryant and Arthur Wright on harmonica) for the remainder of the set. The music is enjoyable if not classic, and should please Witherspoon's many fans. ~ Scott Yanow
Recorded in New York City on May 6 [tracks 1-8], and in Los Angeles on July 8, 1963. [tracks 9-12]
Originally released on Prestige (7290).
Tracklist: 1 Mean Old Frisco 3:14 2 Rocks In My Bed 2:46 3 Bad, Bad Whiskey 3:08 4 Baby Baby Baby 3:06 5 Sail On Little Girl 2:50 6 One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer 3:02 7 Lonely Boy Blues 2:52 8 Blues and Trouble 2:55 9 Endless Sleep 2:17 10 I'll Go On Living 3:47 11 I Can't Hardley See 2:42 12 It's a Lonesome Old World 3:30
Personnel: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocals) [all tracks]
Kenny Burrell [tracks 1-8]
Herman Mitchell (guitar) [tracks 9-12]
Arthur Wright (harmonica) [tracks 9-12]
Leo Wright (alto saxophone, tambourine) [tracks 1-8]
Jimmy Allen (tenor saxophone) [tracks 9-12]
Bobby Bryant (trumpet, flugelhorn) [tracks 9-12]
Gildo Mahones (piano) [tracks 1-8]
Ernie Freeman (piano)
George Tucker (bass) [tracks 1-8]
Jimmy Bond (bass) [tracks 9-12]
Jimmie Smith (drums) [tracks 1-8]
Jimmy Miller (drums)