Jimmy Witherspoon – Ain’t Nobody’s Business – The Singles Collection 1945-53 – 3CD

Born in Arkansas in 1920, Jimmy Witherspoon was one of the old school “blues shouters” of the 1940s, making his first records with Jay McShann’s band in the immediate post-war years. He enjoyed a long career, continuing to record for over 50 years until not long before his death in 1997 at the age of 77. His career had distinct phases, with the emphasis changing to a focus on the album market after the mid-1950s, and this collection addresses his formative decade or so when he recorded 78s and 45s for a variety of labels. This 78-track 3-CD collection comprises most of his releases during this era releases under his own name and with the bands of Jay McShann, Buddy Tate, Al Wichard and Lou Spreigner on the Aladdin, Mercury, Supreme, Swing Time, Down Beat and Modern labels. It features all his R&B hits from these years, including the R&B No. 1 “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”, and the Top 10 hits “Big Fine Girl”, “In The Evening”, “No Rollin’ Blues” and “The Wind Is Blowin’”. The last two are among the ‘live’ recordings in the set from Gene Norman’s famous concert promotions. It’s a substantial and reasonably comprehensive overview of the years when he established his reputation, and it’s a fine showcase for his distinctive style as a blues, R&B and jazz performer.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Jay Mcshann & His Jazzmen: 1. Confessin' The Blues -   Jay Shann & The Sextet: 2. Shipyard Woman Blues -   Jay Mcshann & His Sextet: 3. Roll On, Katy -   4. Ernestine -   5. Voodoo Woman Blues -   Jay McShann: 6. I Want A Little Girl -   7. Gone With The Blues -   8. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? -   Jay Mcshann & His Orchestra: 9. All My Geets Are Gone -   10. Strange Woman Blues -   Jay McShann And His Orchestra: 11. Please Stop Playing Those Blues, Boy -   Jay Mcshann & His Orchestra: 12. Barfly Blues -   Al Wichard Sextet: 13. Pinocchio Blues -   14. Thelma Lee Blues -   Lou Spreignier And His Orchestra: 15. Cain River Blues -   16. How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around -   Jimmy Witherspoon: 17. Wandering Gal Blues -   Jay Mcshann & Jimmy Witherspoon: 18. Money Getting Cheaper -   Jimmy Witherspoon With the Jay Mcshann Orch.: 19. Frogmore Blues -   Jimmy Witherspoon With the Buddy Tate Orch.: 20. Wee Baby Blues -   21. Ain't Nobody's Business Pt. 1 -   22. Ain't Nobody's Business Pt. 2 -   Jimmy Witherspoon: 23. Hey, Mr. Landlord -   24. Third Floor Blues -   25. Back Water Blues -

CD2:
Jimmy Witherspoon With the Buddy Tate Orch.: 1. In The Evening -   2. Six Foot Two Blues -   Jimmy Witherspoon With Jay Mcshann: 3. Skid Row Blues -   4. How Long Blues -   Jimmy Witherspoon: 5. Money Eyes Woman -   6. Call My Baby -   7. Spoon Calls Hootie -   8. The New Look -   9. Big Heart -   10. Drunk, Broke And Hungry -   11. Destruction Blues -   12. Funny Style Baby -   13. Cold Blooded Boogie -   14. Long About Dawn -   15. Lush Head Woman -   Al Wichard Sextet: 16. Your Red Wagon -   17. Geneva Blues -   Jimmy Witherspoon With Hootie Mcshann And His Orch.: 18. Feeling So Sad -   Hootie Mcshann And Orch.: 19. Same Old Blues -   20. I Love You Just The Same -   Jimmy Witherspoon: 21. Jump Children -   22. Take Me Back Baby -   23. Rain, Rain, Rain -   24. Who's Been Jivin' With You -   25. When I Had Money -   26. Sweet Lovin' Baby -   27. Big Fine Girl -

CD3:
Jimmy Witherspoon: 1. No Rollin' Blues -   2. Drinkin’ Beer -   3. Hard Workin’ Blues -   4. Better Love Next Time Pt1 -   5. Don't Ever Move A Woman Into Your House -   6. Doctor Blues -   7. Failing By Degrees -   8. New Orleans Woman -   9. Just A Country Boy -   10. There Ain't Nothing Better -   11. Once There Lived A Fool -   12. I'm Just A Ladies Man -   13. I'm Goin' Around In Circles -   14. You Can't Kiss A Dream Goodnight -   15. Real Ugly Woman -   16. Give My Heart Another Break -   17. Practice What You Preach -   18. Love And Friendship -   19. Fickle Woman -   20. I Done Found Out -   21. I'm Just Wandering Pt1 -   22. Would My Baby Make A Change? -   23. The Wind Is Blowing -   24. Love My Baby -   Jimmy Witherspoon And His Orch.: 25. Slow Your Speed -   Jimmy Witherspoon: 26. I'll Be Right On Down -