Saturday, November 10, 2012

James Wee Willie Wayne - Travelin' From Texas To New Orleans


James Waynes was credited with that name on his earliest recordings. Later it became James Wayne and from 1955 onwards, Wee Willie Wayne. He was an R&B singer with a distinctive voice, who was discovered in Texas by Bob Shad, the man probably best known to R&R fans as the owner of the Time, Brent and Shad labels in NYC in the late fifties and early sixties. However, Shad started out recording Southern R&B and blues on his Sittin' In With label in 1948. It was for this label that Wayne made his first recording (in Houston) and his only hit: "Tend To Your Business", which reached # 2 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1951. Shad next recorded Waynes at the WGST studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the five songs recorded there was the all-time classic "Junco Partner" (subtitled "Worthless Man" on the old 78), which became a local hit. Waynes was then signed by Imperial, who recorded him in New Orleans. Although he was backed by some of the Crescent City's finest session men (Lee Allen, Edward Frank, Justin Adams, Frank Fields), the style on these records is more Texas than New Orleans. After excursions to Aladdin and Old Town, Waynes returned to Imperial in 1955 and recorded "Travelin' Mood" (among others) on May 27, 1955. Both "Junco Partner" and "Travelin' Mood" became standards in the repertoire of many New Orleans musicians, like Dr. John, Professor Longhair, James Booker and Snooks Eaglin. Further records appeared on the Peacock and Angletone labels, before Waynes was signed by Imperial for a third time in 1961. On February 22 of that year he rerecorded his hit "Tend To Your Business" in a more contemporary style, along with five other tracks. Imperial reissued "Travelin' Mood" on Imperial 5725 and also released a compilation of old and new Wayne material with that title on Imperial LP 9144. Sales were disappointing, though, and the 1961 Imperial recordings were probably his last ones.

Post: http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/22276923/file.html

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

there's a blog about Wayne's mental problems & incarceration at

http://borensteinslaw.blogspot.com/2006/08/people-versus-james-douglas-wayne.html

howstean

Eva said...

this album is good stuff, never heard most of them before. thank you very much "x"!

brujo said...

thanks for this the only track I had was travelin mood great to hear a full album and also read about his incarceration and trials and tribulations .excellent blog

Xyros said...

It's was new to me also. There is also a "bootleg" cd with about 30 tracks that was released some time ago.

Hard Luck Child said...

Thank you so much! I've never heard of this guy! Your blog is excellent!

Joe said...

Awesome, thanks for this

Anonymous said...

Many thanks for the discovery of the day! Excellent info. Finally found the origin of Louis Jordan's calypso infused Junco Partner.

Anonymous said...

this is fabulous! thank u

Joseph said...

Anyone have the bootleg to share?

frumious bandersnatch said...

Thanks for everything !!!

soulpapa said...

Thanks for fulfilling my request for this!

KingCake said...

here is the 33 track bootleg you spoke of

http://www19.zippyshare.com/v/24639192/file.html

WetLook said...

KingCake,

I don't see 33 tracks I see 31 tracks.
I there another link with 33 tracks?

Thanks KingCake

Xyros said...

@WetLook,
Don't know if KingCake will read your comment but this is the only bootleg CD around from James Wee Willie Wayne. It is the one I mentioned when I originally posted the LP rip.