Don't Ask Me ... I Don’t Know has been around now for about 14 years posting Blues LP’s and CD’s and whatever else I feel like.
Your help in filling requests or with LP/CD rips are always very welcome and greatly appreciated. Enjoy the music but don't forget to support the artists and labels.
Friday, July 28, 2023
Harmonica Williams - With Little Freddie (Repost, Upgraded)
A1Baby Don't You Know
A2Juke Boy
A3Sideways
A4Declaration Day
B1Born Dead
B2The King's Special
B3Williams' Special
B4Highway 82
B5Williams' Goodbye
This LP was the second (and the last I guess) from the short-lived Ahura Mazda label from New Orleans (The first was a Robert Pete Williams LP which has been reissued on Fat Possom). This LP features the John "Harmonica" Williams (1921-2011) band, a down-home blues band that played here and there around New Orleans. Singer and harp player Williams hailed from Mississippi and came back in his home state in 1989. His fellow Mississippian guitarist is Little Freddie King who is featured on two instrumentals there. There is also a vocal by Newton Greer (Born dead is JB Lenoir's uncredited compo). Greer was the owner of a New Orleans blues club, The Crystal where Williams was sometimes featured. Greer used to sing with the bands one or two songs. I feel this very LP sold very poorly despite the fact that Born dead (correctly retitled Born in Mississippi) bw Hi-Way 82 were issued under the name of Newton Greer with Williams Blues Band on a Rew (a Greenville label) 45
Musn't forget the Scott Dunbar LP which I think I posted earlier. The Harmonica Williams LP is the only Ahura Mazda release not yet re-released on Fat Possum.
Yes sorry... You're right, Xyros: the Scott Dunbar was maybe the first Ahura Mazda LP of the three. The labels' owners said at that time that they had recorded several other acts for forthcoming releases... I wonder where those tapes (if they do exist) could lay in whatever vaults today?
Thanks for this fine Lp Xyros , the sound is great ( maybe a little more surface noise when there's no music than before , but it sounds very "natural" to me : THANKS !!
IIRC there was also a Robert Pete Williams 45 issued and they also used to sell a promotional T-shirt showing a hand with an extended middle digit. Emblazoned on it were the words-Bogulusa Salute!
I also had this LP back in the early 70s, along with the Robert Pete Williams & the Scott Dunbar LPs. I especially liked the Harmonica Williams LP and it got played often. Today I have MP3 copies of all 3 Ahura Mazda LPs but no longer have the vinyl albums.
Little Freddie King is still alive, kickin' and playing. He turns 80 on Sunday. Here's an article about his life, and recovery from a bad bicycle accident approx 3 years ago. He'll be live streaming a concert from BJ's Lounge on Sunday. The new album they refer to in the article, will only be available on vinyl, and is part of a 4 album release (other 3 recordings are by Jon Cleary, Irma Thomas and Ellis Marsalis). Can pr-order for $200 (yikes) or wait till they are released in the fall and pay $240 (double yikes!!). https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_9580e32e-c62a-11ea-973e-93db7915186a.html
As much as I would love to obtain that 4 album set, no way I can justify laying out that type of $ in these hard ass times. Even if I had that type of spare cash laying around, I would not feel right spending it that way instead of trying to help out some less fortunate folks.
18 comments:
Man, this place is amazing!Thank you again and again!
This LP was the second (and the last I guess) from the short-lived Ahura Mazda label from New Orleans (The first was a Robert Pete Williams LP which has been reissued on Fat Possom). This LP features the John "Harmonica" Williams (1921-2011) band, a down-home blues band that played here and there around New Orleans. Singer and harp player Williams hailed from Mississippi and came back in his home state in 1989. His fellow Mississippian guitarist is Little Freddie King who is featured on two instrumentals there. There is also a vocal by Newton Greer (Born dead is JB Lenoir's uncredited compo). Greer was the owner of a New Orleans blues club, The Crystal where Williams was sometimes featured. Greer used to sing with the bands one or two songs. I feel this very LP sold very poorly despite the fact that Born dead (correctly retitled Born in Mississippi) bw Hi-Way 82 were issued under the name of Newton Greer with Williams Blues Band on a Rew (a Greenville label) 45
Musn't forget the Scott Dunbar LP which I think I posted earlier. The Harmonica Williams LP is the only Ahura Mazda release not yet re-released on Fat Possum.
Yes sorry... You're right, Xyros: the Scott Dunbar was maybe the first Ahura Mazda LP of the three. The labels' owners said at that time that they had recorded several other acts for forthcoming releases... I wonder where those tapes (if they do exist) could lay in whatever vaults today?
Thanks for this fine Lp Xyros , the sound is great ( maybe a little more surface noise when there's no music than before , but it sounds very "natural" to me : THANKS !!
Ahura Mazda discography courtesy of Stefan Wirz
http://www.wirz.de/music/ahurafrm.htm
IIRC there was also a Robert Pete Williams 45 issued and they also used to sell a promotional T-shirt showing a hand with an extended middle digit. Emblazoned on it were the words-Bogulusa Salute!
DrHepcat
this is a great album.
thanx!
Thanks for sharing this gem. I love that warm vinyl sound. Your hard work in ripping this release is appreciated.
Lovely!
This used to be one of my "go-to" records, something like 40 years ago! It is with great delight that I will re-discover it. Thanks for the post.
I also had this LP back in the early 70s, along with the Robert Pete Williams & the Scott Dunbar LPs. I especially liked the Harmonica Williams LP and it got played often. Today I have MP3 copies of all 3 Ahura Mazda LPs but no longer have the vinyl albums.
mucho grass for this...
Little Freddie King is still alive, kickin' and playing. He turns 80 on Sunday. Here's an article about his life, and recovery from a bad bicycle accident approx 3 years ago. He'll be live streaming a concert from BJ's Lounge on Sunday. The new album they refer to in the article, will only be available on vinyl, and is part of a 4 album release (other 3 recordings are by Jon Cleary, Irma Thomas and Ellis Marsalis). Can pr-order for $200 (yikes) or wait till they are released in the fall and pay $240 (double yikes!!).
https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_9580e32e-c62a-11ea-973e-93db7915186a.html
@ pmac, I know what you mean. Over the top prices, so called collectors items ... we're all suckers and they know it.
Hi! Thanx for this one. "New" artists here & "new hears" too. Through Discogs found Little Freddie has a website here:
https://littlefreddieking.com/
Looking pretty spry for 80, eh?!
Cheers!
Ciao! For now.
rntcj
As much as I would love to obtain that 4 album set, no way I can justify laying out that type of $ in these hard ass times. Even if I had that type of spare cash laying around, I would not feel right spending it that way instead of trying to help out some less fortunate folks.
Harmonica Williams - With Little Freddie ...I'm so happy to finally get a lossless copy of this. Thank you very much!!!
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