Yes, you’ve heard blues singers, but you can easily argue that Jimmy “The Spoon” Witherspoon (1920-97) was the last of the blues “shouters”, and there is a difference. From the line of Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner, Witherspoon belted out Kansas City styled dry rubbed blues with a menace few could come close to; this three disc, 76 song collection collects his singles, aka 78 rpms, that capture the roar of Witherspoon’s lion.
Things start in the mid 40s as Witherspoon is found in Kansas City with the ground zero band of Jay McShann that included Sahib Shihab/as, and Jesse Price/dr for the classic read of “Confessin’ The Blues” and the swaying “ I Want A Little Girl”, not to mention the two sided read of “Ain’t Nobody’s Buisiness” that has defined that song since. Many aspire, few attain.
After that, Witherspoon is the headliner, as McShann’ sorechestra backs up The Spoon in LA for some jumpers like “Cold Blooded Boogie” and “Spoon Calls Hootie”. From there, he’s backed up by either Al WIchard’s or Buddy Floyd’s bands for earthy treats of “Take Me Back Baby” . Best of all area collection of “Just Jazz” concerts from Pasadena, California with WItherpoon working up the audience on “No Rollin’ Blues” and “Nw Orleans Woman”. Witherspoon by this time made LA his home, and bring in some ringers for his sessions, such as the wailing tenor of Ben Webster on “Just A Country Boy”, “I’m Goin’ Around I Circles” and “Love and Friendship”. The collection closes out with Witerspoon teamed up with eater JATP legend Jack McVea/ts or bopper Sonny Criss/as for timeless treasures that capture the pathos of a well traveled pilgrim.
Witherspoon must have taken the mold with him to heaven, as no one’s been able to deliver the goods like this since. Dig in, and dig.