
Blues Unlimited #101 - Gotham Records Down Home Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From: Steve Franz
Length: 01:58:59
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us we explore some of the raw and gritty (translation: "exciting") Down Home Blues issued on Philadelphia’s Gotham label that were recorded in the late 1940s to the early 50s in Texas, Detroit, Louisiana, and yes, Philadelphia. Although Gotham tended to set new standards in terms of fidelity -- and we don't necessarily mean that as a compliment -- this show includes some all-time classic performances from John Lee Hooker, Dan Pickett, Sonny Terry, Champion Jack Dupree, Wright Holmes, Stick Horse Hammond, Ralph Willis, and many more.
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Piece Description
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us we explore some of the raw and gritty (translation: "exciting") Down Home Blues issued on Philadelphia’s Gotham label that were recorded in the late 1940s to the early 50s in Texas, Detroit, Louisiana, and yes, Philadelphia. Although Gotham tended to set new standards in terms of fidelity -- and we don't necessarily mean that as a compliment -- this show includes some all-time classic performances from John Lee Hooker, Dan Pickett, Sonny Terry, Champion Jack Dupree, Wright Holmes, Stick Horse Hammond, Ralph Willis, and many more.
Broadcast History
First local broadcast on KXCI FM 91.3, December 29, 2010.
Timing and Cues
Hour 1: 00:00 - 1:00:51
In cue: “Welcome to Blues Unlimited...”
Out cue (at 59:51): “...blues from Gotham Records, so stay with us.”
Break (60 second music bed): 59:51 - 1:00:51
Hour 2: 1:00:51 - 1:58:59
In cue: “And continuing on with our theme on Blues Unlimited...”
Out cue (at 1:55:22): “We’ll see you next time, right here on Blues Unlimited.”
Note: from 1:55:22 to 1:58:59, an instrumental excerpt by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, “Brownie's Guitar Blues,” closes the show.
This episode of Blues Unlimited is compliant with SOUNDEXCHANGE reporting requirements.
Each episode of Blues Unlimited is designed to be a self-contained "evergreen" show, to be run at any time you choose.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alley Special | Wright Holmes | Country Blues Classics Vol. 3. | Blues Classics | 1947 | 03:02 |
| So Many Days | Ralph Willis | Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1. | Document | 1946 | 02:13 |
| I Will Never Love Again | Ralph Willis | Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1. | Document | 1946 | 02:40 |
| Steel Mill Blues | Judson Coleman | Ralph Willis--Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1. | Document | 1946 | 02:36 |
| Truck 'Em On Down | Stick Horse Hammond | Alley Special. | Krazy Kat | 1950 | 02:48 |
| Little Girl | Stick Horse Hammond | Alley Special. | Krazy Kat | 1950 | 02:40 |
| Shreveport Blues | David “Pete” McKinley | Drove From Home Blues. | Flyright | 1950 | 02:49 |
| Ardelle | David “Pete” McKinley | Down Home Blues Classics 1943-1953. | Boulevard Vintage | 1950 | 02:45 |
| That's Grieving Me | Dan Pickett | Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953. | JSP | 1949 | 02:48 |
| Wandering Blues | John Lee Hooker | Detroit Stuff. | P-Vine | 1950 | 02:59 |
| My Special Friend Blues | Baby Boy Warren | Stop Breakin' Down. | Official | 1949 | 02:43 |
| Nervy Woman Blues | Baby Boy Warren | Stop Breakin' Down. | Official | 1949 | 02:58 |
| Drove From Home Blues | Wright Holmes | Gotham Post-War Country Blues Anthology. | P-Vine | 1947 | 02:49 |
| Good Road Blues | Wright Holmes | Gotham Post-War Country Blues Anthology. | P-Vine | 1947 | 02:43 |
| Quinsella | Sonny Boy Johnson | Alley Special. | Krazy Kat | 1947 | 02:55 |
| Ride To A Funeral In A V-8 | Dan Pickett | Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953. | JSP | 1949 | 02:31 |
| Chicago Blues | Dan Pickett | Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953. | JSP | 1949 | 03:15 |
| My Daddy Was A Jockey | John Lee Hooker | The Complete J.L. Hooker Vol 4 1950-1951. | Body & Soul | 1951 | 03:20 |
| Old Old Woman | Champion Jack Dupree | 1945 - 1953. | Krazy Kat | 1950 | 02:42 |
| Mean Black Snake | Champion Jack Dupree | 1945 - 1953. | Krazy Kat | 1950 | 02:53 |
| Catfish | John Lee Hooker | Complete J.L. Hooker Vol. 4 1950-1951. | Body & Soul | 1951 | 03:10 |
| Lemon Man | Dan Pickett | Dan Pickett & Tarheel Slim. | Flyright | 1949 | 02:55 |
| Baby, Let's Have Some Fun | Sonny Terry | Down Home Blues Classics 1943-1953. | Boulevard Vintage | 1952 | 02:21 |
| Lizzie Lou | Doug Quattlebaum | Down Home Blues Classics 1943-1953. | Boulevard Vintage | 1953 | 02:27 |
| Don't Be Funny Baby | Doug Quattlebaum | Down Home Blues Classics New York & East Coast States. | Boulevard Vintage | 1953 | 02:35 |
| Somebody Changed the Lock | Tarheel Slim | East Coast Blues. | Collectables | 1949 | 02:34 |
| You're a Little Too Slow | Tarheel Slim | East Coast Blues. | Collectables | 1949 | 02:40 |
| Low Down Dirty Shame | W. Harris | Detroit Stuff. | P-Vine | 1951 | 03:40 |
| Angel Of Mercy | W. Harris | Detroit Stuff. | P-Vine | 1951 | 02:27 |
| Where Did You Stay Last Night | Eddie Burns | Complete J.L. Hooker Vol. 5 1951-1953. | Body & Soul | 1951 | 03:13 |
| Grieving Blues | Eddie Burns | Detroit Blues. | Flyright | 1951 | 02:47 |
| Making A Fool Out Of Me | Eddie Burns | Detroit Blues. | Flyright | 1951 | 03:00 |
| Lonesome Room | Sonny Terry | Drove From Home Blues. | Flyright | 1952 | 02:58 |
| No Love Blues | Sonny Terry | Drove From Home Blues. | Flyright | 1952 | 02:57 |
| Foolin' Me | Doug Quattlebaum | East Coast Blues. | Collectables | 1953 | 02:32 |
| Brownie's Guitar Blues (excerpt) | Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee | Rediscovered Blues. | Capitol | 1959 | 03:37 |
Additional Files
- Rundown, timings, playlist, cue sheet (BU101_Rundown_Timings_Cue_Sheet.pdf)





