A rare EP from West Coast keyboard legend Pete Johnson

Blues Unlimited #161 - West Coast Piano

From: Steve Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Length: 01:59:01

Join us as we take a look at some of the movers and shakers of West Coast Piano. From Pete Johnson and Hadda Brooks to Floyd Dixon, Gus Jenkins, and more, California was incredibly blessed with a plethora of keyboard talent, and we explore that rich vein on this episode of Blues Unlimited. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Blues Unlimited #161 - West Coast Piano
From: Steve Franz

Pete_johnson_top_rank_small The West Coast, over the years, has certainly had more than its fair share of talented Blues pianists, and in this episode of Blues Unlimited we take a look at some of the great ones. Kicking it off with Boogie Woogie legend Pete Johnson, we dive into the immense well of talent the West Coast had on offer -- from Amos Milburn, Floyd Dixon, and Lloyd Glenn, to Hadda Brooks, Joe Liggins and Little Willie Littlefield -- and a host of others. In typical Blues Unlimited fashion, however, we give equal time to the overlooked, the obscure, and/or the undeservedly under-recorded, such as Gus Jenkins, Thunder Smith, Mercy Dee Walton, West Coast piano legend Willard McDaniel, and one of our favorite down home stylists, Malcolm 'Little Son' Willis. Join us for an illuminating look at the art and artistry of West Coast Blues Piano.

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Piece Description

The West Coast, over the years, has certainly had more than its fair share of talented Blues pianists, and in this episode of Blues Unlimited we take a look at some of the great ones. Kicking it off with Boogie Woogie legend Pete Johnson, we dive into the immense well of talent the West Coast had on offer -- from Amos Milburn, Floyd Dixon, and Lloyd Glenn, to Hadda Brooks, Joe Liggins and Little Willie Littlefield -- and a host of others. In typical Blues Unlimited fashion, however, we give equal time to the overlooked, the obscure, and/or the undeservedly under-recorded, such as Gus Jenkins, Thunder Smith, Mercy Dee Walton, West Coast piano legend Willard McDaniel, and one of our favorite down home stylists, Malcolm 'Little Son' Willis. Join us for an illuminating look at the art and artistry of West Coast Blues Piano.

Timing and Cues

Hour 1: 00:00 - 1:00:20
In Cue: "Welcome to Blues Unlimited..."
Out Cue (at 59:20): "...coming up right after this break."

Break (60 second music bed): 59:20 - 1:00:20

Hour 2: 1:00:20 - 1:58:59
In Cue: "Welcome back to the show..."
Out Cue (at 1:56:19): "...next time, right here on Blues Unlimited."

Note: from 1:56:19 to 1:58:59, a song by Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow, "Route 90," closes the show.

Additional Notes:
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
Rocket Boogie 88 [Part 2]	Pete Johnson	Boogie Woogie Riot!.	Arhoolie	1949	02:43
The Honeydripper, Part 1	Joe Liggins	Blowing The Fuse - 1945.	Bear Family	1945	03:06
Swingin' The Boogie	Hadda Brooks	Swingin' The Boogie.	Ace	1945	03:18
Drifting Blues	Charles Brown w/ Johnny Moore's Three Blazers	Blowing The Fuse - 1946.	Bear Family	1945	03:13
Mean Mistreated Lover	Jimmy McCracklin feat. J.D. Nicholson	Jimmy's Blues 1945-1951.	Acrobat	1945	02:40
West Coast Blues	Thunder Smith and Lightnin' Hopkins	Rural Blues Vol 1 -Goin' Up The Country.	Imperial	1946	02:39
Jukebox Boogie	Hadda Brooks	Romance In The Dark.	Ace	1946	02:51
Yancey Street Blues	Pete Johnson	Roll 'em Boy, Let 'em Jump For Joy.	Top Rank	1947	02:44
Chicken Shack Boogie	Amos Milburn	The Aladdin Records Story.	Aladdin	1947	02:51
Rampart Street Jump	Lloyd Glenn	The Chronological Lloyd Glenn 1947-1950.	Classics	1947	03:09
X-Temporaneous Boogie	Camille Howard	The Specialty Story.	Specialty	1947	02:06
Cow Town	Floyd Dixon	Twenty Great Blues Recordings of the 50s & 60s.	Cascade	1949	02:50
Littlefield's Boogie	Little Willie Littlefield	Let's Boogie: The Freedom Records Story 1948-1952.	Collectables	4849	02:23
Sad Journey Blues	Floyd Dixon	The Aladdin Records Story.	Aladdin	4950	02:48
Fire-Ball Boogie	Camille Howard	Specialty Legends of Boogie-Woogie.	Specialty	1950	02:27
Why Do Things Happen To Me	Roy Hawkins	The Thrill Is Gone.	Ace	1949	03:00
Old Time Shuffle	Lloyd Glenn	The Chronological Lloyd Glenn 1947-1950.	Classics	1950	02:46
One Room Country Shack	Mercy Dee Walton	The Specialty Story.	Specialty	5253	02:50
3 A.M. Boogie	Willard McDaniel	Specialty Legends of Boogie-Woogie.	Specialty	1951	02:17
Unidentified Instrumental #1	Willard McDaniel	Specialty Legends of Boogie-Woogie.	Specialty	1951	02:39
Real Fine Mama	Little Willie Littlefield	Barrelhouse & Rockin' Blues 1940s-1950s Vol. 2.	P-Vine	1951	02:42
She's Gone	Jimmy McCracklin	The Chronological Jimmy McCracklin 1951-1954.	Classics	1952	02:43
I Love You Just The Same	Malcolm "Little Son" Willis	Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 4 - California & The West Coast.	Boulevard Vintage	1952	02:37
Baby Come Back Home	Malcolm "Little Son" Willis	Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 4 - California & The West Coast.	Boulevard Vintage	1953	02:43
Turn The Lamps Down Low	Esther Phillips feat. Devonia Williams	The Best of Little Esther.	Collectables	1952	02:22
I Ate The Wrong Part	Little Temple & His '88' (aka Gus Jenkins)	The Specialty Story.	Specialty	1953	01:56
Stubborn Woman	Mercy Dee Walton	Anthology of the Blues Vol 7 - West Coast Blues.	P-Vine	1955	02:59
Wear Your Black Dress	Willie Egan	Come On.	Relic	1956	02:06
Midnight Blues	Baby Calloway	West Coast Guitar Killers 1951-1965 Vol. 1.	El Segundo	1958	02:45
Tricky	Gus Jenkins	Jericho Alley Vol. 1: Blues In Los Angeles 1955-1959.	Flash	1956	02:46
That Ain't Right	Jimmy McCracklin	Jumpin' Bay Area 1948-1955.	P-Vine	1955	02:52
Little Eva	Lloyd Glenn	Wrinkles - Classic And Rare Chess Instrumentals.	MCA/Chess	1960	02:19
In The Wee Wee Hours	Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers	West Coast Guitar Killers 1951-1965 Vol. 1.	El Segundo	1960	02:08
Chittlins	Gus Jenkins	Jericho Alley Vol. 3: Blues In Los Angeles 1956-1967.	Flash	6465	02:47
Sawmill Section	Judge Davis	Jericho Alley Vol. 1: Blues In Los Angeles 1955-1959.	Flash	1958	02:52
Nothing But The Blues	Malcolm "Little Son" Willis	Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 4 - California & The West Coast.	Boulevard Vintage	1952	03:42
Route 90	Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow feat. Willard McDaniel	Houston Jump Blues 1950s.	P-Vine	1954	02:40

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