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Big Joe Turner - I've Been to Kansas City (1940)

Track listing:
  1. Piney Brown Blues 2:59
  2. Doggin' the Dog 2:48
  3. Careless Love 2:54
  4. Jumpin' Down Blues 2:40
  5. Rainy Day Blues 2:59
  6. Wee Baby Blues 3:00
  7. Last Goodbye Blues 3:19
  8. Rock Me Mama 2:57
  9. Lucille [Take 1] 3:07
  10. Lucille [Take 2] 3:24
  11. Corrine, Corrina 2:37
  12. Lonesome Graveyard [Take 1] 3:14
  13. Lonesome Graveyard [Take 2] 3:15
  14. Nobody in Mind 3:00
  15. Somebody's Got to Go 3:01
  16. Ice Man 1:57

Notes

This excellent 1990 CD reissues singer Big Joe Turner's first eight recordings for Decca and the six songs (plus two alternate takes) that he made with the remarkable pianist Art Tatum. Turner is joined by trumpeter Hot Lips Page and a top Kansas City group (including pianist Pete Johnson) for "Piney Brown Blues," has four surprisingly effective duets with the sophisticated pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith and is backed by pianist Sammy Price's trio for three of the four numbers that he recorded on July 17, 1941. The Tatum sides (highlighted by the classic "Wee Baby Blues" and "Corrine, Corrina") also feature trumpeter Joe Thomas and (on two songs) clarinetist Edmond Hall prominent in the backup group. Just 29 and 30 during this time, Turner already sounded quite mature and powerful.