Eddie Boyd was a blues pianist, singer and songwriter who made his primary impact on the Chicago scene during the 1940s and 50s, before becoming a popular figure in the American Folk Blues tours of Europe during the 60s and beyond. Born on the same Mississippi plantation as Muddy Waters, and a half-brother of Memphis Slim, he moved to Memphis in the late 30s and in 1941 headed for Chicago, working in steel mills to finance his music activities. He played on many musicians sessions, and from 1947 recorded under his own name, initially for RCA, but subsequently for Regal, J.O.B., Herald and most notably Chess, before working with several other labels at the start of the 60s.
His combination of boogie and jazz-tinged styles brought him an R&B No. 1 in 1952 with Five Long Years and subsequent Top 3 R&B hits with 24 Hours and Third Degree. This great-value 50-track 2-CD set comprises selected A and B sides from the 66 tracks he released on singles across this era for the RCA-Victor, J.O.B., Herald, Chess, Bea & Baby, Keyhole, Mojo & Art-Tone labels, and so represents a solid cross-section of his work. Its a entertaining showcase for his ability to work across the blues spectrum, from moody slow blues to fine rocking blues alongside some of Chicagos best musicians, and its an enlightening introduction to an underrated bluesman who merits a great deal more attention than he has received over the years.
REVIEWS
"A great collection" - Dave Peabody (fRoots)
“If you haven’t dabbled before, this set comes with a recommendation from this reviewer.” - Phil Wight (Blues & Rhythm)
Disc 1 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I Had To Let Her Go |
Little Eddie Boyd With J.T. Brown's Boogie Band |
2 |
Kilroy Won't Be Back |
Little Eddie Boyd With J.T. Brown's Boogie Band |
3 |
Unfair Lovers |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
4 |
Rosa Lee Swing |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
5 |
Playmate Shuffle |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
6 |
Getting My Divorce |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
7 |
Why Did She Leave Me |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
8 |
Mr. Highway Man |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Boogie Band |
9 |
Baby What's Wrong With You |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Trio |
10 |
Eddie's Blues |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Trio |
11 |
What Makes These Things Happen To Me |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Trio |
12 |
Chicago Is Just That Way |
Little Eddie Boyd And His Trio |
13 |
Why Don't You Be Wise, Baby |
Eddie Boyd |
14 |
I Gotta Find My Baby |
Eddie Boyd |
15 |
I'm Pleading |
Eddie Boyd Trio |
16 |
Five Long Years |
Eddie Boyd Sings And Plays |
17 |
Blue Coat Man |
Eddie Boyd Sings And Plays |
18 |
Cool Kind Treatment |
Eddie Boyd |
19 |
I'm Goin' Downtown |
Eddie Boyd And His Orchestra |
20 |
24 Hours |
Eddie Boyd |
21 |
The Tickler |
Eddie Boyd |
22 |
Third Degree |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
23 |
Back Beat |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
24 |
Nothing But Trouble |
Eddie Boyd And The Chess Men |
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Disc 2 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Picture In The Frame |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
2 |
Hush Baby, Don't You Cry |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
3 |
Drifting |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
4 |
Rattin' And Running Around |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
5 |
The Story Of Bill |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
6 |
Real Good Feeling |
Eddie Boyd And His Chessmen |
7 |
I'm A Prisoner |
Eddie Boy And His Chess Men |
8 |
Life Gets To Be A Burden |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
9 |
Four Leaf Clover |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
10 |
Just A Fool |
Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men |
11 |
I Got A Woman |
Eddie Boyd |
12 |
Hotel Blues |
Eddie Boyd |
13 |
I Got The Blues |
Eddie Boyd |
14 |
She's The One |
Eddie Boyd |
15 |
Save Her Doctor |
Eddie Boyd |
16 |
I'm Comin' Home |
Eddie Boyd |
17 |
Thank You Baby |
Eddie Boyd |
18 |
Blue Monday Blues |
Eddie Boyd |
19 |
The Blues Is Here To Stay |
Eddie Boyd |
20 |
Come On Home |
Eddie Boyd & The Daylighters |
21 |
Reap What You Sow |
Eddie Boyd & The Daylighters |
22 |
All The Way |
Eddie Boyd |
23 |
Where You Belong |
Eddie Boyd |
24 |
Vacation From The Blues |
Eddie Boyd |
25 |
It's Too Bad |
Eddie Boyd |
26 |
Operator |
Eddie Boyd |