Little Brother Montgomery was a blues, boogie-woogie and jazz pianist and singer, who was hugely versatile, working solo and with bands, and equally impressive across all the genres, with a highly distinctive style. Born in Louisiana near New Orleans, he was influenced by family friend Jelly Roll Morton, and over the years was associated with the Mississippi town of Vicksburg, which gave its name to several of his song titles, and Chicago, where he later worked and made most of his records. This 72-track 3-CD collection comprises the A & B sides of just about all his releases on the Paramount, Melotone, Bluebird and Century labels from 1930-47, along with titles from the 1954 album “Windin’ Ball Recordings” on Saydisk, the 1960 album “Tasty Blues on Bluesville and the 1961 album “Blues” on Folkways. It comprises many solo recordings, plus some with his jazz quintet, featuring trumpeter Lee Collins, and recordings with singers Irene Scruggs, Annie Turner and Creole George Guenson. It’s a fascinating and substantial overview of two different phases of his career, and offers an entertaining showcase for his highly personal style.

CD 1

1. VICKSBURG BLUES Brother Montgomery (Paramount 13006) 1930

2. NO SPECIAL RIDER BLUES Brother Montgomery (Paramount 13006) 1930

3. MUST GET MINE IN FRONT Irene Scruggs (Paramount 13023) 1930

4. GOOD GRINDING Irene Scruggs (Paramount 13023) 1930

5. BORROWED LOVE BLUES Irene Scruggs (Paramount 13046) 1930

6. BACK TO THE WALL Irene Scruggs (Paramount 13046) 1930

7. LOUISIANA BLUES Eurreal Montgomery (Melotone 12548) 1931

8. FRISCO HI-BALL BLUES Eurreal Montgomery (Melotone 12548) 1931

9. MAMA, YOU DON'T MEAN ME NO GOOD Little Brother Montgomery (Bluebird 6072) 1935

10. VICKBURG BLUES #2 Little Brother Montgomery (Bluebird 6072) 1935

11. WOMAN I LOVE BLUES Little Brother Montgomery (Bluebird 6140) 1935

12. PLEADING BLUES Little Brother Montgomery (Bluebird 6140) 1935

13. CHINESE MAN BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6658) 1936

14. SOMETHING KEEPS WORRYING ME Little Brother  (Bluebird 6658) 1936

15. VICKSBURG BLUES (PT.3) Little Brother  (Bluebird 6697) 1936

16. LOUISIANA BLUES (PT.2) Little Brother  (Bluebird 6697) 1936

17. GOODBYE, GOOD LUCK TO YOU Creole George Guenson (Bluebird 6706) 1936

18. HARD ON YOU Annie Turner (Bluebird 6707) 1936

19. BLACK PONY BLUES Annie Turner (Bluebird 6707) 1936

20. CRESCENT CITY BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6733) 1936

21. SHREVEPORT FAREWELL Little Brother  (Bluebird 6733) 1936

22. TANTALIZING BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6766) 1936

23. FIRST TIME I MET YOU Little Brother  (Bluebird 6766) 1936

24. DECEIVED BLUES Annie Turner (Bluebird 6788) 1936

25. WORKHOUSE BLUES Annie Turner (Bluebird 6788) 1936

CD 2

1. A & V RAILROAD BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6811) 1936

2. SANTA FE BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6811) 1936

3. NEVER GO WRONG BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6825) 1936

4. FARISH STREET JIVE Little Brother  (Bluebird 6894) 1936

5. OUT WEST BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6916) 1936

6. LEAVING TOWN BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 6916) 1936

7. MISTREATING WOMAN BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 7178) 1936

8. WEST TEXAS BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 7178) 1936

9. SORROWFUL BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 7277) 1936

10. MISLED BLUES Little Brother  (Bluebird 7806) 1936

11. LONG TIME AGO Little Brother Montgomery's Quintet (Century 4009) 1947

12. EL RITMO Little Brother Montgomery's Quintet (Century 4009) 1947

13. SWINGIN WITH LEE Little Brother Montgomery's Quintet (Century 4010) 1947

14. WOMAN THAT I LOVE Little Brother Montgomery's Quintet (Century 4010) 1947

15. MULE FACE BLUES Little Brother Montgomery  1954

16. COW COW BLUES Little Brother Montgomery) 1954

17. VICKSBURG BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1954

18. CRESCENT CITY BLUES Little Brother 1954

From the album “Windin’ Ball Blues” Montgomery (Saydisk LP SDR-213)

19. TREMBLING BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

20. BOB MARTIN BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

21. MY ELECTRICAL INVENTION BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

22. THAT'S WHY I KEEP DRINKING Little Brother Montgomery 1960

23. NO SPECIAL RIDER Little Brother Montgomery 1960

24. TASTY BLUES Little Brother Montgomery (Bluesville VLP1012) 1960

From the  album “Chicago Blues Sessions” (77 Records 77-L-12-21)

CD 3

1. SANTA FE Little Brother Montgomery 1960

2. HOW LONG BROTHER Little Brother Montgomery 1960

3. PLEADING BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

4. NO SPECIAL RIDER Little Brother Montgomery 1960

5. BROTHER'S BOOGIE Little Brother Montgomery 1960

6. SNEAKY PETE BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

7. SOMETHING KEEPS WORRYING ME Little Brother Montgomery 1960

8. CRY CRY BABY Little Brother Montgomery 1960

9. SATELLITE BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

10. DEEP FRIED Little Brother Montgomery 1960

11. VICKSBURG BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1960

From the album “Tasty Blues” (Bluesville VLP1012)

12. PLEADING BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1961

13. VICKSBURG 44 Little Brother Montgomery 1961

14. EARLY ONE MORNING Little Brother Montgomery 1961

15. NOW ABOUT THAT PRISONER Little Brother Montgomery 1961

16. CRESCENT CITY BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1961

17. PALLET ON THE FLOOR Little Brother Montgomery 1961

18. WEST 46TH STREET BOOGIE Little Brother Montgomery 1961

19. I AIN'T NO BULLDOG Little Brother Montgomery 1961

20. MEAN OLD MAMA Little Brother Montgomery 1961

21. LONDON SHOUT Little Brother Montgomery 1961

22. STORYVILLE BLUES Little Brother Montgomery 1961

23. IT'S ALL OVER NOW Little Brother Montgomery 1961

From the album “Blues” (Folkways FG3527)