Mel Walker was an R&B singer, born in Texas in 1928, and a schoolmate of pianist Floyd Dixon, who came to the fore after being discovered by singer, bandleader, composer and producer Johnnie Otis in 1949 – Otis was a legendarily influential mover and shaker in the R&B world during that era. Most of Walker’s success came as a result of his association with Otis, sometimes recording with another of Otis’ protegés Little Esther Phillips. 

His style was smooth and heavily blues-influenced. He did not record prolifically, and this 43-track 2-CD collection comprises singles with the band of Johnny Otis, plus duets with Little Esther and solo releases on the Savoy, Regent and Mercury labels during this era, along with titles recorded for Savoy and Mercury which were not released at the time. It  features the R&B No. 1s “Mistrustin’ Blues” and “Cupid Boogie”,  the R&B No. 2s “Rockin’ Blues” and “Gee Baby”, and the R&B Top 10 hits “Wedding Boogie”, “Far Away Blues”, “Cry Baby” and “Call Operator”. 

His career was curtailed by his arrest on narcotics charges, and he never made it back into the big time, dying prematurely at the age of 36 from an apparent drug overdose. He was a stylish and underestimated performer, and this collection offers an enlightening insight into his all-too brief career.

Tracks

CD 1
1. MISTRUSTIN' BLUES  Little Esther With Mel Walker  (Savoy 735) 1950 
2. CRY BABY Mel Walker (Savoy 749 Regent 1016) 1950 
3. HELPLESS Mel Walker (Savoy 748 Regent 1018) 1950 
4. DREAMIN' BLUES Mel Walker (Savoy 748 Regent 1018) 1950 
5. CUPID'S BOOGIE Little Esther & Mel Walker  (Savoy 750) 1950 
6. DECEIVIN' BLUES Little Esther & Mel Walker  (Savoy 759) 1950 
7. STRANGE WOMAN Mel Walker with Johnny Otis Orch. (Regent 1022) 1950 
8. LONELY BLUES Mel Walker with Johnny Otis Orch. (Regent 1022) 1950 
9. WEDDING BOOGIE Johnny Otis Congregation (Savoy 764) 1950 
10. FAR AWAY BLUES (XMAS BLUES) Johnny Otis Orch. with Little Esther & Mel Walker (Savoy 764) 1950 
11. ROCKIN' BLUES Johnny Otis Orch. with Mel Walker (Savoy 766 Regent 1027) 1950 
12. MY HEART TELLS ME Johnny Otis Orch. with Mel Walker (Savoy 766 Regent 1027) 1950 
13. LOVE WILL BREAK YOUR HEART Johnny Otis Orch. with Little Esther & Mel Walker (Savoy 775) 1950 
14. GEE BABY Johnny Otis Orch. with Mel Walker (Savoy 777) 1951 
15. I DREAM  Johnny Otis Orch. with Little Esther & Mel Walker (Savoy 787 Regent 1036) 1951 
16. I GOT A NEW LOVE  Mel Walker with Johnny Otis Orch. (Savoy 788) 1951 
17. SUNSET TO DAWN Mel Walker with Johnny Otis Orch. (Savoy 821) 1951 
18. FEEL LIKE CRYIN' AGAIN Mel Walker with Johnny Otis Orch. (Savoy 821) 1951 
19. HELP ME BLUES Mel Walker (Savoy 849) 1952 
20. HEARTACHE HERE I COME Mel Walker (Savoy 849) 1952 
21. JUST ANOTHER FLAME  Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
22. WALK MY BLUES AWAY Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  

CD 2
1. FOOL'S GOLD Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
2. TURN THE LIGHTS DOWN LOW Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
3. IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
4. WHERE'S MY BABY Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
5. THREE MAGIC WORDS Mel Walker (Savoy unreleased)  
6. CALL OPERATOR 210 Johnny Otis & His Orch. Feat. Mel Walker (Mercury 8289) 1952 
7. BABY BABY BLUES Johnny Otis & His Orch. Feat. Mel Walker (Mercury 8289) 1952 
8. GYPSY BLUES Johnny Otis & His Orch. Feat. Mel Walker (Mercury 8295) 1952 
9. CANDLES BURNIN' LOW Johnny Otis & His Orch. Feat. Mel Walker (Mercury 8295) 1952 
10. THE LOVE BUG BOOGIE Johnny Otis & His Orch. with Mel Walker & Ada Wilson (Mercury 70050) 1952 
11. BROWN SKIN BUTTERBALL  Johnny Otis & His Orch. with Mel Walker (Mercury 70050) 1952 
12. UNLUCKY MAN Mel Walker (Mercury 70276) 1953 
13. MY BABY Mel Walker (Mercury 70276) 1953 
14. FEELIN' MIGHTY LONESOME Mel Walker (Mercury 70323) 1954 
15. YOU PASSED BY Mel Walker (Mercury 70323) 1954 
16. ANOTHER SAD NIGHT Mel Walker (Mercury 70370) 1954 
17. I'D LIKE TO MAKE YOU MINE Mel Walker (Mercury 70370) 1954 
18. SUGAR SUGAR Mel Walker (Mercury unreleased)  
19. THE LAST MILE Mel Walker (Mercury unreleased)  
20. THE GAME IS OVER Mel Walker (Mercury unreleased)  
21. I HAVE DECIDED Mel Walker (Mercury unreleased)