Blues & Ballads

Blues & Ballads
Studio album by Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden
Released 1960
Recorded April 5, 1960
Genre Blues
Length 43:25
Label Prestige Bluesville
Producer Chris Albertson
Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden chronology
Blues by Lonnie Johnson
(1960)		 Blues & Ballads
(1960)		 Blues, Ballads, and Jumpin' Jazz, Vol. 2
(1960)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Blues & Ballads is a 1960 recording featuring Lonnie Johnson on vocals and electric guitar accompanied by Elmer Snowden on acoustic guitar and Wendell Marshall on bass. This was the first commercial recording by Snowden in 26 years. The same ensemble, under the supervision of Chris Albertson recorded and released a second volume titled: Blues, Ballads, and Jumpin' Jazz, Vol. 2.

The album has generally received high acclaim. Although one writer appears to disregard the album with a single sentence, calling it "just plain sad, lacking even the vitality of rock and roll."[2] Others have noted Johnson's "plaintive, slightly nasal voice"[3] and indicated that he "sings smooth blues and sentimental ballads with equal skill."[1] The guitarists styles are described as distinctive, yet complementary,[1] and Snowden is described as a "sympathetic accompanist" with "an easy swingingly graceful style."[3]

One reviewer calls Johnson's performance on the blues numbers "convincing, affecting interpretations," but indicates that his performance on the three ballads is less consistent. He states, "On 'Memories of You', his approach is gentle and lyrical, and yet his controlled inner tension builds tremendous emotional power. Two other ballads, his own compositions are too stickily sentimental to be effective."[3]

Track listing

  1. "Haunted House" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:59
  2. "Memories of You" (Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf) – 4:21
  3. "Blues for Chris" (Chris Albertson, Elmer Snowden) – 5:04
  4. "I Found a Dream" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:33
  5. "St. Louis Blues" (W.C. Handy) – 3:05
  6. "I'll Get Along Somehow" (Buddy Fields, Gerald Marks) – 4:27
  7. "Savoy Blues" (Kid Ory) – 4:11
  8. "Backwater Blues" (Bessie Smith) – 5:04
  9. "Elmer's Blues" (Elmer Snowden) – 3:27
  10. "He's a Jelly Roll Baker" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:14

Personnel

Release history

yearformatlabelcatalog #
1960LPPrestige BluesvilleBv-1011
1960Bluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBCCD-531-2 (BV)
CDBluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBCCD-531-2
LPBluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBC-531
CDBluesville/Original Blues Classics531
1991CDObc531
1993CDAce531
LPFan/Obc531

References

  1. 1 2 3 Scott Yanow, "Review: Blues & Ballads", Allmusic (link)
  2. ↑ The Journal of American Folk-lore, 74, p.248, American Folklore Society/JSTOR/Project Muse, 1961
  3. 1 2 3 High Fidelity, 11, p.135, 1961
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