Amos Milburn Blues, Barrelhouse & Boogie Woogie: 1946-1955 CD

Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves (Capitol Recording Studios).

Here's a very reasonable compromise between the pricey Mosaic box and EMI's incomplete single-disc treatment of Milburn's Aladdin legacy: a three-disc, 66-song package that's heavy on boogies and blues and slightly deficient in the ballad department (to that end, his smash "Bewildered" was left off). Everything that is aboard is top-drawer, though -- the booze odes, many a party rocker, and a plethora of the double-entendre blues that Milburn reveled in during his early years. The absent 1956 remake of "Chicken Shack Boogie" is a humongous omission, though. ~ Bill Dahl

One of the most successful R&B performers of the post-war era, Milburn's irresistible boogies also marked him out as one of the founding fathers of R&R. Featuring 48 tracks, including four R&B #1's, 'Chicken Shack Boogie', 'Bewildered', 'Roomin' House Boogie' & 'Bad, Bad Whiskey'. Booklet/inlay features comprehensive liner notes by leading blues aficionado Neil Slaven, plus rare photos & memorabilia. 2002.

Recorded between September 12, 1946 and July 25, 1955. Includes liner notes by Mark Humphrey.

This is part of the Capitol Blues Collection series.

Personnel includes: Amos Milburn (vocals, piano); Gene Phillips, Mickey Baker (guitar, bass, drums); Chuck Norris, Johnny Brown, Wayne Bennett, Tiny Mitchell, Irving Ashby (guitar); Leroy Robinson, Paul Williams, Jewel Grant (alto & baritone saxophones); Maxwell Davis (tenor saxophone, guitar, bass, drums); Don Wilkerson, Willie Smith, Bill Hill, Tina Brooks, Noble Watts, Clyde Dunn, Eddie Chamblee (tenor saxophone); Willie Simpson, Joe Evans (baritone saxophone); Arnett Sparrow (trombone); Willard McDaniel (piano); Ralph Hamilton, Harper Cosby, Leonard Sonny Williams, David Bryant, Red Callender (bass); Lee Young, Jesse Sailes, Calvin Vaughns, Lawrence Norman, Oscar Lee Bradley, Eldeen McIntosh, Donald Dean, Bill Douglass, Rufus Jones (drums).

Down Beat (8/96, p.64) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...Milburn used chunks of blues and jazz to create the romping elements of rhythm & blues....Milburn burns up the ivory on a selection of his notorious drinking songs... and also on boogie-woogie ticklers like the seminal `Chicken Shack Boogie'..."