Chick Willis - Hit & Run Blues: 53 Years In The Blues & Chick's Running Faster Than Ever!

Size: 123,4 MB
Time: 52:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Full

01. Houdini Lover (4:22)
02. Love To See You Smile (4:40)
03. Stoop Down Low (4:53)
04. Soul Of A Man (4:28)
05. 1,2,3,4,5 Shots Of Whiskey (5:15)
06. Millionaire (4:02)
07. Country Lovin' Man (2:50)
08. Looking For My Baby (5:25)
09. Recess In Heaven (4:08)
10. Today I Started Loving You Again (3:25)
11. Blues Man (Live) (9:13)

Blues has always been a music of comebacks, and Chick Willis is making strong, resurgent moves with this independently released album containing many of his original songs. Into his 53rd year playing music professionally, the guitarist and vocalist stays true to urban blues while making a contemporary pathway doused with soul and a little bit of a dirty-minded attitude. The music is horn-driven, fun for listening or dancing, and has all of the savvy and street smarts any veteran of this music should have. It seems his voice has not diminished one iota, while his songs suggest he's still enjoying life to the fullest. Of the six tracks written by Willis, the rocking shuffle "Houdini Blues" refers to "freakin'" things, but is more on track with a partner who tends to disappear, much to his chagrin. Clearly suggestive tunes such as a remake of the Chicago-style soft porn "Stoop Down Low" (his biggest hit) and "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Shots of Whiskey" (in doo wop refrains) refer to the seedier side of life, while the upbeat and funkier "Country Lovin' Man" implies that city life is not the only way for Willis. Pianist Bobby Felder, with his two-fisted chords, is the glue that keeps the band together. He's a good find and someday should do things on his own, as proven during the long and slow live track "Blues Man," as Willis gives shout-outs to the crowd and anyone who might have dissed him and may be listening. There are direct references to the easygoing, moaning sound of Bobby "Blue" Bland on "Looking for My Baby," punctuated more so on Bland's two tunes that are included -- the big-deal showtime blues "Millionaire" and the leaving home theme "Soul of a Man." Coming from the Southern style of country blues, Willis does "Today I Started Loving You Again" in a light, thankful pose in reverence to songwriters Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, but without the twang or over-affectedness. The solid three-piece horn section, minimally used six-voice female choir, and a self-assured sense of purpose center Willis through this program, with very little hint of overt commercialism. It's a credible effort from one of the true legends of American music, whose recognition may have taken a blow from being confused with his cousin Chuck Willis, but can continue to take the stage as his own man, still doin' it after all these years. ~Michael G. Nastos

Hit & Run Blues: 53 Years In The Blues & Chick's Running Faster Than Ever! MP3
Hit & Run Blues: 53 Years In The Blues & Chick's Running Faster Than Ever! FLAC

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Chick Willis - Cookin’ The Blues: A Tribute To Albert King

Size: 138,0 MB
Time: 59:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Can’t You See What You’re Doin’ To Me (6:03)
02. I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog The Way You Treated Me (3:42)
03. Be Right Back (5:10)
04. I’ll Play The Blues For You (8:41)
05. Smooth Blues (6:07)
06. Angel Of Mercy (6:27)
07. Laundromat Blues (5:24)
08. The Hucklebuck (4:53)
09. What The Blues Is All About (6:19)
10. Blues #9 (6:17)

Its been close to forty years since this writer acquired a 45 by one Chick Willis that included a solid rendition of Guitar Slim’s The Things I Used to Do. Shortly thereafter, Chick recorded another single that would generate his career defining song, Stoop Down Baby. Such a song can be a blessing and a curse because it does provide work but it is also an albatross that prevents folks from appreciating just how good and varied a blues performer he is as opposed to be limited to bawdy double entendre numbers. Jacques ‘Saxman’ Johnson and Dr. Bill Clark had Chick come in to the Washington, D.C. area for a gig at Blues Alley as well as a recording session. The result is the new Old School Productions CD, Cookin’ the Blues: A Tribute to Albert King featuring Chick Willis. As the album title suggests, Chick is heard on a number of songs associated with the late blues giant including Can’t You See What You Are Doing to Me, I’ll Play the Blues For You, Angel of Mercy, Laundromat Blues, and What the Blues is All About. Willis sings and plays his distinctive guitar in a straightforward fashion and Johnson leads a punchy and brassy horn section supporting Willis’ fine performances. Four of the ten tracks are instrumentals that give the Saxman a chance to stretch out including a rousing rendition of The Hucklebuck, with Bill Clark getting some space to show his Hammond B-3 skills and Johnson’s son, Jacques Jr. being featured quite admirably on guitar. In summary, Cookin’ the Blues is delightful with solid Willis interpretations of classic Albert King recordings with the Saxman’s tenor sax features for an added treat. ~ Ron W

Cookin’ The Blues: A Tribute To Albert King MP3
Cookin’ The Blues: A Tribute To Albert King FLAC

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Chick Willis - Things I Used To Do

Year: 2020
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:19
Size: 150,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Lou's Place (5:13)
2. Please Don't Go (3:49)
3. Every Day Is A Good Day (5:04)
4. Come Back Home (8:06)
5. You Got The Devil In You (3:26)
6. The Things I Used To Do (3:12)
7. What You Got On Me (4:28)
8. One Eyed Woman (5:16)
9. Tin Pan Alley (4:51)
10. Big Fat Woman (5:19)
11. Four Wives Blues (4:52)
12. Voodoo Woman (5:26)
13. Doin' The Yang Thang (6:13)

"Things I Used To Do" by Chick Willis is a previously unheard collection of 13 red hot blues cuts he recorded during a rare trip to the UK in 1997. Chick Willis, the Kings (B.B., Freddie and Albert), Buddy Guy and countless other guitar-toting blues players found themselves to be big stars on the college and club circuits across the US and Europe. And for many American blues artists, the road to Europe was built by the Big Bear himself, Jim Simpson. In all, Jim fixed four tours of the UK and Europe for Chick, but it wasn't till the last trip in 1997 that they got time to put Chick in a studio with a cooking band.

This album was recorded in two sweaty days in August 1997 at the Chipping Norton Studios run by Richard and Mike Vernon. It's a swinging celebration of the sly, soulful blues that Chick put out there for almost 60 years. The band was fresh from gigs in Birmingham, enough to knock off a few corners and tighten things up without choking them. Everyone knew what they had to do.

And what a band. Tony Ashton, on Hammond organ and piano, needs no introduction to anyone who knows their rock, blues and jazz. Roger Inniss on bass and drummer Sticky Wicket who, unlike so many players, know how to hold things in check when the music needs it. Oh, and there's Chick Willis, of course. Still twinkling at 62, stinging out guitar lines that must have inspired Robert Cray, greasing out those wicked, poignant, joyous lyrics with that circuit-seasoned voice. /Excerpt from liner notes by Stuart Maxwell

Things I Used To Do mc
Things I Used To Do zippy

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Chick Willis - Mr. Blues: The Best Of... So Far

Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:08
Size: 171,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Front, tray

1. Stoop Down Baby Let Your Daddy See (5:46)
2. Do The Hucklebuck (Remix) (4:48)
3. Ribshack Blues Cafe (4:10)
4. I Won't Give Up (3:39)
5. Mr. Blues (4:37)
6. 1,2,3,4,5 Shots Of Whiskey (3:48)
7. Hattie (3:51)
8. I Found The Kinda Love (3:51)
9. I Want A Big Fat Woman (Live) (5:03)
10. I'm The Son (I Like It Like That) (4:10)
11. Jack You Up (4:04)
12. Bootie Call (3:28)
13. Old Man With Freaky Ideas (2:59)
14. I Wanna Funk Wid You (3:18)
15. Look On Yonder's Wall (Live) (4:36)
16. Mother Fuyer (Live) (5:18)
17. I Can't Stop Loving You (Live) (6:35)

Cousin to the late blues ballad singer Chuck Willis, Robert "Chick" Willis is primarily beloved for his ribald, dozens-based rocker "Stoop Down Baby." The guitarist cut his original version in 1972 for tiny La Val Records of Kalamazoo, MI, selling a ton of 45s for the jukebox market only (the tune's lyrics were way too raunchy for airplay).

Willis left the military in 1954, hiring on as valet and chauffeur to cousin Chuck, then riding high with his many R&B hits for OKeh Records. At that point, Chick's primary role on the show was as a singer (he made his own vinyl debut in 1956 with a single, "You're Mine," for Lee Rupe's Ebb Records after winning a talent contest at Atlanta's Magnolia Ballroom), but he picked up the guitar while on the road with his cousin (Chick cites Guitar Slim as his main man in that department).

When Chuck died of stomach problems in 1958, Willis soldiered on, pausing in Chicago to work as a sideman with slide guitar great Elmore James. A few obscure 45s ("Twistin' in the Hospital Ward," cut for Alto in 1962, sounds promising) preceded the advent of "Stoop Down Baby," which Willis has freshened up for countless sequels ever since (he developed the song by teasing passersby with his ribald rhymes while working in a carnival variety show). Risqué material remained a staple of Willis's output in recent years. He cut several albums for Ichiban, notably 1988's Now!, Footprints in My Bed in 1990, and Back to the Blues in 1991. /Biography by Bill Dahl, AllMusic

"Mr. Blues: The Best Of...So Far" is the first ever "best of" collection on blues legend Chick Willis. This 17-track set collects Chick's most popular songs (Stoop Down Baby Let Your Daddy See, Mother Fuyer, I'm The Son, Bootie Call), best recordings (Hattie, Mr. Blues, 1,2,3,4,5 Shots Of Whiskey, etc.) plus new and previously unreleased tracks, including the new hit The New Hucklebuck.

Mr. Blues: The Best Of... So Far mc
Mr. Blues: The Best Of... So Far zippy

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VA - Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 1, Vol. 2 & Vol. 3

Album: Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 1
Source: Digital Lossless Copy
Size: 123.8 MB
Time: 53:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues Soul
Art: Front

01 Carl Marshall - Put Your Hands On It (4:31)
02 Bobbye Doll Johnson - Pull Up From Behind (4:49)
03 Nathaniel Kimble - Sit On My Face (4:35)
04 Willie B. - Sweet Lick (4:18)
05 Ricky White - Taste Your Love (4:40)
06 Big Cynthia - Eating Still Ain't Cheating (4:24)
07 Chick Willis - Mother Fuyer (3:55)
08 Travis Haddix - Put Your Finger In It (3:23)
09 Charles Wilson - Ride Your Body Tonight (4:28)
10 Blind Ricky McCants - Put A Liplock On That Thang (3:32)
11 Stevie J. - Hit It Again (4:40)
12 Jody Sticker - Roll It Baby (Long Version) (6:22)

Album: Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 2
Source: Digital Lossless Copy
Size: 142.0 MB
Time: 61:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Blues Soul
Art: Front

01 Koree' Rudolph - Taste Like Candy (4:25)
02 Jody Sticker - Mr. Booty Do Right (3:44)
03 Ricky White - Ride My Money (Club Sex Mix) (4:31)
04 Keri - All In The Mood (3:38)
05 Charles Wilson - You're The Shhh (3:46)
06 Travis Haddix - Two Heads Are Better Than One (5:54)
07 Decarlos Bonds - I Miss My Ex And Her Sex (4:54)
08 Chick Willis - I Did It All (4:23)
09 Big Cynthia - She Workin' That Nookie Thang (3:58)
10 Lee Shot Williams - Baby By An Outside Woman (3:30)
11 The Love Doctor - Pop That Coochie (4:54)
12 William Calhoun - Room 229 (We Did The 69) (5:00)
13 Willie B. - Larry Licker (4:55)
14 Jody Sticker - It's Good On The Top (3:59)

Album: Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 3
Source: Digital Lossless Copy
Size: 127.1 MB
Time: 55:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Blues Soul
Art: Front

01 Travis Haddix - Dick For Dinner (3:41)
02 Billy Cole - Let Me Stick It (3:36)
03 Blind Ricky McCants - Caught You With Your Drawers Down (3:37)
04 Chick Willis - I Like It Like That (4:10)
05 Stan Mosley - Backbone (Extended) (4:25)
06 Jody Sticker - Mr. Telephone Man (3:30)
07 Ricky White - Stacked In The Back (4:43)
08 Ghetto Cowboy - She Put That Thang On Me (3:56)
09 Corey Rudolph - Sexy Body (4:36)
10 Dicky Williams - Sex, Lies & Alibi (2:49)
11 Chuck Roberson - The Lollypop Man Can (3:01)
12 Charles Wilson - This Bed Ain't Big Enough (4:32)
13 Jim Bennett - She Laid A Freak On Me (4:22)
14 Jody Sticker - Don't Make No Noise (4:06)

Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 1
Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 2
Nasty N' Dirty Southern Soul Blues Vol. 3

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Chick Willis - Southern Soul Blues Hits

Size: 124,5 MB
Time: 53:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Houdini Lover (4:21)
02. Undercover Hoochie Pt. 1 (3:03)
03. Undercover Hoochie Pt. 2 (4:20)
04. Stoop Down (5:45)
05. Picture On The Wall (4:11)
06. Yo' Cat Is Killing My Dog (3:32)
07. I Did It All (Adult Version) (4:23)
08. Country Lovin' Man (2:48)
09. On Your Way Fishing (3:23)
10. Short Haired Woman (3:39)
11. The Blues Is Gone (5:20)
12. The Gas Is Too High (3:42)
13. Obama (4:47)

Born Robert Willis on September 24, 1934 in Cabiness, Georgia, "Chick" is the cousin of late blues legend Chuck Willis. He began his musical career in the 50's touring with his cousin Chuck Willis , a rollicking R&B showman who became known as the “King of the Stroll”. Chick left the military in 1954 and worked as valet and chauffeur for Chuck, also playing in Chuck's band. When Chuck died of stomach problems in 1958, Chick worked with slide guitar great Elmore James. On his own Chick released a few obscure singles before hitting it big in 1972 with the infamous "Stoop Down Baby," which allegedly went on to sell 3 million copies! Since then, like Marvin Sease, he made a career out of similar risque material despite having genuine blues talent. Fortunately, he has proved himself as a blues singer and guitarist as much as an author of "blue" material.To date Chick has over a dozen recordings and has appeared in the movies “Petie Wheatstraw” and the Buddy Holly story. In addition to being a first rate guitarist and vocalist, Chick plays drums, keyboard, harmonica, and bass.

Despite it's success there was no followup LP to "Stoop Down Baby Let Your Daddy See". In the mid-80s he signed with Ichiban records and dropped a tribute album to his cousin ("Chick Does Chuck") in 1985. However, it was his second album and a return to the raunchy style that re-ignited his career. Beginning with the double-entendre filled LP "Now" Willis recorded another five albums for the label before becoming a journeyman for various labels (Paula, Ifgam, Rockhouse, Deep South, CML, Old School). A 2008 effort, "The Don Of The Blues", was released on the California-based CDS Records imprint. It featured the popular song "Obama". In 2009 he signed with Benevolent Blues and released the terrific "Hit & Run Blues".

Southern Soul Blues Hits

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Chick Willis - The Don Of The Blues

Size: 124,3 MB
Time: 53:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Full

01. Bootie Call (7:39)
02. Don't Start Me To Talking (3:54)
03. Last Time (3:54)
04. Your Cat Is Killing My Dog (3:32)
05. I Had The Blues Two Times (4:06)
06. Trouble Tree (4:41)
07. Obama (4:49)
08. Juke Joint (4:53)
09. Undercover Hootchie (3:05)
10. Big Leg Woman (3:32)
11. It's All Over (5:11)
12. Bonus Track (4:20)

Cousin to the late blues ballad singer Chuck Willis, Robert "Chick" Willis is primarily beloved for his ribald, dozens-based rocker "Stoop Down Baby." The guitarist cut his original version in 1972 for tiny La Val Records of Kalamazoo, MI, selling a ton of 45s for the jukebox market only (the tune's lyrics were way too raunchy for airplay).
Willis left the military in 1954, hiring on as valet and chauffeur to cousin Chuck, then riding high with his many R&B hits for OKeh Records. At that point, Chick's primary role on the show was as a singer (he made his own vinyl debut in 1956 with a single, "You're Mine," for Lee Rupe's Ebb Records after winning a talent contest at Atlanta's Magnolia Ballroom), but he picked up the guitar while on the road with his cousin (Chick cites Guitar Slim as his main man in that department).
When Chuck died of stomach problems in 1958, Willis soldiered on, pausing in Chicago to work as a sideman with slide guitar great Elmore James. A few obscure 45s ("Twistin' in the Hospital Ward," cut for Alto in 1962, sounds promising) preceded the advent of "Stoop Down Baby," which Willis has freshened up for countless sequels ever since (he developed the song by teasing passersby with his ribald rhymes while working in a carnival variety show).

Risqué material remained a staple of Willis's output in recent years. He cut several albums for Ichiban, notably 1988's Now!, Footprints in My Bed in 1990, and Back to the Blues in 1991. ~Bio by Bill Dahl

The Don Of The Blues

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Various - Shots Of Blues Vol. 1

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:52
Size: 123.3 MB
Styles: Modern R&B And Soul / Blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Gregg A. Smith - Forever Young
[6:16] 2. Travis Haddix - Don't Get Too Comfortable
[3:21] 3. Clarence Dobbins - That Kinda Love
[2:47] 4. Ken Tucker - One Stop Mind
[4:31] 5. Vel Omarr - Trouble Blues
[3:40] 6. Travis Haddix - A Little Snack
[4:35] 7. Carl Marshall - Alberta
[3:49] 8. Uvee Hayes - Howling For My Darling
[5:20] 9. Chick Willis - Looking For My Baby
[3:28] 10. Ken Tucker - Street Walking Woman
[4:35] 11. Dicky Williams - Pain In The Gas Line
[6:10] 12. Nellie Tiger Travis - Amnesia

12 great shots of Blues featuring Chick Willis, Travis Haddix, Gregg A. Smith with Bobby Rush, Carl Marshall & Lucky Peterson, Nellie 'Tiger' Travis, Vel Omarr, Ken Tucker, Uvee Hayes, Clarence Dobbins & Dicky Williams. Highlights include the instant classic "Forever Young" by Gregg A. Smith with Bobby Rush, Carl Marshall & Lucky Peterson, Ken Tucker's very Steve Ray Vaughan-like "Street Walking Woman", Vel Omarr's riveting "Trouble Blues" and more.

Shots Of Blues Vol. 1 mc
Shots Of Blues Vol. 1 zippy

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VA - Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 & Vol. 4

Album: Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 1
Size: 99,4 MB
Time: 36:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Xmas
Art: Front

01 Chick Willis - All I Want For Christmas Is To Lay Around And Love On You (3:19)
02 Jerry McCain - Absent Minded Santa (3:49)
03 Blues Boy Willie - Lonesome Christmas (3:43)
04 Nappy Brown - Santa Clause Is Back In Town (2:48)
05 Little Johnny Taylor - Christmas Is Here Again (4:31)
06 Trudy Lynn - Christmas Time Comes But Once A Year (3:19)
07 Vernon Garrett - I Didn't Get Nothin' For Christmas (3:39)
08 David Dee - Chrismas Tears (5:39)
09 Drink Small - Christmas, Don't Forget About Me (2:49)
10 Chick Willis - Please Come Home For Christmas (2:44)

Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 1

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Album: Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 2
Size: 109,9 MB
Time: 42:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Xmas
Art: Front

01 Kip Anderson - Silver Bells (3:16)
02 William Bell - Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday (6:22)
03 Chick Willis - May Christmas Bring You Happiness (3:40)
04 Theodis Ealey - A Christmas Wish (4:10)
05 Drink Small - Christmas Once A Year (3:31)
06 Gary BB Coleman - All I Need For Christmas Is You (2:48)
07 The Ledgendary Blues Band - One Day Before Christmas (4:00)
08 Jerry McCain - Sad, Sad Christmas (6:14)
09 Chick Willis - Santa Claus Got The Blues (4:37)
10 William Bell - Merry Christmas, Baby (4:05)

Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 2

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Album: Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 3
Size: 105,7 MB
Time: 41:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Xmas
Art: Front

01 Jimmy Dawkins - Christmastime Blues (4:20)
02 Sandra Hall - Christmas Tears (3:41)
03 William Bell - Beautiful Memories Of Christmas (3:37)
04 Jerry McCain - I Want To Be Your Santa Claus (4:01)
05 Travis Haddix - Santa Claus Got The Blues (4:11)
06 Slim Fatz - Southern Christmas (2:37)
07 Francine Reed - Merry Christmas, Baby (3:35)
08 Kip Anderson - Gonna Have A Merry Christmas (3:53)
09 Bob Thompson - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (4:46)
10 Willie Hill - Lonely Lonely Christmas (3:44)
11 Trudy Lynn - Please Come Home For Christmas (3:05)

Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 3

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Album: Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 4
Size: 103,2 MB
Time: 43:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Xmas
Art: Front

01 Francine Reed - Go Tell It On The Mountain (3:34)
02 Theodis Ealey - The Reason For The Season (3:32)
03 The Excellos - Santa, I Want A Stratocaster (2:29)
04 Jerry Butler - Little Red Shoes (3:32)
05 Sandra Hall - Christmas Just For Me (2:22)
06 Bob Thompson - Angels We Have Heard On High (7:16)
07 Willie Hill - Christmas Snow (3:24)
08 The Shadows - Santa Ain't Jivin' (3:10)
09 Jimmy Dawkins - Thank God For Mama (3:43)
10 Blues Boy Willie - Christmas Pretty Baby (3:24)
11 Rick Huff - Red And Green Christmas Blues (3:32)
12 Vernon Garrett - Please Come Home For Christmas (3:01)

Ichiban Blues At Christmas Vol. 4

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Chick Willis - I Did It All

Size: 128,6 MB
Time: 54:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul, Dirty Blues
Art: Full

01. I Did It All (Radio) (4:24)
02. Easy Blues (3:40)
03. Married To Four Women (3:42)
04. I Like It Like That (4:38)
05. You Are Not The Woman (5:45)
06. She Got It (5:27)
07. I Love You Sweetheart (5:25)
08. I'm Coming To See You Baby (3:47)
09. Let Me Jack You Baby (4:32)
10. Little Old Blues Man (3:57)
11. You Can't Run (5:17)
12. I Did It All (Adult) (4:22)

Just in case the lyrics of the loopy strut that gives Chick Willis' umpteenth album its title are too subtle, the cover photo shows the ribald bluesman in a thematically appropriate pose with his guitar. And then, to drive the point home, the album ends with an even longer (and even dirtier) take on the same tune. No, Chick Willis has never been about good taste, bless him, and I Did It All is more of the same: old-school electric rhythm and blues with raunchy lyrics that are good-humored enough never to quite tip over into rank obscenity. As with all of Willis' albums, I Did It All is patchy, with a few songs like "I Love You Sweetheart" that stretch a lightweight, horn-driven Chicago blues vamp on for at least a couple minutes longer than is absolutely necessary. But then there's a song as unexpected and delightfully strange as "Little Old Blues Man," which features kitschy orchestral sweetening balancing an atypically trebly, almost metallic guitar line that occasionally threatens to dissolve into weird post-punk atonality. ~ by Stewart Mason

I Did It All

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Chick Willis -2 albums: Let The Blues Speak For Itself / I Got A Big Fat Woman

Album: Let The Blues Speak For Itself
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:55
Size: 109.7 MB
Styles: Soul-blues, Modern electric blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[0:51] 1. Intro (Let Me Play)
[3:37] 2. Short-Haired Woman
[4:02] 3. Picture On The Wall
[4:13] 4. Just A Bad Dream (Feat. Travis Haddix)
[3:22] 5. On Your Way Fishing
[3:26] 6. Crush On My Next Door Neighbor (Feat. Travis Haddix)
[4:46] 7. My Fannie Mae
[4:32] 8. Don't Know What You Got
[2:38] 9. We're Gonna Boogie (Feat. Travis Haddix)
[4:13] 10. Worried About You
[4:29] 11. Money Is The Name Of The Game
[3:20] 12. Since I Fell For You
[4:19] 13. Let Me Play My Blues

Chick Willis' signature song, "Stoop Down Baby," which he cut originally in 1972 for a tiny Kalamazoo, Michigan independent label called La Val Records, was based around the dozens game, and Willis' carnival barker's ability to be risqué and ribald right up to the very point where public prosecution was possible, but not beyond, makes him sort of the Redd Foxx of Chicago blues, a master of the soft porn blues lyric. He's been doing this for a long time -- he cut his first track, "You're Mine," in 1956 for Lee Rupe's Ebb Records -- but since his most popular songs are so blue that they have no chance for radio airplay, he's remained an underground artist, even though he is a good draw on the club circuit and has plenty of fans. This release, in some ways, seems to address that disparity, and there are tracks here, like the closing "Let Me Play My Blues" (which could almost be called a gospel sermon filtered through electric Chicago blues), that feature Willis free of his trademark ribald gestures, and they reveal an artist who isn't trying to reinvent much but is very good at what he does, which is play straight-ahead electric Chicago blues, this time out with harp player Louisiana Dan and guitarist Travis Haddix sitting in with his regular touring band. There are songs that do fit Willis' good-humored but risqué style here, too, like "Picture on the Wall," but as an album, Let the Blues Speak for Itself is easily the most balanced one Willis has ever done. When he's not following his normal leering template, though, his lyrics fall to the generic side of the blues spectrum, but this is the blues, after all, which never met a rhymed line it couldn't fit into a thousand songs, so it's hardly a glaring problem, and most of this album is Willis at his most radio-friendly. The playing is sharp, tight, and has a live-in-the-studio feel. Willis doesn't reinvent classic Chicago blues here, but he shows that he definitely knows how to deliver it. ~Steve Leggett

Let The Blues Speak For Itself mc
Let The Blues Speak For Itself zippy

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Album: I Got A Big Fat Woman
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:13
Size: 105.8 MB
Styles: Soul-blues, Modern electric blues
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[5:36] 1. I Got A Big Fat Woman
[4:33] 2. I Cain't Work And Watch You
[6:02] 3. Coming Prison Farm
[4:52] 4. Today I Started Loving You Again
[3:29] 5. She Likes To Live High On The Hog
[6:40] 6. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
[2:45] 7. You Lost What You Had
[1:06] 8. Rock Me Baby
[3:04] 9. Look On Yonders Wall
[8:01] 10. Tin Pan Alley

Born Robert Willis on September 24, 1934 in Cabiness, Georgia, "Chick" is the cousin of late blues legend Chuck Willis. He began his musical career in the 50's touring with his cousin Chuck Willis , a rollicking R&B showman who became known as the “King of the Stroll”. Chick left the military in 1954 and worked as valet and chauffeur for Chuck, also playing in Chuck's band. When Chuck died of stomach problems in 1958, Chick worked with slide guitar great Elmore James. On his own Chick released a few obscure singles before hitting it big in 1972 with the infamous "Stoop Down Baby," which allegedly went on to sell 3 million copies! Since then, like Marvin Sease, he made a career out of similar risque material despite having genuine blues talent. Fortunately, he has proved himself as a blues singer and guitarist as much as an author of "blue" material.To date Chick has over a dozen recordings and has appeared in the movies “Petie Wheatstraw” and the Buddy Holly story. In addition to being a first rate guitarist
and vocalist, Chick plays drums, keyboard, harmonica, and bass.

I Got A Big Fat Woman mc
I Got A Big Fat Woman zippy

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Chick Willis - Blues Me Before You Lose Me

Size: 107,8+112,6 MB
Time: 46:28+48:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Blues Soul, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

CD 1:
01. The Blues Is Gone (5:20)
02. Mother Fuyer (3:55)
03. Black Widow Spider (4:17)
04. Keep Singing The Blues (Shag Mix) (4:36)
05. Why We Need Obama (3:24)
06. The Train Is Gone (3:43)
07. The Gas Is Too High (3:42)
08. Don't Deceive Me (3:26)
09. In The Mood We're In (3:38)
10. Four Wives Too Many (4:41)
11. What I Say (5:41)

CD 2: Let The Blues Speak For Itself (Bonus)
01. Intro (Let Me Play My Blues) (0:53)
02. Short-Haired Woman (3:39)
03. Picture On The Wall (4:04)
04. Just A Bad Dream (4:16)
05. On Your Way Fishing (3:25)
06. Crush On My Next Door Neighbor (3:29)
07. My Fannie Mae (4:50)
08. Don't Know What You Got (4:34)
09. We're Going To Boogie (2:40)
10. Worried About You (4:16)
11. Money Is The Name Of The Game (4:32)
12. Since I Fell For You (3:23)
13. Let Me Play My Blues (4:19)

Cousin to the late blues ballad singer Chuck Willis, Robert "Chick" Willis is primarily beloved for his ribald, dozens-based rocker "Stoop Down Baby." The guitarist cut his original version in 1972 for tiny La Val Records of Kalamazoo, MI, selling a ton of 45s for the jukebox market only (the tune's lyrics were way too raunchy for airplay).

Willis left the military in 1954, hiring on as valet and chauffeur to cousin Chuck, then riding high with his many R&B hits for OKeh Records. At that point, Chick's primary role on the show was as a singer (he made his own vinyl debut in 1956 with a single, "You're Mine," for Lee Rupe's Ebb Records after winning a talent contest at Atlanta's Magnolia Ballroom), but he picked up the guitar while on the road with his cousin (Chick cites Guitar Slim as his main man in that department).

When Chuck died of stomach problems in 1958, Willis soldiered on, pausing in Chicago to work as a sideman with slide guitar great Elmore James. A few obscure 45s ("Twistin' in the Hospital Ward," cut for Alto in 1962, sounds promising) preceded the advent of "Stoop Down Baby," which Willis has freshened up for countless sequels ever since (he developed the song by teasing passersby with his ribald rhymes while working in a carnival variety show).

Risqué material remained a staple of Willis's output in recent years. He cut several albums for Ichiban, notably 1988's Now!, Footprints in My Bed in 1990, and Back to the Blues in 1991. ~Biography by Bill Dahl

Blues Me Before You Lose Me CD 1
Blues Me Before You Lose Me CD 2

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