Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell, Kenny Martin - The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers

Album: The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers
Size: 110,8 MB
Time: 47:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: R&B/Blues
Art: Front, cd, tray

1. Sugarlove Baby (3:06)
2. I'm Sorry (2:50)
3. Making Up For Lost Time (3:04)
4. I Found A Love (5:49)
5. Blackjack Baby (3:11)
6. Four O'clock In The Morning (3:00)
7. Soft Pillow (4:12)
8. All I Can Do (3:23)
9. Motor City Man (2:49)
10. Reconsider You (4:21)
11. I'll Be A Man For You (5:14)
12. Sweeter Than Honey (2:39)
13. A Memory Walked Through The Door (4:13)

Before Motown, Detroit had a very vibrant R&B music scene. The best known of the genre were Falcons alumni Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd & Mack Rice, but there were others too - Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell & Kenny Martin. Stanley recorded for Chess Records in the 1950s, and Weaver was one of the house band at Detroit's famous Fortune Records, backing everyone who came to town. Martin cut a couple hit singles for Federal as a teenager in '57 & '58. Here, they present a vintage R&B revue, conjuring up the magic of their collective past.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers mc
The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers gofile

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Joe Weaver & His New Blue Note Orchestra - Baby I Love You So

Size: 122,0 MB
Time: 52:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Detroit Blues
Art: Front

01. Do You Wanna Work Now (3:24)
02. Looka Here Pretty Baby (4:22)
03. Soft Pillow (6:16)
04. I Found A Love (6:22)
05. Tootsie Roll (4:55)
06. I'm On My Merry Way (2:40)
07. Baby I'm In Love With You (3:58)
08. It Hurt So Bad (4:22)
09. Baby I Love You So (3:31)
10. All I Do Is Cry (4:08)
11. What Am I Living For (4:22)
12. It Must Be Love (4:07)

Personnel:
Acoustic Bass – Bob Connor
Backing Vocals – Speck Colden, Terry Thunder, Will Elijah
Drums – R.J. Spangler
Guitar – Johnnie Bassett
Piano – Bill Heid (tracks: 1 to 8 and 10 to 12), Joe Weaver (tracks: 9)
Saxophone [Baritone] – Keith Kaminski
Saxophone [Tenor] – Keith Kaminski
Shaker – R.J. Spangler, Rick Matle
Tambourine – R.J. Spangler

Joe Weaver is a veteran Detroit musician and songwriter whose group Joe Weaver & the Blue Notes served as house band for Fortune Records. Later Weaver was in the house band at the fledging Motown operation, even touring with the Four Tops. He eventually joined the Ford workforce in secure of a more secure financial footing.

As Johnnie Bassett was able to revive his career, he started introducing audiences to some of his friends including Weaver and Weaver joined Bassett at the 1998 Blues Estaffe in the Netherlands. In Spring 1999, with Johnnie Bassett and company in the studio, Joe Weaver & His New Blue Note Orchestra recorded Baby I Love You So for Black Magic. With Bassett leading the way with his swinging guitar, Weaver gets to sing in a most ingratiating manner with Keith Kaminski’s saxophone, Bill Heid’s piano, Bob Connor’s bass and R.J. Spangler’s drums.

Most of the songs here are Weaver originals from the rocking Do You Want To Work, and Soft Pillow, which comes off like Charles Brown in a jump blues vein. Other songs recall the glory days of 50’s R&B such as Looka Here Pretty Baby, and the nice personalized version of Chuck Willis’ What Am I Living For. Weaver may not be able to match the heights Wilson Pickett of the falcons attained on I Found a Love, but in invests plenty of soul in his performance.

There is plenty of wailing and swinging, jumping and jiving to be heard on this blues recording that also shows what swing is all about. ~Ron W

Baby I Love You So

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