Blues from the Apple
Encyclopedia
Blues from the Apple, released in 1974 by Oblivion Records
, is the only album under the leadership of guitarist and vocalist Charles Walker. Featured players include New York City based musicians Lee Roy Little (piano
& vocals), Bill Dicey (harmonica
), 'Foxy' Ann Yancey (electric guitar
), Larry Johnson
(harmonica
), Tom Pomposello
(bass guitar
), Bobby King (rigged snare drum), and Ola Mae Dixon (drums), among others.
The recording of this album began in March 1973 when contemporary country blues musician Larry Johnson
was interviewed on Tom Pomposello
's WKCR-FM Saturday blues program "Something Inside Me." He introduced Tom—and New York radio listeners—to his friend Charles Walker, and they played a spontaneous acoustic duet. Pomposello sensed a window on a rare breed and immediately made plans to produce an entire album showcasing the New York blues community.
Producers Pomposello and Fred Seibert
held over one dozen sessions between April
1973 and May
1974 at Columbia University
's WKCR-FM radio in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan
, New York
.
Recording was done live to stereo two track Scully recorders, using Shure
, AKG Acoustics
, and Georg Neumann
microphones, through a custom designed radio recording board. Editing was done manually in Pomposello's living room on a Teac Corporation "prosumer" stereo machine, and at WKCR.
The final edited 2-track tapes were sequenced by Pomposello and Seibert, then re-recorded with slight equalization and echo added by Kevin Behrman at Echo Sound Studio, a now defunct recording studio in Levittown, New York
. LP
mastering and pressing were done at Wakefield Pressing, Phoenix, Arizona.
after it's first pressing of 1000 copies.
Currently, there are free MP3s of the LP at the official Oblivion Records
archive blog, and downloads and streaming are available at iTunes
, MOG (online music)
, Rhapsody (online music service)
, Spotify
, and Amazon.com
, among others.
Release formats:
The cover illustration (of an electric guitar playing Statue of Liberty
standing on an eaten apple core) and design was by Frank Olinsky, soon to be one of the designers of the MTV logo, and a major label album designer for bands that included Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth
. Photographs are credited to Christine Pomposello, Tom Pomposello
, Roy Langbord, John Dunn and Fred Seibert
, graphics to "The Oblivionettes" (Seibert) Both sides of the LP labels were printed in the same brown and blue picked up from the album cover.
Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976....
, is the only album under the leadership of guitarist and vocalist Charles Walker. Featured players include New York City based musicians Lee Roy Little (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
& vocals), Bill Dicey (harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), 'Foxy' Ann Yancey (electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
), Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson is the name of:* Larry Johnson , American football running back* Larry Johnson , baseball player* Larry Johnson , American basketball player...
(harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell, who also worked as a cable television and advertising producer for clients like Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and MTV...
(bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Bobby King (rigged snare drum), and Ola Mae Dixon (drums), among others.
The recording of this album began in March 1973 when contemporary country blues musician Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson is the name of:* Larry Johnson , American football running back* Larry Johnson , baseball player* Larry Johnson , American basketball player...
was interviewed on Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell, who also worked as a cable television and advertising producer for clients like Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and MTV...
's WKCR-FM Saturday blues program "Something Inside Me." He introduced Tom—and New York radio listeners—to his friend Charles Walker, and they played a spontaneous acoustic duet. Pomposello sensed a window on a rare breed and immediately made plans to produce an entire album showcasing the New York blues community.
Recording
Producers Pomposello and Fred Seibert
Fred Seibert
Frederick "Fred" Seibert is a television and film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who owns Frederator Studios, and who has held leading positions with MTV Networks, Hanna-Barbera, and Next New Networks; he owns Frederator Studios...
held over one dozen sessions between April
April
April is the fourth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of four months with a length of 30 days. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC...
1973 and May
May
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.May is a month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and spring in the Northern Hemisphere...
1974 at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's WKCR-FM radio in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Recording was done live to stereo two track Scully recorders, using Shure
Shure
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
, AKG Acoustics
AKG Acoustics
AKG Acoustics is an Austrian manufacturer of microphones, headphones, wireless audio systems and related accessories for professional and consumer markets...
, and Georg Neumann
Georg Neumann
Georg Neumann GmbH , founded in 1928 and based in Berlin, Germany, is a prominent manufacturer of professional recording microphones. Their best-known products are condenser microphones for broadcast, live and music production purposes...
microphones, through a custom designed radio recording board. Editing was done manually in Pomposello's living room on a Teac Corporation "prosumer" stereo machine, and at WKCR.
The final edited 2-track tapes were sequenced by Pomposello and Seibert, then re-recorded with slight equalization and echo added by Kevin Behrman at Echo Sound Studio, a now defunct recording studio in Levittown, New York
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
. LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
mastering and pressing were done at Wakefield Pressing, Phoenix, Arizona.
Release
Blues from the Apple was released in late 1974. It was the least successful album in Oblivion's short history. Even blues speciality publications ignored the record, in part, speculated the label's owners, because of the incongruous mix of New York City and blues. The album went out of printOut of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
after it's first pressing of 1000 copies.
Currently, there are free MP3s of the LP at the official Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976....
archive blog, and downloads and streaming are available at iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, MOG (online music)
MOG (online music)
MOG is a paid subscription online music service and blog network, where users can listen to, read about, and discover music. Users can play any song in MOG's catalog on their computer through their web browser; on their mobile device through MOG's applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and...
, Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...
, Spotify
Spotify
Spotify is a Swedish-founded, UK-headquartered DRM-based music streaming service offering streaming of selected music from a range of major and independent record labels, including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group, and Universal. Launched in October 2008 by Swedish startup Spotify AB, the service had...
, and Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, among others.
Release formats:
- LP recordLP recordThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
(12") record (stereo) [deleted late 1970s] - MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
& streaming mediaStreaming mediaStreaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
(stereo)
Packaging, album cover, and labelss
On the 1st (and only) pressing of 1000 copies the cover sleeve consisted of very thick cardboard outer sleeve and the 12" vinyl record was protected with a white paper album liner printed with lyrics.The cover illustration (of an electric guitar playing Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
standing on an eaten apple core) and design was by Frank Olinsky, soon to be one of the designers of the MTV logo, and a major label album designer for bands that included Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. Photographs are credited to Christine Pomposello, Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello
Tom Pomposello was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell, who also worked as a cable television and advertising producer for clients like Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and MTV...
, Roy Langbord, John Dunn and Fred Seibert
Fred Seibert
Frederick "Fred" Seibert is a television and film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who owns Frederator Studios, and who has held leading positions with MTV Networks, Hanna-Barbera, and Next New Networks; he owns Frederator Studios...
, graphics to "The Oblivionettes" (Seibert) Both sides of the LP labels were printed in the same brown and blue picked up from the album cover.
Sleeve notes
The liner notes were credited to Oblivion partner Dick Pennington, though the Oblivion blog attributes most of the actual research and writing to producer Pomposello.LP Side one
- Scratch My Back - 3:23 (J.Moore aka Slim HarpoSlim HarpoSlim Harpo was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.-Early life:...
) - Black Cat Bone - 2:36 (Lee Roy Little)
- Gladly - 2:40 (Charles Walker)
- Decoration - 3:10 (Sonny Boy WilliamsonSonny Boy WilliamsonSonny Boy Williamson may refer to either of two 20th-century American blues harmonica players, who both recorded in Chicago:*Sonny Boy Williamson I , John Lee Curtis Williamson, "The Original Sonny Boy Williamson", born in Tennessee and associated with Bluebird Records *Sonny Boy Williamson II ,...
) - I'm A Good Man But A Poor Man - 2:18 (Cecil GantCecil GantCecil Gant was an American blues singer and pianist.-Biography:Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Gant worked local clubs through the mid 1930s up until the Second World War, when he enlisted in the United States Army. Though his piano was blues-based, vocally he was a crooner of considerable...
/Lee Roy Little) - Juice Head Woman - 4:09 (Eddie VinsonEddie VinsonEddie "Cleanhead" Vinson was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter. He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was accidentally destroyed by lye contained in a hair straightening product.-Biography:Vinson was born in Houston, Texas...
/L. Zito)
LP Side two
- Bluebird’s Blues (Medley) a.Bluebird b.Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Poor Me c.Your Evil Thoughts d.Hurry Baby, Please Come Home - 7:23 (Lee Roy Little)
- Fast, Fast, Women and A Slow Race Horse - 3:43 (Charles Walker/Sonny Moore)
- It's Changin' Time - 4:32 (Ann Yancey/Bill Dicey)
- Meeting You - 5:40 (Charles Walker)
Personnel
All personnel information taken from the Blues from the Apple liner notes unless otherwise noted.- Charles Walker: guitar and vocals was born in 1922, 51 years old at the time of this release. Raised in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, GeorgiaMacon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
he began his music career in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
in 1955, moving to New York the next year to record a single for Danny Robinson's Holiday label. - Bill Dicey: harmonica met Charles Walker in 1950, playing with him on and off in between gigs with Louisiana RedLouisiana RedLouisiana Red is an African American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who has recorded more than 50 albums...
and John Hammond, Jr.. - Ola Mae Dixon: drums ran a record store in the Bronx at the time of these recordings, and played drums on the side.
- Sonny Harden: bass guitar was a friend of Charles', primarily involved in the management of his son's soul group.
- Goody Hunt: harmonica
- Larry JohnsonLarry JohnsonLarry Johnson is the name of:* Larry Johnson , American football running back* Larry Johnson , baseball player* Larry Johnson , American basketball player...
: harmonica is a country blues musician from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
(born: 1938) who introduced Oblivion to Charles Walker. Primarily known for his acoustic guitar playing and singing on Biograph RecordsBiograph RecordsBiograph Records is a record label founded in 1967 by Arnold S. Caplin. It specialized in early American ragtime, jazz, and blues music. Biograph was the first label to issue records made from piano rolls created by Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and George Gershwin.In 2002, Biograph Records was...
and Blue Goose RecordsBlue Goose RecordsBlue Goose Records is a record label setup in the early 1970s by Nick Perls.While on Blue Goose' sister label Yazoo Records Perls compiled rare 78 rpm recordings made in the 1920s by such singers and guitarists as Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell, the Memphis Jug Band, Blind Blake and Blind...
, here he plays acoustic harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on Decoration Day. - Bobby King: rigged snare drum is from New Orleans and played with Larry JohnsonLarry JohnsonLarry Johnson is the name of:* Larry Johnson , American football running back* Larry Johnson , baseball player* Larry Johnson , American basketball player...
. - Lee Roy Little: piano and vocals played regularly with Charles Walker starting in 1959. Known as "Bluebird" (based on his song of the same name) Little was born in VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1926. He recorded for the Cee Jay label, and co-arranged much of Blues from the Apple with Walker. - Honest Tom PomposelloTom PomposelloTom Pomposello was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell, who also worked as a cable television and advertising producer for clients like Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and MTV...
: bass guitar produced Blues from the Apple and played bass guitar on the final recording of Mississippi Fred McDowellMississippi Fred McDowellFred McDowell known by his stage name; Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American Hill country blues singer and guitar player.-Career:...
, Live in New YorkLive In New YorkLive in New York may refer to:*Live in New York City, by John Lennon*Hot Swing Trio: Live in New York, by Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio*Live in New York , 2002...
. - David Lee Reitman: bass guitar is a ongwriter and former radio DJ, who has also written advertising and a number of articles on blues and rock for various music publications.
- Foxy Ann Yancey: guitar gigged with many local New York bluesmen over the years. She co-authored one of the album's instrumentals, It’s Changin’ Time, and contributed to the sessions in the early stages.
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Summer 1974 | Oblivion Records Oblivion Records Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976.... |
Stereo STEREO STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth... LP Gramophone record A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove... |
Sources
- The Oblivion Records Blog http://oblivionrecords.tumblr.com/tagged/OD-4
- Wikipedia: Tom Pomposello Tom PomposelloTom PomposelloTom Pomposello was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell, who also worked as a cable television and advertising producer for clients like Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and MTV...
- Wikipedia: Fred Seibert Fred SeibertFred SeibertFrederick "Fred" Seibert is a television and film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who owns Frederator Studios, and who has held leading positions with MTV Networks, Hanna-Barbera, and Next New Networks; he owns Frederator Studios...
- Pomposello, Tom "Blues from the Big Apple" Living Blues Magazine, Autumn 1974 http://www.scribd.com/doc/3073622/Blues-from-the-Big-Apple-by-Tom-Pomposello
- Pomposello.com http://pomposello.com