Live at Theresa's 1975
Encyclopedia
Live at Theresa's 1975 is a live album
released of material recorded by blues vocalist and harmonica
player Junior Wells
. This is the first live Wells album released by Delmark Records
. It is the only live show recorded with Wells' group at Theresa's Tavern in Chicago, Illinois, even though they performed there a lot during the 1970's.
The show was originally recorded and featured on a show on local radio station
WXRT
.
Production:
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
released of material recorded by blues vocalist and 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...
player Junior Wells
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
. This is the first live Wells album released by Delmark Records
Delmark Records
Delmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
. It is the only live show recorded with Wells' group at Theresa's Tavern in Chicago, Illinois, even though they performed there a lot during the 1970's.
The show was originally recorded and featured on a show on local radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
WXRT
WXRT
WXRT, also known as WXRT 93.1, XRT, and 93-XRT is a AAA radio station in Chicago, Illinois. For many years their slogan has been "Chicago's Finest Rock". WXRT is a primary sponsor of the Chicago nonprofit Rock For Kids.-History:...
.
Track listing
- "Little by Little" (Amos Blakemore) - 4:41
- "Snatch It Back and Hold It" (Wells) - 6:36
- "Talk" (Wells) - 0:24
- "Love Her with a FeelingYou've Got to Love Her with a Feeling"You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling", or "Love with a Feeling" as it was originally called, is a blues song first recorded by Tampa Red in 1938...
" (Scots Pipe Band, Tampa RedTampa RedTampa Red , born Hudson Woodbridge but known from childhood as Hudson Whittaker, was an American Chicago blues musician....
) - 4:12 - "Talk" (Wells) - 1:51
- "JukeJuke (song)"Juke" is a harmonica instrumental recorded by then 22-year-old Chicago bluesman Little Walter Jacobs in 1952. Although Little Walter had been recording sporadically for small Chicago labels over the previous five years, and had appeared on Muddy Waters' records for the Chess label since 1950, Juke...
" (Little WalterLittle WalterLittle Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
) - 3:36 - "Talk" (Wells) - 1:00
- "Happy Birthday" (Hill) - 1:27
- "Talk" (Wells) - 1:41
- "Scratch My BackBaby Scratch My Back"Baby Scratch My Back" is a 1966 R&B instrumental by blues singer Slim Harpo. The single was Slim Harpo's only number one on the soul singles chart, where it stayed for two weeks. "Baby Scratch My Back" also crossed over to the Top 40 and was Harpo's most successful of four R&B singles.-Chart...
" (James MooreSlim 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:...
) - 5:44 - "Help the Poor" (Charles Singleton) - 3:55
- "Talk" (Wells) - 0:39
- "Come on in This House" (Blakemore) - 3:23
- "Talk" (Wells) - 0:41
- "What My Mama Told Me" (Blakemore) - 8:04
- "Key to the HighwayKey to the Highway"Key to the Highway" is a blues standard first recorded by blues pianist Charlie Segar in 1940. The song was also recorded by Jazz Gillum and Big Bill Broonzy in 1940–41, and it was later a R&B record chart success for Little Walter in 1958...
" (Big Bill BroonzyBig Bill BroonzyBig Bill Broonzy was a prolific American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s when he played country blues to mostly black audiences. Through the ‘30s and ‘40s he successfully navigated a transition in style to a more urban blues sound popular with white audiences...
, Segar) - 4:07 - "Talk" (Wells) - 0:12
- "Goin' Down SlowGoin' Down Slow"Goin' Down Slow" or "Going Down Slow" is a blues song written by St. Louis Jimmy Oden, originally released in 1941. Howlin' Wolf included the song on his 1962 Rocking Chair Album.The song alternates between sung and spoken passages...
" (James Burke Oden) - 8:27 - "Talk" (Wells) - 0:33
- "Messin' with the KidMessin' With The Kid"Messin' with the Kid" is a rhythm and blues-style blues song originally recorded by Junior Wells in 1960. It is credited to Chief Records owner/songwriter/producer Mel London. Considered a blues standard, it "remains Junior Well's best-known song"...
" (Melvin LondonMel LondonMel London was a songwriter, record producer, and record label owner. He was active in the Chicago blues and R&B scenes in the 1950s and 1960s...
) - 2:27
Production
Band:- Vince Chappelle - drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Phil GuyPhil GuyPhil Guy was an American blues guitarist. He was the younger brother of Buddy Guy.-Biography:Born in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy played with the harmonica player Raful Neal for ten years in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area before relocating to Chicago in 1969 where he joined his brothers' band...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Earnest Johnson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Sammy LawhornSammy LawhornSammy David Lawhorn was an American Chicago blues guitarist. He is best known for his membership of Muddy Waters band, although his guitar work accompanied many other blues musicians including Otis Spann, Willie Cobbs, Eddie Boyd, Roy Brown, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, and...
- guitar - Byther SmithByther SmithByther Smith is an American blues musician, noted for his gritty style and uncompromising delivery.-Career:...
- guitar, vocals - Junior WellsJunior WellsJunior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
- harmonica, vocals
Production:
- Marc PoKempner - photography
- Ken Rasek - engineer
- Steve Tomashefsky - liner notes, supervisor
- Robert G. Koester - producer