Sonny Boy Williamson - His Best

This is Sonny Boy Williamson II, whose 1940s Mississippi Delta radio broadcasts for King Biscuit Time made him one of the most influential of all blues musicians. A master harmonica player, he created relaxed songs, often humorous, that reminded urban listeners of their country roots. These tracks are from his years at Chess, beginning in the mid-1950s until his death in 1965. His recording bands feature Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, and Robert Lockwood Jr., among others. Perhaps his best-known track here is "Don't Start Me to Talkin' (I'll Tell You Everything I Know)," but his signature sound is evident on every high trill he played. --Robert Gordon Amazon.com

An inexpensive gem

I am amazed that this cost so little, but was SOOOOO good. Sonnny Boy II is (IMHO) the better of the Sonny Boys. A lot of people will justifiably rave about his skill on the harp, but do not let that distract you from his vocals. This performer has a tremendous voice.
Sonny Boy Williamson II is a complete blues package, musician and vocalist.

Although he is a polished performer, there is still a huge amount of emotion that comes through his work.

This recording is very clear and enjoyable, which is very good, considering the time and recording technology available when the originals were made. (No, it's not Alan Lomax recording in hotel rooms, but still . . . . .)

If you liked this, you might want to consider looking at "King Biscut Time" - also available on Amazon.

Also good is "The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson" - but please make sure you get the right Sonny Boy, as both of them have an 'Essentials' CD available. August 11, 2008

Essential blues

Sonny Boy II is not my favorite. I like more honk from the harp and less undercurrent of menace from the vocals, and I like Little Walter's and Paul Butterfield's ways of extending the blues melodically without losing the Chicago of it. But Sonny Boy grows on me, and this album has a lot of great stuff for a guy like me to hear who's trying to pick up journeyman skills on the harp. April 8, 2008

Sonny Boy # 2

When Aleck Ford, alias Alex "Rice" Miller, claimed during one his early Forties radio broadcasts for King Biscuit Time on KFFA in Helena, Arkansas to be THE "Sonny Boy" Williamson, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson was already well known by that nickname in the Chicago area [see my review of the CD Shake The Boogie].

However, born on December 5, 1899 in Glendora, Mississippi, Ford would become the better known of the two, especially in Europe where, decked out in his two-tone suits and bowler hats, he would generate a large, loyal following in the early Sixties.

Before then he had two charted R&B hits on the Checker label, with the first, Don't Start Me Talkin' - on which he was backed by Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers on guitar - peaking at # 3 in November 1955 b/w All My Love In Vain). The second charter came almost exactly one year later when Keep It To Yourself made it to # 14 R&B. The B-side of that record was The Key (To Your Door) which seems to be unavailable (the other Williamson CD, The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson, carries a previously unreleased take).

After a seven year absence from the charts he returned in 1963 with Help Me (# 24 R&B) b/w Bye Bye Bird, again on Checker, and would go on to cut several LPs with some well known groups of the day, among them The Yardbirds and The Animals.

Van Morrison and The Moody Blues would also pay homage by cutting, respectively, Help Me and Bye Bye Bird, while Bring It On Home (To Me) became hits for Sam Cooke (1962), Eddie Floyd (1968), The Animals (1965), and Lou Rawls (1970). The most faithful rendition, however, was by Led Zeppelin on the album Led Zeppelin II.

Williamson, who died in Helena on May 25, 1965. is widely regarded as one the most influential harmonica-playing bluesmen of his era, and if you want to know why, simply buy this great CD. In 1980 the Blues Hall Of Fame was launched and among the initial 20 inductees were both "Sonny Boys." September 12, 2007

Great harmonica work and a great blues voice

He was probably born Aleck or Alex Ford, took the name "Rice" Miller later on, and adopted the name of another fine blues player, Sonny Boy Williamson still later. His harmonica playing is wondrous to listen to; he was a mentor to such luminaries as Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, Little Walter, and so on. This CD features work from 1955 to 1964.

A few selections well illustrate his art.

"Good evening Everybody" begins the CD with typical riveting harmonica work. The instrument wails. What a backing group: Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Willie Dixon, and Fred Below. The song has an up tempo beat (as liner notes mention, the tempo slows over the 10 year period covered by this CD). He finishes the song by singing of being in a studio in Chicago playing the blues. And play the blues he does.

"Don't Start Me to Talkin'" is a nice tune, with more exquisite harmonica work.

"All My Love in Vain" should not be confused with the similarly named song by the legendary Robert Johnson. Again, terrific harmonica playing. And some good lines:

"Heart's been broken,
And all my love in vain."

The backing group (same as the previous two cuts) plays well.

One of his most well known songs, "Nine Below Zero" features good lines, such as:

"It was 9 below zero
And she put me down for another man.
I gave her all my love and all my money,
Everything."

His voice suggests a hard living life (and liner notes indicate that that was the truth)! The harmonica work embellishes the singing nicely.

All in all, a good introduction to the work of Sonny Boy Williamson. For blues' enthusiasts, this is a work well worth considering.
May 4, 2007

Great Rice Miller Compilation

This is a wonderful collection of blues harmonica music. The Sonny Boy Williamson who was also known as Rice Miller was a masterful player, and a talented songwriter. His voice aged with him to produce that fine bluesy-gravelly sound that endears a blues performer to his audience.

Some of his classic songs like Don't Start Me To Talking, Your Funeral and My Trial, Fattening Frogs For Snakes, and Nine Below Zero are on this retrospective. This is a blues music collectors must have if you love harmonica music. April 2, 2007

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