Little Junior Parker / Bobby Blue Bland – The Barefoot Rock And You Got Me (Double Feature) - LP

(Duke Records) 12 tracks - Re-issue of the original 1958 'Duke' LP album

'That which I myself am cognizant That which I myself have seen, heard and the 'Experiences' . . . And I ain't an old man, veteran of the hardgoing Stupid with sleepless nights Dicing to pay life's hard accounts! And They, that walk beside me are my comrades! They, like I, have known the yoke and 'Cried' in the night: Sometimes Tomorrow I'll hang my head and cry Sometimes Tomorrow My broken heart will die ...'

And from these 'cryings' have come some the most beautiful music — in the fairer sense — the purest music, known to man, 'Blue Music'. It has always been difficult and, probably always will be, to know and understand what really goes on in the heart of the 'Blues Singer'. Could it be that the words and music falling from his lips are 'literary accidents?' The droppings of a mixed-up and lonely heart? Or the echo-mumblings of a loquacious extro-vert who in his storied-room 'Twirls the world around on his finger and spits the twisted residue of love and hate upon the passing crowds? Or could these be the mirrored experiences and corporate emotions of a great many people, projected on a back-drop of music by a self-styled spokesman, culminative of unrequieted circumstance or naked expediency?! 'Who Can Answer'  . . . Even the critics are silent!! Yet, is it not self-evident, 'This is great music'?! Great because it is 'of the people, by the people and for the people' and greater because of its contagion, exhuberance, simplicity and because it runs a wide gamut of expression — joyful and sad and yet, at the same time, coterminuously powerful and triumphant — woven by crude hands into an intricate and effectual piece of art — The Blues! In the beginning was the singer, and the singer was blue, and the singer was with song . . . And he sung!

(Side One) The contagious music-making of 'Little' 'Next Time You See Me' Junior Parker, and hitting like the Asian Flu, is mirrored in the six bands of part one of this album. No matter who you are, or where you are from, Little Junior will get you with his inimitable style and touch. He makes the blues hit some people like an atom bomb and knocking them dead in there, he always leaves his audiences petrified with delight. Others, through his magic presentation and mood, are soothingly thrilled. A shining example of his style, versatility, and mastery are the hit Duke recordings, 'Next Time You See Me,' 'That's Alright,' 'Mother-In-Law Blues,' included in this portion of the album with 'Barefoot Rock,' 'Wondering' and 'Sitting and Thinking.' Little Junior Parker was born in West Memphis, Arkansas and legend has it that 'Little Junior was nursed on a piano by Momma and Poppa Parker and weaned on a harmonica.' That may be hearsay, but we do know that at a real young age, Little Junior jumped the big ditch (Mississippi River) one day, landing in Memphis, Tennessee and began lamping a gig. Latching on to a skin-man, a bass and his trusted harp, Little Junior began moving out . .. and he's been moving, and up, ever since. Little Junior is a champion!!! A champion who performs with a sense of budding which only a few singers can match or hope ever to emulate. His renditions are impeccably paced and stimulatingly developed into the swingingest of performances. An artist of the first magnitude . . . a giant with a bird in his heart

(Side Two) Bobby 'Blue' Bland, who is known in the world of music, as one of the greater R & B singers, face-tiously tabbed as a 'Master Bluesician', is presented in this, his first LP, in a much broader range of material. In effect, this album showcases the many faceted talents of this great singer, as he preaches with sophistication, charm and emotion, a variety of songs, including not only the blues, but also, blue-ballads and rock and roll numbers. Included, also, on this portion of the disc are four of his recent hit singles, 'Farther Up The Road,' 'Sometime Tomor-row,' 'It's My Life, Baby' and 'I Smell Trouble.' In addition, are two brand new tunes, 'You Got Me (Where You Want Me)' and 'Loan A Helping Hand.' Bobby is a Tennessean, hailing from Memphis. The singing bug bit Bobby at an early age and it has from that moment on, been his major vice and biggest obsession. Shy, good-looking, amiable, Bobby over-does it, in allocating credit to others for his success, when in reality the credit in main should go to the Cool One himself . . . a tireless, ambitious artisan. You'll dig the most, when you dig the cool sounds that come from the coolest gent around, Mr. B-4 — Big Bobby Blue Bland! ... The free-wheeling master rogue of the Blue Note, is rockin 'em this and that-a-way, across the forty-eight! Hear him!

Tracklist

A1 Little Junior Parker– Next Time You See Me

A2 Little Junior Parker– Mother-In-Law Blues

A3 Little Junior Parker– Barefoot Rock

A4 Little Junior Parker– That's All Right

A5 Little Junior Parker– Wondering

A6 Little Junior Parker– Sitting And Thinking

B1 Bobby Blue Bland*– It's My Life, Baby

B2 Bobby Blue Bland*– I Smell Trouble

B3 Bobby Blue Bland*– Farther Up The Road

B4 Bobby Blue Bland*– Sometime Tomorrow

B5 Bobby Blue Bland*– You Got Me (Where You Want Me)

B6 Bobby Blue Bland*– Loan A Helping Hand