Jimmy Rogers: Jimmy Rogers-1976 Chess Two Record Gatefold Compilation 12" LP

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1976 Chess Two Record Compilation of Bandleader/Composer/Guitar Master/Pioneering Blues Vocalist James A. Lane AKA Jimmy Rogers Entitled Chess Masters, Produced by Leonard and Phil Chess, Original Recordings Span the Years from 1950-1960, All Compositions Written by Jimmy Rogers - "Guitarist Jimmy Rogers was the last living connection to the groundbreaking first Chicago band of Muddy Waters (informally dubbed "the Headhunters" for their penchant of dropping by other musicians' gigs and "cutting their heads" with a superior on-stage performance). Instead of basking in world-wide veneration, he was merely a well-respected Chicago elder boasting a seminal '50s Chess Records catalog, both behind Waters and on his own. Born James A. Lane (Rogers was his stepdad's surname), the guitarist grew up all over: Mississippi, Atlanta, West Memphis, Memphis, and St. Louis. Actually, Rogers started out on harp as a teenager. Big Bill Broonzy, Joe Willie Wilkins, and Robert Jr. Lockwood all influenced him, the latter two when he passed through Helena. Rogers settled in Chicago during the early '40s and began playing professionally around 1946, gigging with Sonny Boy Williamson, Sunnyland Slim, and Broonzy. Rogers was playing harp with guitarist Blue Smitty when Muddy Waters joined them. When Smitty split, Little Walter was welcomed into the configuration, Rogers switched over to second guitar, and the entire post-war Chicago blues genre felt the stylistic earthquake that directly followed. Rogers made his recorded debut as a leader in 1947 for the tiny Ora-Nelle logo, then saw his efforts for Regal and Apollo go unissued. Those labels' monumental errors in judgment were the gain of Leonard Chess, who recognized the comparatively smooth-voiced Rogers' potential as a blues star in his own right. (He first played with Muddy Waters on an Aristocrat 78 in 1949 and remained his indispensable rhythm guitarist on wax into 1955.) With Walter and bassist Big Crawford laying down support, Rogers' debut Chess single in 1950, "That's All Right," has earned standard status after countless covers, but his version still reigns supreme. Rogers' artistic quality was remarkably high while at Chess. "The World Is in a Tangle," "Money, Marbles and Chalk," "Back Door Friend," "Left Me with a Broken Heart," "Act Like You Love Me," and the 1954 rockers "Sloppy Drunk" and "Chicago Bound" are essential early-'50s Chicago blues. In 1955, Rogers left Muddy Waters to venture out as a bandleader, cutting another gem, "You're the One," for Chess. He made his only appearance on Billboard's R&B charts in early 1957 with the driving "Walking by Myself," which boasted a stunning harp solo from Big Walter Horton (a last-second stand-in for no-show Good Rockin' Charles). The tune itself was an adaptation of a T-Bone Walker tune, "Why Not," that Rogers had played rhythm guitar on when Walker cut it for Atlantic. By 1957, blues was losing favor at Chess, the label reaping the rewards of rock via Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Rogers' platters slowed to a trickle, though his 1959 Chess farewell, "Rock This House," ranked with his most exciting outings (Reggie Boyd's light-fingered guitar wasn't the least of its charms). Rogers virtually retired from music for a time during the '60s, operating a Westside clothing shop that burned down in the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King's tragic assassination. He returned to the studio in 1972 for Leon Russell's Shelter logo, cutting his first LP, Gold-Tailed Bird (with help from the Aces and Freddie King). There were a few more fine albums -- notably Ludella, a 1990 set for Antone's -- but Rogers never fattened his discography nearly as much as some of his contemporaries have. Jimmy's son, Jimmy D. Lane, played rhythm guitar in his dad's band and fronts a combo of his own on the side. Rogers died December 19, 1997. At the time of his death, he was working on an all-star project featuring contributions from Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page, and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; upon its completion, the disc was issued posthumously in early 1999 under the title Blues, Blues, Blues." - "This fine two-LP compilation of his early Chess sides deserves CD reissue soon." - Spectacular Personnel for the Various Lineups Includes Legendary Composer Jimmy Rogers on Guitar & Vocals, the Great Muddy Waters on Additional Guitar, J. T. Brown on Tenor Saxophone, the Amazing Little Walter on Harmonica, Eddie Ware or Otis Spann on Piano, the Brilliant Willie Dixon or Big Crawford on Bass and Odie Payne or Fred Below on Drums! - Selections on Record One Are Left Me with a Broken Heart, Blues All Day Long, Today Today Blues, the World's in a Tangle, She Loves Another Man, Hard Working Man, Chance to Love, My Little Machine, Mistreated Baby, What's the Matter, You're the One(Early Version)& If It Ain't Me - Tracks for Record Two Are One Kiss, I Can't Believe, What Have I Done,  My Baby Don't Love Me no More, Trace of You, Don't You Know My Baby, Crying Shame, Give Love Another Chance, This Has Never Been, Rock this House, My Last Meal, You Don't Know and Can't Keep from Worrying - Used Copy, Cover Very Good++, Records Very Good++ - Gatefold Sleeve, Two Record Set, Product Code 2ACMB-207 - California Residents Add 9.75% Sales Tax - International S & H Extra -