Memphis Slim U.S.A. (2025 Remaster) Memphis Slim

• 1 Born With The Blues (2025 Remaster) 03:35
• 2 Just Let Me Be (2025 Remaster) 03:41
• 3 Red Haired Boogie (2025 Remaster) 04:19
• 4 Blue And Disgusted (2025 Remaster) 03:39
• 5 New Key To The Highway (2025 Remaster) 02:44
• 6 I’d Take Her To Chicago (2025 Remaster) 02:01
• 7 Harlem Bound (2025 Remaster) 03:08
• 8 El Capitan (2025 Remaster) 02:58
• 9 I Just Landed In Your Town (2025 Remaster) 03:44
• 10 John Henry (2025 Remaster) 02:19
• 11 I Believe I’ll Settle Down (2025 Remaster) 03:52
• 12 Bad Luck And Troubles (2025 Remaster) 03:47
• 13 Late Afternoon Blues (2025 Remaster) 04:35
• 14 Memphis Slim U.S.A. (2025 Remaster) 02:54
• Total Runtime 47:16

Info for Memphis Slim U.S.A. (2025 Remaster)

Born Peter Chatman in Memphis in 1915, Blues Hall Of Fame inductee Memphis Slim stands as one of the most influential figures in blues history. Renowned for his masterful blend of traditional and jump blues, Slim's piano prowess and soulful vocals helped define the genre. A celebrated collaborator, he worked alongside legends like Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson and is famously, and prominently, featured on Willie Dixons landmark debut album, Willie's Blues. Notoriously, Slim penned "Nobody Loves Me", which evolved into the blues standard "Everyday I Have the Blues".

Memphis Slim, U.S.A. is a vibrant, soulful odyssey, and a cornerstone of blues storytelling. Recorded during an impromptu continuation of a previous session, this album captures the essence of Memphis Slim's artistry and his life as a traveling bluesman. Released in 1961, the album remains a lost classic that vividly portrays the hardships and triumphs of a blues musician on the move.

Produced by Candid Records legendary A&R man Nat Hentoff, the sessions showcases Slim's rich, commanding voice and rough and rowdy piano style. A style described by Stanley Dance as having a "hard strength" that "bends at the right times". The album features raw, heartfelt performances from Slim alongside jazz and blues stalwarts Arbee Stidham and Jazz Gillum, creating a vivid narrative of the blues experience.

Remastered from original master tapes by multi-Grammy winning engineer Michael Graves.

Memphis Slim, vocals, piano
Arbee Stidham, vocals, guitar
Jazz Gillum, vocals, harmonica

Memphis Slim
was born John Chatman on September 3, 1915. He grew up in Memphis and spent most of his time on Beale Street. Slim was a pianist and was highly influenced by Roosevelt Sykes and Speckled Red. Slim would occasionally work the blues clubs on Beale Street where he received valuable tips from local pianists. Slim began to roam the South landing in Helena, Arkansas before moving to Chicago in 1939. It was that same year that Slim made his debut for Okeh Records using his father's name Peter Chatman. In 1940, he began to use his nickname Memphis Slim for his Bluebird label. The same year he teamed up with Big Bill Broonzy and continued to work with him until 1944.

Slim formed his own band called the House-Rockers, which was a seven-piece band including a sax section. In 1946, Slim called the band Memphis Slim and His Solid Band. Slim recorded often through the 40's and 50's for various labels including Vee-Jay, Miracle, Chess, Bluesville, and Folkways. Slim performed with Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) and Willie Dixon. He toured Europe in 1960 with Willie Dixon. Slim decided to leave Chicago and move to Paris, which he did in 1962. He was able to record and perform regularly here, while the U. S. was going through a dry spell for most blues artists.

Slim recorded and performed steadily through the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Before his death in 1988, the U.S. Senate honored Memphis Slim with the title of Ambassador-at-Large of Good Will, while the French government bestowed him with the title of Commander of Arts and Letters. Memphis Slim was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1989. His most popular blues song "I Have the Blue" was also a hit for Big Joe Williams and the Count Basie Band.

This album contains no booklet.