b. October 10th, 1927 in Headland (Alabama)
d. February 27th, 2011 in Crystal River (Florida)
I'LL MOVE YOU BABY
Jasmine
1950 - 1961
Eddie grandit en Alabama et participe assez jeune à des medicine-shows avant de partir à l'armée. A son retour, il s'installe à Detroit où vit désormais sa mère. Il travaille à l'usine le jour et joue de sa guitare la nuit. Eddie fait la rencontre décisive de John Lee Hooker avec lequel il s'associe. Ensemble, ils enregistrent de nombreux blues formidables pendant une dizaine d'années (surtout entre 1951 et 1959). Hooker reste le leader du duo mais Eddie pourra graver en leader les superbes "It's time for lovin' to be done" et "That's all right". En parallèle, il commence une carrière en solo pour le label King en 1953 avec d'excellents morceaux comme "Please don't think I'm nosey", "No shoes", "Mistreated woman". Il travaille aussi pour d'autres labels de la ville, Fortune et Lu Pine : "Train done gone", "Blood on your hands", "Love you till the day I die". Lors d'une séance avec les Falcons, il enregistre une poignée de titres dans un style plus orienté Rhythm & Blues. D'après la Blues Discography, Eddie aurait participé à une séance pour le label Cobra à la fin de l'année 1957 qui est, malheureusement, restée inédite. Ce CD Jasmine reprend également certains morceaux dans lesquels Eddie accompagne John Lee Hooker.
Eddie grew up in Alabama and participated in medicine shows at a young age before going to the army. Upon his return, he settled in Detroit where his mother now lives. He works at the factory during the day and plays his guitar at night. Eddie has the decisive meeting of John Lee Hooker with whom he joins forces. Together they recorded many great blues for around ten years (especially between 1951 and 1959). Hooker remains the leader of the duo but Eddie will be able to record as leader the superb "It's time for lovin' to be done" and "That's all right". At the same time, he began a solo career for the King label in 1953 with excellent tracks like "Please don't think I'm nosey", "No shoes", "Mistreated woman". He also works for other city labels, Fortune and Lu Pine : "Train done gone", "Blood on your hands", "Love you till the day I die". During a session with the Falcons, he recorded a handful of tracks in a more Rhythm & Blues style. According to the Blues Discography, Eddie participated in a session for the Cobra label at the end of the year 1957 which, unfortunately, remained unissued. This Jasmine CD also includes some songs in which Eddie accompanies John Lee Hooker.
IT'S THE BLUES MAN !
Tru-Sound
Prestige
OBC
ANTHOLOGIE DU BLUES vol.10
Vogue
December 1961 / March 1962
Eddie enregistre cet album historique à New York en compagnie du saxophoniste King Curtis et de son groupe. Sa voix puissante et expressive et sa guitare incisive font merveille tout au long de ce court album (un peu plus de 20 minutes). Une tracklist rapide, intense et excitante avec des morceaux comme "Daddy please don't cry", "Have mercy on me", "I'm gonna forget you", "I tried", "I'm goin' to keep loving you", "Train done gone", "Something's gone wrong in my life".
Eddie recorded this historic album in New York with saxophonist King Curtis and his band. His powerful and expressive voice and his incisive guitar make marvel throughout this short album (a little over 20 minutes). A fast, intense and exciting tracklist with songs like "Daddy please don't cry", "Have mercy on me", "I'm gonna forget you", "I tried", "I'm goin' to keep loving you", "Train done gone", "Something's gone wrong in my life".
KING NEW BREED R & B vol.2
Kent Soul
R & B HIPSHAKERS vol.1 : TEACH ME TO MONKEY
Vampi-Soul
R & B HIPSHAKERS vol.2 : SCRATCH THAT ITCH
Vampi-Soul
March - September 1964
Ces anthologies reprennent deux séances réalisées pour le label King en 1964. Ces quatres titres furent enregistrées par Eddie (sous le nom d'Eddie Kirk) dans un style clairement orienté Rhythm & Blues et Soul où sa voix expressive fait merveille ("Monkey tonight").
These anthologies compile two sessions carried out for the King label in 1964. These four titles were recorded by Eddie (under the name Eddie Kirk) in a clearly oriented Rhythm & Blues and Soul style where his expressive voice works wonders ("Monkey tonight").
THE COMPLETE STAX/VOLT SINGLES vol.2
Atlantic
Rhino
2000 VOLTS OF STAX
Stax
4000 VOLTS OF STAX
Stax
1965
Toujours dans un style Soul, Eddie grave une poignée de morceaux pour le label Volt (appartenant à Stax) avec les musiciens maison : Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn et Al Jackson. On retient en particulier le fougueux instrumental "The hawg" en deux parties. Il faut noter qu'à cette période, Eddie est le guitariste et chef d'orchestre d'Otis Redding.
Still in a Soul style, Eddie recorded a handful of tracks for the Volt label (belonging to Stax) with the house musicians : Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson. We particularly point out the fiery instrumental “The hawg” in two parts. It should be noted that during this period, Eddie was Otis Redding's guitarist and bandleader.
FRONT AND CENTER
Trix
THE COMPLETE TRIX RECORDINGS
32 Blues
December 1970 / July 1971 / September 1972
Après quelques années en dehors de la musique pendant lesquelles Eddie travaille comme mécanicien automobile, il est retrouvé par Peter Lowry à Macon (Georgie). Il le convainc de reprendre sa guitare et l'enregistre en acoustique lors de plusieurs séances entre 1970 et 1972. Ces séances seront rassemblées sur son label Trix. Eddie montre qu'il n'a rien perdu de sa voix ou de sa technique à la guitare dans ce contexte acoustique et dépouillé : "I tried to be a friend", "Eddie's boogie chillen", "Nora", "I walked twelve miles", "Going back to Mississippi", "Detroit Rock Island line". Tous les titres sont repris dans "The Complete Trix recordings".
After a few years outside of music during which Eddie worked as an auto mechanic, he was found by Peter Lowry in Macon, Georgia. He convinced him to pick up his guitar again and recorded him acoustically during several sessions between 1970 and 1972. These sessions were collected on his Trix label. Eddie shows that he has lost nothing of his voice or his guitar skills in this acoustic and stripped-down context : "I tried to be a friend", "Eddie's boogie chillen", "Nora", "I walked twelve miles", "Going back to Mississippi", "Detroit Rock Island line". All titles are included in "The Complete Trix recordings".
THE DEVIL AND OTHER BLUES DEMONS
Trix
THE COMPLETE TRIX RECORDINGS
32 Blues
May 1972
Pour ce nouvel album pour le label Trix de Peter Lowry, Eddie Kirkland est cette fois entouré d'un groupe complet. Il délivre un bon programme de Soul-Blues, puissant et accrocheur, mais au tempo un peu répétitif. On peut retenir "The devil", "Got to move my baby", "Snake in the grass", "Pity on me", "Tell me baby". Tous les titres sont repris dans "The Complete Trix recordings". Il faut noter que d'autres séances furent capturées par Peter Lowry, entre 1972 et 1976, et devaient être publiées sur un troisième album qui ne verra jamais le jour.
For this new album for Peter Lowry's Trix label, Eddie Kirkland is this time surrounded by a full band. He delivers a good Soul-Blues program, powerful and catchy, but with a somewhat repetitive tempo. We can point out "The devil", "Got to move my baby", "Snake in the grass", "Pity on me", "Tell me baby". All titles are included in "The Complete Trix recordings". It should be noted that other sessions were captured by Peter Lowry, between 1972 and 1976, and were to be issued on a third album that will never see the light of day.
BLUES COME TO CHAPEL HILL
Flyright
March 1973
Une reprise du "Louise" de son mentor John Lee Hooker sur la scène de l'Université de Caroline du Nord capturée par Peter Lowry.
A cover of his mentor John Lee Hooker's "Louise" on the University of North Carolina stage captured by Peter Lowry.
MOTOR CITY BLUES
Schoolkids
Sequel
Total Energy
September 1973
Eddie Kirkland figure à l'affiche du prestigieux festival d'Ann Arbor en 1973. Sur ces différentes anthologies, on peut l'entendre sur deux morceaux : le furieux "Mojo in her backbone" et "I got the blues".
Eddie Kirkland appeared on the bill at the prestigious Ann Arbor festival in 1973. On these various anthologies, we can hear him on two tracks : the furious "Mojo in her backbone” and “I got the blues”.
GEORGIA GRASSROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
?
September 1976
PICK UP THE PIECES
JSP
1980
Grâce à John Stedman qui dirige le label JSP, Eddie trouve l'opportunité d'enregistrer un album complet. Stedman laisse Eddie produire son album et choisir ses musiciens. Il délivre un excellent opus de blues électrique, au son urbain et incisif, avec des titres accrocheurs : "Pick up the pieces", "Turning point", "Walking at midnight", "Write my baby a letter". La réédition CD de 2011 ajoute 4 morceaux inédits (en particulier "Working man" et "I've got to leave your town").
Thanks to John Stedman who runs the JSP label, Eddie finds the opportunity to record a full album. Stedman lets Eddie produce his album and choose his musicians. He delivers an excellent opus of electric blues, with an urban and incisive sound, with catchy titles : "Pick up the pieces", "Turning point", "Walking at midnight", "Write my baby a letter". The 2011 CD reissue adds 4 previously unreleased tracks (in particular "Working man" and "I've got to leave your town").
NATIONAL DOWN HOME BLUES FESTIVAL vol.3 (lp) / vol.2 (cd)
Southland
October 1984
Sur la scène de ce festival organisé par George Mitchell, Eddie joue "I got my eyes on you" en mode acoustique.
On the stage of this festival organized by George Mitchell, Eddie plays "I got my eyes on you" in acoustic mode.
HAVE MERCY
Pulsar
Evidence
1988
Enregistré à Saint Louis (Missouri) et co-produit par Oliver Sain, Sam Valenti et Eddie lui-même, cet album le présente à nouveau dans un contexte entre Soul et Blues. On apprécie, en particulier, "Eddie's calling you", "Tomorrow may bring a better day", "Crying time", "I've got a secret". Deux titres inédits ont été ajouté à la réédition Evidence.
Recorded in Saint Louis (Missouri) and co-produced by Oliver Sain, Sam Valenti and Eddie himself, this album presents him again in a context between Soul and Blues. We particularly like "Eddie's calling you", "Tomorrow may bring a better day", "Crying time", "I've got a secret". Two previously unreleased tracks have been added to the Evidence reissue.
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Deluge
Sky Ranch
April 1990 - April 1992
En 1990, Eddie Kirkland démarre une collaboration avec le label Deluge de Randy Labbe. Ce premier album pour le label est constitué de différentes séances capturées entre 1990 et 1992. Le programme se révèle inégal et manque de consistance et d'inspiration. Même l'apparition de son compère John Lee Hooker sur deux morceaux ne convainc pas vraiment.
In 1990, Eddie Kirkland began a collaboration with Randy Labbe's Deluge label. This first album for the label is made up of different sessions captured between 1990 and 1992. The program proved uneven and lacked consistency and inspiration. Even the appearance of his friend John Lee Hooker on two tracks doesn't really convince.
SOME LIKE IT RAW
Deluge
September 1993
Ce deuxième album pour Deluge est un live capté au Canada en septembre 1993. Comme le titre l'indique, il s'agit de blues brut, un peu trop brouillon même. Globalement, la set-list semble trop longue et manque d'inspiration et d'originalité (des reprises peu intéressantes).
This second album for Deluge is a live recording recorded in Canada in september 1993. As the title indicates, it is raw blues, a little too messy even. Globally, the set list seems too long and lacks inspiration and originality (uninteresting covers).
WHERE YOU GET YOUR SUGAR
Deluge
March 1995
On retrouve dans ce troisième opus pour Deluge un programme relativement inégal et pas toujours très original. Il y a tout de même une poignée de bons moments comme "Lover bone", "What you got on your mind", "We got a problem" ou "Pity on me".
We find in this third opus for Deluge a relatively uneven and not always very original program. There are still a handful of good moments like "Lover bone", "What you got on your mind", "We got a problem" or "Pity on me".
LONELY STREET
Telarc
May 1997
Toujours avec le même producteur Randy Labbe, mais pour le label Telarc, Eddie est ici entouré d'invités comme Sonny Landreth, Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal ou G.E. Smith. On peut retenir de cet album intéressant mais inégal "Lonely street" (avec la belle slide guitare de Sonny Landreth), "Done something wrong", "Dark nights", "Nightgirl" et le gospel "Gates of heaven".
Still with the same producer Randy Labbe, but for the Telarc label, Eddie is here surrounded by guests like Sonny Landreth, Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal and G.E. Smith. We can point out from this interesting but uneven album "Lonely street" (with the beautiful slide guitar of Sonny Landreth), "Done something wrong", "Dark nights", "Nightgirl" and gospel "Gates of heaven".
THE SONGS OF WILLIE DIXON
Telarc
July - August 1998
Dans cet album hommage à Willie Dixon, Eddie reprend "Do me right" avec le saxophoniste Eddie Shaw.
In this tribute album to Willie Dixon, Eddie covers "Do me right" with saxophonist Eddie Shaw.
DEMOCRAT BLUES
Blue Suit
July 1998 / 2002
Ce double CD est constitué de deux séances distinctes. Une séance principale sur le premier CD, capturée en 2002, présente Eddie en bonne forme accompagné d'un groupe réduit mais percutant (Dave "Snaker" Ray, Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels, Andre Wright). La tracklist intense et inspirée possède d'excellents moments comme "Slow driving", "Ten commandments", "Democrat blues" (une reprise de Bobo Jenkins), "I've got my bloodshot eyes on you", "Too late". Sur le second CD, on trouve une séance de juillet 1998 dans laquelle Eddie est à la tête d'un autre groupe. Un blues puissant et terrien avec "Going back to the backwoods", "There's got to be some changes made", "I walked down Hastings Street".
This double CD is made up of two distinct sessions. A main session on the first CD, captured in 2002, features Eddie in good form accompanied by a small but hard-hitting combo (Dave "Snaker" Ray, Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels, Andre Wright). The intense and inspired tracklist has excellent moments like "Slow driving", "Ten commandments", "Democrat blues" (a cover of Bobo Jenkins), "I've got my bloodshot eyes on you", "Too late". On the second CD, we find a session from july 1998 in which Eddie is at the head of another band. A powerful and down-home blues with "Going back to the backwoods", "There's got to be some changes made", "I walked down Hastings Street".
MOVIN' ON
JSP
1999
Cet album pour le label anglais JSP, produit par Bruce Feiner, se révèle dépourvu d'originalité et même ennuyeux. On peut retenir tout de même le slow blues "Swanee river" qui vaut l'écoute.
This album for the english label JSP, produced by Bruce Feiner, turns out to be devoid of originality and even boring. We can still point out the slow blues "Swanee river" which is worth listening to.
DEALIN' WITH THE DEVIL
Cannonball
2000
BOOTY BLUES
Hedda
2006
Presque octogénaire, Eddie enregistre cet album avec le producteur et multi-instrumentiste Chris Mac Dermott. Un programme brouillon, mal produit et mal arrangé malgré le fait qu'Eddie chante encore correctement pour son âge.
Almost octogenarian, Eddie recorded this album with producer and multi-instrumentalist Chris Mac Dermott. A messy program, poorly produced and poorly arranged despite the fact that Eddie still sings well for his age.
LONG GONE GYPSY
Backyard
December 2009 - January 2010
Cet album posthume (paru en 2017) fut produit par Barry Darnell. Il présente Eddie dans un contexte Blues funky avec une section cuivres. Il y a quelques bons moments mais les morceaux sont souvent trop longs et peu originaux.
This posthumous album (released in 2017) was produced by Barry Darnell. It features Eddie in a funky blues context with a horn section. There are some good moments but titles are often too long and not very original.