Theodro Elliott
b. July 9th, 1916 in Seminole (Oklahoma)
d. July 26th, 1987 in Lynwood (California)
THE CHRONOLOGICAL JOE LIGGINS
Classics
Volume 1 (November 1944 - 1946)
Volume 2 (1946 - 1948)
Volume 3 (1948 - April 1950)
Volume 4 (April 1950 - March 1952)
Fils de Harriett et Elijah Elliott, il nait en Oklahoma et prend le nom de son beau-père Liggins au cours des années 30. Il apprend le piano à l'église et, adolescent, il suit sa famille en Californie. Joe débute au sein des Creole Crusaders puis, dès 1939, dans l'orchestre de Sammy Franklin. En 1944, il compose "The honeydripper" qui remporte un grand succès et lance sa carrière en tant que leader. Il enregistre alors pour le label Exclusive des frères Leon & Otis René, une oeuvre importante du Jump Blues californien mêlé d'éléments Jazz : "Doodle-do-da-reet", "Sugar lump", "Caravan" (une reprise de Duke Ellington), "Tanya", "Last night blues", "Down home blues", "Little Willie", "Spooks holiday", "Dripper's blues", "Roll 'em". Son orchestre est, alors, composé de superbes musiciens comme Little Willie Jackson, James Jackson, Red Callender. Sa collaboration avec le label Exclusive s'arrête à la fin de l'année 1949. Dès le début de l'année suivante, Joe entame une remarquable collaboration avec Specialty qui constitue probablement la meilleure partie de sa carrière jusqu'en 1954. Une partie de son travail chez Specialty est reprise dans les volumes 3 & 4 de cette collection CD.
The son of Harriett and Elijah Elliott, he was born in Oklahoma and took his stepfather's name, Liggins, in the 1930's. He learned piano in church and, as a teenager, followed his family to California. Joe started out with the Creole Crusaders and, in 1939, with Sammy Franklin's orchestra. In 1944, he composed "The honeydripper" which was a huge hit and launched his career as a leader. He then recorded for the Exclusive label of brothers Leon & Otis René, an important work of californian Jump Blues blended with Jazz elements : "Doodle-do-da-reet", "Sugar lump", "Caravan" (a Duke Ellington cover), "Tanya", "Last night blues", "Down home blues", "Little Willie", "Spooks holiday", "Dripper's blues", "Roll 'em". His orchestra was then composed of superb musicians such as Little Willie Jackson, James Jackson, Red Callender. His collaboration with the Exclusive label ended at the end of 1949. Early the following year, Joe began a remarkable collaboration with Specialty, which probably constituted the best part of his career until 1954. Some of his work with Specialty is included in volumes 3 & 4 of this CD collection.
SWING TIME JIVE
Night Train
October 1949
Un obscur titre inédit provenant probablement de la dernière séance Exclusive : "Gal with a whole lotta loot".
An obscure unreleased track probably from the last Exclusive session : "Gal with a whole lotta loot".
JOE LIGGINS & HIS HONEYDRIPPERS vol.1
Specialty
JOE LIGGINS & HIS HONEYDRIPPERS vol.2 : DRIPPER'S BOOGIE
Specialty
January 1950 - March 1954
Quand Joe Liggins arrive chez Specialty, il a substantiellement enregistré pour le label Exclusive durant la seconde moitié des années 40 et sa notoriété est déjà importante. Mais, dès janvier 1950, Joe atteint ici probablement son apogée artistique, parfaitement supporté par des sidemen de premier ordre (Little Willie Jackson, Maxwell Davis, James Jackson). Il délivre d'excellents morceaux comme "Ramblin' blues", "Rag mop", "Pink champagne", "Little Joe's boogie", "Goin' back to New Orleans", "The honeydripper", "That's the one for me" (en duo avec Candy Rivers), "Whisky, gin and wine", "Trying to lose the blues", "Shuffle boogie", "Everyone's down on me" (chanté par Billy Bivens), "Tears on my pillow". Après 1953, le succès s'amenuise doucement et les séances d'enregistrement se font plus rares.
When Joe Liggins joined Specialty, he had recorded extensively for the Exclusive label during the second half of the 1940's and was already well-known. But by january 1950, Joe probably reached his artistic peak, perfectly supported by top-notch sidemen (Little Willie Jackson, Maxwell Davis, James Jackson). He delivered excellent tracks like "Ramblin' blues", "Rag mop", "Pink champagne", "Little Joe's boogie", "Goin' back to New Orleans", "The honeydripper", "That's the one for me" (a duet with Candy Rivers), "Whisky, gin and wine", "Trying to lose the blues", "Shuffle boogie", "Everyone's down on me" (sung by Billy Bivens), "Tears on my pillow". After 1953, his success slowly faded, and recording sessions became rarer.
LET'S HAVE A BALL TONIGHT
Natasha
1950
Une version live de "Pink champagne" sur la scène l'Apollo Theatre de New York.
A live version of "Pink champagne" on stage at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
THE MERCURY BLUES STORY : WEST COAST BLUES vol.2
Universe
August 1954
Joe Liggins, dont la carrière est en perte de vitesse, grave trois morceaux lors d'une séance pour Mercury en particulier "Honeydrippin' daddy" et "Yeah yeah yeah".
Joe Liggins, whose career was in decline, recorded three songs during a session for Mercury, in particular "Honeydrippin' daddy" and "Yeah yeah yeah".
HIDDEN GEMS vol.9 : ALADDIN
?
February 1957
Alors que sa carrière est au point mort, Joe grave un simple pour Aladdin en 1957 : "Justina" et "Go ahead".
With his career stalled, Joe recorded a single for Aladdin in 1957 : "Justina" and "Go ahead".
HONEYDRIPPER
Mercury
May 1962
GREAT RHYTHM & BLUES OLDIES vol.6
Blues Spectrum
1973
Grâce à Johnny Otis et son label Blues Spectrum, Joe Liggins trouve ici l'opportunité de revenir éphémèrement sur le devant de la scène. Pour l'occasion, Joe retrouve son saxophoniste historique Little Willie Jackson et fait revivre ses succès des années 40 et 50 comme "The honeydripper" et "Pink champagne". On apprécie aussi "Going back to L.A." et "Brown angel".
Thanks to Johnny Otis and his Blues Spectrum label, Joe Liggins has the opportunity to briefly return to the spotlight. For the occasion, Joe reunites with his longtime saxophonist Little Willie Jackson and revives his hits from the 1940's and 1950's such as "The honeydripper" and "Pink champagne". Other highlights include "Going back to L.A." and "Brown angel".