Joseph Valery Jr
b. September 23rd, 1934 in Vicksburg (Mississippi)
d. April 22nd, 1990 in Reno (Nevada)
COMPLETE EARLY RECORDINGS
Blue Eye blog (only on mp3)
1964 - 1971
Né dans le Delta du Mississippi, il grandit en Louisiane avant de s'installer en 1951 à Detroit où il travaille dans l'industrie automobile. Il passe deux années en Corée dans l'armée et revient à la vie civile en 1954. De retour à Detroit puis à Reno et enfin Los Angeles, Joe enregistre son premier enregistrement en 1963 pour le label Nanc d'Howard Ransom. L'année suivante, il grave une poignée de morceaux pour Kent dont une première version de son superbe "Dirty work is going on" ainsi que le funky "Jimmy's special". Malheureusement, ces titres ne seront jamais édités et il faudra attendre le CD japonais "West coast modern blues 1960's" en 1999 pour les entendre enfin. Pour le label Movin' de Fats Washington, Joe enregistre une nouvelle fois l'excellent "Dirty work is going on". Ce titre (et quelques autres) sera racheté par Chess et lui permettra de partir à Chicago pour une séance sous la supervision de Gene Barge (les remarquables "Me and my woman" et "My heart beats like a drum"). Puis, il s'installe chez Jewel, un label dirigé par le producteur Stan Lewis. Joe y délivre quelques beaux blues comme "Standing on the threshold" (avec la guitare de Lowell Fulson), "A fool is what you wanted" ou "Southern country boy". Dans le même temps, Joe apprend la guitare auprès de Lafayette Thomas et développe un style marqué par B.B. King. Ces titres ont été rassemblés par Gérard Herzhaft sur son blog Blue Eye.
Born in the Mississippi Delta, he grew up in Louisiana before moving to Detroit in 1951 where he worked in the automotive industry. He spent two years in Korea with the army and returned to civilian life in 1954. Returning to Detroit, then to Reno and finally Los Angeles, Joe recorded his first recording in 1963 for Howard Ransom's Nanc label. The following year, he cut a handful of tracks for Kent including an early version of his superb "Dirty work is going on" and the funky "Jimmy's special". Unfortunately, these tracks were never released and we had to wait until the japanese CD "West coast modern blues 1960's" in 1999 to finally hear them. For Fats Washington's Movin' label, Joe once again recorded the excellent "Dirty work is going on". This track (and some others) was purchased by Chess and allowed him to travel to Chicago for a session under the supervision of Gene Barge (the remarkable "Me and my woman" and "My heart beats like a drum"). He then moved to Jewel, a label run by producer Stan Lewis. There, Joe delivered some beautiful blues tracks like "Standing on the threshold" (featuring Lowell Fulson's guitar), "A fool is what you wanted" or "Southern country boy". At the same time, Joe learned guitar from Lafayette Thomas and developed a style influenced by B.B. King. These titles were gathered by Gérard Herzhaft on his Blue Eye blog.
HAPPY HERE EARTHY BLUES
Space
DON'T TAX ME IN
Flyright
1970 - 1971
Voici un album publié par le label Space de Mel Alexander composé de différentes séances qui furent rééditées sous différentes pochettes. Ces morceaux gravés en 1970 et 1971 à Los Angeles présente Little Joe Blue, bon guitariste dans le style de B.B. King, entouré de musiciens restés anonymes (il pourrait s'agir du groupe Bacon Fat et du pianiste J.D. Nicholson). Un bon programme de blues avec des titres accrocheurs comme "Who's the fool" ou "Shopping instead".
This album, released on Mel Alexander's Space label, is composed of various sessions that were reissued under different sleeves. These tracks recorded in 1970 and 1971 in Los Angeles feature Little Joe Blue, a skilled guitarist in the style of B.B. King, surrounded by musicians who have remained anonymous (they could be the band Bacon Fat and pianist J.D. Nicholson). A good blues program with catchy titles like "Who's the fool" or "Shopping instead".
SOUTHERN COUNTRY BOY
Jewel
Paula
P-Vine
JUST LIKE B.
P-Vine
1971 - 1972
Ce disque rassemble des séances pour le label Jewel de Stan Lewis. Joe y propose son blues cuivré hérité de B.B. King. Excellent chanteur et guitariste, il délivre de remarquables titres comme "Just love won't do", "Only a fool", "Gonna walk on", "Southern country boy", "Little Joe Blue", "Sometime tomorrow" qui méritent une écoute attentive. Sur le vinyle japonais "Just like B", on trouve quatre morceaux supplémentaires inédits dont les superbes "My heart beats like a drum" et "Don't tell me nothing about my baby".
This album compiles sessions for Stan Lewis's Jewel label. Joe offers his brassy blues influenced by B.B. King. An excellent singer and guitarist, he delivers remarkable tracks such as "Just love won't do", "Only a fool", "Gonna walk on", "Southern country boy", "Little Joe Blue", "Sometime tomorrow" which deserve careful listening. The japanese vinyl release "Just Like B" includes four additional unreleased tracks including the superb "My heart beats like a drum" and "Don't tell me nothing about my baby".
BEST OF THE BLUES : THE BEST OF LITTLE JOE BLUE
Kris
1970 / 1974 or 1975 / 1978
Ce microsillon paru sur la marque Kris de Mel Alexander regroupe des titres déjà édités ailleurs mais aussi quelques morceaux inédits enregistrés dans le courant des années 70 comme les bons "We all have the blues", "Been nowhere and don't care" et "Wasn't born yesterday".
This LP, released on Mel Alexander's Kris label, includes tracks previously released elsewhere as well as some unreleased songs recorded during the 1970's such as the excellent "We all have the blues", "Been nowhere and don't care" and "Wasn't born yesterday".
AMERICAN BLUES LEGENDS '75
Big Bear
May 1975
Little Joe Blue participa à la tournée de l'American Blues Legends organisée par Jim Simpson aux côtés d'autres bluesmen. Ici sur la scène du 100 Club de Londres, il propose deux bons titres : "A fool is what you want" et la reprise de "Five long years".
Little Joe Blue participated in the American Blues Legends tour organized by Jim Simpson alongside other bluesmen. Here on stage at the 100 Club in London, he offers two good tracks : "A fool is what you want" and a cover of "Five long years".
SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL vol.3
Solid Smoke
August 1979
Sur la scène de ce célèbre festival, Joe joue une belle version du slow-blues "Outside help".
On the stage of this famous festival, Joe plays a nice version of the slow-blues "Outside help".
SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL IN EUROPE AGAIN
Paris Album
January 1982
Cette tournée sur le sol européen en juin 1982 donne lieu à cet enregistrement studio - produit par Larry Martin et Tom Mazzolini - sur lequel Little Joe Blue donne trois superbes morceaux en tant que leader (en particulier "Wasn't born yesterday" et "We all have the blues).
This tour on european soil in june 1982 gave rise to this studio recording - produced by Larry Martin and Tom Mazzolini - on which Little Joe Blue gave three superb songs as a leader (in particular "Wasn't born yesterday" and "We all have the blues).
IT'S MY TURN NOW
Empire
1984
Ce rare microsillon est resté méconnu dans la discographie de Little Joe Blue. Il fut enregistré pour le label Paradise City sous la supervision d'Al Braggs. Un bel opus de blues cuivré contemporain avec de bons moments comme "That baby's not mine", "Hour in your garden", "Me and my guitar" et "I wasn't born yesterday".
This rare LP has remained largely unknown in Little Joe Blue's discography. It was recorded for the Paradise City label under the supervision of Al Braggs. A fine album of contemporary brassy blues with highlights such as "That baby's not mine", "Hour in your garden", "Me and my guitar" and "I wasn't born yesterday".
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL '86
Black & Blue
DIRTY WORK GOIN' ON
Black & Blue
November 1986
Joe retrouva le sol européen à l'occasion de la tournée du Chicago Blues Festival en fin d'année 1986. Un album fut enregistré avec les musiciens de la tournée (Billy Branch, Melvin Taylor, Nick Charles, Julian Vaughan) en Hollande sous la supervision de Didier Tricard et Martin Van Olderen. Excellent chanteur et guitariste, Joe y délivre un bon set de blues avec des moments intenses comme sa reprise de "You're breaking my heart" ou "Give one hour in your garden", "You can help me if you want so". La réédition "Dirty work goin' on" de Black & Blue ajoute quatre morceaux inédits dont "I want to make love to you" et les slow blues "Devil in the sky" et "How could you do it to me".
Joe returned to european ground for the Chicago Blues Festival tour at the end of 1986. An album was recorded with the touring musicians (Billy Branch, Melvin Taylor, Nick Charles, Julian Vaughan) in the Netherlands under the supervision of Didier Tricard and Martin Van Olderen. An excellent singer and guitarist, Joe delivers a solid blues set with intense moments such as his cover of "You're breaking my heart" or "Give one hour in your garden", "You can help me if you want so". The Black & Blue reissue "Dirty work goin' on" adds four previously unreleased tracks including "I want to make love to you" and the slow blues "Devil in the sky" and "How could you do it to me".
DIRTY WORK GOING ON
Evejim
1987
Little Joe Blue s'associe à la fin des années 80 avec le producteur et musicien Leon Haywood qui dirige le label Evejim. Sous son impulsion, Joe délivre un remarquable album de Soul-Blues, accrocheur et contemporain. On apprécie particulièrement "Dirty work is going on", "Don't start me talking", "How could you do it to me", "Just your fool", "Stop wasting my time".
In the late 1980's, Little Joe Blue teamed up with producer and musician Leon Haywood who ran the Evejim label. Under Haywood's guidance, Joe delivered a remarkable, catchy and contemporary Soul-Blues album. Particularly noteworthy tracks include "Dirty work is going on", "Don't start me talking", "How could you do it to me", "Just your fool", "Stop wasting my time".
I'M DOING ALL RIGHT AGAIN
Evejim
1989
Little Joe Blue et Leon Haywood continuent leur collaboration avec ce second album dans la lignée du premier. On y trouve le même cocktail Soul-Blues cuivré où brillent sa voix expressive et son jeu de guitare inspiré. "I'm doing all right again", "I'm not blind", "Devil in disguise", "Me and my woman" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments. Malheureusement, Little Joe Blue est emporté prématurément par un cancer de l'estomac peu après.
Little Joe Blue and Leon Haywood continued their collaboration with this second album following in the footsteps of the first. It features the same brassy Soul-Blues blend showcasing his expressive voice and inspired guitar playing. "I'm doing all right again", "I'm not blind", "Devil in disguise", "Me and my woman" are among the highlights. Sadly, Little Joe Blue was tragically taken by stomach cancer shortly afterwards.