Blues & Ballads

Blues & Ballads is a 1960 recording featuring Lonnie Johnson on vocals and electric guitar accompanied by Elmer Snowden on acoustic guitar and Wendell Marshall on bass. This was the first commercial recording by Snowden in 26 years. The same ensemble, under the supervision of Chris Albertson recorded a second volume titled: Blues, Ballads, and Jumpin' Jazz which was released in 1990.

For the Brad Mehldau album, see Blues and Ballads.
Blues & Ballads
Studio album by
Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden
Released1960
RecordedApril 5, 1960
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
GenreBlues
Length43:25
LabelBluesville
ProducerChris Albertson
Lonnie Johnson chronology
Blues by Lonnie Johnson
(1960)		 Blues & Ballads
(1960)		 Losing Game
(1961)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Reception

The album has generally received high acclaim. Although one writer appears to disregard the album with a single sentence, calling it "just plain sad, lacking even the vitality of rock and roll."[2] Others have noted Johnson's "plaintive, slightly nasal voice"[3] and indicated that he "sings smooth blues and sentimental ballads with equal skill."[1] The guitarists styles are described as distinctive, yet complementary,[1] and Snowden is described as a "sympathetic accompanist" with "an easy swingingly graceful style."[3]

One reviewer calls Johnson's performance on the blues numbers "convincing, affecting interpretations," but indicates that his performance on the three ballads is less consistent. He states, "On 'Memories of You', his approach is gentle and lyrical, and yet his controlled inner tension builds tremendous emotional power. Two other ballads, his own compositions are too stickily sentimental to be effective."[3]

Track listing
  1. "Haunted House" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:59
  2. "Memories of You" (Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf) – 4:21
  3. "Blues for Chris" (Chris Albertson, Elmer Snowden) – 5:04
  4. "I Found a Dream" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:33
  5. "St. Louis Blues" (W.C. Handy) – 3:05
  6. "I'll Get Along Somehow" (Buddy Fields, Gerald Marks) – 4:27
  7. "Savoy Blues" (Kid Ory) – 4:11
  8. "Backwater Blues" (Bessie Smith) – 5:04
  9. "Elmer's Blues" (Elmer Snowden) – 3:27
  10. "He's a Jelly Roll Baker" (Lonnie Johnson) – 4:14

Personnel

Release history
yearformatlabelcatalog #
1960LPPrestige BluesvilleBv-1011
1960Bluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBCCD-531-2 (BV)
CDBluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBCCD-531-2
LPBluesville/Original Blues ClassicsOBC-531
CDBluesville/Original Blues Classics531
1991CDObc531
1993CDAce531
LPFan/Obc531

References
  1. Scott Yanow, "Review: Blues & Ballads", Allmusic (link)
  2. The Journal of American Folk-lore, 74, p.248, American Folklore Society/JSTOR/Project Muse, 1961
  3. High Fidelity, 11, p.135, 1961
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