Blues & Ballads

Performer: Lonnie Johnson
Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder
Producer: Chris Albertson
Distributor: Fantasy (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Lonnie Johnson (electric guitar, vocals), Elmer Snowden (guitar) and Wendell Marshall (bass). Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 5, 1960. Originally released on Bluesville (1011). Includes original liner notes by Chris Albertson. Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (1990, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley). One of Lonnie Johnson's numerous comeback albums of the early 1960s, BLUES & BALLADS coincides with the folk/blues revival of that era, and presents the revered New Orleans-born guitarist/singer in fine form, despite years of inactivity. Ably assisted by guitarist Elmer Snowden and bassist Wendell Marshall, Johnson applies his plaintive croon and deft guitar playing to both sauntering rural blues tunes (the weary "Back Water Blues") and gorgeous jazz-tinged ballads (a spare, poignant take on "Memories of You"), effortlessly revealing his artistic range. A must for fans of the underrated bluesman, this record is followed by the excellent companion piece BLUES, BALLADS, AND JUMPIN' JAZZ. This combination works quite well. Guitarist-singer Lonnie Johnson was just starting a successful comeback, and here he is teamed up with acoustic rhythm guitarist Elmer Snowden (who had not recorded since 1934) and bassist Wendell Marshall. Johnson sings smooth blues and sentimental ballads with equal skill, and both guitarists have opportunities to display their complementary but distinctive styles. This CD reissue is easily recommended, as is its more instrumental counterpart, Blues, Ballads, and Jumpin' Jazz, Vol. 2. ~ Scott Yanow

In contrast to such contemporary country blues musicians as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charley Patton, guitarist Lonnie Johnson performed a sophisticated, jazz-inflected blues. Active throughout most of the 20th century, he left a profound imprint on blues history, influencing such diverse giants as Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, Charlie Christian, and B.B. King.

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