Biography

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Carey Bell – Heartaches And Pain
Delmark DD 666 (1994)
[Ralph Bass Series]


In his early Chicago years, Carey Bell learned from maestros Little Walter Jacobs and Big Walter Horton, also working as a bass player while refining his harp skills. His talen and adaptability led to dozens of sessions over the years backing up everyone from Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon to the Staple Singers. Carey Bell is a true patriarch of Chicago blues and, in the words of his longtime European promoter Horst Lippman, “the Senior Master of the blues harp.”

Part of our Ralph Bass series. Includes the first recording of Lurrie Bell.

Carey Bell - vocals, harmonica
Lurrie Bell - guitar (except 1, 2)
Bob Riedy- piano
Alabama Jr. Pettis - rhythm guitar (except 4, 7)
Aron Burton - bass
Sam Lay - drums

1 Carey Bell Rocks (3:27)
2 Heartaches And Pains (5:42)
3 One Day You're Gonna Get Lucky (3:31)
4 Black-Eyed Peas (4:51)
5 So Hard To Leave You Alone (6:56)
6 Stop That Train, Conductor (Doctor Clayton) (3:36)
7 Everythings Gonna' Be All Right (Little Walter Jacobs)
(4:35)
8 Capri Crash (4:36)

All songs composed by Carey Bell except those noted

Recorded March 15, 1977, PS Studios, Chicago, IL.

Legendary producer Ralph Bass supervised this quickie session back in 1977, but it failed to see the light of day domestically until Delmark rescued it from oblivion. They did the blues world a favor: it's a worthwhile session, Bell storming through a mostly original setlist (the omnipresent Little Walter cover this time is "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"). Aron Burton and Sam Lay comprise the rhythm section, and son Lurrie contributes lead guitar.

- Bill Dahl, ALL MUSIC review