LEFTY BATES

DISCOGPart TwoRAPHY

The Lefty Bates band courtesy of the Historical Society. Probably Chicago. Date and photographer unknown. From the Scotty Piper Collection (ICHi23794). In the second part of this extensive discography of Chicago legend Lefty Bates, we cover Lefty’s highly productive years from 1957 through to 1969. During this period he supported Vee Jay artists such as The El Dorados, The Dells, Pee Wee Crayton, Billy ‘The Kid’ Emerson etc. He also provided support on sides for Chess, States, United and other small labels including Tommy Jones’ Mad label. The discography stops at an album cut for Bluesway in 1968 and a final session with Willie Mabon in 1969. With such an extensive discography there are bound to be corrections, additions and amendments - they are all welcome. Send them via email as it makes our job easier! Thanks to all those involved in compiling this discography - especially Dan Kochakian for unsurpassed detective work. Al Smith and his Orchestra Chicago, February 5, 1957 Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Harlan ‘Booby’ Floyd, I Found My Peace of Mind*/** Vee Jay 252 trb*; unk. hca*; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; poss. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al You Don’t Love Me Anymore*/** Vee Jay Unissued Duncan, dms I Don’t Care*/**/*** Vee Jay 252 Chicago, January 11, 1957 Daze Vee Jay Unissued One Two Cha Cha Falcon 1001, Abner 1020 Get Up and Go* Falcon 1001 The Delegates (The Kool Gents) Road House Falcon 1007 Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Red Holloway, ts; Lucius Washington, ts; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Soft and Easy Falcon Unissued Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, February 19, 1957 The Dells Mother’s Son Vee Jay 243 Vcl, with Al Smith and His Orchestra: inc Lefty Bates, gtr; omit trb and hca Gloria Falcon 1002 Same date and personnel as above June Falcon Unissued Why Do you Have To Go Vee Jay 236 Kangaroo Hop Falcon 1002 A Distant Love Vee Jay 251 Dance Dance Dance Vee Jay 236 Lefty Bates and His Band Pain In My Heart Vee Jay 258 Horace Palm, vcl*; Lefty Bates,gtr; Personnel Unknown You Know Vee Jay Unissued Chicago, February 26,1957 Little Junior Parker Chicago Cha Cha United 206 Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; unk. tpt; Red Holloway, ts; unk. sax; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Somebody Will Understand* United 206 Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms The Spaniels Chicago, January (?) 24, 1957 Vcl; Al Smith and His Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washignton, ts; McKinley Peaches Duke 177 Easton, bs (except*); Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Pretty Little Doll Duke 177 Al Duncan, dms/Latin perc) Pee Wee Crayton Chicago, March 12, 1957 Vcl*/gtr; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Everyone’s Laughing Vee Jay 246 Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms; The El Dorados, vcl grp**; omit brass*** I Lost You Vee Jay 264

4 >> B&R >> 184 I.O.U. (I Love You) Vee Jay 246 This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Vee Jay VJLP 1002

Sarah McLawler Vcl/org; Richard Otto, vln; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Thomas Hunter, dms Chicago, March 14, 1957 Alone Vee Jay Unissued September Song Vee Jay Unissued Over The Rainbow Vee Jay Unissued Stella By Starlight Vee Jay LP 1003

Sarah McLawler, vcl; same personnel as above Chicago, March 15, 1957 Babe In The Woods Vee Jay LP 1003 Laura Vee Jay LP 1003 My Funny Valentine Vee Jay Unissued Flamingo Vee Jay Unissued Love For Sale Vee Jay LP 1003 Temptation Vee Jay LP 1003

Billy Emerson Vcl/pno; Hobart Dotson, tpt; John Calvin, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Lefty Bates, courtesy Bob Sunenblick Chicago, March 27, 1957 Chicago, July 12 1957 Somebody Show Me Vee Jay 247 Look Me Straight In The Eye (alt. take) Delmark CD 717 The Pleasure Is All Mine Vee Jay 247, LP 1084 Look Me Straight In The Eye (master) States 164 (Do The) Chicken Charly (E) LP 602 I Stayed Away Too Long (alt. take) Delmark CD 717 Don’t Be Careless Charly (E) LP 602 I Stayed Away Too Long (2nd alt. take) Delmark CD 717 I Stayed Away Too Long (master) States 164 The Answers The Spaniels Vcl; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bar; Horace Palm, p; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Vcl, with Al Smith and His Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; Marcus Quinn Wilson, sbs; Paul Gusman, dms. Johnson, bs; James Crag, pno; Ace Lambert, el gtr; Lefty Bates, el gtr; prob. Quinn Chicago, April 5, 1957 Have No Fear United U-212 Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Keeps Me Worried All The Time United U-212 Universal Recording, Chicago, July 30, 1957 I Like It Like That Vee Jay 310 The El dorados You’re Gonna Cry Vee Jay 257 Vcl; with Al Smith Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, Lucinda Charly CD 222 bs; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Vernel Fournier, dms Pee Wee Crayton Universal Recording, Chicago, April 18, 1957 Vcl*/gtr; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Trouble Trouble Charly LP 1022 Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms; The El Dorados, vcl grp** Tears On My Pillow Vee Jay 250 Chicago, August 2, 1957 A Rose For My Darling Vee Jay 250 Is This The Price I Pay* Vee Jay 266 Language for Love Vee Jay CD 715 Second Hand Love*/** Charly (E) LP 601 I Love Her Still*/** Charly (E) LP 601 Arbee Stidham Blues After Hours*/** Charly (E) LP 601 Vcl with poss. Red Holloway, Harold Ashby, ts; Horace M. Palm, p; prob. , gtr; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, sbs; Leon Hooper or Al Duncan, Priscilla Bowman dms. Vcl (except*); Al Smith, ldr; Lucius ‘Little Wash’ Washington, ts; Marcus Johnson, ts (except*); McKinley Easton, bs (except*); Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, August 13, 1957 Yes, I’m Glad Falcon 1004 A Spare Man Falcon 1004 Sugar Daddy Falcon 1008 Don’t Come In Here Falcon 1008 Jammin’ For Diggy* Top Rank (Fr) RLP 111

Billy Emerson Vcl, with Al Smith’s Orchestra: Sonny Cohn, tpt; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Matt Murphy, Lefty Bates, gtrs; Al Smith, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, August 23, 1957 Do Yourself A Favor Vee Jay 261 You Never Miss Your Water Vee Jay 261 Lucinda Vee Jay Unissued When It Rains It Pours Vee Jay Unissued

Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi Vcl grp; Maceo Woods, organ; Lefty Bates, gtr; Ronald Hall, pno*; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, August 27, 1957 I’m A Rolling* Vee Jay 855 My Robe Will Fit Me Vee Jay 855

Dee Clark Vcl*, acc. by Al Smith’s Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs**?); Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, September 13, 1957 Seven Nights* Falcon 1005 Why Don’t You Come Home* Charly LP 1113 Label shots courtesy of 24 Boy Friends* Falcon 1005 Dan Kochakian Collection. Emma Jean* Charly LP 1010 Quarter Party** Falcon 1007

5 >> B&R >> 184 Great Googly Moo* Vee Jay 278 (?) The Palms Vcl; with the Lefty Bates Band: possibly same session and personnel

Chicago, 1957 Edna United 208 Teardrops United 208

Lefty Bates and His Band Personnel unknown

Chicago, 1957 Look Me Straight In The Eye States 164 I Stayed Away Too Long States 164

The El Dorados Vcl, acc. by Al Smith Orchestra; Al Smith, ldr; Sonny Cohn, tpt; Lucious Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, January 11, 1958 Boom Diddle Boom Vee Jay 263 Three Reasons Why Vee Jay 263 Lord Knows I Tried Solid Smoke LP 8025

Larry Birdsong Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, January 30, 1958 Fannie’s Place Vee Jay 277 Nothing But A Fool Charly CRB 1106 Goodbye Goodbye Vee Jay 277 I’ll Run My Business Charly CRB 1106

The Dells Vcl, acc. by Al Smith and His Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; Kirk Davis, prob. ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, February 5, 1958 Baby Open Up Your Heart Vee Jay 324 What You Say Baby Vee Jay 274 Someone To Call Me Darling Solid Smoke LP 8029

Gene Allison Vcl; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton,bs; Maceo Woods, organ; Sonny Thompson, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan,dms Chicago, February 6, 1958 My Heart Remembers Vee Jay 273 Have Faith Vee Jay 273 Tell The Truth Vee Jay Unissued

Gene Allison Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; prob. Riley Hampton, as/arr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Maceo Woods, organ; Clarence ‘Sleepy’ Anderson, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Vernel Fournier, dms Top: Advert from The Chicago Defender, 21st December, 1957. From the Universal Recording, Chicago, May 19, 1958 I Don’t Know Why Vee Jay 286 Franz Hoffmann Collection (nice menu!). Lower: from The Chicago Defender, Without You Vee Jay Unissued 20th February, 1957. From the Franz Hoffmann Collection Al Smith and his Orchestra Tommy Dean Al Smith, bass/ldr; Leon Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, Organ; Charles Williams, as; Fred Lee, ts; Hattuch Alexander, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Al Duncan, dms Milton Wilson, dms/bgos; Don Porter, dms Chicago, September 13, 1957 Chicago, May 27, 1958 Party After Dark Falcon 1007 Odds and Ends Vee Jay Unissued The Falcons Recession Vee Jay Unissued Vcl, acc. by Al Smith Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; George ‘Sonny’ Cohn, tpt; Lucius Diane Vee Jay Unissued Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Christopher Columbus Vee Jay Unissued Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, September 26, 1957 Billy Emerson Come On Home Vee Jay 285 Vcl/pno*; Sonny Cohn, tpt; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Sleepy Anderson, My Only Love Falcon 1006 org**; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Now That It’s Over Falcon 1006 Chicago, May, 1959 Stop (Why Don’t You Stop) Vee Jay 285 Believe Me* Chess 1728 Holy Mackerel Baby** Chess 1728 Billy ‘The Kid’ Emerson Give Me A Little Love** Chess 1711 Vcl, acc. by Al Smith Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; George ‘Sonny’ Cohn, tpt; Lucius Woodchuck* Chess 1711 Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, el gtr; Matt Murphy, el gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, October 23, 1957 Do Yourself a Favor Vee Jay 261 You Never Miss Your Water Vee Jay 261 Lucinda Vee Jay Unissued When It Rains It Pours Vee Jay Unissued

The El Dorados Vcl, acc. by Al Smith Orchestra: Al Smith, ldr; Lucius Washington, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, el gtr; Paul Johnson, el gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, November 6, 1957 Oh What A Girl Vee Jay 302 Lights Are Low Vee Jay 302 Always My Love P-Vine Special CD 1412 Why Must I P-Vine Special CD 1412

The Spaniels Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Marcus Johnson, bs (except*); Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, el gtr; Matt Murphy or Paul ‘Guitar Red’ Johnson, el gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Adverts from The Chicago Defender. Left: 9th June, 1956. Right 23rd March, Universal Recording, Chicago, November 26, 1957 Crazee Baby Vee Jay 264 1957. From the Franz Hoffmann Collection

6 >> B&R >> 184 Al Smith and his Orchestra Al Smith, ldr; Tommy Purksom, tpt; Harlan ‘Bobby’ Floyd, trb; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, June 3, 1958 Christopher Columbus Abner 1020 Wabash Blues Abner 1014 Left Field Falcon 1014

Priscilla Bowman and The Spaniels Vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Cliff Davis, ts; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, July 30, 1958 If I Had The Power Sounds Great LP 5008 I Ain’t Givin’ Up Nothing Abner 1018 A Rockin’ Good Way Abner 1018 Where Will It End? Sounds Great LP 5008

Gene Allison Vcl; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson,bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, August 7, 1958 Everything Will Be Alright Vee Jay 299 I Believe In Myself Vee Jay 317 I’m A Fool For Wanting You Vee Jay 299

Sonny Thompson replaces E. Washington, pno; add Wayne Bennett, gtr Chicago, November 5, 1958 Reap What You Sow Vee Jay 305 Tell Me The Truth Vee Jay 305

Earl Washington Pno; John Avant, trb; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Lefty Bates, gtr; Leo Blevins, bass; Vernell Fournier, dms Chicago, November 6, 1958 Misirlou Checker 905, LP 2975 Wolf Call Checker 905, LP 2975 Big Mamoo Checker Unissued ? Ah La Cola Checker Unissued ?

Gene Allison Vcl; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Sonny Thompson, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, December 17, 1958 True Friendship Vee Jay Unissued Everybody But Me Vee Jay 317 From the Dan Kochakian Collection. Eileen with Lefty Bates & His Orchestra Eileen ? and Stan ?, vcls; Lefty Bates, gtr; Unk. others Same personnel except Earl Washington replaces Sonny Thompson, pno Chicago, 1958 Chicago, June 12, 1959 Bang Bang Shoot ‘Em Ups Mad 1010 I’ll Be Waiting For You Vee Jay 329 Has Anybody Seen My Dog Mad 1010 Three Times Seven Vee Jay Unissued Lefty Bates Priscilla Bowman Gtr; Cliff Davis, ts; prob. Floyd Morris, pno; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; prob. Al Vcl, acc. by Riley Hampton Orchestra: Sonny Cohn, tpt; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Duncan, dms Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, Chicago, 1958 Jr., dms Am I Blue Mad 1011 Chicago, July 30, 1959 Back Ground Mad 1011 Promises Sounds Great LP 5008 Like A Baby Unissued The Chargers Why Must I Cry Sounds Great LP 5008 Vcl; Lefty Bates, gtr; unk. personnel What I Would Not Give Sounds Great LP 5008 Chicago, 1958 The Large Charge B.E.A.T. 1006 Jimmy Reed Miss Letha Jones B.E.A.T. 1006 Vcl/hca/gtr; Mama Reed, vcl*; Lefty Bates and Eddie Taylor, gtrs; Marcus Johnson, bass; Earl Phillips, dms Jimmy Witherspoon Chicago, August 7, 1959 Vcl; John Avant, trb; Von Freeman, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Baby What You Want Me To Do* Vee Jay 333 Lefty Bates, Earl Backus, gtrs; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Goin’ By The River, Part 1 Vee Jay LP 1022 Chicago, January 16, 1959 Goin’ By The River, Part 2 Vee Jay 357, LP 1022 Kansas City (K.C.Loving) Vee Jay LP 1020 Everything But You Vee Jay 322 Jimmy Reed, vcl/hca/gtr; Mary Lee ‘Mama’ Reed, vcl*; Lefty Bates, Eddie Taylor, I Know I Know Vee Jay 322 gtrs; Earl Phillips, dms Chicago, December 15, 1959 Please Don’t Vee Jay LP 7303 Harold Burrage Found Love Vee Jay 347, LP 1022 Vcl; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; You Gonna Need My Help* Vee Jay LP 7303 Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, March 20, 1959 Syl Johnson I’ve Got A Reason Vee Jay Unissued Vcl; unk. fl; Sonny Thompson, pno; Lefty bates, gtr; Unk. bass; dms; vcl grp What You Don’t Know Vee Jay Vee Jay 318 Chicago, 1959 Baby When Unissued Teardrops Federal 12358 Crying For My Baby Vee Jay 318, LP 1020 They Who Love Federal 12358

Al Smith and his Orchestra Lefty (Guitar) Bates and His Orchestra* / Horace M. Palm (vcl/ Al Smith, ldr; Sonny Cohen, tpt; Norman Rich, as/ts; Von Freeman, ts; McKinley pno)** Easton, bs; Horace Parlan, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, With Lefty Bates Orchestra: Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, dms bs; unk. bass; dms Chicago, March 27, 1959 Chicago, 1959 Jay’s Jam Vee Jay Unissued Rock Alley* Apex 951 Cool Blues Vee Jay Unissued Ninety Days* Apex 951 Indiana Vee Jay Unissued Ena Apex 952 South 2 West Blues Vee Jay Unissued Why Can’t You Love Me** Apex 952

Gene Allison Danny Overbea Vcl; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Sonny Thompson, pno; Lefty Bates and Vcl; Unk. vcl*; tpt; Tommy ‘Madman’ Jones, ts; bs; pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; bass; Al Sax Kari, gtrs; Quinn Wilson, bass; Al Duncan, dms Duncan, dms Chicago, June 11, 1959 Chicago, 1959 Let There Be Women Vee Jay 329 Don’t Laugh At Me Apex 7751 Oh Yeah, I’m In Love Vee Jay 341 Stop* Apex 7751

7 >> B&R >> 184 Washington, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Earl Backus, bass; Al Duncan, dms; unk. vcl grp Chicago, February 9, 1960 Hi Ho Silver Vee Jay Unissued You K.O.’d Me Vee Jay 356 Great Day In The Morning Vee Jay 356

John Lee Hooker Vcl/gtr; Lefty Bates, gtr; Sylvester Hickman, bass; Jimmy Turner, dms Chicago, March 1, 1960 I Want To Walk (I Want To Talk) Vee Jay LP 1023 Canal Street Blues Vee Jay LP 1023 I’ll Know Tonight Vee Jay LP 1023 Goin’ to Vee Jay LP 1023 Whiskey and Wimmen Vee Jay LP 1023 Run On Vee Jay LP 1023 Sunny Land Vee Jay LP 1023 Dusty Road Vee Jay 366, LP 1023 I’m A Stranger Vee Jay LP 1023 No Shoes Vee Jay 349, LP 1023

Jimmy Reed Vcl/hca/gtr; Mama Reed, vcl*; Lefty Bates, Lee Baker, gtrs; Curtis Mayfield, bass; Earl Phillips, dms Chicago, March 14, 1960 Hold Me Close* Vee Jay LP 1035 Come Love Vee Jay Unissued You Don’t Have To Go Vee Jay Unissued Ain’t That Loving You Vee Jay Unissued

Willie Dixon replaces Curtis Mayfield, bass Chicago, March 29, 1960 Come Love* Vee Jay LP 1022 Big Boss Man* Vee Jay 380, LP 1022 Meet Me (In Your Hometown) Vee Jay LP 1022

Phil Upchurch replaces Baker, gtr. Omit Dixon, bass Chicago, June 29, 1960 I Got The Blues Vee Jay LP 1025 Sugar Sugar Charly LP 1013 Got Me Chasing You Vee Jay LP 1025 Down The Road Vee Jay LP 1025 Want To Be With You Baby Vee Jay LP 1025 Jimmy’s Rock Vee Jay LP 1025 Tell The World I Do Vee Jay LP 1025 You’re My Baby Vee Jay LP 1025 That’s it Vee Jay LP 1025 Ain’t Gonna Cry No More Vee Jay LP 1025

Clyde ‘Jay’ Walker Vcl; Riley Hampton, arr/ldr; Ronald Wilson, ts/fl; Claude Jones, pno; Earl Backus, Lefty Bates, gtrs; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, October 5, 1960 Shoobedobeedo Vee Jay 324 I Love It Vee Jay 324

From the Chicago Defender, 22nd November, 1958. From the Jimmy Reed Vcl/hca/gtr; Mama Reed, vcl*; Lefty Bates, Eddie Taylor, gtrs; Earl Phillips, dms; Franz Hoffmann Collection Chorus Chicago, December 13, 1960 Edward Redding Close Together*/** Vee Jay 373, Vcl; Sonny Cohn, tpt; Morris Brice, fh; Frank Strozier, as; Von Freeman, ts; You Know You’re Looking Good Vee Jay LP 1025 McKinley Easton, bs; Floyd Morris, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; Laughing At The Blues Vee Jay 373 Marshall Thompson, dms; unk. strings I’m A Love You (I’m In Love With You)** Vee Jay 380 Chicago, 1959 Devoted To Debbie Apex 7753, Chess 1741 Jimmy Reed Come On Home Apex 7753, Chess 1741 Vcl/hca (except**); Mama Reed, vcl*, Lefty Bates, gtr; unknown bass; Earl Phillips,

Tommy Jones with the Apex All Stars Tommy Jones, ts; Floyd Morris, pno/organ; William ‘Lefty’ Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass Chicago, 1959 Just Friends Apex 4924 Autumn Serenade Apex 4924 A Gal in Calico Apex 4924 Laura Apex 4924 Apex Blues Apex 4924 Josette Apex 4924 My Buddy Apex 4924 T.J.’s Rock Apex 4924 I Don’t Stand A Ghost of A Chance With You Apex 4924 Charleston Apex 4924 NB: Apex 4924 was an LP called ‘Just Friends’. The album would be called smooth today: mellow saxophone, smooth organ, lyrical guitar, and soft bass work. It was released in 1959, when Mad Records became a part of the combine that included Apex and Dempsey. We're including this session here because we're assuming it to be essentially a Tommy Jones production. Tommy Jones recorded a different version of ‘Laura’ with a trio. In 1959, Jones launched a new Mad 1295 series that reflected his three-way alliance with Apex and Dempsey. This series listed the company as ‘Apex Producing Corp’.

Piney Brown and His Blues Toppers Piney Brown, vcl; prob. Tommy Jones, ts; unk. organ*; Lefty Bates, gtr; unk. bass; unk. dms Chicago, 1959 Sugar In My Tea (Cream In My Coffee) Mad 1295 My Love* Mad 1295 Harold Burrage From the Chicago Defender, 25th April, 1959. From the Franz Hoffmann Vcl; Walter Cole, tpt; Bill Atkins, as; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Earl Collection

8 >> B&R >> 184 Bluesway LP 6004 Two Heads Are Better Than One Bluesway 61003, Bluesway LP 6004 Don’t Play Me Cheap Bluesway LP 6004 Tell Me What You Want me To Do Bluesway LP 600 I Wanna Know Bluesway 61003, LP 6004 Two Ways To Skin A Cat ABC Paramount 10887, Bluesway LP 6004 Honey I’ll Make Two Bluesway LP 6004 You Don’t Have To Go Bluesway LP 6004 I Woke Up At Daybreak (Just Can’t Sleep) Bluesway LP 6009 No Time For Fussin’ Bluesway LP 6009 I’m Not Going To Let You Down (I’ll Be Home Some Day) Bluesway LP 6009 If The Four Winds Don’t Change Krazy Kat LP 786 Don’t Press Your Luck Woman Bluesway LP 6009, Bluesway LP 61006 From the Chicago Defender, 24th September, 1960. From the Franz Hoffmann Collection Jimmy Reed, vcl/hca/gtr; Lefty Bates, Wayne Bennett, Eddie Taylor, gtrs; Phil dms Upchurch, bass; Jimmy Tillman, dms Chicago, 1961 Chicago, 1967 Kind of Lonesome Vee Jay LP 1035 Tell Me You Love Me Vee Jay 449, Two In One Blues Bluesway LP 6015 Bright Lights, Big City* Vee Jay 398, When Two People Are In Love Bluesway LP 6015 What’s Wrong Baby (Baby What’s Wrong)* Vee Jay 426 Five Years of Good Lovin’ Bluesway LP 6015 Give It Up and Let Me Go Bluesway LP 6015 Aw Shucks Hush Your Mouth** Vee Jay 425 I’m Mr. Luck** Vee Jay 398 I’ve Got To Keep On Rollin’ Bluesway LP 6015 Blue Carnegie Vee Jay LP 1035 When I Woke Up This Mornin’ Bluesway LP 6015 I’m Leavin’ Bluesway LP 6015 Shame, Shame, Shame Bluesway LP 6015 Vcl/gtr; Jimmy Reed, hca*; Lefty Bates, gtr; poss. Roebuck ‘Pops’ Staples, gtr**; Run Here To Me Baby Bluesway LP 6015 Quinn Qilson, bass; Earl Phillips, dms Chicago, January 4, 1961 Life Is Funny Bluesway LP 6015 Want Ad Blues Vee Jay 397, LP 1033 My Baby Told Me Bluesway LP 6015 Will The Circle Be Unbroken** Dynasty LP 7301 I’m Going Upstairs Vee Jay 379, LP 1033 Willie Mabon I Left My Baby* Charly (E) LP 1081 Hard Headed Woman* Vee Jay LP 1033 Vcl/pno*; King Kolax, J. Brimfield, tpts; Sonny Thompson, pno**; Lefty Bates, gtr; I’m Mad Again Vee Jay 379, LP 1033 Eugene Howell, bass; Al Thompson, dms Chicago, October 24, 1969 Gene Allison Troubles Checker Unissued ? Vcl; Cliff Davis, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Lloyd I’ll Keep On Hurtin’** Checker 1235 Gresham, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, April 20, 1961 I Won’t Be Back No More* Checker 1235 Reality Vee Jay Unissued Mighty Good Feelin’ Vee Jay Unissued Sources: So Much Vee Jay Unissued Blues Records 1943-1970, Record Information Services; The King Labels Somebody Somewhere Vee Jay Unissued - A Discography, Compiled by Michel Ruppli and Bill Daniels, Greenwood Jimmy Reed Press, 1985; The Chess Labels - A Discography, Volume 1 - Compiled by Vcl/hca/gtr; Mama Reed, vcl*; Lefty Bates, Jimmy Reed, Jr., gtrs; Phil Upchurch, Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Press, 1983 bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, 1962 Take It Slow* Vee Jay LP 1050 Good Lover Vee Jay 449, LP 1050 Down In Mississippi Vee Jay 616, LP 1080

Probably Same Personnel: Too Much Vee Jay 459, LP 1050, LP 1080 Down In Mississippi Vee Jay Unissued Off The Wall Vee Jay Unissued

Jimmy Reed, vcl/hca/gtr; prob. Lefty Bates, gtr; Jimmy Reed, Jr., bass; Al Duncan, dms I’ll Change My Style (I’ll Change That Too) Vee Jay 459, LP 1050 Let’s Get Together Vee Jay 473 In The Morning Vee Jay LP 1050 You Can’t Hide Vee Jay LP 1050 Back Home At Noon Vee Jay LP 1050 Lookin’ For My Baby Charly LP 1082 Kansas City Baby Vee Jay LP 1050 Oh John Vee Jay 473, 616, LP 1050, LP 1080

Jimmy Reed, vcl/hca/gtr; Lefty Bates, Eddie Taylor, gtrs; Jimmy Reed, Jr., bass gtr; Phil Upchurch, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, 1966 Knocking At Your Door Exodus 2005, (Why Can’t I Come In) Bluesway LP 6009 Dedication to Sonny (Tribute to a Friend) Exodus 2005, Bluesway LP 6009 Peaches (Poor Country Boy) Exodus 2008, Bluesway LP 6009 Crazy ‘Bout Oklahoma Exodus 2008, (Texas Is So Doggone Big) Bluesway LP 6009, LP 61013 Jimmy Reed, vcl/hca/gtr; Lefty Bates, Jimmy Reed, Jr., gtrs; Jimmy Gresham, bass; Al Duncan, dms Chicago, November 4 and 8, 1966 Heartaches and Trouble Bluesway LP 6004 Two Sides To Every Story Bluesway LP 6004 I Got Nowhere To Go ABC Paramount 10887, Bluesway LP 6004 William ‘Lefty’ Bates, Kenwood Healthcare, Chicago, March, 2003. Photo: Dan I’m Just Trying To Cop A Plea ABC Paramount 10887, Kochakian Collection.

9 >> B&R >> 184