Faded Picture Blues
Artist: Paul Howard & Ralph Willis
Review by Charles "Dutch" Metzker
This is a review of the 1970 release on King Records K-1098 with Paul Howard & Ralph Willis.
All songs are reminiscent of Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), featuring stripped down guitar and vocals.
Side One
Track 1. Your picture done faded. Paul Howard. Jay&Cee music 2:42.
Track 2. Sidewalk boogie. Paul Howard-(Paul Harris)Jay&Cee music 2:55.
Track 3. Black Cat Trail. Paul Howard-(Paul Howard)Jay&Cee music. 2:52.
Track 4. Mother dear mother-Paul Howard. (L.Millinder/H.Glover). 2:40.
Track 5.Gonna hop on down the line. -Ralph Willis. (Ralph Willis)2:40.
Track 6. Do right. Ralph Willis.(Ralph Willis) 2:17.
Side Two
Track 1. Since I seen your smiling face-Paul Howard. (Paul Howard)Jay&Cee music. 2:47.
Track 2. I’ll never walk in your door. -Paul Howard(P.H.)Jay&Cee music.
Track 3. One more time. -Paul Howard.as above 2:20.
Track 4. Ain’t it sad. Paul Howard. as above 2:46.
Track 5. Door Bell Blues. Ralph Willis. (Ralph Willis)as above. 2:29.
Track 6. Why’d you do it. Ralph Willis. as above. 2:25.
The Artists
Ralph Willis was born in 1910 in Birmingham, Alabama. He died June 11, 1957 in New York, NY. He was an American Piedmont blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. Some of his Savoy records were released under the pseudonyms Washboard Pete, Alabama Slim, and Sleepy Joe. His famous song is “Christmas Blues” credited to Washboard Pete.
Paul Howard was born September 20, 1895, and died February 18, 1980. He was also known as Carolina Slim.
This album is Delta blues all the way. I give this album an 8 out of 10.
Listen for yourself: Watch on YouTube
