The legendary Otis Spann gained renown as Muddy Waters' pianist throughout the latter musician's classic period of electric Chicago blues. Spann was also influential as a member of the Chess label's house-band, which backed a roster of blues giants and big selling artists. However, Spann's importance extended beyond his work as a sideman. He showed off his brilliance as a blues vocalist on a series of splendid recordings in a well-lived (though not extensive) solo career. This 2-CD set presents Otis' prolific session in New York City, on August 23rd, 1960. The date was produced by Nat Hentoff, and featured guitar master Robert Lockwood, Jr., with some vocal help from “St. Louis Jimmy” Oden. All of these fabulous numbers have been remastered in this special collector's edition which also includes 4 bonus tracks. They consist of songs Spann taped as a soloist in the mid-1950s. This is a truly indispensable set for any blues fan. PERSONNEL: OTIS SPANN, vocals and piano, plus: ROBERT LOCKWOOD Jr., guitar and vocals “St. LOUIS JIMMY” ODEN, vocals Recorded at Fine Studios, New York City, August 23, 1960. INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET CD 1 TOTAL TIME: 73:05 01. THE HARD WAY 02. TAKE A LITTLE WALK WITH ME 03. OTIS IN THE DARK 04. LITTLE BOY BLUE 05. COUNTRY BOY 06. BEAT-UP TEAM 07. MY DAILY WISH 08. GREAT NORTHERN STOMP 09. I GOT RAMBLING ON MY MIND #2 10. WORRIED LIFE BLUES 11. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DEVIL 12. OTIS BLUES 13. GOING DOWN SLOW 14. HALF AIN'T BEEN TOLD 15. MONKEY FACE WOMAN 16. THIS IS THE BLUES 17. EVIL WAYS CD 2 TOTAL TIME: 60:41 01. COME DAY, GO DAY 02. WALKING THE BLUES 03. BAD CONDITION 04. MY HOME IS IN THE DELTA 05. INSTRUMENTAL BOOGIE (aka SPANN AND BOB) 06. COW COW BLUES 07. TALKIN' THE BLUES 08. BABY CHILD 09. ONE DOGGONE REASON 10. STRANGE WOMAN BLUES 11. IT HURTS ME TOO 12. THE GIRL I LOVE BONUS TRACKS (1954-1956) 13. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DEVIL (original version) 14. FIVE SPOT 15. I'M LEAVING YOU 16. I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU BABY
