Bye Bye Sonny...Williamson's Final Recordings with Clapton and Page
1/7/06
Born on December 15, 1899, in Glendora Mississippi, Aleck Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson) ranks as one America's greatest bluesmen. During his lifetime, Williamson played with Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Willie Dixon, Otis Spann, Buddy Guy, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Robert Lockwood Jr. and Robert Nighthawk, to name a few.
Williamson performed for 15 years on the radio program "King Biscut Time." He later recorded classic albums for Chess Records. He made two trips to England towards the end of his life. Bye Bye Sonny represents the songs he recorded in 1964 during his stay in London. January 9 stands as the official release date for Bye Bye Sonny on the Music Avenue label.
These remain Williamson's final recordings. Disc one features Williamson recording with the Yardbirds (an 18-year-old Eric Clapton on guitar) and the Animals. Disc two offers Williamson's songs backed by Jimmy Page. Page's experience of playing with a blues legend spawned his future vision for Led Zeppelin.
These recordings were originally intended as souvenirs, but were eventually pressed and released. Williamson died in 1965. For music historians and blues fanatics, Bye Bye Sonny proves an essential item to add to the collection...
James Calemine
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