Crayton,Pee Wee Collection: 1947-62 CD

Pee Wee Crayton was a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who was one of the leading figures of the West Coast blues school during the post-war decades. He was one of several blues artists who made the move from Texas to California in the Depression, and inevitably he became an associate of the pioneer of the West Coast style T-Bone Walker, but although Crayton was undoubtedly influenced by him, he developed a highly distinctive sound, playing in an aggressive style which encompassed some daring technical innovations, as well as having a somewhat contrasting smooth vocal style. Over the years, he recorded for a number of labels, scoring his biggest successes in his early years with the Modern label, as he reached the R&B Top 5 with "Blues After Hours", "Texas Hop" and "I Love You So". Other notable recordings were done later with the Imperial and Vee-Jay labels, as he sought to re-establish his chart presence in a changing market for blues as rock 'n' roll invaded the R&B charts. This great value 55-track 2-CD set primarily comprises A and B sides recorded during this period for the 4 Star, Gru-V Tone, Modern, Aladdin, RIH, Hollywood, Imperial, Post, Vee-Jay, Fox, Jamie, Guyden and Smash labels plus selected from his 1960 LP on the Modern subsidiary Crown. As such it's a solid representation of his output across his primary recording career, and an entertaining introduction to the work of an artist who has not had the recognition he deserves.

1. After Hours Boogie 2. Why Did You Go 3. Don't Ever Fall in Love 4. Pee Wee Special 5. Blues After Hours 6. I'm Still in Love with You 7. Texas Hop 8. Central Avenue Blues 9. Rock Island Blues 10. When Darkness Falls 11. Bop Hop 12. I Love You So 13. Brand New Woman 14. Old Fashioned Baby 15. Bounce Peewee 16. Rockin' the Blues 17. Please Come Back 18. Some Rainy Day 19. Huckle Boogie 20. Louella Brown 21. Good Little Woman 22. Tired of Traveling 23. Change Your Way of Loving 24. Poppa Stoppa 25. Cool Evening 26. Have You Lost Your Love for Me 27. Daybreak 28. When It Rains It Pours 29. Pappy's Blues 30. Crying and Walking 31. Baby, Pat the Floor 32. Steppin' Out 33. Do Unto Others 34. Every Dog Has a Day 35. Wine-O 36. Hurry Hurry 37. I Need Your Love 38. You Know - Yeah 39. My Idea About You 40. Eyes Full of Tears 41. Runnin' Wild 42. Yours Truly 43. Be Faithful 44. Don't Go 45. I Must Go on 46. A Frosty Night 47. The Telephone Is Ringing 48. I Found My Peace of Mind 49. Fiddle Dee Dee 50. Is This the Price I Pay 51. Look Up and Live 52. Pee Wee's Boogie 53. 'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do 54. Time on My Hands 55. Hillbilly Blues