Otis Spann

Artist:  Otis Spann
Born:  March 21, 1930.  Jackson, Mississippi, USA
Died:  April 24, 1970 (Aged 40).  Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genre:  Blues, Chicago Blues, Piano Blues, Acoustic Blues, Blues Revival 
Occupation:  Musician
Instruments:  Vocals, Piano

Otis Spann was as American Blues Musician and Blues Pianist, was born in Jackson Mississippi in 1930.  He considered as the leading of Chicago Blues Pianist.  He began playing the piano at the age of seven and by the age of 14, he was playing in bands in the Jackson area.  He moved to Chicago in 1946 and he replaced Merriweather as Muddy Water's Piano Player  in late 1952.  He continued to record as a solo artist and session player with other musicians, including Bo Diddley and Howlin' Wolf.  He stayed with Waters until 1968.  He also played and recording with B.B.King, Jody Williams, Chuck Berry, James Cotton, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, Peter Green, and Fleetwood Mac in the late 1960s.  He died of liver cancer in Chicago in 1970.

Title:  The Hard Way (Plus 4 Bonus Tracks)  (2017)
Genre:  Blues, Chicago Blues, Piano Blues, Acoustic Blues, Blues Revival 
Label:  Soul Jam
Rating:  *****

Tracks:

Disc 1:

 1.  The Hard Way  (5:04)
 2.  Take A Little Walk With Me  (3:28)
 3.  Otis In The Dark  (4:36)
 4.  Little Boy Blue  (3:42)
 5.  Country Boy  (4:27)
 6.  Beat-Up Team  (6:00)
 7.  My Daily Wish  (4:29)
 8.  Great Northern Stomp  (4:17)
 9.  I Got Rambling On My Mind (No. 2)  (4:05)
10. Worried Life Blues  (4:20)
11. It Must Have Been The Devil  (3:44)
12. Otis Blues  (4:16)
13. Going Down Slow  (3:58)
14. Half Ain't Been Told  (4:42)
15. Monkey Face Woman  (4:56)
16. This Is The Blues  (3:10)
17. Evil Ways  (3:51)

Disc 2:

 1.  Come Day, Go Day   (4:11)
 2.  Walking The Blues  (4:56)
 3.  Bad Condition  (4:21)
 4.  My Home Is In The Delta  (3:13)
 5.  Instrumental Boogie (Aka Spann And Bob)  (3:21)
 6.  Cow Cow Blues  (4:16)
 7.  Talkin' The Blues  (5:44)
 8.  Baby Child  (4:28)
 9.  One Doggone Reason  (2:43)
10. Strange Woman Blues  (3:54)
11. It Hurts Me Too  (4:57)
12. The Girl I Love  (3:48)

Bonus Tracks:

13. It Must Have Been The Devil (Original Version)  (2:44)
14. Five Spot  (2:46)
15. I'm Leaving You  (2:43)
16. I'm In Love With You Baby  (2:36)

Personnel:

Recorded At Fine Studios, New York City, August 23, 1960:

Otis Spann:  Piano on All Tracks, Lead Vocals on Disc 1, Tracks:  1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, Disc 2, Tracks:  2, 4, 7, 8, 11
Robert Lockwood, Jr.:  Guitar on Disc 1, Tracks:  1, 2, 4-7, 9-11, 13-16, 17, Disc 2, Tracks:  1, 3-5, 7-12, Vocals on Disc 1, Tracks:  2, 4, 7, 9, Disc 2, Tracks:  2, 7, 8, 11
"St. Louis Jimmy" Oden:  Lead Vocals on Disc 1, Tracks: 13, 15, Disc 2, Tracks:  1, 3, 9, 10, 12

Bonus Tracks:  

Disc 2, Tracks:  13-14, Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, October 25, 1954:

Otis Spann:  Piano, Vocals on Track 13
B.B. King:  Guitar
Robert Lockwood, Jr.:  Guitar
Muddy Waters:  Guitar
Willie Dixon:  Bass
Fred Below:  Drums
George Smith:  Harmonica

Disc 2, Tracks:  15-16, Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, July 1956

Otis Spann:  Piano, Vocals
Robert Lockwood, Jr.:  Guitar
Willie Dixon:  Bass
Fred Below:  Drums
Walter Horton:  Harmonica

The Hard Way is the collection album by Otis Spann, was released on June 9, 2017 by Soul Jam, featuring B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood, Jr, Willie Dixon and more!, contains 16-page, including rare photos, vintage memorabilia, detailed liner notes and more.