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This record is a special one. It came out of a collection from a neighbor, Charles, who used to be a bass player in local rhythm and blues bands around Ann Arbor and Ypsi back in the late 50s and early 60s. He had a great collection, and this is a record from it that I kept. To get this, I had to let Justin take an original, but rough, Freddie King Sings.

But more than that, it’s just one of those records that’s so different than anything else I have, it’s important for me to have it. I really don’t listen to it that often, because I have to be in the right mood for it. Maybe it’s the rainy, cold weather, but I settled down tonight on the listening chair in the basement and put it on.

Released by Prestige Bluesville, this was the second album Lonnie Johnson recorded after being rediscovered by a radio show host around 1960. Johnson had recorded prolifically from 1925 and 1954 and was known as one of the greatest blues singers ever, as well as one of the finest guitarists, never wasting a note.

Chris Albertson was interviewing pre-war blues recording artist Elmer Snowden on his radio show when he played an old Lonnie Johnson side and wondered aloud whatever happened to him. Elden replied that he had just seen him at the grocery store, and a caller followed that by saying he worked at a hotel where Lonnie was a janitor. Albertson tracked him down and recorded his first album on Prestige Bluesville, titled “Blues by Lonnie Johnson.” Johnson received a little bit of attention after this, and his career was revived.

Albertson arranged for Johnson and Snowden to get together for this album, titled, “Blues and Ballads”. From the back cover, written by Albertson:

“It was a rainy spring day when we drove from Philadelphia to Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. A gloomy day, weather wise, but a happy one for Elmer Snowden and Lonnie Johnson. Lonnie was about to record his second LP in five years and Elmer his first commercial recording since December 14, 1934 when he cut six sides with Sepia Serenaders for the Bluebird label. The record herein is ample proof that this was an extremely relaxed session. Elmer and Lonnie were in good form and there were very few re-takes. The repertoire had not been planned ahead, both had been told to play whatever came to their mind and it is not often that a record company allows it’s artists such freedom but this system inevitably produces the best results.”

The song, Haunted House, is the best example of Johnson’s ballad-style take on the blues. It gives you chills, which is what Robert Johnson said all the blues is, a low down aching case of them. According to the liner notes, it literally drove Lonnie to tears as he sang it in the studio.