Dedicated to Hepcat Daddy-O who is keeping this music alive over on http://www.anyswing.com/

Texas alto sax man and blues shouter Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson first came to national prominence when he signed for Cootie Williams' band in 1941, having served an apprenticeship in the territory bands of Chester Boone and Milt Larkins.

His powerful sax playing, his distinctive wheezy style of blues shouting, plus his equally distinctive appearance (he lost his hair following an over-application of lye hair straightener, and kept the bald headed look for the rest of his life) meant that he was something of a star front man. Eddie branched out with his own big band on Mercury Records. However, it wasn’t until he had slimmed down his fourteen piece band to a seven piece jump blues line up in 1947 that he enjoyed hits on the national R&B chart – “Kidney Stew Blues” and “Old Maid Boogie”.

After his stint at Mercury, he joined King Records where he enjoyed further chart action with “Somebody Stole My Cherry Red” and recorded a dynamite series of jump and bop-influenced sides. As this style of R&B lost its popularity as the 1950s wore on, Eddie returned to jazz which allowed him to continue a musical career while many of his R&B contemporaries faded from the scene. He was still active when the sax driven R&B style came back into vogue, giving his career a further boost. He continued as an active performer and recording artist right up until his death in July 1988.

This fine compilation of mainly big band blues features seven of Eddie’s sides with Cootie Williams and fifteen of his own Mercury sides. Full discographical details plus the CD information booklet have been included in the download.

Ripped at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here (in two parts):

http://rapidshare.com/files/65757501/Primary_Cuts_-_Volume_1.part1.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/65759308/Primary_Cuts_-_Volume_1.part2.rar

1. When My Baby Left Me
2. Cherry Red
3. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
4. Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?
5. Somebody's Gotta Go
6. Juice Head Baby
7. When My Baby Left Me
8. Mr. Cleanhead Steps Out
9. It's a Groovy Affair
10. I've Been So Good
11. Juice Head Baby
12. Cherry Red
13. Somebody's Gotta Go
14. Too Many Woman Blues
15. Just a Dream (On My Mind)
16. Like to Be Home Blues
17. Cleanhead Blues
18. When a Woman Loves Her Juice
19. Kidney Stew Blues
20. King for a Day Blues
21. Old Maid Boogie
22. Lazy Gal

Note: tracks 1-7 were recorded with Cootie Williams & His Orchestra