Josh at Midnight: Sings Ballads & Blues

Josh White (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B00006IT4W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,107 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. St. James Infirmary

2. Raise A Rukus

3. Scandalize My Name

4. Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dyin' Bed

5. Timber (Jerry The Mule)

6. Jelly, Jelly!

7. One Meat Ball

8. Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho

9. Don't Lie Buddy

10. Number Twelve Train

11. Peter

12. Takin' Names

13. Midnight Special

14. Miss Otis Regrets

15. Helleleu

16. Woman Sure Is A Curious Critter

17. Prison Bound Blues

18. Gloomy Sunday

19. Ball And Chain Blues

20. One For My Baby

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Full title - Josh At Midnight/Ballads & Blues. Josh White greatly impacted the American music scene by introducing African-American Folk, Blues and Spirituals to a wider audience. These two original rare albums, from the vaults of Elektra Records, feature 'St. James Infirmary', 'Gloomy Sunday' and his most famous song 'One Meat Ball'. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great replacement for my scratchy original!, September 18, 2004

By 

Robert English (Independence, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Josh at Midnight: Sings Ballads & Blues (Audio CD)

If you've never heard Josh White before, and your taste veers toward folk blues and maybe a hint of jazz, you're in for a treat in this collection.

Josh's style falls somewhere between Mississippi John Hurt and Nat King Cole, having elements and sensibilities of both, but he sings from the heart here and makes the music uniquely his own. This CD is a good example of his work - he had good energy here, and he's in great company - the musicians accompanying him feed the fire with good chemistry.

These were both recorded monaurally in New York (Bleecker Street, to be exact) for release on Elektra Records. "Midnight" was the second release ever for that fledgeling label. There is some distortion on the louder passages, and a minor amount of hiss, from the original tape - there's been no attempt to sonically restore these recordings. As a result you're getting all of the original sound - some attempts at audio de-hissing can do more harm than good, so these recordings are probably better off for not being tampered with.

This reissue was a double treat for me since the second LP featured ("Josh White Sings Ballads and Blues") is one I've never seen for sale anywhere. It has similar audio quality and spirit to the first, with the added presence of Sonny Greer (Duke Ellington's drummer).

Got my first copy of the LP "Josh at Midnight" in the mid 70s, at a thrift store for 25 cents - best two bits I ever spent. Most other albums would have been unlistenable in the shape that record was in, worn and scratched as it was, but I played it dozens of times listening past the noise. Thanks to this reissue, I don't have to listen past the noise anymore - I can just enjoy the music!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it as a kid!, March 12, 2003

By 

Stu Visi (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josh at Midnight: Sings Ballads & Blues (Audio CD)

...Josh White sings and plays folk guitar, accompanied by only an upright bass and a wonderful bass vocalist (who may also be the bass player, it's been years since I've seen the album). Josh's voice is very expressive and powerful, but also friendly and intimate. His music roots comes from the country and old south- and you won't hear more authentic folk music than this- but you'll also hear the late-night urban life in it as well.

The tunes run from the lamenting ("St. James Infirmiry") to the humorous and upbeat ("One Meat Ball" and "Raise a Rukus"). St. James Infirmiry may be one of the most-covered blues tunes in the world, but Josh White's version is about the best I've heard.

I don't know if I have the experience or authority to call this an archetypal or landmark album, but compared to any hokey camp-fire "folk" album, this has the redolent atmosphere of the real thing. It'll grab you.

By the way, the name of this album is "Josh at Midnight", not "Jose at Midnight...

--Stu

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Josh at Midnight - a great album, March 5, 2003

By 

Stu Visi (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josh at Midnight: Sings Ballads & Blues (Audio CD)

Back in the 60s, my parents had "Josh at Midnight" on vinyl when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite albums. I've been dying to get a copy of it since I first discovered that our copy was missing.

On this album Mr. White sings and plays guitar in a lovely and friendly way-- his voice is very expressive--, and is accompanied by accoustic bass and an incredible baritone harmonizer, who may be the bass player. I don't know, because I bought the CD with free delivery and I don't have it, yet. The songs range from the tragic (St. James Infimery) to the humorous and lively (One Meat Ball, and Raise a Rukus). Also, much of America's history is tied to the songs Josh White sang.

In any case, this is probably a landmark folk album and, by the product description, includes another album I've never heard!