Rockin' the Juke Joint Down

Jelly Roll Kings | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 2, 1994)
• Original Release Date: February 2, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Earwig
• ASIN: B000004BU4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,121 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Didn't Know

2. Road Of Love

3. Soul Love

4. Mighty Long Time

5. Honeydrippin' Boogie

6. Something On Your Mind

7. Jelly Roll King

8. Catfish Blues

9. Cleo's Back

10. Slop Jar Blues

11. Jelly Roll Stroll

12. Have Mercy Baby

13. Sunshine Twist (You Are My Sunshine)

14. Just A Dream (Just A Feeling)

15. Burnt Biscuits

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOODTIME JUKE HOUSE STYLE BLUES, February 19, 2010

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Rockin' the Juke Joint Down (Audio CD)

One disc-57 minutes approximately. The sound is agreeably rough,yet is fairly clean sounding,with all instruments clearly discernible,even though the instruments bleed a bit (for this music a good thing) into each other. The booklet is informative,with a short history of the JELLY ROLL KINGS (whose name is from a Frost single from 1962),from their start to the (then-1979)) present time.

The JELLY ROLL KINGS (Frank Frost-harmonica and keyboards and vocals,Sam Carr-drums,and Jack Johnson-guitar and vocals),have been playing together for many years. This group started out many (40 or so) years ago,under Frank Frost's name,and recorded tracks for Sun Records and the Jewel label (still available),which are of equal interest.

This set has Frost singing on five tracks and Johnson singing on three,while "Slop Jar Blues" is a rough duet. Frost is heard playing harmonica on only six tracks and then falls back on organ or piano for the remainder. Johnson's guitar is used often as a rhythm instrument,rarely taking a lead for any extended time. Carr's drumming,as always,is simple and straight forward,which is a good thing,as he keeps the band in check. On any release by the JELLY ROLL KINGS there are several instrumentals,and this release (with six) is no exception. The tracks are a mixture of originals and better known tracks by Howlin' Wolf,Billy Ward,Walter Jacobs,Sonny Boy Williamson,etc.

This is music that used to be be heard in any juke house,outdoor party,or any small club in the Mississippi region a number of years ago. It's good time,drinkin',dancin',party music. No matter what the tempo,the good time feel is never far away. It's very rough,ramshackle sound is fully half the draw,especially with musicians who've played this music for many decades. The band's penchant for simple (not simple minded) arrangements gives this music an authenticity-something you might hear if you stumbled across a roadhouse somewhere in the deep south.

This is the first of several releases by the JELLY ROLL KINGS. Some have Jack Johnson on guitar,some have Fred James as his replacement. All are in the same vein,so if you like this set,you'll like the others. There are several releases under Frank Frost's name that are of equal worth-"Big Boss Man",from 1962 with the same personnel as this set,"Harpin' On It,The Complete Jewel Recordings",from 1966 with the same sound but Sam Carr is the only musician from the JELLY ROLL KINGS,and "Live In Lucerne",from 1998 with Fred James on guitar replacing Johnson. There are others,but the above releases are the only ones known to me that I can recommend.

If good time,rough,slightly ramshackle blues are your cup of tea-check this group out. If you're new to this juke house style of music-you may be missing something. I remember buying this originally on vinyl when it was first released,and was struck by the simple,and at times,ramshackle approach the band had to music making. Their brand of music is curiously affecting and habit forming when you're looking for unpretentious,good time music. For whatever reason,this set has worked it's way into my psyche and never left. It just might do the same for you.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD, August 25, 2009

By 

Bertrando Goio (Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rockin' the Juke Joint Down (Audio CD)

Well, Frank Frost is one of my favourite... He's often overlooked in Italy because people look for gun-machine-like harmonica blowers or overbending magicians. I don't... I love the blues when it is B.L.U.E.S.! And Frank Frost is in many ways the ebodyment of the deepest blues spirit. He's one of the wildest and rawest harp blowers, even if not "the" greatest. The blues is nothing but what it needs, and Frank Frost plays what... it's needed! ;-)
I like this album, even if The Jelly Roll Kings (or Nighthawks in the 60s) made better: I'm talking about the first recordings in the 60s and some late in the 90s like DEEP BLUES or THE LAST OF THE JELLY ROLL KINGS. I prefer Frank Frost when he plays harmonica instead of piano or organ. I like songs more than instrumental numbers. But I'm not gonna say ROCKIN' THE JUKE JOINT DOWN is not a great album! It's wild, the real deal and I would like to listen to blues like this in my country, but few people seem to know what the blues means. Frank Frost's recordnings should be a pattern to follow for all those who want to learn the real blues, just to understand what the blues is. Frank Frost is one of the last Delta masters and his music is the modern version of what Charlie Patton, Son House, Willie Brown Robert Johnson and did... Pure distilled Delta! Frank, we love you! Farewell!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRUE CLASSIC, October 19, 2007

By 

Scrapironjazzerino "'a fan"" (New Joisy) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Rockin' the Juke Joint Down (Audio CD)

How there is only one review posted for what is one of the seminal blues recordings of all time is baffling. Fine, fine, sincere gut-wrenching, evocative, raw, rollicking heartfelt music of the highest order. If you like Kimbrough, Burnside, etc., do not hesitate to buy this and "Off Yonder Wall." You won't be disappointed. If you don't end up dancing around the room, you'll be dancing blissfully in your mind. These marvelous guys are the essence of "jook joint," quintessential, naked blues art. Oh yeah, and they grabbed the best NAME first. What could be a better name than Jelly Roll Kings?????????? CHECK 'EM OUT.