The legendary Otis Spann gained renown as Muddy Waters' pianist throughout the latter musician's classic period of electric Chicago blues. Spann was also influential as a member of the Chess label's house-band, which backed a roster of blues giants and big selling artists. However, Spann's importance extended beyond his work as a sideman. He showed off his brilliance as a blues vocalist on a series of splendid recordings in a well-lived (though not extensive) solo career.
This 2-CD set presents Otis' prolific session in New York City, on August 23rd, 1960. The date was produced by Nat Hentoff, and featured guitar master Robert Lockwood, Jr., with some vocal help from “St. Louis Jimmy” Oden. All of these fabulous numbers have been remastered in this special collector's edition which also includes 4 bonus tracks. They consist of songs Spann taped as a soloist in the mid-1950s. This is a truly indispensable set for any blues fan.

PERSONNEL:

OTIS SPANN, vocals and piano, plus:

ROBERT LOCKWOOD Jr., guitar and vocals
“St. LOUIS JIMMY” ODEN, vocals

Recorded at Fine Studios, New York City, August 23, 1960.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

CD 1 TOTAL TIME: 73:05

01. THE HARD WAY 
02. TAKE A LITTLE WALK WITH ME 
03. OTIS IN THE DARK 
04. LITTLE BOY BLUE 
05. COUNTRY BOY 
06. BEAT-UP TEAM 
07. MY DAILY WISH 
08. GREAT NORTHERN STOMP 
09. I GOT RAMBLING ON MY MIND #2 
10. WORRIED LIFE BLUES 
11. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DEVIL 
12. OTIS BLUES 
13. GOING DOWN SLOW 
14. HALF AIN'T BEEN TOLD 
15. MONKEY FACE WOMAN 
16. THIS IS THE BLUES 
17. EVIL WAYS 

CD 2 TOTAL TIME: 60:41

01. COME DAY, GO DAY 
02. WALKING THE BLUES 
03. BAD CONDITION 
04. MY HOME IS IN THE DELTA 
05. INSTRUMENTAL BOOGIE (aka SPANN AND BOB) 
06. COW COW BLUES 
07. TALKIN' THE BLUES 
08. BABY CHILD 
09. ONE DOGGONE REASON 
10. STRANGE WOMAN BLUES 
11. IT HURTS ME TOO 
12. THE GIRL I LOVE

BONUS TRACKS (1954-1956)
13. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DEVIL (original version) 
14. FIVE SPOT 
15. I'M LEAVING YOU 
16. I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU BABY