Joe Turner - Smashing Thirds (2017) [Hi-Res]

Nicknamed "The Boss of the Blues", Joe Turner was a big man (6 feet 4, 300+ lbs), with a voice to match. He recorded a wealth of blues, ballads, boogie woogie, R&B and rock 'n' roll tunes for a multitude of labels. The most significant are those that he made for Atlantic in the 1950s. Turner was born in Kansas City in 1911 and lived there until 1938. His father, a cook, was killed by a train when Joe was four years old. He got to sixth grade in school, but earning money - any money - was a greater imperative. After leaving school he worked part-time as barman-waiter- singer in the Kansas City clubs. Around 1928 Turner teamed up with the famous boogie woogie pianist Pete Johnson, a partnership that would last 13 years. Soon the duo had built up a considerable local reputation, but a first attempt in 1936 to make it in New York City failed. Then, towards the end of 1938 came the invitation (from John Hammond) to participate in the "From Spirituals To Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall. This time New York City was ready for them. Turner and Johnson performed "Low Down Dog" and "It's All Right, Baby" (the initial title of "Roll 'em Pete") on the historic show, kicking off a boogie-woogie craze that landed them a long- running slot at the Cafe Society (until the summer of 1941), along with two other boogie woogie giants, Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis.

Joe Turner, piano, vocals
Hans Rettenbacher, bass
Stu Martin, drums

Recorded November 7th, 1969 at Sono-Press-Studio, Berlin
Engineered by H. Kujawa
Produced by Joachim E. Berendt

Digitally remastered