Sticks McGhee - Blues & Rhythm Series 5168: The Chronological Sticks McGhee 1951-1959 (2006)

The younger brother of folk blues musician Brownie McGhee, Stick McGhee specialized in ragged jump blues numbers, most of them dealing with drinking and alcohol-fueled romances (he authored the classic "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," after all) and all delivered with a joyful abandon. McGhee worked with a limited stylistic pallet, it's true, but what he did he did well, and the best of his numbers temper the booze parade with some genuine consequential remorse at the destruction wrought by excess. This set, the second of Classics' survey of his complete recorded work, picks up in the later stages of McGhee's time at Atlantic Records and proceeds through his stints with the Essex, King, Savoy, and Herald record labels. "Whiskey Women and Loaded Dice" and "Jungle Juice" are typical of McGhee's style and approach. ~Steve Leggett