"Andrew Galloway of Electro-Fi Records and I are very proud that Midnite Blues Party - volume one was chosen in the Annual Real Blues Awards as the Top Blues CD of 2002 in the Vintage Recording category".  Eddy B

While many have encouraged him (myself included) to release some of his great compilations (or some of his incredible ‘live at The El Mocambo recordings from 25 years of stunning shows at that legendary venue), Eddy has held off until now. Electro-Fi’s Andrew Galloway has managed to impress Eddy enough with his label’s continuous output of “alley music”, that Galloway was able to do what no man has been able to do. Galloway himself knows that getting a commitment from Eddy for this and future releases is a super-coup for a Blues label, and it could easily move Electro-Fi up the recognition ladder by several rungs with each CD. On to the music…while hard-core Blues collectors all regard the two-volume “Blues Records 1943-1970” by Leadbitter and Slaven as the best (only?) guide to Blues records, there have been quite a few omissions of rare and obscure 45s and 78s. That is understandable considering that many were pressed in numbers so small that copies never left the local area of influence where the artist played. Think of it this way, when you have 200 copies made of a record in 1962, 100 are given to various deejays/radio stations, 80 are sold off the bandstand (or in a local record shop) and 20 are kept by band members (or their family/friends). So, how many playable copies of the 200 make it into the hands of collectors, 30 or 40 years down the road? 5 or 10 at best, and collectors like Eddy B and John Tefteller will tell you of you want to find rare records you have to go to the source. How many collectors are willing to go to the ghetto area of Gary, Indiana or Kansa City, Missouri? And so, we have a need for compilations such as this; the end result of many record-hunting safaris. And when you hear the magic music held in these grooves you’ll understand that “rare” is a two-fold definition.  Hard to find, yes, but rare in quality of performance, too. Eddy and Andrew have chosen 27 tracks that are for the most part stunning and there are several alone worth the price of the CD. Track #1, is by the mysterious Blue Bull (a.k.a.?) and it states in the promo that “I’m A Loser" is from New York City circa 1968 and produced by Willie Mitchell (?). Well, that’s what it says…it sounds more like 1958 Louisiana/East Texas, while track #2 is by New Jersey’s Nite Riders who released many great early 1960’s 45s such as “I’ve Been Thinkin’ Pt. 1”. Of course the Nite Riders were frequent visitors to Montreal and Toronto in the 1960s where some band members elected to settle. Birmingham Jr.’s rear Ebony release (Chicago 1956) “You’re To Bad” is a rather well known rarity because of its definitive classic Chicago Blues sound. (Charlie Musselwhite told me Birmingham Jones got a long prison sentence for murder in the 1980s). We get great Blues from Bobby Long, Randy Hobbs, Little Grier, Bob Reed, Junior Gordon, Al Garrier, Don Hollinger and then we run into one of those mojo, juice-drippin’ tunes that causes heebie-jeebies in those severely addicted to boogie music, I’m talkin’ about Sonny Harper’s low-down Sonny Boy-styled “Lonely Stranger”, complete with tinklin’ ivories and reed-poppin’ harp. That it was recorded in L.A. in the 1960s is a mind-blower, as most listeners would’ve guessed Memphis 1950. Little Daddy Walton & Sons “Spend My Money” is a Detroit classic although the liner notes’ date of late 1950s is a typo, as it came out in 1969. Walton was one of the best Motown Bluesmen with nice Jimmy Reed sound and 4 of his sons were fine Blues musicians themselves. Some investigating is in order as I’m sure some of the Waltons must still be in Detroit.

Jim Sweeney’s “The Buzzard and the Owl” is a riotous doo-wop/gospel/blues-a-billy stomper that’ll have you dancin’ all over your living room and playing it 4 or 5 times in succession. It’s a hoot! (I couldn’t resist the pun). If there’s ever been a better good time rockin’ Blues I’ve yet to hear (“Messin’ With Mabel” by Prez Kenneth is on par. How about Vol. 2, Eddy?) Baby Huey’s Chicago classic “Messin’ With The Kid” comes close to Mojo Buford’s 1960’s version. More great tunes follow by Jay Lewis, Luther Thomas, Rollie McGill, Dorothy Berry, Percy Welsh, Buddy Lamp, Thomas East, Jesse Gee and Good Time Charlie’s “Whoop It On Me” is a pre-funk masterpiece complete with Ohio Players-style horn section. Willie Jones, Little Joe Hinton and Roy Lee Johnson close off this CD. Hinton’s “Let’s Start A Romance” will make Blues, Soul and R&B lover have palpitations.  It’s a killer-diller with Joe’s vocals confirming he's on par with O.V. Wright, Otis Redding and Little Johnny Taylor.