Henry Townsend Mule

Henry Townsend
Mule
Omnivore

Henry Townsend was the only blues artist to record in every decade from the 1920s to the first decade of the 21st Century. It was a career that had him record for Paramount and other labels before the depression, later participate in sessions with legends like John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson, and Walter Davis, and then record for Folkways and Prestige before Adelphi issued an album in 1975. "Mule" was issued originally by Nighthawk Records in 1980 and warmly received by blues aficionados. Leroy Pierson, one of the co-producers of the original recordings and this reissue stated that the intention was to create an album worthy of his unique genius and secure him the recognition someone of his talent and historical purpose deserves. Omnivore has reissued this on CD augmenting the 13 recordings on the original recording. It also represented the transition of Townsend from being a blues guitarist and singer to becoming primarily a blues pianist.

I have the original vinyl LP, but it has been some time since I listened to it. Listening to this music again is a joy. Townsend's sober, thoughtful blues evokes his old partner, Walter Davis, more than anyone else even when his piano displays some of Roosevelt Sykes' influence. The opening "Bad Luck Dice" echoes some train blues as well as St. Louis Jimmy's "Goin' Down Slow," with his bittersweet singing and piano accompaniment. "Nothing But Trouble" is a slow minor-key blues where he lightly moans about his woman being somewhere else in another man's arm. Henry wrote "Tears Come Rollin’ Down" for Walter Davis. He remakes it here with a wonderful vocal from his wife, Vernell. Then there is the melancholic "Hard Road to Travel," also performed in his restrained style.

Yank Rachell, who adds mandolin to several tracks, plays supporting, rhythmic guitar behind Henry's pinched note playing on the peppy "Talkin’ Guitar Blues." Henry proclaims he is "I’m Just An Ordinary Man" waking up every morning with the same thing on his mine with the moody tone accentuated by his rumbling bass and single note arpeggios. After the piano solo "Alley Strut," Henry and Vernell share the vocal on "Can't You See," an appealing update of Jesse Thomas' "Another Friend Like Me," with Henry on guitar. Yank Rachell adds his mandolin behind Henry's guitar on the Walter Davis-styled "Dark Clouds Rising."

Among the previously unissued tracks are "The Other Night," with an energetic boogie-inflected piano, and the somber "Going Back To My Baby," with Norman Merritt adding guitar in a Townsend-influenced manner behind Townsend's piano and vocal. Henry is on guitar on "Goin’ Back Down South," which sounds lyrically to be an adaptation of  a John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson recording. Yank Rachell is heard on second guitar. Townsend's music may not have the immediate appeal of a Big Joe Williams, Roosevelt Sykes or Lonnie Johnson, but his direct, sober performances and craftsmanship as a songwriter make for some superb blues listening, with the bonus of the additional songs.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the November-December 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 381), although I have made minor changes. Here is Henry Townsend recorded in 2011.