"Drunk!" 100 Smashed Hits - CD 1

Getting drunk on alcohol is an ancient tradition, but this boxed set focuses on songs from the thirties to the sixties with the subject of getting drunk or being drunk as a common theme......There is a variety of musical styles, but the dominant style is blues, particularly jump blues. Wynonie Harris is represented by five tracks - more than than anybody else. Jimmy Liggins is represented by three tracks while his brother Joe gets two. Many other excellent blues singers are also featured including Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson and Willie Dixon, to name a few. The mainstream is represented too, with Johnnie Ray, Nat King Cole, Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra all featured. Jerry Lee Lewis is here too, but singing a country song.
Country and bluegrass music are represented by just over 20 tracks between them, including George Jones, Bob Wills, the Stanley Brothers, Hank Thompson and Hank Williams. Jim Reeves is here too, but it's worth noting that his track (Drinking Tequila) was recorded very early in his career when he was really a hillbilly singer. It's brilliant, but very different from the smooth style he later became famous for. I also found that some of the country artists I'd never heard of, such as Smokey Rogers (formerly with Spade Cooley), Andy Reynolds and Bill Boyd, had some great songs.
We mustn't forget the women, whose small but select representation includes Little Esther (Phillips), Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Rose Maddox (with her brothers), Kitty Wells and a blues singer, Lucille Bogan, who I'd never heard of but who sounds great singing Sloppy drunk blues.
There are plenty of songs about alcohol of which this set only looks at a small sample. I wasn't sure when I bought it if the mix of artists would work, but this is a very fine compilation indeed. (The New York Times)

trax CD 1 - Drunk:
1. Drunk - Jimmy Liggins & His Drops Of Joy 2. Bubbles in My Beer - Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys 3. Rye Whiskey - Tex Ritter 4. When a Woman Loves Her Juice - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson 5. One MInt Julep - The Clovers 6. I Got Loaded - Peppermint Harris 7. Clink, Clink, Another Drink - Spike Jones 8. The Drunkard's Hell - The Stanley Brothers 9. LIquor Drinkin' Woman - Lightnin' Hopkins 10. Drunken Hearted Man - Robert Johnson 11. Barroom Blues - The Dixie Ramblers 12. Fly Baby Fly - Earl Bostic 13. Looped - Calvin Boze 14. Juice Head Man of Mine - Dinah Washington 15. Lush Head Woman - Jimmy Witherspoon 16. Whiskey and Gin - Johnny Ray 17. When I Get Drunk - Eddie "Cleanhad" Vinson 18. Cherry Wine - Little Esther Phillips 19. Sittin' Here and Drinkin' (Whiskey Blues) - Muddy Waters 20. Let's Get Drunk Again - Bo Carter 21. Malted Milk - Robert Johnson 22. If the Sea Was Whiskey - The Big Three Trio 23. Gin Headed Woman - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee 24. Drunk, Broke, and Hungry - Jimmy Witherspoon 25. Whiskey Do Your Stuff - Louis Jordan
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