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Released 1993

Chains of Love is a reissue of recordings Joe Williams made with a variety of groups from 1962 through 1996. Originally issued on the Jass - Stash labels, most were done under the direction of orchestras put together by Dale Sherman and Ray Bloch. There's also a couple of cuts with the obscure Joel Herron Quartet and 3 by the Joe Williams Trio with the excellent Harold Mabern at the piano. The liner notes indicate that these have never been reissued. Not so, according to the comprehensive Joe Williams discography compiled by Yoshikazu Takahashi. Other than for the Williams Trio, there's no details provided on the personnel in the other groups. But it's clear they are top flight players. Since Williams was recording for RCA Victor during this period with the top New York musicians such as Urbie Green, Ernie Royal, Jerome Richardson and others, it would not be unreasonable to speculate that the Sherman and Bloch groups included some of these performers. This is a valuable reissue. Williams is in excellent form and the arrangements are top drawer. There's a few ballads and a blues number or two. But most of the cuts have Joe Williams in his incomparable swinging mode. The transfer to the Natasha disc were made by one of the best in the business, John. R.T. Davies. Thus, the sonics are very good. Then there's William "Kid" Redbank who's in charge of the reissue. Since this is not likely Basie, there's a good chance it is Williams himself. This compilation is vintage Joe Williams. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

TRACKS

1. Jump for Joy
2. Ask Anybody
3. You Stepped Out of a Dream
4. Feelin' Good
5. September in the Rain
6. What a Diff'rence a Day Made
7. Ballad Medley: Can't We Talk It Over?/It's the Talk of the ...
8. Early in the Morning
9. Blue Skies
10. Chains of Love
11. Falling in Love With Love
12. A Good Thing
13. If I Were a Bell
14. When She Makes Music
15. The Perfect Stranger
16. The Bible Tell Me So
17. Always
18. It's a Wonderful World

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