Full performer name: Blu Lu Barker/Wee Be Booze/Baby Dee.
Personnel includes: Blu Lu Barker, Wee Be Booze, Baby Dee (vocals); George Kelly (tenor saxophone); Larry Johnson (organ); Panama Francis (drums); Danny Barker's Sextette, The Bill Campbell Band.
This is part of Delmark's Apollo series.
Personnel: Wee Bea Booze (vocals, guitar); Blue Lu Barker (vocals); Baby Dee (vocals); Danny Barker (guitar); George Kelly, Jerry Jerome, Teddy McRae (tenor saxophone); Shad Collins (trumpet); Norman Lester, Bill Campbell (piano); Panama Francis (drums).
Liner Note Author: Tamarind Free Jones.
Recording information: 08/25/1946-11/??/1946.
Unknown Contributor Role: Danny Barker .
Subtitled "Apollo's Lady Blues Singers," this Delmark CD has nine numbers (three previously unissued) by Blue Lu Barker, five from Wea Bea Booze and four by Baby Dee. Barker was rather limited but ironically was easily the best-known singer of the three. She is assisted on some cuts (all outfitted by Danny Barker lyrics) by trumpeter Shad Collins and either Teddy McRae or Jerry Jerome on tenor and is at her best on the remake of her hit "Don't You Feel My Leg." Wea Bea Booze (joined by a quartet that includes tenorman George Kelly and organist Larry Johnson) and Baby Dee (backed by an unidentified but talented sextet) were actually stronger vocalists despite being long-forgotten, and are the main reasons to acquire this fine early R&B/jump music set. ~ Scott Yanow
Professional Reviews
JazzTimes (12/96, p.114) - "...New Orleans blues diva Blu Lu Barker demonstrates her coy vocal style, somewhere bewteen Mildred Bailey and Billie Holiday, on DON'T YOU FEEL MY LEG..."
