In Session (CD)

New York-based session guitarist “Wild” Jimmy Spruill was a consistently busy session player during the late 50s and early 60s. Although largely unlauded during his own lifetime, he has posthumously become a semi-legendary, near-mythical figure. This compilation is an attempt to present a vaguely coherent portrait of his early career, juxtaposing No.1s and big sellers alongside collectors’ items. They all perfectly showcase Spruill’s percussive, rhythmic, scratchy playing style. Featured artists include big names like Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez, Wilbert Harrison, The Commandos (i.e. King Curtis and his band, incognito), The Shirelles, Buster Brown, Elmore James, Bobby Lewis, Lee Dorsey, Solomon Burke, etc. Less well known, perhaps, but no less worthy are names like Noble ‘Thin Man’ Watts, Tarheel Slim, Bobby Marchan, etc. Also included are a trio of Spruill’s own, hugely-collectable solo singles.