Skip to main content

Shake Your Boogie

Big Joe Williams
Shake Your Boogie

One of the fiercest of the Mississippi blues singers, Big Joe Williams recorded this emotionally charged album for Arhoolie records in 1960. Williams accompanies his vocal lines on a 9-string guitar, using it to add percussive elements and a slapping bass effect. Singing autobiographical, traditional, and improvised blues tunes, Williams gives a forceful delivery steeped in the sound of the hot, humid delta country and of his life’s hardships. Many of the songs are infused with the emotional stress of a recent arrest, which he describes in “Greystone Blues.” Liner notes give a bio of the artist and detail the recording session.

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Sloppy Drunk Blues Big Joe Williams 02:48
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Yo Yo Blues Big Joe Williams 03:10
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
President Roosevelt Big Joe Williams 03:53
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Forty Four Blues Big Joe Williams 03:10
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Greystone Blues Big Joe Williams 02:34
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
I Want My Crown Big Joe Williams 02:25
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Mean Step Father Big Joe Williams 02:46
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Brother James Big Joe Williams 03:38
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Shake Your Boogie Big Joe Williams 02:21
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Vitamin A Blues Big Joe Williams 03:03
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
111
She Left Me a Mule to Ride Big Joe Williams 02:35
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
112
So Glad Big Joe Williams 04:17
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
113
Louisiana Bound Big Joe Williams 02:44
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
114
Killing Floor Blues Big Joe Williams 03:04
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
115
Throw the Boogie Woogie Big Joe Williams 02:02
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
116
Dirt Road Blues Big Joe Williams 02:18
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
117
Montreal Blues Big Joe Williams 02:38
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
118
Take Me Out of the Bottom Big Joe Williams 02:28
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
119
Thinking of What They Did to Me Big Joe Williams 02:47
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
120
The Death of Dr. Martin Luther King Big Joe Williams 02:51
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
121
Army Man in Vietnam Big Joe Williams 02:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
122
Creole Queen Big Joe Williams 02:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
123
Remember Way Back Big Joe Williams 02:32
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
124
King Jesus Big Joe Williams 01:43