Chicago's Four Blazes (a/k/a the Four Blasers, a/k/a Tommy Braden & his Flames) were Floyd McDaniel, William "Shorty" Hill, Tommy Braden and Paul Lindsley "Jelly" Holt. This package, released in 1987 by Delmark, covers their recordings between 1952 and 1955 when they recorded for the United label. Hill apparently left the group early in 1954, and may have been replaced by pianist Norman Simmons. The bulk of their output, including several previously-unreleased tracks, is included. Their style is somewhere in the jazz / jive / blues / r&b arena, but putting any one "tag" on the group would be an error.
When Tommy Braden sings lead, he's almost a Wynonie Harris soundalike. He has all the "punch" of Harris, but not quite the "force," and provides lead vocals on most tracks. But all group members share the vocal chores in this collection, in addition to providing most of the musical accompaniment (McDaniel and Hill on guitars, Braden on bass, and Holt on drums). Woodwind chores (mainly tenor sax) were handled by either Eddie Chamblee or Red Holloway on the sides presented here, though Holloway is not credited in Peter Grendysa's liner notes.
The Four Blazes' story is told in some detail at the Red Saunders Research Foundation Website.
Recording dates are shown in the track list.
Track listing:
1. Mary Jo (United 114) 4 Jan 1952
2. Not Any More Tears (United 146) 3 Feb 1953
3. Raggedy Ride (unreleased) 17 Aug 1953
4. Mood Indigo (United 114) 4 Jan 1952
5. Perfect Woman (United 158) 3 Feb 1953
6. My Great Love Affair (United 168) 17 Aug 1953
7. Rug Cutter (United 125) 4 Jul 1952
8. Lovin' Man (unreleased) 17 Aug 1953
9. All Night Long (United 168) 17 Aug 1953
10. Never Start Living (unreleased) 17 Aug 1953
11. Snag The Britches (unreleased) 3 Feb 1953
12. Please Send Her Back To Me (United 127) 4 Jul 1952
13. Night Train (United 125) 4 Jul 1952
14. Ella Louise (United 158) 3 Feb 1953
15. Stop Boogie Woogie (United 127) 4 Jul 1952
16. My Hat's On The Side Of My Head (United 146) 3 Feb 1953
17. Perfect Woman (unreleased) 18 Aug 1952
18. Do The Do (unreleased) 13 Apr 1954
19. Drunken Blues (United 177) 13 Apr 1954 [as by Tommy Braden & his Flames]
20. She Needs To Be Loved (United 191) 13 Apr 1954 [as by the Blasers]
21. Women, Women (unreleased) 11 Jul 1955
22. Did You Ever See A Monkey Play A Fiddle (United 177) 13 Apr 1954 [as by Tommy Braden & his Flames]
23. Done Got Over (United 191) 11 Jul 1955 [as by the Blasers]
24. Don't Lose Your Cool (unreleased) 13 Apr 1954
