Otis Spann with Sammy Lawhorn, and Victoria Spivey‎ - "Up In The Queens Pad!"

 

'Up in the Queen's Pad!' subtitled, 'A Musical Parlor Social Deluxe!!' was recorded on April 9 and 10, 1969, but not released until 1980, on the Spivey Records label.  Spivey Records was created in the mid-1950s by Victoria Spivey and her agent and manager, and later husband, Len Kunstadt.

Victoria Spivey was known to fellow blues musicians and fans as, "Queen Victoria", so the "Queen's Pad" refers to her apartment on Albany Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

This recording has Otis Spann on piano, vocals, and according to the liner notes, "percussive foot stomping", Sammy Lawhorn on guitar, and Victoria Spivey on vocals and according to the liner notes "incidental chatter, including emotional outbursts".  Also on the recording are Len Kunstadt playing kazoo credited as "Guess Who" (Len's nickname was "Kazoo Papa", so it was sort of a hip "in joke"), and you'll also hear "Tweet" and "Chirp", who were Victoria's Parakeets.

Tracklist

Side A
1. "I Just Want A Little Bit" — Otis Spann and Sammy Lawhorn.
This is a wonderful version of the countlessly covered Rosco Gordon classic, with some very cool interplay between piano and guitar.

2. "I'm Accused" — Otis Spann, Sammy Lawhorn and Victoria Spivey.
Otis' timing on this is unreal.  Once again, Otis and Sammy's interplay is very cool. Victoria takes a verse towards the end.

3. "Vicksburg Blues" — Otis Spann and Victoria Spivey
This is basically solo Otis with "incidental chatter, including emotional outbursts" courtesy of Victoria.  This is Otis at his most sublime.

Side B
1. "Five Long Years" — Otis Spann and Sammy Lawhorn
This is a really nice version of the Eddie Boyd classic, in 12/8 time.

2. Black Gal — Victoria Spivey and Sammy Lawhorn.
This is a reworking of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Black Gal Blues" from 1938. Victoria and Sammy really do this song justice.  Otis Spann was taking a "nap" during this recording.

3. Let's Look After Each Other — Otis Spann, Victoria Spivey and Len Kunstadt.
This is a very cool blues stomp, with Otis' piano, Victoria's vocals, and Len's kazoo, with backing vocals from Parakeets, "Tweet" and "Chirp".  Apparently, Sammy Lawhorn was passed out taking a nap on Victoria's couch.  Yes, alcohol and "Reefer" were involved in these sessions.  [shocking, I know… — Ed]

4. "Help Me Somebody" — Otis Spann, Sammy Lawhorn and Victoria Spivey.
All involved are having fun while they "nail" this tune.

As you may have surmised by the cover, with its typewritten notations glued onto a sheet of paper and photocopied, along with photos and various clippings and decorations, Spivey Records were decidedly low budget affairs.  The audio, all things considered, is OK.  But, to me, it all adds up to a record with a certain "je ne sais quoi" charm to it.

This record is a lot of fun, and you can hear how much fun everyone involved was having.

The freeload is a vinyl rip, of the hard to find original release.

For the freeload, tell us what are some of your favorite comedy albums?