Stormy Monday, also known as I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water, is the debut album of R&B singer Lou Rawls, released in 1962 on Capitol Records. Recorded in two sessions in February 1962, the album features a number of blues and jazz standards chosen by Rawls and backed by the Les McCann Trio.[ Stormy Monday > Overview ] Stormy Monday was reissued in 1990 by Blue Note records.

History Excerpt from the album liner notes:

In 1962, when this album was made and when he turned 26, Lou Rawls' rich baritone was unknown, except to a few gospel music fans and Hollywood hipsters who caught his act at local night clubs like P.J.'s, The Troubador, Shelly Manne's Manne-Hole or Brother's on Santa Monica and Vine. A year earlier, Capitol A&R man Nick Venet had heard Rawls at Pandora's Box Coffee Shop, where Rawls was playing there for $10 a night plus pizza in late 1959, and signed him to the label.Lou Rawls' Official Website includes his biography, discography, itinerary, photo album, contacts, acting credits, Seasons 4 U sales and much more. One stillborn single emerged before Lou had the brainstorm to do an album of blues and jazz standards, backed by then up-and-comer Les McCann and his trio, who were performing nearby at The Bit on Sunset Boulevard. Before his Grammy-winning album Love Is a Hurtin' Thing, Stormy Monday was the first of more than 20 other albums Rawls would record on that label in only a decade.Lou Rawls at All About Jazz

Track listing

Side One "(They Call It) Stormy Monday" (T-Bone Walker) – 3:45 "God Bless the Child" (Arthur Herzog, Billie Holiday) – 4:30 "See See Rider" (Ma Rainey) – 3:11 "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronell) – 5:57 "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" (Andy Razaf, "Casey Bill" Weldon) – 4:00

Side Two "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)" (Leroy Carr, Don Raye) – 3:28 "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do" (Percy Grainger, Robert Prince, Clarence Williams) – 2:45 "Lost and Lookin'" (James Alexander, Lowell Jordan) – 3:12 "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water" (Eddie Miller) – 3:55 "Sweet Lover" (John Leslie McFarland, Sid Wyche) – 3:08

Reissue Tracks "Blues Is a Woman" (Rawls) - 2:58 "A Little Les of Lou's Blues" (Rawls) - 2:23 "(They Call It) Stormy Monday (Alternate Take)" (Walker) - 2:58

Personnel

Musicians Lou Rawls - vocals Les McCann Trio Les McCann - piano Leroy Vinnegar - bass Ron Jefferson - drums

Additional personnel Nick Venet - producer Malcolm Addley - remixing Billy Vera - liner notes

Notes

References