Casey Bill Weldon – We Gonna Move (To The Outskirts Of The Town)

Casey Bill Weldon was one of the foremost lap steel guitar players of the Prewar blues years, as well as an excellent singer and tunesmith. He is not to be confused with Will Weldon (c. 1904–1934), a guitarist/singer who was a sometime member of the Memphis Jug Band and had a relationship (or may even have been married to) Memphis Minnie.

Practically all of the biographical data known about Casey Bill Weldon comes from a groundbreaking article by Jim O’Neal in Living Blues magazine no. 228 (Dec. 2013). In all probability, his real name was Nathan Hammond and he was born on Feb. 2, 1901, prob. in Chanute, Kansas, southwest of Kansas City. He adopted the name William Weldon at some point prior to his first appearances as a musician at various recording sessions in 1935, including accompaniments to Peetie Wheatstraw, Teddy Darby, Leroy Henderson and Memphis Minnie, as well his first recordings as Kansas City Bill Weldon or Casey Bill (some subtitled 'Hawaiian Guitar Wizard') for Vocalion and Bluebird. In the same year and in 1936, he was also featured with the Hokum Boys, the Washboard Rhythm Kings and Arnett Nelson & His Hot Four.

Track Listing:
1. Doctor’s Blues - 2:45   2. What’s The Matter With My Milk Cow - 2:59   3. My Stove Won’t Work - 2:52   4. Somebody Changed The Lock On My Door - 3:18   5. Howlin’ Dog Blues - 2:55   6. Somebody Changed The Lock On That Door - 3:19   7. Wpa Blues - 3:14   8. Flood Water Blues-No 2, 3, 10 (unissued) - 3:12   9. Let Me Be Your Butcher - 3:13   10. Blues Everywhere I Go - 3:18   11. Somebodys Got To Go - 3:24   12. Casey Blues - 3:18   13. I’se Just A Bad Luck Man - 3:19   14. Streamline Woman - 3:32   15. I Believe, I Will Make A Change - 3:00   16. The Big Boat - 3:10   17. Can’t You Remember - 3:11   18. We Gonna Move (To The Outskirts Of The Town) - 3:11   19. Oh Red - 2:59   20. Give Me Another Shot - 2:42   21. Sales Lady - 2:57   22. Red Hot Blues - 2:53   23. Christmas Time Blues - 2:40   24. Say Midnight Blues Last - 3:13

Reviews:

1. lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm - 2021.05.06 
El sello austriaco Wolf Records rescata y publica a menudo en su colección Wolf Blues Classics auténticas joyas que constituyen el eje vertebral del blues, además de un auténtico y rico tesoro para los auténticos aficionados a este género. Este es el caso de este álbum que recoge veintiún temas de Casey Bill Weldon, uno de los mejores guitarristas de lap steel del blues de preguerra, además de un excelente cantante. No hay que confundirlo con Will Weldon que durante un tiempo fue miembro de la Memphis Jug Band y al parecer estuvo casado con Memphis Minnie. Volviendo de nuevo a Casey Bill Weldon, lo poco se sabe de su vida proviene básicamente de un artículo escrito por Jim O’Neal y publicado en el nº 228 de la revista Living Blues. Probablemente su verdadero nombre era Nathan Hammond y se cree que había nacido el 2 de febrero del año 1901 en Chanute, Kansas. En los años treinta fue músico de acompañamiento de otros bluesmen y sus primeras grabaciones aparecieron en el mercado bajo el nombre de Kansas City Bill Weldon y Cassey Bill, calificado también como “the Hawaian guitar wizard”, publicadas para los sellos Vocalion y Bluebird. En 1936 fue también músico en formaciones como The Hokum Boys, The Washboard Rhythm Kings o Arnett Nelson & His Hot Four. Todo un acierto por parte de Wolf Records publicar estas veinticuatro canciones grabadas entre los años 1935 y 1938, canciones donde, en la mayoría de ellas, Weldon está acompañado por Big Bill Broonzy a la guitarra y Black Bob al piano, aunque también figuran otros músicos como Peetie Wheatstraw, Charlie McCoy, Arnett Nelson, Joshua Altheimer y Bill Settles. Conseguir este disco se convierte en un deber y una obligación para cualquier aficionado que se precie. IMPRESCINDIBLE. 

Austrian label Wolf Records often rescues and publishes real blues jewels on its Wolf Blues Classics Collection, which undoubtedly are the backbone of blues, as well as a genuine rich treasure for the most interested blues lovers. This is the case of this album that collects twenty-one songs coming from Casey Bill Weldon, one of the best lap steel guitar players of Pre-war blues period and an excellent singer too. He has not to be confused with Will Weldon who for a time was member of the Memphis Jug Band and apparently he married Memphis Minnie. Coming back to Casey Bill Weldon, the few things that are known about his life come basically from an article written by Jim O'Neal and published in number 228 of Living Blues Magazine. Probably his real name was Nathan Hammond and was born on February 2, 1901 in Chanute, Kansas. During the 30’s he worked as backing musician for other bluesmen and his first solo recordings were released with the names of Kansas City Bill Weldon or Cassey Bill, also with the surname of "Hawaian Guitar Wizzard", for Vocalion and Bluebird labels. In 1936 he was also working in groups like The Hokum Boys, The Washboard Rhythm Kings or Arnett Nelson & His Hot Four. Wolf Records has again hit the nail on the head with the release of these twenty-four songs recorded between 1935 and 1938. In most songs Weldon is backed by Big Bill Broonzy on guitar and Black Bob on piano, but you will also find other musicians like Peetiestra Wheatw, Charlie McCoy, Arnett Nelson, Joshua Altheimer and Bill Settles. To get this album becomes a must and a duty for any real blues lover. ESSENTIAL.