Bricks In My Pillow - Robert Nighthawk (1LP Vinyl)

Bricks In My Pillow by Robert Nighthawk.

Robert Nighthawk's slide guitar has long stood as one of the most haunting and fluid voices in the blues, and "Bricks In My Pillow" gathers the essential Chicago sessions that cemented that reputation. Issued on Delmark Records out of 4121 N. Rockwell in Chicago, this collection draws together two distinct dates from the early 1950s, each capturing Nighthawk at the height of his expressive powers on both vocals and guitar.

The music here comes from two sessions separated by a little over a year. The first, cut on July 12, 1951, yielded "Crying Won't Help You," "Take It Easy Baby," "Nighthawk Boogie," "Kansas City," and "Feel So Bad." The second, recorded October 25, 1952, produced "Seventy-Four," "Maggie Campbell," "The Moon Is Rising," "You Missed A Good Man," "Bricks In My Pillow," "U / S Boogie," and a further take of "Maggie Campbell." Together they trace a working blues artist moving through slow burners, rolling boogies, and standards reshaped in his own image.

Nighthawk kept fine company across these dates. The 1951 sides feature Ransom Knowling on bass and Armand "Jump" Jackson, listed as the probable drummer, with piano handled by either Roosevelt Sykes or Bob Call. The 1952 sessions bring Bob Call firmly to the piano bench, backed by an unidentified drummer, with a second, uncredited guitarist joining on "Maggie Campbell" and "U / S Boogie." The interplay of slide, piano, and rhythm gives the whole set a loose, live-in-the-room feeling that reflects the era's studio approach.

The original productions were supervised by Leonard Allen and Lewis Simpkins, with Bill Putnam behind the recording desk, names that carry real weight in the story of postwar Chicago blues. Most of the material is credited to Robert McCollum, the name behind the Nighthawk moniker, underscoring how personal this repertoire was to the artist. Robert G. Koester served as album producer for the Delmark reissue, with the collection compiled by Jim O'Neal.

The package itself was assembled with the same care as the music. Jim O'Neal contributed the sleeve notes, offering context for these historic sessions, while Frank Scott handled the cover and photography and Bob McCamant designed the album. The metal work and mastering were done by John Bittner, ensuring the transfer honors the source. This edition carries different labels and a different Delmark address than the earlier related pressing, a detail collectors will note when tracing the release history.

For anyone drawn to the roots of electric slide blues, this is a foundational document, a chance to hear Robert Nighthawk in his prime alongside players who helped define the Chicago sound.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Crying Won't Help You
A2. Take It Easy Baby
A3. Seventy-Four
A4. Maggie Campbell
A5. The Moon Is Rising
A6. Nighthawk Boogie
B1. Kansas City
B2. You Missed A Good Man
B3. Bricks In My Pillow
B4. U / S Boogie
B5. Feel So Bad
B6. Maggie Campbell

Credits:
Ransom Knowling - Bass
Jim O'Neal - Compiled By
Frank Scott (3) - Cover, Photography By
Bob McCamant - Design [Album]
Unknown Artist - Drums (A3 to A5, B2 to B4, B6)
Armand "Jump" Jackson - Drums [Prob.] (A1, A2, A6, B1, B5)
Unknown Artist - Guitar [Second] (A4, B4)
John Bittner - Mastered By [Metal Work]
Bob Call - Piano (A3 to A5, B2 to B4, B6)
Roosevelt Sykes - Piano [Either] (A1, A2, A6, B1, B5)
Bob Call - Piano [Or] (A1, A2, A6, B1, B5)
Robert G. Koester - Producer [Album]
Bill Putnam - Recorded By
Jim O'Neal - Sleeve Notes
Leonard Allen - Supervised By, Producer [Original Production]
Lewis Simpkins - Supervised By, Producer [Original Production]
Robert Nighthawk - Vocals, Guitar
Robert McCollum - Written-By

Notes:
A1, A2, A6, B1, B5 recorded 7-12-51
A3 to A5, B2 to B4, B6 recorded 10-25-52

Different labels and Delmark Records address than [r4942958]

Delmark Records, 4121 N. Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60618

Artist: Robert Nighthawk

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Pearl Records (5)

Catalog Number: PL-11

Release Year: 2016

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)