A1 - Good Morning, Mr. Blues
A2 - Love, Love, Love
A3 - Riverside Blues
A4 - Must Have Been the Devil
A5 - Jelly Roll Baker
A6 - Trouble in Mind
B1 - Worried Life Blues
B2 - T. B. Blues
B3 - Spann's Boogie
B4 - Don't You Know
B5 - Goin' Down Slow

Recorded in 1963 in Copenhagen.

Otis Spann (1924 – 1970), was playing in bands in the Jackson area by the age of 14. He moved to Chicago in 1946, where he was mentored by Big Maceo Merriweather. Spann performed as a solo act and with the guitarist Morris Pejoe, working a regular spot at the Tic Toc Lounge. Spann became known for his distinctive piano style. He replaced Merriweather as Muddy Waters's piano player in late 1952 and participated in his first recording session with the band on September 24, 1953. He continued to record as a solo artist and session player with other musicians,

In October 1963, Spann toured Europe as part of that year's American Folk Blues Festival and recorded some superb solo, contemplative blues in a broken, husky voice for Storyville Records in Copenhagen. This audiophile release features Spann playing piano and singing along with Lonnie Johnson playing guitar on “Trouble in Mind.” The back of the LP details his biography, including what might have been his big break : playing with Muddy Waters in 1958 at the Leeds Festival. Unlike some of his previous accompaniment, this record is mellower and more intimate. After all, just about every song is just the soloist.  All the tracks except two are written by the artist and the passion he puts into every song is palpable. Some of the songs will make you jump up and dance, but most are constructed in an entirely different fashion, much slower and more tradition old-school blues. “Jelly Roll Baker” is a funny tune that even manages to elicit a chuckle from the artist at its conclusion.  Spann’s voice is powerful and unique in its way while his piano playing is excellent. There are sure to be more than a few favorites on this disc for the blues enthusiast.  For those unfamiliar with the artist, what better introduction than this beautiful sounding record?

The "golden age" of recordings was from 1955 to 1965, at the beginning of the LP and the stereo era, where pure vacuum tube amplification helped produce recordings demonstrating unparalleled fidelity and warmth, lifelike presence and illumination.

This Pure Pleasure LP was remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, using pure analogue components only, from the original analogue studio tapes through to the cutting head, and was pressed at Pallas, Germany.