One Hour Mama
The Blues Of Victoria Spivey
Nola Blue Record
By Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © July 2025
On these types of historical tribute releases, more often than not the recording artist never even knew the artist being honored. With Maria and Victoria, that is not the case. Having said that, I’m going to let Maria tell you about their relationship…
“When I was a young aspiring singer in the 1960’s, one of the great Classic Blues Queens of the 1920’s & 30’s, Victoria Spivey, took me under her wing and mentored me. Although of course I appreciated it at the time, over the years I’ve come to realize just how important her encouragement & support was to me and so many other musicians. To my surprise, a music writer reportedly dubbed her ‘ The Madonna of the Blues’, but thinking about it, I know exactly what he meant! Victoria was ambitious, tenacious, sassy, spunky, boldly & unabashedly her sexuality, versatile & multitalented, singing & writing not just the Blues, but pop & novelty songs of the day, dancing, playing piano & other instruments, acting in movies & stage shows; entrepreneurial – publishing her own Blues newsletter & starting her own record label, Spivey Records, to give recording opportunities to both old Blues veterans & young hopefuls just starting out (like myself & Bob Dylan to name a few). I was so pleased to find & collaborate with so many fine young musicians who are embracing & carrying forward the rich legacy of this vintage music. This album is a loving tribute to Victoria Spivey for all she brought to the Blues& for the great influence she was on my musical journey. Enjoy!” – Maria Muldaur
Before I get into my actual review, I’ve just got to say that I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for a woman – and a black woman at that – to start her own record label and publishing company back in those days. Interestingly, and quite fitting as well, it was another female label owner who brought this project to life – Sallie Bengtson of Nola Blue Records. Two women making a difference in their respective eras of music!
Now, let’s talk music and musicians. The twelve tracks on One Hour Mama – The Blues Of Victoria Spivey are broken down into three groups. One group features three songs with James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band, which include: band leader and arranger James on piano; Kim Cusack on clarinet & alto sax; Russ Whitman on clarinet, tenor sax & baritone sax; Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet; Chris Smith on trombone & tuba; Rod McDonald on guitar and banjo; Kurt Krahnke on bass, and Pete Siers on drums. Another group of two songs features the Tuba Skinny Band who are: Craig Flory on clarinet; Greg Sherman on guitar; Max Bien-Kahn on guitar & banjo; Shaye Cohn on coronet & trumpet; Barnabus Jones on trombone; Todd Burdic on tuba; Robin Rapuzzi on washboard; and David Torkanowsky on piano. The third group of seven songs features: Johnny Bones on saxophone; Danny Caron on guitar; Steve Height on bass; Nel Fontano and David K. Matthews on piano; Beaumont Beaullieu on drums; and guest appearances by Elvin Bishop & Taj Mahal on vocals, and Chris Burns on piano. Of course, all twelve songs feature the fabulous Maria Muldaur on vocals.
The disc opens with a track that pretty much sets the tone for what will follow – songs with naughty, bawdy and lusty lyrics that are filled with sexy innuendos and metaphors. This one is titled “Handy Man” (Andy Razaf), and instead of stopping the drip in your sink, or the constant running of water in your toilet tank, this handy man specializes in tasks that usually happen in the bedroom – and I don’t mean putting up a curtain rod. Musically, as the instrumentation of James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band indicates, this one will take you straight to the French Quarter in NOLA, and vocally, no one can sell a song of this type better than Maria.
This one features Elvin Bishop getting nowhere while habitually asking Maria “What Makes You Act Like That?” (Lonnie Johnson). The back-and-forth banter revolves around Elvin wanting something Maria’s got, and Maria wanting Elvin to pay for it. Vocally, this is a perfect pairing, and musically, the track features excellent guitar pickin’ and piano playin’.
Although “Don’t Love No Married Man”, is downright good advice, sometimes it’s advice not taken. It’s a troublesome situation that many a blues song has been written about. On this original of Victoria’s, she apparently didn’t follow her own advice. As her story goes, “A married man will swear he loves you more than he loves his life…..then he’ll go on home and tell that same lie to his wife”. As she always does, this slow bluesy number has Maria shining on the vocals while being backed by outstanding sax blowin’ by Johnny Bones, and fabulous piano highlights by special guest Chris Burns.
So, if the title of this one – “Organ Grinder Blues” (Clarence Williams) – doesn’t indicate the direction it’s going in, go splash some water on your face and have a cup of coffee. In the meantime, when she’s done, Maria might just splash some water on her face and have a cigarette…if you get my drift. This one has Maria being backed up by Tuba Skinny, a New Orleans-based ensemble that plays traditional jazz, blues, and ragtime music – and in this case, the emphasis is on ragtime.
The title track, “One Hour Mama”, once again has Maria being joined by the James Dapogny Chicago Jazz Band and from what I’m hearing from these cats, they could very well be called the James Dapogny Chicago Dixieland Jazz Band; James’ piano work, along with his killer horn section, once again take you on a musical stroll down Bourbon Street. As for Maria, she has no problem letting you know that being the one-hour mama that she is, she needs a slow and easy man, and one-minute pappas just aren’t going to pop her.
Another humorous duet features Maria repeatedly telling Taj Mahal that when it comes to pleasing her, he’s “Gotta Have What It Takes” (Victoria Spivey & Harold Grey), while Taj very creatively keeps on insisting he does. My favorite line is when being accused of needing a prescription to perk him up, Taj acts like he doesn’t even know where the drug store is. Another perfect vocal pairing and another track with fabulous piano work.
Other tracks on One Hour Mama – The Blues Of Victoria Spivey -, a release I’m sure will get nods in the “Historical” category on any of the various awards lists, include: “Dreaming Of You”, “No, Papa, No!”, “Down Hill Pull”, “T-B Blues” – all Victoria originals; “Funny Feathers” ( Reuben Ford & Victoria Spivey); and “Any-Kind-A-Man (Hattie McDaniel).
Before I close, I’d like to say that back in 2018 I had the pleasure of reviewing a very similar release from Maria which was titled Don’t You Feel My Leg – The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker. That one had me thinking that only she could pull of a project like that. Now here I am seven years later, reaffirming that thought. Maria, you rock!
To find out more about Maria Muldaur, just visit her website at – www.mariamuldaur.com – and should you have not yet received your copy of One Hour Mama – The Blues Of Victoria Spivey -, contact Michelle Castiglia at – macradiopromo@gmail.com.
As usual, whomever you contact, please tell them their friend the Blewzzman sent you. Additionally, if like me, you were unfamiliar with Victoria Spivey, you can find out all about her by purchasing the CD and reading the very well done ten-page booklet that accompanies it.
“The Blues Is My Passion And Therapy”
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
2011 “Keeping The Blues Alive” Award Recipient
