1973 T-Bone Walker – Very Rare
Very Rare is a double-LP studio album by blues guitarist T-Bone Walker, originally released in 1973 by Reprise Records. It was one of the final recording projects of his lifetime, completed just two years before his death in 1975.
Tracks
1 Striking On You, Baby (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 02:41
2 Please Send Me Someone To (Percy Mayfield) 02:50
3 Brother Bill (The Last CleanShirt) (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 03:59
4 Evening (Harry White; Mitchell Parish) 04:18
5 The Come Back (LC Fraser) 03:57
6 Your Picture Done Faded (Paul Howard) 02:53
7 Don’t Give Me The Runaroun (T-Bone Walker) 02:17
8 Hard Times (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 02:55
9 Every Day I Have The Blues (Peter Chatman) 04:16
10 Person To Person (Charlie Singleton; Teddy McRae) 02:29
11 Fever (Eddie Cooley; John Davenport) 04:10
12 Three Corn Patches (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 03:10
13 I’m Still In Love With You (T-Bone Walker) 04:21
14 Just A Little Bit (Earl Washington; John Thornton; Piney Brown; Ralph Bass) 02:44
15 James Junior (Charles Otis) 02:40
16 Been Down So Long (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 02:20
17 If You Don’t Come Back (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 02:40
18 Kansas City (Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller) 02:43
19 Well, I Done Got Over It (Eddie Jones) 03:08
20 Stormy Monday (T-Bone Walker) 05:43
Musicians
1 Striking On You, Baby
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Guitar | Richard Bennett |
| Fender Rhodes | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Piano | Michael Omartian |
| Harmonica | Jerry Lacroix |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | David Fathead Newman |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Wolk |
2 Please Send Me Someone To
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Guitar | Richard Bennett |
| Fender Rhodes | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
3 Brother Bill (The Last CleanShirt)
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Fender Rhodes | Mike Stoller |
| Organ | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Harmonica | Ben Benay |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | David Fathead Newman |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
4 Evening
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Guitar | Richard Bennett |
| Fender Rhodes | James Booker |
| Piano | Charles Brown |
| Flute | Herbie Mann |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Zoot Sims |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Dizzy Gillespie |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
5 The Come Back
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | T-Bone Walker |
| Guitar | Louie Shelton |
| Organ | Warren Bernhardt |
| Piano | Michael Omartian |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | David Fathead Newman |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
6 Your Picture Done Faded
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Banjo | Ben Benay |
| Sitar | John Tropea |
| Fender Rhodes | James Booker |
| Organ | Michael Omartian |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
7 Don’t Give Me The Runaroun
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Piano | Charles Brown |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
8 Hard Times
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Guitar | Richard Bennett |
| Fender Rhodes | Michael Omartian |
| Organ | Charles Brown |
| Harmonica | Jerry Lacroix |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
9 Every Day I Have The Blues
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Clavinet | Warren Bernhardt |
| Guitar | T-Bone Walker |
| Guitar | Louie Shelton |
| Organ | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Zoot Sims |
| Sax | David Fathead Newman |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Dizzy Gillespie |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
10 Person To Person
| Bass | Max Bennett |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Guitar | T-Bone Walker |
| Guitar | Ben Benay |
| Fender Rhodes | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
11 Fever
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Fender Rhodes | James Booker |
| Organ | Michael Omartian |
| Harmonica | Ben Benay |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Dizzy Gillespie |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Percussion | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
12 Three Corn Patches
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Fender Rhodes | Mike Stoller |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trombone | Garnett Brown |
| Trombone | Mike Gibson |
| Trombone | Paul Faulise |
| Trombone | Tony Studd |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
13 I’m Still In Love With You
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Louie Shelton |
| Fender Rhodes | James Booker |
| Piano | Charles Brown |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Al Cohn |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
14 Just A Little Bit
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | David T Walker |
| Clavinet | Warren Bernhardt |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Gerry Mulligan |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
15 James Junior
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Banjo | Ben Benay |
| Fender Rhodes | James Booker |
| Piano | Mike Stoller |
| Harmonica | Jerry Lacroix |
| Flute | Herbie Mann |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
16 Been Down So Long
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Jim Gordon |
| Fender Rhodes | Mike Stoller |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Tambourine | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
17 If You Don’t Come Back
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | David T Walker |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Fender Rhodes | Michael Omartian |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | David Fathead Newman |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
18 Kansas City
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Harmonica | Ben Benay |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Al Cohn |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
19 Well, I Done Got Over It
| Bass | Joe Osborn |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | T-Bone Walker |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Fender Rhodes | Mike Stoller |
| Organ | Charles Brown |
| Harmonica | Ben Benay |
| Flute | Herbie Mann |
| Percussion | King Errisson |
| Background Vocals | The Sweet Inspirations |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
20 Stormy Monday
| Bass | Wilton Felder |
| Drums | Paul Humphrey |
| Guitar | T-Bone Walker |
| Fender Rhodes | Charles Brown |
| Piano | James Booker |
| Flute | Frank Vicari |
| Flute | Joe Farrell |
| Flute | Seldon Powell |
| Sax | Gerry Mulligan |
| Sax | Frank Vicari |
| Sax | Joe Farrell |
| Sax | Seldon Powell |
| Trumpet | Danny Stiles |
| Trumpet | Marvin Stamm |
| Vocals | T-Bone Walker |
Other Musicians
| Musician | Dolly Parton |
| Musician | Glen Campbell |
| Musician | Kenny Rogers |
| Musician | Al Capps |
| Musician | Jerry Carrigan |
| Musician | Gordon Stoker |
Strings
Cello – Charles McCracken, George Ricci (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7 8, 13, 16, 19, 20)
Viola – Harold Coletta, Theodore Israel (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7 8, 13, 16, 19, 20)
Violin – David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Fred Buldrini, Harry Glickman, Julius Brand, Karen Jones, Leo Kahn, Paul Gershman (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7 8, 13, 16, 19, 20)
Liner Notes
Producer – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Arranged By (Brass, Reeds, Strings) – David Matthews
Arranged By (Horns) – Mike Stoller (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20)
Arranged By (Horns) – Mike Lewis (Tracks 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Arranged By (Horns) – David Briggs (1, 3, 4, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20)
Arranged By (Strings) – Bergen White (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7 8, 13, 16, 19, 20)
Concertmaster – David Nadien
Conductor – Bergen White (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7 8, 13, 16, 19, 20)
Conductor – Mike Stoller (Tracks 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Engineer – Dixon Van Winkle, Jerry Barnes, Matt Hyde
Engineer (Assistant) – Dennis Druzbik
Design – Craig Braun
Photography – Allen Green, Ginny Winn, Jed Leiber, Phil Marco
Recorded At United Recorders
Recorded At A&R Studios
Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc
BluesFan73
August 14, 2026 @ 16:56
This album sounds incredible, especially considering it was his last work. I’ve always been fascinated by his unique guitar style.