''No Strain'' is an album by American blues pianist

Memphis Slim John Len Chatman (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988), known professionally as Memphis Slim, was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxopho ...

which was recorded in 1960 and released on Bluesville, a sublabel of

Prestige Records Prestige Records is a jazz record company and label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock in New York City which issued recordings in the mainstream, bop, and cool jazz idioms. The company recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz music ...

. It was reissued by Fantasy in 1972 as part of the double LP ''Raining the Blues'', along with ''

Just Blues ''Just Blues'' is an album by the American blues pianist Memphis Slim which was recorded in 1960 and released on Bluesville, a sublabel of Prestige Records. It was reissued by Fantasy in 1972 as part of the double LP ''Raining the Blues'', along ...

'', another album from the same sessions.Bluesville Discography
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Reception

In his review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Stephen Cook says "Both at the keyboard and the mic, alone or with company, Slim shows why he was one of the most urbane and original of blues giants."

Track listing

All compositions by Peter Chatman except where noted. # "Darling, I Miss You So" – 3:11 # "Lonesome Traveler" – 2:44 # "No Strain" – 6:16 # "Don't Think You're Smart" – 3:33 # "Raining the Blues" – 3:46 # "You're Gonna Need My Help One Day" – 3:14 # "Angel Child" – 3:07 # "Fast and Free" – 1:56 # "My Baby Left Me" – 3:04 # "Lucille" – 2:16 # "Nice Stuff" (Chatman-Thomas) – 3:27

Personnel

– piano, vocals *

Lafayette Thomas Lafayette Jerl Thomas (June 13, 1928 – May 20, 1977)Harris, S. (1981). Blues Who's Who. New York: Da Capo Press, pp. 509–510, was an American blues singer, and guitarist. Early life Thomas was born on June 13, 1928 in Shreveport, Louisiana ...

– guitar *

Wendell Marshall Wendell Marshall (October 24, 1920 – February 6, 2002) was an American jazz double-bassist. Marshall was Jimmy Blanton's cousin. He studied at Lincoln University, then served in the Army during World War II. Following his discharge, he perfor ...

– double bass * Buster 'Harpie' Brown – harmonica

References

{{Authority control 1961 albums Memphis Slim albums Bluesville Records albums Albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio