Headin’ For The Poorhouse – Various Artists

johnaalex
May 6, 2025
4 min read

Released April 2025 on Bear Family Records - https://www.bear-family.com/various-bear-family-records-headin-for-the-poorhouse-what-to-do-when-money-is-through-cd.html

Reviewed April 2025 by Jailhouse John Alexander

Review

Rightly so the Silhouettes get the show started with a good rockin’ doo wop number from 1958 as the title provides the name of the compilation. Track two, “Money Honey” was the first single by the Drifters with Clyde McPhatter singing lead vocals and is a classic from 1953 when it made number one is the US Rhythm and Blues charts and stayed in the chart for 23 weeks. Johnny Ace, track three, is sadly best known for his tragic death. “No Money” is nice mid paced R&B number with a cool sax and Johnny’s great voice. Track four, “I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis)” by Slim Harpo dates from 1964 and is good up-tempo blues number that could fit the current liking of blues boppers in the rocking clubs. There’s a switch to country music with track five, Howard Crockett sings a heartfelt tale of woe, “Just A Poorman”. “I'm Broke” is a hillbilly bopper by Glen Paul And Sunset Wranglers that was issued on the Texas based Sarg label in 1958. Carl Perkins shows his country side with “Poor Boy Blues” a track taken from his 1967 LP, “Country Boy’s Dream”. “Money (That's What I Want)” by Barrett Strong was originally recorded by Barrett Strong and released on Tamla in August 1959 and also famously covered by the Beatles on their second album in 1963. Track nine, “Money Blues (If You Ain't Got No Money)” is a cool, little known West Coast R&B rocker! Released by Eugene Lee on the Los Angeles based Choctaw label in 1958. Talking of “cool”, “I Ain’t Got No Money” by Chicago bluesman, Billy Boy Arnold was released on the Cool label in 1953. A good rocking blues number at track ten.

Track eleven is good example of a heartfelt piano based blues number, “Broke And Hungry” by Dr. Clayton's Buddy aka Sunnyland Slim. Jimmy Witherspoon goes one better than Sunnyland Slim by adding the word “Drunk” to “broke and hungry” and come up with a nice piano boogie number for track twelve. Faron Young gained worldwide success with his hit “Four In The Morning” in the early 70s. Track thirteen, “I'm A Poor Boy” is from 1956 and is almost rockabilly. Frankie Avalon gives us a pop rocker, “I’m Broke” for track fourteen. Country legend Willie Nelson shows his rocking side with “No Dough” which is followed by the Rebel Guys, a band from Berlin, Germany with a mid-sixties rocker, “Ain't Got No Money”. It’s back to honky tonk country with Carl Runner’s “No Money” at track seventeen. Staying in the honky tonk for the next track which is “Life Of A Poor Boy” from long time star of the Grand Old Opry, Stonewall Jackson. The King makes his appearance with his version of “Money Honey”, I have always liked Scotty’s guitar work on this. Freddie Carpenter along with The Rookies provide track 20 with a bit novelty rocker from 1958, “Money Money Money” that has a quirky start and a fine sax break. Jessie Knight’s solid R&B rocker “Nothing But Money” that was first issued in 1954 on the US Checker label is track twenty.

The final third kicks off with a blues rocker, “Nothing But Money” from Jessie Knight And His Combo that was also released on the Checker label in 1954. The pace picks up with track twenty-two, “No Money” by the Blue Diamonds. It’s a good rocking group vocal with some wild guitar, ideal to jive to. “Money Talks” by the Penguins is another vocal group song and a good stroller. Track twenty-four moves back to hillbilly country with the Louvin Brothers and their classic from 1956, “Cash On The Barrel Head”. Track twenty-five takes us back to 1949 for a nice hillbilly song “Got Money On My Mind” by Ted Daffan's Texans. “My Moneys Gone” from Cecil Moore And Ray's Trio was released in 1960 and reminds me of Ray Sharpe’s classic stroller “Linda Lu” because of the guitar riff. Arkie Shibley is best known for his 1950 recording “Hot Rod Race” which gave birth to numerous other hillbilly songs about hot rod cars. His recording “I'm A Poor Oakie” that was released on 4 Star in 1960 is similar in style to those hot rod songs. Track twenty-eight is a jump blues number, “Ain't Got No Money” by 'Great' Gates that really rocks, has a wild sax break and was recorded in 1952. In 1960 The Miracles had their soul version of Barrett Strong’s hit issued on the New York based End label and it fits in well with the rest of this collection at track twenty-nine. The final track is straight vintage country, “Money” sees singer Al Terry team up with his fellow Hickory label artist, Rusty and Doug Kershaw.

Summary and Recommendation

Another interesting, entertaining and, most of all, enjoyable mixed genre compilation from Bear Family. Even if you are getting on low on funds this is worth the money!

Track List

Track – Title - Artist

1 - Headin' For The Poorhouse - Silhouettes

2 - Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter And Drifters

3 - No Money - Johnny Ace

4 - I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis) - Slim Harpo

5 - Just A Poorman - Howard Crockett

6 - I'm Broke - Glen Paul And Sunset Wranglers

7 - Poor Boy Blues - Carl Perkins

8 - Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong

9 - Money Blues (If You Ain't Got No Money) - Eugene Lee

10 - I Ain’t Got No Money - Billy Boy Arnold