Illustrated Johnny Mars discography

marsjfrm.htmmarsj.htm Wirz' AMERICAN MUSIC

source: Front cover of JSP CD 2144
Johnny Mars
b. December 7, 1942 in Laurens, South Carolina
discography J O H N N Y M A R S; source: Promo photo
source: Promo photo

**Johnny Mars** 45 rpm / LPs / CDs
#	year of release	title / label / notes
1	1972	Johnny Mars: Blues From Mars (on labels: "Rocket 88") - Rocket 88 @ Spotify - Off The Wall @ Spotify - It's My Own Fault @ Spotify - Me And Piney Brown @ Spotify - My Dream (Blues In My Sleep) @ Spotify - Don't Start Me To Talking @ Spotify - Bring It On Home @ Spotify - Break It Up @ Spotify - Back Track @ Spotify - Aw Baby @ Spotify - Meet Me In The Alley # @ youtube @ Spotify rec. May 1972 at Chalk Farm Studios, London; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Bob Brunning, b; Pat Grover, g; Bob Hall, mandolin, p; John Hunt, dr; # Boogie Woogie Red (Vernon Harrison), voc; # Baby Boy Warren, voc; prod. by Jim Simpson Baby Boy Warren discography "Big Bear Two" notes by Mike Leadbitter Polydor 2460 168 (1972) = Big Bear BEAR 17 = Apolo Records J&B-6.006 (Sp 1982) Big Bear Records discography
2	1976	Johnny Mars and the Oakland Boogie - I've Been Down So Long - Nine Below Zero - Rocket 88 - Call Me - Love Is A Wonderful Thing - Honey Bee - Blue Midnight - Cruisin' - If I Had A Woman - My Dog Can't Bark Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Bruce Langsman, g; Pat Grover, g; Bob Hall, p, mandolin; Paul Riley, b; John Hunt, dr Big Bear BEAR 12 (UK) = Big Bear INT 146.405 (Germany 1976) Big Bear Records discography
3	1978	The Blues Vol. 3 1972-75 Eddie Playboy Taylor - Playboy Boogie Mickey Baker - Take A Look Inside Eddie Guitar Burns - Mississippi County Farm Washboard Willie - Kansas City Homesick James & Snooky Pryor - Shake Your Money Maker Doctor Ross - Freight Train Boogie Woogie Red - Red's Boogie Eddie Guitar Burns - I'm Going - But I'll Be Back Johnny Mars - Rocket 88 Tommy Tucker - Alimony Cousin Joe From New Orleans - Blues Legends '74 Eddie Guitar Burns - Biscuit Bakin' Mama Eddie Guitar Burns - I Wanna Trade With You Eddie Playboy Taylor - My Little Machine Homesick James - Lonesome Train Mickey Baker - Blues Fell This Morning Whispering Smith - Take Me Back Baby Doctor Ross - Doctor Ross Rockin' Cousin Joe From New Orleans - I'm Cousin Joe From New Orleans Eddie Playboy Taylor - Ready For Eddie Johnny Mars - If I Had A Woman Eddie Guitar Burns - Do It If You Wanna Mickey Baker - I'll Always Be In Love With You Boogie Woogie Red - Viper Song Big Bear BDUB 1 DLP Big Bear / Intercord INT 156.400 Big Bear Records discography
4	1978	The Blues Vol. 4 1975-77 LP 1: Johnny Mars - I've Been Down So Long [Big Bear BEAR 12] Eddie Guitar Burns - Every Jug Stands On It's Own Bottom [Big Bear BEAR 7] Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would [Big Bear BEAR 8] Little Joe Blue - A Fool Is What You Want [Big Bear BEAR 8] Lonesome Jimmy Lee Robinson - Chicken Head [Big Bear BEAR 8] Eddie Playboy Taylor - Seems Like A Million Years [Big Bear BEAR 6] Eddie Playboy Taylor - Gamblin' Man [Big Bear BEAR 6] Mickey Baker - Make Your Bed Up Mama [Big Bear BEAR 5] Big John Wrencher - I'm A Root Man [Big Bear BEAR 4] Cousin Joe from New Orleans - I Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use [Big Bear BEAR 1] George G.P. Jackson - A Letter Dressed In Red - Leavin' Kansas City [Big Bear BEAR 1] LP 2: Mickey Baker - New York New York [Big Bear BEAR 5] Doctor Ross - Hazel [Big Bear previously unissued] @ youtube Snooky Pryor - Dangerous Woman [Polydor 2460 186] Washboard Willie - I Feel So Fine [Polydor 2460 186] Johnny Mars - Blue Midnight [Big Bear BEAR 8] Snooky Pryor - Sloppy Drunk [Polydor 2460 186] Cousin Joe from New Orleans - You're Never Too Old To Boogie [Big Bear BB 14] Homesick James - Crossroads [Caroline C 1502] Tommy Tucker - Hard Luck Blues [Big Bear BEAR 8] Eddie Guitar Burns - Bury Me Back In The USA [Big Bear BEAR 8] Boogie Woogie Red - After Hours [Polydor 2460 186] Red & Mose (Boogie Woogie Red & Whispering Smith) - Sassy [Polydor 2460 186] Big Bear BDUB 2 DLP Big Bear / Intercord INT 156.401 (UK 1978) Big Bear Records discography
5	1978	The Blues Vol. 5 James Booker - Stormy Monday - United Our Thing Will Stand Memphis Slim - Ballin' The Jack Eddie Playboy Taylor - I'm A Country Boy Mickey Baker - Diggin' In My Potatoes - She Brings Out The Animal Little Brother Montgomery - Buddy Bolden's Blues - I Keep Drinking Snooky Pryor - Baby Left Me A Mule To Ride Sonny Terry & Brownie Mcghee - Rockin' And Whoopin' - Talking Harmonica Blues Homesick James & Snooky Pryor - Homesick Blues Again Johnny Mars - My Dog Can't Bark Eddie Playboy Taylor & The Blueshounds - Too Late To Cry Snooky Pryor - Shake Your Boogie Doctor Ross - Blues For Illinois - Step Back Woman John Lee Hooker - Storming On The Deep Blue Sea Big John Wrencher - Trouble Makin' Women Piano Red - Everyday I Have The Blues Alexis Korner & Memphis Slim - I'm Going To Kansas City - We're Just Two Of The Same Old Kind Lightnin' Hopkins - Good Times Cousin Joe - Too Late To Turn Back Now DLP Big Bear / Intercord INT 156.402 Big Bear Records discography
6	1981	Johnny Mars: Mighty Mars JSP 1023 track sequence: - I'll Go Crazy - Watch Yourself - High Temperature - You Don't Have To Go - If I Had A Woman - Imagination - Mighty Mars - Mellow Down Easy - Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash - Desert Island rec. December 22, 23 & 27, 1980 at Vineyard Studio, London, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Colin Fletcher, g, backgr voc; Mel Simpson, p, keyb, synth, backgr voc; Wayne Elliot, b; James Matthews, dr, perc CD 217 track sequence: @ youtube - I'll Go Crazy - Imagination - Mighty Mars - Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash - Watch Yourself - If I Had A Woman - High Temperature - You Don't Have To Go - Mellow Down - Desert Island CD 217 bonus tracks (from JSP 1089): - Horses And Places - Rocket 88 - Johnny's Groove CD 2144 track sequence: - Horses & Places - Imagination - Desert Island - Johnny's Groove - Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash - I'll Go Crazy - If I Had A Woman - Watch Yourself - Mighty Mars - Rocket 88 - Mellow Down Easy JSP 1023 notes by Norman Darwen (=) JSP CD 217 (1994) (=) JSP CD 2144 (2000) (along with JSP 1089 tracks) "Mighty Mars" JSP Records discography
7	1981	JOHNNY MARS blues band - Born Under A Bad Sign # [Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2] - Horses And Places * - Mighty Mars (instr) * # rec. March 1981 at Herne Place Studios in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Steve Sidwell, tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g, backing voc; Terry Pack, b, backing voc; Peter J. Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backing voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick * rec. 1981 live in England; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; g; b; dr 7 inch 45 rpm single Ace NS73
8	1983	Harpin' On It An Anthology of Harmonica Blues Mojo Buford - Deep Sea Diver - In My Younger Days - Crawdad Hole Jew Town Burks - Minnie Sue - Partnership Woman Easy Baby - Good Morning Mr. Blues Big John Wrencher - Now Darlin' [] Hot Shot Love - Harmonica Boogie - Go Back Home Little Mac - Home Work Billy Branch - Hoochie Coochie Johnny Mars - Johnny's Groove (instr) # [] rec. September 14, 15 & 19, 1969 in Chicago, Ill.; Big John Wrencher, voc, shouts, hca; Little Buddy Thomas, g; "Playboy" Vinson, dr; prod. by George Paulus; rec. by George Paulus & Dick Shurman # rec. December 22, 23 & 27, 1980 at Vineyard Studio, London, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Colin Fletcher, g, backgr voc; Mel Simpson, p, keyb, synth, backgr voc; Wayne Elliot, b; James Matthews, dr, perc notes by John Stedman JSP 1063 JSP Records discography
9	1983	THE JOHNNY MARS BAND - Hot Lips Boogie [Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2] - Chicken Hen Stew rec. March 1981 at Herne Place Studios in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Steve Sidwell, tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g, backing voc; Terry Pack, b, backing voc; Peter J. Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backing voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick = RCA PB 61213 (Fr 1983) = Lamborghini LSU 1
10	1984	The JSP Sampler Of Contemporary Blues Buddy Guy - Blues At My Baby's House Brewer Philips - Poor Boy Blues Hip Linkchain - Tell Me Why Jimmy Rogers & Left Hand Frank - Blue & Lonesome Phil Guy - Blues With A Feeling Johnny Mars - Desert Island # [JSP 1023] Eddie Kirkland - Write My Baby A Letter Buddy Guy - She Winked Her Eye JSP 1072 (UK 1984) JSP Records discography
11	1984	Johnny Mars: Life on Mars - Born Under A Bad Sign (3:30) [Ace NS73] - Don't Start Me Talking (3:00) - Back Door Man (4:14) - Steal Away 5:00) - Standing In Line (3:32) - Hot Lips Boogie (3:00) [Sundance SUND004] - I Can't Take A Jealous Woman (3:32) - Get On Up (3:01) - Desert Island (5:44) - Keep On Swinging (5:46) rec. March 1981 at Herne Place Studios in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Steve Sidwell, tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g, backing voc; Terry Pack, b, backing voc; Peter J. Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backing voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2 (UK 1984) = Teldec 6.25 959 AP (Germany 1984) (=) BGO BGOCD159 (=) Lamborghini CD LSU 1
12	1984	Johnny Mars - Born Under A Bad Sign [Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2] - Standing In Line [Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2] rec. March 1981 at Herne Place Studios in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Steve Sidwell, tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g, backing voc; Terry Pack, b, backing voc; Peter J. Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backing voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick Lamborghini LSU 2 = Teldec 6.14 170 (Germany 1984)
13	1984	JOHNNY MARS - Hot Lips Boogie [Sundance/Lamborghini LSULP 2 / LSU 2] - Chick [sic] Hen Stew [Sundance/Lamborghini LSU 1] rec. March 1988 at Herne Place Studios in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Steve Sidwell, tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g, backing voc; Terry Pack, b, backing voc; Peter J. Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backing voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick 7 inch 45 rpm Sundance SUND004
14	1985	Johnny Mars: King Of The Blues Harp JSP 1089 track sequence: - Horses And Places - Rocket 88 - Johnny's Groove - Desert Island - I'll Go Crazy - Imagination - Mighty Mars (instr) - Cash Ain't Nothing - If I Had A Woman rec. December 22, 23 & 27, 1980 at Vineyard Studio, London, UK; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Colin Fletcher, g, backgr voc; Mel Simpson, p, keyb, synth, backgr voc; Wayne Elliot, b; James Matthews, dr, perc JSP 1089 photo by Erik Lindahl CD 217 track sequence: @ youtube - I'll Go Crazy - Imagination - Mighty Mars (instr) - Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash - Watch Yourself - If I Had A Woman - High Temperature - You Don't Have To Go - Mellow Down - Desert Island - Horses And Places - Rocket 88 - Johnny's Groove CD 2144 track sequence: - Horses & Places - Imagination - Desert Island - Johnny's Groove - Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash - I'll Go Crazy - If I Had A Woman - Watch Yourself - Mighty Mars (instr) - Rocket 88 - Mellow Down Easy JSP 1089 (UK 1985) notes by Norman Darwen (=) JSP CD 217 (UK 1994) (along with JSP 1023 tracks) (=) JSP CD 2144 (UK 2000) (along with JSP 1023 tracks) "Mighty Mars" JSP Records discography
15	1986	Blues On 2 - When My Baby She Left Me - Rory Gallagher - Born Under A Bad Sign - Johnny Mars # - 'Sus' Blues - The Blues Band - Lonely Teardrops - Juice On The Loose - Fine, Fine, Fine - Balham Alligators - Express Man - The Groundhogs - All My Love In Vain - Blues & Trouble - Motormouth Mama - The De Luxe Blues Band - Low Down Dog - Big Town Playboys - Flip, Flop And Fly - Boogie Brothers Blues Band # rec. July 1985 in England for BBC radio; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Chris Cozens, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g; Terry Pack, b; Peter Shaw, dr BBC LP REN 610
16	1986	The Mars-Fenwick-Band: Fire In The City - Fire In The City - Raise The Price - T-Bird Ford - I lose Again - What Cha Gonna Do - The Poontang Kid - Hot Lips - Hard Luck And Trouble - Theres A Party Going On - A Date With An Angel - I need Love - Ash Aint Nothing But Trash rec. 1986 at Park Gates Studio, Battle; ICC Studios, Eastbourne and Herne Place Studios, England; Ray Fenwick, voc, g; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Barry St. John, voc; Mike Cotton, tp; Chris Cozens, keyb; Terry Pack, b; Peter Shaw, dr; Steve Price; Peter Tetteroo; Nick Payne; Steve De Metrius; Carry Jannsen; Henry Holland; Annie Kavanach; Gavin Mallet; Steve Sidwell; prod. by Ike Nossel & Ray Fenwick President PTLS1083
17	1986	THE MARS-FENWICK BAND - Ash Ain't Nothing But Trash - Smoking Out The Barons rec. 1986 in England; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; poss. Chris Cozens, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g; Terry Pack, b; Peter Shaw, dr ; prod. by Ray Fenwick released June 6, 1986 as part of an anti-smoking campaign in the UK 7 inch 45 rpm single President PT 12-548
18	2/1987	THE MARS-FENWICK BAND - Fire In The City - A Lover Not A Fighter rec. 1986 in England; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; poss. Chris Cozens, keyb; Ray Fenwick, g; Terry Pack, b; Peter Shaw, dr ; prod. by Ray Fenwick 7 inch 45 rpm single President PT 556
19	1990	Johnny Mars: Born Under A Bad Sign - Born Under A Bad Sign - Don't Start Me Talking - Back Door Man - Steal Away - Standing In Line - Hot Lips Boogie - I Can't Take A Jealous Woman - Get On Up - Desert Island - Keep On Swinging rec. at Herne Place Studios, England; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Ray Fenwick, voc, g; Steve Sidwell. tp; Bimbo Acock, sax; Nick Magnus, keyb; Terry Pack, b; Peter Shaw, dr; Colin Fox, backgr voc; prod. by Ray Fenwick Cloud CL 8032-40 (NL)
20	1993	Johnny Mars with Big Fat Mama: Can You Hear Me ? - Just a Little Bit (4:25) - Living in The Ghetto (5:20) - A Change Will Come (6:14) - Crosstown Woman (6:22) - Driving Sideways (4:37) @ youtube - You Drive Me Crazy (4:16) - Can You Hear Me? (2:50) - I'm Hungry Blues (6:44) rec. December 30, 1992 live at Spazio Musica in Pavia, Italy; Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Big Fat Mama: Alessio Menconi, g; Piero de Luca, b; Mauro Mura, dr, guest: Andrea Zanzottera, keyb B&R Connection 17502 (It 1993)
20a	1994	The De Luxe Blues Band - 300 Pounds Of Joy - Dead Cat On The Line - Louisiana Blues - Angel Of Mercy - Down In The Bottom - Hoochie Coochie Man ## - Key To The Highway # - Peach Tree - Elevator Blues - All Your Love - Elevator's Blues - Lambpoon - Leavin' This Town - Marriage License - Letter To My Baby - Do Right Mind - Can't Hold Out Much Longer - Neighbour, Neighbour rec. at Alchemea Studio, Camden, London, UK; Johnny Mars, # hca, ## voc, hca; prod. by Graham Hogg notes by Bob Brunning Tramp TRCD 9923 (NL 1994)
21	1999	Johnny Mars: Stateside with Bill Martin & Dan Kennedy - Early In The Morning - It Takes Time - Have You Heard About The Blues? - Stateside - Move - Remember...? - Harp Dance - Living In The Shadow - You Know The Rules - Home Sweet Home / Reflection I - Home Sweet Home (Reprise) - London Blues rec. August 1993 & April 1994 at Soundtec Studios, Campbell, CA; prod. by Bill Martin & Dan Kennedy photography by Jerry Costanzo notes by Dan Kennedy and Leslie Ann Knight MM&K MMK 31001-2
22	2002	Don't Worry 'bout The Bear disc 1: - Shake Your Boogie - Snooky Pryor - After You There Won't Be Nobody Else - Snooky Pryor - Crossroads - Homesick James - Highway 51 - Homesick James - Honeydripper - Big John Wrencher - Seems Like A Million Years - Eddie "Playboy" Taylor - Ready For Eddie - Eddie "Playboy" Taylor - Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear - Doctor Ross - I'm A Mannish Boy - Doctor Ross - Got Something To Tell You [live] - Doctor Ross, Chicago Aces - Sneaky Pete - Erwin Helfer - Homage To AA And PJ - Erwin Helfer, Bob Hall - Texas Flood - Whispering Smith - Walkin' In The Park - Lightnin' Slim - 12th Street Boogie - G.P. Jackson - Meet Me In The Alley - Johnny Mars, Boogie Woogie Red & Baby Boy Warren disc 2: - She's In L.A. - Eddie "Guitar" Burns - Do It If You Wanna - Eddie "Guitar" Burns - Viper Song - Boogie Woogie Red - I Wish You Would - Billy Boy Arnold - It's My Own Fault - Johnny Mars - I've Been Down So Long - Johnny Mars - Klickety Klock - Willie Mabon - Blues Fell This Morning - Mickey Baker - I'll Always Be In Love With You - Mickey Baker - Alimony - Tommy Tucker - Buzzard Luck - Billy "The Kid" Emerson - Blues For My Baby - Charles Brown - So Tired - Gene "The Mighty Flea" Connors - Let The Good Times Roll - Gene "The Mighty Flea" Connors - Honky Tonk - Gene "The Mighty Flea" Connors - When A Woman Loves A Man - Cousin Joe 2 CD set notes by Jim Simpson Indigo IGOXDCD 2503 (UK) (Big Bear Blues Heritage series) = Sanctuary CD 81268 (2003) = Castle CD 36170 (US 2005) Big Bear Records discography
23	2003	Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra with Johnny Mars & Paul Hart On My Mind - Forever On My Mind - Guess Who # - Soulmate # - Evening # - Georgia On My Mind # - Everyday I Have The Blues - Strikin On You Baby - Please Send Me Someone To Love # - Put It Where You Want It # - Shakey Ground # - Don't Give Me The Runaround # - All Downhill And No Brakes Paul Hart, voc, g; # Johnny Mars, voc, hca; Andy Urqart, Alan Jenkins, Jon Dart, tp; Steve Hayes, tb, violin; Pete Bettle, Dave Burgess, sax; Lucy-Ann Allen, violin; Chas Dickie, cello; Clive Ashley, sax, violin; Gren Fraser, Steve Smith, keyb; Chris Lonergan, b; Alan Edwards, dr; Pete Brown, perc; Sheila McKinley, Helen & Victoria Hardy, backing voc; Marcus Marriot, conductor Springboard SMCDPJHM001
Additional information appreciated !!!

Sources / Further reading:
- own record collection
- Jean-Claude Arnaudon: Dictionnaire du Blues.- Paris, France (Filipacci) 1977, pp. 176-177
- Robert Ford: A Blues Bibliography, 2nd Edition (Routledge Music Bibliographies) 2007, pp. 682-683
- Robert Ford & Bob McGrath: The Blues Discography 1971 - 2000 [the later years].- Vancouver 2011, p. 302
- Sheldon Harris: Blues Who's Who - A Bibliographical Dictionary of Blues Singers.- New York (Da Capo Press) 1987, pp. 347-348
- Edward Komara: Johnny Mars.- in Edward Komara (ed.): Encyclopedia of the Blues Vol. 2 (K-Z).- New York/London (Routledge) 2005, p. 658
- eBay auctions
- diverse internet resources
source of left column picture: Front cover of JSP CD 2144
thanks to Chris Smith and Paul Duvivié for additional info / scans