Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop - Bulletin December 2008 - The Cadillacs -> Lynn White + DVDS
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BULLETIN - December 2008
Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
The Cadillacs -> Lynn White
+ DVDS
 

 

 

NEW DVDS

   
VARIOUS ARTISTS Alpha Video 5699 Harlem Double Feature: Souls Of Sin/ Murder On Lenox Ave ● DVD $7.98
Black & White, Total Running Time: 128 minutes, recommended
Starring: Jimmy Wright, Savannah Churchill (1st), Mamie Smith, Edna Mae Harris (2nd)
In the 30's and 40's, there was an alternate film industry that catered to Black audiences; the films were usually very low budget and not always well acted, but the point was that they were movies that had all-Black casts that were made by and for an underservered and mostly ignored (the major Hollywood studios) clientele. The plots were often the same as any Hollywood B-movie--crime dramas and comedies--and these two were no exception. In "Souls of Sin", the "hero" tries to break out of Harlem poverty by turning to a life of crime with tragic consequences. "Murder on Lenox Ave." centers on crooked politics and politicians and a complicated plot; both feature singing, dancing, and music that have absolutely nothing to do with the plots. "Souls" is significant because it was one of the last "race movies" ever made, and shows post-WWII Black life in the big city (i.e. New York). Although both movies are a bit hard to watch because of film deterioration or poor production values (or both), both are worth the effort as artifacts of another time and place and surely the fore-runners of 70's "Blaxploitation" cinema. (GMC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Alpha Video 5228 Harlem Double Feature: Hi-De-Ho/ The Duke Is Tops ● DVD $7.98
Total Running Time: 138 minutes, highly recommended
Starring: Cab Calloway, Jeni Le Gon (1st), Ralph Cooper, Lena Horne (2nd)
More "race movies" for your viewing pleasure: "Hi-De-Ho" is the Negro Big Band version of the "jukebox musicals" of the rock and roll era, with Cab Calloway playing an up-and-coming musician dealing with trying to make it in show-biz, while juggling two women: jealous girlfriend "Minnie" (played by the lovely dancer Jeni Le Gon) and his manager Nettie (played by singer Ida James). While the production values are good (for race movies) and the acting is decent, it's Cab's musical numbers steal the show; whether auditioning in a hotel room, or conducting his orchestra at a nightclub, Calloway commands the screen. (Note: this film is not to be confused with two shorts (from 1934 and 1937) of the same name.) The first half concentrates on the story, while the second half is basically an extended floor show with other performers in addition to Calloway and his orchestra--singers The Peters Sisters and tap dancers The Miller Brothers and Lois. "The Duke is Tops" is another variation on the rags-to-riches fable, this time Ralph Cooper plays manager to Lena Horne's star while the movie charts her success and their problems. This is Lena's film debut, and at 21 years old, she looks radiant and exudes all the star quality that the whole world would later witness in 1943 film "Stormy Weather". Basically, both films are fine examples of the "backstage musical" genre and every bit as good as the "Broadway Melody..." films of the 30's. (GMC)

 

NEW COMPACT DISCS

 
THE CADILLACS Bear Family BCD 16281 Rock ● CD $24.98
34 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
This is 79 minutes of Vocal Group magic. Though Speedo was their biggest hit, the Cadillacs had all kinds of fantastic material. Spanning 1954 - 64 and put together as only Bear Family does, this is a fine set of their up-tempo items that does the group justice. I Wonder Why/ Zoom, Boom, Zing/ Buzz, Buzz, Buzz/ Naggity Nag/ Jay Walker/ Great Googly Moo/ Copy Cat, and so many gems waiting to be appreciated. (JM)
THE CADILLACS: A' Looka Here/ Baby's Comin' Home To Me/ Bad Dan McGoon/ Buzz Buzz Buzz/ C'mon Home Baby/ Cool It Fool/ Copy Cat/ Don't Be Mad With My Heart/ Down The Road/ Dum Dee Dum Dum/ Dumbell/ Gloria/ Great Googly Moo/ Holy Smoke Baby/ I Want To Know About Love/ I Wonder Why/ Jay Walker/ Lucy/ My Girlfriend/ Naggity Nag/ No Chance/ Peek-A-Boo/ Please Mr. Johnson/ Romeo/ Shock-A-Doo/ Speedoo/ Speedoo Is Back/ Still You Left Me Baby/ Sugar Sugar/ Why/ Woe Is Me/ Yea Yea Baby/ Zoom (Version 2)/ Zoom Boom Zing

 
RAY CHARLES & MILT JACKSON Atlantic (France) 81951 Soul Brothers/ Soul Meeting ● CD $26.98
2 CDs, 14 tracks, 94 mins, highly recommended
Not a new release but featured here for the first time. This puts together two albums recorded for the Atlantic label. "Soul Brothers" originally came out in 1958, and "Soul Meeting" was 1961, although all of the recordings were done from 1957 - 1958. Many call Ray Charles "The Genius" and that moniker is re-enforced on outings like this collection of mostly Jazz, where Charles doesn't sing, but only plays (and very well) Saxophone, and in some cases piano and sax in the same song. Milt Jackson is no slouch as well, playing beautiful vibraharp, piano and guitar. Both of these records were engineered by the legendary Tom Dowd and feature such top-notch musicians as Kenny Burrell, Oscar Pettiford, Billy Mitchell, Art Taylor, and many more. This features such great tracks as Cosmic Ray/ Bags of Blues/ Blue Funk/ Soul Brothers, and Hallelujah I Love Her So. Bonus tracks exclusive to CD are The Genius After Hours, and Charlesville. (JM)

 
MITTY COLLIER Kent CDKEND 301 Shades Of Mitty Collier - The Chess Singles, 1961-68 ● CD $18.98
Fabulous collection of 24 sides recorded by this superb soul singer for Chess between 1961 and 1968. It includes the A-side of all 15 of her singles plus the best of her B-sides. It includes her biggest hit Sharing You, her most well known song, if not her biggest hit, I Had A Talk With My Man as well as lesser hits like her answer to Little Johnny Taylor's Part Time Love and No Faith, No Love along with a whole heap of songs that were not hits but deserved to be.
MITTY COLLIER: (Lookin' out the Window) Watching and Waiting/ Ain't That Love/ Do It with Confidence/ Don't Let Her Take My Baby/ Everybody Makes a Mistake Sometimes/ For My Man/ Git Out/ Gotta Get Away from It All (1961 version)/ Gotta Get Away from It All (1968 version)/ Help Me/ I Had a Talk with My Man/ I'm Satisfied/ I'm Your Part-Time Love/ I've Got Love/ Let Them Talk/ Like Only Yesterday/ Miss Loneliness/ My Babe/ My Party/ No Faith, No Love/ Sharing You/ That'll Be Good Enough for Me/ Walk Away/ You're the Only One

 
GEATER DAVIS Soulscape 7011 I'll Play The Blues For You - Legendary House Of Orange ● CD $19.98
16 tracks recorded in the early 70s for Allen Orange's House Of Orange label by this fine Southern soul and blues singer who died in 1984 at the early age of 38. This collection features all the singles he recorded for the label along with tracks that later appeared on an album. It includes his only hit for Orange Sweet Woman's Love, his original recording of I'll Play The Blues For You later cut by Albert King, an almost nine minute rendition of the Jerry Butler classic For Your Precious Love and more. Includes 12 page booklet with exetnsive notes, rare photos and label shots.
GEATER DAVIS: Best of Luck to You/ Breath Taking Girl/ Cold Love (Long Version)/ Cry, Cry, Cry/ Don't Marry a Fool/ For Your Precious Love/ I Can Hold My Own/ I Know (My Baby Loves Me)/ I Love You/ I'll Get By/ I'll Play the Blues for You/ I'll Play the Blues for You (Second Version)/ My Love Is So Strong for You/ St. James Infirmary/ Sweet Woman's Love/ Wrapped Up in You

 
BO DIDDLEY Geffen 11781-02 Gold ● CD $19.98
If the ongoing series of reissues of all of Bo Diddley's classic Checker recordings is too much for you here is a chance to get some of his very best recordings in one package. Diddley was one of the great rock 'n' roll pioneers with his instantly recognizable style that helped jump start the British rock 'n' roll scene of the 60s as well as influencing hundreds of other musicians. This two CD set with 41 tracks includes all the classics Bo Diddley/ I'm A Man/ She's Fine, She's Mine/ Bring It To Jerome/ Who Do You Love?/ Hey! Bo Diddley/ Mona/ Say Man/ The Clock Strikes Twelve/ Mumblin' Guitar/ Say Man, Back Again/ Ride On Josephine/ You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover and much more.
BO DIDDLEY: Before You Accuse Me/ Bo Diddley/ Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger (a/k/a Gunslinger)/ Bring It To Jerome/ Cadillac/ Clock Strikes Twelve, The/ Cops and Robbers/ Crackin' Up/ Dearest Darling/ Deed and Deed I Do/ Diddley Daddy/ Diddy Wah Diddy/ Don't Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got)/ Down Home Special/ Hey! Bo Diddley/ Hush Your Mouth/ I Can Tell/ I'M Bad/ I'M Looking For a Woman/ I'M Sorry/ I'M a Man/ Little Girl/ Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut/ Mona/ Mumblin' Guitar/ Ooh Baby/ Pills/ Pretty Thing/ Ride On Josephine/ Road Runner/ Say Boss Man/ Say Man/ Say Man, Back Again/ She's Alright/ She's Fine, She's Mine/ Spend My Life With You/ Story of Bo Diddley (a/k/a My Story)/ What Do You Know About Love/ Who Do You Love?/ You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover/ You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)

 
THE FANTASTIC JOHNNY C Jamie 3916 The Phil-La Of Soul Singles Collection, 1967-1973 ● CD $14.98
13 tracks, 36 mins, recommended
The Fantastic Johnny C (aka Johnny Corley) was a minor R&B singer in the Wilson Pickett vein from Philadelphia whose one big Top 40 hit was 1967's funky-dance-y Boogaloo Down Broadway. This collection of Johnny C's singles (including the hit and the original song it was based on, Look What Love Can Make You Do) is as much a tribute to the mastermind behind the mixing board as the artist himself: producer and songwriter Jesse James. James had an eye for talent and imagination, both of which are evident in the magic that came about through Boogaloo and James' other great production The Horse, a tough instrumental credited to Cliff Nobles and Co. Although Johnny C only had two more minor hits -- Got What You Need and Hitch it to the Horse, both from 1968 -- these and other tracks like Cool Broadway and a cover of Some Kind of Wonderful are hip shaking fun and great for any party. Later tracks from 1973 -- with Don't Depend On Me leading the way -- are more in the style of Gamble and Huff; indeed, the Philly musicians that formed the back bone of MFSB are playing on these songs; these later tunes aren't bad, but it's the 60's tracks that make the comp worthwhile. (GMC)

 
MARY GRESHAM Soulscape 7008 Voice From The Shadows-Story Of A Muscle Shoals Sister ● CD $19.98
24 tracks, 70 min, essential
Gresham recorded a pair of singles at Rick Hall's Fame studios for Nashboro subsidiary Abet in 1968 with Chuck Cooper as by Chuck and Mariann. Both singles are included here along with 20 previously unreleased masters recorded between 1969-77, several featuring Muscle Shoals stalwarts Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, and Randy McCormick, and all featuring Gresham's incredible vocal prowess. The world is full of CDs that claim to have located completely obscure soul artists of exceptional quality, and they, all too frequently, disappoint. Not this time. Every track is a winner, with ballads and jumps equally great. If the only songs on this discs were I'll Never Let You Walk Alone and Stay There And Try To Be Strong, it would still be worth picking up. This is the best soul release of 2008, and it comes complete with rare photos and informative booklet notes. Essential listening for fans of southern soul and anyone who has ears. (JC)

 
ERNIE K-DOE/ CHRIS KENNER Fuel 2000 61523 The R&B Kings Of New Orleans ● CD $19.98
2 CD, 42 tracks, essential
Two definitive collections by two seminal Crescent City R&B kings in one package; Ernie K-Doe's Absolutely the Best (2001) and Chris Kenner's The Chris Kenner Collection: Land of 1000 Dances (2003). K-Doe was famous for his sole pop hit, 1961's Mother-in-Law, but he also gave us a couple of other classics in A Certain Girl (memorably covered by the late Warren Zevon) and T'Ain't it the Truth. And while Chris Kenner's sole album "Land of 1000 Dances" was recently re-issued by Collector's Choice, this comp has nearly all that album's tracks (just missing the instrumental, I Like it Like That, Part 2) and more -- including the hit I Like it Like That, Part 1, and oft-covered gems Something You Got, and Land of 1000 Dances -- making this CD far more bang for the buck. Since both of these albums are out of print individually, this double package is more than welcome and a necessary purchase. (GMC)

 
LITTLE RICHARD Specialty 30748 The Very Best OF Little Richard ● CD $11.98
25 tracks, 60 mins, essential
Ok, I know, here's yet another Little Richard compilation. But this one boasts superior sound quality, packaging, and overall attractiveness. And no home should be without some Little Richard in the music library: Tutti Frutti/ Long Tall Sally/ Good Golly, Miss Molly/ Rip it Up/ Ready Teddy/ The Girl Can't Help It, the list of classics goes on, all are present and accounted for on this CD, and all demand to be heard by any serious lover of rock and roll. Wanna know where Prince got his flamboyance, Paul McCartney got his scream, and rock got much of its sexual potency? Then go no further than this CD, and be sure to use it to show the kids what the REAL deal is like. And if you already have all the hits there are a few rarities tacked on the end that were previously available only on the box set. (GMC)
LITTLE RICHARD: All Around The World/ Baby (Demo)/ Baby Face/ Bama Lama Bama Loo/ By the Light of the Silvery Moon/ Good Golly, Miss Molly/ Heeby-Jeebies/ Hound Dog (Rehearsal Take)/ Jenny Jenny/ Keep A-Knockin'/ Long Tall Sally/ Lucille/ Medley: Ain't That a Shame/ I Got a Woman/Tutti Frutti (Live)/ Medley:Kansas City/ Hey Hey Hey Hey/ Miss Ann/ Ooh! My Soul/ Read Teddy/ Rip It Up/ Send Me Some Lovin'/ She's Got It/ Slippin' and Slidin' (Peepin' and Hidin')/ The Girl Can't Help It/ True Fine Mama/ Tutti Frutti/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

 
THE MARCELS Collectables 7823 The Ultimate Collection ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, mins, highly recommended
The Marcels came in towards the end of the Doo Wop era and ended up producing one of its all-time greats--possibly the last really great Doo Wop song--the amazing, dynamic rendition of Blue Moon. I know some Doo-wop purist don't care so much for their acrobatic approach, but I for one have always loved it. Since their first hit right out of the gate was a cover of a standard, the Marcels and their handlers tended to mine the classics for possible further gold; consequently, you get their personal stamp on Tin Pan Alley favorites like Summertime/ Over the Rainbow/ You Are My Sunshine, etc. Possibly the second best track on here is the second track, the fabulous, dynamic, Heartaches, which features a similar over the top vocal workout as Blue Moon, but certainly stands on its own as well. So much fantastic stuff, totally recommended. (JM)
THE MARCELS: A Fallen Tear/ A Sunday Kind Of Love/ Allright, Okay, You Win/ Blue Heartaches/ Blue Moon/ Crazy Bells/ Find Another Fool/ Flowerpot/ Friendly Loans/ Goodbye To Love/ Heartaches/ I Wanna Be The Leader/ I'll Be Forever Loving You/ Lollipop Baby/ Love Her The Whole Week Through/ Most Of All/ My Love For You/ My Melancholy Baby/ Over The Rainbow/ Summertime/ Sweet Was The Wine/ Teeter Totter Love/ Two People In The World/ You Are My Sunshine/ You Gave Me Peace Of Mind

 
CLIFF NOBLES Jamie 3920 The Phil-La Of Soul Singles Collection, 1968-1972 ● CD $15.98
12 tracks, 34 mins, recommended
The name Clif Nobles has become synonymous with a hot instrumental from 1968 called The Horse (under the name "Cliff Nobles & Co."), but the problem was that Nobles was a singer and that hit song was actually the backing track for the single's other side, Love is All Right. The story goes that some Florida jocks scratched the record's A-side and simply flipped over to the B-side, which was the instrumental version of the song. And the rest is history. Unfortunately for Nobles, the resulting popularity of the The Horse didn't help his singing career, but it didn't stop him from singing either. Produced by the same man who handled the Fantastic Johnny C (whose singles collection, Jamie 3915, is also reviewed), Jesse James, Nobles was, like Johnny C, a rough singer in the vein of Wilson Pickett who could nontheless hold his own on tracks like Judge Baby/ I'm Back (hit single Horse Fever is the instrumental version of Judge Baby)/ This Love Will Last/ the old-fashioned (for 1968) Burning Desire, and The More I Do For You Baby. The other instrumentals-- Gettin' Away/ The Camel--are ok, but not a patch on The Horse, which, it must be said, works better (for me anyway) as an instrumental. But as another branch in the Jamie Records tree, this collection worth owning if only for completists. Note: the 1972 tracks are a rather unnecessary stereo version of The Horse and a shimmering instrumental, If You Don't, which sounds like a backing track lacking a Nobles vocal. (GMC)

 
BROOKS O'DELL Kent CDKEND 296 I'm Your Man - The Anthology, 1963-1972 ● CD $18.98
26 track collection featuring nearly the entire output of this excellent soul singer who recorded for a variety of labels but only hit it big with his 1963 recording of Watch Your Step (included here). Other fine songs include You Better Make Up Your Mind/ It Hurts Me To My Heart/ Now You Are Gone/ Turn My World Around/ Is It Real and others. The set includes 11 unissued tracks.

 
LLOYD PRICE Bear Family BCD 16999 Lloyd Rocks ● CD $24.98
34 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Just based on Lawdy Miss Clawdy and the serious amount of Rock 'N' Roll it inspired, Lloyd Price earns the distinction of having a "Rocks" collection. There are plenty of other reasons though and Bear Family gather them up in fine fashion. This mostly concentrates on Price's late 1950's recordings, with only a handful of early '50s recordings; this collection is a perfect complement to the Lloyd Price 1952-53 CD on Classics (Classics 5100 - $14.98), Where You At? and Clawdy being the only tracks to be featured on both. Price lost several years of recording due to a stint in the armed forces, so this collection doesn't miss a beat in his career. On this you get Prices big breakout hits Just Because/ Personality/ I'm Gonna Get Married, and Stagger Lee, but it also features a whole bunch of great lesser known cuts. Such gems as Mailman Blues/ Country Boy Rock/ The Chicken and the Bop/ Down By The River/ Lady Luck/ Where Were You on Our Wedding Day?/ Georgiana, and Heavy Dreams, to name a few. Comes with lots of rare photos, detailed notes, great sound, and fantastic presentation that can be expected from our friends at the Family of Bears. (JM)
LLOYD PRICE: Ain't That Just Like A Woman/ Baby Please Come Home/ Baby Please Come Home (LP Version)/ Carry Me Home/ Country Boy Rock/ Down By The River/ Georgianna/ Gonna Let You Come Back Home/ Have You Ever Had The Blues/ Heavy Dreams/ Hello Little Girl/ How Many Times/ I'm Glad, Glad/ I'm Gonna Get Married/ Just Because/ Lady Luck/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Mailman Blues/ Personality/ Question/ Rock 'n' Roll Dance/ Stagger Lee/ Such A Mess/ Tell Me, Pretty Baby/ The Chicken And The Bop/ The Hoochie Coochie Coo/ Walkin' The Track/ Where Were You On Our Wedding Day/ Where You At/ Why/ Woe Ho Ho/ Wont'cha Come Home/ You Need Love

 
OTIS REDDING Stax 30892 Live! In London And Paris ● CD $11.98
19 tracks, 67 mins, essential
In 1967, Otis Redding was at his peak as a performer and artist: he had conquered Europe early in the year, and had set the stage for American domination with his towering performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Had Otis not perished in that plane crash in December 1967, there's no telling how much he could have achieved. This recording of his monumental and influential shows at the Finsbury Park Astoria (aka The Rainbow) in London on March 17th and the Paris Olympia on March 21st (as part of the Stax/Volt Revue tour) are a lasting testament to the man's talent, and ability to work a crowd: when he charges through Shake/ Respect. I Can't Turn You Loose, and Try a Little Tenderness, you can smell the sweat through the speakers and feel the excitement that was doubtlessly generated. And anyone who can make songs so closely identified with the original artists like Satisfaction/ Day Tripper, and My Girl, so completely his own is a rare breed indeed (only Joe Cocker touches Otis as a song interpreter). Backed by Booker T. & the MG's and the Mar-Keys horns, Otis pulls out all the stops while the band plays relentlessly behind him. While the Paris show was released previously as "Live in Europe in July 1967", this CD represents the first time the London concert has been available, and although the latter show was shorter (due to a curfew) than the Paris one, it is great to have it for the sake of contrast. As far as I'm concerned, these live tracks are right up there with James Brown Live at the Apollo, they're that good, and no R&B lover should be without this CD. (GMC)

 
BIG AL SEARS Bear Family BCD 15668 Sear-iously ● CD $21.98
25 tracks, highly recommended
Back in print. A major tenor sax player of both the big band and 50's rock 'n roll eras, Sears began his professional career in the late 20's, while still in his teens. During the 30's and 40's, he lent his blues-based style of play to various jazz ensembles including Chick Webb's orchestra, Andy Kirk and his Cloud of Joy, and, after W.W. II, Duke Ellington's orchestra. In the 50's he was both a session musician and a leader of his own recording aggregations for Coral, RCA, and Herald. The 25 tracks on this disc, recorded between 1949 and 1956, are about evenly split between those tracks which still have a big band jazz feel and those which lean toward rock 'n roll, with fine performances throughout. Six of the cuts feature vocals. Highlights include Brown Boy, the forerunner of the Jive Bombers later hit retitled Bad Boy, Mag's Alley, Fo-Yah, Goin' Uptown, Come And Dance With Me, and Love Call. Typical Bear Family quality with excellent sound, great photos, and a 28 page booklet full on informative notes. My only regret, a minor one, is that Sears' lead performance on Johnny Hodges 1951 hit Castle Rock is not included. (DH)

 
FREDDIE SLACK GVC 1002 Mr Freddie's Boogie (1940-1947) ● CD $13.98
27 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Terrific collection of jumping jazz, R&B and hot boogie woogie featuring Wisconsin born pianist Freddie Slack. He started his career working with the Ben Pollack and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras before joining the Will Bradley Orchestra in 1939 where he really came into his own. It opens with the original version of the great Down The Road A Piece by Slack with The Will Bradley Trio - a tune which has been recorded by many musicians over the years. It follows with six tracks with the full Bradley Orchestra including the big hits Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar and Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat. In 1941 he left Bradley to form his own group and there are two tracks by Slack & His Trio accompanying the great blues singer Big Joe Turner. He subsequently teamed up with teenage song sensation Ella Mae Morse and there are several tracks featuring her vocals including the big hit Cow Cow Boogie. A 1942 session features the tune Riffette featuring the distinctive guitar work of T-Bone Walker and Slack & His Trio accompany T-Bone on his first post war single I Got A Break Baby and Mean Old World. Lots more fine sides are featured and other vocalists like Johnny Mercer and Don raye appear on some tracks. Sound quality is excellent and booklet has fine notes from Dave Penny. (FS)

 
THE SOUL CHILDREN JEA Music 020 Still Standing ● CD $17.98
11 tracks, 48 min, recommended
Everything about this, from the graphics to the production to the sometimes earthy lyrics, says chitlin circuit, but in the best sense of that term. And, as the title suggests, these children are no kids, having released several LPs on Stax in the 1970s. But how good could this latter-day soul offering possibly be? Pretty damn good, as it turns out. J. Blackfoot's vocals remain powerful and smokey, like a good single malt scotch, and Norman West, Queen Ann Hines, and Cassandra Graham (and guest vocalist Toni Green) hold up their end of the musical bargain admirably. Songs such as Love You For Life and Lil House Big Party are as good as any modern R&B you're likely to hear on satellite radio. Extra credit for the female lead on The 3 Of Us, which explores a love triangle involving two men and a woman, for singing "two in the bush always beats one in the hand." The funky funky Too Hot Too Hold, which just doesn't work, is the only real misstep on this otherwise sure-footed effort. Surprisingly good. (JC)

 
JOE TEX Ace CDCHD 1197 Get Way Back - The 1950s Recordings ● CD $18.98
27 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
Gut bucket R&B singer Joe Tex had hits in the late 60's and early 70's, but his recording career began in the mid 1950's and this compilation focuses on the sides he cut for his first two labels: King and Ace (he also cut for Anna, Checker, Jalynne and Dial in the decade or so before he made it). Since this is the first legally-licensed collection of this material--which covers all of his 50's sessions and ends with the earliest 60's releases--that makes this CD a valuable document of Tex's growth as a singer. His first two singles show his diversity: Davy, You Upset My Home, a novelty tune dis of the then-current Davy Crockett craze, is big beat fun; conversely, Come in This House is bluesy testifying beautifully sung. Fans of Show Me and Skinny Legs and All, absolutely need to hear this astutely compiled collection of Joe Tex at his young, raw, and explosive best. (GMC)
JOE TEX: Ain't Nobody's Business/ Another Man's Woman/ Baby You're Right (i'll Hold What I Got)/ Blessed Are These Tears/ Boys Will Be Boys/ Charlie Brown Got Expelled/ Come In This House/ Come On In This House (with Group Overdubbed)/ Cut It Out/ Davy You Upset My Home/ Don't Hold It Against Me/ Gee, I Really Want You (with Group Overdubbed)/ Get Way Back/ Grannie Stole The Show/ I Had To Come Back To You/ I Want To Have A Talk With You/ Just For You And Me/ Mother's Advice/ My Biggest Mistake/ Open The Door/ Pneumonia/ Put Your Confidence In Me/ Right Back To My Arms/ She's Mine/ You Little Baby Face Thing/ Yum, Yum, Yum

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Amber 801 The Stars Of Acapella ● CD $17.98
Fine recent recordings of acapella doo-wop - mostly versions of classics from the 50s and 60s. Includes Never by The Autumns, Gee Whiz by The Del Capris, Barbara Ann by The Valids, The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Five Sharks and more. 20 tracks in all.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Anna 1100 The Best Of Anna Records, Volume 1 ● CD $17.98
First of two CDs devoted to recordings made for the Detroit based Anna label between 1959 and 1961. These 22 tracks are a mix of doo-wop, proto soul and hard R&B including the label's only hits - Barrett Strong's classic Money (That's What I Want). It also includes sides by The Voice Masters, Johnny & Jackie, The Cap-Tans, Ruben Fort, Larry Darnell (a remake of his 1949 hits I'll Get Along Somehow), etc. Sound quality is pretty rough. CD includes booklet with brief notes.
LAMONT ANTHONY & THE VOICE MASTERS: I Didn't Know/ THE CAP-TANS: I'm Afraid/ Tight Skirts & Crazy Sweaters/ LARRY DARNELL: I'll Get Along Somehow/ With Tears In My Eyes/ THE FALCONS: Just For Your Love/ RUBEN FORT: I Feel It/ So Good/ HERMAN GRIFFIN & THE MELO-DEES: Do You Want To See My Baby/ TY HUNTER & THE VOICE MASTERS: Everything About You/ JOHNNY & JACKIE: Hoy Hoy/ Let's Go To A Movie Baby/ No One Else But You/ BARRETT STRONG: Money(That's What I Want)/ Oh! I Apologize/ Yes No Maybe So/ You Know What To Do/ THE VOICE MASTERS: Hope And Pray/ Needed/ Needed(For Lover's Only)/ Oops I'm Sorry

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Anna 1101 The Best Of Anna Records, Volume 2 ● CD $17.98
21 more sides including tracks by The Falcons, Paul Gayten, Allen "Bo" Story, Ty HUnter & The Voice Masters, David Ruffin, Joe Tex, Letha Jones & The Rivals and others. Booklet includes listing of all Anna releases.
THE FALCONS: This Heart Of Mine/ PAUL GAYTEN: Beatnik Beat/ Hot Cross Buns/ Scratchg Back/ The Hunch/ HERMAN GRIFFIN & THE MELO-DEES: Hurry Up And Marry Me/ TY HUNTER & THE VOICE MASTERS: Every Time/ Free/ Orphan Boy/ LETHA JONES & THE RIVALS: I Need You/ BILL MURRAY & GEORGE COPELAND: Big Time Spender Part One/ Big Time Spender Part Two/ DAVID RUFFIN: I'm In Love/ One Of These Days/ ALLEN BO STORY: Blue Moon/ Don't/ JOE TEX: Ain't It A Mess/ All I Could Do Was Cry Part One/ All I Could Do Was Cry Part Two/ Baby You're Right/ I'll Never Break Your Heart Parts 1 & 2

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS BGP CDBGPD 194 The Godfather's R&B - James Brown's Productions,1962-67 ● CD $18.98
22 tracks, 59 min, highly recommended
Having one of the sharpest bands in the business was never enough for James Brown, so he put together his famous Revue, which resembled a sort of farm team of up and coming soul acts. This compilation collects Brown-produced sides featuring his revue artists, including his back up band. Because of ongoing trouble with King Records owner Sid Nathan, Brown began producing sides for the Mercury, its Smash subsidiary, as well as the associated Blue Rock label, his own Try Me label, Crescent, and a few others. While not uniformly excellent, plenty are just that and the others are at least uniformly interesting. Of Brown's female singers, only Anna King merited an LP (released on Philips and recently reissued on CD), and That's When I Cry and If You Don"t Think offer more than a glimpse into the reason why. Still, for many, the shamefully under-promoted Vicki Anderson was the real star of the stable, and her Wide Awake In A Dream, while far from the proto-funk sound Brown was developing, easily out-classes everything here. Still, Bobby Byrd's I'll Be Pressing On, The Jewell's Lookie Lookie Lookie, Yvonne Fair's I Found You (later reworked by Brown as I Feel Good), Rev. Willingham's (ex-Swanee Quintet) That's The Spirit and others are outstanding. And, yes, Tammy Montgomery, who sings I Cried and worked for Brown for 9 months, later recorded for Motown as Tammi Terrell. Other artists include James Crawford, Al "Brisco" Clark & His Orchestra, Dizzy Jones, The Poets, Elsie Mae, and The Five Royales. If you were taking a college class on James Brown, this stuff would be on the mid term, as it is, it should be in you CD player. (JC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS BRCD 1000 The Best Doo-Wops From Baronet Records ● CD $17.98
18 tracks, highly recommended
A particularly fine collection of West Coast black doo-wop recorded in the early 60s for the tiny Baronet label. Highlight are eight tracks by the outstanding Metallics. They do a fine selection of intense ballads and soulful rockers featuring the powerful lead vocals of John "J.D." Wright who also does some expressive falsetto work. It should be noted that these tracks are also on Cub 8085 (The Metallics Meet The Stereos) but even if you have that the rest of the tracks here are excellent featuring sides by The Jaguars (including their classic rendition of The Way Look Tonight), Ron Holden & The Twilighters, Troy Parrish, Ray Frazier and Eddie Williams.
RAY FRAZIER: Sweetheart Lover/ Walking With My Baby/ RON HOLDEN & TWILIGHTERS: Things Don't Happen That Way/ RON HOLDER & TWILIGHTERS: You Got That Lovin' Touch/ THE JAGUARS: Baby Baby Baby/ The Way You Look Tonight/ THE METALLICS: Drop By/ Get Lost/ I'll Conquer the World/ In the Middle of the Night/ It Hurts Me/ Itchy Twitchy Too/ Let Me Love You/ Need Your Love/ TROY PARISH: Gloria/ Laugh/ EDDIE WILLIAMS: Just One More/ Never Too Late

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Charly SINT 002 Instant Soul ● CD $10.98
2 CDs, 32 tracks, 120 mins, highly recommended
Here we have a great overview of classic Soul music from the '60s and '70s in a tidy little 2 CD set, from the tracks that most people will already be familiar with, like Ernie K-Doe's Mother in Law, Lee Dorsey's Working in a Coal Mine, and James Brown's It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World (Live,) to much rarer cuts like Got To Getcha by Maceo & All The King's Men, Misty Blue by Joe Simon, and Every Little Bit Hurts by Peggy Scott. The goal of this collection seems to be to define what Soul music is and in its effort we are provided with pretty much all aspects of classic Soul music. From the Gospel influenced--Solomon Burke's Sidewalks, Fences and Walls--to the Funk--Funkadelic's One Nation Under a Groove--to the Rock'N'Soul like Ike & Tina Turner's Come Together, or Little Richard's I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me), and all points in-between. You even get a bit of Disco in Joe Tex's Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman.) Most recordings presented here are originals, with only a handful of vintage live takes. Robert Parker, Betty Everett, Jimmy Hughes, Gene Chandler, Aaron Neville, and the Ohio Players are but a few more of the artists featured. So considering the fantastic array of quality cuts, this is easy to recommend, great for a budding Soul collection but with enough deep tracks to impress more hardcore fans. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 7570 Bronx Doo Wop ● CD $13.98
20 tracks, 49 mins, highly recommended
Not a new collection, but the first time featured here. Although there are a couple of clunkers on this collection, it's mostly chock full of great stuff. Some pretty well known cuts are here, like Remember When by the Earls, Tell Me Why by The Belmonts, and Solitaire by the Embers. You also get one more track by The Belmonts, a couple more for The Earls, and fine excellent tracks by The Excellents (go figure), Tremains, Duvals, Clickettes, Decoys, and more. My favorite nugget has to be the proto-Ska Go Back Where You Came From by The Summits, most blue beat blasters would flip their wigs if they heard this track, with its skankin' guitar and driving beat. Fantastic stuff! (JM)
THE BELMONTS: I Need Someone/ Tell Me Why/ THE CLICKETTES: Because Of My Best Friend/ Lovers Prayer/ THE DECOYS: It's Gonna Be All Right/ Tomorrow/ THE DEMENSIONS: Over The Rainbow/ THE DUVALS: You Came To Me/ THE EARLS: Life Is But A Dream/ Never/ Remember Then/ THE EMBERS: Solitaire/ THE EXCELLENTS: Coney Island Baby/ LILLIAN LEACH & THE MELLOWS: Smoke From Your Cigarette/ THE MELLOWS: How Sentimental Can I Be/ Yesterdays Memories/ LITTLE BOBBY RIVIERA & THE HEMLOCKS: Cora Lee/ THE SELECTIONS: Guardian Angel/ THE SUMMITS: Go Back Where You Came From/ THE TREMAINS: Jingle Jangle

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent KENTBOX 10 Take Me To The River - A Southern Soul Story, 1961-77 ● CD $54.98
3 discs, 75 tracks, essential
This is the nicest CD package I've seen so far this year! Kent has out done themselves this time: this 3 disc set comes in book form with attached sleeves for the CDs, with beautiful pictures and extensive notes. Very stylish! A fitting package for a compilation that aims to "tell the story of the golden era of Southern Soul". Does it succeed? Well, it does cut quite a swath, managing to represent nearly every big (and little) name in Memphis, Nashville, Muscle Shoals, and Miami (to name a few places where recording happened): William Bell, Otis Redding, Joe Simon, Clarence Carter, Johnnie Taylor, Millie Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Candi Staton.the list goes on. Heck, even white boys Eddie Hinton and Charlie Rich represent, and prove that Soul was a feeling and a being rather than just the color of one's skin. Although one could quibble about the tracks selected for the artist in question (why Do Right Woman, Do Right Man over I Never Loved a Man for Aretha, for example) or omission of certain other artists (where's Isaac Hayes, Jean Knight, or Betty Wright), this is a solid history lesson for the Soul novice and there's just enough alternate takes (Otis' Try a Little Tenderness, for instance) to keep the collector's and diehards happy. In short, no home is complete without this set, and to answer my earlier question: does it succeed in telling the Southern Soul story? Yes, I'd say it does. (GMC)
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Go Home Girl/ KIP ANDERSON: I Went Off And Cried/ THOMAS BAILEY: Wish I Was Back/ BARBARA & THE BROWNS: If I Can't Run To You I'll Crawl/ WILLIAM BELL: I Forgot To Be Your Lover/ You Don't Miss Your Water/ REUBEN BELL WITH THE BELTONES: You're Gonna Miss Me/ WILLIAM BOLLINGER: Tell Him Tonight/ TONY BORDERS: Polly Wally/ BILL BRANDON: Rainbow Road/ JIMMY BRASWELL: I Can't Give You My Heart/ CHUCK BROOKS: Love's Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (part 1)/ DON BRYANT: I'll Go Crazy/ JAMES CARR: That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me/ The Dark End Of The Street/ CLARENCE CARTER: Heartbreak Woman/ Slip Away/ CHET DAVENPORT: Take One Step (i'll Take Two)/ GEATER DAVIS: I'll Play The Blues For You/ SAM DEES: We Always Come Back Strong/ DORIS DUKE: To The Other Woman (i'm The Other Woman)/ JUNE EDWARDS: You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)/ EDDIE FLOYD: Got To Make A Comeback/ KING FLOYD: Groove Me/ ARETHA FRANKLIN: Do Right Woman, Do Right Man/ EDDY GILES: Losin' Boy/ AL GREEN: Take Me To The River/ Tired Of Being Alone/ CLAY HAMMOND: I'll Make It Up To You/ Z.Z. HILL: Faithful And True/ EDDIE HINTON: Cover Me/ JIMMY HUGHES: Steal Away/ LUTHER INGRAM: (if Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right/ GEORGE JACKSON: How Can I Get Next To You?/ JARVIS JACKSON: Something I Never Had/ MILLIE JACKSON: It Hurts So Good/ ETTA JAMES: I'd Rather Go Blind/ AL JOHNSON: Bless Your Little Sweet Soul/ PAUL KELLY: Stealing In The Name Of The Lord/ FREDERICK KNIGHT: I've Been Lonely For So Long/ DENISE LASALLE: Breaking Up Somebody's Home/ LAURA LEE: Dirty Man/ THE MASQUERADERS: Let's Face Facts/ MAURICE & MAC: You Left The Water Running/ TOUSSAINT MCCALL: Let's Do It Over/ GWEN MCRAE: Lead Me On/ MEL & TIM: Starting All Over Again/ BOBBY NEWSOME: Jody, Come Back And Get Your Shoes/ FREDDIE NORTH: She's All I Got/ OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES: A Smile Can't Hide (a Broken Heart)/ BOBBY PATTERSON: I Get My Groove From You/ ANN PEEBLES: I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down/ WILSON PICKETT: Ninety-nine And A Half (won't Do)/ JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY: She Ain't Gonna Do Right/ QUIET ELEGANCE: You've Got My Mind Messed Up/ OTIS REDDING: These Arms Of Mine/ Try A Little Tenderness (take 1)/ CHARLIE RICH: When Something Is Wrong With My Baby/ SAM & DAVE: I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down/ JOE SIMON: My Adorable One/ PERCY SLEDGE: When A Man Loves A Woman/ THE SOUL CHILDREN: I'll Be The Other Woman/ CANDI STATON: Another Man's Woman, Another Woman's Man/ MARCELL STRONG: Mumble In My Ear/ TOMMY TATE: If You Got To Love Somebody/ JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone/ JOE TEX: Buying A Book/ PAUL THOMPSON: What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me/ OSCAR TONEY JR: Without Love (there Is Nothing)/ SHIRLEY WALTON: The One You Can't Have (all By Yourself)/ SPENCER WIGGINS: I Can't Be Satisfied/ Uptight Good Woman/ BOBBY WOMACK: I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You/ O.V. WRIGHT: You're Gonna Make Me Cry/ TOMMIE YOUNG: Take Time To Know Him

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 298 Play The Game - The XL And Sounds Of Memphis Story 2 ● CD $18.98
22 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
The sequel to Kent's first volume of the XL/Sounds of Memphis story, Can't Be Satisfied (Kent 283 - $18.98), continues the label's saga with more sweet soul from George Jackson, The Ovations, The Minits, Barbara & the Browns, and William Bollinger. This set is especially attractive as it features many unreleased tracks, the highlights of which are Jackson's All in My Mind, Art Jerry Miller's Got To Get Home, Today, Tomorrow and You by Everyday People, and Ballinger's Is it Love. All recorded in the early 70's, these tracks truly reflect the times in which they were recorded sound-wise: lots of sophisticated production and dance-y melodies, and in fact quite a few are very much in the style of Willie Mitchell's recordings for Al Green. With half the tracks never released before, it's safe to say that if you have the first volume of the XL/Sounds of Memphis story, then you need volume 2. And if you don't have either, then I'd do myself a favor and pick both up today because each document an unsung chapter in Southern Soul. (GMC
WILLIAM BOLLINGER: Is It Love/ Teardrops/ BARBARA BROWN: You Don't Love Me/ CHARLIE'S CHILDREN: #1/ WILLIE COBBS: I Love Only You/ EVERYDAY PEOPLE: Today Tomorrow and You/ ANN HODGE: Nothing But The Truth/ GEORGE JACKSON: All In My Mind/ I Don't Need You No More/ CARROLL LLOYD: Try My Love/ ART JERRY MILLER: Got To Get Home/ THE MINITS: Natural Reaction/ Stepping Stone/ Take A Look At Yourself/ THE OVATIONS: Gotta Move On To My Destiny/ Little Man/ RICHARD & WALTER: I Love You/ LOU ROBERTS: Not Mama'a Little Girl Anymore/ THE SWEETEENS: So Much Love To This/ RUDOLPH TAYLOR: Doorsteps To Sorrow/ VISION: Play The Game/ SPENCER WIGGINS: Take Time To Love Your Woman

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 300 Further Adventures Of Mod Jazz ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended
This is the sixth volume in this interesting series. Mod Jazz seems to encompass a wide range of Blues, Soul and Jazz, with the emphasis on style and a certain state of hip-ness, all recorded between the late '50s to late '60s. Prime examples featured here like Hot Barbeque by Jack McDuff, All Around The World by Chuck Higgins (making its first appearance here), and Arabian Jerk by The Merits. In general, this music is all highly danceable and very cool. Ike & Tina fans will be thrilled to check out two newly unearthed tracks that are also making their first appearance, Daddy's Blues and Camel Walking, credited to Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm. Other examples of Hep-Cats laying it down would be Sweet Bread by The Miles Grayson Trio, La, La, La, La, La by The Afro-Blues Quintet, Motherless Child by Jerry Butler, Whole Lotta Something by The Merced Blue Notes, and Crazy Lover by Richard "Louis Louis" Berry. This series still seems to have a lot of gas in the tank; I would expect that we'll see at least a couple more installments full of quality stuff. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Krypton 8606 Doo-Wop Collectors Classics, Volume #4 ● CD $17.98
25 collection of mostly obscure doo-wop. It includes four sides by Billy Ward and The Dominoes including their beautiful renditions of Stardust and Deep Purple. Other artists include The Rollers, Untouchables, Vik E. Lee, Imperials, Sabres, etc. Quite a few tracks are new to CD.
THE DEEP SIX: Image of a Girl/ THE IMPERIALS: C'mon Tiger/ Glory of Love/ VIK E. LEE: "A" yOU'RE aDORABLE/ Gee Whiz/ Hollywood Stroll/ Those Wedding Bells/ EMMETT LORD: Turn Him Down/ Women/ THE RAVES: Don't Bug Me Baby/ THE ROLLERS: Bonneville/ Bounce/ Continental Walk/ Got My Eye On You/ I Want You So/ Teenager's Waltz/ THE SABRES: Lulu/ Your Face/ THE UNTOUCHABLES: Lovely Dee/ You're the Top/ BILLY WARD & THE DOMINOES: Deep Purple/ Jennie Lee/ My Proudest Posession/ Solitude/ Stardust

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Krypton 8607 Doo-Wop Collectors Classics, Volume #5 ● CD $17.98
Another 25 fine rare sides - many new to CD - The Statues, Blisters (a great rockin' rendition of Shortnin' Bread), Spinners, Pandoras, Victorians, Chord Spinners, Cornell Gunter, etc.
THE BLISTERS: Shortnin' Bread/ GINA BOYER: Promise Me Anything/ Say It From Your Heart/ THE CHORD SPINNERS: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing/ THE DYNAMICS: Chapel On a Hill/ CORNELL GUNTHER: If We Should Meet Again/ Neighborhood Dance/ THE PANDORAS: Games/ THE RAVES: If I Know the Way/ THE RIVINGTONS: Cherry/ CHORD THE SPINNERS: Call Me/ THE SPINNERS: Dream/ Til the End of Time/ THE STATUES: Blue Velvet/ Dream Girl/ Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair/ Keep the Hall Light Burning/ The Commandments of Love/ White Christmas/ Wishing Well/ THE VICTORIANS: If I Loved You/ Monkey Stroll/ What Makes Little Girls Cry/ You're Invited To a Party/ ANDY WAYNE: Where Does a Rock and Roll Singer Go

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Krypton 8608 Doo-Wop Collectors Classics, Volume #6 ● CD $17.98
Another 25 rarities - many new to CD - The Plaids, Gene Mumford, Andy & The Marglows, The Cordials, The Blisters, Jay Johnson, Artie Wayne, etc.
ANDY & THE MARGLOWS: I'll Get By/ Just One Look/ Superman Lover/ Symphony/ CHARLIE BAKER: Star of Wonder/ You Crack Me Up/ THE BLISTERS: Cookie Rockin' In Her Stockings/ NICK CORDELL: Arlene/ How Can I Help It/ THE CORDIALS: Oh How I Love Her/ You Can't Believe In Love/ THE GENTS: Jump In the Line/ Why Do I Love Her/ JAY JOHNSON: Early Autumn/ THE LA RELLS: I Guess I'll Never Stop Loving You/ Sneaky Alligator/ GENE MUMFORD: Brazil/ I Gotta Have My Baby Back/ I'm Getting Sentimental Over You/ When Day Is Done/ THE PLAIDS: Chit Chat/ Hungry For Your Love/ RITA RENAY: Every Night/ THE STATUES: Love at First Sight/ ARTIE WAYNE: I Hurt That Girl

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Lady Goose 32108 Dopey Doo-Wops, Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
The doo-wop genre seems to have a larger than usual number of songs with titles consisting of nonsense syllables and, often, equally nonsensical lyrics. We all know Papa Oom Mow Mow and Rama-Lama-Ding Dong but this disc is the first of two featuring some of the lesser known titles. 25 tracks from the 50s and early 60s including such intellectually challenging titles as Oop-Boopy-Oop by The Meadowlarks, Aye-Yay-Yai by The Inspirations, Wah-Bop-Sh-Wah by The Twilighters, Zippity-Zip by The Empires, and Tippi-Tippi-Wang-Wang by The Kashmirs and lots more. The packaging and brief notes are in keeping with the spirit of the music.
THE BIG FIVE: Whop-Ting-A-Ling/ THE CHARTS: Zoop/ THE CHUCK-A-LUCKS: Chuck-A-Luck/ THE DODGERS: Drip Drop/ THE EMPIRES: Zippity-Zip/ THE FIVE FLEETS: Pitter Patter/ THE FIVE LORDS: Oo-La-La/ THE FOUR BUDDIES: Ooh-Ow/ THE FOUR KINGS: Do-Li-Op/ THE GUYTONES: Hunky Dory/ THE HARPTONES: Oobidee-Oobidee-Oo/ THE HEARTS: Oo-Wee/ THE INSPIRATIONS: Aye-Yai-Yai/ THE KASHMIRS: Tippi-Tippi-Wang-Wang/ THE MARTELLS: Va-Va-Voom/ THE MEADOWLARKS: Oop-Boopy-Oop/ THE METROTONES: Skitter Skatter/ THE PASTELS: Boom-De-De-Boom/ THE PIPS: Ching Chong/ HERB PRICE & THE DARTS: Shimmy Shimmy Cha Cha/ THE RAMBLERS: Vadunt-Un-Va-Da Song/ THE STARLINGS: A-Loo-A-Loo/ THE STEREOS: Tic-Tac-Toe/ THE TURBANS: Tick-Tock-Awoo/ THE TWILIGHTERS: Wah-Bop-Sh-Wah/ THE ZODIACS: Golly Gee

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Lady Goose 32109 Dopey Doo-Wops, Vol. 2 ● CD $16.98
25 more gems that keeps Stephen Hawking up at nights - Riggety Tick by The Rivals, Do-Be-Do-Be-Wop-Wop by The Squires, Zippity-Zippity-Zoom by The Dreamlovers, Boo-Wacka-Boo by The Velveteers, Switchie Witchie Tichie by The Midnighters and more.
THE ATLANTICS: Boo-Hoo-Hoo/ THE BONNEVILLES: Zu-Zu/ THE CASHMERES: Boom Mag-Azeno Vip/ THE CHALETS: Fat Fat Fat Momio/ THE DANDERLIERS: Chop Chop Boom/ THE DREAMLOVERS: Zoom Zoom Zoom/ THE FIVE DAPPS: Do-Wop-A-Do/ FRED GREEN GROUP: Wham-Slam-Bam/ THE INCREDIBLE UPSETTERS: Oo-Wah-Cha-Wah/ THE JEWELS: Rickety Rock/ THE MARVELLOS: Boyee Yoing/ THE METALLICS: Itchy Twitchy Too/ THE MIDNIGHTERS: Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling/ Switchie Witchie Tichie/ THE MINT JULEPS: Vi-A-Dip/ THE PEARLS: Zippity-Zippity-Zoom/ THE PLATTERS: Voo-Vee-Ah-Bee/ SANDY POWELL & GROUP: Bon Bon/ THE PYRAMIDS: Bow Wow/ THE RIVALS: Riggety Tick/ THE SAUCERS: Hi-Oom/ THE SENATORS: Tafu/ THE SQUIRES: Do-Be-Do-Be-Wop-Wop/ THE TREMAINES: Jingle Jingle/ THE VELVETEERS: Boo-Wacka-Boo

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Pet Rock 712786 Jukebox Swing Box Set ● CD $14.98
4 CDs, 41 tracks, 110 mins, recommended
With this collection we have a rather oddball, but ultimately worthwhile, outing. While it is four CDs, it only has 41 tracks and could have easily fit on two; although it has "Swing" as its title, the music is primarily Jump Blues and R&B. This is sub-titled "The Roots of the Swing Revolution," an odd angle to approach this material from, but if they are trying to appeal to fans of Royal Crown Revue and The Brian Setzer Orchestra, then it might make sense. The bottom line is this is an affordable set of a whole lot of great, high-energy music presented in a really fun fashion, with CD booklets featuring Zoot suit styling and big-time dance moves laid out in entertaining pictures and instructional steps. Artists like Joe Liggins, Charles Brown, Johnny Otis, Jack McVea, Ray Charles, and Buddy Tate all get two cuts each. Then plenty of great tracks by the likes of Percy Mayfield, Jimmy McCracklin, Snookum Russell, Big Jay McNeely, Jay McShann, etc. Plus some more obscure coolness like Fatso Bently doing June-Teenth Jamboree, Frantic Faye Thomas with I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City, and Clifford Blivens with Fat Man Blues. It looks like the four CDs contained herein originally came separately, but are now thrown together in a little box, with hopes of having strength in numbers. (JM)
ERNIE ANDREWS: Green Gin/ BUDDY BANKS: I Need It Bad (Groove Juice)/ THE BASIN STREET BOYS: Voot Nay on the Vot Nay/ FATSO BENTLY: June-Teenth Jamboree/ CLIFFORD BLIVENS: Fat Man Blues/ EARL BROWN: I'm a Lovin' Man/ CHARLES BROWN WITH JOHNNY MOORE'S THREE BLAZERS: B-Sharp You'll See/ Bobby Sox Blues/ Johnny's Boogie/ Juke Box Lil/ TEDDY BUNN'S GROUP: Ee-Bobaliba/ RAY CHARLES: I'll Do Anything But Work/ Let's Have a Ball/ VIC DICKENSON: St. Louis Blues/ You're Driving Me Crazy/ FLOYD DIXON: Saturday Night Fish Fry/ LLOYD GLENN: Fat Meat and Greens/ DUKE HENDERSON & HIS ORCHESTRA: Dr. Duke's Boogie/ EARL JACKSON: Take Out the Squeal/ JOE LIGGINS & HIS HONEYDRIPPERS: Big Baritone 2/ Drippers Boogie Part 1/ I Cover the Waterfront/ Little Willie/ PERCY MAYFIELD: Baby You're Still a Square/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Gonna Have My Fun/ BIG JAY MCNEELY: Willie and the Cool Cat/ JAY MCSHANN: Geronimo/ No Name Boogie/ JACK MCVEA: Carlos/ Fightin' Mama Blue/ SYLVESTOR MIKE: Fish House Boogie/ STEVE MILLER'S FOUR BARONS: Mixed Fruit/ JOHNNY OTIS BAND: Be Bop Baby Blues/ Crazy 'Bout Your Cooking/ KING PERRY: Christopher Columbus/ SNOOKUM RUSSELL: Juke Box Boogie Woogie Chick/ FLETCHER SMITH & HIS ORCHESTRA: Mean Poor Gal/ BUDDY TATE: Tates a Jumpin'/ Vine Street Breakdown/ FRANTIC FAYE THOMAS: I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City/ EARL WILLIAMS: O Baby Please

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rhino (UK) 77576 Atlantic R&B, Vol. 1 : 1947-1952 ● CD $9.98
26 tracks, 76 mins, essential
Reissue of Atlantic 81293. Certainly Atlantic records are one of the greatest--if not the greatest--record labels ever. Pretty much right out of the gate, they put out one amazing record after another. What we have here is a small sampling of the best of Atlantic's output in their first five years, an output of outstanding blues and Rhythm & Blues. On this we get huge well known songs like That Old Black Magic by Tiny Grimes, Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee by Stick McGhee, 5-10-15 Hours by Ruth Brown, Mardi Gras in New Orleans by Professor Longhair, and One Mint Julip by The Clovers. Then we also get monster tracks that aren't as well remembered but great nonetheless, such as The Applejack by Joe Morris, Tee Nah Nah by Harry Van Walls, The Chill is on by Big Joe Turner, and Gator's Groove by Willis Jackson. This also dives deeper with many of the great artists and on top of the already mentioned tracks there's two more from Tiny Grimes, three more from Ruth Brown, two more by Joe Turner, as well as additional tracks by most of the other artists mentioned. This being volume one and only covering five years, there is definitely a whole lot more essential material to come in this series, but if you are like me, you won't tire of this one while waiting for the next installments. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rhino (UK) 77577 Atlantic R&B, Vol. 2: 1947-1952 ● CD $9.98
26 tracks, highly recommended Atlantic was really flying high between 1952 and 1954 and many of the tracks here made it into the R&B top ten, several in the coveted #1 position. It includes such gems as Ting-A-Ling by The Clovers, Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean by Ruth Brown, Honey Hush by Big Joe Turner, Money Honey by The Drifters and more from Professor Longhair, The Chords, Tommy Ridgley, Ray Charles and more. Excellent sound but no notes but a great deal for the price. (FS)
LAVERN BAKER: Soul On Fire/ Tomorrow Night/ Tweedle Dee/ RUTH BROWN: Daddy Daddy/ Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean/ Oh, What A Dream/ Wild Wild Young Men/ RAY CHARLES: Greenbacks/ I Got A Woman/ Mess Around/ The Midnight Hour/ THE CHORDS: Sh-Boom/ THE CLOVERS: Good Lovin'/ Lovey Dovey/ Ting-A-Ling/ THE DIAMONDS: A Begger For Your Kisses/ AL HIBBLER: After The Lights Go Down Low/ CLYDE MCPHATTER AND THE DRIFTERS: Honey Love/ Money Honey/ Such A Night/ Whatcha Gonna Do/ White Christmas/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Tipitina/ TOMMY RIDGLEY: Jam Up/ JOE TURNER: Honey Hush/ Shake, Rattle And Roll

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS SRCD 110 The Best Doo-Wops From Spry Records ● CD $17.98
16 tracks, 38 mons, recommended
16 tracks recorded for this Southern California label in the mid/ late 50s. In spite of the titles not all tracks here are doo-wop - the two tracks by Willie Egan are fine rocking R&B and Harmonica Slim is a fine blues singer and harmonica player whos real name is Travis Blaylock. For doo-wop we have fine sides by The Crescendos, Reuben Grundy & The DeVille Sisters, The Craousels, Frankie Marshall and Gene La Marr & The Blue Flames. Considering the label had more than 25 releases it's a shame that this couldn't have been a more generous offering but what is here is excellent. (FS)
THE CAROUSELS: Drive In Movie/ I've Cried Enough/ Lotsa, Lotsa Lovin'/ Rendezvous/ THE CRESCENDOS: All That's Good/ Dreamer From My Heart/ WILIE EGAN: Treat Me Right/ WILLIE EGAN: You Must Be Foolin'/ RUEBEN GRUNDY & DEVILLE SISTERS: Every Word/ Sail Away/ HARMONICA SLIM: Going Back Home/ Thought I Didn't Love You/ GENE LA MARR & BLUE FLAMES: Close To Me/ GENE LAMARR & THE BLUE FLAMES: Moon Eyes/ FRANKIE MARSHALL: Remembrence/ Walk With Me

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Stateside 71533-2 But Officer! - More Original Jamaican Sound System ● CD $11.98
21 tracks, highly recommended
Back in print with a new number. Complementing EMI 84736-2 ("Original Jamaican Sound System" - $11.98) this presents another fine collection of R&B from the 50s which was played over sound systems in Jamaica in the 50s and early 60s. A mix of familiar and obscure titles. Includes sides by Sonny Knight (the classic title song), Shirley & Lee, Fats Domino, Ernie Freeman, Louis Prima, Lynn Hope, The Squires, The Block Busters (an R&B version of George Jones's country hit Why Baby Why), Maxwell Davis (an R&B instrumental cover of Hank Williams' Hey Good Lookin'!), The Playmates, Etta James and other. Great sound and 12 page booklet has notes, photos and label shots - the latter including rare Jamaican pressings of some of the titles on this collection. (FS)

 
LYNN WHITE Waylo 13002 Sorry ● CD $13.98
5 tracks, highly recommended
Classic 1985 LP by this superb soul singer finally on CD. The highlight is a 12 1/2 minute medley of Al Green's God Blessed Our Love/ When A Man Loves A Woman/ That's How Strong My Love Is, a nice slow groove that took up most of side 1 on the original LP. The album is rounded out by 4 originals - Take Your Time/ Don't Let Success/ I Made A Mistake & title tune. Produced by the great Willie Mitchell and including some fine sax work from Andrew Love. (GM/ FS)

 

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