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