LATEST ADDITIONS  04/01/2014


IMPORTANT NOTE: We currently do not have a shopping cart. The company who handled our cart has gone out of business. However we are still handling orders and are keeping our web site up to date with new releases. You may place your orders by email (roots@toast.net), phone (toll free in USA 1-888-ROOTS-66, Elsewhere: 510-965-9503) or by mail P.O. Box 837, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA


COMPACT DISCS

 
THE "5" ROYALES Rockbeat 3101 Soul & Swagger - The Complete "5" Royales ● CD $84.98
Due in a few days. This looks to be a killer - the complete recordings of one of the most soulful and influential R&B groups led by the incredibly talented Lowman Pauling who wrote many of their songs, sang bass and played some tough guitar. It includes their earliest recordings as the gospel group The Royal Sons Quartet in the early 50s, all their classic sides for Apollo and King in the 1950s and their later recordings for a range of labels in the early and mid 60s. All their great hits are here - Baby Don't Do It/ Help Me Somebody/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/ Too Much Lovn'/ I Do/ Tears Of Joy and Think (subsequently a hit for James Brown along with unissued songs and alternate takes. 141 tracks on five CDs housed in a 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" box with a 124 page booklet with detailed notes by R&B experts Bill Dahl and Tom McCullough.
THE 5 ROYALES: (I'm) Gonna Spend My Money/ (Something Moves Me) Within My Heart/ 1 Don't Be Ashamed/ All Righty!/ Baby Don't Do It/ Baby, Don't Do It/ Baby, Don't Do It/ Bedside of a Neighbor/ Behave Yourself/ Can't Stand Losing You/ Catch That Teardrop/ Come On Let's Have A Good Time/ Come Over Here/ Come on and Save Me/ Come on and Save Me (alternate 1)/ Come on and Save Me (alternate 2)/ Courage to Love/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/ Cry Some More/ Dedicated To The One I Love/ Dedicated To The One I Love/ Devil With the Rest/ Didn't We Fool Them/ Do Unto You/ Do the Cha Cha Cherry/ Doin' Everything/ Don't Give Me More Than You Can Take/ Don't Let It Be In Vain/ Don't Let It Be In Vain (alternate)/ Double or Nothing/ Every Dog Has His Day/ Everybody Knows/ Faith/ Feeling Is Real/ Get Something Out of It/ Get Something Out of It (alternate 1)/ Get Something Out of It (alternate 2)/ Give Me One More Chance/ Good Things/ Goof Ball/ Help Me Somebody/ Help Me Somebody/ Help Yourself/ Here It 'Tis Right Here/ How I Wonder/ I Ain't Getting Caught/ I Am thinking/ I Could Love You/ I Do/ I Got To Know/ I Know It's Hard But It's Fair/ I Like It Like That/ I Like It Like That/ I Need Your Lovin' Baby/ I Wanna Rest/ I Want It Like That/ I Want To Thank You/ I'd Better Make a Move/ I'm Gonna Run It Down/ I'm Gonna Tell Them/ I'm Not Ashamed/ I'm On the Right Road Now/ I'm Standing in the Shadows/ I'm With You/ I'm a Cool Teenager/ I'm a Cool Teenager (alternate)/ If You Don't Need Me/ It Hurts Inside/ It Won't Be Long/ Jail Bird/ Journey's End/ Just Can't Do Me This Way/ Just as I Am/ Just as I Am (alternate)/ Laundromat Blues/ Let Me Come Back Home/ Let Nothing Seperate Me/ Messin' Up/ Mine Forevermore/ Miracle Of Love/ Mohawk Squaw/ Monkey Hips and Rice/ Mr. Moon Man/ Mr. Moon Man, Pt. 1 & 2/ Much In Need/ My Sugar Sugar/ My Wants for Love/ Never Turn Your Back/ Not Going To Cry/ Now Baby Don't Do It/ One Mistake/ Please, Please, Be Mine/ Please, Please, Please/ Pumpkin Pie/ Raindrops Keep A-Fallin'/ Real Thing/ Real Thing (alternate)/ Right Around The Corner/ Roll With the Punch/ Royal J. Abbit Interview/ Say It/ School Girl/ See, Hear and Know Nothing/ Send Me Somebody/ She Did Me Wrong/ Show Me/ Six O'Clock in the Morning/ Slummer The Slum, AKA Stompenin' Stomp/ Slummer the Slum/ So God Can Use Me/ Solid Rock/ Someone Made You For Me/ Take All Of Me/ Take Me With You Baby/ Talk About My Woman/ Talk About My Women Pt. 2/ Tears of Joy/ Tell Me You Care/ Tell The Truth/ There's Somebody Over There/ They Don't Know/ Think/ Think/ Thirty Second Lover/ Time For Everything/ Too Much Lovin'/ Too Much of a Little Bit/ Washboard Take 1./ What's That/ What's in the Heart/ When I Get Like This/ When You Walked In Through The Door/ Why/ With All Your Heart/ With All Your Heart (alternate)/ Women About to Make Me Go Crazy/ Wonder Where Your Love Has Gone/ You Didn't Learn It at Home/ You Know I Know/ Your Only Love/ Your Only Love (alternate)

 
DAVE "BABY" CORTEZ Chess (Japan) 75978 Rinky Dink ● CD $18.98
Very limited quantities on this Japanese release. CD reissue of Chess LP 1473 from 1962. Cortez was a versatile instrumentalist mostly known for his R&B organ playing but on this set also plays piano and harmonica. It includes the title tune which was a big R&B and pop hit along with Skins And Sound/ Jammin, Parts 1 & 2/ Mr. Gee/ Lost Love, etc. Only 11 tracks but enjoyable. There is some tough sax and guitar work behind Dave on several cuts but there is no discographical information on who they are but it sounds like it might be King Curtis and Jimmy Spruill.

 
THE DOMINOES Acrobat 9035 Collection, 1951-1959 ● CD $19.98
The Dominoes were one of the finest and most successful vocal groups of the 1950s. This three CD set with 88 tracks features both sides of all their singles recorded for Federal, King, Decca and Liberty. Led by Billy Ward the group was blessed with exceptional lead vocalists - first Clyde McPhatter who was with the group from 1950 to '53 to be followed by Jackie Wilson who left in 1956 with subsequent leads be taken by several vocalists including Ward himself. All their classic sides are here - Do Something For Me/ Sixty Minute Man/ That's What They're Doing To Me/ Mercy Mercy Baby/ The Bells (with its insane sobbing from Clyde)/ These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You/ Rags To Riches and more as well as many great non-hits. Most of the group's King & Federal recordings featured small R&B groups but once the group joined Decca in mid 1956, Ward moved in a more pop direction, with most tracks accompanied by orchestra and strings or, in some cases, by a big band. During their Decca and Liberty tenure King continued to release previously unissued songs through the early 60s and these are all featured here. Includes 28 page illustrated booklet with detailed notes by doo-wop expert Marv Goldberg.
THE DOMINOES: A Little Lie/ Above Jacob's Ladder/ Behave Hula Girl/ Bobby Sox Baby/ Can't Do Sixty No More/ Cave Man/ Chicken Blues/ Christmas In Heaven/ Come On Snake Let's Crawl/ Come To Me Baby/ Deep Purple/ Deep Sea Blues/ Do It Again/ Do Something For Me/ Don't Leave Me This Way/ Don't Thank Me/ Gimme Gimme Gimme/ Give Me You/ Handwriting On The Wall/ Harbor Lights/ Have Mercy Baby/ Heart To Heart (With Little Esther)/ Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart/ How Long, How Long Blues/ I Am With You/ I Can't Escape From You/ I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance/ I Really Don't Want To Know/ I'd Be Satisfied/ I'm Lonely/ If I Never Get To Heaven/ Jennie Lee/ Lay It On The Line/ Learnin' The Blues/ Little Black Train/ Little Things Mean A Lot/ Lonesome Road/ Looking For A Man To Satisfy My Soul (Little Esther)/ Love Me Now Or Let Me Go/ Love, Love, Love/ Lucinda/ May I Never Love Again/ Move To The Outskirts Of Town/ Music Maestro Please/ My Baby's 3-D/ My Proudest Possession/ No Room/ No, Says My Heart/ One Moment With You/ Other Lips, Other Arms (Little Esther)/ Over The Rainbow/ Pedal Pushin' Papa/ Rags To Riches/ Ringin In A Brand New Year/ Rock Plymouth Rock/ September Song/ Sixty Minute Man/ Solitude/ Someone Greater Than I/ St Therese Of The Roses/ St. Louis Blues/ Star Dust/ Take Me Back To Heaven/ Tenderly/ That's How You Know You're Growing Old/ That's What You're Doing To Me/ The Bells/ The Deacon Moves In (With Little Esther)/ These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You/ Three Coins In The Fountain/ To Each His Own/ Tootsie Roll/ Until The Real Thing Comes Along/ Weeping Willow Blues/ When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano/ Where Now Little Heart/ Will You Remember/ Yours Forever

 
THE FIVE BLIND BOYS OF MISSISSIPPI Shout 34 Something To Shout About ... From The Golden Age Of Gospel ● CD $18.98 $13.98
23 tracks, 66 mins, essential
Very limited stock at sale price. Two classic albums ("Precious Memories" - Peacock 102 and "Father I Stretch My Hands To Thee" - Peacock 113) by one of the greatest of all gospel groups combined on this CD. "Precious Memories" was issued in 1959 as tribute to the group's recently deceased lead singer Archie Brownlee. Brownlee was one of the greatest if not THE greatest hard gospel quartet singer - an utterly superb vocalist with a high, emotion drenched style who could wail to bring the church down but whose versatile pipes could articulate the whole range of human emotions. The four tracks from the January 1959 sessions, Brownlee's last for Peacock, have such an intensity that it's likely to leave you drained by the time you finish listened. After Brownlee's death the group underwent some personal changes and lead roles were handled by Henry Johnson, a superb tenor singer - not in Brownlee's league but certainly the equal of many of the other quartet leaders out there. Their 1964 session here featured 11 fine performances with the standouts being Time Is Winding Up/ Oh Why and, particularly, Father I Stretch My hands To Thee with Johnson switching between preaching and singing with an intensity that rivals Brownlee. Includes 12 page booklet. (FS)

 
STONEWALL JACKSON Real Gone 0184 Original Greatest Hits ● CD $15.98
Stonewall Jackson was one of the great honky tonk singers of the 1960s and this collection features 24 of his biggest hits from Life To Go in 1958 to Torn From The Pages Of Life in 1972. His two #1 hits are here Waterloo (which reached #4 in the pop charts) and B.J. The D.J. along with other great sides like Smoke Along The Track/ Wy I'm Walking/ A Wound Time Can't ERase/ I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water and more.
STONEWALL JACKSON: A Little Guy Named Joe/ A Wound Time Can't Erase/ Angry Words/ B.J. the D.J./ Blues Plus Booze (Means I Lose)/ Can't Hang Up the Phone/ Don't Be Angry/ Help Stamp Out Loneliness/ I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water/ Leona/ Life of a Poor Boy/ Mary Don't You Weep/ Me and You and a Dog Named Boo/ Old Showboat (Live at the Grand Ole Opry)/ One Look at Heaven/ Promises and Hearts (Were Made to Break)/ Smoke Along the Track/ The Minute Men (Are Turning in Their Graves)/ Torn from the Pages of Life/ Waterloo/ Why I'm Walkin'/ Wild Wild Wind

 
GRANDPA JONES B.A.C.M. 440 Volume 2 - Going Down The Country ● CD $14.98
26 tracks, highly recommended
Complementing B.A.C.M. 206 this is another fine collection of sides by this excellent performer this time featuring some of his earlier recordings made for King between 1947 and 1952. Grandpa Jones (Louis Marshall Jones) was an excellent and distinctive performer from Kentucky with a voice that sounded 20 years older than his real age and a frailing banjo style that owed a lot to his influence Uncle Dave Macon. Accompaniments range from old timey to mainstream country with mandolin, steel guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, etc. Accompanying musicians include Merle Travis, Dave's wife Ramona, Jethro Burns, Jerry Byrd, Tommy Jackson and others. The music is a mix of traditional, Jones originals (including the much covered I'm My Own Grandpa), superb original covers of hits like The Golden Rocket and Dark As A Dungeon and other songs. Fine singing and playing throughout and better than usual sound for B.A.C.M. (FS)
GRANDPA JONES: Are There Tears Behind Your Smiles/ Bald Headed End Of The Broom/ Call Me Darling Once Again/ Dark As A Dungeon/ Darling Won't You Love Me Now/ Going Down The Country/ Grandpa's Getting Married Again/ How Many Biscuits Can You Eat/ I Ain't Got Much To Lose/ I'll Never Lose That Loneliness For You/ I'm Hog Wild Crazy Over You/ I'm My Own Grandpa/ I've Been All Around This World/ Jenny Get Your Hoe Cakes Done/ Jesse James/ Jonah And The Whale/ Melinda/ Mountain Maw/ My Old Red River Home/ Old Rattler's Treed Again/ Our Worlds Are Not The Same/ She's Gone And Left Another Broken Heart/ That Memphis Train/ The Golden Rocket/ Time, Time, Time/ You'll Be Lonesome Too

 
HANK LARIVIERE B.A.C.M. 441 AKA Hank Rivers ● CD $14.98
28 tracks, highly recommended
Superb collection of sides by this outstanding Canadian country singer who is little known on this side of the border but deserves to be. Although exact dates aren't give I believe these sides range from the early 40s to late 50s. The earliest sides find Hank singing alone with just his guitar but the rest find him with small honky tonk country groups with fine fiddle and steel guitar. Most of the songs are originals and look at life from a Canadian point of view. Included is his Canadian hit Maple Sugar Sweetheart based on the fiddle tune Maple Sugar written by Ward Allen and which has subsequently been recorded by several American bluegrass artists. On several tracks Hank does some fine yodeling. Very appealing music. (FS)
HANK LARIVIERE: Arreter Regarder Ecouter/ Ballad Of Rodger Young/ Banjo Sam/ Barnyard Twist/ Big Chief Buffalo Nickle 'Desert Blues'/ Blue Yodeler/ Gangster's Warning/ Goodbye Mary Dear/ Hank's Traveling Blues/ Harbour Of Regret/ Henry's Lonesome Blues/ Hobo Bill/ How My Yodeling Days Began/ Hurrah For Camp Borden/ Little Johnny's Last Ride/ Longing For Old Alberta/ Maple Sugar Sweetheart/ Patrick Murphy/ Ranger Speaks/ Rose From The Garden Of Prayer/ Singing Wheels/ Soldier's Farewell/ Stop, Look And Listen/ Talk About Hawaii 'Everybody Does It In Hawaii'/ The Train's Late Tonight/ Uncle Sammy Don't Bite The Hand That's Feeding You/ Where The St Lawrence River Flows/ Your Turn To Cry

 
LEAD BELLY JSP JSPCD 77176 Vol. 2: Selected Sides, 1934-1948 ● CD $28.98
Complementing JSP 7764 this is another fine and varied selection by this master songster and 12 string guitarist. The material ranges from 1934 field recordings made when he was a prisoner in Angola to recordings made at a house party in Minneapolis in 1948. The material is drawn from other field recordings made in the 1930s as well as from a number of different commercial labels that Lead Belly recorded during his life and includes 24 sides making their first appearance on CD.

 
ROY ORBISON Not Now 426 Only The Lonely ● CD $10.98
Inexpensive introduction to this talented and versatile performer. A two CD set with 40 tracks - Disc 2 features his earliest recordings for Sun cut between 1956 and 1958, including several tracks not originally issued, showing him to be an outstanding rockabilly performer who played some mean guitar. The first disc is mostly devoted to his early years at Monument where he became a master balladeer and had a slew of hits with his dramatic and distinctive approach. This disk includes such classics as Only The Lonely/ Crying/ Running Scared and others. Between Sun and Monument he had a short stint at RCA and disc one includes several cuts from those sessions.

 
JOHNNY TILLOTSON Jasmine 266 Poetry In Motion ● CD $13.98
29 tracks, recommended
Johnny Tillotson was one of the better of the teen pop singers with a fine voice and the ability to write some good songs - both ballads and some nice rockers. He started recording fr Cadence in 1958 and over the next few years had a string of minor hits culminating in the catchy Poetry In Motion in 1960. The following year he wrote the country song It Keeps Right On A Hurting which became a pop hit and crossed over into country. This was featured by an album of all country songs of which several songs became pop and country hits. The country songs were performed in the then fashionable "countrypolitan" style with Johnny's vocal awash with strings and vocal choruses. This set features his early singles and the whole country LP. (FS)
JOHNNY TILLOTSON: Cutie Pie/ Dreamy Eyes/ Earth Angel/ Fool No. 1/ Four Walls/ Funny How Time Slips Away/ Hello Walls/ His True Love Said Goodbye/ I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)/ I Fall To Pieces/ I'm Never Gonna Kiss Yo/ I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/ It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'/ Jimmy's Girl/ Lonely Street/ Love Is Blind/ Much Beyond Compare/ Never Let Me Go/ Pledging My Love/ Poetry In Motion/ Princess, Princess/ Send Me The Pillow You Dream On/ She Gave Sweet Love To Me/ Take Good Care Of Her/ True True Happiness/ Well I'm Your Man/ What'll I Do/ Why Do I Love You So/ Without You

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Acrobat 6003 The R&B No. 1s Of The 50ss ● CD $29.98
Six CDs, 159 tracks, highly recommended
An irresistible compilation featuring every record that topped the Billboard R&B charts from I Almost Lost My Mind by Ivory Joe Hunter at the beginning of 1950 to The Clouds by The Spacemen at the end of 1959. Along the way we hear one classic after another from the likes of Percy Mayfield, John Lee Hooker, Tab Smith & His Orch., Johnny Ace, The Orioles, Al Hibbler, Bo Didley, Fats Domino, Little Richard, The Platters, The Coasters, Brook Benton and many others. Since the charts were based on sales to an African-American market rather than muscal genre we also see artists like Elvis, The Everly Brothers and even David Seville at the top. Sound quality is fine and the 40 page booklet has brief notes on each title along with date it topped the charts and the number of weeks at the top. (FS)
JOHNNY ACE: My Song/ Pledging My Love/ The Clock/ FAYE ADAMS: I'll Be True/ It Hurts Me to My Heart/ Shake a Hand/ PAUL ANKA: Diana/ LAVERN BAKER: Jim Dandy/ BROOK BENTON: It's Just a Matter of Time/ So Many Ways/ Thank You Pretty Baby/ CHUCK BERRY: Maybellene/ School Day/ Sweet Little Sixteen/ BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND: Further Up the Road/ THE BOBBETTES: Mr. Lee/ EARL BOSTIC AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Flamingo/ EDDIE BOYD: Five Long Years/ JACKIE BRENSTON AND HIS DELTA CATS: Rocket 88/ CHARLES BROWN: Black Night/ JAMES BROWN: Try Me/ ROY BROWN: Hard Luck Blues/ RUTH BROWN: (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean/ 5-10-15 Hours/ Mambo Baby/ Oh What a Dream/ Teardrops from My Eyes/ THE CHAMPS: Tequila/ RAY CHARLES: A Fool for You/ Drown in My Own Tears/ I Got a Woman/ What'd I Say (Part 1)/ THE CHARMS: Hearts of Stone/ JIMMY CLANTON: Just a Dream/ THE CLOVERS: Don't You Know I Love You/ Fool Fool Fool/ Ting-a-Ling/ THE COASTERS: Poison Ivy/ Searchin'/ Yakety Yak/ Young Blood/ COZY COLE: Topsy Part 2/ NAT "KING" COLE: Mona Lisa/ Send For Me/ SAM COOKE: I'll Come Running Back to You/ You Send Me/ DANNY & THE JUNIORS: At the Hop/ BOBBY DARIN: Splish Splash/ BOBBY DAY: Rock-In Robin/ BO DIDDLEY: Bo Diddley/ BILL DOGGETT: Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2)/ FATS DOMINO: Ain't That a Shame/ All by Myself/ Blue Monday/ Blueberry Hill/ Goin' Home/ I Want to Walk You Home/ I'm Walkin'/ I'm in Love Again/ Poor Me/ THE DOMINOES: Have Mercy Baby/ Sixty Minute Man/ THE DRIFTERS: Adorable/ There Goes My Baby/ Honey Love/ TOMMY EDWARDS: It's All in the Game/ THE EL DORADOS: At My Front Door/ THE ELEGANTS: Little Star/ THE EVERLY BROTHERS: All I Have to Do Is Dream/ Wake Up Little Susie/ THE FIVE KEYS: The Glory of Love/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Baby Don't Do It/ Help Me Somebody/ JIMMY FORREST: Night Train/ THE FOUR BLAZES: Mary Jo/ ERNIE FREEMAN: Raunchy/ LOWELL FULSON: Blue Shadows/ LLOYD GLENN: Chica Boo/ ROSCOE GORDON: Booted/ THE GRIFFIN BROTHERS ORCHESTRA: Weepin' & Cryin'/ GUITAR SLIM: The Things That I Used to Do/ ROY HAMILTON: Unchained Melody/ You'll Never Walk Alone/ PEPPERMINT HARRIS: I Got Loaded/ WILBERT HARRISON: Kansas City/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: I'm in the Mood/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: I Almost Lost My Mind/ I Need You So/ Since I Met You Baby/ ETTA JAMES: The Wallflower/ LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Fever/ LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANY FIVE: Blue Light Boogie (Parts 1 & 2)/ THE KALIN TWINS: When/ B.B. KING: 3 o'Clock Blues/ Please Love Me/ You Know I Love You/ You Upset Me Baby/ JERRY LEE LEWIS: Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On/ JOE LIGGINS AND HIS HONEYDRIPPERS: Pink Champagne/ LITTLE ESTHER WITH MEL WALKER AND THE JO: Mistrusting Blues/ LITTLE RICHARD: Long Tall Sally/ Rip It Up/ LITTLE WALTER: Juke/ My Babe/ FRANKIE LYMON AND THE TEENAGERS: Why Do Fools Fall in Love/ WILLIE MABON AND HIS COMBO: I Don't Know/ I'm Mad/ PERCY MAYFIELD: Please Send Me Someone to Love/ CLYDE MCPHATTER: A Lover's Question/ Long Lonely Nights/ Treasure of Love/ Money Honey/ JAY MCSHANN AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Hands Off/ MICKEY AND SYLVIA: Love Is Strange/ THE MIDNIGHTERS: Annie Had a Baby/ Work With Me Annie/ AMOS MILBURN: Bad Bad Whiskey/ THE MOONGLOWS: Sincerely/ JOE MORRIS ORCHESTRA: Anytime Anyplace Anywhere/ JIMMIE NELSON AND THE PETER RABBIT TRIO: T' 99 Blues/ THE ORIOLES: Crying in the Chapel/ JOHNNY OTIS ORCHESTRA LITTLE ESTHER AND MEL WAL: Cupid Boogie/ JOHNNY OTIS QUINTETTE, THE ROBINS AND LITTLE ES: Double Crossing Blues/ THE PENGUINS: Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)/ PHIL PHILLIPS: Sea of Love/ THE PLATTERS: My Prayer/ Only You (and You Alone)/ The Great Pretender/ Twilight Time/ PEREZ PRADO AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Patricia/ ELVIS PRESLEY: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear/ All Shook Up/ Don't Be Cruel/ Hound Dog/ Jailhouse Rock/ Wear My Ring Around Your Neck/ LLOYD PRICE: I'm Gonna Get Married/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Personality/ Stagger Lee/ JOHNNIE RAY AND THE FOUR LADS: Cry/ DELLA REESE: Don't You Know?/ LITTLE RICHARD: Lucille/ JIMMIE RODGERS: Honeycomb/ DAVID SEVILLE: Witch Doctor/ SHIRLEY & LEE: Let the Good Times Roll/ THE SILHOUETTES: Get a Job/ TAB SMITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Because of You/ THE SPACEMEN: The Clouds/ WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON": Hound Dog/ BIG JOE TURNER: Honey Hush/ Shake Rattle and Roll/ LARRY WILLIAMS: Short Fat Fannie/ CHUCK WILLIS: C.C. Rider/ What Am I Living For/ JACKIE WILSON: Lonely Teardrops/ You Better Know It

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 439 The Cozy Label - Classic Country Music ● CD $14.98
Collection of country and bluegrass recorded between 1947 and 1950 for John Bava's Cozy label in Davis, West Virginia. Apart from the superb bluegrass group The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, most of the other artists are very obscure. It includes more fine bluegrass from Cousin Bob Nicholson & The Lonely River Boys and Red Belcher & The Kentucky Ridge Runners and others. Most of the rest is more mainstream country including sides by Jack Swenson, Harry Wellman, Bob Mason's Western Swingbillies, Dorse Lewis & The Shadow Mountain Boys (the fascinating talking blues Scared Coal Miner), Old Brother Charlie & Daisy Mae and others.
MASON AYERS & HIS WEST VIRGINIANS: Diddie Wah Diddie/ I'm Not The Fool I Used To Be/ LEE BAILEY: Lonesome And Blue/ RED BELCHER & THE KENTUCKY RIDGE RUNNERS: I Ain't Gonna Let Old Satan Turn Me Round/ I'm Moving On/ THE DRIFTING PIONEERS V. DICK WESTON: Please Don't Go/ THE DRIFTING PIONEERS V. TEX FERGUSON: Two Broken Hearts/ HANK THE COWHAND: Cowhand Stomp (Instr.)/ When You Walked Out Of My Life Yesterday/ DORSE LEWIS "THE SCARED COAL MINER" & SHADOW M: Scared Coal Miner/ THE LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS: Lonesome Sad And Blue/ Pain In My Heart/ BOB MASON'S WESTERN SWINGBILLIES V. LLOYD CO: Honey, You're Letting Me Down/ BOB MASON'S WESTERN SWINGBILLIES: Just A Hand Full Of Mem'ries/ Move On Gal/ Three Little Words/ COUSIN BOB NICHOLSON & LONELY RIVER BOYS: I Know You'll Never Be My Own/ I Want To Be Wanted By Someone/ OLD BROTHER CHARLIE & DAISY MAE: Our U.S. Volunteers/ Our United Nations Flag/ DUSTY SHAVER: My Name Is Ticklish Rubin/ JACK SWANSON: Arizona Here I Come/ HARRY WELLMAN: You Can't Take My Memories From Me/ THE WESTERN SWINGBILLIES WITH LLOYD CORNELL: A Heart Once Broken/ THE WESTERN SWINGBILLIES FEAT. LLOYD CORNELL: Tear Drops And Empty Arms/ THE WHISPERING STRINGS BAND V. RUTLEDGE SIST: If I'd Listened To My Mother

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Eardrum 104 Inside Out Of Country Soul ● CD $16.98
20 tracks, strongly recommended
An excellent collection of rare (mostly Southern) soul - much of it new to CD. The blurb on the front reads "20 songs and performances that bridge the gap between the two styles" which is pretty meaningless since, while there are a few songs that are covers of country songs most of it sounds like regular Southern soul which is fine by me. Includes tracks by Marvin Sims (a great version of Chuck Willis's It's Too Late), Carl Hall, Laura Lee (a fine cover of Jerry Butler's He Will Break Your Heart with the sexes changed), Maxine Weldon, The Staple Singers (Mavis brings her sultry tones to the country song Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You), Jackie Moor4e, Arthur Alexander (his great Elvis tribute <>Hound Dog Man's Gone Home) and more. Fine sound and liner notes that are as meaningless as the cover blurb! (FS)
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Hound Dog Man's Gone Home/ LARRY DALE: What Your Love Means To Me/ JIMMY DOTSON: Baby Turn Your Head (I Don't Want You To See Me Cry)/ JAMES DUNCAN: I'm Gonna Leave You Alone/ PHIL FLOWERS: I Just Walked By/ BOBBY FOSTER: This Time I'm Really Leaving/ LOUISE FREEMAN: How Can I Forget/ CARL HALL: Got You On My Mind/ CLARENCE FROGMAN HENRY: That's When I Guessed/ LAURA LEE: She Will Break Your Heart/ MARIAN LOVE: One Woman's Trash (Is Another Woman's Treasure)/ GEORGE MCCURN: How's The World Treating You/ JACKIE MOORE: Inside Out/ JOE ODOM: If You Knew Her Like I Do/ GWEN OWENS: Keep On Living/ MARVIN SIMS: It's Too Late/ PERCY SLEDGE: Bring Your Lovin' To Me/ THE STAPLE SINGERS: Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle to You/ MAXINE WELDON: Nobobody Wins/ TIMI YURO: Gotta Travel On

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Fuel 61882 Marijuana Madness ● CD $11.98
A delightful collection of 23 jazz and blues songs about the ever popular subject of marijuana and the effects of smoking it (all positive here!). Tracks were recorded between 1927 and 1947 and includes Reefer Men by Harlan Lattimore & Connie's Inn Orch., Here Come The Man With The Jive by Stuff Smith & His Onyx Club, Sweet Marijuana Brown by Barney Bigard Sextet, Dope Head Blues by Victoria Spivey as well as tracks by Andy Kirk & His 12 Clouds Of Joy, Bea Foote, Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters, Trixie Smith, Julia Lee and others including, of course, Cab Calloway's all time classic Kickin' The Gong Around. If you have a number of CDs on this subject you will probably find that you have most of the tracks here but, if not, this is an excellent one to start with.
BUSTER BALLEY'S RHYTHM BUSTERS: Light Up/ SIDNEY BECHET: Viper Mad/ BARNEY BIGARD SEXTET: Sweet Marijuana Brown/ CAB CALLOWAY & HIS COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA: Kickin' the Gong Around/ The Man From Harlem/ THE CATS & THE FIDDLE: Killin' Jive/ BEA FOOTE: Weed/ BENNY GOODMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA: Texas Tea Party/ LIL GREEN: Knockin' Myself Out/ HELEN HUMES: They Raided the Joint/ CEE PEE JOHNSON: "G" Man Got The "T" Man/ LIL JOHNSON: Mellow Stuff/ ANDY KIRK & HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY: All the Jive is Gone/ GENE KRUPA & HIS ORCHESTRA: I'm Feeling High and Happy/ HARLAN LATTIMORE & HIS CONNIE'S INN ORCHESTRA: Reefer Man/ TRIXIE SMITH: Jack, I'm Mellow/ STUFF SMITH & HIS ONYX CLUB BOYS: Here Comes the Man With the Jive/ You'se a Viper/ VICTORIA SPIVEY: Dope Head Blues/ BUCK WASHINGTON: Save the Roach for Me/ GEORGIA WHITE: The Stuff is Here/ COOTIE WILLIAMS & HIS RUG CUTTERS: Ol' Man River (Smoke a Little Tea)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 410 Hall Of Fame Vol. 3 ● CD $18.98 $13.98
Another great collection of 24 soul gems from the vaults of Fame Records including 22 previously unissued tracks! Recordings were made between 1965 and 1970 and among the artists included are Billy & Clyde, Ben & Spence, Clarence Carter, Roy Lee Johnson, Billy Young, Otis Clay and others.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Not Now NOT3CD 147 Classic Blues From Bluesville ● CD $13.98
Three CDs, 60 tracks, highly recommended
The Bluesville label was founded by the long standing jazz label Prestige in 1960 to issue blues recordings. Over the next five years it issued some 88 LPs featuring established blues artists along with newly discovered artists. Many of these LPs were reissued on CD in the 1990s and early 2000s but now most of these CDs are deleted so this is a welcome sampler of the first three years of the label. The label's most prolific artist was the great Texas country bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins who is featured here on three excellent cuts - two solo and one with accompaniment from harmonica player Billy Bizor and drummer Spider Kilpatrick. One of my favorite releases on the label was "Mr. SCrapper's Blues" by Leroy Carr's former partnet Scrapper Blackwell - the album featured soulful vocals from Scrapper along with some gorgeous guitar playing and this collection features three tracks from that album. Other artists featured include Blind Willie McTell (from an unissued 1956 session recorded by an Atlanta record shop owner and unearthed by Larry Cohn), Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Mildred Anderson, Furry Lewis, Shakey Jake (a fine instrumental with stunning guitar from Bill Jennings), Robert Pete Williams (two tracks from his fantastic "Free Again" album - his first after being released from prison), Memphis Willie B., Willie Dixon, Alberta Hunter (superb sides with Sidney DeParis, J.C. Higginbotham and others), Sunnyland Slim (with fine sax from King Curtis and unnecesary organ from Robert Banks), Lonnie Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, Memphis Slim, Mercy Dee Walton, Blind Snooks Eaglin, Little Brother Montgomerys, Pink Anderson, Tampa Red and more. Excellent sound and usual brief notes. (FS)
MILDRED ANDERSON: Everybody's Got Somebody But Me/ PINK ANDERSON: Baby I'm Going Away/ Greasy Greens/ MILDRED ANDERSON & EDDIE DAVIS QUARTET: I'm Gettin' Long Alright (Connections)/ SCRAPPER BLACKWELL: Blues Before Sunrise/ Goin' Where The Monon Crosses The Yellow Dog/ Little Boy Blue/ REV. GARY DAVIS: Death Don't Have No Mercy/ REVEREND GARY DAVIS: Lost Boy In The Wilderness/ WILLIE DIXON: Go Easy/ Sittin' And Cryin' The Blues/ K.C. DOUGLAS: Big Road Blues/ Bottle Up And Go/ BLIND SNOOKS EAGLIN: Alberta/ Brown Skinned Woman/ LUCILLE HEGAMIN: St. Louis Blues/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Catfish Blues/ Coffee Blues/ Walkin' This Road By Myself/ ALBERTA HUNTER: Chirpin' The Blues/ You Gotta Reap What You Sow/ LONNIE JOHNSON: No Love For Sale/ Haunted House/ Idle Hours/ CURTIS JONES: Suicide Blues/ FURRY LEWIS: Done Changed My Mind/ Shake 'Em On Down/ SIDNEY MAIDEN: Me And My Chauffeur/ Sidney's Fox Chase/ BROWNIE MCGHEE: The Killin' Floor/ Custard Pie Blues/ That's Why I'm Walking/ BLIND WILLIE MCTELL: Broke Down Engine Blues/ The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Frankie And Johnny Boogie/ Grinder Man Blues/ MEMPHIS WILLIE B.: Wine Drinking Women/ Worried Man Blues/ LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY: Santa Fe/ Vicksburg Blues/ SHAKEY JAKE: Jake's Cha Cha/ AL SMITH: Goin' To Alabama/ I've Got The Right Kind Of Lovin'/ VICTORIA SPIVEY: I Got Men All Over This Tow/ I Got Men All Over This Town/ I'm A Red Hot Mama/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: I'm Prison Bound/ The Devil Is A Busy Man/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Hangover/ Miss Ida B./ TAMPA RED: Don't Jive Me/ You Better Let My Gal Alone/ SONNY TERRY: Four O'clock Blues/ HENRY TOWNSEND: Tired Of Being Mistreated/ MERCY DEE WALTON: Have You Ever Been Out In The Country/ One Room Country Shack/ BIG JOE WILLIAMS: Meet Me At The Bottom/ Pallet On The Floor/ ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS: Free Again/ I've Grown So Ugly

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 236 Running Scared - The Monument Records Story ● CD $11.98
Two CD set with 40 tracks from the early years of the Monument label founded by veteran record man Fred Foster in 1958 and became a successful label that lasted until 1983. This set covers the first four years of the label from 1958 through 1962. The label's first release Gotta Travel On by Billy Grammar was a big hit but when they signed Roy Orbison a year later their future was certain with 17 chart hits over the next five years. This set includes some of the earliest of those Running Scared/ Uptown and Only The Lonely. It also includes the novelty instrumental hit Mexico by Bob Moore and the superb R&B vocal group The Velvets with their lovely Tonight Could Be The Night. The rest is a mix of pop, rock & roll and country featuring artists like Curtis & Del, Kathy Linden, Jack Eubanks, Boots Randolph, Morris Wilson, Stan Robinson, Jerry Byrd and others.
BOBBY BRINKLEY: (I'm Just) The Guy With The Car/ Tobacco Road/ JERRY BYRD: Theme From Adventures In Paradise/ Indian Love Call/ PAUL CLAYTON: Last Cigarette/ Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons (When I'm Gone)/ CURTIS & DEL: Cherry Berry Lips/ I Went A Walkin'/ LEONA DOUGLAS: Too Many Chicks/ JACK EUBANKS: Chiricahua/ What'd I Say/ DICK FLOOD: It's My Way/ The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)/ BILLY GRAMMER: Bonaparte's Retreat/ Gotta Travel On/ It Takes You/ BILLY GRAVES: Midnight Bus/ The Shag (Is Totally Cool)/ GRANDPA JONES AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN: The Thing/ KATHY LINDEN: Allentown Jail/ So In Love With You/ BOB MOORE: (Theme From) My Three Sons/ Mexico/ ROY ORBISON: Blue Angel/ Crying/ Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)/ Only The Lonely/ Running Scared/ Uptown/ BOOTS RANDOLPH: Hey! Daddy, Daddy/ Fancy Dan/ STAN ROBINSON: N-U-T-H-I-N-G/ THE VELVETS: Lana/ That Lucky Old Sun/ Tonight (Could Be the Night)/ JANICE WARD: Double Crossin' Sweetie Pie/ NORRIS WILSON: For A Little While/ Ma Baker's Island/ ROBIN WILSON: Close To Me/ The Nervous Auctioneer

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 237 The Chief Blues Story ● CD $11.98
Two CDs, 34 tracks, almost highly recommended
Mel London's Chief Records label was one of the feisty Chicago independents that worked in the shadow of Chess and Vee-Jay but managed to put out some superb releases. This fine release features some of them but why only 34 tracks? There are at least half a dozen more worthwhile tracks that could be added. Still what is here is superb and at the price is still a great deal. Star of the show is the great guitarist Earl Hooker who is featured on some fine instrumentals under his own name as well as providing accompaniments to Lillian Offitt and Junior Wells. There are five tracks by the magnificent Elmore James including his stupendous Coming Home which was the first Elmore track I heard and still one of my favorites. Magic Sam is featured on five tracks which, though not as exciting as his Cobra recordings, are superb - particularly You Don't Have To Work, his version of Fats Domino's Every Night About This Time and Do The Camel Walk which is variation on the tune Freddie King called Hide-A-Way both based on a Hound Dog Taylor tune. It's also nice to hear some fine tracks from lesser known Chief artists like Melvin Simpson, Bobby & Lucy and Frank Butler. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 238 Riders In The Sky - The Amy Records Story, 1960-1962 ● CD $11.98
Two CD set with 50 tracks from this label formed in 1960 as a subsidiary of Bell Records. In the first few years of its existence featured here the label heavily concentrated on instrumentals, dance crazes and novelty songs having hits with (Ghost) Riders In The Sky by The Ramrods and The Madison by Al Brown's Tunetoppers. It also includes a couple of tracks by Jerry Landis who later became better known as Paul Simon showing that he had quite a way to go. Landis/ Simon also wrote one of the songs here by vocal group Tico & The Triumphs. Other artists includes Gabriel & The Angel, Mabel King, Johnny Beeman, Chuck Jackson, Dougie The Dude, The Romeos (an answer song to The Lion Sleeps Tonight - really!), The Star Steppers, The Sheiks, The Four Jonkers and more.
JOHNNY ALLEN: Silly Game Called Love/ THE ALTAIRS: Groovy Time/ If You Love Me/ JOHNNY BEEMAN: Laffin' Beatnik/ Rockin' Beatnik/ AL BROWN'S TUNETOPPERS: Take Me Back/ The Madison/ THE CARIBBEANS: Wonderful Girl/ THE CASLONS: For All We Know/ Settle Me Down/ THE CHESSMEN: Stormy Dreams/ THE COMPANIONS: How Could You/ No Fool Am I/ DOUGIE THE DUDE: Lifetime/ THE FOUR JOKERS: Uggaboo/ GABRIEL & THE ANGELS: Chumba/ Zing (Went The Strings Of My Heart)/ MARTY GINO: Slip Away/ HENRY & MAMIE: Two Big Feet/ CHUCK JACKSON: Hula Lula/ Ooh Baby/ THE JESTERS: The Buffalo/ MABEL KING: Go Back Home Young Fella/ When We Get The Word/ JERRY LANDIS: Lisa/ The Lone Teen Ranger/ LITTLE BESSIE: Broken Hearted/ For Your Love (I Shed A Million Tears)/ BILLY LYNN: Little Pony Tail/ Only One For Me/ THE RAMRODS: Ghost Riders In The Sky/ Loch Lomond Rock/ STAN ROBINSON: Can She Give You Fever/ Rhinoceros/ THE ROMEOS: The Tiger's Wide Awake (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)/ THE RONDELS: Back Beat No. 1/ Satan's Theme/ THE SHEIKS: Come On Back/ Please Don't Take Away The Girl I Love/ THE STAR STEPPERS: The First Signs Of Love/ TY STEWART & THE JOKERS: Young Girl/ TICO & THE TRIUMPHS: Motorcycle/ Wild Flower/ THE VARIOS: Operator, Operator, Operator/ The Wash/ RUSS VESTEE: A Touch Of Venus/ Well Alright/ JAY WALKER & THE PEDESTRIANS: Hey Now/ Never Happen/ LORI WOOD: But That Was Long Ago

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Retrieval 79076 Rare and Obscure, 1925-1932: Unissued On 78s ● CD $13.98
Another fine collection of unissued tunes and alternate takes. This one includes jazz and hot dance bands including Lloyd Finlay & His Orchestra (seven tracks including one with a Jew's harp!), Fatty Martin's Orchestra, Tony Parenti & His Famous Melody Boys, Seger Ellis (four fine piano solos), Kay Kyser & His Orch., Snooks & His Memphis Ramblers and Roane's Pennsylvanians.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Sunrise 014 Forward March - The Jamaican Chart Hits Of 1961 ● CD $18.98
Another great selection of what was hot in Jamaica - this time it's the year 1962 - the year Jamaica achieved independence from Great Britain and this disc is full of joyful Ska sounds from that year. The obvious influence of American R&B and doo wop is pretty much left behind with the exception of Laurel Aitken's cover of Amos Milburn's Hey Bartender. Other artists featured here include Derrick Morgan, Eric "Monty" Morris, Alton & Eddy, Lloyd & Cecil, Lord Creator, Roland Alphonso, JImmy James, The Blues Busters, Don Drummond, Prince Buster and others. Several would go on to become stars of Reggae that was to appear a few years later.
BOBBY AITKEN & BUSTERS GROUP: Never Never (aka South Virginia)/ Never Never (aka South Virginia)/ LAUREL AITKEN & THE BLUE BEATS: Bartender/ Bartender/ ROLAND ALPHONSO & THE CITY SLICKERS: Back Beat/ Back Beat/ ALTON & EDDY WITH THE ALL STARS: My Love Divine/ My Love Divine/ THE BLUES BUSTERS: Tell Me Why/ Tell Me Why/ DAVID BROWN: Jump And Shout/ Jump And Shout/ PRINCE BUSTER & HIS TORCH LIGHTERS: They Got To Go/ JIMMY CLIFF & THE BEVERLEY'S ALL STARS: Hurricane Hattie/ Hurricane Hattie/ THE CONTINENTALS: Give Me All Your Love/ Give Me All Your Love/ LORD CREATOR: Independent Jamaica/ DANNY & THE ECHOES WITH THE SONNY BRADSH: Darling You're So Fine/ Darling You're So Fine/ THE ECHOES & THE CELESTIALS: Are You Mine/ Are You Mine/ GIRL SATCHMO & THE SWINGING BROTHERS: Darling (Together)/ Darling (Together)/ OWEN GRAY & BEVERLEY'S ALL STARS: Darling Patricia/ Darling Patricia/ OWEN GRAY & THE SONNY BRADSHAW QUARTET: My One Desire/ My One Desire/ OWEN GRAY WITH PRINCE BUSTER & THE VOICE OF T: Millie Girl/ Millie Girl/ JIMMY JAMES WITH HERSANG & HIS COMBO: Bewildered and Blue/ Bewildered and Blue/ THE JIVING JUNIORS: Sugar Dandy/ Sugar Dandy/ LLOYD & CECIL WITH DEE'S GROUP: Dee's Special/ Dee's Special/ LORD CREATOR: Independent Jamaica/ DERRICK MORGAN: In My Heart/ In My Heart/ Be Still/ Be Still/ Leave Her Alone/ Leave Her Alone/ Teach Me Baby/ Teach Me Baby/ Travel On/ Travel On/ Meekly Wait/ Meekly Wait/ ERIC "MONTY" MORRIS: Money Can't Buy Life/ Money Can't Buy Life/ PRINCE BUSTER & HIS TORCH LIGHTERS: They Got To Go/ LLOYD ROBINSON & THE BEVERLEY'S ALL STARS: You Said You Loved Me/ You Said You Loved Me/ ROY & MILLIE WITH THE CITY SLICKERS: We'll Meet/ We'll Meet

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Tennessee 615 Rare Nashville Gospel, 1951-1965: Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, essential
I was going to rate this "very highly recommended" but then I heard the divine vocals of 17 year old Candi Staton leading The Jewel Gospel Trio on the sublime Sin Is To Blame and immediately moved it into the "essential" column. A little while back Tompkins Square put out a four CD set exploring some of the treasures of the great gospel label Nashboro drawing from throughout the whole lifespan of the label. This is the first in what I hope will be an extensive series featuring Nashboro from the "golden age" of gospel. It starts out with one of the first recordings on the label by The Silvertone Jubilee Singers - not be confused with the Swan Silvertones this was a superb group that had a lengthy career. This early cut finds them performing in the older jubilee style with a touch of the newer "hard" approach that was becoming popular. Pretty soon they dropped the Jubilee part of their name and concentrated on the harder approach on the other tracks by them here. There are also several cuts by the outstanding Chosen Gospel Singers who had previously recorded for Specialty and featured the talents of future soul stars Lou Rawls and Joe Hinton. Other quartets here include the great all female group The Angelic Gospel Singers plus male quartets The Golden Trumpets, Sons Of Jehova, Spiritual Five and others. There are also solo sides featuring the awe inspiring singing of Morgan Babb as well as Prof. Harold Boggs and Edna Gallmon Cooke. Some truly wonderful music in excellent sound. There are no notes but the booklet includes part 1 of a selected listing of releases on the label. (FS)
THE ANGELIC GOSPEL SINGERS: Every Day/ MORGAN BABB & PHILCO SINGERS: Cold Cold Ground/ THE BRIGHT STARS: Jesus Will Help You/ THE CHOSEN GOSPEL SINGERS: Do Thy Will/ Trouble Of This World Condition/ EDNA GALLMON COOKE: My Joy/ THE GOLDEN TRUMPETS: Standing On His Word/ THE GOSPEL FIVE SINGERS: Jesus Is With Me All The Way/ This Is My Testimony/ PROF. HAROLD BOGGS: Help Me Jesus/ THE JEWEL GOSPEL TRIO: Sin Is To Blame/ THE KINDLY SHEPHERD GOSPEL SINGERS: Left In The Hands Of The Lord/ THE KINDLY SHEPHERDS: Lay Me Down To Sleep/ So Many Years/ THE SILVERTONE JUBILEE SINGERS: I Met My Mother This Morning/ THE SILVERTONE SINGERS: It's A Wonder What My Lord Can Do/ The Sun Will Rise To The East/ THE SONS OF JEHOVAH: Keep Me And Teach Me/ THE SONS OF THE SOUTH: I Know It Was The Blood/ THE SOUTHERN ECHOES: Be Ready When He Comes/ THE SPIRITUAL FIVE: Walk Around/ THE TRAVELING ECHOES: For God I Live/ THE TRUMPETEERS: Seven Angels/ THE TRUMPETS OF JOY: Last Mile Of The Way

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Tennessee 616 Rare Nashville Gospel, 1951-1965: Vol. 2 ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, essential
Another fantastic collection of, mostly, quartet gospel from the Nashboro catalog from the golden age of gospel. Most of the great artists return from the first volume like The Jewel Gospel Trio featuring the incredibly soulful lead of a teenage Candi Staton. The wonderful singer Edna Gallmon Cooke is also here with two superb tracks where she is accompanied by the fabulous Radio Four. One of the founders of The Radio Four was Morgan Babb who is featured here with his later group The Philco Singers and it's a beauty. It also includes The Golden Trumpets, Southern Echoes, Spiritual Five, Sons Of Jehova and more. Truly classic material and since these are limited editions - don't delay! (FS)
THE ANGELIC GOSPEL SINGERS: I've Weathered The Storm/ MORGAN BABB & PHILCO SINGERS: Take Me By The Hand/ PROF. HAROLD BOGGS: When The Spirit Of The Lord Comes/ THE BRIGHT STARS: Found The Saviour/ EDNA GALLMON COOKE: Nobody But You Lord/ Walk Thru The Valley/ THE GOLDEN TRUMPETS: Down At The Cross/ Just Like Jesus Did/ The Blood Of Jesus/ THE JEWEL GOSPEL TRIO: Praying Time/ THE KINDLY SHEPHERD GOSPEL SINGERS: The Upper Garden/ THE SILVERTONE JUBILEE SINGERS: I'm Looking For My Jesus/ THE SONS OF JEHOVAH: The Holy Bible/ THE SONS OF THE SOUTH: Surely It Was God/ THE SOUTHERN ECHOES: Higher Up The Mountain/ On My Way To See Jesus/ When Jesus Says: Come Home/ THE SPIRITUAL FIVE: Everyday Will Be The Same/ Heavenly Father/ I've Been Born Again/ Lord, I'm In Your Care/ THE TRAVELING ECHOES: Looking For A Better Place To Live/ THE TRUMPETEERS: I Want To Know/ THE TRUMPETS OF JOY: Sweeter Than The Day Before

 
REVEREND ROBERT WILKINS Bear Family BCD 16629 Prodigal Son ● CD $21.98
Due later in a couple of days. After almost 50 years this masterpiece is finally available again. Mississippi bluesman Robert Wilkins made some superb and distinctive recordings in the late 20s and early 30s. In 1964 he was rediscovered by enthusiast and researcher Dick Spottswood. Wilkins had become a preacher and had abandoned the blues but continued singing and playing gospel songs with the same skill and feeling he had brought to the blues. Spottswood recorded an album by Wilkins in 1964 featuring nine magnificent performances highlighted by the incredible "Prodigal Son" - a long imaginative song based on the Bible story and using the same tune as his pre war blues "That's No Way To Get Along." After being available for a few years the album disappeared into limbo not appearing again on LP or CD until now. This new CD features all nine songs from the LP along with four other songs from the session that appeared on a Biograph LP and a 28 page booklet with new notes by Spottswood. In 1968 The Rolling Stones recorded a version of "Prodigal Son" for their "Beggar's Banquet" LP and royalties from this release allowed the Reverend to live the rest of his life in comfort. I haven't heard the CD yet but being very familiar with the LP I think rating this release "essential" in advance is not inappropriate!

 
MAC WISEMAN Jasmine 3644/5 Folk Ballads, Hits & Gospel Hymns ● CD $18.98
Two CD set with 48 tracks reissuing four LPs recorded between 1958 and 1962. Two of the LPs feature gospel songs - one of them with The Jordanaires and the others feature "Great Folk Ballads" (When It's Lamplighting Time In The Valley/ The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band/ Barbara Allen, etc) and "Sings 12 Great Hits" (Tom Dooley/ Sixteen Tons/ The Ballad Of Davey Crockett, etc.) Mac recorded some fine bluegrass over the years but none of that is here. This is bland pop folk stylings with dull accompaniments and overly familiar songs.

 

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