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Two DVDs, Black & White, 28 songs, 86 mins, highly
recommended
Considering Mahalia's status as one of the greatest gospel
singers of the 20th century it's pretty disgraceful that the producers
of this DVD set couldn't give us even the barest minimum of information
about the performances on this DVD set but I believe they were recorded
for television in the mid 50s. In spite of these reservations the music
here is superb with Mahalia in top form. The stage set is almost bare,
the lighting minimal, thus focusing attention exactly where it belongs,
on Jackson. She is accompanied sometime by piano, sometimes by organ,
sometimes by small combo (unidentified but more than qualified). Mahalia
does magnificent performances of songs like You'll Never Walk Alone/
Highway To Heaven/ The Rosary/ Somebody Bigger Than You And I/ I Ask The
Lord/ How Much We Can Bare/ His Eye Is On The Sparrow and more.
Video and audio quality are satisfactory but, obviously, no attempt has
been made at restoration. Mahalia deserves better but, ultimately, it's
the music that coun ts and that is superb. (FS)
DVD 63 mins, + CD 49 mins, highly recommended
Here's an
interesting movie and an excellent soundtrack CD. The people that
brought you the documentary "M For Mississippi" are back with an in
depth look at some of the remaining Jook-Joints of the Mississippi Delta
region and the culture that still exists around them. I'm actually not a
big fan of many modern Blues artists, but thankfully, most of the best
ones that are still out there seem to be playing this small, but vital,
circuit. The Jook-Joints are truly an important part of American
history, and it's great to see people making a thoughtful documentary on
them. Features interviews with Jook owners, performers, DJs, etc. plus
many fine performances, with the DVD bonus material providing even more,
with extended and deleted scenes. You get great performances by Big
George Brock, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes (who not only is an artist, but owns a
fantastic joint of his own,) Elmo Williams & Hezekiah Early, Louis
"Gearshifter" Youngblood, and more. Definitely watch this if you are a
fan of the Blues and if it's at all possible for you, get down to one of
these great Jook-joints while they still exist. (JM)
14 tracks, 44 mins, essential
Two of the coolest things
ever made their debut 50 years ago, Spider-man, and Green Onions
by Booker T. & The M.G.s! Both would help usher in a decade's worth of
amazing innovation, and new heights of artistic and commercial success
in their respective fields of endeavor. Since Frank probably doesn't
want me to spend too much time waxing nostalgically about Spider-man, I
will focus on the greatest instrumental act of the 1960's B.T. & t.
M.G.s. This fantastic reissue features the original 1952 album in its
entirety, remastered and sounding as tasty as ever. That means along
with the classic title cut, you get the great follow-up Mo Onions/
Behave Yourself, and versions of hits like I Got A Woman/ Can't
Sit Down/ Lonely Avenue, and more. All that would certainly be
enough to merit picking this up, but wait, there's more. You also get
two absolutely smoking live recordings from 1965 - Green Onions
and Can't Sit Down, which would have the better known Duck Dunn
on bass, replacing the great original Bass-man Lewis Steinberg, who
holds down the bottom end on the original album. Plus extensive new
liner notes, as well as reproductions of original packaging and notes
make for an irresistible and essential release. (JM)
15 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
At the age of 72
Eddie C.Campbell is still a vital and creative force on the Chicago blues
scene. Not one to rehash all the old favorites he (frequently in
collaboration with his wife Barbara) writes songs that feature witty and
trenchant observations of contemporary life. The title song is a clever
commentary on Barbara's blindness, Call My Mama sings about the
joys of a young man learning from an older lady and My Friend is
a tribute to his friend Jim O'Neal who founded Living Blues magazine in
1970 and has been instrumental in promoting the careers of many great
blues artists. There are a few covers - a version of Ricky Allen's
Cut You A-Loose, Jimmie Lee Robinson's All Your Love and, an
unexpected but very effective version of The Ohio Players Skin Tight.
Eddie is a warm, low key singer, and an excellent and economical guitar
player and is accompanied by a superb band with horns on several tracks
and Lurrie Bell guests on guitar and harmonica on a number of cuts. (FS)
28 tracks, 76 min., highly recommended
The Caravans
produced many a gospel star in their day, and this Vee-Jay aggregation,
might be the strongest. The solo duties are split between the amazingly
spirit-filled Shirley Caesar and Cassietta George, although leader and
contralto Alberta Walker takes top honors on To Whom Shall I Turn
and a few others. Josephine Howard steps up to the plate vocally on
What Will Tomorrow Bring. But its really Caesar who galvanizes
listeners on cuts such as No Coward Soldier, Jesus Will Save,
It's Jesus In Me (sometimes listed as Jesus And Me on
other releases, It Must Not Suffer Loss, One Of These Old Days,
and others. The Caravans parted ways in 1965, after five Vee Jay LPs
issued between 1952-65, and their music is required listening for gospel
fans. (JC)
8 tracks, highly recommended
Here's a labor of love from
Irish bouzouki/hurdy-gurdyist Irvine and uilleann piper Spillane--some
of the best musicians in Ireland playing Bulgarian and Macedonian songs
and dances, helped by Hungarian singing star Marta Sebestyen, and
arranged and produced by former Planxty keyboardist Bill Whelan. If you
like Moving Hearts, you'll flip over this. The production values are
top-notch, and the Celtic-Balkan connection seems natural and effortless
when these musicians play. It's as if the different cultures share the
same mix of melodic romanticism and the joyfully spiralling dance forms.
The only warning I'd offer is that Whelan has the occasional tendency to
lapse into jazzy keyboard grooves which come off like Celto-Balkan
lounge music. But that's a small complaint. This is really a lovely
album. (DC)
26 tracks, 74 min, very highly recommended
This set has
everything by Gator recorded before 1954. So for the 1st time, here's
all the early recordings by one of the honkin'est of the honkin' saxes.
Always one with a big ego, Willis scored a smash when featured on Cootie
William's Gator Tail (Pts 1 & 2) done for Mercury in '49 when
Jackson wasn't quite 17! Using that title as his new nickname, Jackson
went solo in '50 starting with the Apollo label, which is where the
majority of this set comes from, starting out with the title On My
Own, & ends with three Atlantic sides in '54 backing his then-wife
Ruth Brown. The titles will let you know what you're getting - Blow
Jackson Blow/ Gator's Groove/ Rock! Rock! Rock! a cover of Harlem
Nocturne, & a rousing Wine-O-Wine with vocal group The Four
Gators! (GM)
13 tracks, 35 mins, highly recommended
Terrific
collection of songs recorded between 1978 and 1984 by this superb
father/ daughter duo (Royce and Jeannie) who made a specialty of cheatin' songs and had massive hits with songs like Heaven's Just A
Sin Away/ Pittsburgh Steelers and It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' To
Me all included here. But the duo were capable of much more like the
wonderful Mercury hit Thank God For The Radio and their versions
of country standards Pick Me Up On Your Way Down and Blue Blue
Day. Jeannie was a superb singer, a little bit like Dolly Parton,
and the harmonies with her dad are gorgeous. Accompaniment is pure honky
tonk and their recordings are in the top tier of coun try music in the
1970s and 80s. (FS)
17 tracks, 69 mins, very highly recommended
A fabulous
collection of traditional Irish singing recorded in the 1950s and 60s by
this superb singer from Co. Armagh. Sarah, who was the mother of Tommy
Makem, does lovely unaccompanied versions of songs like The Banks Of
Red Roses/ The Canny Ould Lad/ The Factory Girl/ Jackets Greeen/ Mary Of
Kilmore/ I Courted A Wee Girl and others. Beautifully remastered
from the original field recordings the CD comes with a 52 page booklet
with in depth notes about Sarah and the songs. (FS)
14 tracks, 62 mins., essential
You know you're dealing
with a heavyweight when Nobel poet Seamus Heaney writes the liner notes.
I can't possibly beat Heaney's characterization of O'Flynn's uilleann
pipe mastery: his "level, confident strength." The Planxty alumnus and
student of Leo Rowsome has assembled an achingly beautiful collection of
tunes and songs, played with immaculate clarity and sweeping emotion.
Composer Shaun Davey produced this CD, giving it a luster and depth
matching the musicianship. Andy Irvine and Paul Brady each step in to
sing one song, while O'Flynn is joined throughout by the likes of Arty
McGlynn on guitar and Sean Keane on fiddle. Members of Milladoiro help
out on a stunning, hypnotic early 20th century Galician dance. The CD's
showpiece may be Davey's original Romeo's Exile. O'Flynn's
whistle and pipes interlacing on this gorgeous air is flawless. This is
Celtic riches, folks. Not to be missed. (DC)
27 tracks, recommended
Priscilla Paris, the lead singer
of The Paris Sisters (of I Love How You Love Me fame), had a
fascinating life, from child prodigy to adult professional. This CD
compiles two 60s LPs she cut in 1967 and 1969, "Priscilla Sings Herself"
and "Priscilla Loves Billy" respectively, for the York and Happy Tiger
labels. Priscilla was a complex person, and her story, as well as that
of the group, is told in tragic detail in the enclosed booklet. As for
the music, the first LP consists of mainly her own compositions and she
comes off as a cross between Jackie DeShannon and Nancy Sinatra, with a
hint of Petula Clark. She was an intense singer and her songwriting
wasn't bad; Some Little Lovin' Lie and I Can't Understand
are good examples of what she was capable of. The second album is a
collection of Billie Holiday covers, complete with lush arrangements and
string charts; Priscilla was no Billie, but she comes off well on songs
like He's Funny That Way/ Tenderly, and Girls Were Made To.
I'm not sure the world was exactly hoping beyond hope that these
recordings would see the light of day, but they do give insight into one
of the more pure, if troubled, vocalists in 60's pop. NB: Paris Sisters
recordings are included on "Phil Spector, The Early Productions" (Ace
1253), "The Jack Nitzsche Story" (Ace 1030), and "Early Girls Vol. 5"
(Ace 1181). (GMC)
A collection of 25 songs recorded for Decca between 1954
and 1958 by this atypical country singer - she was a young Jewish girl
from New York! Her voice is more pop than country and she does a
selection of country pop along with some rock 'n' roll numbers and this
set includes four previously unissued sides. She was accompanied by top
Nashville session musicians on songs like I'm Ready If You're
Willing/ I Am The Heart (Of A Teenage Girl)/ Little LOvin'/ Mr.
Opportunity/ Oh I Like It/ I'll Always Wonder/ Wrap It Up And Save It/
Weary Blues From Waitin' and more. Includes 30 page illustrated
booklet with by Todd Everett and full discographical info.
A second collection of sides recorded for radio
transcriptions in the 1940s by this fine and smooth Western trio. The
earlier sides feature Scotty Harrell, Jimmy Wakely and Johnny Bond,
Harrell left in 1940 to be replaced by Dick Reinhart who is featured on
the later recordings. 29 songs in all - a number written by the prolific
Bond. Includes My Old Home Town/ Ride, Ride, Ride/ Gallop O'er The
Hill/ Weary Old Hills/ Blue Ridge Mountain Trail/ Navajo/ I've Been On
The Range Too LOng/ Stars Of The Midnight Range/ Rainbow Valley/ It's
The Desert In My Soul, etc. THE ROUGH RIDERS: Aloha Means Farewell/ Bells Of San
Juan/ Blue Ridge Mountain Trail/ Cowboy Serenade/ Down Where The
Watermelon Grow/ Farewell To The Lone Prairie/ Gallop O'er The Hill/
Help Me Lose The Blues/ Hillbilly Town/ Home Trials/ I've Been On The
Range Too Long/ It's The Desert In My Soul/ Lady Hoo I Love You/ My
Cherokee Rose/ My Cross Eyed Gal/ My Old Home Town/ My Saddle Serenade/
Navajo/ Old Wagon Wheel/ Out On The Open Range/ Poor Little Rose/
Rainbow Valley/ Ride Ride Ride/ Roving Gambler/ Stars Of The Midnight
Range/ There's A Round-Up Ahead For The Cowboys/ Weary Old Hills/ What
Will I Tell Old Paint/ Wind Blows Free
Truly Yours - Their First Motown Album
With Bonus Track
● CD $21.98
26 tracks, very highly recommended
Nearly everyone
remembers the Spinners (or Detroit Spinners, if you're on the other side
of the Atlantic Ocean) for their run of 70's hits with producer Thom
Bell: I'll Be Around and Could it Be I'm Falling in Love,
among others. Yet few people remember that the group had been signed to
Motown during the 60's and pop hits had been a bit thin on the ground
(exception: It's a Shame in 1970). The gang at Kent have once
more raided the Motown vaults and have unearthed the group's 1967 debut
album, "The Original Spinners," along with bonus tracks including ten
previously unissued masters. Like many Motown LPs, the set is comprised
of singles - That's What Girls Are Made For (pre-Motown release
on Tri-Phi, 1961); Sweet Thing b/w How Can I (1964);
I'll Always Love You b/w Tomorrow May Never Come (1965);
Truly Yours b/w Where is That Girl (1966); For All We Know
b/w I Cross My Heart (1967)-and a couple of filler tracks. The
singles are all solid formula Motown confections penned by pros like
Ivory Jo Hunter, William Stevenson, Harvey Fuqua, and Johnny Bristol,
with Truly Yours/ I'll Always Love You, and doo-wop throwback
Tomorrow May Never Come the standouts. Among the album tracks,
Like a Good Man Should - co-written and produced by Smokey
Robinson-is the pick of the litter. As for the bonus tracks, the first
three - Darling/ Words Can't Describe, and 12 O'Clock -
are gorgeous doo wop style cuts from 1963-64, while Lonely Tomorrow
is a glorious Harvey Fuqua ballad sung to perfection. Nobody Else But
You represents the shift from Fuqua's lush gems to full on Motown
assembly line pop; and the trend continues with This Feeling in My
Heart, and We're Gonna Be More Than Friends. I, for one, have
always wanted a comprehensive CD of the Spinners' Motown period; well,
now we've got one and it was more than worth the wait. (GMC)
25 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Now in stock.
Almost 70 years have passed since Hollywood resident Jules Bihari
decided to start his own record label with his brothers Joe & Saul in
order to capitalize on the growing demand from jukebox operators for the
new style of black American music tagged Rhythm & Blues. From modest
beginnings, and via a handful of strong-selling titles featuring the
boogie stylings of Hadda Brooks who JUles originally discovered playing
classical piano, the Modern Music Company quickly grew into one of the
premier sources of R&B, blues and jazz and introduced the world to B.B.
King, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker and Etta James, among amny others,
during its 30-year lifetime. This new compilation takes us back to the
company's first year of operations and includes the A and B side of
every 78 released during Modern's first year in business. Some of these
incredibly rare items have been reissued on Ace before but nearly half
of them have never appeared legitimately on CD until now. As well as
Miss Brooks, other notable names appearing are be-bop trumpet maestro
Howard McGhee, the superb vocalist Pearl Traylor (accompanied by Brooks
and guitarist Tiny Webb on two tracks and by the Howard McGhee Orch. on
one), the popular but pretty dull novelty act Three Bits Of Rhythm, jump
blues vocalist Jesse Perry and others. A bonus track features Hadda
Brooks rehearsing for her first Modern session. Includes a 16 page
booklet with extensive notes by Tony Rounce and lavishly illustrated
with some of the rarest label shots that any collector could wish to
see. (FS) HADDA BROOKS: Blue Mood/ Blusen The Boogie/ Just A
Little Blusie (Sic)/ Rehearsing The Boogie/ Riding The Boogie/ Swingin
The Boogie/ Nightmare Boogie/ Blues In B Flat/ Rocking The Boogie/ The
Man I Love/ HAPPY JOHNSON SEXTETTE: Air Mail Special/ B Splat/ Jelly,
Jelly/ HOWARD MCGHEE ORCHESTRA: 11:45 Swing/ Deep Meditation/ Play Boy
Blues/ JESSE PERRY WITH HAPPY JOHNSON SEXTETTE: Jesse Boogie/ Lovin'
Lover/ Mercy Mercy/ You're The Great One/ THE THREE BITS OF RHYTHM: I
Used To Work In Chicago/ That's The Boogie Aka Brooklyn Stomp!/ PEARL
TRAYLOR: Daddy, Somebody's Got To Go/ Lonesome Gal
Fine collection of 25 sides recorded between 1949 and
1951 for the Houston based Macy's label. It includes the four earliest
sides by Jim Reeves from 1950 along with a couple of great Western Swing
flavored sides by the great Cajun singer and fiddler Harry Choates. Most
of the rest of the artists are obscure but generally excellent including
Woody Carter & His Hoedown Boys, Tommy Dover & His Texas Rhythm Boys,
The Raley Brothers & Woody carter (a great old timey instrumental with
fiddle and mandolin), The Bar X Cowboys, Ramblin' Tommy Scott, Art Gunn
& His Arizona Playboys (actually from Florida - they do a fine country
boogie), Bob Greene & His Filling Station Swing band, The Vance Brothers
and others. Good sound and 12 page booklet with notes by Dave Penney. THE BAR X COWBOYS: Fair Weather Friend/ THE RALEY
BROTHERS & WOODY CARTER: Hoedown Breakdown/ LAVERL CARRICO & THE
ANGELINA PALS: Too Many Women Too Much Beer/ WOODY CARTER & HIS HOEDOWN
BOYS: Sittin' On The Doorstep/ Who's Gonna Chop My Baby's Firewood/
HARRY CHOATES & HIS FIDDLE: Catn' Around/ Korea Here We Come/ TOMMY
DOVER & HIS TEXAS RHYTHM BOYS: Blue Over You/ I Love You Because/ BOB
GREENE & HIS FILLING STATION SWING BAND: Somebody Stole My Rag Mop/ ART
GUNN & HIS ARIZONA PLAYBOYS: Boogie Woogie Blues/ Cornbread Boogie/
SONNY HALL & HIS MOONSHINERS: Just A Little Bit More/ CLAUDE HAM & HIS
RADIO PLAYBOYS: That's All I'm Through/ MORRIS MILLS & THE RITHUMAKERS:
I'd Like To Slip Around/ CURLY RASH & HIS SOUTH TEXAS PLAYBOYS: Humble
Road Blues/ JIM REEVES: Chicken Hearted/ I've Never Been So Blue/ My
Heart's Like A Welcome Mat/ Tear Drops of Regret/ COUSIN BOB RODGERS:
Lonesome Freight Train Blues/ RAMBLIN' TOMMY SCOTT: Tennessee/ When A
Man Gets The Blues/ THE VANCE BROTHERS: Draftboard Blues/ BARNEY
VARDERMAN & HIS DRIFTING TEXANS: I'm Finding A New Heart
29 tracks, highly recommended
First in a series of CDs
of country recorded by Starday Records and issued as custom pressings.
Custom or vanity pressings were recordings that were produced, paid for
and distributed by the artist themselves and Starday was probably the
leading label in doing custom hillbilly recordings. Recordings were
issued on Starday's 500 series or the artist could use a label of his
own choosing. Because only small quantities were manufactured these
recordings are very rare. In many cases the recordings here are the only
recordings an artist made and yet most are far from amateurish with some
very fine performances. Among the highlights are the great
Streamliner Boogie by Jimmie O'Neal & The Oklahoma Hillbillies
featuring some stellar steel guitar work, the catchy My Baby Is Gone
by Clyde Beavers, the superb honky tonk ballad Goin' Crazy by
Luke Gordon plus more from Jack Hammons, Roy Fisher & The Rhythm Riders,
Frank Evans & The Western Hayriders, Don Redfield & The Sagedusters,
Marty LIcklider and others. Most of these sides are making their first
appearance on CD. Sound quality is fine and booklet has a discussion of
the history of custome recordings by Phillip Tricker. (FS) CLYDE BEAVERS: My Baby Is Gone/ JIMMY BLAKELY:
Standing In Line (For Your Love)/ JIMMY & DOROTHY BLAKELY: No One But
You/ JOE BROWN: Fishin' Fever/ TOMMY CASTLE: I've Done More
Accidentally/ COUSIN ARNOLD: Be My Baby/ TEX DIXON: I'm Just Feeling
Sorry For Myself/ DOLL & DOLL: Honey Dew/ FRANK EVANS: I'm Different/
What Is It (That I'm Too Young To Know)/ ROLAND FAULK: My Baby's Gone/
ROY FISHER: I've Got A Feeling/ JACK FROST: Crying My Heart Out/ LUKE
GORDON: Baby's Gone/ Goin' Crazy/ JACK HAMMONS: Substitute For Love/
COTTON HENRY: Patent On My Gal/ KING STERLING: Slippin' Out Stealing In/
BUDDY LIVINGSTON: When You Stick Your Tongue Out At Me/ CURLEY MONEY:
Playing The Game/ JACK MORRIS: Cooing To The Wrong Pigeon/ THE MUSICAL
AIRES: Wildcat Boogie/ JAMIE O'NEAL: Streamliner Boogie/ THE OKLAHOMA
MELODY BOYS: Wasted/ DON REDFIELD: I Can't Go Back/ ROY ROBINSON: Little
Romeo/ HAROLD SMITH: Listen To Me Baby/ CARL TANNER: We're In Love
32 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Another superb
collection of honky tonk hillbilly recorded for Columbia in the 1950s.
There are some familiar names - The Maddox Brothers & Rose, Ray Price, Flatt & Scruggs and others, usually infrequently reissued titles. But
its the obscure artists that really make this set exceptional - it opens
in great form with Eddie Zac & Cousin Richie's exuberant rendition and
is followed by Charlie Adams bluesy Black Land Blues followed by
the solid honky tonk of Dusty Owens. Other artists include Bobby Lord (a
fine version of Johnny Cash's So Doggone Lonesome), The Webster
Brothers (superb honky tonk), The Mercer Brothers (fine, low key
harmonies, a little reminiscent of the Delmore Brothers), Vin Bruce, The
Callahan Brothers and others. Usual fine sound and no notes. (FS)
31 tracks, highly recommended
Excellent and varied
collection of material from the obscure Blue Hen label from Harington,
Delaware recorded between 1954 and 1961. I don't know very much about
this label but it was active until at least 1961 and some of it's
releases are highly collectable rockabilly titles including the hot
Eenie Meenie Miney Mo by Lanie Walker and You're Gonne Treat Me
Right by Jimmy Slayton which are included here. Lanie is also
featured on the Jimmie Rodgers style blues Side Track Daddy.
Denver Duke & Jeffrey Null - a duo with a rather unique vocal style that
is based on the brother styles of the Louvin Brothers or Blue Sky Boys
but with an original sound are featured on their excellent tribute
Hank Williams, That Alabama Boy that was a regional hit. Other
artists include Betty Coral (her Chilli Dippin' Baby is very
risque), Tex Daniels & His Lazy H Ranch Boys (fine western swing sound),
Mel Price & His Black Mountain Boys (excellent honky tonk), Millard
Presley & The Presleys (in spite of the name they are an old time
country gospel duo), Bill Price & Johnnie Collins (bluegrass flavored
honky tonk) and more. THE ALLISON SISTERS & BILL PRICE ORCH: There Is A
Time/ CECIL (WHIT-TV Star) CLINE & THE SONS OF THE WEST: Big River, Big
Man/ BETTY CORAL: Chilli Dippin’ Baby/ TEX DANELS & HIS LAZY H RANCH
BOYS: Blue Hen Boogie/ TEX DANIELS & HIS LAZY H RANCH BOYS: Texaco
Polka/ DENVER DUKE & JERRERY NULL: Hank Williams That Alabama Boy/ SANDY
HARRISON & HIS STROLLING COWBOYS: A Package Of Heartaches/ HANK KING:
Cry Like A Baby/ LARRY LEE & THE ECHO VALLEY KINFOLK: Time Just Flies/
TOMMY LLOYD & HIS STROLLING COWBOYS: Now I Know Why/ JIMMY MANSHIP & THE
CHICKADEES: Teenage Sweetie/ MILLARD PRESLEY & HIS PRESLEYS:
Denominations/ Jesus My Savior/ BILL PRICE & CUNNINGHAM BROTHERS:
Stephie Gal/ BILL PRICE & DOWD PRICE: I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue
Eyes/ MEL PRICE & HIS SANTA FE RANGERS: Bill Baily/ I Ain’t Got Time/
Nothing Seems To Go Right Anymore/ Pleading/ BILL PRICE & JOHNNIE
COLLINS: I’ll Be True Forever More To You/ DON REYNOLDS: Don’t Tell Me/
JIMMY STAYTON & COUNTRY CATS: You’re Gonna Treat Me Right/ JIMMY STAYTON
WITH MORTON & HONEY: Hot Hot Mama/ RUDY THACKER & HIS STRINGBUSTERS:
Mountain Guitar/ LANIE WALKER & HIS BLACK MOUNTAIN BOYS: Ennie Meenie
Miney Mo/ Jumpin’ the Gun/ No Use Knocking On My Door/ Side Track Daddy/
Why Baby Why/ BILLY WALLACE: I Still Love You/ You Can’t Ride On My
Train
Move With The Groove - Hardcore Chicago
Soul, 1962-1970
● CD $18.98
2 CDs, 50 tracks, very highly recommended
This set is a
condensed version of three 1998 compilations - "Chicago Twine Time"
(Charly 131), "Windy City Soul" (Charly 134), and "Chicago Soul Cellar"
(Charly 136) - that collected tracks from the Windy City's
Mar-V-Lus/One-Derfu!/M-Pac! group of labels. Although this collection
contains cuts from those CDs, there are also 20 titles featured within
that were not on the original CDs, including tracks from another imprint
within the same group, Toddlin' Town. These discs contain selections of
the "hard soul" genre that these labels were known for ("hard soul" was
soul music influenced by the blues), including their biggest star Alvin
Cash (Twine Time/ The Philly Freeze), the original version of
Shake a Tail Feather by The Five Du-Tones, Lonnie Brooks (aka Guitar
Junior, The Popeye), McKinley Mitchell (The Town I Live In),
Harold Burrage (Got to Find a Way), Big Daddy Rogers (Be My
Lawyer/ I'm a Big Man), Johnny Sayles (Don't Turn Your Back on Me/ You
Did Me Wrong), and early Otis Clay (the outstanding That's How It is
[When You're in Love] and A Lasting Love). The Toddlin' Town cuts
(represented by Bull & the Matadors, Thomas East & the Fabulous
Playboys, and Simtec & Wylie) are products of the late 60's/early 70's
shift toward funk, but still manage to fit the overall "feel" of the
collection. Make no mistake, this is mind-blowing stuff that has been
difficult to find, so kudos to Charly for giving these songs a second
life. And Charly also gets bonus points for the 16 page illustrated
booklet with informative liner notes. (GMC) THE ACCENTS: Spring Song (New Girl)/ THE ADMIRATIONS:
Wait 'Til I Get To Know You/ CICERO BLAKE: Sad Feeling/ LONNIE BROOKS:
Mr. Hot Shot/ The Popeye/ BULL & THE MATADORS: Move With The Groove/ The
Funky Judge, Part 1/ HAROLD BURRAGE: Got To Find A Way/ Master Key/ More
Power To You/ ALVIN CASH: Keep On Dancing, Part 1/ Twine Time/ The
Philly Freeze/ OTIS CLAY: A Lasting Love/ That's How It Is (When You're
In Love)/ BOBBY DAVIS: Damper Down/ WYLIE DIXON: Gotta Hold On/ THE
DU-ETTES: Every Beat Of My Heart/ THOMAS EAST & THE FABULOUS PLAYBOYS: I
Get A Groove/ BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON: The Whip, Part 1/ BETTY EVERETT:
I've Got A Claim On You/ THE FIVE DU-TONES: Shake A Tail Feather/ That's
How I Love You/ JOE & MACK: Don't You Worry/ STACY JOHNSON: I Stand
Alone/ LIZ LANDS: One Man's Poison/ LUCKY LAWS: Who Is She?/ MISS
MADELAINE: Behave Yourself/ MCKINLEY MITCHELL: Tell It Like It Is/ The
Town I Live In/ JOSEPH MOORE: I Still Can't Get You/ WILLIE PARKER: You
Got Your Finger In My Eye/ DOROTHY PRINCE: If I Could Live My Life/ BIG
DADDY ROGERS: Be My Lawyer/ I'm A Big Man/ JOHNNY SAYLES: Don't Turn
Your Back On Me/ You Did Me Wrong/ You Told A Lie/ BEVERLY SHAFFER:
Where Will You Be, Boy?/ THE SHARPEES: Do The 45/ Tired Of Being Lonely/
SIMTEC SIMMONS & WYLIE DIXON: Socking Soul Power/ BIG DADDY SIMPSON:
Give Me Back My Ring/ JOSEPHINE TAYLOR: Ordinary Guy/ What Is Love?/
ANDREW TIBBS: I Made A Mistake/ TODDLIN' TOWN SOUNDS: It's Your Thing/
BENNY TURNER: Come Back Home/ THE ULTI-MATIONS: Without You/ Would I Do
It Over?
23 tracks, recommended
After you get past the first two
awful tracks by Inez Richardson who is neither jazz nor blues, in spite
of the presence of Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra the rest of this disc
features some worthwhile vaudeville/ blues sides. There are two tracks
from 1924 by the excellent singer Kitty Irvin accompanied by fine piano
and clarinet. Star of this disc is Alberta Jones who is featured on 15
songs recorded between 1925 and 1930 with a variety of different
instrumental settings including two tracks with "The Ellington Twins"
(Duke Ellington/ piano, Otto Hardwicke/ alto sax). Jones is a fine
singer and has some interesting songs. The CD ends with four tracks (two
unissued) by Alma Henderson. She's a pretty drab singer but two of the
tracks feature her accompanied by Lonnie Johnson and the other two
feature Eddie Lang although neither of these musiciasn is at their best
here. Still, a worthwhile disc for the Irvin and Jones tracks. (FS)
More superb and under-reissued soul from the 60s and
early 70s recorded the Duke, Peacock, Backbeat and Sure Shot labels -
most of it on CD for the first time. This volume includes sides by The
Malibus, Tennyson Stephens, Paulette Parker ( a great 1970 reworking of
Bobby Bland's 1961 hit I Pity The Fool), The Augustine Twins,
Little Frankie Lee (an answer to Johnny Taylor's hit Who's Making
Love), LaVell Kamma, Bobby Williams, Mr. Lee & The Cherokees, Joe
Hinton and others. Fine sound and booklet with informative notes. BOBBY ADENO: I'll Give Up The World/ THE AUGUSTINE
TWINS (DON & RON): My Place/ AL 'TNT' BRAGGS: I'm A Good Man/ JAMES
DAVIS: I'm Gonna Tell It On You/ CLARENCE GREEN & THE RHYTHMAIRES: What
Y'all Waiting On Me?/ JOE HINTON: Please/ JAY HOLMAN: Sounds, Sights And
Feelings/ BUSTER JONES: I'm Satisfied/ LAVELL KAMMA: Begging/ LEE
LAMONT: Happy Days/ LITTLE FRANKIE LEE: I'm Making Love/ THE MALIBUS: I
Just Can't Stand It/ CHUCK MCLEAN: Let Me Hear It From You/ MISS LAVELL:
Run To You/ LEE MITCHELL: You're Gonna Miss Me/ MR. LEE & CHEROKEES:
Take Your Time/ PAULETTE PARKER: I Pity The Fool/ OSCAR PERRY: Fool From
The Sticks/ JOHN ROBERTS: Something Reminds Me/ EDDIE SIMPSON: Big Black
Funky Slave/ TENNYSON STEPHENS: Rain, Rain, Rain/ JACKIE VERDELL: Why
Not Give Me A Chance/ BOBBY WILLIAMS: I'll Hate Myself Tomorrow/
JEANETTE WILLIAMS: You Gotta Come Through
Three CDs, 58 tracks, recommended
Fine collection of mid
and up tempo blues and R&B recorded between 1945 and 1957 and originally
issued on the Aladdin, Imperial and Capitol labels. Most of the titles
will be familiar to collectors though there are a number of obscurities
and titles that are not currently available elsewhere on CD. Artists
include T_Bone Walker, Pigmeat Markham, Gatemouth Brown, Big Joe Turner,
Julia Lee, Cleo Brown, John Lee Hooker (from his great, originally
unissued, sessions for Bernie Bessman), Calvin Boze, Peppermint Harris,
Archibald, Jack Parker, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, Louis Jordan,
Charles Brown, Shirley & Lee, Roy Brown and more.Fine sound and very
brief notes in French. (FS) JO JO ADAMS: When I'm In My Tea/ ARCHIBALD: Great Big
Eyes/ DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: Jump Children/ CALVIN BOZE & HIS ALL STARS:
Safronia B/ CHARLES BROWN: I've Been Savin' My Love For You/ Please
Don't DRive Me Away/ CLEO BROWN: Cleo's Boogie/ GATEMOUTH BROWN:
Gatemouth Boogie/ ROY BROWN: Let The Four Winds Blow/ PEE WEE CRAYTON:
Blues Before Dawn/ Do Unto Others/ Hurry Hurry/ You Know Yeah/ Your
Truly/ FLOYD DIXON: Wine Wine Wine/ FATS DOMINO: Blueberry Hill/ THE
FIVE KEYS: Hucklebuck With Jimmy/ She's The Most/ LOWELL FULSON: Chuck
With The Boys/ Don't Leave Me Baby/ PEPERMINT HARRIS: I Got Loaded/
COLEMAN HAWKINS: Stuffy/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Crying All Night/ Out The Door
I Went/ Snap Them Fingers Boogie/ Throw MY Money Around/ HELEN HUMES: He
May Be Your Man/ ILLINOIS JACQUET: Flying Home, Part 1/ LOUIS JORDAN:
Messy Bessy/ JULIA LEE: King Size Papa/ JIMMY LIGGINS: I Ain't Drunk/
NELLIE LUTCHER: Fine Brown Frame/ PIGMEAT MARKHAM: See See Rider/ BIG
JAY MCNEELY: Deacon Rides Again/ AMOS MILBURN: Down The Road A Piece/
Jitterbug Fashion Parade/ Let Me Go Home Whiskey/ Let's Have A Party/
Let's Rock A While/ Sax Shack Boogie/ Wolf On The River/ JACK PARKER: I
Need You, I Want You/ SHIRLEY & ROLL: Let The Good Times Roll/ GEECHIE
SMITH: T Town Jump/ BIG JOE TURNER: Blues JUmp The Rabbit/ Jumpin'
Tonight (Midnight Rockin')/ Love My Baby (Little Bitty Baby)/ Low Down
Dog/ Lucille/ Roll 'Em Pete/ BIG T. TYLER: King Kong/ T-BONE WALKER: Bye
Bye Baby/ Come Back To Me Baby/ Hard Way/ Party Girl/ Strollin' With
Bone/ Teenage Baby/ Tell Me What's The Reason
3 CDs, 75 tracks, 174 mins, highly recommended
Here's a
grandiose collection of the good Rockin' dames, honey drippin' honies,
and long-legged lyrical ladies of the golden age of Rock & Roll and
Rhythm & Blues. Multiple tracks by greats like Wanda Jackson, LaVern
Baker, Janis Martin, Ruth Brown, Wynona Carr, and Brenda Lee. Some
tracks you know and love, but many more are Rockin' rarities like Angel
Face - I Can't Look Back, Tiny Topsy - Aw Shucks Baby,
Janie Davids - Gonna Get Even (With Elvis Presley's Sergeant,)
Jewel King - 3 x 7 = 21, Fluffy Hunter - My Natch'l Man,
and too many more killer kuts to list off here. Etta James, Helene
Dixon, Eartha Kitt, Shirley & Lee, The Davis Sisters, Dolly Cooper,
Varetta Dillard, The Delicates, Connie Francis, Rose Maddox, and many,
many more. Fantastic sound throughout, attractive packaging with solid
notes, this is a quality collection, through and through. (JM)
That's Your Last Boogie!The Best Of
Johnny Otis,1945-60
● CD $23.98
3 CDs, 83 tracks, 3 hours 55 min., very highly
recommended
There was nobody like Johnny Otis. Not just present during
the early R&B and rock and roll days, Otis was responsible for a
truckload of hits and did more that his share of innovating. By the time
Otis signed with Savoy Records in 1949 he had already recorded with
Jimmy Rushing, Illinois Jacquet, Wynonie Harris, Johnny Moore's Three
Blazes, Joe Turner, and many others. He left Savoy in 1952 but not
before he chalked up no fewer that 14 national hits on the R&B charts.
He had his own television show, several record labels, and by the mid
1950s signed with Capital Records. And he was white. This 3-disc set
divides his career into "Barrelhouse Stomp," "Rockin'Blues," and "Going
Crazy" and begins to do the man justice. Lots of Savoy hits, as well as
stuff on Peacock, Philo, Excelsior, Regent, Score, Modern, Federal,
Mercury, Duke, Ultra, and Capital labels. The booklet notes are
informative, if relatively brief. Nice overview from 1945-60. (JC) JOHNNY ACE: Pledging My Love/ Yes, Baby/ MR GOGGLE
EYES AUGUST: Oh Ho Doodle Lu/ ROY “HAPPY™ EASTER: If You Ever Get
Lonesome/ DOROTHY ELLIS: Drill, Daddy, Drill/ THE FOUR BLUEBIRDS: My
Baby Done Told Me/ JOE “PAPOOSE™ FRITZ: Honey, Honey/ GENE & EUNICE: Ko
Ko Mo/ HUNTER HANCOCK: “Harlematinee” Radio Show Theme/ WYNONIE HARRIS:
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo/ Yonder Goes My Baby/ LINDA HOPKINS: Doggin' Blues/
ILLINOIS JACQUET: Uptown Boogie/ ETTA JAMES & THE PEACHES: The
Wallflower (Dance With Me Henry)/ JUNIOR & MARIE: Boom Diddy Wa Wa/ PETE
“GUITAR™ LEWIS: Going Crazy/ Louisiana Hop/ RICHARD LEWIS: Hey Little
Girl/ LITTLE ESTHER: Better Beware/ Mean Ole Gal/ Misery/ Cupid's
Boogie/ Deceivin' Blues/ Far Away Blues (aka Xmas Blues)/ Mistrustin'
Blues/ Double Crossing Blues/ Lover's Lane Boogie/ The Deacon Moves In/
LITTLE RICHARD: Little Richard's Boogie/ PRESTON LOVE ORCHESTRA: Country
Boogie/ LITTLE ARTHUR MATTHEWS: I'm Gonna Whale On You/ JOHNNY MOORE’S
THREE BLAZERS: Groovy/ OLD MAN MOSE: Matchbox Blues/ JOHNNY OTIS
ORCHESTRA: Midnight In The Barrel House/ All Nite Long/ Barrel House
Stomp/ Court Room Blues/ Goomp Blues/ Harlem Nocturne/ Jeff-Hi Stomp/
Mambo Boogie/ New Orleans Shuffle/ One Nighter Blues/ One O'Clock
Jump-Omaha Flash/ Oopy-Doo/ Rock Me Baby/ Shake It/ The Turkey Hop, Part
1/ The Turkey Hop, Part 2/ Young Girl/ THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW: Bye Bye
Baby/ Castin' My Spell/ Crazy Country Hop/ Mumblin' Mosie/ Shake It,
Lucy Baby/ Willie And The Hand Jive/ JOHNNY OTIS’ CONGREGATION: Wedding
Boogie/ THE ROBINS: Around About Midnight/ If I Didn't Love You So/ If
It's So, Baby/ THE ROYALS: Every Beat Of My Heart/ JIMMY RUSHING:
Jimmy's Round The Clock Blues/ JUNIOR RYDER: Better Stop/ MARYLYN SCOTT:
Beer Bottle Boogie/ SUGAR PIE: Please Be True/ JOE SWIFT: That's Your
Last Boogie/ WILLIE MAE “BIG MAMA™ THORNTON: Hound Dog/ JOE TURNER: S K
Blues/ MEL WALKER: Call Operator 210/ Dreamin' Blues/ Feel Like Cryin'
Again/ Gee Baby/ Rockin' Blues/ Sunset To Dawn/ The Candle's Burnin'
Low/ The Love Bug Boogie/ Cry Baby/ GEORGE WASHINGTON: Good Boogdi
Googie/ FAYE WILSON: I Miss You So/ LESTER YOUNG: Jamming With Lester
2 CDs, 55 tracks, 151 mins, highly recommended
It
certainly seems that sometimes we are so busy seeking out the rarest,
most obscure, oddball records, the unissued singles, the rare studio
out-takes, that we forget about all of the wonderful music that actually
were well-known hits. Especially now, when radio stations are playing
less and less of the classic music from the 1950's to early '60s, it is
a good time for collections just like this one. You get many of James
Browns' biggest and best (with the exclusion of (I Got You) I Feel
Good, which is totally fine,) ditto for Etta James, Ray Charles, Ike
& Tine, Little Willie John, Mary Wells, etc. Then you get great cuts
like Think by The Five Royals, The Teacher by The Falcons,
Turn On Your Lovelight by Bobby Bland, Just Out Of Reach
By Solomon Burke, Ta Ta by Clyde McPhatter, Doggin Around
by Jackie Wilson, and so on, all hits to some degree in their day, but
most rarely show up on any radio nowadays. I'm gonna buy a copy of this
for sure, and probably another one for my sister; it is just plain good
sense to have these all of these classic tracks easily accessible. (JM)
The Bristol Sessions - Country Music's
Big Bang,1927/28
● CD $28.98
Four CDs, 94 tracks, essential if you don't have the
Bear Family box
Last year Bear Family issued an amazing five CD box
with 124 tracks with hard cover book (Bear Family 16094 - The Bristol
Sessions - $149.98) documenting in depth a series of country music
sessions held in Bristol, Tennessee in 1927 and 1928 that launched the
careers of The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Now JSP has issued a
trimmed down version of that set leaving out the familiar Rodgers and
Carter Family sessions but including some of the very best sides that
were cut at the sessions which rank among the greatest country music
recordings of the era. Among the many artists featured were Ernest Stoneman (who had first recorded in 1925), Ernest Phipps & His Holiness
Quartet (absolutely superb old time gospel), The Johnson Brothers,
vocalist and fiddler Blind Alfred Reed (the first recordings of this
incredibly creative artist ), Alfred G. Karnes (the complete recordings
of this incredible gospel singer accompanying himself on the rare
harp-guitar), Henry Whitter, The Shelor Family, The Tenneva Ramblers (a
string band that Jimmie Rodgers had previously been a member of), B.F.
Shelton (all four sides recorded by this fantastic singer and banjo
player including a spine chilling version of Pretty Polly) and
many more. Sound is superb and there are informative notes by Pat
Harrison. If you can't afford the Bear Family set then this is
absolutely indispensible for any lover of old time country music.
Stunning music from beginning to end. (FS) THE ALCOA QUARTET: I’m Redeeemed/ Remember Me, O
Mighty One/ MR & MRS J.W. BAKER: On The Banks Of The Sunny Tennessee/
The Newmarket Wreck/ DAD BLACKARD’S MOONSHINERS: Sandy River Belle/
Suzanna Gal/ THE BLUE RIDGE CORN SHUCKERS: Old Time Corn Shuckin’ Pt 1/
Old Time Corn Shuckin’ Pt 2/ THE BULL MOUNTAIN MOONSHINERS: Johnny
Goodwin/ THE CAROLINA TWINS: I Sat Upon The River Bank/ Mr Brown Here I
Come/ New Orleans Is The Town I Like Best/ She Tells Me That I Am Sweet/
When You Go A Courtin’/ Where Is My Mama/ E. DUNFORD: The
Whip-Poor-Will’s Song/ UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: Angeline The Baker/ Barney
McCoy/ Old Shoes And Leggin’s/ Skip To Ma Lou, My Darling/ What Will I
Do, For My Money’s All Gone/ CLARENCE GREENE: Goodnight, Darling/ Little
Bunch Of Roses/ HOWARD & PEAK (THE BLIND MUSICIANS): I Cannot Be Your
Sweetheart/ Three Black Sheep/ THE JOHNSON BROS: Just A Message From
Carolina/ The Soldier’s Poor Little Boy/ THE JOHNSON BROTHERS: The
Jealous Sweetheart/ Two Brothers Are We (From East Tennessee)/ ALFRED G.
KARNES: Called To The Foreign Field/ Days Of My Childhood Plays/ Do Not
Wait ‘Til I’m Laid Beneath The Clay/ I Am Bound For The Promised Land/
To The Work/ We Shall All Be Reunited/ When They Ring The Golden Bells/
Where We’ll Never Grow Old/ J. P. NESTER: Black-Eyed Susie/ Train On The
Island/ ERNEST PHIPPS & HIS CONGREGATION: A Little Talk With Jesus/ I
Know That Jesus Set Me Free/ Shine On Me/ Went Up In The Clouds Of
Heaven/ ERNEST PHIPPS & HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: Bright Tomorrow/ ERNEST
PHIPPS & HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Don’t Grieve After Me/ ERNEST PHIPPS &
HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: Happy In Prison/ ERNEST PHIPPS & HIS HOLINESS
QUARTET: I Want To Go Where Jesus Is/ ERNEST PHIPPS & HIS HOLINESS
SINGERS: If The Light Has Gone Out In Your Soul/ Jesus Is Getting Us
Ready For That Great Day/ ERNEST PHIPPS & HOLINESS QUARTET: Do, Lord,
Remember Me/ Old Ship Of Zion/ BLIND ALFRED REED: I Mean To Live For
Jesus/ The Wreck Of The Virginian/ Walking In The Way With Jesus/ You
Must Unload/ SHORTBUCKLE ROARK & FAMILY: I Truly Understand, You Love
Another Man/ My Mother’s Hands/ THE SHELOR FAMILY: Big Bend Gal/ Billy
Grimes The Rover/ B.F. SHELTON: Cold Penitentiary Blues/ Darling Cora/ O
Molly Dear/ Pretty Polly/ THE SMITH BROTHERS: My Mother Is Waiting For
Me In Heaven Above/ She Has Climbed The Golden Stairs/ THE SMYTH COUNTY
RAMBLERS: My Name Is Ticklish Reuben/ ’Way Down In Alabama/ ERNEST
STONEMAN & DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: I Am Resolved/ The Resurrection/ ERNEST
STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: Are You Washed In The Blood?/
Sweeping Through The Gates/ THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Down To Jordan And Be
Saved/ Going Up The Mountain After Liquor Pt 1/ Going Up The Mountain
After Liquor Pt 2/ The Broken Hearted Lover/ The Spanish Merchant’s
Daughter/ There’s A Light Lit Up In Galilee/ Too Late/ We Parted By The
Riverside/ E. STONEMAN, E. K. BREWER, M. MOONEY: Dying Girl’s Farewell/
Tell Mother I Will Meet Her/ STONEMAN/FROST: Mountaineer’s Courtship/
STONEMAN’S DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: I Know My Name Is There/ No More
Good-Byes/ THE TENNESSEE MOUNTAINEERS: At The River/ Standing On The
Promises/ THE TENNEVA RAMBLERS: Miss Liza, Poor Gal/ Sweet Heaven When I
Die/ The Longest Train I Ever Saw/ EL WATSON: Pot Licker Blues/ THE WEST
VIRGINIA COON HUNTERS: Greasy String/ Your Blue Eyes Run Me Crazy/ HENRY
WHITTER: Henry Whitter’s Fox Chase/ Rain Crow Bill
Two CDs, 50 tracks, very highly recommended
First of two
double CDs from the creative folks at Rhythm & Blues documenting the
emergence and growth of New Orleans rhythm & blues. Unlike similarly
themed anthologies a lot more thought has gone into this one. The first
disc looks at the jazz influences. New Orleans is often considered the
birthplace of jazz but rather than just pick a random selection of jazz
the music on disc 1 has been chosen to reflect the factors that would
be noticeable in New Orleans rhythm & blues - particularly the
influence of Latin
and Caribbean rhythms. It includes tracks by Sidney Bechet's Blue Note
Jazzmen (a particularly fine version of the usually overdone When The
Saints Go Marching Inm), Jelly Roll Morton, Johnny Dodds, Luis
Russell, Horace Eubanks with Zutty Singleton, The Creole Serenaders and
others. Having started with Sidney Bechet's version of The Saints
the first disc, appropriately end with a version of the same song by
down home blues singer and harmonica player Papa Lightfoot. The second
disc primarily emphasizes blues including jazz blues plus some Cajun
music. Featuring recordings from the 20s through the 40s it includes
Louis Armstrong, Richard Rabbit Brown, Willie Jackson, Victoria Spivey,
Joe Falcon & Cleoma Breaux, Champion Jack Dupree, The Harlem
HamfatsCousin Joe and others. Sound quality is generally excellent and
the 28 page booklet has extensive notes putting the music into context
including a discussion of the various rhythms empoyed along with photos
and full discographical data. (FS) LOUIS ARMSTRONG: Didn't He Ramble/ I'm Not Rough/ St.
James' Infirmary/ LOVIE AUSTIN: Travelin? Blues/ PAUL BARBARIN: Eh La
Bas/ DANNY BARKER: Chocko Mo Feendo Hey/ Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing/
BAUDUC & HAGGARD: Big Noise From Winnetka/ SIDNEY BECHET: Sidney's
Blues/ When The Saints Go Marching/ MILTON BROWN: Keep A Knockin'/
RICHARD RABBIT BROWN: James Alley Blues/ THE CHICAGO HOTTENTOTS: Put Me
In The Alley/ HARRY CHOATES: Hackberry Hop/ ANN COOK: Mama Cookie/
COUSIN JOE: Box Car Shorty And Peter Blue/ Just As Soon As I Go Home/
THE CREOLE SERENADERS: Mo Pas Lemme Ca/ BOB CROSBY'S BOBCATS: South
Rampart Street Parade/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Cabbage Greens No 1/ Junker
Blues/ New Low Down Dog/ HORACE EUBANKS & ZUTTY SINGLETON: Runenae Papa/
THE EUREKA BRASS BAND: Just a Closer Walk with Thee/Lady Be Good/ JOSEPH
FALCON: Lafayette/ CREOLE GEORGE GUESNON: Mississippi Town/ THE HAITIAN
ORCHESTRA: Sous Les Palmiers/ EDMOND HALL: Besame Mucho/ THE HARLEM
HAMFATS: I'm Cuttin' Out/ Root Hog Or Die/ WILLIE JACKSON: Old New
Orleans Blues/ LONNIE JOHNSON & EDDIE LANG: A Handful Of Riffs/ KID
STORMY WEATHER: Bread And Water Blues/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Crazy Cryin'
Blues/ JELLY ROLL MORTON: Maple Leaf Rag/ New Orleans Joys/ THE NEW
ORLEANS RHYTHM KINGS: Tiger Rag/ THE NEW ORLEANS WANDERERS: Perdido
Street Blues/ KING OLIVER: Black Snake Blues/ KID ORY & HIS CREOLE JAZZ
BAND: Blanche Touquatoux/ PAPA LIGHTFOOT: The Saints/ THE Q.R.S. BOYS:
Wiggle Yo Toes/ THE RAYNE-BO RAMBLERS: Gran Prairie/ LUIS RUSSELL: Sweet
Mumtaz/ BOB SCHAFNER AND HIS HOT SHOTS: Trouble In Mind/ ZUTTY SINGLETON
AND HIS ORCHESTRA: King Porter Stomp/ NOBLE SISSLE WITH SIDNEY BECHET:
Dear Old Southland/ VICTORIA SPIVEY: Funny Feathers/ CHARLEY TAYLOR:
Louisiana Bound/ ANN TURNER: Deceived Blues/ ZUTTY & HIS BAND: Look Over
Yonder
22 tracks, 74 min., highly recommended
Liner noter Izzy
Sanabria recounts the curious and annoyingly incomplete story of how
some promoters and radio DJs conspired with night club DJs to end the
popularity of the Boogaloo. Luckily the music on this collection is
first rate. The album's subtitle, "22 Rare Latin Boogaloos From Spanish
Harlem '62-73," tells the story. More than a few of the tracks are drawn
from Fania albums, and that's as it should be. But if the tracks are
rare, several of the artists couldn't be more famous in the Latin music
world, including Ray Barretto (who does Pretty Mama), Monguito
Santamaria, Johnny Rodriguez, Willie Bobo, Pete Rodriguez, Bobby
Valentin, Louie Ramirez, and others. If the demise of the boogaloo gave
rise to a golden age of salsa, then it was worth the trade. But more
likely, they peacefully coexisted until the limitations inherent in the
boogaloo gave way to a more freeing form. Still, as this collection
demonstrates, the boogaloo had its moments. And some of the best are
collected here. (JC)
18 tracks, 38 min, recommended
When you have a label
that was indeed a powerhouse in the 50s into the early 60s, as great as
it is, there comes a time where everything's been put out. What you need
is a marketing gimmick. What we have here is a disc full of tunes
written by Sun artists but recorded by other Sun artists. There are a
few that were actually released at the time by Sun - there's a great
version of Charlie Rich's Break Up done by Ray Smith, & of course
there's Billy Lee Riley's classic take on Billy "The Kid" Emmerson's
Red Hot, along with Jerry Lee Lewis' version of Roy Orbison's
Rock House. But most of these tunes were unreleased at the time &
include a few lesser tracks as Jeb Stuart's Just Walkin' In The Rain.
But what may be most interesting is some demos done by the songwriters,
my fave being Johnny Cash with Little Wooly Booger (You're My Baby),
along with Harold Jenkins (later known as Conway Twitty) doing Rock
House, a song he wrote with Roy Orbison, & a couple by Charlie Rich.
(GM) SONNY BURGESS: Feelin' Good/ JOHNNY CASH: I Forgot to
Remember to Forget/ Little Woolly Booger (You're My Baby)/ KEN COOK:
Problem Child/ HAROLD JENKINS: Rock House/ JERRY LEE LEWIS: Down the
Line/ Ooby Dooby/ Rock & Roll Ruby/ CARL MANN: Baby I Don't Care/ Ubangi
Stomp/ ROY ORBISON: You Tell Me/ CHARLIE RICH: Right Behind You Baby/
Thanks a Lot/ BILLY LEE RILEY: Red Hot/ RAY SMITH: Break Up/ JEB STUART:
Just Walkin' in the Rain/ VERNON TAYLOR: Mystery Train/ HAYDEN THOMPSON:
Love My Baby
2 CDs, 2 hours 9 min., recommended
This compilation
offers a variety of bands from various African nations performing
African roots music. while modernizing it at the same time. Many of the
groups use instruments fashioned from garbage and junk, adding another
level of creativity to the performances. The sounds here are as diverse
as the groups, Staff Brenda Bilili's Je T'Aime would seem to
borrow from American soul music, while Bedouin Jerry Can Band churns up
Ya El Yaleladana, which mixes Middle Eastern and North African
influences. But perhaps the finest cut belongs to Seprewa Kasa's
Adowa (Otanfo), which weaves charming vocal harmony with lilting
instrumentation. Also included in the package is a bonus CD of Kenge
Kenge, a promotional push for a band that deserves one. It's not the
reason to pick this up, but it more than welcome. (JC)
B.A.C.M.'s fourth collection of recordings of this
popular and engaging Western singer features 26 tracks recorded in the
mid 40s for radio transcriptions. Jimmy is mostly accompanied by his
Trio with the splendid guitar work of Jack Rivers plus fiddle and
accordion plus steel guitar (probably Frank Marvin) on some tracks.
Among the songs included (many of them Wakely originals) are What
Will You Do When I'm Gone/ Texas Plains/ With Tears In My Eyes/ That
Last Long Trail/ Long Lonesome Road/ You Brought Sorrow To My Heart/
Milk Cow Blues/ Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle/ Locked In My Heart,
etc. JIMMY WAKELY: A Melody From The Sky/ A Sailor's
Prayer/ Don't Laugh At My Tears/ I'm Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky/
I'm Sorry I Met You/ Live And Let Live/ Locked In My Heart/ Lonesome
Trail/ Long Lonesome Road/ Milk Cow Blues/ My Red River Rose/ Night
After Night/ Nobody's Darling But Mine/ One More Tear/ Somebody's
Lonesome For You/ Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle/ Tears In A Heart/
Texas Plains/ That Last Long Trail/ Those Gone And Left My Blues/ What
Will You Do When I'm Gone/ With Tears In My Eyes/ You Brought Sorrow To
My Heart/ You're Somebody's Rose/ You're The Answer To My Prayers
12 tracks, 41 mins, recommended
1981/82 recordings by
Alabama country bluesman Warren made by George Mitchell and previously
available on a Swingmaster LP. Warren is a good singer and a decent
guitarist and performs a mixture of traditional songs, original pieces
and songs learned from the records of Blind Boy Fuller. He doesnt' quite
have the ability to pull off the raggy Piedmont style of Fuller but his
playing is quite good and he also plays some nice slide. Highlight of
these recordings is the 6 minute story/ song The Escape Of Corinna
with some particularly nice slide. Not an outstanding album but well
worth a listen. (FS)