|
BARGAIN
BASEMENT
COMPACT
DISCS - Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
The Ad-Libs ->
King Curtis
| THE AD LIBS |
Collectables 5742 |
And Friends |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
18 tracks, 45 min., recommended
The first 10 tracks
belong to the Ad Libs, who made a name in 1965 with the light weight
The Boy From New York City, their biggest but not strongest
recording. Bottom Of Soul, with its atypical male lead, is
twice as soulful as anything with Mary Ann Thomas in charge vocally.
But then when Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich are writing for a
group, maximum soulfulness is not exactly a high priority. The other
8 cuts belong to various onetime Red Bird and Blue Cat acts: 4 by
The Dixie Cups (Chapel Of Love/ Iko Iko/ People Say/ Gee The Moon
Is Shining Bright), 1 by the obscure Roddie Joy, 1 by The
Butterflies (really just Ellie Greenwich multi-tracked), 1 by The
Poets (Merry Christmas Baby), 1 by The Charmettes. Every bit
as emotionally satisfying as a potato chip. Soul Lite. (JC)
THE AD-LIBS: Ask Anyone (Anybody)/ Bottom Of Soul/
Down Home Girl/ He Ain't No Angel/ Johnny My Boy/ Kicked Around/
Nothing Worse Than Being Alone/ Ooh Wee Oh Gee/ The Boy From New
York City/ The Slime/ THE BUTTERFLIES: Gee Baby Gee/ THE CHARMETTES:
Sugar Boy/ THE DIXIE CUPS: Chapel Of Love/ Gee The Moon Is Shining
Bright/ Iko Iko/ People Say/ RODDIE JOY: The La La Song/ THE POETS:
Merry Christmas Baby
|
| FAYE ADAMS |
Acrobat ACMCD 4253 |
Shake A Hand |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
30 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Great
collection of 30 sides by this fine and expressive singer. Her
unique high pitched squalls and gospel-like phrasings made her a
million selling success in 1953 with racial integration's first
major anthem, Shake A Hand which is included here. This disc
features most of her Herald sides recorded between 1953 and 1956 - a
blend of soulful ballads and driving rockers, most of them with the
great Joe Morris Band including her other chart toppers I'll Be
True and Hurts Me To My Heart and two previously unissued
tracks - an early version of Takin' You Back and the unissued
song Welcome Home - both fine performances. The disc opens
with three of earlier sides which were issued as by the Joe Morris
Orchestra including the amusing duet with Joe on That's What
Makes My Baby Fat and it also includes her 1957 hit Keeper Of
My Heart recorded in New Orleans with the Dave Bartholomew Band.
Excellent sound and detailed notes from Bob Fisher. (FS)
FAYE ADAMS: Ain't Gonna Tell/ Angels Tell Me/
Anything For A Friend/ Anytime Anyplace Anywhere/ Crazy Mixed Up
World/ Don't Forget To Smile/ Everyday/ Hammer (Keeps A Knockin')/
Happiness To My Soul/ I Owe My Heart To You/ I'll Be True/ I'm Going
To Leave You/ I've Gotta Leave You/ It Hurts Me To My Heart/ Keeper
Of My Heart/ My Greatest Desire/ Same Ole Me/ Say A Prayer/ Shake A
Hand/ Somebody Somewhere Someday/ Sweet Talk/ Tag Along/ Takin' You
Back/ Takin' You Back (early unissued version)/ Teenage Heart/
That's What Makes My Baby Fat/ Welcome Home (unissued)/ Witness To
The Crime/ You Ain't Been True To Me/ Your Love (Has My Heart
Burnin')
|
| JOHNNY ADAMS |
Collectables 5741 |
Reconsider Me |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
18 fine sides recorded for Shelby Singleton in the
60s and 70s - Reconsider Me/ Kiss The Hurt Away/ Proud Woman/
Release Me/ Real Life Hurtin' Man/ I Can't Be All Bad, etc.
|
| LEE ALLEN |
Acrobat ACMCD 4267 |
Walkin' With Mr. Lee |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
23 tracks, recommended
A fine collection of mostly
instrumental New Orleans R&B featuring legendary tenor sax player
Lee Allen who worked with just about everybody in New Orleans in the
50s and 60s. Joined by fellow New Orlenians Allen Toussaint, Edgar
Blanchard, Justin Adams and others recorded a number of excellent
tracks for the New York based Ember Records in 1957 and '58 which
resulted in two minor hits Walkin' With Mr Lee and Tic Toc
which are featured here along with 14 other fine sides recorded for
Ember, two cuts backing vocalist Ernie K. Doe, three sides recorded
for Savoy in 1954 but not originally issued and three sides recorded
for Aladdin in 1956, one not originally issued.Fine music with
excellent sound and informative notes by Bob Fisher. (FS)
|
| RUBY ANDREWS |
Collectables 5201 |
Casanova |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
Includes the title hit + Help Yourself Lover/ Gotta
Break Away/ Casanova 70/ You Can Run, But You Can't Hide/ Since I
Found Out, etc.
RUBY ANDREWS: Can You Get Away/ Casanova (Your
Playing Days Are Over)/ Casanova 70/ Everybody Saw You/ Gotta Break
Away/ Help Yourself Lover/ I Guess That Don't Make Me A Loser/ Since
I Found Out/ Tit For Tat/ Uh! Uh! Boy That's A No No/ You Can Run,
But You Can't Hide/ You Made A Believer Out Of Me
|
| LAVERN BAKER |
Atlantic 82311 |
Soul On Fire - The Best Of Lavern
Baker |
● CD $11.98
$9.98 |
From the Atlantic Remasters series comes this
excellent collection of Lavern Baker hits recorded between 1953-'62,
and all digitally remastered by Stephen Innocenzi. The first song,
Soul On Fire, written by Ahmet Ertegun, comes from her
initial Atlantic recordings and never charted, but deserved to. The
20-song set includes biggies like Tweedle Dee/ Bop Ting A Ling/ I
Cried A Tear/ Play It Fair/ Jim Dandy/ Still/ I Can't Love You
Enough/ Jim Dandy Got Married/ I Waited Too Long/ See See Rider.
Uncharted, but cool nonetheless are You Said/ Tomorrow Night/ How
Often which features Lavern and Ben E. King, and throws in King
Curtis on tenor sax for kicks. These historically important
recordings are essential listening for anyone interested in the
development of rock and roll, or for anyone who likes to dance
around in their socks with the volume turned up loud. Is that Doc
Severinson blowing his trumpet on Shake A Hand? Yup. Thank
Nick Tosches for the fine notes. (JC)
|
| DAVE BARTHOLOMEW |
Landslide 1022 |
New Orleans Beat |
● CD $15.98
$9.98 |
12 tracks, 57 mins, recommended
This CD came out in
1998 and is now available as a cut out at a newly reduced price.
Dave Bartholomew, easily one of the most important musicians in New
Orleans, delivers a funky batch of tracks that overflow with that
New Orleans spirit. Listening to this CD, I initially thought it was
recorded live due to the loose, party nature of the recordings,
thinking that maybe this was recorded at a jazz fest, or Mardi Gras
celebration; instead, they seem to have brought the celebration into
the studio with them. Bartholomew gets to showcase not only his
powerful vocal pipes, but his hot trumpet as well. My favorite track
here might be one where they bring the level down a bit; on Son
Of Stagger Lee, Dave Bartholomew lays down a new chapter in the
legend, taking his time building up the tension so that by the time
the song fades out, you really feel like you have been on a bit of a
journey, one that ended too soon. If you can't make it to the New
Orleans Jazz fest, this collection can deliver a little Jazz fest in
your home stereo. (JM)
|
| FONTELLA BASS |
Fuel 2000 61072 |
Free |
● CD $16.98
$5.98 |
Superb soul singing from St. Louis vocalist Bass on
15 songs recorded for the Jewel subsidiary Paula in 1972 and '73.
The sessions were produced by the great Oliver Sain who gave
Fontella her first break in the early 60s and features arrangements
by Gene Barge. Includes fine song like To Be Free/ I Want
Everyone To Know/ Talking About Freedom/ Wiping Tears/ Who You Gonna
Blame/ I'm Leaving The Choice To You and others including a fine
remake of her most famous song - the classic Rescue Me.
|
| WILLIAM BELL |
Stax 8541 |
The Best Of William Bell |
● CD $12.98
$8.98 |
14 tracks, highly recommended
A prominent player in
the Stax/Volt saga, William Bell is best remembered as the writer or
co-writer of two oft-covered R&B/Blues classics: You Don't Miss
Your Water and Born Under a Bad Sign. But Bell was a
consummate singer in his own right and cut some amazing singles for
Stax in the 60's. This 14 track collection features the best of
Bell's post-Atlantic Stax hits, 1968-75. Many tunes co-written by
Booker T who produced, along with Al Bell. Includes the hits I
Forgot To Be Your Lover/ My Whole World Is Falling Down and
Gettin' What You Want (Losin' What You Had) a funky remake of
Born Under A Bad Sign , his two hits with Judy Clay --
Private Number and My Baby Specializes and more. (GM)
|
| WILLIAM BELL |
Stax 30297 |
The Very Best Of William Bell |
● CD $11.98
$7.98 |
20 Tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
A prominent
player in the Stax/Volt saga, William Bell is best remembered as the
writer or co-writer of two oft-covered R&B/Blues classics: You
Don't Miss Your Water and Born Under a Bad Sign. But Bell
was a consummate singer in his own right and cut some amazing
singles for Stax in the 60's. This "Best Of" is an improvement on a
previous Best Of issued by Stax in 1988; it includes all of Bell's
hits with Stax -- Everybody Loves a Winner/ I Forgot To Be Your
Lover, and his hits with Judy Clay, Private Number and
My Baby Specializes, to name a few--as well as You Don't Miss
Your Water which is missing from the earlier set. Add in crystal
clear re-mastered sound and well written liner notes, and this is
another winner from Stax Records' re-issue program. (GMC)
WILLIAM BELL: All For The Love Of A Woman/ Any
Other Way/ Born Under A Bad Sign/ Eloise (hang On In There)/ Every
Man Oughta Have A Woman/ Everybody Loves A Winner/ Everyday Will Be
Like A Holiday/ Gettin' What You Want (losin' What You Got)/ Happy/
I Forgot To Be Your Lover/ I've Got To Go On Without You/ Lovin' On
Borrowed Time/ My Baby Specializes/ My Whole World Is Falling Down/
Never Like This Before/ Private Number/ Save Us/ Share What You Got
(but Keep What You Need)/ Tribute To A King/ You Don't Miss Your
Water
|
| BOOKER T. & THE
MGS |
Rhino (UK) 77660 |
The Definitive Soul Collection |
● CD $14.98
$9.98 |
2 CDs, 30 tracks, highly recommended
It seemed that
when the re-activated Stax Records issued "The Very Best of Booker T.
& the MG's" in late 2007, we had
seen the last word regarding the ultimate compilation of that
seminal group's hits and best loved recordings. However, in 2006,
Rhino issued this similarly-priced European import that contains
nearly everything on the Stax CD (minus four tracks: Heads or
Tails/ Over Easy/ Sunday Sermon and Soul Clap '69'). Which
comp is better? Well, that depends on what one wants: if you want
the long versions of Melting Pot and Time is Tight and 20 songs are
enough to satisfy your funky soul instrumental jones, then stick
with the Stax collection. On the other hand, if, for the same price,
you want maximum "Soul-Limbo" goodness, then this is the CD for you.
(GMC)
BOOKER T. & THE MGS: Be My Lady/ Behave Yourself/
Booker-Loo/ Boot-Leg/ Can't Be Still/ Chinese Checkers/ Green
Onions/ Groovin'/ Hang 'Em High/ Hip Hug Her/ Home Grown/
Jellybread/ Jingle Bells/ Melting Pot/ Mo' Onions/ Mrs. Robinson/ My
Sweet Potato/ Outrage/ Pigmy/ Red Beans & Rice/ Slim Jenkin's Place/
Slum Baby/ Something/ Soul Dressing/ Soul Sanction/ Soul-Limbo/
Summertime/ Terrible Thing/ Tic-Tac-Toe/ Time Is Tight
|
| TINY
BRADSHAW & HIS ORCHESTRA |
Rev-Ola CRBAND 3 |
Heavy Juice - The King Recordings,
1950-1955 |
● CD $15.98
$11.98 |
32 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
Rev-Ola has
been putting out these great R&B collections with this CR BAND
series and Tiny Bradshaw is a perfect addition. Although Bradshaw
had been playing and writing jazz, swing and blues music for a
couple of decades before, his 1950's R&B and Jump Blues recordings
on King are what so much of his legacy is based on. This collection
is all recordings done for King from 1950 - 1955. Included here are
all of his chart hits from the time, Well Oh Well/ I'm Going To
Have Myself A Ball/ Walkin' The Chalk Line/ Soft and Heavy
Juice, as well as his most famous song (though originally a flop
for him) Train Kept A Rollin'. His band throughout this time
featured some heavy duty players like Leslie Ayres - Trumpet, Rufus
Gore -- Tenor Sax, Orrington Hall -- Baritone, Jimmy Robinson-Piano,
and Willie Gaddy - guitar, among others. Backing bands that were so
good that even when Tiny took sick they still recorded, doing some
fantastic instrumental work which is also included here, as well as
backing up other greats like Ruth Brown, BB King, Bullmoose Jackson
etc.. Also featured here are two fantastic risqu‚ party duets with
Jesse "Tiny" Kennedy Newspaper Boy Blues and Rippin' and
Runnin'. Tiny "means business, so stop your Signifying!" (JM)
|
| JAMES BROWN |
Hip-O Select 1479102 |
The Complete James Brown Christmas |
● CD $31.98
$27.98 |
Have the funkiest Christmas ever with this two CD
set with 37 Christmas songs from the Godfather of Soul. It includes
his three Christmas LPs "Christmas Songs," from 1966, was a
combination of original songs and cool covers, including two
versions of the perennial seasonal favorite The Christmas Song.
"A Soulful Christmas," released in 1968, featured the single
Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto and other funky favorites,
as well as the only (at the time) place to get the full-length
version of the top 10 hit Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud.
"Hey America" was issued in 1970, with the international-flavored
title track, the upbeat Go Power At Christmas Time and cult
favorite Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay. In addition
there are seven bonus tracks including the non-LP single It's
Christmas Time; alternate single versions of You Know It
and Believers Shall Enjoy (Non-Believers Shall Suffer; and
"Sing-Along" (instrumental) versions of Hey America and
Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay, which on this collection
will be in stereo for the first time in any format.
|
| RUTH BROWN |
Acrobat ACMCD 4223 |
Jukebox Hits, 1949-1955 |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
20 tracks, 56 minutes, recommended
This series that
Acrobat is doing covers the American Juke Box/ Harlem Hit Parade/
Race Records/ Rhythm & Blues chart hits from stars of the `40s and
`50s in chronological order. So in Ruth Brown's case you have it
starting with So Long in 1949 and going through I Want To
Do More from 1955. The sound on this is great, Ruth Brown is one
of the best ever and even though I personally prefer more of the
later tracks, all of the material is quality. The liner notes on
this are excellent, but the layout is only fair. I wish one of these
labels could find another picture to use of her and using the most
famous picture of Ruth Brown a total of five times on the package
just starts looking stupid. (JM)
RUTH BROWN: 5 10 15 Hours/ As Long As I'm Moving/
Bye Bye Young Men/ Daddy Daddy/ I Can See Everybody's Baby/ I Gotta
Have You/ I Know/ I Want To Do More/ I'll Wait For You/ It's Love
Baby (24 Hours A Day)/ Love Has Joined Us Together/ Mama He Treats
Your Daughter Mean/ Mambo Baby/ Oh What A Dream/ Sentimental
Journey/ Shine On/ So Long/ Somebody Touched Me/ Teardrops From My
Eyes/ Wild Wild Young Men
|
| RUTH BROWN |
Rhino (UK) 79989 |
The Definitive Soul Collection |
● CD $14.98
$10.98 |
2 CDs, 30 tracks, 81 min., highly recommended
Part
of the "Definitive" series, this collection explores Ruth Brown's
Atlantic Records chart climbers between 1949-1960, tosses in a few
extras too. The earlier cuts favor the ballad, while the second CD
is jump heavy, not because of the compilers, but because that's the
way Atlantic handled Brown. The fledgling label owed her big time
for their success and, as soon as the hits dried up, they cast her
aside. Too bad, since Brown had endless talent and put out
worthwhile albums her entire life, including a gospel release worth
hunting down. A nice retrospective of Brown's Atlantic sides and
fine jumping off point for further exploration. Sure they could have
put everything on one disc, but this way it's a two-disc set. (JC)
|
| SOLOMON BURKE |
Bizarre/Straight 40101 |
Homeland |
● CD $15.98
$7.98 |
This 1992 release was Solomon Burke's first new
studio recordings in over five years, and worth the wait. Forget any
preconceived notions about soul legends attempting to recapture the
old magic; Homeland is one fine soul album. From the bluesy
opening cut Baby Please Don't Cry, Burke makes it clear that
he still deserves all the praise heaped on him over the years. His
cover of Otis Redding's Try A Little Tenderness is strong,
but the real strength of this album is in the new material. The
title track mourns the absence of equality in America, without
bitterness, while the music manages to be uplifting - no small
trick. Make It Up To You/ What I've Got To Do/ Stayin' Away/ I'll
Be There also deserve special attention. (JC)
|
| THE CHARIOTEERS |
Acrobat ACRCD 285 |
Ooh Look A There Ain't She Pretty |
● CD $10.98
$7.98 |
17 tracks, highly recommended
Obscure 40s vocal
group who recently became known throughout England when their
version of Ooh Look A There Ain't She Pretty from 1947
(included here) was used in a TV commercial for English chain store
Marks & Spencer to launch their latest fashion collection. This CD
features 16 more fine sides from the 40s - pop, jive and gospel.
Includes I Can't Get Started/ Open The Door Richard (a great
and very different treatment)/ Sweet Lorraine/ Down, Down Down (What
A Song)/ No Soup/ Bagel And Lox/ When The Saints Go Marching In/
Braggin'/ In My Saviour's Care, etc. Excellent sound and informative
notes. Only a couple of duplications with Collector's Choice 377
($15.98). (FS)
|
| BOBBY CHARLES |
Fuel 2000 61613 |
An Introduction To Bobby Charles |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
20 tracks, 50 min., highly recommended
With a few
possible exceptions, these sides appear to be culled from the Jewel
and Paula labels, circa 1964-65. Charles, famous for having written
Walkin' To New Orleans, See You Later Alligator and
others, had a smooth, relaxed vocal style that dripped with Crescent
City influence. (Leonard Chess was shocked to find that Charles was
white.) While best known for his compositional acumen, Charles sang
his own material as well as, if not better than, anyone. Most of his
catalog remains out of print, making this release welcome indeed.
This album was previously available as an expensive import on
Westside UK, now deleted. (JC)
|
| RAY CHARLES |
Atlantic (Germany) 73525 |
Hallelujah I Love Her So |
● CD $11.98
$7.98 |
14 tracks, 43 mins, essential
Another straight
reissue of one of Ray's classic Atlantic albums - this time Atlantic
8006 from 1962. Fourteen tracks - every one of them a gem mostly
drawn from his earlier Atlantic sessions (1953 - 1955) and including
a number of his early hits including #1s I've Got A Woman and
Drown In My Own Tears. Four tracks are from a May 1953
session with a great band of studio musicians featuring Sam Taylor
on tenor and Mickey Baker on guitar which include two of my all time
favorites - a great version of Lowell Fulson's Sinner's Paryer
and the slow blues Losing Hand with truly sublime guitar by
Baker. The other sessions are with Ray's own larger Orchestra. If
you don't already ahve these tracks they are a must have. (FS)
|
| RAY CHARLES |
Atlantic 81732 |
Live! |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
16 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
This CD
reissues Ray's two great live LPs made for Atlantic, "Ray Charles At
Newport" recorded July, 1958 and originally issued on Atlantic 1289
and "What'd I Say" recorded in Atlanta in May 1959 and originally
issued on Atlantic 8029 plus, as a bonus, Swanee River Rock
an originally unreleased performance from the Newport Show. Ray is
in his prime accompanied by his great band with David "Fathead"
Newmand and Hank Crawford on saxes and with vocal backup by the
incomparable Raylettes (later The Raelettes). They perform a mix of
funky instrumental jazz (Hot Rod/ In A Little Spanish Town/
Frenesi, etc) along with a selection of R&B and proto soul
classics like The Right Time/ I Got A Woman/ Down In My Tears
and, of course, What'd I Say which was just beginning to
ascend the charts when the second live concert was recorded.
Unconstrained by having to fit the songs to the length for a single
Ray and the gang are able to improvise and extend the songs where
appropraite. If you don't already have them - these are
indispensible recodings from the man who truly deserved the nickname
"The Genius." (FS)
|
| CHARLIE & RAY |
Acrobat ACMCD 4310 |
I Love You Madly - The Herald
Recordings |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
16 tracks, 39 min., recommended
The title tune here
is the closest that this duo ever came to a bonafide hit,
nonetheless, their mastery of the up tempo, chalypso, and ballad
tempos popular in the last half of the 1950's is more than evident
is this collection of their material for Al Silver's Herald Records.
The program includes the title tune, plus Tag Along/ Certainly
Baby/ Dearest One/ You're To Blame/ The Closest Thing to an Angel/
Guess I'm Through with Love, and others. There are several
originally unissued titles including a second, slightly slower
version of I Love You Madly. Though the possibilities for
harmony are limited with just two voices, these two won the weekly
amateur night contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater five times in a
row. (DH)
|
| THE CHIFFONS |
Stateside 69278-2 |
Sweet Talkin' Girls - The Best Of
The Chiffons |
● CD $19.98
$13.98 |
2 CDs, 50 tracks, 117 mins, highly recommended
Faster than Little Eva, more powerful than the Dixie Cups, able to
leap the Brill building in a single bound, look up on the charts, is
it a bird group, is it a car group, no it's. The Chiffons. Truly one
of the great `60s girl groups, this bunch of uptown New York chicks
teamed with Brill firebrands for the perfect teenage experience,
distilled down to 2 minutes 50. This includes all of their hits
He's So Fine/ One Fine Day/ I Have A Boyfriend/ Sweet Talkin' Guy,
etc., and great album tracks and rarities, including their
post-lawsuit cover of My Sweet Lord, given the complete New
York treatment. This collection is a bit much to listen to in one
sitting, but taken in tasteful portions, it's wonderful. (JM)
THE CHIFFONS: Did You Ever Go Steady/ Down Down
Down/ Dream Dream Dream/ Easy To Love (So Hard To Get)/ Every Boy
And Every Girl/ He's A Bad One/ He's So Fine/ Heavenly Place/ I
Don't Deserve A Boy Like You/ I Got Plenty of Nuttin'/ I Have A
Boyfriend/ I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes/ If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)/
Just A Boy/ Just For Tonight/ Keep The Boy Happy/ Love Me Like
You're Gonna Lose Me/ Love So Fine/ Lucky Me/ March/ My Block/ My
Boyfriend's Back/ My Sweet Lord/ Mystic Voice/ Nobody Knows What's
Going On (In My Mind But Me)/ Now That You're My Baby/ Oh My Lover/
One Fine Day/ Only My Friend/ Open Your Eyes (I Will Be There)/ Out
Of This World/ Real Thing/ Remember Me Baby/ Sailor Boy/ Secret
Love/ So Much In Love/ Stop Look And Listen/ Strange Strange
Feeling/ Sweet Talkin' Guy/ Teach Me How/ Three Dips of Ice Cream/
Thumbs Down/ Tonight I Met An Angel/ Tonight I'm Gonna Dream/ Up On
The Bridge/ What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)/ When I Go To
Sleep At Night/ When Summer's Through/ When The Boy's Happy (The
Girl's Happy Too)/ Why Am I So Silly
|
| SAVANNAH CHURCHILL |
Acrobat ADDCD 3008 |
I Want To Be Loved |
● CD $18.98
$12.98 |
An in depth look at the recordings of this fine R&B/
pop/ jazz vocalist featuring 40 tracks on two CDs recorded between
1945 and 1953. Though largely forgotten today she had a number of
hits in the 40s including a #1 hit with I Want To Be Loved (But
Only By You) for Manor, with backing by The Four Tunes. Over the
next decade she would go back to this style with backing by The
Tunes as well as other groups like The Five Kings and The Striders.
SAVANNAH CHURCHILL: All Alone/ All Of Me/ And So I
Cry/ Can Any One Explain ( (No No No)/ Daddy Daddy/ Don't Grieve,
Don't Sorrow, Don't Cry/ Don't Try To Explain/ Don't Worry About Me/
Foolishly Yours/ Get Yourself Another Guy/ How Could I Know/ I Can't
Get Up The Nerve To Kiss You/ I Cried/ I Don't Believe In Tommorrow/
I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)/ I Want To Cry/ I'll Never Be
Free/ I'll Never Belong To Anyone Else/ I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/
I'm Too Shy/ If I Didn't Love You So/ In Spite Of Everything You Do/
Is It Too Late/ It's No Sin/ Just Whisper/ My Affair/ My Memories Of
You/ Once There Lived A Fool/ Raining Down In Sunshine Lane/
Savannah Sings The Blues/ Sincerely Yours/ Tell Me So/ The Devil Sat
Down And Cried/ The Gypsy Was Wrong/ Try To Forget/ Waiting For A
Guy Named Joe/ Walking By The River/ Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up
That Old Gang Of Mine/ When You Come Back To Me/ Would You Hurt Me
Now
|
| DEE CLARK |
Westside 805 |
Take Care Of Business |
● CD $15.98
$9.98 |
First ever CD issue of Dee's mid 60s recordings for
Constellation - Crossfire Time/ Come Closer/ That's My Girl/
Heartbreak/ I Ain't Gonna Be A Fool, etc.
|
| THE COASTERS |
Rhino Handmade 7740 |
There's A Riot Goin' On - The
Coasters On Atco |
● CD $95.98
$75.98 |
Four CDs, 113 tracks, almost five hours essential
Limited edition (4,000 numbered copies), four CD set. 113 tracks
featuring my favorite 50s group with their wonderful blending of
rhythm & blues and humor - originally reflecting life in the
African-American community and later, after hitting it big,
reflecting the problems of teens of all races. Originating as The
Four Bluebirds in Los Angeles in 1947 the group subsequently became
The Robins and recorded for a number of labels before teaming up
with the brilliantly talented Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller to record
for their recently formed Spark label. This was the begiining of a
long and incredible productive partnership with Leiber & Stoller who
wrote and produced many of the groups best recordings. The set opens
with all 12 tracks by The Robins recorded for Spark in 1954 and 1955
including two humorous classics Riot & Cell Block #9 (with
Richard Berry guesting on lead vocals) and Framed, the risque
Hatchet Man and the song that crossed over into the pop
charts Smokey Joe's Cafe. Following this success, Leiber &
Stoller were hired by Atco and brought with them two members of the
Robins - bass singer Bobby Nunn and lead Carl Gardner and added to
the line up Leon Hughes and the amazing Billy Guy and called them
The Coasters. They had hit after hit for Atco - most of them in both
the pop and R&B charts and all of them are here including Down In
Mexico/ Young Blood/ Idol With The Golden Head/ Yakety Yak/ Along
Came Jones/ I'm A Hog For You/ Run Red Run and many more. The
set also includes more obscure sides like Brazil/ What Is The
Secret Of Your Success/ Stewball/ Wake Me Shake Me plus a couple
of live cuts, originally unissued songs that first appeared on the
Rhino double CD "50 Coastin' Classics" issued 1992 and their
fascinating LP's worth of pop standards performed in straight pop
style which is not particurlay compelling but worth a listen. The
group's wonderful vocals are accompanied by top West Coast or New
York musicians like guitarists Chuck Norris, Adolph Jacobs, Barney
Kessell or Mickey Baker, sax players Gil Bernal or King Curtis and
often Mike Stoller on piano. One three track session was recorded at
the Chess studios in Chicago with blues greats Louis & Dave Myers
and Willie Dixon Leiber & Stoller left Atlantic in 1963 and the last
few sessions from 1964 through 1966 find the group somewhat
directionless but still making fine music. As icing on the cake the
fourth disc is composed entirely of alternate takes and unissued
songs. And we're not talking about minutely different versions but
different lyrics, different tempos and different instrumental
arrangements which gives us some real insight into the creative
process at their sessions. Among the songs here are Charlie
Brown/ I'm A Hog For You (three different versions alternate of
this - one of my favorite Coasters songs)/ Hey Sexy (an
incredible hard driving version with an almost big band
arrangement!)/Yakety Yak (three alternates)/ Three Cool Cats (two
takes including an extended stereo master)/ Bad Blood and more
as well as some studio chatter. The 36 page booklet is a bit
disappointing - the background notes are far too brief and there is
no mention of the great musicians accompanying the group though it
does include original recording dates and issue numbers and there
are some great photos and memorabilia from Claus Rohnisch who is
probably the world's authority on The Coasters and his web site
(www.angelfire.com/mn/costers) is a treasure trove of information
and memorabilia on The Coasters including a full sessionography.
It's a shame he didn't do the notes but that criticism
nothwithstanding this is an absolutely essential release. (FS)
THE COASTERS: (Ain't That) Just Like Me (stereo
master)/ (when She Wants Good Lovin') My Baby Comes To Me/ (When She
Wants Good Lovin') My Baby Comes To Me (alternate take)/ Along Came
Jones/ Along Came Jones (alternate version/stereo)/ Autumn Leaves
(stereo master)/ Bad Blood/ Bad Blood (alternate version/stereo)/
Bad Detective/ Bell Bottom Slacks And A Chinese Kimono/ Besame
Mucho, Part I/ Besame Mucho, Part II/ Brazil/ Bull Tick Waltz/ But
Beautiful (stereo master)/ Charlie Brown (alternate Take/stereo)/
Charlie Brown (stereo master)/ Crazy Baby/ Crocodile (take #1)/
Crocodile* (stereo)/ Dance (extended version)/ Dance!/ Don't Get
Around Much Anymore (stereo master)/ Down In Mexico/ Easy Living
(stereo master)/ Framed/ Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You (stereo
master)/ Gee, Golly/ Girls Girls Girls (alternate version/stereo)/
Girls Girls Girls (part I)/ Girls Girls Girls (part Ii)/ Hey Sexy
(alternate arrangement/stereo)/ Hey Sexy (stereo master)/ Hongry/ I
Love Paris/ I Must Be Dreamin'/ I Must Be Dreaming (1964 Version)/
I'm A Hog For You/ I'm A Hog For You ("Yea Yea" Version) (stereo)/
I'm A Hog For You (slow version/stereo)/ I'm A Hog For You (undubbed
master/stereo)/ Idol With The Golden Head/ If Teardrops Were Kisses/
Just Like A Fool/ Keep On Rolling/ Keep On Rolling (alternate
version/stereo)/ Lady Like/ Let's Go Get Stoned/ Little Egypt (Ying
Yang) (alternate version/stereo)/ Little Egypt (Ying Yang)/ Lola/
Loop De Loop Mambo/ Lovey Dovey/ Money Honey/ Moonglow (stereo
master)/ Moonlight In Vermont (stereo master)/ My Babe (stereo
master)/ On The Sunny Side Of The Street (stereo master)/ One Kiss/
One Kiss Led To Another/ Poison Ivy/ Poison Ivy (alternate
Take/stereo)/ Poison Ivy (alternate version/stereo)/ Ridin' Hood
(stereo master)/ Ridin'hood (take #28/stereo)/ Riot In Cell Block
#9/ Run Red Run/ Run Red Run (alternate version/stereo)/ Satin Doll
(stereo master)/ Saturday Night Fish Fry/ Searchin'/ She's A Yum
Yum/ Shoppin' For Clothes (stereo master)/ Smokey Joe's Cafe/ Sorry
But I'm Gonna Have To Pass (stereo master)/ Speedo's Back In Town
(live album master/stereo)/ Stewball (stereo master)/ Sweet Georgia
Brown/ T'ain't Nothin' To Me (live album master/stereo)/ Teach Me
How To Shimmy/ That Is Rock & Roll/ That Is Rock & Roll (alternate
version/stereo)/ The Climb (stereo master)/ The Hatchet Man/ The
P.t.a./ The Shadow Knows (stereo master)/ The Shadow Knows (take
#2/stereo)/ The Slime (alternate version of "The Climb"/stereo)/ The
Snake And The Book Worm/ The Snake And The Book Worm (alternate
version/stereo)/ The Way You Look Tonight (stereo master)/ Three
Cool Cats (extended Stereo Master)/ Three Cool Cats (stereo master)/
Three Cool Cats (take #1/stereo)/ Thumbin' A Ride/ Turtle Dovin'/
Wait A Minute/ Wake Me Shake Me (stereo)/ Wake Me, Shake Me/ Whadaya
Want?/ What About Us/ What About Us (alternate version/stereo)/ What
Is The Secret Of Your Success?/ Wild One/ Willow Weep For Me (stereo
master)/ Wrap It Up/ Yakety Yak (alternate version)/ Yakety Yak
(stereo master)/ Yakety Yak (take #3)/ Yakety Yak (take #5/stereo)/
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (stereo master)/ Young Blood/ Zing!
Went The Strings Of My Heart (stereo master)
|
|
EDDIE COLE & THE THREE PEPPERS |
Collectables 5331 |
That's Right! |
● CD $13.98
$7.98 |
CD reissue of Krazy Kat 831. The first nine tracks
feature Nat Cole's older brother, the supercool smooth swing
vocalist/pianist Eddie Cole, with his rhythm jive unit known
variously as His Gang and the Solid Senders. Eddie's vocal style is
reminiscent of early Charles Brown and Nat Cole, supported with
occasional tasty tenor sax and guitar fills, the latter supplied by
Jimmy White. The rest consists of 5 cuts by the pitifully
underecorded Three Peppers, who are composed of Roy Branker (piano &
tenor lead), Bob Bell (guitar and 2nd tenor),and Walter Williams
(bass & baritone vocal). This excellent jive-swing trio sing in the
3 Clefs and 3 Flames vein. One other side by them appeared on the
now out of print Clanka Lanka collection. Rare pics and excellent
sleeve notes by Dave Penny. (OLN)
|
| LES COOPER |
Collectables 5157 |
Wiggle Wobble |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
Fine collection of 12 R&B sides recorded in early
60s for Bobby Robinson's Everlast label by singer & pianist Les
Cooper who started his career as a doo-wop singer with the Empires
and The Whirlers. Cooper is accompanied by his fine band The Soul
Rockers which included tough sax by Joe Grier who was lead singer of
the doo-wop group The Charts that Cooper managed at the time. The
title instrumental dedicated to a popular dance was a big hit but
after that Cooper went into oblivion. There are a couple of good
vocals but most of the tracks are instrumental dance numbers
including Hippity Hop/ Garbage Can/ Rockin' With The Shimming/
Boston Monkey, etc.
|
| DON COVAY |
Great American Music 902 |
Super Bad |
● CD $12.98
$7.98 |
18 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended
Don Covay is
better remembered as one of the pre-eminent R&B/Soul songwriters of
the 60's, penning hits for Aretha Franklin (See Saw and
Chain of Fools), Chubby Checker (Pony Time), Solomon
Burke (You're Good For Me), and loads more. But the man also
had a recording career of his own, cutting his best known work for
Atlantic during the mid and late 60's. By 1970, Covay had formed the
Jefferson Lemon Blues Band (named for his obsession with Blind Lemon
Jefferson) and subsequently signed with Janus Records. In 1971, he
recorded the self-produced album "Different Strokes For Different
Folks" which makes up a large portion of this CD. These tracks range
from the funk of Why Did You Put Your Shoes Under My Bed to
the dramatic ballad Daddy, Please Don't Go Out Tonight, with
room for the rocking If There's a Will There's a Way and the
bluesy Bad Luck. "Different Strokes" was even diverse enough
to offer a spiffy cover of Vanity Fare's 1970 pop hit Hitchin' a
Ride. The rest of the tracks on this compilation stem from a
1977 album - "Funky Yo Yo" - recorded for Versatile Records and also
self-produced. The key tracks from this album - Funky Yo Yo Parts
1 & 2/ You Can't Get Something for Nothin' and Love is
Sweeter (On the Other Side) - make the case that Covay had lost
none of his talent as the 70's progressed. All of the "Funky Yo Yo
tracks" have a stripped down feel to them that begs the question if
these songs were originally intended as demos. It doesn't matter
though, because their starkness merely highlights Covay's
exceptional vocal abilities. Taken together, the songs from these
two albums provide further insight into the unappreciated recording
career of a Soul giant. (GMC)
|
| DON COVAY &
FRIENDS |
Cannonball 29116 |
Adlib |
● CD $15.98
$9.98 |
R&B singer Don Covay is one of those people who
couldn't get arrested as a recording artist (except for "See Saw", a
minor hit in 1965, and even that is better known as an Aretha
Franklin recording) but instead made his mark as a songwriter; the
aforementioned Franklin, Jerry Butler, Wilson Pickett, and Connie
Francis (!) were just a few who benefited from Covay's talents as a
writer. "Adlib," released in 2000, was Covay's first album of mostly
new material since 1977. Presumably because of the stroke he
suffered some years earlier most of the vocals are handled by his
"friends" who include Wilson Pickett, Huey Lewis, Frederick Knight,
Ann Peebles (a great reworking of Chain Of Fools, Syl
Johnson, Dan Penn, Otis Clay and others. Produced and arranged by
Jon Tiven who was instrumental in restarting the careers of a number
of R&B legends. (GMC)
|
| THE CROWS/ THE
WRENS |
Westside 604 |
Strictly For The Birds |
● CD $13.98
$10.98 |
30 tracks featuring all the recordings these two
fine New York groups cut for Rama and Gee between 1953 and '56
including five previously unissued alternate takes.
THE CROWS: Baby/ Baby/ Baby Doll/ Betty Jean/ Call
A Doctor/ Gee/ Heartbreaker/ I Love You So/ I Really, Really Love
You/ Mambo Shevitz (man, Oh Man)/ Miss You/ No Help Wanted/ Sweet
Sue, Just You/ Untrue/ Seven Lonely Days/ LORRAINE ELLIS & GROUP
(CROWS): Perfidia/ BOBBY MANSFIELD & GROUP: House Of Cards/
Reckless/ THE WRENS: (she's My) Everything/ Beggin' For Love/ Ces't
La Vie/ Come Back My Love/ Eleven Roses (and The Twelfth Is You)/
Eleven Roses (and The Twelfth Is You)/ Hey Girl/ I Won't Come To
Your Wedding/ Love's Something That's Made For Two (version 1)/
Love's Something That's Made For Two (version 2)/ Serenade Of The
Bells/ What Makes You Do The Things You Do
|
| KING CURTIS |
Collectables 5156 |
Enjoy Records...The Best Of - Golden
Classics |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
This disc collects 10 Enjoy label sides, including
his big hit Soul Twist. Some of these "classics" sure ain't
no 14 karat gold, but I bet you'll gyrate to Groovin' With The
King/ Sack O'Woe/ the instrumental version of What'd I Say
and the sax-less closer Hot Potatoes. Midnight Blue is
a mellow nocturnal number with oh-so-good solos by Curtis and his
guitarist (most likely Mickey Baker, who steals the spotlight more
than once on this disc). Forget about the rest of these sides,
especially the two vocal numbers, but get the aforementioned volume
or the Edsel release reviewed in this issue at least. (MB)
|
| KING CURTIS |
JSP JSPCD 8812 |
With Al Casey - Live In New York
Plus .. |
● CD $16.98
$11.98 |
14 tracks, 78 min., recommended
Originally released
on LP in 1985, this live set was recorded in 1961 at Small's
Paradise in New York but should not be confused with the Atlantic
album called Live at Small's Paradise. The sound here, although not
of studio quality, and filled as it is with noise from the club
patrons, is good enough, and documents the King Curtis at a critical
point in his development. The set is part jazz, part R&B; part sax,
part singing. And Curtis sounds most at home, most free on How
High The Moon and Canadian Sunset, where he just blows
his tenor sax for all he's worth, which is plenty. He sounds most
forced and awkward on the uninspired reading of his hit The Twist,
where he puts down his ax and sings. The original club date has been
supplemented with 5 bonus tracks recorded in 1985 by Al Casey and
band. A worthwhile addition to King Curtis' eclectic and all to
brief catalogue. (JC)
|
| KING CURTIS |
Rhino 77632 |
Live At Filmore West |
● CD $18.98
$10.98 |
Reissue of 1971 Atlantic album with five bonus cuts.
Curtis is backed by the Kingpins featuring Billy Preston, Cornell
Dupree & Pretty Purdie, plus the Memphis Horns led by Wayne Jackson
& Andrew Love. The original set starts & ends with Curtis's 2
biggest hits, which happen to be the only originals in the set -
Memphis Soul Stew & Soul Serenade. The remaining songs
are all covers - mostly of white rock and country hits like A
Whiter Shade Of Pale/ Ode To Billie Joe/ Mr. Bojangles, etc. The
bonus tracks include alternates of four of the songs from the
original album plus a version of My Sweet Lord with a vocal
by Preston.
|
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