|
BARGAIN
BASEMENT
COMPACT
DISCS - Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
The Delta Rhythm Boys ->
Syl Johnson
| THE DELTA RHYTHM
BOYS |
Acrobat 174 |
I Dreamt I Dwelt In Harlem |
● CD $10.98
$8.98 |
20 tracks, 47 min., recommended
Previously available
on the Collector's Edition label. A splendid and varied set of radio
transcription discs recorded in 1941 by this expert and
tightly-controlled jubilee ensemble that does pop songs, spirituals,
jive ditties and more. Program highlights include Little Lize I
Love You, Wait Till I Put on My Crown, Ezekiel Saw De
Wheel, Do You Care, La Cucaracha, Mighty Day,
Gimme Some Skin, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me,
and I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem. Great music from start to
finish. Sound quality is pretty good given the source of the
material. The complete recordings of this group are available on
Dee-Jay Jamboree 55108, 55109 and 55110 ($18.98 each) (DH/ FS)
|
| FATS DOMINO |
Ace CDCHD 597 |
The Early Imperial Singles,
1950-1952 |
● CD $18.98
$15.98 |
30 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Before becoming a pop
star in the mid 50s Antoine "Fats" Domino had been one of the
leading lights on the New Orleans blues and R&B scene since the late
40s. With his pounding, rolling piano work and his delightful Creole
drawl he made music that was immediately appealing. His recordings,
produced by the multi talented Dave Bartholomew featured some of the
best musicians in a city full of great musicians - Herb Hardesty,
Red Tyler, Ernest McLean, Frank Fields, Wendell Ducoge and others.
This disc presents both sides of his first 14 singles plus two bonus
cuts from the same period that first appeared on LP. Domino had a
hand in writing almost every song here and there is just one classic
after another including the rolling The Fat Man which was a
less provocative reworking of the NOLA favorite Junker's Blues,
the searing Every Night About This Time, the storming
She's My Baby and a whole lot more. Sound is exemplary and the
booklet includes extensive notes by Fats' official biograpger Stuart
Coleman. Only thing missing is a discography. If you can afford it
you should get the Bear Family box with all of Fats's Imperial
recordings - otherwise this is a perfect introduction to his early
years. (FS)
FATS DOMINO: Boogie Woogie Baby/ Brand New Baby/
Careless Love/ Cheatin'/ Detroit City Blues/ Don't Lie To Me/
Dreaming/ Every Night About This Time/ Goin' Home/ Hey! La Bas
Boogie/ Hide Away Blues/ How Long/ I'll Be Gone/ Korea Blues/ Little
Bee/ No No Baby/ Nobody Loves Me/ Poor Poor Me/ Reeling And Rockin'/
Right From Wrong/ Rockin' Chair/ SheÕs My Baby/ Sometimes I Wonder/
The Fat Man/ Tired Of Crying/ Trust In Me/ WhatÕs The Matter Baby/
You Know I Miss You
|
| FATS DOMINO |
CSP Records 1047 |
The First King Of Rock 'n' Roll,
Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98
$11.98 |
32 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended
First of two
albums to reissue all of Fats's recordings for ABC/Paramount in 1963
and '64. Although not as good as his earlier Imperial recordings due
to the overabundance of strings and vocal choruses Fats's singing
is still superb with his warm Creole tones able to make any song
sound good and his band included top N.O. musicians like Roy
Montrell and Herb Hardesty. There are a lot of fine new songs by
Fats like the great blues Gotta Get A Job with interesting
steel guitar, the romping There Goes My Heart Again (his
first ABC hit) and When I'm Walking (Let Me Walk), the great
instrumental Fats On Fire and others. He does fine remakes of
a few his old Imperial classics like The Fat Man and
Valley Of Tears, puts his own distinctive stamp on pop and
country standards like Red Sails In The Sunset/ I Don't Want To
Set The World On Fire and I'm A Fool To Care and does a
really soulful version of Elvis's Love Me which is somewhat
marred by an electronic keyboard. With 32 tracks this is great value
and comes with brief but informative notes by New Orleans music
historian Jeff Hannusch. (FS)
|
| FATS DOMINO |
Stardust 1869 |
And Friends |
● CD $10.98
$6.98 |
18 track oldies collection with 7 tracks by Fats
plus songs from Ray Charles, Little RIchard, Roy Milton and others.
|
| LEE DORSEY |
Great American Music 875 |
Funky As I Can Be |
● CD $12.98
$9.98 |
16 tracks, 47 mins, highly recommended
This
collection was a bit of a pleasant surprise. The pleasant surprise
is not that Lee Dorsey is great--he's one of the greatest singers to
come out of New Orleans--but in how many fantastic tracks were on
here that I didn't yet have. Starting off with a couple of Dorsey's
big hits that are always on his collections: Ya Ya, and
Do-Re-Mi, then veering off to fantastic early album tracks, cool
radio commercials using some of his bigger hits, strong live tracks
from the end of his career, and--best of all--three killer
unreleased tracks from early '60s sessions that, as far as I know,
are making their first appearance on this CD! An alternate take on
the Allen Toussaint penned Lonelyology (For Your Love)/ You
Better Tell Her, and the quintessential New Orleans funk of
Oo-Na-Nay all could have been hits on their own, but for
whatever reason never got released until now. Other highlights
include Dorsey's take on Little Walter's My Babe, and his
original version of Sneaking Sally Through The Alley, better
known by the Robert Palmer version that doesn't hold a candle to Lee
Dorsey's. It's really all highlights on this collection, and even
the later live tracks are all fantastic; you could tell that even at
his advanced age, Lee Dorsey was still bringin' the house down on
his home turf of New Orleans. (JM)
|
| DR. JOHN |
Master Classics 8034 |
The Anthology |
● CD $14.98
$8.98 |
20 tracks, 71 min., good
The presumptuous definite
article in the title, the undeserved subtitle "Deluxe Edition,"
(perhaps it refers to the imitation leather cardboard case), and the
worse than useless booklet notes are enough to make a man lose faith
in capitalism. The notes give the impression that this anthology
samples the many Dr. John LPs from the late 1960s through the 1970s.
It doesn't. What is left unsaid is that all but six cuts would seem
to come from one out-of-print import CD from 1995 called "Cut Me
While I'm Hot", which apparently collects its tracks from various
'60s sessions that never saw release. This set also carefully avoids
any hits. That said, it's actually quite an enjoyable set with solid
songs and spirited performances. But why not just reissue the "Cut
Me" album? (JC)
|
| THE DRIFTERS |
Warner Special 137 |
The Definitive Drifters |
● CD $28.98
$17.98 |
Two CDs, 58 tracks, highly recommended
A great
collection providing a cross section of recordings by this great
group made between 1953 and 1976 for Atlantic, Bell and Arista
through all it's various line ups. It includes their R&B and pop
hits from Money Honey which topped the R&B charts in 1953 to
You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book which reached
#5 in the U.K. charts in 1976 and also including non hits, B-sides
and album cuts. Great sound, informative notes by Peter Doggett and
a listing of all the singers who performed in the group between 1953
and 2003. At regular price this would be a great deal but at our
sale price, it's a steal. But hurry, supplies are very limited. (FS)
|
| THE DU DROPPERS |
Acrobat ACRCD 214 |
Boot 'Em Up |
● CD $10.98
$7.98 |
23 tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended
Great 23
track collection of this superb New York based group that excelled
in rocking up tempo numbers. It includes everything they recorded
between 1952 and 1954 including several titles originally unissued.
Formed in 1952 by music/gospel veterans already in their 40's, the
Du Droppers began their recording days under their new name for
Bobby Robinson's Red Robin label, but switched to RCA in 1953 where
they remained until the group folded in 1955. This set opens with
their first four sides for Red Robin including their answer to The
Dominoes Sixty Minute Man, their great Can't Do Sixty No
More (the poor guy can only manager 30 minutes!) which they
follow with the great blues ballad Chain Me Baby which shows
that weren't only great at up tempo numbers. Lots of other great
sides here like I Wanna Know/ Get Lost/ I Found Out/ Ten Past
Midnight/ Don't Pass Me By/ Speed KingI Only Had A Little / How Much
Longer and more. They are accompanied by top New York session
musicians like Mickey Baker, Ben Webster, Sam "The Man" taylor, Bud
Johnson and others. Sound is excellent and 8 page booklet has
informative notes by Bob Fisher and full discographical info. (FS)
THE DU-DROPPERS: Bam Balam/ Boot 'em Up/ Can't Do
Sixty No More/ Chain Me Baby/ Come On And Love Me Baby/ Dead Broke/
Don't Pass Me By/ Drink Up/ Get Lost/ Go Back/ Honey Bunch/ How Much
Longer/ I Found Out/ I Only Had A Little/ I Only Had A Little (fast
Version)/ I Wanna Know/ If You Just Don't Leave/ Laughing Blues/ Let
Nature Take Its Course/ Little Girl Little Girl (you'd Better Stop
Talking In Your Sleep)/ My Thrill Girl/ Speed King/ Ten Past
Midnight
|
| GLORIA EDWARDS |
Edsel 611 |
The Soul Queen Of Texas |
● CD $17.98
$11.98 |
Fine Texas deep soul recorded for Crazy Cajun in the
70s. 21 tracks including Money (That's What I Want)/ Blues Part
2/ Don't Mess With My Man/ You Ain't Woman Enough To take My Man/
Anything You Want, etc.
|
| THE FIVE ROYALES |
Purple Pyramid CLP 835 |
Take Me With You Baby |
● CD $15.98
$8.98 |
16 tracks, 40 mins, highly recommended
Great
collection of 1960-62 sides by this outstanding and influential
vocal group. Recorded for Home Of The Blues (some originally issued
by ABC) there are no hits here but there is great soulful, gospel flavord lead vocals from Lowman Pauling. Pauling,the creative center
of the group, also provides some great stinging guitar
accompaniments and even takes a few solos. The group is accompanied
by the great Willie Mitchell Band on songs like SHow Me/ What's
In The Heart/ She Did Me Wrong/ If You Don't Need Me/ Not Going To
Cry/ They Don't Know/ Talk About My Woman/ Goof Ball and others
including a stunning version of James Brown's Please, Please,
Please. Notes look interesting but I won't know for sure until I
get some new glasses - you think our newsletter type is small?! (FS)
|
| THE FIVE SATINS |
Acrobat 9001 |
Chronicles |
● CD $28.98
$17.98 |
3 CDs, 65 tracks, 166 mins, highly recommended
O.K.,
here is where I try and talk you into shelling out your hard earned
dollars buying a three-CD set for a band that only had 1 big hit. No
small task, thankfully, though, the one big hit they had was the
all-time classic, (I Remember) In The Still Of The Night. It
also helps that they recorded a lot of other great material in
addition to this one classic. As is the case with many a Doo-Wop
outfit, these tracks actually represent about 3 different groups
with, let's say, around 15 members or so. Fred Parris is the link
that ties everything together; it would be his late night Army guard
duty that inspired him to write Still Of The Night and he
would be the driving force behind not only the first incarnation of
the group as The Scarlets, but is also still fronting the group
today some 54 years after their first recordings. Despite those
facts, he actually isn't on all of these tracks. Uncle Sam took him
away for more in the '50s, but the tracks that he isn't on are still
fantastic. This covers recordings done in the '50s & '60s with all
the classic versions, plus many rare songs and alternate takes.
Includes debut single All Mine b/w Rose Mary from the
obscure Standord (not a typo) label, nine Scarlets recordings done
for the Red Robin Label, into their heyday with Ember records, then
rounding out with a full CD plus of material that came out on a
variety of different labels between '61 - 2002. With so many great
tracks like The Jones Girl/ True Love/ Weeping Willow/ A Night To
Remember, and so many more, this is an absolute treasure trove
for Vocal Group fans. (JM)
THE FIVE SATINS: A Love With No Love In Return/ A
Love With No Love In Return (Alt)/ A Million To One/ A Night Like
This/ A Night To Remember/ A Night To Remember/ Again/ All Mine/
Baby Face/ Candlelight/ Candlelight (Alt)/ Church Bells Played The
Blues/ Cry Baby/ Darling I'm Yours/ Dear One/ I Got Time/ I Wish I
Had My Baby (Alt)/ I'll Be Seeing You/ I'll Get Along/ I'll Remember
(In The Still Of The Night)/ I'll Remember (In The Still Of The
Night) (Alt)/ I've Lost/ I've Lost/ Indian Fever/ Kiss Me/ Love
Doll/ Love With No Love In Return (Tk 5)/ Moonlight And I/ Oh Happy
day/ Our Anniversary/ Our Anniversary (Alt)/ Our Love Is Forever/
Our Love Is Forever/ Playmates/ Please Be Mine Tonight/ Pretty Baby/
Pretty Baby (Tks 1&3)/ Rose Mary/ Senorita Lolita/ Shadows/ She's
Gone With The Wind/ Silver Waters/ Skippity Doo/ Sugar/ Tell Me
Dear/ That's Love/ The Jones Girl/ The Jones Girl (Alt)/ The Time/
The Voice/ The Voice (Acappella)/ To The Aisle/ To The Aisle (Alt)/
To The Aisle (Tk 5)/ Toni My Love/ True Love/ True Love (alternate)/
Weeping Willow/ When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano/ When The
Swallows Come Back To Capistrano (Tk 12)/ When Your Love Comes
Along/ Wish I Had My Baby/ Wishing Ring/ Wonderful Girl/ You Must Be
An Angel
|
| THE FLAMINGOS |
Westside 532 |
Flamingo Serenade/ Flamingo
Favorites |
● CD $13.98
$10.98 |
Doo-wop at its finest.
Two classic End LPs from 1959 & '60 on one CD. Includes their
biggest hit I Only Have Eyes For You plus Love Walked In/
Time Was/ Dream Girl and others. Some tracks in stereo for the
first time.
THE FLAMINGOS: As Time Goes By/ Begin the Beguine/
Besame Mucho/ Bridge of Tears/ But Not For Me/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/
Dream Girl/ Goodnight Sweetheart/ Heavenly Angel/ I Only Have Eye
For You/ I'm In The Mood For Love/ Love Walked In/ Marie Elena/ Mio
Amore (My Love)/ Music Maetrso Please/ My Foolish Heart/ Sweet and
Lovely/ Tell Me How Long/ That's Why I Love You/ The Breese And I/
Time Was/ Where Or When/ You Belong To My Heart/ Yours
|
| THE FOUR KNIGHTS |
Acrobat 4030 |
Best Of, Volume 1 - Oh Baby! |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
22 tracks, 61 min, highly recommended
According to
the liner notes, this is the 1st ever "legit" released by this
pre-doo wop harmony group, best known for providing backing vocals
for Nat King Cole. There are few early recordings as the group was
extremely popular on radio, most known for having a weekly residency
on "Avalon Time" (usually listed as The Red Skelton Show - they were
also on the Red Skelton Show on early TV). Their initial recordings
were for Decca, but they hit their stride on Capitol - this set
covers the 1st half of their stay there. With guitar strum backing &
an easy Mills Bros/Ink Spots lope, the group had hits such as
Sentimental Fool/ Walkin' In The Sunshine & I Get So Lonely
(When I Dream About You), along with fine versions of Glory
Of Love/ Charmaine/ Oh Happy Day (not the Edwin Hawkins tune),
Anniversary Song and others. (GM)
|
| CHARLIE & INEZ
FOXX |
Collectables 5301 |
Mockingbird |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
14 tracks, 37 min., recommended
This family duo -
brother and sister - scored its one big hit in 1963 with the title
track here. Subsequent efforts over the next few years, for the
Symbol subsidiary of Sue Records, were solid but did not strike
similar pay dirt. Most of those tracks are part of this program,
including Hurt by Love/ La De Dah I Love You/ Ask Me/ Don't Do It
No More/ Confusion/ My Momma Told Me/ Jaybirds/ Broken Hearted Fool,
and Down by the Seashore.
Fine soul music presented with brief
notes by Collectables' regular Mark Marymont and fine sound quality.
(DH)
|
| ARETHA FRANKLIN |
Rhino (Germany) 227 982-7 |
Original Album Series |
● CD $28.98
$23.98 |
Rhino Records has chosen Franklin's 1st, 3rd, 4th,
9th, and 10th albums for Atlantic to include in this slim line five
CD box set. There's no arguing with the first three choices: "I
Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You" is one of the key albums of
the 60's, Soul or otherwise; "Lady Soul" was one of her most popular
(it was on the Billboard charts for over a year); and "Aretha Now"
built on her earlier triumphs and began to point toward the
directions her music would take in the 70's. The inclusion of
"Spirit in the Dark" is interesting as it has long been considered
one of Franklin's most overlooked albums, despite including a couple
of hit singles. On the other hand, "Aretha Live at Fillmore West" is
one of the best Soul or R&B live albums ever recorded (although the
definitive release of it is the 23 track version from 2006, Rhino
77629): Lady Soul was backed by crack band (Cornell Dupree, Bernard
Purdie, Jerry Jemmott, Billy Preston, King Curtis, and the Memphis
Horns) and she was vocally well on form. The albums are included
here in their original forms with no bonus tracks and no liner
notes, but, if you don't own these albums already, this is a
convenient way to get these classic pieces of 60's/70's Soul gold.
|
| EARL GAINES |
Westside WESA 802 |
Lovin' Blues - The Starday/ King
Years, 1967-73 |
● CD $15.98
$9.98 |
25 tracks recorded for the Starday/King owned Deluxe
and Hollywood labels between 1967 and 1970, several previously
unissued by this fine and versatile singer. Earl, who has recently
returned to active recording, is featured on a selection of soul,
rhythm & blues and blues. Includes My Woman/ Fruit From Another
Man's Tree/ My Pillow Stays Wet/ The Meaning Of A sad Song/ Every
Day I Have The Blues/ You Belong To Me/ What In The World Can I Call
My Own/ Sixty Minute Man, etc.
EARL GAINES: Don't Deceicve Me (please Don't Go)
[overdubbed Version]/ Don't Deceive Me (please Don't Go)/ Every Day
I Have The Blues/ Finger Lickin' (instrumental)/ From Warm To Cool
To Cold/ Fruit From Another Man's Tree/ Good Good Lovin'/ Have Faith
(in Me)/ House Full Of Rooms/ I'm The One You Need/ It's Love Baby
(24 Hours A Day)/ Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go (thrill On The Hill)/
Little Boy Blue/ My Pillow Stays Wet/ My Woman/ Sixty Minute Man/
Tell Me Tonight/ The Door Is Still Open/ The Meaning Of A Sad Song
(medley)/ The Things I Used To Do/ Three Wishes For A Fool/ What In
The World Can I Call My Own/ You Belong To Me
|
| BARBARA GEORGE |
Collectables 5141 |
I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
Barbara George was a fine New Orleans singer who
scored big hits in the 60s. I Know is a fantastic tune that
climbed the charts in 1961. On it, Barbaras vulnerable, pleading
delivery is backed by the crem of New Orleans session men. These
dozen tunes recorded for AFO show off her range from the very
soulful Love and Talk About Love to the cool balladry
of Since I Fell For You and Honest I Do. (AE)
BARBARA GEORGE: Don't Ask Me No Questions/ Honest
I Do/ Hurted/ I Know/ I Never Knew/ I'm In A Strain/ Let's Steal
Away/ Love/ Since I Fell For You/ Talk About Love/ Whip O' Will/
Without Love
|
| STEVE
GIBSON & THE REDCAPS |
Acrobat 3000 |
It's So Good! |
● CD $18.98
$10.98 |
Two CDs, 43 tracks, recommended
Two CD set with 43
tracks by this fine vocal group recorded between 1943 and 1951 for
several different labels. Ballads and jump tunes from this whose
founding members were Jimmy Springs (lead tenor), David Patillo
(lead tenor), Romaine Brown (baritone & piano), Steve Gibson (bass &
guitar) and Doles Dickens (string bass). This line up is featured on
the first disc and the music rests firmly in the jive vocal group
tradition that made stars of The Cats & the Fiddle and The Three
Peppers. Influenced greatly by the Mills Brothers and The Ink Spots,
the sound of The Red Caps was infused with a comedic element that
carried over to their shows. And while they could turn a ballad --
usually led by Jimmy Springs -- as sweetly as you please, the
sillier jive jolts -- usually led by Steve Gibson or Romaine Brown
are immensely entertaining. Other notable lead singers featured on
the second disc include Earl Plummer and David Patillo and three
tracks feature them accompanying vocalist Damita Jo. Includes
Don't Fool With Me/ Mama Put Your Britches On/ Just For You/ Boogie
Woogie Ball/ Simebody's Lyin'/ Sugar Lips/ Mary Had A Little Jam/
Get Off That Kick/ Monkey & The Baboon/ Jack You're Dead/ I'm Living
For You/ Blueberry Hill/ Sidewalk Shuffle/ Boogie Woogie On A
Saturday Night, etc. Excellent sound and booklet features brief
notes and discographical data. (FS)
|
| CHARLIE GONZALES |
Collectables 5310 |
Charlie Gonzales |
● CD $13.98
$6.98 |
CD issue of Krazy Kat 810. Charlie Gonzales, alias
Bobby Prince, recorded jumps & ballads in the Arthur Prysock vein
for Ivin Ballen's Gotham label in 1950. The collection contains
mainly laid-back blues ballads sung in a relaxed, polished style,
backed by such notable outfits as Frank Motley & The Doc Bagby
Orchestra. Includes 8 previously unissued cuts & alternate takes.
(OLN)
CHARLIE GONZALES: Every Dog Has His Day/ Every Dog
Has His Day/ Hey Mus' I Tell/ Hi-yo Silver/ Hi-yo Silver/ I'm Free/
I'm Free/ I'm Free/ I'm Through With You/ I'm Through With You/ It's
All My Fault/ It's All My Fault/ Let Me Make Love To You/ Such A
Darn Fool Over You
|
| AL GREEN |
Fat Possum/ Hi 1137 |
Let's Stay Together |
● CD $14.98
$9.98 |
Reissue of his classic 1971 album with La La For
You/ How Can You Mend A Broken Heart/ I've Never Found A Girl,
etc.
|
| AL GREEN |
Hi (UK) 251 |
Listen - The Rarities |
● CD $14.98
$9.98 |
An indispensable collection for Green fans featuring
18 tracks included unreleased songs, undubbed versions of songs that
had strings added for commercial release and original full length
versions of songs that were substantially edited down for commercial
release.
|
| BIG JOHN GREER |
Rev-Ola CRBAND 17 |
I'm The Fat Man |
● CD $15.98
$11.98 |
30 tracks, 77 mins, essential
Another great
collection of jump blues and R&B from Rev-Ola, this time featuring
heavyweight singer and sax player Big JOhn Greer recorded between
1949 and 1955. His earlier sides follows the pattern of the blues
shouters like Roy Brown and Wynonie Harris. Over several 1949/50
sessions Greer belts out some great rockin' songs like his hot cover
of Stick McGhee's Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee plus Long
Tall Gal/ I'm The Fat Man and others along with some storming
instrumentals like Rockin' With Big John and Big John's A
Blowin. The later sessions find Big John mostly just exercising
his mighty lungs with the sax chores handed over to the awesome Sam
"The Man" Taylor. The sessions really start to heat up when Mickey
"Guitar" Baker joins the fray in '53 and includes his wild version
of the old blues standard Bottle It Up And Go, his answer to
Chuck Berry Come Back Maybelline, the appropriately titled
Play Me Some Loud Music, Lucky Lucky Me and others. This
CD also includes his only hit, the great, much covered, blues ballad
Got You On My Mind. On three tracks John is joined by the
great vocal group The Du Droppers and the great instrumental Blam
features sensational guitar by Baker and exclamations from The Four
Students. You'd better have a fire extinguisher ready 'cos by the
time this disc is finished your CD player will be smoking! (FS)
|
| TINY GRIMES &
FRIENDS |
Collectables 5321 |
Cats & The Fiddle |
● CD $11.98
$7.98 |
CD issue of Krazy Kat 821. 14 cuts culled from
Gotham's vaults, 5 previously unreleased and all ostensibly
featuring Tiny Grimes. Grimes' presence on some of the cuts is
questionable at best but he turns in a raucous instrumental and some
driving accompaniment on tracks by J.B. Summers & Haji Baba. The
fine track by The Cats And The Fiddle (a late incarnation) and 3
titles by The Dixieaires feature some fine vocals and sax and guitar
solos. The collection is rounded out by 2 tracks by Johnny Davis,
drummer for The Cats And The Fiddle and on a cut by the unknown
Lionel Robinson. (BG)
|
| THE HALOS |
Collectables 5580 |
Nag - Golden Classics Edition |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
16 tracks, 38 min., recommended
Their 1962 album on
Warwick is very rare indeed, so if you've been yearning to hear the
Halos output in a manner that your spouse would regard as fiscally
responsible, this is your chance. Most tracks are upbeat, with at
least something of the gritty feel of their one hit, the title track
here. Other cuts include Zoom Zoom Zoom, Mean Old World,
Crazy Bells, L-O-V-E, For Your Precious Love (a
rare ballad), What'd I Say, If I Had Known, and Oh
What a Night. Sound quality, notes, and cover art are all to
Collectables new, higher standards. (DH)
|
| COUNT
"RED" HASTINGS |
Collectables 5323 |
With Danny Turner & Eddie Wood |
● CD $13.98
$7.98 |
CD issue of Krazy Kat 823. Big sax sound from the
Gotham vaults. 10 of the 14 tracks are by Lowell Hastings, who spent
most of his year as sideman and session man, including long stints
with Earl Bostic, Louis Jordan (on X and Aladdin), as well as having
his big tenor on dozens of King/ Deluxe sides in the late 50s. These
cuts are from the only 2 sessions done under his own name. One each
in '48 & '50, including his hits Begin The Beguine & Sugar
Cane , plus never before issued alternates of Patches &
Miner In The Diner . The set is completed by 2 each by tenor
Danny Turner, previously heard on Krazy Kat/ Gotham with Panama
Francis All Stars, and since '75 a member of the Basie Orchestra,
and unknown Eddie Woodland.
|
| TED HAWKINS |
Fuel 2000 61058 |
The Kershaw Sessions |
● CD $16.98
$9.98 |
19 tracks, 62 min., essential
Originally on the
English Strange Fruit label. For many the late Ted Hawkins spoke
with the voice of the human heart, with all its frailty and power, mundaneness and miraculousness. He was Everyman but like no one
else. That somehow soothing voice, always touched with sadness,
together with Hawkins' seemingly effortless and perfect phrasing,
blend to produce raw emotion, empathy and ultimately some kind of
understanding. He could sing beauty into a fast food jingle and make
an airline advertisement sound nearly profound. That another
collection of material has surfaced (this one recorded solo between
1986-89 for BBC) is reason to celebrate. Specific reasons include
Who Do You Love/ Just One Look/ I Got What I Wanted/ Cold & Bitter
Tears/ Nowhere To Run/ Ain't Got Nothing Yet/ Daytime Friend/ All I
Have To Offer You Is Me, and everything else. A tonic for the
spirit. (JC)
|
| BOBBY HENDRICKS |
Collectables 5738 |
Itchy Twitchy Feeling |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
Although Bobby Hendricks is best known for his only
hit - the catchy title song from 1958, he had had previously spent
several years singing in a couple of the top doo-wop groups in the
country - The Swallows and The Drifters. The 19 tracks here were
recorded for Sue between 1958 and 1960 and in addition to his hit
includes a fine selection of rocking R&B and doo-wop ballads plus
some more pop items as well as the novelty song Psycho which
seems like a precursor to Shirley Ellis's Name Game.
|
| JESSIE HILL |
Collectables 5164 |
Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Golden Classics |
● CD $12.98
$9.98 |
16 tracks, recommended
Let me tell ya 'bout Ooh
Poo Pah Doo and Scoop Scoobie Doobie and Popcorn Pop
Pop. Great New Orleans R&B by the exuberent Mr. Hill, recorded
for Minit 1960-62, with backing by Hills House Rockers with Eddie
Lang & The Lastie brothers and Allen Toussaint on the ivories. The
16 tunes include the previously unissued Candy/ Why Holler/ Get
In Touch and 2 never issued takes of the Hill-Prof. Longhair
Oogsey Moo. All tunes written by Hill except for the final
Toussaint written single, Can't Get Enough (Of That Ooh Poo Pah
Doo) & The Pot's On Strike (GM)
|
| JIMMY HOLIDAY |
Acrobat 175 |
How Can I Forget |
● CD $10.98
$7.98 |
12 tracks, 31 min., highly recommended
How Can I
Forget (issued as Everest 2022 and later covered by Ben E. King)
brought Jimmy Holiday his first commercial success, reaching #8 on
the R&B charts and #57 on its Pop cousin in 1963. His only other
charting performances, all three of them, came on Minit Records
(1966-68). As these early Everest recordings demonstrate, the label
knew it had a talent on its hands, but was less clear about what to
do with it. Half the time Holiday is saddled with sappy,
string-filled arrangements that he is only partly able to overcome.
On some songs (Country Girl comes to mind), Holiday has to
deal with background singers that can turn soul into pop without
breaking a sweat. Even strong vocal performances threaten to drown
in a sea of the producer's musical bad judgment. Our man also swims
upstream with feather-weight teen ballads such as I Believe In
Love and Janet. But despite all of that, anything from
the criminally under-recorded Holiday is worth picking up. But get
the Minit sides first. (JC)
|
| JIMMY HOLIDAY |
Collectables 5734 |
How Can I Forget |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
12 tracks, 30 min., recommended
Thanks to
Collectables, assembled here for the first time are all 12 sides
that this solid soul singer and song writer cut for the Everest
label between 1963 and 1965. His first hit, the great title tune
here, brought Holiday a significant measure of public attention, but
it was only several years later that the Minit label saw his
material as worthy of an LP collection. Be that as it may, the
solidly worthwhile early numbers collected here, a mixture of
uptempo and ballad numbers, include How Can I Forget,
Janet, Poor Boy, Allison, I Believe in Love,
One More Thing, Hollywood, and Ol' Man River.
Sound quality, cover art, and liner notes are all up to snuff. Not
one to miss. (DH)
|
| LYNN HOPE |
Acrobat ACMCD 4027 |
Blow Lynn Blow |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
Tenor saxophonist Lynn Hope was a distinctive
instrumental stylist, although not a fire-breathing screamer by any
means. More of a mellow balladeer, Hope's luscious tone reveals a
sensuous world that rarely sinks down into the depths of corny
sentimentality. This set features 23 tracks recorded for Aladdin
between 1951 and 1955 drawn from original master tapes including two
previously unissued sides. Includes 12 page booklet with informative
notes by dave Penny and full discographical info.
LYNN HOPE: Blow Lynn Blow/ Blue Moon/ Blues For
Anna Bacoa/ Blues In F/ Brazil/ Broken Hearted/ C Jam Blues/ Don't
Worry 'Bout Me/ Driftin' (Going Home)/ Eleven Till Two/ Free And
Easy/ Girl Of My Dreams/ Hope Skip And Jump/ Jet/ Miserlou/ Morocco/
Move It/ One More Time/ Rose Room/ Shanty Town/ She's Funny That
Way/ South Of The Border/ Swing Train/ Tenderley/ Too Young/ Way You
Look Tonight
|
| FRED HUGHES/
JOHNNY SAYLES |
Westside WESM 613 |
Baby Man/ Man On The Inside |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
Two rare albums from the 70s originally on Brunswick
and Dakar reissued on CD for the first time. Includes a 1970 remake
of Hughes' 1965 hit Ooh Wee Baby I Love You.
|
| THE ISLEY BROTHERS |
Polygram 520 326-2 |
The Best Of The Early Years |
● CD $11.98
$7.98 |
11 tracks, 32 mins, recommended
Not a new release,
but here for the first time. "The Early Years" title is a bit
deceptive, with only Shout (Parts 1&2) being from the real
early days, but all of the material here is from their great 1960s
work, with most of it from the late '60s. So you are basically
looking at a best of the Motown years with one composition (Take
Some Time Out For Love) co-written by Barry Gordy, another (That's
The Way Love Is) written by the dynamic team of Whitfield &
Strong, and no less than five tracks penned by Holland/ Dozier/
Holland. Of those, I Hear A Symphony, and Nowhere to Run,
are a lot of fun, especially since you are used to hearing them by
other Motown stable-mates. It's Your Thing is the other
mega-hit featured here; All Because I Love You, is the lesser
known gem. All in all a great little collection, especially if you
don't already have much Isley on your shelves. (JM).
|
| DEON JACKSON |
Collectables 5106 |
Golden Classics |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
12 Carla sides done in Detroit for famed producer
Ollie McLaughlin. Includes his huge hit Love Makes The World Go
Round along with Love Takes A Long Time Growing/ Ooh Baby/
S.O.S./ I Can't Go On
|
|
WILLIS "GATOR TAIL" JACKSON |
Acrobat 4203 |
Later For The Gator |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
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)
|
| THE JAMES HILTON
BAND |
Bonedog 1 |
Is It Rock? |
● CD $15.98
$10.98 |
Rockin' R&B with a touch of soul. 15 songs including
Is It Rock/ Big Foot May/ THese Arms Of Mine/ You Don't Know Like
I Know/ Love Letter/ Sick And Tited/ Person To person/ Experiment In
Terror, etc.
|
| THE JELLY BEANS |
Collectables 5740 |
And Friends |
● CD $13.98
$9.98 |
18 tracks, 48 minutes, recommended
A fine selection
from Leiber & Stoller's Red Bird label from approx 64-'65. The Jelly
Beans had some great tunes, mostly written by Barry & Greenwich,
including I Wanna Love Him So Bad/ The Kind Of Boy You Can't
Forget & Baby Be Mine, but never had an LP. This set
collects 10 classics along with several hard to find singles from
Red Bird & subsidiaries, several of which are better known for their
British Invasion covers, The Jelly Beans' Doo Wah Diddy
(Manfred Mann), Evie Sands, I Can't Let Go (The Hollies), &
Bessie Banks gorgeous Go Now (Moody Blues), along with tracks
by The Butterflies (actually Ellie Greenwich), the Charmettes, & the
Ad Lib's great Boy From new York City. Points taken off for
Collectibles' typically poor packaging, including no writer's
credits or discographical info. (GM)
|
| BILL
JENNINGS & RAY BRYANT |
Collectables 5338 |
Stompin' With Bill .. And Ray Bryant |
● CD $13.98
$7.98 |
14 tracks, 42 mins, recommended
Originally issued on
LP Krazy Kat 838. 14 more Gotham recordings, almost all either
unreleased takes or previously unissued titles. We start off with 5
tunes by former Louie Jordan & The Tympany Five guitarist Bill
Jennings. He jumps like mad on Stompin' With Bill , tries a
slow blues and a rhumba, then gets jazzy with Alexandria, VA
before reprising Stompin' (an alternate take.) Some fine
guitar pickin' for sure. And speaking of fine pickin' who better but
the master himself, Tiny Grimes, to finish off the side with St.
Louis Blues and Frankie And Johnny Boogie , both really
rockin' sides. Pianist Ray Bryant is another cat who needs no
introduction. He shows his deft touch on the 88's on 5 numbers
including a cool instrumental version of Flat Foot Floojie
(sic.) Cuts by Billy 'Guitar' Davis and Gay Crosse & His Good Humor
Six round out a fine LP. ( AE)
|
| MABLE JOHN |
Stax 8578 |
Stay Out Of The Kitchen |
● CD $12.98
$8.98 |
25 tracks, 67 min., recommended
Mable John (Little
Willie John's sister and lead singer for the Raelettes) went to Stax
in 1966 after 4 misses on Tamla. Only 7 of the cuts released by Stax
are here - the rest appear on the Stax singles box - so her only hit
Your Good Thing is missing. But fear not - the out-takes, a
mix of ballads and mid-tempo shakers, are too good to wear the name.
Just why Sweet Devil/ Love Tornado/ The Man's Too Busy/ That
Woman Will Give It A Try were never issued is hard to say. And
anyone who hasn't heard her Shouldn't I Love Him/ I Taught You
How has been deprived. (JC)
|
| BUDDY JOHNSON |
Acrobat 4028 |
Featuring Ella Johnson - Jukebox
Hits, 1940-1951 |
● CD $13.98
$8.98 |
21 tracks, 56 min, recommended
20 tunes that graced
the 40s R&B charts (1 tune is 2 tracks - Because Pts 1 & 2) by this
wonderful boogie pianist/orch leader, done for Decca & many
featuring the fine vocals of his kid sister Ella Johnson. Many of
the songs here will be familiar from later cover versions, but these
are the 1st versions of such classics as Since I Fell For You/
Please Mr. Johnson/ Fine Brown Frame/ Baby Don't You Cry, all
done for Decca, as was That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch/ When My
Man Comes Home & Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball
which crossed into the pop charts. Booklet contains full liner
notes, info on each song & even a few label pics. (GM)
BUDDY JOHNSON: Baby Don't You Cry/ Because - Part
1/ Because - Part 2/ Boogie Woogie's Mother-in-law/ Did You See
Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?/ Far Cry/ Fine Brown Frame/ I Ain't
Mad With You/ I Don't Care Who Knows/ I Still Love You/ I Wonder
Who's Boogieing My Woogie Now/ I'm Gonna Jump In The River/ Let's
Beat Out Some Love/ Please Mr Johnson/ Since I Fell For You/ That's
The Stuff You Gotta Watch/ They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool/ Walk 'em/
When My Man Comes Home/ You Won't Let Me Go/ You'll Get Them Blues
|
| SYL JOHNSON |
Collectables 5736 |
The Twilight & Twinight Master
Collection |
● CD $13.98
$10.98 |
18 tracks, 46 min., highly
recommended
His years at
Twilight/Twinight (1967-71) produced some of the finest tracks of
his career, as good or better than anything he recorded for Hi
Records in the '70s. While grunting in the manner of an emotionally
disturbed James Brown, Johnson sweats out song after funky song.
Dresses Too Short, Different Strokes, and Come On Sock
It To Me stand without apology as raw slabs of horn-fed
funkiness. (Dyke and the Blazers would have been proud.) Is It
Because I'm Black and Concrete Reservation (about
ghettoes) offer up Syl's more thoughtful, socially conscious self
without sacrificing an ounce of musical enjoyment. The guy plays a
mean guitar too. All this and ugly cover art. (JC)
|
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