|
BARGAIN
BASEMENT
COMPACT
DISCS - Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
Little Anthony & The Imperials -> Jackie Wilson
| LITTLE
ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS |
Westside 556 |
We Are The Imperials/ Shades Of The '40s |
● CD $13.98 $10.98 |
Two End albums from 1959 and 1960 on one CD. The first
album features their frequently revived hit Tears On My Pillow
plus Two People In The World/ Travelling Stranger and others. The
second features versions of 40s pop standards like When You Wish Upon
A Star and Over The Rainbow
LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS: A Lovely Way To Spend
An Eveving/ All or Nothing At All/ Cha Cha Henry/ Don't Get Around Much
Anymore/ Dream/ I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night/ I'll Never Smile
Again/ I've Got A Crush On You/ If You Are But A Dream/ Love Is A Many
Splendored Thing/ Oh Look-A-There Isn't She Pretty/ Oh Yeah/ Over the
Rainbow/ So Much/ Tears On My Pillow/ The Diary/ They Say It's
Wonderful/ This Love Of Mine/ Traveling Stranger/ Two People In The
World/ Undecided/ What Did I Do/ When You Wish Upon A Star/ Wishful
Thinking
|
| LITTLE MILTON |
P-Vine PCD 2308 |
I Need Your Love So Bad |
● CD $23.98 $13.98 |
Japanese issue of hard to find 1991 Golden ear album
featuring Milton on a fine selection of soul and blues. Several cuts
have overly lush arrangements with strings and vocal choruses but the
rest is with a tough band with horns and occasional blasts of Milton's
fine guitar. The title song is one of the highlights along with a remake
of his Checker song Welcome TYo The Club and the tough Believe
the closing song Street Girl is a duet with Jackie Ross.
|
| FRANKIE LYMON |
Westside 603 |
Rock 'n Roll With ... / Frankie At The
London Palladium |
● CD $13.98 $10.98 |
Two albums on one CD plus bonus unissued alternate
takes.
|
| BARBARA LYNN |
Edsel 586 |
The Crazy Cajun Recordings |
● CD $17.98 $7.98 |
22 tracks (including 4 alternate takes) recorded for
Huey Meaux's Crazy Cajun label in the early 1970s.
|
|
CURTIS MAYFIELD & THE IMPRESSIONS |
MCA MCAD2 10664 |
The Anthology 1961-1977 |
● CD $29.98 $24.98 |
After Jerry Butler left The Impressions in 1958, Curtis
Mayfield and his silky high tenor slid into the lead role. A talented
guitarist and brilliant songwriter, Mayfield put together a long string
of hits with the other two Impressions, developing a "new" Chicago soul
sound based on the gospel tradition of switching leads. The first disc
covers the ABC years (26 songs!), including Gypsy Woman/ It's
Alright/ Keep On Pushing/ Meeting Over Yonder/ Talking About My Baby,
nearly every other hit, and a few excellent non-hits like Little
Young Lover. Disc #2 features four from The Impressions Curtom
catalog, the hit Fool For You among them. The rest of the package
follows the best of Mayfield's early solo career: Freddie's Dead/
Superfly/ Move On Up/ Pusherman/ Only You Babe and others.
Informative booklet notes from Chicago soul expert Bob Pruter. (JC)
|
| JOE MEDWICK |
Edsel 632 |
I'm An After Hours Man - The Crazy Cajun
Recordings |
● CD $17.98 $8.98 |
19 tracks, recommended
Excellent soul singer and
songwriter from Texas who is best known for having written a number of
Bobby Bland's hits like Further On Up the Road/ I Pity the Fool
and others. As usual for the Crazy Cajun reissues on Edsel the
information is pretty vague but I would guess that most of these are
unissued demos and arrangements are occasionally a bit ragged but there
are some very fine performances from Joe who turns in some great deep
soul ballads as well as some rocking up tempo numbers. I would assume
that most of the songs are Medwick originals but there are also some
nice covers including Robert Parker's Barefootin' and a
surprising but effective version of Hank Williams' Wedding Bells.
Arrangements range from rhythm section with keyboards to a full band
with horns. Well worth a listen. (FS)
|
| JOHNNY
MOORE'S THREE BLAZERS |
Westside 217 |
Los Angeles Blues |
● CD $21.98 $13.98 |
Two CD set featuring 31 tracks recorded for RCA between
1949 and 1950 by this pioneering "cocktail R&B" group including 12
previously unissued tracks! This material is making its first ever
appearance on CD.
|
| BOBBY PARKER |
Night Train 7107 |
The Wardell Quezerque Sessions |
● CD $16.98 $12.98 |
A collection of 24 tracks recorded in 1966 and '67 by
this session musician turned vocalist accompanied by top New Orleans
musicians under the production guidance of Wardell Quezerque. Bobby is
best known for his big hit Barefootin' which is featured here
along with several follow ups which were all pretty much identical to
his hit but with different lyrics. When he wasn't cloning his hit he did
some fine R&B and soul song including some nice covers of songs from the
repertoire of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard and others.
Most of these tracks are making their first ever appearance on CD.
|
| ANN PEEBLES |
Bullseye Blues 9515 |
Full Time Love |
● CD $15.98 $8.98 |
Back after a long
hiatus from recording, Ms. Peebles sheds the tough talking,
homewrecker image (given her by Willie Mitchell) and sings the praises
of love and fidelity. She's found a Full Time Love - singer/
songwriter hubby Don Bryant. So when she sings originals like He's My
Superman/ Just You And Me/ Ain't No Business Like Your Business she
is more convincing than on Delbert McClinton's Read Me My Rights
or The Stones' Miss You. The exception is Fear No Evil, an
anthemic love song that should be a hit single. Producer Ron Levy never
lets the Memphis Horns or the Hi Rhythm Section make the difference
they're capable of making, which is why this album is merely very good
instead of great. (JC)
|
| ANN PEEBLES |
Bullseye Blues 9564 |
Fill This World With Love |
● CD $15.98 $7.98 |
15 tracks, 55 min., recommended
Half the album is duets
(with Mavis Staples, with Don Bryant) and half "Medley," including
snatches of songs (Ninety-Nine Pounds/ Walk Away) from the good
ole days. But production (from Peebles/Bryant) is a little slick, and
too much of this album has that written in the studio feel. What a
person wants from an Ann Peebles' disc is Ms. P. with her big tough
voice wrapped around some solid soul and a rhythm section that kills.
This disc, despite all the "friends" who show up, is light on all
counts. The medley is a big tease that will send fans hunting for their
Hi vinyl. Thank arranger Paul Brown who, with his Hammond B3, throws
musical monkey wrenches in every cut. Peebles can still sing, though, no
doubt about it. (JC)
|
| ANN PEEBLES |
Hi HEX 56 |
The Complete Ann Peebles On Hi Records,
Vol. 2 :1974-81 |
● CD $19.98 $14.98 |
The second double set of Ann's Hi recordings features 38
tracks including her fourth, fifth and sixth LPs along with eight non
album sides - Come To Mama/ Stand By Woman/ Beware/ I'm Leaving You/
I'm So Thankful/ When I'm In Your Arms/ Lovin' You Without Love/ Old Man
With Young Ideas/ Handwriting On the Wall/ Lookin' For A Lovin',
etc.
|
| ANN PEEBLES |
Hi Records HILO 167 |
If This Is Heaven |
● CD $13.98 $8.98 |
Reissue of Anne's fifth Hi LP from 1977 with new liner
notes and one bonus track - the non-album single Fill This World With
Love. Includes If This Is Heaven/ I'm So Thakful/ Boy I Gotta
Have You/ You're Gonna Make Me Cry/ Lovin' You Without Love and six
more.
|
| ANN PEEBLES |
Hi Records HILO 168 |
The Handwriting Is On The Wall |
● CD $13.98 $8.98 |
Ann's sixth and last Hi LP recorded in 1978. It features
five bonus tracks from singles including a duet with husband Don Bryant.
Includes Old Man With Young Ideas/ The Handwriting Is On The Wall/
You've Got The Papers (I've Got The Man)/ You're More Than I Can Stand/
If I Can't See You/ If You Got The Time/ Be For Me/ I'd Rather Leave
While I'm In Love, etc. 15 tracks in all.
|
| THE PERSUASIONS |
Bullseye Blues 9556 |
Right Around The Corner |
● CD $15.98 $9.98 |
13 tracks, 45 min., highly recommended
Mellowing like
fine vintage wine, these superstars of the acapella vocal group sound
offer here yet another outstanding program of ballads, blues, and hymns.
Selections include Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster, Sam Cooke's
That's Heaven to Me, Lowman Paulings' (of the Five Royales)
I'm With You and Come On and Save Me, plus The Good Ol'
Days, Don't Leave Me Here to Cry, and Oh Heavenly
Salvation. A wonderful addition to your Persuasions collection, or,
if you don't have one yet, a perfectly sound reason to begin. Just one
more reminder that the most expressive instrument of all is the human
voice. (DH)
|
| PIANO RED |
Westside 701 |
The Flaming Hurricane |
● CD $13.98 $9.98 |
11 tracks, recommended
Delightful
previously unissued session recorded by this fine and distinctive
performer in the early 70s. Accompanied by a drummer and a very good
guitar player he mostly performs some of his old favorites (Dr.
Feelgood/ Right String But The Wrong Yo Yo/ Push That Thing, etc),
his own distinctive treatments of R&B classics (Shake, Rattle & Roll/
Corrina, Corrina) and give new life to a couple of old pop songs (Let's
Fall In Love/ Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone. No surprises
but lots of fun. (FS)
|
| THE PLATTERS |
King 5002 |
19 Hits |
● CD $9.98 $7.98 |
Their entire Federal output including two not originally
issued - Only You / I'll Cry When You're Gone / Give Thanks / All
Night / Roses Of Picardy, etc.
|
| LLOYD PRICE |
MCA 112883 |
The Best Of Lloyd Price - The Millenium
Collection |
● CD $9.98 $7.98 |
12 Tracks, 29 Minutes, recommended
After you have picked
up the fantastic collection of Lloyd Price's early work on Specialty you will still need to pick this one up
for all of the ABC/ Paramount hits. No surprises here, just hit after
hit, amazingly all recorded between 1957 - 1959. This includes the
re-make of his Specialty records hit Lawdy Miss Clawdy and the
un-sanitized version of Stagger Lee. (JM)
LLOYD PRICE: Come Into My Heart/ I‘m Gonna Get
Married/ Just Because/ Lady Luck/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Never Let Me Go/ No
If‘s – No Ands/ Personality/ Question/ Stagger Lee/ Where Were You (on
Our Wedding Day)/ Wont‘cha Come Home
|
| OTIS REDDING |
Rhino 70380 |
In Person At The Whiskey A Go Go |
● CD $12.98 $8.98 |
If you could own only one live Otis album, the nod would
clearly go to Live In Europe, one of the greatest live rock/ soul
releases ever. But since life is more than either/ or, this '66 Los
Angeles show is well worth picking up. Originally released
(posthumously) in 1968 as Atco 33-265, In Person finds Redding in
front of a 10-piece band including 4 saxes, a pair of trumpets, and
trombone. He shouts his way through heart pounders like I Can't Turn
You Loose/ Papa's Got A Brand New Bag. Respect/ Satisfaction/
Pain In My Heart/ Just One More Day/ Mr. Pitiful/ I'm Depending On You/
Any Ole Way/ These Arms Of Mine are also on the play list. (JC)
|
| TOMMY RIDGLEY |
Rounder 2079 |
The New Orleans King Of The Stroll |
● CD $15.98 $8.98 |
15 fine cuts from veteran singer, pianist and bandleader
Ridgley, whose soulful voice has graced vinyl since 1949 when he first
appeared in Dave Bartholomew's band. 13 of the cuts here were recorded
between 1960 and '62 for the Ric label with sidemen like Mac Rebennack,
Edgar Blanchard, Lee Allen, Harold Battiste and other Nawlins legends.
While best at heartfelt ballads like Should I Ever Love Again ,
I've Heard That Story Before or Bullmoose's I Love You Yes I
Do , he also can pull off such novelties as Double Eyed Whammy
or The Girl From Kooka Monga . We get 2 rare 1964 cuts from Watch
subsidiary Johen produced by Wendell Quezergue, including the wicked
soul number I Want Some Money Baby (JM)
|
| THE SAPPHIRES |
Sequel NEXCD 676 |
The Best Of The Sapphires |
● CD $15.98 $9.98 |
The (Philly) Sapphires sound has been likened to that of
The Orions. Two male singers (George & Joe) remain very much in the
background while the female (Carol) takes the shrill-pitched,
commercially oriented solo lead. The 22-tune collection, which includes
their 1965 chart topper Gotta Have Your Love is firmly planted in
the smae grove as The Chiffons and New York's own Shirelles. From their
Swan and ABC period circa 1963 thru 1965. Excellent sound quality. (OLN)
|
| ROSCOE SHELTON |
Excello 3007 |
Roscoe Shelton Sings |
● CD $14.98 $9.98 |
25 tracks, 62 minutes, very
good
Roscoe's best known for
his mid-60s deep soul sides done for Sims & Sound Stage 7. These 25
sides are his entire output for Excello, '59 - '61, great swamp blues &
soul. A dozen tunes were put out by Excello in '61 as "Roscoe Shelton
Sings" (Excello 8002). These are all here, along with another 3 single
sides & another 10 only released in Europe & Japan. lots of slow &
mid-tempo smoochers, including Are You Sure/ Crazy Over You/ Blue &
Miserably Unhappy (great!)/ I'm So Ashamed But I Didn't Know.
(GM)
ROSCOE SHELTON: A Fool Wrapped Up In Love/ Are You
Sure/ Baby Look What You're Doin'/ Baby, It's True Love/ Blue And
Miserably Unhappy/ Crazy Over You/ I Was Wrong! Played With Love/ I'm So
Ashamed, But I Didn't Know/ I'm Tellin' You Baby, That's All/ I've Been
Faithful/ Is It Too Late/ It's All My Fault/ Let Me Believe In You/
Lonely Heartaches/ Miss You So/ Pleadin' For Love/ Say You Really Care/
Something's Wrong/ Think It Over/ We've Been Wrong/ Why Didn't You Tell
Me/ Why Do You Worry Me.
|
| THE SHEPPARDS |
Westside 804 |
Bunky's Picks |
● CD $15.98 $10.98 |
25 tracks from late 50s/early 60s by Chicago vocal group
whose music bridged the gap from 50s doo-wop to 60s soul. The group had
no hits but turned out some mighty fine music - Come To Me/ Glitter
In Your Eyes/ Meant To Be/ never Let Me Go/ Society Gal, etc.
THE SHEPPARDS: Come Home, Come Home/ Come To Me/
Elevator Operator/ Every Now and Then/ Feel Like Lovin'/ Forgotten/ Give
A Hug To Me/ Glitter In Your Eyes/ I'm Not Wanted/ Island of Love/ It's
Crazy/ Just Like You/ Just When I Needed You Most/ Loving You/ Meant To
Be/ Never Felt Like This Before/ Never Let Me Go/ So In Need For Love/
Society Gal/ Steal Away/ Tragic/ Tragic/ What's the Name of the Game/
You Love (Has Got A Hole In It)
|
| CHUCK SIMMONS |
Funky Delicacies 050 |
Hustler's Strut |
● CD $15.98 $12.98 |
16 tracks, 58 min, recommended
A 15-year association
with producer-arranger Wardell Quezerque left Chuck Simmons hitless but
with an impressive catalog of soul and funk sides. Former member of the
obscure The Unemployed (w/ Quezerque), who cut sides for Atlantic's
Cotillion logo, Simmons (who had a rather limited voice that was pushed
to its limits and beyond regularly) spent most of his time focussed on
his solo careeer -- that is, when he wasn't working his day job as a
mechanic. His contributions to the funk dynasty include Funky Broom,
Hustler's Strut Parts 1 & 2, Lay It On Me Parts 1 & 2
(which is Hustler's Strut with different vocals), and Doin' The Sissy,
cut as Charlie Simmons and the Imperials. His more soulful side is
featured on Don't Send Me No Doctor, recorded with Allen
Toussaint at his Sea-Saint Recording Studio, Run Away and
You're Not The One For Me (both ballads!) and I'm Wondering,
a should-have-been hit and the finest cut here. Contains informative
booklet notes and four songs previously unavailable on CD. (JC)
|
|
HUEY "PIANO"
SMITH & HIS CLOWNS |
Westside 595 |
That'll get It - Even More OfThe Best |
● CD $13.98 $10.98 |
A third volume of sides featuring Smith includes tracks
from The Bobbetts, Huey & Geri Hall, Danny White, Pearl Edwards, Jesse
Thomas, Junior Gordon and others. Includes lots of unissued tracks and
alternate takes.
THE BOBBETTS: Fortune Teller/ Rockin' Pneumonia And
The Boogie Woogie Flu/ Walking Down The Street/ THE CLOWNS: Barbara/
Don't Cry No More/ Mississippi/ PEARL EDWARDS: It Was A Thrill/ JUNIOR
GORDON: Blow Wind Blow/ BOBBY MARCHAN: Well I'll Be John Brown [take 3]/
Would You Believe It (i Have A Cold)/ PEGLEG MARTIN: Alimony/ CURLEY
MOORE: I Tried/ She's Coming Home/ They Gonna Do What They Wanna Do/
HUEY "PIANO" SMITH: I Think You're Jiving Me/ BENNY SPELLMAN: Somewhere/
JESSE THOMAS: Can It Be Love/ Chitt'lins/ That Will Get It/ Won't You
Turn Me On? Baby/ DANNY WHITE: Educated Fool/ NORMAN WILLIAMS: Ending Of
Love
|
| BENNY SPELLMAN |
Collectables 5165 |
Fortune Teller |
● CD $11.98 $7.98 |
16 tunes by Benny Spellman, one of the many New Orleans
singers that cashed in on the popularity of the Crescent City sound in
the 60's. These Minit, Alon and Bandy tunes were recorded 1959-66 and
presents a nice cross-section of Spellman's gently rolling numbers,
spiced by his always pleasing voice. There's more than one song here
that echoes Benny's supreme moment, singing the bass response on Ernie K
Doe's Mother-In-Law . Fortune Teller/ Lipstick Traces (On A
Cigarette) (Minit 644) has to be one of the best two sided R&B 45's
ever. Both are included plus The Word Game/ T'Ain't It The Truth/
Talk About Love/ Life Is Too Short , etc. (AE)
|
| ROLAND STONE |
Westside 577 |
Just A Moment - Something Special From
.. |
● CD $13.98 $9.98 |
Obscure but fine white R&B singer from New Orleans who
had a big local hit with the title song. He was accompanied on these
early 60s by top New Orleans session including Mac "Dr. John" Rebennac
who plays piano on many tracks and wrote quite a few of them. Includes
unissued songs and alternate takes.
|
| J.B. SUMMERS |
Collectables 5333 |
With The Blues Shouters |
● CD $11.98 $7.98 |
14 tracks, highly recommended
Originally Krazy Kat LP
833. I confess. I took one look at this and I knew I'd love it - blues
shouters, Tiny Grimes, Frank Motley, Gotham, great cover photos - yeah! J.B. really has the Wynonie Harris bit down pat, shoutin' out good time
R&B over a blazing R&B band. He is very impressive on his 7 tunes here,
backed up on different occasions by the orchestras of Grimes, Doc Bagby
and Eddie Woodland. Tunes include Hey Mr. J.B./ Drinking Beer/ I Want
A Present For Christmas , etc. Side two starts with one of the
greatest blues shouters, Jimmy Rushing. Mr. 5x5 sings the previously
unissued Ain't It Lonesome , backed by The Count Basie All Stars.
Harry Crafton, Danny 'Mr. Alto' Turner, Benny Brown, Lloyd 'Fat Man'
Smith and Gay Crosse all contribute to the rollicking good time. A very
enjoyable collection. Super sleuth Bruce Bastin figures things out in
the liner notes. (AE)
|
| SWAMP DOGG |
Westside 622 |
Cuffed, Collared & Tagged/ Doing A Party |
● CD $13.98 $10.98 |
Reissue of two albums from 1972 and 1980 respectively -
the latter only released in France.
|
| TARHEEL SLIM
& LITTLE ANN |
Collectables 5159 |
The Robin & Fire Years |
● CD $11.98 $8.98 |
15 tracks, 51 mins, highly recommended
Excellent
collection of blues, doo-wop, R&B ballads and some forgettable versions
of a few country songs by superb singer & guitarist Tarheel Slim (Allen
Bunn) and his wife Little Ann recorded for Bobby Robinson's Red Robin,
Fire & Fury labels between 1954 and '62. It includes Slim's double sided
rockin' blues masterpiece from 1959 Number Nine Train/ Wildcat Tamer
and two 1954 blues sides by him. There is also a superb solo performance
by Ann on You're Gonna Reap. The rest is duets Anne including
some great minor key doom laden R&B ballads like the two part Can't
Stay Away, It's Too Late and Much Too Late. Most of
the rest is pretty much mainstream R&B plus some country songs which
might have been O.K. but for the awful string section and wretched
heavenly choir. Sound could have been better but is satisfactory. (FS)
|
| CARLA THOMAS |
Rhino 71015 |
The Queen Alone |
● CD $13.98 $8.98 |
A straight reissue of Carla's third LP for Stax,
originally issued in 1967. And it's not bad stuff, but it's not great
either; call it accomplished if you like, but certainly not inspired. On
the other hand, somebody at Atlantic must think that this is pretty hot
material, because the company chose to reissue this with some much
worthier music that's still in the can. Oh well. Cuts here include
Carla's version of Chuck Jackson's Any Day Now, I Take It To
My Baby/ When Tomorrow Comes/ Unchanging Love and Lie To Keep Me
From Crying. Original cover art and notes. Decent stereo sound.
Twelve cuts providing 31 minutes of music. (DH)
|
| CHRIS THOMAS |
Hightone HCD 8043 |
Simple |
● CD $14.98 $8.98 |
If you're not a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix
and ZZ Top then you probably wouldn't like this extremely heavy new
recording by former Arhoolie artist Chris Thomas. If you like your
guitars full of fuzz, wha wha and distortion then Thomas is your man.
This would sound at home in the Fillmore Ballrooms of the 60's. I would
prefer a lot more flesh and blood in the drumming department but the fat
modern synthetic drums are here to stay I guess. Thomas has a nice epic
flair in his compositions and enough thunder and lightnin' to his guitar
playing to blow out a wall of Marshall amps. War/ Itch/ Simple/ Blood
On The Dagger/ Fool For Love/ Sad, Sad World , etc. (AE)
|
| IRMA THOMAS |
Rounder 2058 |
The Way I Feel |
● CD $15.98 $10.98 |
Irma's second record for Rounder finds her again
updating her classic New Orleans sound, with mixed but better results.
Her voice is as good as ever and shines on great tunes such as You
Can Think Twice , Dancing In The Street and Toussaint's
Old Records . Often, however, she is done in by a plodding band and
stilted drumming. Still, when she sinks into a tune like Bobby Bland's
I'll Take Care Of You , aided by Ron Levy's piano, there are few
who can touch her.(JM)
|
| IRMA THOMAS |
Rounder 2149 |
The Story Of My Life |
● CD $15.98 $8.98 |
11 tracks, 44 min., highly recommended
A two-time winner
in the W. C. Handy Awards' Soul Blues category (1995,1997), it's a
little surprising to me that Irma THomas' last release - Walk Around
Heaven (Rounder 2128) - was recorded nearly 4 years ago! As she
prefers material she can relate to, producer Scott Thomas Billington has
succeeded in coming up with a few winners - contemporary songs that
linger on long after the CD has finished playing. Included are new songs
by Allen Toussaint (We All Need Love), John Ellison of Soul
Brothers Six fame (Love Don't Get No Better Than This), the
Toronto-based Brenda Gordon Russell (Get Here, a vocal duet with
Charles Elam III) and Dan Penn (I Count The Teardrops, Hold Me
While I Cry, I Won't Cry For You). Even though this CD (to
their credit) has a contemporary sound, it has a feeling that it's been
recorded live with very few overdubs. (EL)
|
| SONNY TIL |
Sequel NEMCD 737 |
Solo - Featuring Edna McGriff |
● CD $15.98 $10.98 |
25 tracks, 71 min., recommended
Even while he was
leading the preeminent vocal group of the late 40's and early 50's,
Sonny Til was encouraged by his label to record both solo numbers and,
for one session in 1952, duets with Edna McGriff, whose popular
recording of Heavenly Father had brought her to public attention.
And you can rest assured that Til is still the epitome of silky
smoothness even when he lacks the backing of the rest of the Orioles.
Highlights of the program here include My Prayer, Fool's World,
Blame It One Yourself, The First of Summer, and Panama
Joe as solos, and Once in a While and Pic-A-Dilly as
duets. It's delightful music, presented with Sequel's normal high
production values, but be forewarned: If you already own the Orioles
Bear Family boxed set, you already have every track here. (DH)
|
| OSCAR TONEY, JR. |
Westside 832 |
Oscar's Winners |
● CD $15.98 $11.98 |
18 tracks, recommended
While Toney didn't come up with
many new tunes to add to the soul lexicon, his style & voice lifted
these covers into another realm. Toney's deep soul recordings for Bell,
'67-68, are some of the best, & this set's got 'em all, including his
testifying version of Jerry Butler classic For Your Precious Love
which was so huge that it even made the pop top 30. Recorded at Chips
Moman's American Studios in Memphis, with Moman engineering & Papa Don
Schroeder producing, this set included the entire "For Your Precious
Love" LP (Bell 6006 from '67) as well as all the non-LP singles.
Includes Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)/ No Sad Songs/ The Dark
End Of The Street/ Moon River/ He Will Break Your Heart/ Untiol We Meet
Aagin/ Never get Enough Of Your Love, etc. (GM)
|
| IKE & TINA TURNER |
Collectables 5107 |
Golden Classics |
● CD $11.98 $8.98 |
18 of their classic Sue recordings from 1960-62 -
It's Gonna Work Out Fine/ You Can't Blame Me/ A Fool In Love/ Mind In A
Whirl/ Can't Chance A Break-up/ I'm Jealous/ Stagger Lee & Billy,
etc/
IKE & TINA TURNER: Argument/ Can't Chance A Break-up/
Fool In Love, A/ I Idolize You/ I Idolize You (Alternate Take)/ I'm
Jealous/ It's Gonna Work Out Fine/ Letter From Tina/ Mind In A Whirl/
Poor Fool/ Poor Fool(Alternate Take)/ Puppy Love/ Stagger Lee & Billy/
This Man's Crazy/ Tina's Dilema/ Tra La La La La/ You Can't Blame Me/
You Should've Treated Me Right
|
| IKE & TINA TURNER |
Stateside 473326-2 |
The Soul Of Ike & Tina/ Dynamite |
● CD $11.98 $9.98 |
This reissues Ike & Tina's first two albums from 1961 &
1962 plus four bonus tracks only issued as singles. Since the original
second LP duplicated half the tracks from the first this CD ends up with
a total of 21 tracks. It includes most of their Sue singles hits like
A Fool In Love/ I Idolize You/ Poor Fool and Tra La La plus
other fine songs like I'm Jealous/ Letter From Turner/ Sleepless/
You're My baby/ Won't You Forgive Me/ Mind In A Whirl, etc.
|
| ALVIN "RED"
TYLER |
Westside 529 |
Simply Red |
● CD $13.98 $8.98 |
Complete Ace recordings from 1961 of this great New
Orleans sax player. Includes six previously unissued alternate takes.
|
| THE WALLACE BROTHERS |
Excello 3014 |
Lover's Prayer |
● CD $14.98 $8.98 |
22 tracks, 47 min., recommended
Their LP on the Sims label is one of the rarest and most valuable
albums of the soul era. But if you like your soul music a bit on the raw
and spontaneous side, this cousin-rather-than-brother aggregation may be
right for you. They were among the very first to take advantage of the
magic touch of the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. And they even
scored a reasonably good-sized hit in 1964 with the title track here.
This disc reissues their entire output - their Sims singles plus 3
singles recorded for the British Sue label. It includes Love Me Like
I Love You, Faith, I'll Let Nothing Separate Me,
Precious Words, One Way Affair, She Loves Me Not,
Stepping Stone, These Arms of Mine, and Line Between Love
and Hate. It's rough-edged, gospel-influence music, offered with the
English Kent label's usual high production standards. (DH)
|
| ROBERT WARD |
Black Top 1088 |
Rhythm Of The People |
● CD $14.98 $8.98 |
13 tracks, 50 minutes, recommended
Now out of print.
This is the second Black Top release by Ward since his "re-discovery" in
1990. The former leader of the Ohio Untouchables again brings along his
classic unique sound - a Fender Stratocaster played through an old
Magnatone amp with a stereo vibrato. At times he seems a bit overwhelmed
by the organs, horn sections, background vocalists, etc. but listeners
accustomed to the modern soul blues sound will enjoy it and there's
plenty more here to please the lovers of his early 60's style as well.
Ward is at his best on the slower, stark numbers like Say What You
Mean/ Some Things/ Soap Opera Blues (the beautiful gospel duet with
his wife Roberta), Children Of The World (Don't Forget To Pray)
and a faithful remake of the Wilson Pickett/ Falcons tune I Found A
Love (he played guitar on the original) (AE)
|
| JERRY
WILLIAMS JR. AKA SWAMP DOGG |
Westside WESM 500 |
Swamp's Things |
● CD $13.98 $9.98 |
20 tracks by this talented and idiosyncratic singer,
songwriter and producer whose career dates back to the mid 50s when he
cut his first record at the age of 14 and is still active today. The
first ten sides feature all his singles cut for New York's Calla label
in the mid 60s and the rest reissues an obscure LP from 1976 originally
on the Stone Dogg label.
|
| JACKIE WILSON |
Brunswick 33015 |
The Ultimate Jackie Wilson |
● CD $23.98 $17.98 |
2 CDs, 44 tracks, 2 hours+, highly recommended Not long
after leaving the Dominoes (he replaced Clyde McPhatter, if such a thing
is possible) Jackie Wilson signed with Brunswick and never left, until
disabled by a stroke (some say heart attack) in 1975. His work from
1958-75 yielded 47 R&B charted singles, including six number 1 hits. But
rather than merely reproduce all his hits in chronological order--which
ain't a bad idea, by the way--this collection, while wisely offering a
majority of the hits, attempts to represent Wilson's diverse catalogue
by including non-charters of high quality, thus displaying his
incredible range. So, Wilson's version of Over The Rainbow and
Georgia On My Mind never charted but offer testimony to support the
claim that Wilson could sing all styles with equal artistic success. But
then his cover of The Doors classic Light My Fire comes along to
refute that testimony. And Elenor Rigby is a mistake from every
angle. But his cover of the Sinatra-owned My Way is a real treat,
as are most of the tracks. A fine collection, if not deserving of the
adjective "ultimate." (JC)
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