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NEWSLETTER #136
Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
 Tony Allen -> Betty Wright
 
 

 
 

NEW DVDS
 
NOTE: Unless otherwise noted all DVDs offered are in NTSC format which means that they will not play on a European DVD players unless you have a multiple format player.
 
IKE & TINA TURNER Eagle Vision 30085 Live In '71 ● CD $17.98
Color, 60 mins, highly recommended
DVD/ CD combination. The DVD features an exciting live concert recorded in Holland in 1971 featuring Ike, Tina, The Ikettes and the fabulous Kings Of Rhythm. An exciting performance by all concerned with Tina and the Ikettes wearing some of the shortest skirts I've ever seen performing they perform some of their most popular songs at that time including I Want To Take You Higher/ River Deep, Mountain High/ Come Together/ Honky Tonk Women/ Proud Mary and others including the great slow blues I Smell Trouble featuring some of Ike's distinctive whammy bar guitar work. A bonus feature contains some of the footage from the movie "Soul To Soul" which is presumably to be appearing on DVD in the not too distant future. The CD features all the songs on the DVD plus three additional performances - I've Been Loving You Too Long/ Respect and Land Of 1000 Dances. Includes a 16 page illustrated booklet with informative notes by Rob Bowman. (FS)

 

NEW COMPACT DISCS
 
JESSE BELVIN Ace CDCHD 1020 Guess Who - The RCA Victor Recordings ● CD $27.98
Two CD set with 36 tracks featuring the complete RCA recordings made in 1959 and 1960 including both his RCA LPs and a dozen non-album singles tracks. On these recordings Jesse was moving in a more pop/ jazz oriented direction and many of the sides were standards. He was accompanied on these sessions by top West Coast jazz musicians like Art Pepper, Russ Freeman, Marty Paich, Red Callender. Includes his hits Funny and Guess Who plus Secret Love/ Now You Know/ Witchcraft/ Take Me Back To The Island/ Ever Since We Met/ Volare/ Give Me Love/ It Could Have Been Worse/ Something Happens To Me and more.

 
THE COASTERS Collectables 7656 The Coasters/ One By One ● CD $13.98
26 tracks, 71 mins, recommended
The first two LPs by my favorite 50s and 60s r&B/ rock 'n' roll group. The first LP has 14 tracks with one classic after another including their first hits (Searchin'/ One Kiss Led To Another and Young Blood) tracks they had previously recorded for Spark as The Robins (Smokey Joe's Cafe/ Riot In Cell Block Number Nine/ Framed, etc) and other delights. The second LP, is, to say the least, a bit of a departure. It features completely straight versions of pop and jazz standards performed by individual members of the group with orchestral accompaniment. The performances are well done and the singers sound quite comfortable in this setting but I'm not quite sure who the audience for the LP were. It's too "straight" for the teen audience but probably not straight enough the moms and dads. That being said it's worth a listen with Billy Guy's performances of the bluesy Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You and Don't Get Around Much Aymore being particularly effective thanks to his eccentric vocal stylings and Cornel Gunter doing a heartfelt rendition of Autumn Leaves. (FS)

 
THE FOUR DOTS/ FOUR TROYS Debra 3005 Collector's Editions, 1956-2003 ● CD $23.98
Two CD set featuring 23 tracks - mostly newly recorded by members of the original 50s groups The Four Dots and The Four Troys including new versions of songs they originally recorded in the 50s and early 60s, covers of other groups songs and half a dozen previously unissued songs which were written in the early 60s but it's not clear whether the recordings of these songs are from the 60s or recent. Packaging is attractive with two full color booklets with notes which, at times, are very confusing plus new and vintage photos and label shots. Includes Pleading For Your Love/ Kiss Me Sugar Plum/ In The Moonlight/ My Vow To You/ I Walk In The Shadow/ My Promise To You/ Legend Of Love/ There She Goes Again and others.
 
BUDDY LUCAS Redita 138 Hoppin' Bop With Buddy Lucas ● CD $21.98
33 tracks, 73 mins, recommended
Saxophonist, harmonica player, singer and bandleader Alonzo "Buddy" Lucas was an important figure on the New York scene in the 50s and 60s playing on hundreds of R&B and jazz session and recording a number of singles and LPs under his own name. This compilation features a selection of the latter and includes a mixture of originals and covers of R&B and rock 'n' roll hits. Buddy was limited at his best so is at his best on the rocking instrumentals like Slow Walk/ Seven Eleven/ Gee Gee Walk and the title tune. He also does a good job on the more rocking vocal items like Willie B./ Packin' My Grip/ Money Money Money/ I'm Sailing and others. Some of the vocals on covers like Blueberry Hill and Priscilla are pretty bland but there's enough hot R&B here to make it a worthwhile item. (FS)

 
CURTIS MAYFIELD Silverline 284542 Live At Ronnie Scott's ● CD $19.98
CD 11 tracks - 63 min - DVD - CD tracks + more - highly recommended
This is an interesting set-up. On one side you get the live show, recorded UK at Ronnie Scott's famed jazz club. There are 10 tracks from all phases of Curtis's career, The Impressions - It's Alright/ I'm So Proud/ People Get Ready, & the solo recordings, including the soundtrack stuff, with three from "Super Fly." After that there's an interview done by super-fan Paul Weller (exJam). However, flip the disc over & it's a DVD, 1st audio with 5.1 sound of the show, a bonus video of Freddie's Dead and a video of the Weller interview, along with written info on Mayfield & Ronnie Scott's. (GM)

 
JOE MORRIS Classics 5125 The Chronological Joe Morris, 1950-1953 ● CD $14.98
23 tracks by Morris and his fine band recorded between 1950 and '53. Tough instrumentals plus vocals from Laurie Tate, Teddy Smith, BIlly Mitchell, Jimmy Lewis, Faye Adams, Julia White and Morris himself.

 
THE RAY-O-VACS Coleman 100 Besame Mucho ● CD $17.98
22 tracks, recommended
The first of two CDs featuring recordings by this fine New York-based group - a quartet of rhythm instrumentalists best likened to the sound of The Four Blazes (without the harmonies) who recorded for United Records during the same period in time. The outfit's stop-time rhythm sides were distinctive in two ways, both by Leter Harris and later Herb Milliner's smooth lead vocals and by tasty spinkles of tenor sax of unknown ownership. Their recordings often featured versions of pop standards and this disc includes their versions of Besame Mucho/ Tennessee Waltz/ Margie/ When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano/ Charmaine and others. Although active throughout the 50s the group never had any hits - perhaps bcause their style was rooted in the 40s rather than the more contemporary doo-wop sound though they had a loyal following for their dynamic live performances. (OLN/ FS)

 
THE RAY-O-VACS Coleman 105 It's Party Time With The Ray-O-Vacs ● CD $17.98
22 tracks, highly recommended
The second disc opens with the hot Party Time which sounds like a different group with it's tough vocal and pounding R&B backing with some great guitar (probably Mickey Baker). There are some other tough numbers like the soulful ballad Crying All Alone, the great blues Best Friend Blues. Most of the rest of the disc is in the more familiar jazzy, poppy style with small group with sax back up including She's A Real Loving Baby/ Happy Am I/ Amapola/ Riding High/ All About Daddy/ Why Did You Break My Heart/ All About Daddy (with a fine vocal by Babe Hutton)/ I Still Love You/ What's Mine Is Mine/ What Can I Say, etc. (FS)

 
CHARLIE SINGLETON Classics 5121 The Chronological Charlie Singleton, 1949-1953 ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, 67 mins, highly recommended
Fine collection of sides featuring bands led by alto and tenor sax player Charlie Singleton. About two thirds of the tracks are instrumental ranging from the dreamy instrumental cover of Johnnie Ray's pop hit Cry to the bluesy Cat's Paw to the torrid Blow Mr. Singleton. Singleton was a fine straight ahead player who never indulged in the screeching histrionics of some of his contemporaries. Personnel varied from session to session but was always fine. Singleton takes the vocal on the fine blues Lonely Lover Blues and other excellent vocalists featured include Linwood Sutton, Jake Vaughn and Freddie Jackson. Sound quality is excellent and there are informative (but tiny) notes by Dave Penny. (FS)

 
PERCY SLEDGE Varese 66599 Shining Through The Rain ● CD $16.98
13 tracks, 51 min, highly recommended
CD of the year? Outstanding album from the recent come-back of the "When A Man Loves A Woman" singer (has anybody shot Michael Bolton yet?) Produced by Barry Goldberg, this has an outstanding company of musicians behind him, including ex-Steppenwolf guitarist Larry Byrom, Clayton Ivy on keys & guests including one of my all-time faves Denny Freeman on guitar, Carla Olson on guitar & backing vocals, Goldberg himself on some keys & horn arrangements. Ex- Manfred Mann/Blues Band frontman Paul Jones duets with Sledge on the classic Kit Carson/Little Willie John Big Blue Diamonds, & there's a fine version of Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces's Searchin' For My Baby. But even more unusual are the covers of Lonely Hobo Lullaby (The Hollies), My Old Friend The Blues (Steve Earle), Fall Inside Your Eyes (Jackie Lomax, going back to the Apple LP "Is This What You Want"!) & A Lonely Violin (The BeeGees!). Also, a name out of the past, Mikael Rikfors, the Swede who briefly sang with The Hollies in the early 70s, has contributed 3 new tunes including the title track. Percy, congrats on your election to the RnR Hall Of Fame & thanks for a great album! (GM)

 
THE STAPLE SINGERS Kent CDKEN2 240 The Ultimate Staple Singers- A Family Affair, 1955-1984 ● CD $32.98
Two CD retrospective of this great gospel and soul group featuring 44 tracks recorded between 1955 (their first gospel recordings for United) to 1984 (their hits for Private of H-A-T-E {Don't Live Here Anymore} and Slippery People) and including rare and unissued sides making their first appearance CD on plus solo sides by Pops Staples and Mavis Staples.
THE STAPLE SINGERS: (sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay/ A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall/ Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw/ City In The Sky/ For What It's Worth/ God Bless The Children/ H-a-t-e (don't Live Here Any More)/ Hammer And Nails/ Heavy Makes You Happy (sha Na Boom Boom)/ I Got To Be Myself/ I Have Learned To Do Without You/ I Honestly Love You/ I Wish I Had Answered/ I'll Take You There/ If You're Ready (come Go With Me)/ It's Been A Change/ Let's Do It Again/ Long Walk To Dc/ Love Me, Love Me, Love Me/ New Orleans/ Nobody's Fault But Mine/ Oh La De Da/ Respect Yourself/ Slippery People/ Solon Bushi/ Swing Low/ The Gardener/ The Ghetto/ The Only Time You Ever Say You Love Me/ This May Be The Last Time/ This World/ Too Close/ Touch A Hand, Make A Friend/ Uncloudy Day/ When Will We Be Paid For The Work We Did/ Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas/ Why (am I Treated So Bad)/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ Won't You Sit Down (sit Down Servant)/ You're Gonna Make Me Cry/ You've Got To Earn It/ MAVIS STAPLES: Trippin' On Your Love/ POPS STAPLES: John Henry/ Tryin' Time

 
THE TAMS Half Moon 032 Hey Girl Don't Bother Me ● CD $11.98
22 tracks, 52 mins, highly recommended
An underrated up-tempo '60s soul group, The Tams (so-called because of the Tam O'Shanters they wore on stage!) scored their first hit with Untie Me, recorded at Rick Hall's FAME Studios and released on the Arlen label. But they spent their most productive years at ABC-Paramount. And while they had access to some first-rate songs (e.g., Joe South's Shelter), it's lead singer Joseph Pope's smokey lead vocals that set The Tams apart. Songs include What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am), Untie Me, Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy, Laugh It Off, You Lied To Your Daddy, Hey Girl Don't Bother Me, and many others. (JC)

 
SONNY THOMPSON/ LULA REED Blue Moon 6044 The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4: 1952-1954 ● CD $14.98
26 tracks, highly recommended
The fourth volume devoted to the recordings of pianist/ bandleader Sonny Thompson and his wife, vocalist Lula Reed features 26 more great sides (including a couple of alternate takes) recorded between October 1952 and February 1954. A dynamite collection of vocals and instrumental cuts - most of the vocals are by Lula but four tracks features the fine Charles Brown flavored vocals of Rufus Beacham. There is top notch instrumental work from musicians like Bubba Brooks/ ts, Henry Glover/ tpt, Clarence Kenner/ gtr (his guitar instrumental Kenner Cuts ON is a real gem), Fred Clark/ as and others. Superb sound and informative notes round out another invaluable package. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Concert Products 1717 Doo-Wop Sequels ● CD $16.98
Back in the 50s artists frequently followed a hit with a song with the same tune and similar words - most of the rarely repeated the success of the original. Not all the tracks here are doo-wop (like Johnny Otis's two sequels to Willie And The Hand Jive) but most are including My Congratulations Baby, The Tuneweavers' sequel to Happy Happy Birthday Baby, Reading The Book Of Love by The Monotones, There's A Moon Out Again by The Capris, My Iamge Of A Girl Was You by The safris plus tracks by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, The Crests, The Fireflies, Little Caesar & the Romans, The Bobbettes and others. Some fine sides though sound quality is frequently mediocre with excessive filtering of the high end.
LEE ANDREWS & HEARTS: Together Again/ THE ANGELS: The Guy With The Black Eye/ HANK BALLARD & MIDNIGHTERS: I'm Going Back To The House Of The Hill/ HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS: Let's Go Again/ THE BOBBETTES: I Shot Mr Lee/ THE CAPRIS: There's A Moon Out Again/ THE CRESTS: You Blew Out The Candles/ THE EARLS: Remember When/ THE FIREFLIES: You Were Mine For A While/ THE HARPTONES: All In Your Mind/ JOHNNY & JOE: Across The Sea/ Over The Mountain/ Over Which Mountain/ LITTLE CAESAR & THE ROMANS: Memories Of Those Oldies But Goodies/ MARVIN & JOHNNY: A Second Helping Of Cherry Pie/ THE MONOTONES: Reading The Book Of Love/ JOHNNY OTIS: Hand Jive One More Time/ Willie Did The Cha Cha Cha/ THE PARAGONS: Florence Don't Leave Me/ THE RAINBOWS: If You See Mary Lee/ THE SAFARIS: My Image Of A Girl Was You/ HUEY "PIANO" SMITH & THE CLOWNS: Tu-ber-cu-lucas And Sinus Blues/ SONNY TIL & THE ORIOLES: Back To The Chapel/ THE TUNEWEAVERS: Congratulations On Your Wedding/ My Congratulations Baby

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSCrime Dog 103Bring Back Yesterday, Vol. 3 ● CD $17.98
27 fine and rare doo-wops - many making their first appearance on CD. Like the previous volume there is a little too much use of digital noise reduction.
JIM BROWN & THE FOUR BELLS: Mambo Baby/ Shake, Rattle, & Roll/ DON BRUCE & THE FOUR BEATS: Love Leads a Fool/ THE CARONATORS: This Is the Time/ TOMMY CARTER & GROUP: Please Find My Love/ THE CRAWFORD BROTHERS: I Ain't Guilty/ THE DRIPPERS: Such a Fool Was I/ THE DUDROPPERS: Story Untold/ THE FOUR BUDDIES: Look Out/ THE FOUR GENTS: On Bended Knees/ ERSKINE HAWKINS & THE FOUR HAWKS: My Baby Please/ CAROLYN HAYES & GROUP: Baby Say You Love Me/ BRIANT HOLLAND & GROUP: Shock/ FRANKIE IRVIN & GROUP: Such a Fool/ THE MAYTONES: My Heart Is Cryin'/ JOSEPH MURPHY & THE FOUR JETS: Everybody Do The Chicken/ POLK & JAMES: This Love of Mine/ THE REVLONS: She'll Come To Me Someday/ THE ROMEOS: Let's Be Partners/ CATHY RYAN & THE ADMIRALS: It's a Sad, Sad Feeling/ THE SAWYER SISTERS: Here I Am/ SEBASTION & GROUP: Darling I Do/ THE SHADOWS: Better Than Gold/ BOBBY SHIELDS & THE STREET SINGERS: I Was Dreaming/ THE STREET SINGERS: Caldonia's Mambo/ THREE DOTS & A DASH: I'll Never Love Again/ JOHNNY THUNDER & GROUP: Bewildered

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSDynamite DGS 138Dynamite Group Sounds, Vol. 38 ● CD $17.98
26 doo-wop gems - mostly from the 50s and early 60s plus one from 1981. It looks like about half the tracks are new to CD.
CARLTON BECK & GROUP: The Girl I Left Behind/ THE BEL-LARKS: A Million and One Dreams/ THE CHATEAUS: Darling Je Vous Aime Beacoup/ THE CONCORDS: Should I Cry/ THE DELCOS: These Three Little Words/ THE DOMINOES: Take Me Back to Heaven/ THE EMPIRES: Magic Mirror/ THE FEDERALS: Come Go With Me/ THE FIESTAS: Julie/ THE FIVE EMBERS: I'm Free/ THE FOUR J'S: For Me and My Girl/ BOBBY GEE & THE CELESTIALS: Julie Is Mine/ THE KOOL GENTS: This Is the Night/ THE MARKSMEN: You Hurt Me So/ THE MASTERS: Crying My Heart Out/ ARTHUR LEE MAYE & THE CROWNS: All I Want Is Someone to Love/ THE PASSIONS: Jackie Brown/ THE POOR SOULS: Brazil/ AUSTIN POWELL & THE JAMES QUINTET: Wrong Again/ THE RAINERS: I Won $4,000/ THE RAVENS: A Simple Prayer/ RICK & THE MASTERS: Let It Please Be You/ THE SINGING WANDERERS: The Wrong Party Again/ THE TURBANS: No No Cherry/ THE TWILIGHTS: My Heart Belongs to Only You/ JOE VAN LOAN & THE INKSPOTS: Hawaiian Wedding Song

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSEl Toro 109Fine Gals, Fast Women & Wailin' Daddies - The First Of ● CD $28.98
Two CDs, 52 tracks, 136 mins, highly recommended
Fabulous collection of blues and R&B recorded between 1951 and 1953 that were written by the incredible songwriting duo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Ace issued a similar compilation some months ago (Ace 1010 - $16.98) and around 15 tracks here duplicate that compilation but this is even more rewarding since it gives us a more in depth look at the duos earliest compositions and is exclusively blues and R&B whereas the Ace compilation included early rock 'n' roll sides. It's amazing to realize that these two young white Jewish boys (they were still in their teens when most of these songs were written) were able to so eloquently tap in to black music sensibility with songs ranging from the sombre blues Hard Times and Blood Is Redder Than Wine to the raunchy Nosey Joe to the whimsical Drinkin' Fool plus the all time classics like Hound Dog and Kansas City. Among the artists featured are Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles, Milt Trenier, Big Mama Thornton, Little Willie Littlefield, Listtle Esther, Amos Milburn, Linda Hopkins, Mel walker, Bull Moose Jackson, Floyd Dixon, Berverly Wright, Curley Bridges and others. Sound quality is excellent, though not up to Ace's standard and notes by Dave Penny are fine. (FS)
CURLEY BRIDGES WITH FRANK MOTLEY & HIS CREW: New Hound Dog/ CHARLES BROWN: Hard Times/ RAY CHARLES: The Snow Is Falling/ FLOYD DIXON: Too Much Jelly Roll/ THE DUDROPPERS: Bambalam/ LITTLE ESTHER: Hound Dog/ BIG JOHN GREER: Drinkin' Fool/ ROY HAWKINS: Albania/ Gloom And Misery All Around/ LINDA HOPKINS: Get Off My Wagon/ Is This Goodbye/ Tears Of Joy/ Three Time Loser/ MOOSE JACKSON AND HIS BEARCATS: Nosey Joe/ LITTLE ESTHER: Flesh, Blood And Bones/ Hollerin' And Screamin'/ Last Laugh Blues/ Mainliner/ Saturday Night Daddy/ Street Lights/ Turn The Lamps Down Low/ You Took My Love Too Fast/ LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD: Blood Is Redder Than Wine/ K C Lovin'/ Lump In My Throat/ Strikin' On You Baby/ AMOS MILBURN: Flying Home/ Women, Women/ BOBBY NUNN & THE ROBBINS: That's What The Good Book Says/ MABEL SCOTT: Wailin' Daddy/ RUFUS "HOUND DOG" THOMAS JR: Bear Cat (the Answer To Hound Dog)/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog/ I Smell A Rat/ I've Searched The World Over/ Nightmare/ Rockabye Baby/ MILT TRENIER & HIS SOLID SIX: Flip Our Wigs/ Squeeze Me/ You're Killin' Me/ MEL WALKER WITH JOHNNY OTIS' ORCH: The Candle's Burnin' Low/ The Last Mile/ JIMMY WITHERSPOON: Back Door Blues/ Corn Whiskey/ Fast Women And Sloe Gin/ I'll Be Right On Down/ It/ Oh Mother, Dear Mother/ One Fine Gal/ Real Ugly Woman/ The Last Mile/ BEVERLY WRIGHT WITH PRESTON LOVE'S ORCH: Kissin' Boogie/ YOUNG JESSIE: I Smell A Rat

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSFamous Groove 973001Funk Cargo #1 ● CD $17.98
Fine 22 track collection of obscure funk singles from the late 60s and the 70s including tracks by Christopher Columbus & The Swingin' Gaits, The Pace Setters (the topical Push On Jesse Jackson), Black Heat, Clarence Paul & The Members, The Mighty Flea (Johnny Otis Orchestra trombonist with a funked up version of Ode To Billie Joe), Jimmy Dawkins (Chicago blues guitarist with the exciting instrumental 1110 Woodland), The Nite Liters, The French Connection, United 8, Segments Of Time, Arlene Wright, Willy Wright and others.
BLACK HEAT: The Jungle/ ARLENE BROWN: Impeach Me Baby/ CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS & THE SWINGIN GAITS: Tighten 70/ JIMMY DAWKKINS: 1110 Woodland/ THE DEVILS: The Exorcist/ JOHN EARNEST: Soul President #1/ FRENCH CONNECTION: Monte Carlo/ HARLEM RIVER DRIVE: Idle Hands/ RHETTA HUGHES: Light My Fire/ LOST GENERATION: Talkin‘ The Teenage Language/ MAURICE: What I Got (i Got)/ MIGHTY FLEA: Ode To Billie Joe/ THE NITE LITERS: Afro Strut/ THE PACE SETTERS: Push On Jessie Jackson/ CLARENCE PAUL & THE MEMBERS: Operation Breadbasket/ POPCORN WYLIE: Funky Rubberband/ SEGMENTS OF TIME: Message To The System/ SEVEN SEAS: Pats Jam/ SPIRIT OF ATLANTA: Freddie Is Alive And Well/ UNITED 8: Ain‘t It Good/ WILLY WILEY: Push & Shove/ WILLY WRIGHT: Right On For The Darkness

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSFunky Delicacies 023Wardell Quezerque's Funky Funky New Orleans ● CD $15.98
21 of rare New Orleans funk produced by legendary producer Wardell Quezerque for various small labels between 1968 and 1972. Includes The Unemployed, Denise Keeble, Klicky Robinson, Chuck Simmons, Curtis Johnson, C.L. Blast, Denny Fox, Irma Thomas and others.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSHerald 417Herald The Beat! ● CD $17.98
Reissue of 14 track LP originally issued in 1957 with 17 additional cuts for a total of 31 tracks from the 50s and early 60s by this fine and important New York label. A mix of doo-wop, R&B and blues this includes such great hits as TOnite Tonite by The Melloking, Shake A Hand by faye Adams, Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, Mixed Up Shook Up Girl by Patty & The Emblems and When You Dance by The Turbans as well as tracks by Tommy Ridgely, Al Savage, The Nutmegs, Charlie & Ray, Pork Chops, Ricky Jones, Larry Dale, Ursula Reed, Mr. Stringbean, Big Bob Kornegay, Dickie Thompson (the great Thirteen Women And Only One Man) and others.
FAYE ADAMS: Hurts Me To My Heart/ I'll Be True/ Shake a Hand/ EDDIE BOYD: I'm Going Downtown/ CHARLIE & RAY: Dearest One/ I Love You Madly/ CLAUDINE CLARK: Angel of Happiness/ LARRY DALE: Feelin' All Right/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Shine On Moon/ JOE JONES: You Done Me Wrong/ RICKY JONES: You Know It's True/ BIG BOB KORNEGAY: Hocus Pocus Voo Doo/ THE MELLOKINGS: Chapel On the Hill/ Sassafras/ Tonite Tonite/ THE NUTMEGS: Ship of Love/ Story Untold/ PATTI & THE EMBLEMS: Mixed Up Shook Up Girl/ PORK CHOPS: I Wanna See My Loving Baby/ URSULA REED: All Gone/ TOMMY RIDGELY: When I Meet My Girl/ TOMMY RIDGLEY: I've Heard That Story Before/ AL SAVAGE: I Had a Nothin'/ Paradise Princess/ MR. STRINGBEAN: Pass the Juice Miss Lucy/ DICKIE THOMPSON: Thirteen Women and Only One Man/ THE TURBANS: Congratulations/ When You Dance/ VITO & THE SALUTATIONS: Unchained Melody/ MAURICE WILLIAMS & THE ZODIACS: I Remember/ Stay

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSHip-Bop 001Harlem Shuffle ● CD $16.98
20 rocking R&B sides from the late 50s and early 60s - most making their first appearance on CD. Includes The Zircons (Show Me Where It's At with kazoo solo!), Shorty Johnson, Derek Martin (his classic Daddy Rollin' Stone - about the only common track here), Tommy Wills, Ricky Davis & The Shouters, Charles Sheffield, The Blue Orbits, Pearl Woods, The Ideals, Jimmy The Drag and others.
THE BLUE ORBITS: Let's Do The Hip/ BUSTER BROWN: The Madison Shuffle/ Two Women/ C.C. CURTISS: Aunt Minnie/ RICKY DAVIS & THE SHOUTERS: Who Me?/ DEAN & JEAN: Oh Yeah/ SHERMAN EVANS: The Craze/ BOBBY HALL & THE KINGS: I Love My Baby/ THE IDEALS: Mo' Gorilla/ JIMMY THE CRACK: The Drag/ SHORTY JOHNSON: Boss Chicks/ DEREK MARTIN: Daddy Rollin' Stone/ SEBASTIAN: Nobody Can't Do The Dog Like I Do/ CHARLES SHEFFIELD: I Would Be A Sinner/ ERWIN "SALTY" SUNDAY: So Lonely/ JEANETTE WASHINGTON: Money's Funny/ GLENN WILLINGS: You Tarzan Me Jane/ TOMMY WILLS: Night Train Stomp/ PEARL WOOD: Right Now/ THE ZERCONS: Show Me Where It's At

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSJ&S 7006265Jump And Shout ● CD $15.98
A collection of rocking R&B from the 60s - mostly from tiny obscure labels and most of it making its first appearance on CD.
BABY JEAN: If You Wanna/ LARRY BIRDSONG: Little School Girl/ LARRY BRIGHT: Way Down Home/ SHERMAN EVANS WITH CHRIS ORTIZ & THE FLAMES: The Craze/ CARRIE GRANT & THE GRANDEURS: Mish Mash/ GEORGE HUGHLEY & THE CAMA ROCKERS: What Did I Do/ THE IDEALS: Go Get A Wig/ JIM JACKSON: Some Love With Soul/ JESSE JAMES: I'm All Right/ JOE JOHNSON: Rattlesnake, Baby, Rattlesnake/ LOUIS JOHNSON: Please Look Out/ LOUIS "BLUES BOY" JONES: Someway, Somewhere/ EDDIE KIRK: The Grunt/ RUBY LEE: I'm Gonna Put a Watch On You/ CARL LESTER & THE SHOWSTOPPERS: When You See Me Hurt/ SKIP MANNING: Ham & Eggs/ AMOS MILBURN, JR: Gloria/ RAMONA PARKS: Soul Mate/ HENRY STROGIN: Misery/ T.B. & THE GERMS: Jump & Shout Pt 1/ TY TYRELL: The Scratch Pt. 2/ The Scratch Pt.1/ DANNY WARE: The Zombie Stomp/ BILLY WATKINS: I'm Tired/ WILLIE WHITE: 99 Beef Steaks

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSKent CDKEND 235The U.K. Sue Label, Vol. 3 - The Soul Of Sue ● CD $18.98
25 tracks, highly recommended
The third volume devoted to reissuing recordings originally issued by pioneering British reissue label Sue run by British disc jockey and R&B fan Guy Stevens. This one focuses on the R&B and soul recordings released between 1961 and 1967 and helped turn many British music fans on to the music and introduced names that were new to many. It includes tracks that were U.S. R&B hits along with some choice obscurities and includes Bob & Earl (their classic Harlem Shuffle from the recently discovered master tape), Inez Foxx,  Irma Thomas (her wonderful Don't Mess With My Man), Jackie Daly, O.V. Wright, The Soul Sisters,  James Carr, Bobby Bland and others. It includes 16 page booklet with notes and loads of photos, label shots, ads, etc. (FS)
ERNESTINE ANDERSON: Continental Mind/ THE ANGLOS: Incense/ BOBBY BLAND: That Did It/ BOB & EARL: Harlem Shuffle/ JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES: Night Train/ JERRY BUTLER: Believe In Me/ RUSSELL BYRD: Hitch-hike Pt I/ JAMES CARR: You Don‘t Want Me/ JACKIE DAY: Before It‘s Too Late/ LEE DORSEY: Do- Re-mi/ DONNIE ELBERT: Your Red Wagon (you Can Push It Or Pull It)/ INEZ FOXX: Hurt By Love/ LOWELL FULSON: Talkin‘ Woman/ Z.Z. HILL: Gimme, Gimme/ THE INTENTIONS: Dancing Fast, Dancing Slow/ THELMA JONES: Stronger/ THE KELLY BROTHERS: Cryin‘ Days Are Over/ THE MANHATTANS: Searchin‘ For My Baby/ JIMMY MCGRIFF: The Last Minute/ SHADES OF BLUE: Oh How Happy/ THE SOUL SISTERS: I Can‘t Stand It/ IRMA THOMAS: Don‘t Mess With My Man/ IKE & TINA TURNER: Am I A Fool In Love/ JUSTINE “BABY™ WASHINGTON: I Can‘t Wait Until I See My Baby‘s Face/ O.V. WRIGHT: What Did You Tell This Girl Of Mine

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSKent CDKEND 238Double Shot Of Soul ● CD $18.98
26 tracks of R&B and soul recorded between 1967 and 1970 for the Los Angeles based independent Double Shot label and its subsidiary Whiz. The label is best known for the rock it Psychotic Reaction by Count Five but the majority of its catalog was R&B and soul and this collection features sides by Foxy,  Kent & The Candidates,Shirley (of Shirley & Lee fame), The Real Thing, Maurice Rodgers (now known as Mighty Mo Rodgers he wrote and produced a number of the titles here) and others. Most of the tracks are making their first appearance on CD and four tracks are previously unissued.
THE BAGDADS: Green Power/ Jelly/ Livin' In Fear/ Love Has Two Faces/ Push Me Baby/ THE DOO-RIGHTS: You're My Girl/ FOXY: Trouble/ BOBBY FREEMAN: Can You Stand The Pressure/ Do It/ Do You Wanna Dance 70/ Everybody's Got A Hang Up/ Four Piece Funky, Nitty Gritty Junky Band/ Oughta Be A Law/ Put Another Dime In The Parking Meter/ THE GEORGIA PROPHETS: For The First Time/ Loving You Is Killing Me/ THE INVINCIBLES: Nobody/ KENT & THE CANDIDATES: The Neck/ Trouble/ THE REAL THING: It's My Life/ The International Love Song/ What Is Soul?/ MAURICE RODGERS: Coming In Out Of The Rain/ Gotta Keep On Talkin'/ SHIRLEY: Sugar Sugar/ LOUISE WHITNEY: Gotta Keep On

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSLittle Star 101A Tribute To Vito Picone And The Elegants ● CD $17.98
A tribute to Vito Picone and the Elegants whose 1958 recording of Little Star was a #1 hit and an important influence on the growing white doo-wop scene. This CD includes 10 versions of this song including the original demo by The Elegants, a German version (Blonder Stern) by Chris Howland & The Hansen Boys plus versions by The Orlons, Harold & The Taylors, The Echoes, Ziggy & The Zeu Review. There are also covers of some of their other songs like Tiny Cloud by Joe & The Ovations and Ive Seen Everything by The Quotations along with groups performing in the style of The Elegants.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSMardi Gras 1058Ultimate Mardi Gras ● CD $15.98
A great collection of 15 tracks celebrating the New Orleans Mardi Gras from the 60s through the 80s - brass bands, R&B, Zydeco, funk and more - all with that distinctive New Orleans sound, from Stop Inc., Professor Longhair with Earl King (the complete two part Big Chief), DJ Dynamite Red, The Rebirth Brass Band, Olympia Brass Band, Lil' Nathan, Fredy Omar con su Banda (the Latin King Of New Orleans with Mardi Gras Mambo), Alton "Big Al" Carson, etc. After listening to this you'll be ready to book your ticket!
BIG AL AND THE HEAVYWEIGHTS: Cajun Roux/ Hey, Hey Mardi Gras/ BIG CHIEF: Smoke My Peace Pipe/ ALTON "BIG AL" CARSON: All In A Mardi Gras Day/ Because I Got High/ DJ DYNAMITE RED: Cold, Cold Mardi Gras/ LIL' NATHAN: Ballin' On Zydeco/ THE OLYMPIA BRASS BAND: Mardi Gras In New Orleans/ FREDY OMAR CON SU BANDA: Mardi Gras Mambo/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR W/ EARL KING: Big Chief (complete Version)/ THE REBIRTH BRASS BAND: Do Whatcha Wanna/ New Orleans Music/ ROCKIN' DOPSIE, JR.: Down At The Mardi Gras/ They All Asked For You

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSProfile 4000The Best Of Profile Records ● CD $17.98
24 great sides of blues, doo-wop and rock 'n' roll recorded for Mel London's Chicago based Profile label around 1959/60 including Mickey Hawks & The Night Raiders (his classic wild rocker Bip Bop Boom), Junior Wells (including his superb Come On In This House and Prison Bars All Around Me), Bobby Dean, Lil June & The Januarys, Jessie & The Sequins, Dick & Jack with The Politicians, The Night Raiders, The Noblemen and The Foster Brothers.
BOBBY DEAN: It's A Fad Ma/ Just Between Teens/ DICK & JACK WITH THE POLITICIANS: Scatterbrain/ Shirley/ THE FOSTER BROTHERS: Trust In Me/ Why Yi Yi/ NIGHT RAIDERS FEAT MICKEY HAWKS: I'm Lost/ MICKEY HAWKS & NIGHT RAIDERS: Bip Bop Boom/ Rock and Roll Rhythm/ JESSIE & SEQUINS: Hold My Hand/ JESSIE & THE SEQUINS: So Weak/ LIL JUNE & JANUARY'S: Oh My Love/ Oh What A Feeling/ THE NIGHT RAIDERS: Cottinpickin/ Hidi Hidi Hidi/ Screamin Mimi Jeanie/ THE NOBLEMEN: Dirty Robber/ Forever Lonely/ JUNIOR WELLS: Cha Cha Cha In Blue/ Come On In This House/ I Could Cry/ Little By Little/ Prison Bars All Around Me/ You Don't Care

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSProper BOX 79Doo Wop Delights ● CD $25.98
Four CDs, 100 tracks, highly recommended
Superb collection of vocal group sounds recorded between 1950 and 1953. Following on from a previous Proper box ("The Dawn Of Doo-Wop" - Proper Box 44 - $25.98) which looked at the vocal group sound of the 40s this presents vocal group music developing a tougher edge than the earlier pop and jazz influenced stylings and shows stronger input from blues and gospel. The set includes recordings from some of the still active and influential forties groups like The Ravens, Orioles, Larks, Five Keys & Swallows as well as some of the great new groups emerging in the early like The Flamingos, Moonglows, Spanield, Du Droppers, Hawks, Sha-Weez, Crickets, Platters and others. The first disc includes some of the most popular and influential doo-wop titles from this era including all time favorites like Crying In The Chapel by The Orioles, These Foolish Things by Billy Ward & The Dominoes, A Thousand Stars by The Rivileers, Gee by The Crows, Money Honey by The Drifters and others. The second disc features up-tempo rocking doo-wop including tracks by The Five Crowns, Du Droppers, Cardinals, Flamingos, Billy Ward & The Dominoes, The Ray-O-Vacs and others. The third disc is ballads and blues from The Orioles, Serenaders, Buccaneers, Marylanders, Five Crowns and others and the last disc is mix of slow and up-tempo sides from The Five Crowns, Du-Droppers, Treniers, Red Caps, Marylanders, Spaniels and others. Sound quality is excellent throughout and the 60 page booklet includes informative notes by Adam Komorowski including profiles of all the groups, lots of photos and full discographical data. If you're a dedicated doo-wop fan you probably have everything here but it is an ideal introductory collection and makes for great listening for the hard core collector. (FS)
THE AP-TANS: Waiting At The Station/ THE BLUE JAYS: White Cliffs Of Dover/ THE BLUE NOTES: Too Hot To Handle/ THE BUCCANEERS: In The Mission Of St. Augustine/ THE CARDINALS: Kiss Me Baby/ Lovie Darling/ She Rocks/ Wheel Of Fortune/ You Are My Only Love/ THE CRICKETS: Fine As Wine/ I'll Cry No More/ THE CROWS: Call A Doctor/ Gee/ No Help Wanted/ THE DOMINOES: Have Mercy Baby/ THE DRIFTERS: Money Honey/ THE DU DROPPERS: Can't Do Sixty No More/ Come On And Love Me Baby/ I Found Out/ I Wanna Know/ Little Girl Little Girl/ THE EBONAIRES: You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You/ THE EMBERS: Paradise Hill/ THE ENCHANTERS: Housewife Blues/ THE FIVE BUDDS: I Want Her Back/ THE FIVE CROWNS: Alone Again/ Good Luck Darling/ Why Don't You Believe Me/ You're My Inspiration/ THE FIVE KEYS: Mama (Your Told A Lie On Me)/ Oh Babe!/ Red Sails In The Sunset/ Rocking And Crying Blues/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Baby Don't Do It/ Crazy Crazy Crazy/ Help Me Somebody/ Too Much Lovin' (Much Too Much)/ THE FIVE SHARPS: Stormy Weather/ THE FLAIRS: I Had A Love/ THE FLAMINGOS: Cross Over The Bridge/ Golden Teardrops/ Hurry Home Baby/ Someday Someway/ You Ain't Ready/ THE FOUR FLAMES: Tabarin/ THE FOUR JACKS: Sure Cure For The Blues/ The Last Of The Good Rocking Men/ THE HARPTONES: A Sunday Kind Of Love/ THE HAWKS: I-Yi/ THE HOLLYWOOD FLAMES: Cryin' For My Baby/ THE LAMPLIGHTERS: Be Bop Wino/ THE LARKS: I Live True To You/ Lucy Brown/ Shadrac/ THE MARYLANDERS: Fried Chicken/ Good Old 99/ Please Love Me/ THE MEADOWLARKS: Real Pretty Mama/ THE MOONGLOWS: Baby Please/ Whistle My Love/ THE ORCHIDS: All Night Long/ THE ORIOLES: Baby Please Don't Go/ Crying In The Chapel/ Getting Tired Tired Tired/ I Miss You So/ See See Rider/ Teardrops On My Pillow/ THE PLATTERS: Give Thanks/ THE RAVENS: I'll Be Back/ Rock Me All Night Long/ THE RAY-O-VACS: My Baby's Gone/ THE RED CAPS: Are You Lonesome Tonight/ Dirt Dishin' Daisy/ JIMMY RICKS & THE RAVENS: Rough Ridin'/ THE RIVILEERS: A Thousand Stars/ THE ROBINS: A Falling Star/ My Baby Done Told Me/ THE SERENADES: I Want To Love You Baby/ Will She Know/ THE SHA-WEEZ: No One To Love Me/ THE SPANIELS: (Get Away Child) You Don't Move Me/ Baby It's You/ Bounce/ Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite/ THE SULTANS: Blues At Dawn/ Don't Be Angry/ THE SWALLOWS: Beside You/ Bicycle Tillie/ I Only Have Eyes For You/ THE TRENIERS: Straighten Up Baby/ THE VELVETS: I/ THE VOCALEERS: I Walk Alone/ Is It A Dream/ Will You Be True/ BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES: I'd Be Satisfied/ Pedal Pushin' Papa/ Rags To Riches/ The Bells/ These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)/ BILLY WILLIAMS QUARTET: Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSShout Factory 37441Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens ● CD $59.98
Subtitled "The Big Ol' Box Of New Orleans" this is a beautifully packaged musical tribute to New Orleans - one of America's greatest music cities. It features blues, R&B, rock, jazz, soul, funk, Cajun and Klezmer! 85 tracks from the 20s to the present day including performers like Kermit Ruffins,  Fats Domino, Clarence "Frogman" Henry,Jelly Roll Morton,  Johnny Adams, Earl King, The Neville Brothers, Zachary Richard,Al Johnson, Smiley Lewis,James Booker, Little Richard, The Tim Laughlin, Pete Fountain & His Band and many, many more. Includes extensively illustrated 84 page book which includes an historical survey, deatils on the performers here and their music plus travel tips and a guide to some of the best places in New Orleans for food, drinks and music.
JOHNNY ADAMS: Release Me/ JAMES ANDREWS: Poop Ain't Gotta Scuffle No More/ TROY ANDREWS: Ooh Poo Pah Doo/ LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS DIXIELAND SEVEN: Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?/ LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS HOT SEVEN: Potato Head Blues/ VERNEL BAGNERIS & THE CAST OF "ONE MO' TIME": Down In Honky Tonk Town/ BALFA TOUJOURS: Marshall's Club/ MARCIA BALL: That's Enough Of That Stuff/ DAVE BARTHOLOMEW & HIS ORCHESTRA: Shrimp And Gumbo/ BEAUSOLEIL: Zydeco Gris-gris/ SIDNEY BECHET & HIS HEW ORLEANS FEET WARMERS: Preachin' Blues/ EDIE BO: Havin' Fun In New Orleans/ JAMES BOOKER: Classified (version Two)/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Going Back To Louisiana/ BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO: Hot Tamale Boy/ HENRY BUTLER: Tee-nah-nah/ BOOZOO CHAVIS: Dog Hill/ CLIFTON CHENIER: Jambalaya/ JON CLEARY & THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER GENTLEMEN: More Hipper/ COOLBONE: The Saints/ BRUCE DAIGREPONT: Laissez Faire (let It Be)/ GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN' BOOGIE: Canaille (you're Cute, But You're Sneaky)/ THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND WITH DANNY BARKER: Don't You Feel My Leg/ FATS DOMINO: I‘m Walkin‘/ DR. JOHN: Iko Iko/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Way Down/ SNOOKS EAGLIN: Red Beans/ FRANKIE FORD: Sea Cruise/ PETE FOUNTAIN & HIS BAND: Lazy River/ GALACTIC: Go Go/ Welcome To New Orleans/ THE GUANAS: Para Dona Vas (where Are You Going)/ LEIGH HARRIS: Dog Days/ THE HAWKETTS: Mardi Gras Mambo/ CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY: Ain't Got No Home/ BEAU JOCQUE & THE ZYDECO HI-ROLLERS: Give Him Cornbread/ AL JOHNSON: Carnival Time/ ERNIE K-DOE: Mother-in-law/ CHRIS KENNER: I Like It Like That, Part 1/ EARL KING: No City Like New Orleans/ SONNY LANDRETH: South Of I-10/ TIM LAUGHLIN: King Of The Mardi Gras/ SMILEY LEWIS: I Hear You Knocking/ GEORGE LEWIS' RAGTIME BAND: Ice Cream/ LIL' QUEENIE & THE PERCOLATORS: My Darlin' New Orleans/ LITTLE RICHARD: Rip It Up/ ELLIS MARSALIS: Dr. Jazz/ TOM MCDERMOTT & EVAN CHRISTOPHER: The Broken Windmill/ THE METERS: Hey Pocky A-way/ J. MONQUE'D: No Doubt About It/ DEACON JOHN MOORE: Going Back To New Orleans/ JELLY ROLL MORTON & HIS NEW ORELEANS JAZZMEN: I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say/ RAYMOND MYLES WITH THE RAMS: Hallelujah/ AARON NEVILLE: Tell It Like It Is/ CHARMAINE NEVILLE BAND WITH REGGIE HOUSTON & AMASA: The Right Key But The Wrong Keyhole/ THE NEVILLE BROTHERS: Fear, Hate, Envy, Jealousy/ THE NEW BIRTH BRASS BAND: Smoke That Fire/ THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ VIPERS: Digga-digga-do/ THE NEW ORLEANS KLEZMER ALL STARS: Not Too Eggy/ FREDY OMAR CON SU BANDA: La Negra Tomasa/ KID ORY'S CREOLE JAZZ BAND: Royal Garden Blues/ ANDERS OSBORNE: Stoned, Drunk & Naked/ Meet The Boyz On The Battlefront/ THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: St. James Infirmary/ LLOYD PRICE: Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Tipitina/ THE RADIATORS: Confidential/ THE REBIRTH BRASS BAND: Feel Like Funkin' It Up/ THE RED STICK RAMBLERS: Main Street Blues/ ZACHARY RICHARD: Au Bord De Lac Bijou Au Bord De Lac Bijou/ STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS: La Crçve De Faim (starvation 2-step)/ KERMIT RUFFINS: Drop Me Off In New Orleans/ PAUL SANCHEZ: Food Of Canal Street/ THE SAVOY-DOUCET CAJUN BAND: 'tits Yeux Noirs (little Black Eyes)/ MEM SHANNON & THE MEMBERSHIP: S.u.v./ SHIRLEY & LEE: Let The Good Times Roll/ HUEY (PIANO) SMITH & THE CLOWNS: Rocking Pneumonia And The Boggie Woogie Flu/ BENNY SPELLMAN: Lipstick Traces (on A Cigarette)/ IRMA THOMAS: You Can Have My Husband/ ALLEN TOUSSAINT: Southern Nights/ TUBA FATS' CHOSEN FEW BRASS BAND: Mardi Gras In New Orleans/ DON VAPPIE & THE CREOLE JAZZ SERENADERS: Salçe Dames, Bon Jour/ WALTER "WOLFMAN" WASHINGTON: Tailspin/ DR. MICHAEL WHITE: St. Phillip Street Breakdown/ THE WILD MAGNOLIAS: Party

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSSounds Of Soul 1004ALost Deep Soul Treasures, Vol. 4 ● CD $17.98
Another splendid collection of obscure deep soul. Although the opening cut by Sam Dees is a bit on the slick side most of the rest is gospel flavored soul from down in the alley by the likes of Al Gardner, Charles Latimore, Ada Rey (an amazing performance), Blues Brothers #1, Eddie Billups (the homicidal Hard Headed Woman), Barbara & Gwen (the beautiful I Love My Man), Jimmy Ponder, LavOrn Smith, Leonard Lee, King Louie, Ronnie North and others.
BARBARA AND GWEN: I Love My Man/ SLOAN BEY: Tenderness/ EDDIE BILLUPS: Hard Headed Woman/ BLUES BROTHER #1: Letter Of Regret/ SAM DEES: My World/ TOMMY DODSON: You Don't Know/ GEORGE FREEMAN: I'm Like A Fish/ AL GARDNER: Just The Touch/ BOBBY HARRIS: Lonely Intruder/ KING LOUIE: I've Been Down So Long/ CHARLES LATTIMORE: We Try Harder/ LEONARD LEE: Since You've Been Gone/ LORD LUTHER: Two Of A Kind/ IKE LOVELY: You're My Bad Habit/ LEE MITCHELL: I Come A Long Way/ RONNIE NORTH: Try Me/ JIMMY PONDER: Sometimes You Win/ ADA RAY: I No Longer Believe In Miracles/ TOMMY RIDGLEY: Did You Tell Him/ LAVORN SMITH: Without Your Love I'll Be Nothing/ FREDDIE WATSON: It's All Over Now/ BOBBY WILLIAMS: Try Love/ WILSON WILLIAMS: I Have A Whole Lot To Be Thankful For

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSStill 1165Black Wich-A-Way Rhythm ● CD $16.98
25 tracks, 54 mins, recommended
Another fine 25 track collection of rare rocking blues, R&B and black rock 'n' roll from the late 40s through the early 60s - most of it making its first appearance on CD. Includes sides by Robert & Jimmy (the Coasters flavored Up Tight), Charlotte Cole (the superb Ain't That Worth Something Baby), Clifford Curry, Jr., The Twilighters, Floyd "Horsecollar" Williams (two fine instrumentals with hot sax and guitar), Ben Harper & The Penetrators (probably my favorite track here - a fine updating of the traditional blues Which Way Does The Blood Red River Run he calls Which-A-Way), Artie Wilson, Preacher Stephens (two tracks including the powerful Unemployment Blues) and more. Excellent sound. (FS)
CHARLOTTE COLE: Ain't That Worth Something Baby/ THE FOSTER BROTHERS: Let's Jam/ DEWEY GUY & THE FABULOUS SIX: Crazy For You/ Kiss Kiss Kiss/ ERLINE HARRIS: Jump & Shout/ THE JETS: Feel The Same/ Tell Me/ LITTLE SONNY: I Love You Baby Till The Day I Die/ Love Shock/ THE PASSENGERS: Sand In Your Eye/ THE PENETRATORS: Which-A-Way/ BILL PERRY & BEL-AIRES: Hoppin,Boppin' & Rockin'/ ROBERT & JOHNNY: Up Tight/ JIMMY SHAW: Big Chief Hug'um An' Kiss'um/ Take A Chance On Me/ FAY SIMMONS: And The Angels Sing/ PREACHER STEVENS: Mary/ Unemployment Blues/ TIPPIE & THE CLOVERMEN: Gimme Gimme Gimme/ THE TWILIGHTERS: Hootenanny Stomp/ FLOYD "HORSECOLLAR" WILLIAMS: Horsecollar Blues/ Thru Way/ ARTIE WILSON: Marleen/ ROY WRIGHT: No Haps/ THE Y-DELLS: Sneakin' Away

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSTrikont 333Dirty Laundry - The Soul Of Black Country ● CD $21.98
24 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Fabulous collection featuring African-American artists performing country songs. In the 60s and 70s there was a lot of musical interchange between soul singing and country music and most of the songs here feature soul singers performing country hits in soul style and including some classic performances like Ella Washington's version of Harlan Howard's He Called Me Baby which was originally a hit for Patsy Cline in 1964, Bobby Powell does a stunning version of Hank's Your Cheating Heart, Candi Staton's magnificent version of Stand By Your Man, Betty LaVette's driving rendition of Mickey Newbury's country rock song Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) plus performances by Earl Gaines, Etta James, Johnny Adams, Freddie North, Bobby Jonz, The POinter Sisters, James & Bobby Purify (an unexpected version of Sixteen Tons), James Brown (also getting down with Your Cheatin' Heart) and others. There's also the great She's My Rock by African-American country singer Stoney Edwards, the brilliant and topical title song written and performed by Curtis Mayfield and veteran R&B singer Andre Williams does an original country song Jet Black Daddy, Lilly White Mama with White Stripes guitarist Jack White on guitar. Includes 28 page illustrated booklet with extensive notes in German and English including notes on all the singers and songs. (FS)
JOHNNY ADAMS: In A Moment Of Weakness/ ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Love's Where Life Begins/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Mama Mambo/ JAMES BROWN: Your Cheating Heart/ SOLOMON BURKE: I Can't Stop Loving You/ STONEY EDWARDS: She's My Rock/ EARL GAINES: You Are My Sunshine/ WILLIE HOBBS: Till I Get It Right/ ETTA JAMES: Almost Persuaded/ BOBBY JONZ: Snap Your Fingers/ BETTY LAVETTE: What Condition My Condition Is In/ CURTIS MAYFIELD: Dirty Laundry/ FREDDIE NORTH: Don't Take Her She's All I Got/ THE POINTER SISTERS: Fairy Tale/ BOBBY POWELL: Your Cheating Heart/ JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY: Sixteen Tons/ ROSCOE SHELTON: There's A Heartbreak Somewhere/ JOE SIMON: Chokin' Kid/ CANDI STANTON: Stand By Your Man/ BETTYE SWANN: Just Because You Can't Be Mine/ ELLA WASHINGTON: He Called Me Baby/ OTIS WILLIAMS: Shutters & Boards/ ANDRE WILLIAMS & 2 STAR TABERNACLE: Jet Black Daddy Lilly White Mama/ BOBBY WOMACK: Bouquet Of Roses

 
VARIOUS ARTISTSWarner Special 68525Sock It To 'Em Soul ● CD $21.98
Great selection of 30 grooving soul sides recorded between 1963 and 1968 for Atlantic, Atco, Loma, Reprise, Stax and Warner Bros that were favorites in the British soul clubs. Includes Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers, Don Covay, Eddie Floyd, Herbie Mann, The Googie Rene Combo, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, J.J. Jackson, The Astors, Willie Tee and many more. Includes 8 page booklet with notes on all the songs.
THE ASTORS: Candy/ DARRELL BANKS: Open the Door To Your Heart/ THE BAR-KAYS: Knucklehead/ WILLIAM BELL: Never Like This Before/ ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: I Can't Stop Dancing/ BOOKE