NEWSLETTER #139
Rhythm & Blues,
Soul & Doo-Wop
Various Artists
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1071 |
Gaz's Rockin' Blues |
● CD $18.98 |
28 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of up tempo blues and R&B, mostly drawn from the Modern
group of labelsm and compiled by Gaz Mayall - son of John Mayall and owner
of legendary London club "Gaz's Rockin' Blues" which is celebrating its'
25th anniversary this year. This is an expanded version of the 1981 LP of
the same name including eleven tracks new to CD - six of them previously
unissued songs or alternate takes. Includes Etta James, Little Booker (aka
Joe Tex), Richard Berry, Long Tall Marvin, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King,
Elmore James, Little Johnny Jones, Van Robinson, Cookie & the Cupcakes,
Goree Carter (the fine previously unissued Bad Feeling), Joe
"Papoose" Fritz, Freddie Simmons Quintet, Joe Hill Louis (the previously
unissued Nappy Head Woman) and more. Includes 16 page, copiously
illustrated booklet with notes on the history of the club and on all the
songs by Gaz himself. (FS)
RICHARD BERRY: Oh! Oh! Get Out Of The Car/ Yama Yama
Pretty Mama/ GOREE CARTER: Bad Feeling/ COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES: I'm Twisted/
PEE WEE CRAYTON: Texas Hop/ JEANNE DEMETZ (FEAT. JOHNNY ALSTON ORCHESTRA):
Calypso Daddy?/ JOE "PAPOOSE" FRITZ: Wrong Doing Woman/ CHUCK HIGGINS
ORCHESTRA: The Blacksmith Blues/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Gotta Boogie/ Shake Holler
And Run/ ELMORE JAMES: Strange Kinda Feeling/ ETTA JAMES: Good Rockin'
Daddy/ Tough Lover/ LITTLE JOHNNY JONES & THE CHICAGO HOUND DOGS: I May Be
Wrong (Boogie Woogie)/ Sweet Little Woman/ B.B. KING: She's Dynamite/ Whole
Lotta' Love/ LITTLE BOOKER (AKA JOE TEX): Open The Door/ LONG TALL MARVIN:
Have Mercy Miss Percy/ JOE HILL LOUIS: Nappy Head Woman/ WILD BILL MOORE
WITH SCATMAN: Rock And Roll/ ROBBIN RAY: Love My Baby/ VAN ROBINSON: Come On
Let's Dance/ FREDDIE SIMMONS QUINTETTE: Hollywood Bound/ PREACHER STEVENS:
Whoopin' And Hollerin'/ JOE TURNER & PETE JOHNSON: Don't Talk Me To Death/
JIMMY WITHERSPOON: Who's Been Jivin' You/ YOUNG JESSIE & THE CADETS: Mary
Lou
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHK 1079 |
Ace 30th Birthday Celebration - Soul & Funk |
● CD $11.98 |
Budget priced collection of 20 tracks from the Ace catalog
featuring soul and funk recorded in the 60s and 70s.
ANN ALFORD: Got To Get Me A Job/ BOBBY ANGELLE: Too Much
For You/ BETTY BARNEY: Momma, Momma/ REUBEN BELL: It's Not That Easy/ JAMES
CARR: Pouring Water On A Drowning Man/ THE DIPLOMATS: Here's A Heart/ JOHN
EDWARDS: Careful Man/ BRENDA GEORGE: What You See Is What You're Gonna Get/
EDDIE GILES: Soul Feeling (Pt 1)/ DAVE HAMILTON: Brother Ratt/ CLAY HAMMOND:
My Jealous Girl/ Z.Z. HILL: Have Mercy Someone/ THE IKETTES: I'm So
Thankful/ MILLIE JACKSON: Angel In Your Arms/ JOHNNY KING & THE FATBACK
BAND: Peace Love Not War/ TOBI LARK: Happiness Is Here/ MARY LOVE: Hey
Stoney Face/ PHILLIP MITCHELL: I'll See You In Hell First/ THE PERSIANS: I
Can't Take Any More/ BETTYE SWANN: Make Me Yours
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat 4186 |
R&B Jukebox Hits 1942 |
● CD $13.98 |
20 tracks, recommended
A most welcome release featuring some
of the biggest hits that were featured on the very first charts based on
sales to black audiences. Initiated in October, 1942 "The Harlem Hit Parade"
presented the top ten selling and played records from shops and jukeboxes in
the Harlem borough of New York. Not surprisingly the New York audience
reflected an interest in more sophisticated stylings with little room for
the more down home styles that would have been popular elsewhere and
includes white pop along with black big bands and small groups. It wasn't
until several years later that a wider sampling of locations was
represented. Nevertheless this represented a breakthrough and is of more
than passing interest. Among this sampling from 1942 are recordings by Andy
Kirk & His Clouds Of Joy, Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five, Earl Hines & His Orc., Paul Whiteman & His Orch., Barney Bigard & His Orch., Duke Ellington &
His Famous Orch., Tampa Red, The King Cole Trio, The Southern Sons, Erskine
Hawkins & His Orch. and more. Excellent sound and booklet features
informative notes by Bob Fisher. (FS)
BARNEY BIGARD'S ORCHESTRA: "C" Blues/ BEA BOOZE: See See
Rider Blues/ THE KING COLE TRIO: That Ain't Right/ TOMMY DORSEY ORCH. WITH
FRANK SINATRA: There Are Such Things/ DUKE ELLINGTON & HIS FAMOUS ORCH.:
Hayfoot Strawfoot/ LIL GREEB: Let's Be Friends/ ERSKINE HAWKINS & HIS ORCH.:
Bicycle Bounce/ EARL HINES & HIS ORCH.: Stormy Monday Blues/ THE INK SPOTS:
Don't Get Around Much Anymore/ LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANY FIVE: I'm Gonna
Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town/ What's The Use Of Getting Sober/ ANDY
KIRK & HIS CLOUDS OF JOY: Take It And Git/ JIMMY LUNCEFORD & HIS ORCH.: It
Had to Be You/ LUCKY MILLENDER: When The Lights Go On Again (All Over The
World)/ FREDDIE SLACK & HIS ORCH.: Cow Cow Boogie/ Mr. Five By Five/ THE
SOUTHERN SONS: Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition/ TAMPA RED: Let Me
Play With Your Poodle/ FATS WALLER: The Jitterbug Waltz/ PAUL WHITEMAN & HIS
ORCH.: Trav'lin' Light
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Central 1002 |
B.M.T. Special - Rhythm & Blues In New York
City |
● CD $18.98 |
Great collection of R&B and blues recorded in New York
between 1952 and 1956 - most of it making its first appearance on CD.
BIG BERTHA: Little Daddy/ Love Is A Crazy Thing/ RUDY
FERGUSON WITH TEACHO WILSHIRE & BAND: Cool Goofin/ STOMP GORDON: Oooh Yes/
Please Don't Pass Me By/ Tell Me Why/ EMMETT HOBSON & THE RAG MUFFINS: Looka
here, Mattie Bee/ AL JACKSON: Jelly Roll/ Let's Drink Some Whiskey/ BUDDY
LUCAS & HIS ORCH.: Greedy Pig/ CHERRI LYNN: Baby I'm Gone/ MARTHA MOORE: I
Gets A Hard Way To Go/ Yo, Yo, Yo/ JACK "THE BEAR" PARKER: Don't You Stay
Away Too Long/ One More Kiss/ GLADYS "GLAD RAGS" PATRICK: I'm Gonna Stop/
Somebody's Lyin'/ BUDDY PHILLIPS & HIS ORCH.: That I Wanna See/ URSALA REED
WITH JOE MORRIS ORCH.: All Gone/ You Hurt My Pride/ THE SHY-TANS: B.M.T.
Special/ CHARLIE SINGLETON & HIS ORCH.: Alligator Meat/ Elephant Rock/
CARMEN TAYLOR: The Bride Should Have Been Me
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Charly SNAJ 732 |
The Curtom Story - We're A Winner |
● CD $32.98 |
Three CD, 73 track retrospective of classic Chicago soul
made for labels run by the great soul singer, writer and producer Curtis
Mayfield. Includes all the hits and many hard to find tracks.Includes 48 page illustrated booklet
with full label history, artist biographies and track-by-track notes.
THE AMAZERS: With A Warning/ JESSE ANDERSON: I Got A
Problem/ BABY HUEY: Mighty Mighty Children/ NOLAN CHANCE: I'll Never Forget
You/ GENE CHANDLER: Just Be True/ DEWI CHEETUM & HOWE: Impossible Decision/
LINDA CLIFFORD: (It's Gonna Be) A Long, Long Winter/ Runaway Love/ JUNE
CONQUEST: Take Care/ What's This I See/ MOSES DILLARD & TEX-TOWN DISPLAY:
I've Got To Fine A Way (To Hide My Hurt) (Part 1)/ THE FASCINATIONS: Girls
Are Out To Get You/ I'm So Lucky (He Loves Me)/ You'll Be Sorry/ THE FIVE
STAIRSTEPS: Behind Curtains/ Come Back/ Don't Change Your Love/ Don't Waste
Your Time/ I'm the One Who Loves You/ Stay Close To Me/ BOBBY FRANKLIN'S
INSANITY: Bring It On Down To Me (Part 1)/ GROUND HOG: Bumpin'/ DONNY
HATHAWAY & JUNE CONQUEST: I Thank You/ LEROY HUTSON: Cool Out/ I Do, I Do
(Want To Make Love To You)/ It's Different/ Lucky Fellow/ So In Love With
You/ Sofunkistication/ THE IMPRESSIONS: (Baby) Turn On To Me/ Ain't Got TIme/
Check Out Your Mind/ Choice Of Colorrs/ Fool For You/ Seven Years/ Sooner Or
Later/ This Is My Country/ THE JONES GIRLS: If You Don't Start Nothing/ Will
You Be There/ MAJOR LANCE: Must Be Love Coming Down/ Stay Away From Me (I
Love You Too Much)/ LOVE'S CHILDREN: Soul Is Love/ HOLLY MAXWELL: Suffer/
CURTIS MAYFIELD: Move On Up/ Superfly/ THE MAYFIELD SINGERS: I've Been
Trying/ CASH MCCALL: You Mean Everything To Me/ MYSTIQUE: Fill You Up (With
Love)/ THE NATRUAL FOUR: Give This Love A Try/ THE NATURAL FOUR: Baby, Come
On/ Can This Be Real/ Eddie, You Should Know Better/ Heaven Right Here On
Earth/ You Bring Out The Best In Me/ THE NOTATIONS: I'm Losing/ It's Alright
(This Feeling)/ Superpeople/ Think Before You Stop/ CHUCK RAY: I'll Be
There/ Reconsider/ THE STAPLE SINGERS: Let's Do It Again/ New Orleans/ MAVIS
STAPLES: A Piece Of The Action/ RASPUTIN STASH: The Devil Made Me Do It/
You're So Special/ THE STRIDELLS: Mix It Up/ THE SYMPHONICS: Guilty/ JAMO
THOMAS & HIS PARTY ORCHESTRA: I Spy (For The FBI)/ ED TOWNSEND: How Could
You Do It?/ THE TRIPLETT TWINS: Get It/ FREDDIE WATERS: I Love You, I Love
You, I Love You/ FRED WESLEY: House PARty/ THE WINSTONS: Need A Replacement
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Chess (UK) 9830153 |
Chess Northern Soul |
● CD $14.98 |
Fine selection of 20 cuts of soul sides popular in the
British Northern Soul clubs recorded for Chess, Checker and Cadet between
1965 and 1972. Includes quite a few tracks not readily elsewhere.
Has 16 page booklet with notes, photos & label shots.
FONTELLA BASS: Leave It In The Hands Of Love/ TERRY
CALLIER: Look At Me Now/ Ordinary Joe/ TONY CLARKE: Landslide/ The Fugitive
Kind/ THE DELLS: Make Sure/ Run For Cover/ Wear It On Our Face/ MAMIE
GALORE: It Ain't Necessary/ THE GEMS: I Can't Help Myself/ THE GOSPEL
CLASSICS: More Love That's What We Need/ DENISE LASALLE: A Love Reputation/
RAMSEY LEWIS: Wade In The Water/ LITTLE MILTON: More And More/ You Colored
My Blues Bright/ BOBBY MCCLURE: Peak Of Love/ THE RADIANTS: Hold On/ MARLENA
SHAW: Let's Wade In The Water/ TOMMY & CLEVE: Boo Ga Loo Baby/ THE
VALENTINOS: Sweeter Than The Day Before
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Chess 9830154 |
Chess Tearjerkers |
● CD $14.98 |
20 great heartbreaking soul ballads recorded for Chess and
its subsidiaries in the mid/ late 60s. In
digipack with 16 page booklet with photos, label shots and notes on all the
songs.
KIP ANDERSON: Without A Woman/ FONTELLA BASS: Since I Fell
For You/ You'll Never Know/ GENE CHANDLER: After The Laughter/ I Fooled You
This Time/ MITTY COLLIER: Drown In My Own Tears/ I Had A Talk With My Man/
FRED HUGHES: I Can't Make It Without You/ ETTA JAMES: I'd Rather Go Blind/
Losers Weepers/ Only Time Will Tell/ THE KNIGHT BROTHERS: Temptation 'bout
To Get Me/ LAURA LEE: It's Mighty Hard/ Need To Belong/ She Will Break Your
Heart/ MAURICE & MAC: You Left The Water Running/ MARLENA SHAW: Nothing But
Tears/ IRMA THOMAS: Somewhere Crying/ Yours Until Tomorrow/ BILLY YOUNG:
Have Pity On Me
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crime Dog 104 |
Bring Back Yesterday, Vol. 4 |
● CD $17.98 |
Fine collection of 27 doo-wop rarities - most making their
first appearance on CD. Unfortunately, almost half the tracks show evidence
of excessive digital noise reduction - still some very hard to find material
here. Includes Clarence Palmer & The Jive Bombers, Hannah Lee & Group, Avis
& Chuck Thompson & Group, Freddy Carpenter & The Rookies, Fred Bridges &
Group, The Heartbreakers, The Rolling Crew (the fine blues Crying Emma),
The Chapters, Johnny Flamingo & Group, The Ravons, Bette Mclaurin and
others.
3B'S & HONEY: Grieving For You/ AVIS & CHUCK: Why So/ FRED
BRIDGES & GROUP: It Must Be Love/ JERRY BUTLER & GROUP: Come Back My Love/
FREDDY CARPENTER & THE ROOKIES: Take Me Back Lover/ MARTHA CARTER & GROUP:
I'm Through Crying/ THE CHAPTERS: Goodbye My Love/ THE DYNAMICS: Always I
Have Loved You/ If I Give My Heart To You/ JOHNNY FLAMINGO & GROUP: All
Aboard/ SONNY GEORGE & GROUP: Lip Lockin'/ THE HEARTBREAKERS: Goodbye Baby/
We'reGonna Have Some Fun/ HANNAH LEE & GROUP: He Means So Much To Me/
OPHELIA MCCALL & GROUP: One Heart, One Love/ BETTE MCLAURIN: The Masquerade
Is Over/ THE MELLOW KINGS: The Kiss/ CLARENCE PALMER & THE JIVE BOMBERS:
Sixty Minute Man/ THE RAVONS: Everybody's Laughing At Me/ ROLLING CREW:
Crying Emma/ NELLIE RUTHERFORD & GROUP: Lavender Lace/ THE STARLETS: Where
Is My Love Tonight/ THE SWANS QUARTET: I'm Dressed Up To Cry/ ZOLA TAYLOR &
QUEENS: Oh My Dear/ VERNITA & THE FIVE JETS: I'm Not Leaving You Alone/ THE
VIBRANAIRES: Ooh I Feel So Good/ THE ZIPPERS: Pretend You're Still Mine
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crime Dog 105 |
Bring Back Yesterday, Vol. 5 |
● CD $17.98 |
A particularly nice selection of obscure doo-wop plus some
R&B including many tracks making their first appearance on CD. Includes
sides by Ed Harris & The Blue Dots, The Raybor Voices, Johnny
Otis (a very
nice version of Lawdy Miss Clawdy - where from?), The Veneers (fine
female group with steel guitar), The Dukays (the great Festival Of Love
with lead by Gene Chandler), The Flyers, Ozzie Osborne & Group (no not that
one!), The Shadows (a black version of Bop A Lena best known by white
rocker Ronnie Self - is this the original?), Bird Rollins & Group, Earl King
& The Unique (not the New Orleans blues singer), Yvonne Vernee & Group,
Julie Stevens & The Premieres, The Bombers, Big Mama Thornton & The
Hi-Tones, The Five Diamonds and more. Sound is generally fine though several
tracks feature excessive digital noise reduction.
DONEL AUSTIN & THE SENSATIONAL DELLOS: That's Why I'm
Dreaming/ CHARLES BAKER & GROUP: Love Will Make You Change Your Mind/ THE
BOMBERS: Two Time Heart/ THE CARRIBEANS: I Knew/ THE CORVETTES: When You're
In Love/ THE DUKAYS: Festival of Love/ THE FIVE DIAMONDS: I Cried and Cried/
THE FLYERS: I Told Them/ ED HARRIS & THE BLUE DOTS: All You've Gotta Do/
JOHNNY & THE THUNDERBIRDS: They Say/ EARL KING & THE UNIQUES: Mysterious/
Right Now/ ED KIRBY & GROUP: Will We Ever Meet Again/ SONNY MOORE & GROUP: A
Prisoner To You/ LITTLE RICHARD MORELAND & THE PYRAMIDS: Bells In My Heart/
OZZIE OSBORNE & GROUP: Lonely Is the Night/ JOHNNY OTIS & HIS BAND: Laudy
Miss Claudy/ PHIL & HARV & GROUP: Darling/ THE RAYBOR VOICES: I Need You/
BIRD ROLLINS & GROUP: You Are My Angel/ THE SHADOWS: Bob A Lena/ JULIE
STEVENS & THE PREMIERS: I Don't Want To Know/ LAWRENCE STONE & GROUP: Until
the Real Thing Comes Along/ LEROY TAYLOR & GROUP: If I/ BIG MAMA THORTON &
THE HI-TONES: Don't Talk Back/ THE VENEERS: Believe Me/ YVONNE VERNEE &
GROUP: Your Touch/ JOHNNY ZORRO & GROUP: Somebody Cares
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1054 |
25 Years of Discovery Vol.1 |
● CD $17.98 |
Fine collection of 25 doo-wop sides recorded between 1957
and 1963 and not originally issued. 21 of the tracks were issued on various
compilations in the last 10 years and four are new to CD.
BILLY & THE ESSENTIALS: Resolutions/ THE CONCORDS:
Tonight/ THE CRESCENTS: I Need Your Lovin (unreleased)/ THE DEBONAIRS: Nita/
DONNIE & THE CHAPELLS: Jeanie/ THE EMOTIONS: When You Dance/ THE ENVOYS:
Declaration of Love/ TONY EVANS & GROUP: I'm Looking Over/ THE FABULOUS
FOUR: Story Untold/ THE FASCINATORS: Teenage Wedding/ THE FOUR CHEERS:
Holly/ THE FOUR EPICS: The Sad One/ FRANKIE & THE DARVELS: Mr Fortune
Teller/ THE GAYTUNES: Heaven Sent You/ JORDAN & THE FASCINATIONS: Baby I
Need You/ THE MARVELS: Gwendolyn (unreleased)/ MARY & THE TIDES: No One Else
(unreleased)/ THE NIGHTMARES: Bananas/ THE ORIENTALS: Wouldn't You Cha Cha
With Me?/ THE PHAROAHS (AKA FANTASTICS): Bye Bye Baby/ THE ROULETTES: Tell
Me Baby/ THE SOVEREGNS: One Little Kiss/ THE STATENS: Where Was I/ THE
VANCETONES: I Don't Stand A Chance (unreleased)/ THE VISUALS: Look at the
Moon
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1055 |
25 Years Of Discovery, Vol. 2 |
● CD $17.98 |
Like the first volume all 25 tracks here were recorded
between 1957 and 1963 and not originally issued on singles - 21 of them
showed up on various CDs in recent years and the remaining four are new to
CD.
THE CENTURYS: Time Was/ NICKY COMO & THE DEL-SATINS: Crazy
Questions/ THE CORDIALS: Captive of Love/ THE CRESCENTS: Why Am I Crying?/
THE DEVOTIONS AKA (MARTY & THE SYMBOLS): Looking For My Baby/ THE DIPLOMATS:
One Summer Night/ DONNIE & THE DREAMERS: Heaven Only Knows/ THE ELEGANTS:
Twinkle Little Star (orig acapella Demo)/ THE ESSENTIALS: Teenage
Sweetheart/ THE EXCELLENTS: The Biggest Mistake/ THE FOUR EPICS: Summertime
Angel/ THE FOUR GRADUATES (AKA EARLY HAPPENINGS): Caught In A Lie/ THE
INTERLUDES: Cameo/ THE JIVE CHORDS: This Is My Love/ AL KASHA & GROUP: If I
Were a Magician/ THE LANES: I Wonder/ THE MARVELS: Nightmare (unreleased)/
MARY & THE TIDES: We Danced (We Made Romance) (unreleased)/ THE SAFARIS:
Dream Girl/ THE SEDATES: Don't Laugh At My Dreams/ THE SERENADERS: Only
Mine/ THE VANCETONES: Rain Rain Go Away (unreleased)/ THE VERDICTS: Never
Never Say Goodbye (unreleased)/ THE VISUALS: Darling We're In Love/ THE
VOLAIRS (AKA EARLY VOGUES): Jolyn
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1057 |
Rarest Of The Rare, Vol. 10 |
● CD $17.98 |
27 vocal group rarities from the late 50s and early 60s by
mostly white groups including many appearing on CD for the first time
including one previously unreleased.
AKI ALEONG & GROUP: How Do I Stand With You/ ANDY & THE
MARGLOWS: Symphony/ BIG DOG: Doris/ STORMY BROOKS & THE ESCAPADES: Doris/
THE CLUSTERS: Pardon My Heart/ THE DEL RIOS: Alone On a Rainy Nite/ THE DEW
DROPS: No Other Guy/ THE DRAKES: Ooh Wee So Good/ THE DYNAMICS: A Hundred
Million Lies/ FLORENCE & THE NIGHTINGALES: In Your Loving Care/ BO FREEMAN &
GROUP: The Girl For Me/ HARRISON FREESE: Earth Angel/ PAUL GRADY & GROUP:
Darlin I Understand/ JOEY & RODGE WITH THE CRYSTELES: The One I Love/ SHERRY
LEE & GROUP: Unwritten Law/ LARRY LEE & THE LEESURES: Desire/ RAY MURRAY &
GROUP: Warm/ THE NORVELLS: Greasy Kid Stuff/ DAVE ROSE AND THE CONTINENTALS:
Take This Heart/ JOHNNY ROSS & GROUP: My Dreams Have Gone/ THE ROYAL TEENS:
Day Dream (unreleased)/ THE SEDATES: Bei Nir Bist Duschon/ Girl of Mine/ THE
TABS: Oops/ GINGER TIME: You Told Me A Lie/ MORRY WILLIAMS & KIDS: Time Runs
Out/ THE YOUNG LIONS: How Wrong You Are
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 026 |
Magic Doo-Wops - Hocus Pocus, Vol #1 |
● CD $17.98 |
22 doo-wops on the subject of magic, voodoo, etc.
THE CAVALIERS: The Magic Age of Sixteen/ THE CELLOS: Under
Your Spell/ THE CHARMS: Could This Be Magic/ TONY DELL: Magic Wand/ THE
DUBS: If I Only Had Magic/ THE ENCHANTERS: Spellbound By the Moon/ THE
G-CLEFS: Mr Magic Moon/ DARLA HOOD: Witch's Brew/ THE IDEALS: Magic/ THE
IVIES: Voodoo/ THE KINGS FIVE: Voodoo Man/ KENNY LORAN: Magic Star/ THE MAR-VELS:
Voodoo Hurt/ THE MOHAWKS: Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered/ THE MOROCCOS: The
Hex/ THE NEONS: Magic Moment/ NICK & NACKS: That Old Black Magic/ THE RAYS:
Magic Moon/ THE ROBINS: Magic of a Dream/ THE THEMES: The Magic of You/ THE
WHIRLERS: Magic Mirror
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 027 |
Magic Doo-Wops - Hocus Pocus, Vol #2 |
● CD $17.98 |
The magic continues with 23 more songs.
THE BALLADS: This Is Magic/ THE CAVALIERS: The Magic Age
of Sixteen/ THE COMIC BOOKS: Black Magic and Witchcraft/ THE DAPPERS:
Spellbound/ THE DAYLIGHTERS: Magic Touch/ THE DEL VIKINGS: The Voodoo Man/
THE FLEETWOODS: Magic Star/ THE FOUR EVERS: If I Were A Magician/ THE
GLEAMS: Mr Magic Moon/ THE HI-TENSIONS: A Magic Island/ THE INTERIORS:
Voodoo Doll/ THE KEYSTONERS: Magic Kiss/ BETTY LAVETTE: Witchcraft In the
Air/ NICKI NORTH & THE CITATIONS: Magic Eyes/ THE PREMIERS: Magic of Love/
THE ROBINS: That Old Black Magic/ THE SHADES: Voodoo Woman/ THE SILHOUETTES:
Voodoo Eyes/ THE SPIDERS: Witchcraft/ MARK STEVENS & THE CHARMERS: Magic
Rose/ THE VELVETS: Baby the Magic Is Gone/ THE VIBRAHARPS: It Must Be Magic/
OTIS WILLIAMS & THE CHARMS: Gypsy Rose
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 028 |
Believe In These Doo-Wop Wishes |
● CD $17.98 |
Do wishes come true? Very rarely - but that doesn't stop us
and here are 30 doo wop songs on the subject.
THE CADILLACS: Wishing Well/ TONY CAPRI: Counting Wishes/
THE CASUAL CRESCENDOS: Wish That You Were Here/ THE CHAUNTEURS: Wishing
Well/ THE CLIPS: Wish I DIdn't Love You So/ THE CLOVERS: Wishing For Your
Love/ THE CRENSHAWS: Wishing Star/ THE CRESCENTS: When You Wish Upon A Star/
JERRY DORN: Wishing Well/ THE DRAKES: I Made A Wish/ THE DRAPERS: The Love I
Wish I Had/ THE EPICS: Wishing You Were Mine/ ERIC & THE PLAZAS: I Wish/ THE
FOUR EPICS: How I Wish I Was Single Again/ THE FOUR FELLOWS: I Wish I Didn't
Love You So/ THE GALLAHADS: Best Wishes/ BILLY GALLANT: Thinking Hoping and
Wishing/ THE GENOS: Wishful Dreaming/ THE GOLDENRODS: Wish I Was Back In
School/ CORNELL GUNTHER & THE CORNELLS: Wishful Thinking/ THE KEYNOTES:
Really Wish You Were Here/ RICHARD LANHAM: Wishing All the Time/ LITTLE
CHICO & THE CORONDOLAYS: My Wishes/ THE MELODEERS: Wishing Is For Fools/ THE
METRICS: Wishes/ MIKE & THE UTOPIANS: I Wish/ RONI POWERS: I Wish/ RICKY
RICARDO: I Wish For Someone/ THE STANDARDS: When You Wish Upon A Star/ THE
STRING REYS: When You Wish Upon A Star
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 0029 |
Doo-Wop Destinations, Vol. 1 |
● CD $17.98 |
The Doo-Wop label continues its series of thematic
compilations with the first of two volumes featuring place names. About
half the tracks have previously been on CD.
EUGENE BALL & THE HEARTS: California Baby/ THE COASTERS:
Down In Mexico/ THE CRENSHAWS: Moonlight In Vermont/ THE DOWNBEATS: China
Doll/ THE FIVE CHANCES: Nagasaki/ THE FIVE SATINS: When the Swallows Come
Back to Capistrano/ THE FOUR SEASONS: Bermuda/ THE GLAD RAGS: My China Doll/
PROFESSOR HAMILTON & THE SCHOOLBOYS: Juanita of Mexico/ BILLY HUHN & THE
CATALINAS: Baltimore/ THE IMPACTS: Canadian Sunset/ THE MILLIONAIRES: Kansas
Kapers/ THE MONTEREYS: Take Me Back to Baltimore, Part 1/ Take Me Back to
Baltimore, Part 2/ THE PELICANS: Down In Mexico/ BERLIN PERRY & THE GLEAMS:
Tennessee Waltz/ THE QUINS: Hong Kong/ THE ROBINS: I Love Paris/ THE ROCKY
MILLIONAIRES: Frisco Sands/ THE ROYAL HOLIDAYS: Down In Mexico/ THE SHAMANS:
Southern California
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 030 |
Doo-Wop Destinations, Vol. 2 |
● CD $17.98 |
This volume takes us to Tucson with The Neon,
Arabia with the Delcos, Detroit, Michigan with Ronnie Love,
Old Cape Cod with The Five Classics, Baltimore with The Drifters
and other trips with The Nutmegs, Belmonts Excellents and more. About
one-third of tracks have previously been on CD.
THE ADMIRATIONS: Bells of Rosa Rita/ ARTIE BANKS &
TELLERS: Oriental Baby/ THE BELMONTS: Santa Margherita/ THE COASTERS:
Brazil/ THE COLUMBUS PHARAOHS: China Girl/ THE DE VAURS: Boy In Mexico/ THE
DELCOS: Arabia/ THE DIAL TONES: Chicago Blues/ DONNIE & THE DEL CHORDS:
Transylvania Mist/ THE DRIFTERS: Baltimore/ THE EXCELLENTS: Coney Island
Baby/ THE FIVE CLASSICS: Old Cape Cod/ THE HI FIVES: Hong Kong/ GUY JOEY:
Philly Stomp/ HORACE LITTLE: Texas Stomp/ RONNIE LOVE: Detroit Michigan/ THE
MARATHONS: Down In New Orleans/ THE MELODY MAKERS: Carolina Moon/ THE NEONS:
Tucson/ THE NUTMEGS: Down In Mexico/ JIMMY RICKS & SUBURBANS: Big Man of
Missouri/ THE ROCKETONES: Mexico/ THE SILVERTONES: Canadian Sunset/ HENRY
STROGIN & THE CROWNS: I Love LA/ THE TIFANOS: Louisiana
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop 031 |
Doo-Wop Vault Of Memories |
● CD $17.98 |
The Doo-Wop label's latest thematic compilation is on the
subject of memories including Vault Of memories by The Persians,
Memories by the Decoys, Make A Memory by The Neptunes, Happy
Memories by The Cleftones plus sides by The Four Bars, Flamingos, Lenny
Dean & the Rockin' Chairs, Donnie & the Dreamers, The Fidelities and many
more.
THE BREAKERS: Balboa Memories/ CARL BURNETT & THE
HUSTLERS: Sweet Memories/ NANCY CAROLE: Memories We Share/ THE CHANTELS:
Memories/ THE CLEFTONES: Happy Memories/ LENNY DEAN & THE ROCKIN CHAIRS:
Memories of Love/ THE DECOYS: Memories/ TOMMY DEE & THE COVINAS: Thanks for
the Memories/ DONNIE & THE DREAMERS: My Memories of You/ FARREL & THE
FLAMES: Dreams and Memories/ THE FIDELITIES: Memories of You/ THE FIVE
CROWNS: Memories of Yesterday/ THE FLAMINGOS: My Memories of You/ THE FOUR
BARS: Memories of You/ THE HALLIQUINS: Haunting Memories/ THE HARPTONES: My
Memories of You/ THE HIPPIES: Memory Land/ THE KING KROONERS: Memories/ THE
LEISURE LADS: A Teenage Memory/ THE MISTICS: Memories/ THE NEPTUNES: Make a
Memory/ THE ONTARIOS: Memories of You/ THE PARAGONS: Just a Memory/ THE
PASSIONS: Too Many Memories/ THE PERSIANS: Vault of Memories/ YOLANDA & THE
NATURALS: My Memories of You
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Dynamite DGS 139 |
Dynamite Group Sounds, Vol. 39 |
● CD $17.98 |
The latest in this fine series features 26 vocal group
rarities from the 50s and early 60s - most have been on CD before but the
standard here is very high.
THE BLENDAIRS: My Roseann/ THE BLUE CHIPS: Come Back/ THE
CELEBRITIES: Goodnight/ THE CONCEPTS: Over the Rainbow/ THE DUVALS: You Came
To Me/ THE FABULOUS FLAMES: Josephine/ THE FIVE NOTES: Park Your Love/ THE
FOUR BUDDIES: Delores/ Lonely Summer/ THE GALAHADS: Why Do Fools Fall In
Love/ THE GRAND PRIXS: Late Summer Love/ THE HAWKS: These Blues/ THE
INTERLUDES: I Shed A Million Tears/ THE LIONS: No One/ THE LOVERS: Party
Line/ GLEN MADISON & THE DELCOS: When You Dance/ THE METRONOMES: Dear Don/
THE NOBELLS: Crying Over You/ THE REBELS: No More Tears/ THE ROMANCERS: It
Only Happens With You/ THE ROYAL ROBINS: How High the Moon/ THE SHEIKS:
Please Don't Take Away the Girl I Love/ THE SWINGING HEARTS: You Speak of
Love/ THE UNIQUES: Picture of My Baby/ MEL WILLIAMS & THE MONTCLAIRS: Stay
With Me/ BENN ZEPPA & THE ZEPHYRS: A Foolish Fool
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Fishy 1001 |
Rarest Of The Rare - Soul Harmony, Vol. 1 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 tracks, 75 min., recommended
Can't dispute the claims of
rarity here. Half don't show up in price guides and the ones that do would
cost over $5000 if you could find nice copies of the 45s, which you can't.
In that sense, this is an incredible deal. In another sense, too many of
these songs are slow, syrupy ballads that have earned their obscurity. A few
cuts are as good as they are rare, but too few. Heavy on male soul harmony
groups, light on memorable songs. The Delvados buck the trend and go
mid-tempo for a fine performance on I Gave My Heart To You, Likewise,
Product Of Time's That's A Good Reason is a nice slice of wax, and
the first (track #20) with female lead vocals. Two of the other gems here
are also from the distaff side: Woman's I Want To Get You Back and
The Pearls' Can I Call You Baby. Other rarities include Genie Man
and Did You Catch Our Name by The New Creations, And Now by
The Jades, Love Made It All by The Executive Branch, Fell For You
by The Intellects, the mega-rare Please Don't Take Your Love by The
Executive Four, and plenty more. (JC)
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Funky Delicacies 0014 |
Funky Funky Houston |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 51 min., highly recommended
Specifically, the
funkiness here all comes from the tiny Houston label, Ovide Records, owned
and operated by KCOH-AM disc jockey Skipper Lee Frazier. In his spare time,
Frazier managed Archie Bell, whose single Tighten Up went #1
nationally on Atlantic Records, but it was issued on Ovide first. This album
collects rare material from the Ovide vaults cut between 1967-72, including
three previously unissued tracks. And while a little uneven, the
performances are generally quite strong, especially Crackerjack by
Americans of '72, Please Heart Don't Break by the TSU Toronados (who
acted as house band for Frazier), and Get Your Point Over by
Sebastian Williams. A worthy addition to the funk library. (JC)
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Funky Delicacies 066 |
Funky Funky New Orleans 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 62 min., highly recommended
Because this funk
dates to 1969-1973, the first track, Brotherhood's reading of Tom T. Hall's
The Monkey That Became President, Part 1, couldn't possibly be a
comment on George Dubya, which is just as well. Besides, Brotherhood's
Sooky Feeling is bigger and better. Of course if you were to judge a CD
by its cover, then this one's photo of a singing and dancing bikini-clad,
obese black woman with a platinum blonde wig might give you pause. (The
image would seem to be a nod to The Fantoms' Turn Me On ("Big fat
woman/Turn me on"), which is nearly as good as their instrumental Jungle
Weed.) The Brothers Two kick in C'mon And Make Me, which is the
best cut, at least until Lonnie Jones' You Got To Do Better, comes
along and claims that prize. It's the only thing here that feels as if it
must have been a hit somewhere. But it wasn't. Jerry Byrne's I'm From The
South wins the down-home reference award for the line "I like salt meat
in my beans." Trick Bag's cover of Ode To Billy Joe is the only
previously unreleased song, but the others are not exactly easy to turn up.
Send more Lonnie Jones. (JC)
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Funky Delicacies 0072 |
Funky Funky New Orleans 5 |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 60 min., essential
The previously unreleased
stuff here (six tracks) is only slightly more difficult to find that the
rare stuff, which was originally issued on such obscure labels as Power Funksion, Steven-B, U-Solo, and Fordom, among others. But from the first cut
(Sam & The Soul Machine's Gun) to the last (Dome City Orchestra's
Blues For Stevie), both seeing the light of day for the first time, this
album is seriously funky. Song for song it's the best in the series so far,
and that goes for the sound quality too. A winner. Cool photos, but no
booklet notes whatsoever. (JC)
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GC 306 |
Group Classics, Volume 6 |
● CD $17.98 |
25 ultra rare doo wop sides including unreleased tracks and
sides by unknown artists. Sound quality is fine but production is sloppy - a
couple of the groups' names are spelled incorrectly and the sequence is
mixed up and the real twelfth track is unidentified. It's a nice up tempo
song that appears to be called Count On Me - by who? Also includes
sides by June & The Januarys, The Debonaires, Squires, Intruders, Uniques,
Swallows, Acedemics, Counts and others.
THE ACEDEMICS: I Often Wonder/ THE CARDINALS: For Awhile/
THE CASHMIRES: Train of Love (unreleased)/ THE COUNTS: Wailin Little Mama/
THE DE BONAIRES: Lanky Linda/ THE DEBONAIRES: I'm Gone/ THE DREAMLOVERS:
Lucielle/ THE EL VIREOS: First Kiss/ THE FOUR ARCS: It Won't Be Very Long/
THE INTRUDERS: Calling/ JUNE & THE JANUARYS: Hello/ THE LIMELIGHTERS: Sister
Sooky Comes Homes/ THE LYRES: Ship of Love/ THE MAJESTICS: Nitey Nite/ THE
NOELAIRES: My Only Girl/ What Would You Do/ THE SAFFIRES: River of Tears/
THE SQUIRES: A Dream Come True/ THE SWALLOWS: Good Time Girls/ THE
TUNEMASTERS: Be the One/ THE UNIQUES: How Was I To Know/ UNKNOWN GROUP (2):
Count On Me/ UNKNOWN GROUP (3): Love Is A Game/ UNKNOWN GROUP (4): Three
Little Pigs/ UNKNOWN GROUP (1): You Know You Were Wrong
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Henry Stone Music 25015 |
Miami Funk, Vol. 2 |
● CD $11.98 |
13 tracks, 34 min., highly recommended
As they have many of
the soul and funk projects on Stone's various 1960s and 1970s labels,
musicians and producers Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke have left their
fingerprints all over this collection. That's them on the predictably titled
Funky In The Hole performing as The Blowflys. That's them recording
as The Funk Bunch on Miami Funk. They wrote Screwdriver for
Johnny K, and Mr. Hot Stuff for the studio-only aggregation know as
The Hot Stuffs. And they take production credits on Notorious by
Miami, a group that included Warren "Roach" Thompson on guitar. And that's
all good because Messrs. Reid and Clarke knew exactly what they were doing
and did it real damn well. So this is an excellent collection of Miami-based
funk. Count Mona Lisa's raw and enervating They Don't Know as an
unexpected pleasure. CD also includes cuts by Freddie Scott, Funky Nassau,
Little Beaver, and more. All second volumes should be this good. But 34
minutes? (JC)
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Kent CDKEND 249 |
GWP-NY - TCB |
● CD $18.98 |
24 rare and unissued soul sides recorded for George W.
Purcell's GWP label in the late 60s/early 70s - all making their first
appearance on CD.
LARRY BANKS: Ooh It Hurts Me/ BETTY BARNEY: You Want My
Lovin/ JOAN BATES (AKA KAIBI): We Can Do It/ MILTON BENNETT: I'm Ready/
What's One More Lie/ ALICE CLARK: Heaven's Will (must Be Obeyed)/ THE
DEVONNES: (you'd Better) Straighten Up And Fly Right/ LILLY FIELDS: Keep
Your Love Warm/ BENNY GORDON: I've Been Down So Long/ BENNY GORSON: You
Can't Stand Alone/ THE HESITATIONS: Gotta Find A Way/ Is This The Way To
Treat A Girl (you Bet It Is)/ LITTLE ROSE LITTLE: He's What I Need/ THE
MODETTES: Honey Man/ FRANKIE NEWSOME: My Lucky Day (part 1)/ BOBBY PENN: No
Defense/ THE PERSIANS: I Can't Take It Any More/ I Don't Know How (to Fall
Out Of Love With You)/ THE SHALADONS: Without Your Love/ DEBBIE TAYLOR:
Don't Let It End/ Don't Nobody Mess With My Baby/ Let's Prove Them Wrong/
All That I Have
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Kent CDKEND 251 |
For Connoisseurs Only, Volume 2 |
● CD $18.98 |
25 tracks, 66 min., recommended
Raiding the Modern/Kent
vaults once again, Kent's second volume of obscure soul singles includes a
few previously unreleased tracks. And while nothing here is must-have
material, almost all of it is at least worthwhile. The closest things to
essential listening are Jackie Day's What Kind Of Man Are You, The
Mylestones' Sexy Lady, Jimmy Bee's Wanting You, Willie Hutch's
I Can't Get Enough, The Styles' I Know You Know That I Know,
Brenda George's I Can't Stand It (I Can't Take It No More), Betty
Bibbs Enough For Everybody, and Wayne Boykin's Gray Skies. And that
ain't bad. Felice Taylor's photogenic face graces the booklet cover, and her
kittenish, little-girl vocal on Captured By Your Love will either
endear or annoy, depending. Also on the "of questionable enjoyment" list,
The Sweethearts' No More Tears, a derivative, Motownesque romp about
which Berry Gordy's legal staff might have had something to say. Uneven, as
one would expect, but smooth enough to satisfy. The booklet notes help. (JC)
ARTHUR K. ADAMS: I Need You/ JOHNNY ADAMS: No In Between/
BETTY BIBBS: Enough For Everybody/ WAYNE BOYKIN: Gray?/ BRILLIANT KORNERS:
Change In Me/ JACKIE DAY: What Kind Of Man Are You/ SHERWOOD FLEMING: Peace,
Love & Understanding/ BRENDA GEORGE: I Can't Stand It (I Can't Take It No
More)/ BILLY HARNER: Irresistible You/ JOE HAYWOOD: Let Me Whisper/ WILLIE
HUTCH: I Can't Get Enough/ TRINI LOPEZ: Sinner Not A Saint/ MARY LOVE: Dance
Children Dance/ THE MYLESTONES: Sexy Lady/ LEON PETERSON: My Bag/ JIMMY
ROBINS: That Someone Don't Know It/ THE STYLES: I Know That You Know That I
Know/ THE SWEETHEARTS: No More Tears/ FELICE TAYLOR: Captured By Your Love/
TERRY & THE TYRANTS: Say It Baby/ THE UNIVERSALS: Without Friends/ UNKOWN
ACCAPELLA MALE GROUP: I Need Your Lovin' So Bad/ BILLY WATKINS: Love Line/
JOHNNY WILLIAMS: Don't Cha' Ever Forget It/ EARL WRIGHT: Them Love Blues
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Kent CDKEND 253 |
Heavy Soul - Old Town Down & Dirty |
● CD $18.98 |
Though best known for it's blues, R&B, doo-wop and pop
releases, the Old Town label and it's Barry subsidiary issued some fine deep
soul in the 60s and this collection features 24 of those tracks - most
making their first appearance on CD. Includes sides by Thelma Jones, The
Flambeaus, Jesse Gee, Lester Young, Dickie Williams, Tommy Andre, Irene
Reid, Peggy Scott, Frank Howard & The Commanders and others.
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Magic Rabbit 3015 |
The Kiddie Sound - "So Young", Vol. 15 |
● CD $17.98 |
This excellent series continues with another three volumes
featuring teen (and occasionally pre-teen) doo-wop. As always this volume
starts off with a version of Why Do Fools Fall In Love - this time a
previously unreleased version by The Decoys. 30 tracks in all - 18 of them
new to CD and five are unreleased. Includes tracks by Little Anthony & The
Imperials, Miguel Poventud (a Spanish version of I Promise To Remember),
Little Tony & The Hawks, Little Richie & The Ricons, The Del Rays, The Tren-Teens
(fine lead vocalist who sounds like Arlene Smith), The Montagues,
Interpreters, Kenny Husky, The Berets, Jimmy Pemberton, Krista Morton And
The Crosstone (who looks to be about eight years old from the photo here),
Donnie & The Chapells, etc.
LITTLE WAYNE ANTHONY: Freedom to Love/ THE BERETS: The
Bells/ BOBBY & THE COUNTS: Tra La La (I’m So Happy)/ LITTLE BUDDY: Lets Make
Love/ THE COMBINATIONS: About You/ THE DECOYS: Why Do Fools Fall In Love/
THE DEL RAYS: One Kiss One Smile and a Dream/ DINO & THE DIPLOMATS: I Can’t
Believe/ DONNIE & THE CHAPELLS: Local City/ THE GIRLFRIENDS: I Want To Be
Happy/ EDDIE HODGES: I’m Gonna Knock On Your Door/ KENNY HUSKY: Mr Future/
THE INTERPRETERS: I Get the Message/ LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS: Please
Say You Want Me/ LITTLE FRANKIE: I’m Not Gonna Do It/ LITTLE JAN AND THE
RADIANTS: Heart and Soul/ LITTLE RAY: You Can’t Hurt Me/ LITTLE RICHIE & THE
RICONS: Arlene/ LITTLE TONY & THE HAWKS: Cry Cry Cry/ BOBBY MANDOLPH: This
Thing Called Love/ THE MONTAGUES: School Rock/ KRISTA MORTON & THE
CROSSTONES: Mommy and Daddy/ DONNIE OSMOND: Too Young/ JIMMY PEMBERTON: Rags
to Riches/ MIGUEL POVENTUD: Prometo Recordarte (I Promise to Remember)/ THE
SALAS BROTHERS: Leaving You/ THE TREN-TEENS: My Babys Gone/ THE UNISONS: Til
There Was You/ THE VELTONES: Now/ LINDA YELARDY: My Little School Mate
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Magic Rabbit 3016 |
The Kiddie Sound - "So Young", Vol. 16 |
● CD $17.98 |
30 more teen doo-wops including nine tracks on CD for the
first time and three previously unissued.
BOBBY & THE IMPALAS: By the Way/ THE BOSS-TONES:
Mope-Itty-Mope/ THE CAPERS: Miss You Dear/ THE CAPRIS: Oh My Darling/ CHEE
CHEE AND PEPPY: My Love Will Never Fade Away/ NICK D'ALESSANDRO: I'm So
Happy/ TONY DEAN: I Wear the Shoes of a Man/ DINO & THE DIPLOMATS: Hushabye
My Love/ THE DUPONTS: Prove It Tonight/ THE EL PASO DRIFTERS: Close Your
Eyes/ THE EMPIRES: Ride On/ EDDIE HOLMAN: Why Do Fools Fall In Love/ THE
KING KROONERS: Won't You Let Me Know/ LITTLE D AND THE DELIGHTERS: A Love So
Fine/ LITTLE JIMMY & THE TOPS: Puppy Love/ LITTLE JOE AND THE MORROCOS:
Trouble In the Candy Shop/ THE M&M'S: There In the Night/ KRISTA MORTON &
THE CROSSTONES: This Little Light/ THE NEW EDITION: Earth Angel/ THE NOBLE
TONES: I'm Really Crying/ THE PRE-TEENS: Pass It On/ THE PRETENDERS: Smile/
EDDIE ROBBINS: It Was Fun/ FAITH TAYLOR & THE SWEET TEENS: Don't Worry/ THE
UNIQUE TEENS: At the Ball/ THE VARNELLS: All Because/ THE YOUNG JACKSONS: My
Girl/ THE YOUNG TONES: By the Candleglow/ BEN ZAPPA: Baby I Need You/ THE
ZEBULONS: Falling Water
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Magic Rabbit 3017 |
The Kiddie Sound - "So Young", Vol. 17 |
● CD $17.98 |
31 more teen tracks - three previously unreleased.
LITTLE GEORGE BENSON: It Should've Been Me/ CAROL BLADES:
Candy Store Lullabye/ BRIDGET: Little Boy/ BUTCHIE & THE VELS: Please Tell
the Angels/ THE CASTELLES: Heavenly Father/ JIMMY CASTOR: Interview/ I Know
the Meaning of Love/ THE CO-ED'S (FEAT GWEN EDWARDS): I'm In Love/ DONNIE &
THE CHAPELLS: Jeannie/ THE EXTREMES: That's All I Want/ THE GIRLFRIENDS: No
More Tears/ THE INSPIRATIONS: Aye Yai Yai/ RICHARD LANAHAM: Dance of Love/
LITTLE JOEY & THE FLIPS: It Was Heaven/ LONNIE & THE CRISIS: The Bells in
the Chapel/ FRANKIE LYMON: Sea Breeze/ FRANKIE & LEWIS LYMON: Why Do Fools
Fall In Love (live)/ THE MELLO-MOODS (FEAT 14 YEAR OLD RAY WOOTEN: Where Are
You/ NICKY & THE NOBLES: School Bells/ RONNIE & THE CLASSMATES: Little Girl
Next Door/ RONNIE & THE HIGHLITES: Too Young/ THE SALAS BROTHERS: Darlin/
THE SCHOOLBOYS: Ding A Ling Coo Coo Mop/ THE SIX TEENS: Heaven Knows I Love
You/ THE STUDENTS: My Heart Is An Open Door/ That's How I Feel/ FAITH TAYLOR
& THE SWEET TEENS: I Love You Darling/ TONY & THE TWILIGHTS: Key To My
Heart/ THE VAN DYKES: Come On Baby/ THE VOICES FIVE: Lover Come Back To Me/
WAYNE & THE NEWTONES: I Spy
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Night Train 7115 |
Legendary Labels Of Louisiana - The Best Of
Rustone |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks - most of them recorded for the tiny Rustone label
out of Houma, Louisiana in the early 60s. Six of the tracks are by fine
swamp pop band Emmet & The Jades, four by soulful R&B vocalist Willie West,
two by The Scotchtones including their much in demand rocker Sake Wa
Dukie and two by swamp pop vocalist Bobby Jay. The last two tracks are
by Jack & The Rippers - a later incarnation of Emmet & The Jades issued on
the Houma label in the late 60s.
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Numero 1 |
Eccentric Soul - The Capsoul Label |
● CD $19.98 |
19 tracks, 60 min., essential
The Capsoul (short for Capital
City Soul) label only survived for five years, only issued a dozen 45s, only
pressed one LP (by the Four Mints), but has since gained legendary status in
soul circles. Their secret? Founder Bill Moss released great soul songs and,
unless you lived in or near the source (Columbus, Ohio), they were tough to
find even when they were new. The master tapes drowned in a flood (although
the sound here is quite good), and Moss destroyed his back stock one sad
day. Perhaps the best known group here is the Four Mints (who still perform
in Ohio). Their doo-wop inspired You're My Desire and Do You
Really Love Me worked their way up the national R&B charts to #80 and
#84, respectively--an amazing achievement considering the lack of
distribution and promotion available to Capsoul. Marion Black's Go On
Fool did even better (although on the Avco Embassy label), reaching #39
in 1971. Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr's You Can't Blame Me had
regional hit power, but didn't chart. But the hands-down,
put-on-your-soul-shoes best track has got to be the Kool Blues' I'm Gonna
Keep On Loving You, on the short list for most underrated soul song of
the '70s. The other two Kool Blues tracks shine too. The booklet notes do
not include much session information, but you can't have everything. The
reissue label seems as obscure as Capsoul was. May it last longer. (JC)
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Popcorn 6001 |
Legendary Leads Of Rhythm & Blues, Vol. 1 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 tracks recorded between 1960 and 1964 by R&B singers who
got their start singing with doo-wop groups. Most of the material is in the
pop-R&B vein which is called "popcorn" in Europe.
BILLY BARNES: Until/ JIMMY BEAUMONT: Camera/ Please Send
Me Someone To Love/ JIMMY BREEDLOVE: Queen Bee/ To Belong/ VARETTA DILLARD:
Breaking Hearts/ Fly By Night/ BARBARA ENGLISH: I've Got A Date/ Shoo Fly/
CORNELL GUNTER: Rope Of Sand/ BOBBY GUY (AKA HOWARD GUYTON): Good Enough/
POOKIE HUDSON: Jealous Heart/ BIG DEE IRWIN: Donkey Walk/ JIMMY JONES: Mr
Fix-it/ TONY MIDDLETON: Unchained Melody/ LENNY MILES: Donna's Gone/ Living
Dream/ NATE NELSON: Once Again/ RAY POLLARD & THE WANDERERS: Run-run
Senorita/ JOEL SCOTT (AKA JOE JONES): Here I Stand/ ED TOWNSEND: Stay With
Me/ TONY WILLIAMS: Second Best/ JOHNNY WOODSON: I Want To Be Near You/ Sing
Me A Song
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RPM 211 |
The Toussaint Touch |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks, highly recommended Great collection of New
Orleans R&B and soul produced (and often written) by the talented and
versatile Allen Toussaint. About half of the tracks feature sides recorded
for Instant and Minit in the early/ mid 60s including big hits like Wrong
Number by Aaron Neville, Fortune Teller by Benny Spellman,
It's Raining by Irma Thomas, Ooh Poo Pah Doo by Jessie Hill and
others. The remaining tracks were produced for the Sansu and Tou-Sea labels
in the mid 60s - a collaboration between Toussaint and entrepreneur Marshall
Seahorn. Although no hits resulted there are fine sides by Curly Moore,
Willie West, Willie Harper, Warren Lee, Zilla Mays and others. Includes fold
out booklet with notes by Clive Richardson. (FS)
CHICK CARBO: In the Night/ DIAMOND JOE: Gossip Gossip/
SONNY FISHER: Oh Love This Is Sonny/ WILLIE HARPER: Here Comes the Hurt
Again/ JESSIE HILL: Ooh Poo Pah Doo/ Scoop Scoobie Doobie/ ELDRIDGE HOLMES:
Lovely Woman/ ERNIE K-DOE: 'Tain't It the Truth/ A Certain Girl/ WARREN LEE:
Star Revue/ ZILLA MAYES: All I Want Is You/ CURLY MOORE: Get Low Down/ AARON
NEVILLE: I'm Waiting at the Station/ Wrong Number/ ART NEVILLE: All These
Things/ BENNY SPELLMAN: Fortune Teller/ Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)/
THE STOKES: Whipped Cream/ IRMA THOMAS: It's Raining/ Ruler of My Heart/
WILLIE WEST: Fair Child/ JOHN WILLIAMS: Blues Tears Sorrow
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Still 1166 |
All Color Weird Rhythm |
● CD $16.98 |
The latest in this series of "early rare rockin' R&B
recordings" is not as strong as previous collections. Unlike previous
volumes which were almost exclusively black artists, this one is about 50%
white artists and some of the tracks are pretty much straight ahead rock 'n'
roll rather than blues or R&B and much of the R&B is unexceptional. Most of
the 25 tracks here are making their first appearance on CD,
sound is fine and booklet
includes label shots.
VINCE ANTHONY & THE BLUE NOTES: Watch My Smoke/ THE
BARONS: If You Want A Little Lovin/ Jay Walk/ DOUG BOWMAN & THE ROAD
RUNNERS: Al's State Line/ ROGER CALKINS & THE FABULOUS SILVER TONES:
Dimples/ Hey Sally Mae/ PAUL CRAFORD & FRANK MOTLEY ORCH.: I'm Your Man/ THE
HONEYCONES: Rockin In The Knees/ DONNIE JAMES & JOE HUSTON ORCH.: Walk Baby
Walk/ LEONARD JAMES & ORCH.: Chicken Hop/ DAVE KIRK & THE CANDY MEN: Those
Lonely Blue Night/ LORD LEBBY: One Kiss For My Baby/ RAY LIBERTO: I Want You
To Love Me Tonight/ THE MAJESTIC: Riding By/ CHARLIE MCCOY: Rooster Blues/
RUSTY MCDONALD & MAXWELL DAVIS BAND: Easy Big Mama/ RAY MILLER: Number One/
TONY NICHOLAS & THE HAZELTONES: Suzie Bella/ GENE ODOM & DUSTY FLETCHER'S
BAND: Love Time/ AL PITTMAN & THE MUSICAL JOCKEYS: Crazy Beat/ TRIG RICHARDS
& THE JOKERS: Hollywood Cat/ RUBY ROBERSON: Rheumatism/ BUDDY SKIPPER: Smoot
Smart & Sassy/ BOBBY WILLIAMS & THE NIGHTLIFTERS: Tarzan/ JOHNNY WINTER:
That's What Love Does
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Sundazed 11155 |
My Goodness, Yes! |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 58 min., very highly recommended
A short-lived
subsidy of Shelby S. SIngleton, Jr.'s SSS International label, Silver Fox
was run by Lelan Rogers, older brother of country star Kenny Rogers. If the
only 45 rpm Silver Fox had issued before it folded had been George Perkins &
The Silver Stars' gospel-influenced masterpiece of understatement, Cryin'
In The Streets (Part 1), it would still deserve a place in soul history.
Luckily, they had Bettye Lavette on their roster too, and her four cuts here
push this collection into must-have territory. The earthiness of Do Your
Duty and He Made A Woman Out Of Me are classic Lavette. Other
winners include So Deep In Love by the great Eddy Giles, the
chicken-fried soul of "Big" Al Downing's Cornbread Row, Gloria
Taylor's Grounded (Part 1) and Willie Hobbs' Yes, My Goodness, Yes,
a song written by soul legends Jimmy Holiday, Jerry Butler, and Bobby
Womack. Enough good stuff to excuse the slight amount of filler. (JC)
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Trikont 0337 |
Cheatin Soul (And The Southern Dream Of
Freedom) |
● CD $19.98 |
Fabulous 23 track collection of Southern soul which includes
some familiar titles and a lot of lesser known but great titles with a
strong emphasis on women singers. Includes sides by Janet & The Jays, Margie
Joseph, George Jackson, Earl Gaines (a post Vietnam war version of Mighty
Hannibal's classic Hymn No. 5), Jerry Washington, Ann Peebles,
Clarence Carter, Sandra Phillips, Margie Hendrix, O.V. Wright, Little
Archie, Joe Tex and more. Includes booklet with notes in German and English.
RUBY ANDREWS: I Don't Wanna Wake Up/ BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND: I
Wouldn't Treat a Dog/ Rockin in the Same Old Boat/ CLARENCE CARTER: What Was
I Supposed to Do/ DORIS DUKE: If She's Your Wife Who Am I/ EARL GAINES: Hymn
No 5/ MARGIE HENDRIX: Don't Destroy Me/ GEORGE JACKSON: My Desires Are
Getting the Best of Me/ JANET & THE JAYS: Without a Reason/ MARGIE JOSEPH:
Never Can You Be/ LITTLE ARCHIE: I Am a Carpet/ MICKEY MURRAY: East of
Nowhere/ ANN PEEBLES: I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home/ SANDRA
PHILLIPS: Some Mother's Son/ WENDY RENE: After Laughter Comes Tears/ ANN
SEXTON: I Still Love You/ I'm His Wife (You're Just a Friend)/ JEAN STANBACK:
Next Man/ JOE TEX: I Wanna Be Free/ Love You Save/ JERRY WASHINGTON: Right
Here Is Where You Belong/ O.V. WRIGHT: I Don't Know Why/ Nickel and a Nail
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Varese 66674 |
East L.A. - Rockin' The Barrio |
● CD $11.98 |
18 tracks, 47 min., highly recommended
A few of these songs
charted nationally, but most were hits only in Los Angeles (charting on
Radio KRLA and KHJ Radio), where a particular combination of soul, doo wop,
and rock 'n' roll reigned supreme. The groups were Chicano or "mixed" (with
Anglos and Blacks), unlike just about every other group in America at the
time. This fine collection features the best of the Rampart, Linda, Gordo,
and Faro labels recorded between 1962-69 and produced by Eddie Davis.
Land Of 1000 Dances by Cannibal And The Headhunters is easily the best
known song here, but the less often remembered This Is The Night by
Larry Tamblyn and Take My Heart by The Romancers and Strange World
by The Majestics show that East L.A. in the 1960s bubbled over with musical
talent. The major labels didn't know what they were missing until they
missed it. Other standout moments include Evil Ways by The Village
Callers, Brown Baby by Willie G, Follow The Music by Cannibal
And The Headhunters with The King Curtis Band, La La La La La by The
Blendells, and more. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Wanda 1001 |
Doo Wop Halloween Is A Scream |
● CD $17.98 |
26 R&B vocal group tunes with a horror/ Halloween theme
including Trick Or Treat by The Four Flops, Headless Ghost by
The Nightmares, DeadIn The Ground For Good
by The Newports, Mummy's Ball and other tales to send a shiver down
your spine.
BILL BUCHANAN: Beware/ THE CALVANES: Horror Pictures/ THE
CHOTALLS: Queen Of Halloween/ THE COMPANIONS: Dorothy-my Monster/ THE
CREWNECKS: Rockin' Zombie/ THE CRYSTALAIRS: Dr Jekyll & Mrs Hyde/ DANNY &
LENNY WITH HOLLYWOOD GHOULS: Monster's Love/ DENISE & DOUBLE-DATES: That
Halloween Night/ THE DUPONTS: Screamin' Ball/ THE FOUR FLOPS: Trick Or
Treat/ FRANKIE & THE NEWPORTS: Monster Mash/ FRANKIE & THE FASHIONS: Witch
Doctor/ THE HOLLYWOOD FLAMES: Frankensteins Den/ ARCHIE KING: The Vampire/
KING FLASH & CALYPSO CARNIVAL: Zombie Jamboree/ BIG BEE KORNEGAY & GROUP: At
The House Of Frankenstein/ THE MAGICS: Zombie Walk/ THE NEWPORTS: I'm In The
Ground For Good/ THE NIGHTMARES: Headless Ghost/ THE NU-TRENDS: Spooksville/
PETE & THE BLOODSUCKERS: My Baby Likes Scary Movies/ THE POETS: Dead/ THE
REVELS: Dead Man's Stroll/ BILL RILEY: Nightmare Mash/ THE SWINGING PHILLES:
Frankenstein's Party/ THE VERDICTS: Mummy's Ball/ THE ZANE BROTHERS: Dracula
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
WDIA 07208 |
WDIA AM 1070 - The Historu, The Music, The
Legend |
● CD $15.98 |
2 CDs, 33 tracks, 112 min., highly recommended
WDIA began in
Memphis in 1947, but soon ran into financial trouble. A bold format change
in 1948 not only made them the first all Black programmed radio station but
the first radio station to break the million dollar mark in the mid-South.
All these years later and they still garner fierce loyalty among their
diverse listeners. The first disc in this set, labeled "The History," offers
narration from the magic-voiced James Davis interspersed with healthy
amounts of historic tape, including the WDIA sign on, vintage commercials,
nonsense from Rufus Thomas, jingles, public service announcements, and much
more. It's a documentary in itself. The second disc offers a baker's dozen
of fine soul sides from the 1960s and beyond, though not the usual suspects.
The duet with Lynn White and William Brown, Cheatin' In The Next Room,
is a classic of the form. Other stand outs include You're My Joy by
The Barkays, Listen With My Mind by William Bell, The More You
Give by The Mad Lads, and Archie Love's Should've Been There For You.
Would make a nice companion to Louis Cantor's book about WDIA, "Wheelin' On
Beale," from 1992, if it's still in print. But either way, this set is
winner. Fifty thousand watts of soul power, indeed. (JC)
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