NEWSLETTER #140
Rhythm & Blues,
Soul & Doo-Wop
Various Artists
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
BTRCD 3000 |
30 Big Top Doo-Wops! Volume #1 |
● CD $17.98 |
First of two CD featuring vocal group sounds from the late
50s and early 60s recorded for New York's Big Top label.
THE CORDIALS: Tug Of War/ THE DALYS: Winter Rushes On/
Without You/ THE DELWOODS: Her Mustache/ THE DOVES: Don't Turn Away From Me/
THE DREAM GIRLS: Don't Break My Heart/ Duchess Of Earl/ I Could Write A
Book/ Mr. Fine/ Your Lovey Dovey Ways/ MIKE DRUMMOND: Love Affair/ MIKEE
DRUMMOND: Little Lover/ THE DYNAMICS: I'm The Man/ Misery/ THE HONEYTONES:
Don't Look Now, But.../ JOEY & AMBERS: Sweet Sweet Memory/ JOEY & THE
AMBERS: Treasure In My Heart/ ROYAL THE JOKERS: Red Hot/ WILLIE JONES:
Somewhere/ COLLEEN KAYE & SECRETS: Joey's Diamond Ring/ MARCI & THE MATES:
Let Us Part For A Year/ Shall I Tell Him You're Not Here/ THE PARAKEETS: I
Love You Like I Do/ I Want You Right Now/ THE ROYAL JOKERS: Hard Times/
ARLENE SMITH: He Knows I Love Him Too Much/ Love Love Love/ THE VISIONS: All
Through The Night/ Secret World Of Tears/ Swingin' Wedding
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
BTRCD 3001 |
30 Big Top Doo-Wops! Volume #2 |
● CD $17.98 |
30 more.
ANDREA CARROLL: It Hurts To Be Sixteen/ Why Am I So Shy/
THE CORDIALS: I Wish It Were Summer/ THE DELWOODS: Don't Put Onions On Your
Hamburger/ THE DOVES: Let's Make Up/ THE DREAM GIRLS: Here Comes Baby/ I Get
A Feeling My Love/ Mine All Mine/ Now He's Gone/ Wanted/ ROCKY HART: Baby
You've Got It Made/ Crying/ THE HONEYTONES: I Know I Know/ WILLIE JONES:
Mary/ COLLEEN KAYE & THE SECRETS: The One I Love/ KAREN LAKE: Air Mail
Special Delivery/ I'd Like To Miss My Graduation/ MARCI & THE MATES: Oops
There Goes Another Tear/ Suddenly We're Strangers/ AZIE MORTIMER: Lips/
Wrapped Up In A Dream/ PETE & VINNIE: Hand Clappin Time/ JOHNNY SEVEN: Once
I Was Lonely/ Tell Me/ THE SHADES: Sunglasses/ SAMMY TURNER & THE TWISTERS:
Sweet Annie Laurie/ Thunderbolt/ THE V.I.P.'S: Flashback/ You Pulled A Fast
One/ THE VISIONS: Tell Me You're Mine
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Castle PIE 081 |
Northern Soul Memories |
● CD $14.98 |
Two CD set with 32 tunes popular at the legendary Wigan
Casino.
P. P. ARNOLD: Everything's Gonna Be Alright/ J. J. BARNES:
Our Love Is In The Pocket/ KENNY BERNARD: Ain't No Soul/ BOB AND EARL: My
Little Girl/ DONNIE BURDOCK: Open The Door To Your Heart/ JIMMY BURNS: I
Really Love You/ THE CHECKERBOARD SQUARES: Double Cookin'/ LILLIAN DUPREE:
Hide And Seek/ THE EXCITERS: Reaching For The Best/ THE FASCINATIONS: Girls
Are Out To Get You/ FATHER'S ANGELS: Bok To Bach/ FIVE STAIRSTEPS AND CUBIE:
Stay Close To Me/ GUYS FROM UNCLE: The Spy/ CHUCK JACKSON: All Over The
World/ JIMMY JAMES AND THE VAGABONDS: This Heart Of Mine/ L. J. JOHNSON:
Your Magic Put A Spell On Me/ JUST BROTHERS: Sliced Tomatoes/ THE KANSAS
CITY PLAYBOYS: Quittin' Time/ JASON KNIGHT: Our Love Is Getting Stronger/
ELOISE LAWS: Love Factory/ JOHN LEACH: Put That Woman Down/ JACKIE LEE: The
Duck/ THE MODERN REDCAPS: Never Too Young/ PARIS: Sleepless Nights/ BOB RELF:
Blowin' My Mind To Pieces/ LEE RODGERS: Sock Some Love Powder To Me/ RONNIE
AND ROBIN: Sidra's Theme/ THE SHOWMEN: Our Love Will Grow/ THE SHOWSTOPPERS:
Ain't Nothin' But A Houseparty/ LORRAINE SILVER: Lost Summer Love/ RICHARD
TEMPLE: That Beatin' Rhythm/ EVELYN THOMAS: Weak Spot
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Charly SNAX 601 |
Blax-Plosion |
● CD $17.98 |
2 CDs, 26 tracks, 1 hour 46 min., highly recommended
The
earliest cut here is The Meters' Chicken Strut from 1969, but almost
all of these sides first hit wax in the 1970s when funk became a national
phenomenon instead of a series of regional ones. Most of the performers here
are well known, if not always for funk. And while the jazzy horn funk of
Jimmy McGriff's Stump Juice is serviceable, it ain't a classic. Same
goes for both cuts by The Last Poets (Delights Of The Garden and
Jazzoetry). The listener is better served by Ripple's Ripplin', Maceo And
All The King's Men's cover of Sly's Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again
and Mag Poo, Curtis Mayfield's Short Eyes, and Joe Tex's indispensable
You
Said A Bad Word. Mavis Staples' atypically sexually charged Koochie Koochie
Koochie anticipates to some degree the soulless and mindless disco that
followed and only grazes the target, while Buddy Rich's (!) Chameleon misses
altogether. But winners outnumber their mediocre brethren, and you can
always pick up Maceo's CD if the funk itch still needs scratching. Here's
hoping for a Ripple CD. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1053 |
Still Singing After All These Years |
● CD $17.98 |
26 recent doowop recordings by artists and groups who have
been around for a long time. Includes Frankie & The Fashions, The Dolphins,
Orioles, Jimmy & The Essentials, The Regals, Tribunes, Ovations, etc.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1065 |
Rarest Of The Rare, Vol. 12 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 vocal group rarities - 90% new to CD (according to the
cover).
THE ALLEY CATS: Darling I Love You Dearly/ ALLEN BROOKS &
GROUP: Ding Dong Darling/ KENNETH CHURCHILL & LYRICS: Would You Rather/ THE
COLUMBUS PULSATIONS: Linda/ THE CONTOURS: The Mission/ THE ENCHANTERS: Oh
Rose Marie/ RAY FLEMING & GROUP: Wonderland Of Love/ THE FLYERS: A Sign That
Your Mine/ THE GALAXYS: Lovers Prayer/ THE GOODFELLOWS: Another Chance/
LITTLE D AND THE BELAIRS: Are You My Girl/ THE MONTCLAIRS: I've Heard About
You/ FRED NORMAN & GROUP: The Letter/ ROBERT PORTEE: Casanova/ THE
ROCKATONES: Cruise To The Moon/ THE SAINTS: My Only Love/ THE SEQUENCE:
Night Owl/ THE SIGNEALS: Juanita/ CARVER SMITH HIGH COMBO: Cry For Love/ RAY
STEVENS & GROUP: All On My Mind/ THE TONE BLENDERS: I Thank Heaven/
VALENTINE & THE APOLLOS: Never/ CURTIS WARE & THE FOUR-DO MATICS: Am I In
Love/ THE XCITERS: As We Danced
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1066 |
Rarest Of The Rare, Vol. 13 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 more rarities - mostly new to CD.
THE AVALONS: Is It The End/ THE BELL-TONES: There She
Goes/ THE BING BONGS: The Cling/ THE CALVAES: Anna Macora/ THE CLOUDS:
Darling I Love You/ THE CREATIONS: Mommy And Daddy/ THE CRESCENDOS: I'll Be
Seeing You/ THE DEL RIOS: Alone On A Rainy Nite/ THE DESIDEROS: I Pledge My
Love/ THE FOUR DATES: Teenage Neighbor/ THE FOUR PEARLS: It's Almost
Tomorrow/ BILLY GALLANT: Scribbling On The Wall/ THE GOOD FELLOWS Pretty
Little Girl/ EMMY LOU: I Wanna Know/ THE MAGIC NOTES: Never Again/ EDDIE
RENO & THE TITANS: Snake Leg/ TIMMY REYNOLDS: Duke Of Earl/ LENNY ROCCO:
Rochelle/ THE SISTERS: I'll Get Another/ JERRY STONE & THE FOUR DOTS: My
Baby (she Loves Me)/ THE VIDELS: A Letter From Ann/ THE VOGUES: Nothing To
Offer You/ BOB WILLIAMS & CYCLONES: You Can't Make Me Cry/ THE WONDERS: I
Wonder
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1067 |
Rarest Of The Rare, Vol. 14 |
● CD $17.98 |
24 more - mostly new to CD.
BUBBA ANDERSON: Where Has My Love Gone/ TOMMY CARVER:
Please Find My Love/ THE CHANTEURS: New Rockin Baby/ CHASE AND GENE: You're
Everything To Me/ THE COLUMBUS PULSATIONS: The Girl Of My Dreams/ GENE
DAVIS: Lost Love/ THE DECADES: Sha Boom Bang/ THE DELLORDS: In Togetherness/
RICHARD DICKSON: A Thousand Miles Away/ THE FABULOUS NU-TONES: I'm Not
Worthy Of Your Love/ THE FLYERS: I Told Them/ GEORGE GREEN & THE HAMILTONS:
You Are My Lonely One/ JOHNNY & DELL: There Is Love/ LITTLE FLATUS &
DREAMAIRS: Buy A Van/ THE MESSENGERS: This Is How I Feel/ WODDIE ROBINSON:
Please Be Mine All Mine/ THE SEQUENCE: My My My/ THE SIGNEALS: Show Me The
Way/ L.C. STEELS: Come Back Betty/ LEROY TAYLOR: If I/ THE THEMES: Marnie/
THE VARNELLS: Day In Court/ THE WINDS OF NOTRE DAME: Radiation Baby/ THE
ZEROES: Flossie Mae
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Decca (UK) 520 049-2 |
The In Crowd - The Ultimate Mod Collection |
● CD $89.98 |
Four CD set in 12"x6"x1 1/2" box with 48 page color booklet.
100 tracks featuring music that was popular with the British "mod" movement
between 1958 and 1967. Heavily weighted towards American R&B and soul along
with some of the British groups associated with the mod movement like The Who,
Small Faces, etc. Mostly familiar sides along with a smattering of rarities.
Includes sides by Dobie Gray, Fontella Bass, Erma
Franklin, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Willie Mitchell, Slim Harpo, The Skatalites, The Temptations, Bob
& Earl, Willie Tee, Tammi Terrell, Little Walter, The Birds, Solomon Burke and many
more. Even if you're not familiar with the mod movement, this is certainly a
great compilation of music from that era.
THE ACTION: Baby You Got It/ THE ATTACK: We Don't Know/
HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS: Twist/ LEN BARRY: 1-2-3/ FONTELLA BASS:
Rescue Me/ THE BIRDS: Leaving Here/ BOBBY BLAND: Ain't Doing Too Bad (parts
1-2)/ BOB & EARL: Harlem Shuffle/ GRAHAM BOND ORGANISATION: Little Girl/
BOOKER T & THE MG'S: Green Onions/ JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES: I Got
You (I Feel Good)/ Think/ SOLOMON BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love/
BILLY BUTLER: Right Track/ THE CAPITOLS: Cool Jerk/ CHRIS CLARK: Love's Gone
Bad/ TONY CLARKE: Entertainer/ JIMMY CLIFF: King Of Kings/ THE CONTOURS: Can
You Jerk Like Me/ First I Look At The Purse/ DON COVAY: See Saw/ THE
CREATION: Biff Bang Pow/ SPENCER DAVIS GROUP: I'm A Man/ ERNIE K. DOE:
Certain Girl/ LOU DONALDSON: Watusi Jump/ LEE DORSEY: Get Out Of My Life
Woman/ THE ELGINS: Put Yourself In My Place/ GEORGIE FAME: In The Meantime/
Yeh Yeh/ CHRIS FARLOWE: Air Travel/ THE FLAMINGOS: Boogaloo Party/ THE FOUR
SHELLS: Hot Dog (My Baby's Comin' Home)/ THE FOUR TOPS: Love Has Gone/ ERMA
FRANKLIN: Piece Of My Heart/ REX GARVIN & THE MIGHTY CRAVERS: Sock It To 'em
Jb/ MARVIN GAYE: Can I Get A Witness/ Hitch Hike/ Try It Baby/ DOBIE GRAY:
The In Crowd/ SLIM HARPO: Got Love If You Want It/ WILBERT HARRISON: Kansas
City/ ALAN HAVEN: Image/ THE HIGH NUMBERS: I'm The Face/ EDDIE HOLLAND:
Leaving Here/ BRENDA HOLLOWAY: Every Little Bit Hurts/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Boom
Boom/ THE IMPRESSIONS: It's All Right/ Woman's Got Soul/ THE ISLEY BROTHERS:
Twist And Shout/ ETTA JAMES: Tell Mama/ THE JAY JAY'S: Cruncher/ ANNA KING:
If Somebody Told You/ RAMSEY LEWIS: The In Crowd/ Wade In The Water/ LITTLE
MILTON: Who's Cheatin' Who/ LITTLE WALTER: My Babe/ SHORTY LONG: Devil With
The Blue Dress On/ MAJOR LANCE: Monkey Time/ MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS:
Heatwave/ THE MARVELETTES: Too Many Fish In The Sea/ GARNET MIMMS &
ENCHANTERS: Cry Baby/ THE MIRACLES: Mickey's Monkey/ WILLIE MITCHELL: That
Driving Beat/ ERIC MORRIS: Penny Reel/ THE O'JAYS: Lipstick Traces/ WILSON
PICKETT: Don't Fight It/ THE POETS: That's The Way It's Gotta Be/ THE QUIK:
Bert's Apple Crumble/ OTIS REDDING: I Can't Turn You Loose/ JIMMY REED:
Shame Shame Shame/ MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Street/
SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: Going To A Go Go/ THE SHOWMEN: It Will
Stand/ THE SKATALITES: Ball Of Fire/ THE SMALL FACES: All Or Nothing/ Almost
Grown/ What'cha Gonna Do About It/ JIMMY SMITH: Got My Mojo Workin'/ THE
SOUL SISTERS: I Can't Stand It/ EDWIN STARR: Stop Her On Sight (SOS)/ BILLY
STEWART: I Do Love You/ Sitting In The Park/ BARRETT STRONG: Money (That's
What I Want)/ THE SUPREMES: When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His
Eyes/ WILLIE TEE: Walkin' Up A One Way Street/ TAMMI TERRELL: Come On And
See Me/ IRMA THOMAS: Time Is On My Side/ DORIS TROY: What'cha Gonna Do About
It/ TOMMY TUCKER: Hi Heel Sneakers/ IKE & TINA TURNER: Fingerpoppin'/ PHIL
UPCHURCH COMBO: You Can't Sit Down (Parts 1-2)/ EARL VAN DYKE: All For You/
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You/ THE VELVELETTES: Lonely Lonely Girl I
Am/ JUNIOR WALKER: Tune Up/ Roadrunner/ MARY WELLS: You Beat Me To The
Punch/ KIM WESTON: Helpless/ THE WHO: Anyway Anyhow Anywhere/ SONNY BOY
WILLIAMSON: Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Documents 223007 |
Rhythm & Blues |
● CD $19.98 |
This very low priced 10 CD set with 200 tracks seems to be
an abbreviated version of the now out of print two 15 CD sets "Rhythm &
Blues Goes Rock 'n' Roll." A great collection of mostly up tempo blues, R&B
and occasional doo-wop from the 40s and early 50s mixing familiar names
like Jimmie Liggins, Little Walter Wynonie Harris, Tarheel Slim, Big Bill
Broonzy, Big Maybelle, Lula Reed, Buddy Johnson, Lighnin' Hopkins and more
with obscure artists like Pearl Reaves, Sheri Washington, Pork Chops, Nat
Cool Cat, hank Moore, Jimmy Crawford, Sandra Grimes and others. Most tracks
are available on other collections though a few are not available anywhere
else. Sound quality is adequate though some tracks exhibit excessive digital
noise reduction artifacts. Still, at this price, a few drawbacks are worth
putting up with for a consistently entertaining collection and it's a good
chance to get acquainted with artists you may not be familiar with.
THE 4 GATHORS: Wine O Wine/ JESSE ALLEN: Love Me Baby/
EDDIE ALSTON: I Just Can't Help It/ ELTON ANDERSON: I Love You/ JIMMY
ANTHONY: Before Day In The Morning/ THE ARABIANS: Dog Wild/ LIL ARMSTRONG:
Joogie Boogie/ BABY CURTIS: I Wanna/ LEE BARNES: Blues For What I Never Had/
PAUL BASCOMB: Mumbles Blues/ THE BEES: Tough Enough/ BIG MAYBELLE:
Rockhouse/ BOBBY & RON: You're Mine/ JUKE BOY BONNER: Running Shoes/ EDDIE
BOYD: Kilroy Won't Be Back/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Little City Woman/ B.B. BROWN:
I Weep/ BUSTER BROWN: Sugar Babe/ HONEY BROWN: Rockin' & Jumpin'/ BROWN &
BROOKS: Sleeping In An Ocean Of Tears/ MILT BUCKNER: Red Red Wine/ EDDIE
BURNS: Hard Hearted Woman/ THE CARDINALS: Choo Choo/ WYNONA CARR: Touch &
Go/ RICKY CHARLES: Hi Yo Silver/ CHARLIE & RAY: Oh Gee Oh Wee/ LEE CHRISTY:
My Heart Goes Diddley Bum/ CHARLES CLARK: Hidden Charms/ EDDIE CLEARWATER: A
Real Good Time/ JIMMY CRAWFORD: Till My Baby Comes Back/ ARTHUR CRUDUP:
That's Alright Mama/ MARY DELOATCH: Straighten Him Out/ VARETTA DILLARD:
Them Their Eyes/ FLOYD DIXON: Ooh Little Girl/ Wine Wine Wine/ JOHNNY DUKE:
Oh Oh Mojo/ J.D. EDWARDS: Hobo/ ESTHER & WILLIE: Turn The Lights Down Low/
THE FAMOUS RENEGADES: Invasion/ H-BOMB FERGUSON: Rock H-bomb Rock/ FINNEY
MO: Shake That Thing/ T.J. FOWLER: Tell Me What's The Matter/ JOHNNY FULLER:
No More/ LOWELL FULSON: Baby Won't You Jump With Me/ Cold Hearted Woman/
Juke Box Shuffle/ G A S: Seven To Eleven/ DOC GADDY: Evil Man Blues/
GARLAND: Hello Miss Sims/ BILLY GARNER: Little Schoolgirl/ BILLY GAYLES: Do
Right Baby/ GENE & EUNICE: I Gotta Go Home/ BABS GONZALES: House Rent Party/
She's Just Right For Me/ THE GOOD GUYS: Whoa Whoa/ CARRIE GRANT: Mish Mash/
RUDY GREENE: Wild Life/ JOHN GREER: Honey Why/ TONY GRIMES: Hey Now/ SANDRA
GRIMMS: Hallelujah Rock & Roll/ BIG BOY GROVES: I Got A New Car/ GUITAR
CRUSHER: I Got To Know/ FREDDIE HALL: She's An Upsetter/ LARRY HANNA: Good
Lovin/ HARMONICA FATS: My Baby Didn't Come Home/ ERLINE HARRIS: Long Tall
Papa/ PEPPERMINT HARRIS: The Blues Pick On Me/ WYNONIE HARRIS: I Want My
Fanny Brown/ Teardrops From My Eyes/ BILL HEYMAN: I Want My Baby/ HOMESICK
JAMES: Set A Date/ EDDIE HOPE: A Fool No More/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: I'm Wild
About You/ Movin' Out/ HOWLIN' WOLF: Down In The Bottom/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: I
Like It/ BETTY JAMES: I'm A Little Mixed Up/ BOBO JENKINS: Tell Me Who/ DUKE
JENKINS: The Duke Walks/ GEORGE JENKINS: Shufflin' Boogie/ GUS JENKINS: Slow
Down/ LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Leave My Kitten Alone/ BUDDY JOHNSON: Walk The
Chalk Line/ LEMMY JOHNSON: Eatin' & Sleepin' Blues/ HARMON JONES: Pack Your
Clothes/ OLIVER JONES: What I Say/ LOUIS JORDAN: Choo Choo Ch' Boogie/
JUMPIN' JAY: Come On Home/ THE KID: Booted/ PAUL KIMBLE: That Big Fat Mama/
JEWEL KING: 3 X 7 = 21/ WILLIE KING: Big Leg Woman/ KING PERRY: Come Back
Baby/ Everything's Gonna Be Alright Tonight/ SONNY KNIGHT: But Officer/
ANNIE LAURIE: My Rough & Ready Man/ JOHN LEE: Rhythm Rockin' Boogie/ MARTY
LEWIS: Satisfied With My Lovin'/ JIMMY LIGGINS: I Ain't Drunk/ Talking That
Talk/ FRANK LINKENBERG: Ball Of Fire/ LITTLE ESTHER: It Ain't What You Say/
LITTLE WALTER: Roller Coaster/ LONESOME SUNDOWN: Mojo Man/ BOBBY LONG:
Jersey City/ LORD TENNISON: The Dance/ LOUISIANA RED: Ride On Red/ BUDDY
LUCAS: Night Train/ CHERRI LYNN: You're Money Ain't No Long Enough/ HERMAN
MANZY: I'm Your Rockin' Man/ TEAM MATES: Crazy Baby/ CARL MATTHEWS: Big Man/
JOE MCCOY: Hey Loretta/ Too Much Going On/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: I Wanna Make
Love To You/ She Felt Too Good/ BROWNIE MCGHEE: Anna Mae/ STICK MCGHEE: One
Monkey Don't Stop The Show/ WALLY MERCER: Rock Around/ MERCY BABY: Pleadin'/
AMOS MILBURN: Let Me Go Home Whiskey/ THE MILLIONAIRES: Arkansas Jane/ ROY
MILTON: Milton's Boogie/ BILLY MIRANDA: Go Ahead/ MISS BAKER: You'd Better
Find/ MISTER RUFFIN: Bring It On Back/ WILLIE MITCHELL: Lizzie Lou/ MODEL T.
SLIM: Shake Your Boogie/ HANK MOORE: Knock Kneed Rooster/ TOMMY MOORE: Your
Car Machine/ WOO WOO MOORE: Something's Wrong/ JOE MORRIS: Beans & Corn
Bread/ MR. BO: I'm Leaving This Town/ MR. GOOGLE: Oh What A Fool/ MR. RAIN:
Who Dat/ MR. SAD HEAD: Sad Head Blues/ SAM MYERS: You Don't Have To Go/ NAT
COOL CAT: Come By Here/ JIMMIE NELSON: Great Big Hunk Of Man/ THE NITERIDERS:
Looking For My Baby/ ELMO NIXON: Forgive Me Baby/ JOHNNY OTIS: Court Room
Blues/ Goomp Blues/ PAPA LIGHTFOOT: Jumpin' With Jarvis/ LOUIS PAYNE: That's
Allright With Me/ PORK CHOPS: Everything Is Cool/ KING PORTER: Chitlin'
Ball/ JIMMY PRESTON: Oh Babe/ PRINCE CH.: Come On Home/ PEARL REAVES: You
Can't Stay Here/ LULA REED: Sick & Tired/ KING RHYTHM: Killer Diller/ EDDIE
RIFF: My Baby's Gone Away/ THE ROCKETS: Big Leg Mama/ BUDDY ROGERS: Mad At
You/ THE ROYALS: All Night Long/ JOAN SHAW: You Drive Me Crazy/ CHARLES
SHEFFIELD: It's Your Voodoo Working/ Shoo Shoo Chicken/ THE SILHOUETTES:
Miss Thing/ FRANKIE LEE SIMS: She Likes To Boogie Real Slow/ PIANO SLIM: Lot
Of Shakin' Lot Of Jivin'/ L.J. SMITH: If It's Too Late/ SONNY & JAYCEE: You
Keep On Doggin' Me/ STOMP GORDON: The Grind/ JESSE STONE: Runaway/ THE
SULTANS: You Got Me Goin'/ TARHEEL SLIM: Number Nine Train/ LEON TARVER:
Somebody Help Me/ DANNY TAYLOR: You Look Bad/ JOE TEX: You Upset My Home/
BLANCHIE THOMAS: You Ain't So Such A Much/ JESSE THOMAS: It's You I'm
Thinking Of/ KID THOMAS: Wolf Pack/ RUFUS THOMAS: Decorate The Counter/ Easy
Livin' Plan/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: You Did Me Wrong/ THE THRILLS: I Ain't Got
The Money/ JOE TURNER: Long Down Dog/ Mad Blues/ My Gal's A Jockey/ Rocket
Boogie 88/ Sally Zu Zazz/ Wine-o-baby/ EDDIE VINSON: Gonna Send You Back/
CHARLES WALKER: You Know It Ain't Right/ WALKIN' WILLIE: Bow Little Willie/
WASHBOARD SAM: Never Never/ SHERI WASHINGTON: Ain't Talkin' To You Baby/
MOJO WATSON: Look A There/ WEBSTER & CONROY: Baby Baby/ JUNIOR WELLS: Little
By Little/ BOB WILLIAMS: Talk To Me/ CHARLES WILLIAMS: So Worried/ EARL
WILLIAMS: Let's Make Love Tonight/ L.C. WILLIAMS: Shout Baby Shout/ ARTIE
WILSON: Tarzan/ HOP WILSON: Chicken Stuff/ BILLY WRIGHT: Man's Brand Boogie/
JOHNNY WRIGHT: Look At That Chick
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop Records 033 |
It's About Time, Volume #1 |
● CD $17.98 |
From the folks who bring you doo-wop compilations with a
theme comes the first of three volumes devoted to time. 25 timeless tunes in all - most
previously on CD but not in this thematic setting.
BRYAN BENT & THE CUT OUTS: For Eternity/ THE CAPITOLS:
Three O'clock Rock/ CARLO: Five Minutes More/ LUNA CORRAO & THE PLANETS:
Once In A Lifetime/ THE DIABLOS: For Old Times Sake/ THE DREAM KINGS: More
Than Yesterday Less Than Tomorrow/ THE DREAMLOVERS: Time/ THE DRIVERS:
Midnight Hours/ THE EDSELS: Twenty Four Hours/ THE FABULAIRES: Lonely Days
Lonely Nights/ THE FOUR CHEVELLES: Darling Forever/ THE FOUR CLEFS: Time
After Time/ THE FOUR IMPERIALS: Seven Lonely Days/ BOBBY GREGORY & THE
CARDINALS: Just Waiting/ THE HI TENSIONS: The Clock/ THE INNOCENTS: Tick
Tock/ JOHNNY JACK: Forever And A Day/ ALICE JEAN & THE MONDELLOS: 100 Years
From Today/ MARV JOHNSON: Once Upon A Time/ THE KINGLETS: Six Days A Week/
THE LEAPING FLAMES: It's Been So Long/ THE MASCOTS: I Waited So Long/ HARTSY
MAYE: As The Years Go By/ PATTI ANN & THE FLAMES: Midnight/ THE STARLIGHTERS:
It's Twelve O'clock
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop Records 034 |
It's About Time! Volume #2 |
● CD $17.98 |
25 more to set your watch by.
THE ARDELLS: Seven Lonely Nights/ CHUCK BARNETT: Seven
Days Are Made For Love/ BRYAN BENT & THE CUT OUTS: Vacation Time/ THE
CASHMERES: Four Lonely Nights/ THE CLOVERS: In The Morning Time/ THE
CONTESSAS: It's Time For Crying/ THE COVINAS: Five Minutes More/ DEBBIE &
THE DARNELLS: The Time/ THE DERBYS: Night After Night/ THE DREAMERS:
Seconds/ THE FASCINATIONS: Midnight/ GLINDA HUDSON: I'll Wait/ THE
HUMDINGERS: The Clock In Lover's Lane/ J.J. JACKSON & THE JACKAELS: A
Lifetime From Today/ PHIL JOHNSON & THE DUVALS: Wee Small Hours/ THE MARX:
One Minute More/ THE NUTONES: At Midnight/ HERB PRICE & THE DARTS: Gone Too
Long/ THE RAINBOWS: Til Tomorrow/ ROCHELLE & THE CANDLES: A Long Time Ago/
RONNIE & THE MANHATTANS: Long Time No See/ TEDDY & THE CONTINENTALS: Tick
Tick Tock/ VIRGIL & THE FOUR CHANELS: Waiting/ THE WANDERERS: As Time Goes
By
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Doo-Wop Records 035 |
It's About Time! Volume #3 |
● CD $17.98 |
Time is running out! Only 25 left.
ANASTASIA: Seven Days A Week/ THE CALENDARS: One Week
Romance/ MILLIE CALHOUN: This Love Will Last Forever/ ART 'TURK' CARAMAN:
Eternity Of Love/ THE CARLOS BROTHERS: It's Time To Go/ RICHIE CHORDELL:
Tick Tock/ DARNELL & THE DREAMS: The Day Before Yesterday/ THE DEL AIRES: It
Took A Long Time/ DOLLY & THE DEANS: The Happiest Years/ THE ELGINS: Once
Upon A Time/ THE FIVE REASONS: Three O'clock Rock/ THE FOUR BARS: Love Me
Forever More/ THE FOUR CLEFS: Time After Time/ THE FOUR PEARLS: It's Almost
Tomorrow/ THE FOUR SPORTSMEN: Sixty Minute Man/ THE FOUR TRUMPS: I Waited
All My Life For You/ THE FOUR WINDS: Five Minutes More/ THE GATORVETTES:
Midnight/ THE GEMS: Waiting/ TOMMY LISS & THE MATADORS: Times Is Tough/ THE
MISFITS: Midnight Star/ THE MONOTONES: Forever Yours/ THE MONTEREYS: Five
Minutes To Love You/ THE MORROCANS: Believe In Tomorrow/ THE PARAMOUNTS:
Time Will Bring About A Change
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
F.T.R. Records 100 |
Chicano Soul: San Antonio's Westside Sound |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 66 min., highly recommended
Perhaps the best know
group here is Sunny & the Sunliners (named for lead vocalist Sunny Ozuna)
who recorded on the Tear Drop, RPR, and Key-Loc' labels, to name three from
San Antonio. And as the four songs here prove ( Should I Take You Home/
Put Me In Jail/ My Dream/ The One Who's Hurtin' Is You),
their popularity rose from their talent. But many of the lesser-known acts
here turn in first-rate performances, especially Henry & The Kasuals' cover
of Forever,
released on Cobra 1130 in 1956 and the reserved yet soulful
stunner Don't Leave Me Baby by Dino Bazan & the Dell Tones. Dimas III with
the Royal Jesters (named for lead singer Dimas Garza) offer two very strong
originals: I Won't Love You Again and You've Succeeded (both sides of Clown
102). Solo artist Billy Sol's gorgeous ballad Have You Ever Told Her leaves
the listener wanting to know more about the singer, but alas, no liner notes
with this. Other little-known wonders worth wondering about include Little
Henry & The Laveers, Joe Jama & The Royal Jesters, Spider & The Play Boys,
and Danny And The Tejanos, among others. The music is steeped in the doo wop
sensibilities of the late 1950s--especially the early 1960s cuts--but that's
no fault. The music source is clearly vinyl (you can occasionally hear the
needle drop) but at least the records sound like nice copies. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Funky Delicacies 012 |
Senator Jones' Funky Funky New Orleans |
● CD $15.98 |
13 tracks, 45 min., recommended
This collection of non-hits
from Senator Jones' stable of labels (Hep' Me, Jenmark, Super Dome, JB's,
Light House) dishes up the funkiness from the well-known (Johnny Adams) to
the (more-or-less) unknown (Fanoms, The Prolifics, Ray J., and almost
everyone else). Jones' jazz-informed (often), full-blooded production works
overtime to impress. Still, not everything here is wonderful. Kung Fu Man
(Parts One & Two) which riffs on the Carl Douglas hit of similar name,
never really goes where it promises, and Jones' own Sweet Thing is a
bit pedestrian. Likewise Dennis Lee & The Notables attempt at starting a
dance craze with Funky Penguin is admirable (if only for the thought)
though unsuccessful for good reasons. But Get A Little Bit by Fantoms
is so funky and cool it could kill Bobby Sherman. And Ray J's cover of Dr.
John's Right Place Wrong Time funks up that which was already far
from funkless. His duet with Norma Lee (Everlasting Love makes a
decent single too. Any more Fanoms 45s out there? (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Grapevine Soul 3018 |
Talk Of The Grapevine, Vol. 1 |
● CD $19.98 |
24 tracks, 67 min., highly recommended
Some of these tracks
come from previous Grapevine CDs and the others come from the vinyl singles
that label has released in order to temporarily satisfy the insatiable
'northern' soul scene deejays in the UK. Their vinyl lust has, thankfully,
prompted the reissuing of tremendous amounts of wonderful and obscure soul
from the 1960s and 1970s. No wonder then that the subtitle of this
collection in "24 Northern Soul Classics." As the 'northern' soul fans
demand, the obscurity level is high here, a little higher than the quality
level, although there's plenty of first rate songs here, including Bobby
Rich's There's A Girl Somewhere (For Me), Nathan Williams' What
Price, Don Clay's Rain From The Skies, Charles Mintz's Running
Back, The Servicemen's I'll Stop Loving You, The Montclairs'
Hey You! Don't Fight It!, and lots more. Oddly the booklet notes discuss
only three of the performers and then stop. Included is a discography of the
45s released by the Grapevine label since August 2000, although many titles
have already gone out of print. Luckily, many are here. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 249 |
GWP-NY - TCB |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended
Ace recently acquired
the New York City GWP label (named for its owner, Gerard W. Purcell, who
died in 2001), and has begun soul mining, as evidenced in this worthwhile
collection, which benefits from excellent sound quality, made possible by
virtue of the master tapes. Recorded between 1969-71, the material here
(some released, some unreleased) strikes a pleasing balance between ballads
and dancers, and everything is at least pretty good. Better than that and
destined to be a 'northern' hit is the strong but world-weary voice of
southerner Benny Gordon on his own I've Been Down So Long, on which
the singer takes complete responsibility for his own misery. Another winner
not released until 2005 is Larry Banks self-penned gem Ooh It Hurts Me,
arguably the best thing here, though the competition is tough and includes
three superb tracks by Debbie Taylor: Let's Prove Them Wrong,
Don't Let It End and Don't Nobody Mess With My My Baby, which
sounds like a promise and a threat. Baltimore's The Persians shine on I
Can't Take It Anymore and I Don't Know How (To Fall Out Of Love With
You), as does Frankie Newsome's My Lucky Day Part 1. Betty
Barney, as gritty as she is obscure, spins out You Want My Lovin'
with such calculation in her voice that the answer song should have been
I'm Gonna Run, but it makes for a hell of an interesting song. Other ear
poppers include Milton Bennett's version of the Barbara Mason song Yes,
I'm Ready, Alice Clark's Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed), The
Devonnes' (You'd Better) Straighten Up And Fly Right, The Shaladons'
Without Your Love, and a lot more. A winner. (Now if Kent will just
make their booklet note font a point or two larger.) (JC)
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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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 252 |
More Perfect Harmony - Sweet Soul Harmony,
1967-1975 |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, 72 min., highly recommended
This ballad-heavy
collection of harmony vocal group soul songs waxed between 1967-75 is the
second in the series and as full of wonderful and rare music as Vol. 1 (Kent CDKEND 219) while featuring mostly different artists. This album moves
between groups whose doo wop influences are prominently displayed and those
whose sound would shortly morph into disco. In fact The Mylestones 1972
ballad Love Me Girl, which was produced by Johhny Otis, of all
people, features a relatively gentle if annoying drum machine, an early
innovation that slightly mars an otherwise solid performance. But fear not,
this CD has the goods, including the opening three selections: Under The
Street Lamp by Joe Bataan with Group, Yes, I'm Ready by The
Hesitations, and You're Gonna Make It by The Festivals. Other
highlights include Someone Else's Arms by Channel 3, the deep soul
goodness of No You For Me by The Climates, Here It Comes by
the always excellent The Persians, and Never Will I (Make My Baby Cry)
by The Magnificent Seven. Also included are five previously unissued sides:
The Magictones' Never My Love, The Determinations' That Ain't The
Way, The Newcomers' Betcha' Can't Guess You, The Notations'
full-length version of I'm Still Here, and The Dynamic Tints' No
One Else Will Do. Good notes on all groups and songs, and even pictures
of the 45 labels. (JC)
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| VARIOUS |
Night Train 2007 |
The Best Of Drew-Blan |
● CD $23.98 |
Two CD set featuring 50 tracks of New Orleans R&B and
rock & roll recorded for Andrew Blanco's Drew-Blan labels between 1959
and 1963. Artists featured include Jay Nelson, Peter Buck & The
Dondeleers, Jimmy Dale, Wayne & The Velvetones, The Vikings, Skinny
Dynamo (a Fats Domino imitator - surprise, surprise!), Charles Leman,
Gilbert Giroir, Earl King, Allen Orange and The Drew-Blan All Stars. 20 of
the tracks are unissued studio recordings, demos or rehearsal tapes. Some
good stuff here along with some pedestrian material and it would have made
a better single CD.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Norton 317 |
Get In The Groove |
● CD $14.98 |
Live performances in Brookly, NY in 2003 featuring Nathanial
Mayer, Mighty Hannibal, Andre Williams, bettye Lavette, King Coleman, Lonnie
Youngblood and more.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Numero 003 |
Eccentric Soul - The Bandit Label |
● CD $19.98 |
20 tracks from obscure Chicao soul label The Arrows, Johnny
Davis, Tridia Brown and others. Plus three previously unissued rehearsal
tracks.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Popcorn 6002 |
Soulful Kinda Ladies, Volume 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 67 min., highly recommended
In this case the
label name is no indication of the contents, as the songs here are more R&B
and bluesy than one might expect. Plenty of hard-to-find and music and
obscure artists. Most know It's In His Kiss as a hit by Betty
Everett, but the version here by Romana King is the original, and well worth
hearing. Theola Kilgore's This Is My Prayer is so soulful that the
intensely syrupy lyrics don't get in the way. A lesser performance would
have required that listeners receive insulin shots. She also turns in a
stunning version of The Love Of My Man. Other reasons to go on
breathing include the grown-up sound of Little Helen singing The Richest
Girl (Ain't Got Nothing On Me), Lula Reed's cover of the Big Maybelle
favorite Gabbin' Mouth Blues, the Motownish Straighten Up by
Connie Questell, and Johnnie Mae Matthews' deep ballad Worried About You,
which manages its soulful goodness despite pop tendencies in the
arrangement. Matthews also owns the oddest moment here with her
psychoanalysis-meets-soul song The Headshrinker. Worth it. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Rev-Ola 121 |
Chart Toppin', Doo-Woppin, Vol. 1 |
● CD $15.98 |
The first of two volumes featuring some of the most popular
doo-wop records of the early/ mid 50s based on the Billboard R&B charts.
This volume features 28 tracks that were hits between 1950 and 1953 and
although not all topped the charts, all reached the top ten and more than
half the top three. Titles are presented chronologically in order of
appearance and includes sides by Little Esther & The Robins, The Clovers,
Four Buddies, Swallows, Four Blazes, Ravens, Five Royales, Drifters, Jesse &
Marvin, The Du Droppers and more. Includes 8 page fold out booklet with
extensive notes, artist photos, label shots and ads.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Rev-Ola 132 |
Zoot Suit Riot |
● CD $15.98 |
Although subtitled "Instrumental R 'n' B Smash Hits Of The
1950s" the last four tracks on this 28 track collection features vocals! Why
spoil the concept? There's certainly no shortage of instrumentals they could
have added! Still the first 24 tracks are all great, though they've all been
out before, includes sides by Big jay McNeely, Frank "Floorshow" Culley, Roy
Milton, Freddie Mitchell, Stick McGhee, Johnny Otis, Johnny Hodges, Lloyd
Glenn, Little Walter, Tiny Bradshaw and others. The "bonus" tracks are vocal
versions of four of the instrumentals here by Frank Sinatra, betty Carter,
The Four Blazes and Three Dots & A dash.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sundazed 11154 |
Shake What You Brought! Soul Treasures From
The SSS Int |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 56 min., highly recommended
This solid collection
of southern soul from Shelby Sumpter Singleton's SSS International label
recorded between 1967-1971 includes familiar artists on unfamiliar material
and obscure artists--some who deserve their obscurity, many who deserve
better. While well-known magnetic singers include Johnny Adams (Proud
Woman), Wilbert "Kansas City" Harrison (Pretty Little Woman), and
Robert "Barefootin'" Parker (The Hiccup), it is the lesser-known
talent that make this set particularly attractive. Perhaps the best track,
Don't Talk Like That, belongs to Clarence Murray, who was better and
even more obscure than his brother Mickey Murray (who has two mediocre cuts
here). Peggy Scott's galvanizing solo performance (Jo Jo Benson has a solo
cut here too) of You Can Never Get Something For Nothing, produced by
Huey P. Mauex, will send vinyl junkies rushing to Ebay. Other performances
of note include Betty Harris' hard-edged take on Allen Toussaint's
There's A Break In The RoadLonely For You Baby,
Bettye Lavette's convincing version of Piece Of My Heart, and Mr Jamo
(a.k.a. Jamo Thomas) working up a minor sweat on Shake What You Brought
With You (Part I), though it's no I Spy (For The FBI). But then
what is? Extra credit for the photo of singer Clifford Curry in his Soul
Ranger costume and for the one of Jo Jo Benson in a red sweater and beret,
while holding, for no apparent reason, a bright red bucket. (JC)
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