NEWSLETTER #143
Second Time Around
Nathan Abshire
->
Various Artists
| MANCE LIPSCOMB |
Vestapol 13011 |
In Concert |
● DVD $22.98 |
The great Texas songster in a live performances recorded
for TV station KLRU in 1969. 16 songs including So Different Blues/
Going Down Slow/ Alcohol Blues/ Silver City/ Key To The Highway/ Mama
Don't Allow/ Baby, You Don't Have To Go/ Motherless Children and more.
58 minutes in color.
|
| NATHAN
ABSHIRE & THE PINEGROVE BOYS |
Fais-Do-Do Records 9082 |
Nathan Abshire & The Pinegrove Boys |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 46 mins, essential
Previously on, the now out of
print, Flyright 19. Cajun music doesn't get any better than this! Nathan
Abshire was one of the greatest of all cajun singers and accordionists who
was a vital force in the music from the 30s up to his death in 1981. This
collection of 20 great songs and tunes was recorded for Jay Millers' Kajun &
Cajun Classics labels in the early 60s. Accompanied by a tough band
featuring the soaring steel guitar of Atlas Fruge and the fiddles of Dewey
Balfa and Will Kegley he performs a wide variety of material including a
storming remake of his most well known song Pinegrove Blues, the
doomy La La Blues (with blues harmonica from Lazy Lester), the moving
waltz Dreamer's Waltz, the idiosyncratic Mardi Gras Song with
vocals by black singer La La Laverne and clip-clopping horse sounds and many
others. Truly magnificent music! (FS)
|
| THE
ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST GOSPEL CHOIR |
Columbia (UK) 509592 |
Shakin' The Rafters |
● CD $10.98 |
12 tracks, highly recommended
We've turned up a few more
copies of the deleted U.K. release of Columbia 47335 at a reduced price.
This is perhaps the finest black gospel choir album ever issued. It first
surfaced in 1960 on the old Columbia Black & Red label 8000 series. Under
the direction of Alabama-born gospel veteran singer/ songwriter Prof. Alex
Bradford, the 120-voice choir sing, stomp, wail and tear the church up with
I Want To Ride That Glory Train featuring Margaret Simpson, Heaven
Belongs To You with Kathy Lane and Sweet Jesus fronted by Calvin
White. Includes Rev. R.P. Means' sermonette He Stays In My Room,
wherein he enquires if anyone has ever been sick in church. Has three
never-before released cuts (twelve cuts in all) sounding as if the Newark
Gospel Choir was right there in your living room whooping it up like a band
of sanctified sinners. Produced by John Hammond. Limited stock. (OLN)
|
| JOHNNIE ALLAN |
Jin 9044 |
Swamp Pop Legend - The Essential Collection |
● CD $15.98 |
25 tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended
Wonderful collection
of swamp pop from one the masters of the genre. Well just what is "swamp
pop"? It's a South Louisiana mixture of rock 'n' roll, R&B, country and cajun music blended together with heartfelt vocals to make an immensely
appealing brew. There are few better exponents than Johnnie Allan who has
been performing since the 40s. This collection of recordings, mostly
spanning the 50s through the 70s, is about 50% duplicated on Ace 380.
Johnnie wrote half the songs here including such fine items as Angel
Love/ Lonely Days And Lonely Nights/ Do You Love Me So and the terrific
Let's Go Get Drunk. There are some great covers here including his
reworking of the Johnny Horton hit North To Alaska as South To
Louisiana, a driving version of Chuck Berry's Promised Land with
cajun accordion and Merle Haggard's Today I Staretd Loving You Again.
Lots of other great music here including a new song Just Remember
celebrating his daughter's marriage that show what a fine stright country
singer he is. Johnnie is not only a fine musician he is also an amabassador
for Louisiana music and has written several excellent books on the subject.
(FS)
|
| THE ANGELICS |
Liquid 8 12101 |
Touch Me Lord Jesus |
● CD $7.98 |
12 tracks, 32 mins, essential
More tremendous gospel from
the vaults of Gotham - this time featuring the superb Philly group The Angelics aka The Angelic Gospel Singers. The group was founded in 1944 by
singer and piano player Margaret Allison and at the time of these recordings
(1949 to 1955) included Lucille Shird, Josephine McDowell and Ella Mae
Norris. Some tracks just feature Allison's soulful piano work and others
include organ and drums. Their first recording - the beautiful Touch Me
Lord Jesus (included here) was a big hit but just about everything they
recorded for superb. The songs range from the restrained dynamics of
Almost Persuaded (surely an inspiration for the 60s secular country song
of the same name) to the rip-roaring hand clapping energy of There Must
Be A Heaven but my favorite is the intense Does Jesus Care which
features a stunning lead vocal (Allison?) but it's all superb. About half
the cuts are duplicated on the out of print Heritage 11. (FS)
|
| THE BARONS |
Funky Delicacies 05 |
Society Don't Let Us Down |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 57 min., essential
A vocal group out of New
Orleans, The Barons spent the 1960s and '70s melding elements of doo wop and
soul and succeeded every way but financially. They could sing as sweeter
than aspartame or turn so funky that Perry Como and Pat Boone would run
frightened and confused into the streets. This collection includes their
earliest releases on the tiny Etah label, their last stab at monetary reward
was undertaken in 1981 when they still sounded fine despite considerable
lineup changes, and lots of good stuff in between. Impressive. (JC)
|
| THE CARTER BROTHERS |
P-Vine PCD 24049 |
Southern Country Boy, The Jewel Sessions,
1965-1969 |
● CD $22.98 |
26 tracks, 75 mins, recommended
This fine set features 25
tracks recorded by Roman, Albert and Jerry Carter for Jewel between 1965 and
'69 along with one side of the first single they cut for Coleman in 1964.
The Carters from Garland, Alabama performed basic, no nonsense, electric
blues with an occasional nod to soul, featuring the energetic lead vocals of
Roman and the fine guitar of Albert with Jerry helping out on keyboards.
Some of the cuts are just the trio while others feature horns. Most of the
songs are originals by the group or by their original producer Duke Coleman
including the title song which was an R&B hit. Jewel only issued six singles
but this set also includes unissued tracks that first appeared on a previous
P-Vine reissue along with several tracks that are making their first ever
appearance. There's not a whole lot of variety in the Carter's music but in
small doses this makes for fine listening. (FS)
|
| RAY CHARLES |
Atlantic (Germany) 80765 |
At Newport |
● CD $11.98 |
Another classic Ray Charles album reissued in digipack
format. This time featuring his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in
1958 with his great band and The Raelettes. Four of the tracks are R&B (The
Right Time/ Talkin' About You, etc) and the other four are funky jazz (In
A Little Spanish Town/ Hot Rod, etc)
|
| THE CHECKERS |
Dipper 201 |
21 Vocal Group Cuts From The 1950s |
● CD $17.98 |
21 tracks, 54 min., essential
The Checkers are surely one of
the most underrated of the 50's vocal groups. Formed when the Dominoes
underwent their first major personnel shift in early 1952, the Checkers
roster included former Dominoes bass Bill Brown and former Dominoes second
tenor Charles White. Their ballad and jump performances, recorded between
1952 and 1954, rank among the most powerful in the pantheon of rhythm and
blues harmony. The program here includes both sides of all ten early 50's
Checkers' sides, plus Heaven Only Knows, performed by a 1958 version
of the group. Among the earlier gems are Flame in My Heart,
Night's Curtains, Ghost of My Baby, White Cliffs of Dover,
the hilarious answer to Sixty Minute Man, Don't Stop Dan,
Mama's Daughter, and Trying to Hold My Gal. Terrific music,
impressive sound quality, a cover photo of the group, and short but solid
liner notes. Simply not a disc to miss. (DH)
|
| HARRY CHOATES |
Bear Family BCD 16355 |
Devil In the Bayou |
● CD $41.98 |
Fantastic two CD set featuring all the recordings made by
this great and influential Cajun fiddler and singer for Gold Star and Cajun
Classics along with the sides he recorded in 1940 as a member of Happy Fats &
His Rayne-Bo Ramblers. 57 tracks in all - everything on Arhoolie 308 and a
whole lot more plus an incredible 108 page book with extensive notes by
researcher Andrew, loads of rare photos and full discographical details.
This set even includes four previously unissued Gold Star recordings from
1948.
|
| LARRY DAVIS |
P-Vine PCD 5402 |
Sweet Little Angel - Virgo & Kent
Recordings, 1968-69 |
● CD $22.98 |
15 tracks, 52 mins, essential
Back in stock in limited
quantities. Larry Davis was one of the finest of the soul-blues singers with
a lovely expressive vocal style. Unlike some of his contemporaries his
recorded output was fairly meagre so this collection of 1969 recordings is
particularly welcome. Produced for B.B. King's production company, a couple
of cuts were issued on B.B.'s Virgo label, some were issed on Kent and six
tracks were never issued before. Sessions were cut in St. Louis (then
Larry's home) under the guidance of Oliver Sain and in Los Angeles by
producer Maxwell Davis. There's a fine selection of songs including one of
the best versions of the wonderful The Years Go Passing By originally
recorded by his former boss Fenton Robinson - the combination of Larry's
aching vocals and Wesley Farmer's lyrical guitar is simply spine chilling.
The previously unissued Something About You is another superb minor
key slow burner along the lines of Passing. There are a number of
fine original songs written by Larry (What They Do To Me/ I've Been Hurt
So Many Times/ It Can Only Hurt For So Long, etc.) and, not
surprisingly, a number of B.B. King songs (You Upset Me Baby/ Sweet
Sixteen/ Woke Up This Morning, etc) which Larry makes his own. He is
accompanied by fine small groups - the guitar player on the St. Louis
sessions, Wesley farmer, is particularly impressive. An exciting and
important release. (FS)
LARRY DAVIS: A Letter To My Darling/ Driving Wheel/ For
Five Long Years/ I've Been Hurt So Many Times/ It Can Only Hurt For So Long/
Rock Me Baby/ Something About You/ Sweet Little Angel/ Sweet Sixteen/ The
Years Go Passing By/ Three O'Clock Blues/ What They Do To Me/ Whole World
Down On You/ Woke Up This Morning/ You Upset Me Baby
|
| THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS |
Gospel Friend 1503 |
Jesus Has Traveled This Road Before |
● CD $14.98 |
Back in stock. Fabulous collection by this great and long
lived gospel group featuring 25 sides recorded between 1939 and 1952.
There's a lot of duplication with Document 5491 (now out of print) and
P-Vine 5818 but sound quality here is better, price is cheaper and it
includes half a dozen of their fantastic early 50s sides that are alone
worth the price. It also includes a 12 page booklet with extensive notes by
`Birds biographer Jerry Zolten and Per Notini.
|
| RED FOLEY |
Bronco Buster 9014 |
Hillbilly Fever In The Ozarks |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks, 44min., highly recommended
All of the songs on
this CD were recorded as transcriptions for Radiozark in 1954 to 1955 and
they're great. Supported by his crack band of Tommy Jackson on fiddle, Grady
Martin on guitar, steel guitarist Bud Isaacs, guitarist Jimmy Selph and
Bobby Moore on bass; Foley swings through some of his hits (Sugarfoot Rag,
Birmingham Bounce and Tennessee Saturday Night) and covers
some country standards (including Western Swing numbers by Bob Wills, Spade
Cooley and Foy Willing). This release offers Foley's great vocals without
any schlocky over-produced songs.... it's a treat. (RS)
RED FOLEY: Birmingham Bounce/ Easy to Please/ Freight
Train Blues/ Hillbilly Fever/ Home in San Antone/ Honey Be My Honey Bee/
I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)/ Never Trust a Woman/ Please Don't Leave
Me/ San Antonio Rose./ Shame on You/ Skinnie Minnie (Fishtail)/ Sugar Moon/
Sugarfoot Rag/ Tennessee Border/ Tennessee Polka/ Tennessee Saturday Night/
Texarkana Baby/ Texas Blues/ Why Don't You Haul off and Love Me
|
| CRAIG HORTON |
Bad Daddy 0022 |
Touch Of The Bluesman |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 47 minutes, excellent
While his career has
spanned some five decades, Craig Horton was a virtual unknown until his
premier outing, "In My Spirit" , made some big waves in 2001. He returns
with more fiery and unpredictable guitar work and a soulful voice while a
full band pushes him mightily. A heaping plate of shuffles, slow blues,
bumps and grinds, and more make "Touch Of The Bluesman" a solid follow-up.
Produced by Rusty Zinn, Horton proves he was no fluke with the burning
original, Elizabeth while Percy Mayfield's Serve Me Right To
Suffer might remind some of Chicago's Jimmy Johnson. Big sound, big
guitar, and big blues sure to please! Here's hoping there's more in store
from Craig Horton soon. (CR)
|
| FRANK HOVINGTON |
Flyright 66 |
Gone With The Wind |
● CD $16.98 |
19 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Delaware is not
usually thought of as a home of country bluesmen but Frank Hovington was a
wonderful exception. Frank was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1919 but he
and his family moved to Frederica, Delaware when he was young and, except
for several years in Washington, DC, he lived most of his life in Delaware
(he died in 1982). When he was young he came under the influence of several
local musicians who were originally from North Carolina and Virginia and
developed into a fine musician. Although he played regularly he never made
music his career and was reluctant to appear in public and only made a
handful of recordings, most of them are featured here. Many of these
recordings were issued on long out of print albums on Flyright, Rounder &
Library Of Congress so this CD issue, which includes some previously
unissued material, is most welcome. Frank was a superb singer with a warm
engaging style and an outstanding guitarist whose playing is strongly
influenced by the Piedmont style but has lots of individualistic touches.
His material is mostly traditional (Lonesome Road Blues/ Diggin' My
Potatoes/ John Henry/ Mean Old Frisco, etc) along with original songs (Gone
With The Wind/ Sing Sing Blues, etc) with strong traditional elements. A
couple of tracks feature Frank playing some banjo. Frank was a signcant
discovery and well worth a listen - particularly for fans of Piedmont guitar
styles. (FS)
|
| LEON HUFF |
B.A.C.M. 126 |
The Texas Song Bird - The Early Years, Vol.
1 |
● CD $13.98 |
25 tracks, 70 mins, recommended
First of two volumes
featuring recordings with the outstanding country vocalist Leon HUff.
Although he never recorded under his own name he was vocalist with several
great Western Swing Bands including W.Lee O'Daniel's Light Crust Doughboys &
Hillbilly Boys, Bob Wills & His Texas PLayboys, Johnny Lee Wills & His Boys
and others. Huff's earliest sides from 1933 with the Light Crust Doughboys
are available on Origin Jazz 1003 ("Western Swing Chronicles - W. Lee
O'Daniel" - $15.98) and this CD opens with one track with The Doughboys and
continues with six tracks from 1935 through 1937 with O'Daniel's Hillbilly
Boys. There are 13 tracks from 1939 radio transcriptions by essentially the
same group led by W. Lee's son Pat - these tracks find Leon as a pop crooner
with quite a few of the songs being pop standards (And The Angels Sing/
Chapel In The Moonlight/ Red Sails In The Sunset, etc) with fairly
lethargic accompanied. There are three fine sides from 1940 radio
transcriptions featuring Leon with Jerry Sadler's Cowboy Stringsters with
Cliff Bruner/ fiddle, Kermit Whalen/ steel guitar and floyd Tillman/ bass.
From 1941 is some more crooning on Little Star Of Heaven with Charlie
Mitchell & His Orchestra and the set ends with the fine Ten Years
from 1942 with Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys. Sound quality is generally
decent tough the radio transcriptions have too much digital noise reduction.
Excellent notes by Kevin Coffey. (FS)
PAT O'DANIEL & HIS HILLBILLY BOYS: Ain‘t She Sweet/ And
The Angels Sing/ Baby Your Mother/ Chapel In The Moonlight/ Clouds/ Cry Baby
Cry/ Music Maestro Please/ My Buddy/ Old Gray Mare/ Red Sails In The Sunset/
Roll On Mississippi Roll On/ Stardust/ The Moon Got In My Eyes/ We‘ll Make
Hay While The Sun Shines/ W. LEE O'DANIEL & HIS HILLBILLY BOYS: A Jug Of
Wine And You/ Everyone‘s Out So Let‘s Stay In Tonight/ Goodnight My Love/
Long, Long Ago/ W. LEE O'DANIEL & HIS LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS: Prairie
Lullaby/ W. LEE O'DANIEL & HIS HILLBILLY BOYS: Someday Sweetheart/ There‘s
Evil In Ye Children/ JERRY SADLER'S COWBOY STRINGSTERS: Does Jesus Care/ Get
Along Home Cindy/ Little Star Of Heaven/ Vote For Jerry Sadler/the Singing
Hills/ BOB WILLS & HIS TEXAS PLAYBOYS: Ten Years
|
| REVEREND CHARLIE
JACKSON |
Casequarter 101 |
God's Got It |
● CD $14.98 |
18 tracks, 59 mins, essential
These recordings, featuring
the incredible gospel singer/ guitarist Reverend Charlie Jackson from Baton
Rouge, Louisiana are among the most exciting and intense gospel recordings
you are ever likely to hear. In the early/ mid 70s he recorded three singles
and one EP for Rev. Robert Booker's Booker label based in New Orleans and in
the late 70s he recorded two singles for his own Jackson label. This CD
features all but two of these sides along with tracks accompanying the
gospel quartet Caravan No. 2 Of Zachary, Brother Ike Gordon and Laura Davis.
Jackson is a powerful rich vocalist who often sings with such ferocity that
he overloads the microphone in the studio, he accompanies his singing with a
basic but incredibly energetic and effective electric guitar technique that
seems to draw on the techniques of Roebuck Staples and John Lee Hooker! Most
of his songs are original and personal. The rhythmic intensity he generates
on songs like Fix It Jesus, God's Got It and Morning Train
is awe inspiring. This disc also features his masterpiece Wrapped Up And
Tangled Up In Jesus and a powerful mini sermon about Jackson's recovery
from a stroke. The wonderful two part sermonette The Goodness Of God
is from a Booker single though to be lost and only discovered this year.
Caravan Number 2 are an excellent male/ female group who sound a bit like
the Staple Singers, Brother Ike Gordon is a fine vocalist with a style not
unlike that of Jackson himself and benefits from Jackson's sterling guitar
work as does that of the fine Laura Davis who recorded for Jackson's own
label. Sound quality is as good as could be achieved bearing in mind that
the original recording conditions for the Booker sides were very primitive
and the CD comes with 16 page booklet with extensive notes on Jackson by
compiler Kevin Nutt plus some great photos, discographical info and a
profile of the Booker label by Lynn Abbot. This is one of the great reissues
of the past few years. We expect stock around the end of the month. (FS)
|
| BOBO JENKINS |
P-Vine PCD 5640 |
The Life Of Bobo Jenkins/ Here I Am A Fool
In Love Agai |
● CD $22.98 |
Reissue of two albums recorded in the 70s by fine down home
Detroit bluesman Jenkins for his own Big Star label. The first album is some
of the most primitively recorded material from the 70s but has a good down
home feel. The second album is somewhat better recorded. The second album
also includes BoBo's two great Fortune sides from the mid 50s.
|
| JIMMY MCCRACKLIN |
Acrobat 101 |
Jimmy's Blues, 1945-1951 |
● CD $9.98 |
25 tracks, 70 mins, essential
This is only essential if you
don't want to get the Classics series of McCracklin which will be reissuing
all his early recordings in chronological order. The first volume covering
1945 to 1948 is already available (Classics 5062 - $14.98). However if you
don't want to go in depth this is a perfect cross section of early sides
starting with early Walter Davis flavored sides with piano accompaniment
only and continuing with his great small band sides with The Blues Blasters featruing such great musicians as Shifty Henry, Robert Kelton, Lafayette
Thomas and others. Includes Miss Mattie Left Me/ Highway 101/ You
Deceived Me/ You Had Your Chance/ Rock And Rye/ Bad Luck & Trouble/ Jimmy's
Blues/ I Can't Understand Love/ You Don't Love Me/ True Love Blues/ I Am
Tired/ What's Your Phone Number, etc. Excellent sound and booklet with
brief notes and full discographical info. (FS)
JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Baby Don't You Want To Go/ Bad Luck And
Trouble/ Highway 101/ I Am Tired/ I Can't Understand Love/ I'm Gonna Have My
Fun/ Jimmy's Blues/ Looking For A Woman/ Mean Mistreated Lover/ Miss Mattie
Left Me/ Miss Minnie Lee Blues/ Movin' On Down The Line/ Railroad Blues/
Rock And Rye/ Rock And Rye, Part 1/ Rock And Rye, Part 2/ Rockin' Man/
Southside Mood/ Special For You/ That's Life/ True Love Blues/ What's Your
Phone Number/ You Deceived Me/ You Don't Love Me/ You Had Your Chance
|
| IRMA THOMAS |
Stateside 579 965-2 |
Straight From the Soul |
● CD $11.98 |
24 tracks, 62 min, highly recommended
The "EMI Legends of
Rock & Roll" best of from 1992 (now deleted) still ranks as the gold
standard for Irma Thomas collections, but this set comes close. And ten
tracks here do not appear on the EMI disc, including the northern soul
workout Teasing But You're Pleasing, the Thomas-penned Straight
From The Heart, Randy Newman's Baby Don't Look Down, I Need
Your Love So Bad, and the superb You Don't Miss Your Good Thing
(Until It's Gone). Seventeen of the songs appeared on Thomas' two fine
Imperial LPs, Wish Someone Would Care (1964) and Take A Look (1966). In fact
except for a two tracks, the latter release is all here. Ignoring some
remarkable singles in favor of the LP material is forgivable, as is leaving
off Ruler Of My Heart, though it is hard to accept. But how could the
anyone omit It's Raining, one of the sweetest soul songs ever to fall
from the sky? Still, this is worth picking up. (JC)
IRMA THOMAS: Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (will
Understand)/ Baby Don‘t Look Down/ Break-a-way/ Girl Needs Boy/ I Haven't
Got Time To Cry/ I Need Your Love So Bad/ I'm Gonna Cry Til My Tears Run
Dry/ It's Starting To Get To Me Now/ Live Again/ Long After Tonight Is All
Over/ Some Things You Never Get Used To/ Somebody Told You/ Straight From
The Heart/ Sufferin' With The Blues/ Take A Look/ Teasing, But You‘re
Pleasing/ The Hurt's All Gone/ Time Is On My Side/ Two Winters Long/ Wait
Wait Wait/ What Are You Trying To Do/ While The City Sleeps/ Wish Someone
Would Care/ You Don't Miss Your Good Thing (until It's Gone)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 876 |
The Modern Downhome Blues Sessions, Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
Long awaited first volume in a series documenting recordings
made in the Southern states in the early 50s by the Modern Record Company.
This first volume features recordings made by partner Joe Bihari with the
assistance of Ike Turner in Arkansas & Mississippi in 1951 and 1952. The
most well known artist recorded was the great Elmore James but we also hear
from Drifting Slim, Houston Boines, Charlie Booker, Red Boyd & His
Orchestra, Ernest lane, Sunny Blair & Junior Brooks. Downhome blues at its
finest with extensive notes from Jim O'Neal and three previously unissued
tracks.
SUNNY BLAIR: 5 Foot 3 Blues/ Glad To Be Back Home/ HOUSTON
BOINES: Going Home/ Relation Blues/ CHARLIE BOOKER: Moonrise Blues/ No
Ridin' Blues/ Rabbit Blues/ RED BOYD ORCHESTRA: Red' Ride/ JUNIOR BROOKS:
Lone Town Blues/ She's The Little Girl For Me/ DRIFTING SLIM: Down South
Blues/ My Little Machine/ BOYD GILMORE: I Believe I'll Settle Down/ I Love
My Little Woman/ If That's Your Girl/ If That's Your Girl/ Just An Army Boy/
Ramblin' On My Mind/ Ramblin' On My Mind/ Ramblin' On My Mind/ ELMORE JAMES:
Hand In Hand/ Please Find My Baby/ ERNEST LANE: Little Girl Little Girl/
What's Wrong Baby
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Blue Lake 55100 |
Rare Chicago R&B Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended
Although Chicago is
strongly associated with a down home blues style there was also an active
jump and urban blues scene and this disc explores some of these lesser known
but fine recordings. The set opens with the jivey I've Got A Crazy Baby
by fairly prolific Dr. Jo Jo Adams and continues with very fine female
vocalist Lou Mac who is featured on three songs including the splendid
Move Me. Other fine female vocalists here include Helen Thompson, Mitzi
Mars (including an answer to Willie Mabon's I'm Mad called I'm
Glad) and Nelda Dupuy. On the male front are fine performers like Leon
D. Tarver, Eddy Ware (his great Lima Beans), George Green, Browley
Guy and Joe Buckner. The tracks by Danny Overbea and Stomp Gordon are pretty
expendable. The set is rounded out with two fine instrumentals by John
"Schoolboy" Porter and His Schoolboys. Many of these tracks are making their
first appearance on CD. Sound quality is excellent and the booklet has notes
on all the performers. (FS)
DR. JO JO ADAMS: I've Got A Crazy Baby/ JOE BUCKNER WITH
TOMMY DEAN'S ORCH.: Eventime/ NELA DUPUY: Riding With The Blues/ STOMP
GORDON: Don't Do Me That Way/ The Grind/ GEORGE GREEN: Finance Man/ RUDY
GREEN: Meet Me Baby/ It's You I Love/ I Had A Feeling/ BROWLEY GUY & THE
SKYSCRAPERS: Blues Train/ You Ain't Gonna Worry Me/ LOU MAC: Baby/ Move Me/
Slow Down/ MITZI MARS WITH SAX MALLARD & ORCH.: I'm Glad/ Roll 'Em/ DANNY
OVERBEA: Ebony Chant/ Stomp And Whistle/ JOHN "SCHOOLBOY" PORTER & HIS
SCHOOLBOYS: Walk Heavy/ SCHOOLBOY PORTER & HIS SCHOOLBOYS: Soft Shoulder/
LEON TARVER: Oh Baby I'm Blue/ LEON D. TARVER & THE CHORDONES: I'm A Young
Rooster/ Ooh-Wee What's Wrong With Me?/ HELEN THOMPSON: Going Down To Big
Mary's/ EDDIE WARE & HIS BAND: Lima Beans
|
| 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. Includes
tracks from Marlena Shaw, The Radiants, Denise LaSalle, The Gospel Classics,
Tony Clarke, Little Milton, The Dells, Tommy & Cleve, Ramsey Lewis & others.
Includes 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
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
El Cerrito 1004 |
Bay Area Blues Blasters, The 60s - Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
26 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Terrific collection
of West Coast blues - many tracks featuring the brilliant and distinctive
guitar playing of Johnny Heartsman. There are a number of instrumental
tracks by Johnny and his band including his local hit, the two part
Johnny's House Party - a steal of Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk. His
work as an accompanying musicians is even more interesting and he is
featured playing some wonderful guitar (and occasionally flute) on sides by
the brilliant Tiny Powell (his classic My Time After Awhile), Tommy
Harris, Jesse James, Ray Agee (when is someone going to a whole CD of his
work?) and others. Heartsman is also obviously the guitarist on the track by
veteran West Coast bluesman Jimmy Liggins even though on the original 45 it
was credited to "Jimmy Liggins, his guitar and Orchestra". Heartsman
influenced guitarist Eddie Foster is featured on a couple other Tiny Powell
cuts and the set ends with the excellent instrumental Jump Back
featuring another fine local guitarist Eugene Blacknell and his band The
Savonics. Sound is excellent and there are brief informative notes. (FS)
RAY AGEE: Love Is A Cold Shot/ The Monkey On My Back/
EUGENE BLACKNELL & HIS SAVONICS: Jump Back/ TOMMY HARRIS: My Conscience Is
Bothering Me/ JOHNNY HEARTSMAN: Besame Mucho, Pts. 1 & 2/ Johnny's Blue
Mood/ Johnny's Thunderbird/ One More Time/ Sizzling/ Syrup Soppin'/ JOHNNY
HEATSMAN: Johnny's House Party, Pts. 1 & 2/ JESSE JAMES: A Love Like The
Wind/ I Call On You/ I Wanna Full Time Love/ RUDY LAMBERT: I'll Do It/ Love/
JIMMY LIGGINS: Blues For Love/ TINY POWELL: Done Made It Over/ Get My Hat/
My Time After Awhile/ That Was Yesterday/ JOE SIMON: I Keep Remembering/
Troubles/ LACY STEWART: Lightning Flashing
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Flesh Den 6906 |
Rock 'n' Roll Orgy, Vol. 6 |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended
The compilers of this
series have great taste - most of the tracks here have been on CD before but
every track is 50s rockabilly and rock 'n' roll at its finest with tough
vocals and tight bands and many featuring super hot guitar solos. The
opening track is listed aas Alley Cat by Walter Brown but is actually
the equally hot flipside Jelly Roll Rock. Other artists include gray
Montgomery, Artie Morris, Jerry Durham (a great version of Frankie &
Johnny), Hardrock & The Rhythm Rockers, Al Reed, Tommy Moreland, Gene
Stacks, Joe Lombardie and others. Sound quality is superb and the eight page
booklet has label shots of all the tracks here. (FS)
TOMMY "JIM" BEAM: My Little Jewell/ LEON BOWMAN: Rockin'
The Blues/ WALTER BROWN: Alley Cat/ CURLEY JIM: Rock & Roll Itch/ DEACON &
THE ROCK & ROLLERS: Rockin' On The Moon/ JERRY DURHAM: Frankie & Johnny/
FRANK EVANS: Gotta Get Some Money/ HARLEY GABBARD & AUDREY HOLT: Hey Baby/
HARDROCK GUNTER & RHYTHM ROCKERS: Whoo I Mean Whee/ LLOYD HOWELL: Little
Froggy Went A Courtin'/ JIMMY KIRKLAND: Come On Baby/ TONY & JACKIE LAMIE:
Sunset Blues/ BUD LANDON: Get Away/ JOE LOMBARDIE: Let's All Rock & Roll/
GRAY MONTGOMERY: Right Now/ TOMMY MORELAND: Bang Bang/ ARTIE MORRIS: Desire/
LYNN PRATT: Come Here Mama/ VERN PULLENS: It's My Life/ AL REED: I Love Her
So/ JIMMY SMITH: Pinch Me Quick/ GENE STACKS: I Know My Baby Loves Me/ DICK
TACKER: Rock All Night With Me/ THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Grandpa's Rock/ ARNOLD
VAN WINKLE: An Old Rusty Dime
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Night Train 7086 |
The Best Of Spinett |
● CD $15.98 |
18 tracks, 39 mins, recommended
Another in Night Train's
series devoted to the "Legendary Labels Of Louisiana" - this one features 18
sides recorded for Spinett - a label formed by Frankie Ford and his manager
Joe Caronno in 1957 and lasted for two years. Many of the recordings
featured various combinations of New Orleans musicians recording out of
contract - usually Ford, Huey "Piano" Smith and Mac Rebennac - and were
issued under such pseudonyms as The Cheerleaders, Snuffy Smith (their
Lumumba is a very bizarre political song) and The Three Stooges. Other
artists recorded under their real names including Louis Hayward, Roland
Stone (his Preacher's Daughter is a great steal of James Wayne's
Junco Partner), high pitched vocalist Stormy, Bobby Lonero and Johnny
Meyers. Nothing terribly profound here but a nice bunch of entertaining
music with that distinctive New Orleans feel. (FS)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
P-Vine PCD 3057 |
Houston Jump Blues, The 50s |
● CD $22.98 |
23 tracks, 63 mins, recommended
Back in stock. Fine
collection of Texas and West Coast blues recorded in the early/mid 50s. The
"Houston" part of title is a bit misleading but all the artists here are
connected to Texas in one way or another. Among the highlights are the
tracks by Quinn Kimble and Connie Mack Booker whose sides are enhanced by
the superb guitar work of Cal Green. Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow's
Crawfishin' and Route "90" are wonderfully hot rockers with a
Louisiana flavor. There are some fine unnamed instrumentals from King Curtis
along with tracks by Melvin Daniels (with Curts's band), Lucky Enois,
Peppermint Harris, Preacher Stevens and Mercy Dee. (FS)
CONNIE MACK BOOKER: All Alone/ Love Me Pretty Baby/ Love
Me Pretty Baby (RPM unissued alt take)/ KING CURTIS: unknown instrumental/
unknown instrumental/ unknown instrumental/ unknown instrumental/ MELVIN
DANIELS: Boogie In The Moonlight (Lean Chick)/ Hey Hey Little Girl/ I'll Be
There/ If You Don't Want My Lovin'/ MERCY DEE: Come Back Maybellene/ True
Love (Flair unissued instrumental version)/ LUCKY ENOIS: Crazy Man Crazy/
Zig Zag Ziggin'/ CLARENCE "BON TON" GARLOW: Crawfishin'/ Route "90"/
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Bye Bye Fare Thee Well/ The Blues Ain't Nothing (RPM
unissued)/ QUINN KIMBLE: Blue Memories/ Feel My Broom/ PREACHER STEVENS: So
Far Away/ Whoopin' & Hollerin'
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