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NEWSLETTER #145
Bargain Basement
 Art Adams -> Faron Young + Books & DVD
 

  

 

BOOKS

THE PRODUCER JOHN HAMMOND  And The Soul Of American Music by Dunstan Prial ● BOOK $27.00 $19.50
Hardcover, 328 pages, count as six CDs for shipping
Author Dunstal Prial will probably be unfamiliar to most of you; his work for the Associated Press and Dow Jones are not that well known and this is his first foray into the music world. I guess that if you are gonna start somewhere in the music world, you might as well start with a giant of the industry. John Hammond (Jr.) was easily one of the most important men in the history of the 20th century music industry. Even if merely judged on his early work discovering, producing, and heralding such artists as Billy Holiday, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Charlie Christian, the man would still be a legend. But there is more: he was also a great early champion for civil rights and a force of nature in the Jazz world and beyond and if he dropped dead in 1950, his name would still be known and respected to this day. The great man would not go quietly into that good night, though, and in the second half of his career he was the responsible for launching the widespread success of Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen and amazingly, this man (who's first favorite record in 1918 was Sir Henry Laudner's "Roamin' In The Gloamin'") had the vision and ear in 1982 to get behind an up-and-coming Texas blues guitarist named Stevie Ray Vaughn, which was his last big production and clearly an exclamation point on a brilliant career. This is the first biography of John Hammond (apart from his autobiography of some 20 years ago), his career could and should have a lot more written about him. This book is a good start. Dunstal Prial provides us with a solid reconstruction of the legend's life and it is certainly well written. My only complaint is that so much of the content of this book comes across as cursory; the seasoned music reader will fly through this and possibly come away from it wanting a more complex and detailed account written in language that only comes from those immersed in the music field. All in all though, there is a lot of great material covered within and the subject is so worthy that I can still heartily recommend this. (JM)

 
GREAT GOD A'MIGHTY THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS by Jerry Zolten ● BOOK $29.98 $14.98
Hardbound, 370 pages, counts as eight CDs for shipping
In depth look at the career of one of the greatest and most important gospel groups tracing their career from their origins in the 20s to the present day. It draws on interviews with surviving members of the group as well as other musicians who worked with them. Includes rare photos, bibliography and discography.
 

COMPACT DISCS
 
ART ADAMS Collector 4490 Rockin' My Way Around ● CD $16.98 $11.98
New recordings by Indianapolis rockabilly performer who had a couple of classic singles issued in the 50s. These plus a whole bunch of unissued sides were issued on Collector 4477. Art has performed on and off since his heyday and these recordings were made in 2004 with a good band featuring lead guitarist Bill Stewart who first played with Art in the 60s, slap bassist Michael Strauss and drummer Mark Cutsinger. Art is in pretty good voice on a selection of remakes of his old classics, some new compositions and rockabilly favorites - Tear It Up/ Wreck Of The Old 97/ Sweet Kandie Jean/ Big River/ She's From Tennessee/ Ramrod/ Canadian Lady/ Thirty Days/ Roberta, etc.
ART ADAMS: Big Midnight Special/ Big River/ Boppin The Blues/ Canadian Lady/ Detour/ Down In Tennessee/ Flat Foot Sam/ Get With It/ Good Rockin Tonight/ Hangout/ Hello Josephine/ I Forgot To Remeber To Forget/ I Wanna Hear It Again/ Memphis Dream/ My Baby Loves Me/ Promised Land/ Ramrod/ Red Headed Woman/ Roberta/ She's From Tennessee/ Sweet Kandie Jean/ Tear It Up/ The Wreck Of Old 97/ Thirty Days/ Walking The Dog/ We're Getting Closer To Being Apart

 
BRODERICK Offspring 108 Cortanze Castle ● CD $19.98 $13.98
Second album from talented British group featuring Luke Daniels/ accordion, guitr & vocals, Colm Murphy/ fiddle, Claire Garrard/ fiddle & viola, Dan Oeters/ guitar & percussion and Rick Foot/ double bass along with several guest musicians. The emphasis is on instrumentals featuring most traditional from a wide variety of sources. There are three songs - the traditional As I Roved Out and Just For Tonight In Fancy along with Stan Rogers' the Field Behind The Plough
 
BIG BILL BROONZY Classics 5078 The Chronological, 1949-1951 ● CD $14.98 $11.98
20 tracks, 70 mins, recommended
Big Bill's extensive recording career before 1949 has been extensively documented (no pun intended) on 12 Document CDs (5050->5052, 5126->5133, BDCD 6047 - $15.98 each) and now Classics picks up the baton and continues the story featuring 20 tracks recorded in 1949 and 1951 (he didn't record in 1950). The first 8 tracks were recorded for an African-American audience - four with a small combo with a sax and four with just drums. Mostly remakes of earlier songs Bill is in fine form with powerful vocals and guitar on songs like I Love My Wiskey/ I Stay Blue All The Time/ Five Feet Seven/ Keep Your Hands Off Her and others. The remaining tracks were recorded in France in 1951 during Bill's first trip to Europe and features him beginning to adopt a somewhat more "folky" approach with a more studied approach to his songs including a couple that would be possibly be more familiar to his new white audience like In The Evening and Back Water Blues plus the first appearance of a protest song in his repertoire Black, Brown & White. Still Bill's singing and guitar playing are superb and songs like House Rent Stomp/ The Moppin' Blues and What I Used To Do are a delight. (FS)

 
SOLOMON BURKE Music Avenue 250105 Soul Lucky ● CD $15.98 $11.98
11 tracks, 45 min., recommended
A compilation (circa the late 1970s) of rare tracks Burke recorded with producer/songwriter/singer/genius Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams. It's a little troubling that most of what's good about these tracks (and there is considerable good) can be directly attributed to Williams, who wrote much of the material and whose style Burke apparently adopts for the duration of their collaboration. Of the three songs Burke wrote, Music To Make Love By recalls the worst excesses of Barry White and includes the illuminating observation, "It's so hard to make love to a picture, baby." The rest of the song is even more embarrassing. His other two are merely filler. (JC)

 
THE CHARTS Collectables 5029 The Charts Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98 $9.98
A fine Harlem doo-wop quintet who recorded for Bobby Robinson's Everlast label in 1957 and who scored big with their hit Desiree included here along with Why Do You Cry/ I Told You So/ You're The Reason/ Baby Be Mine, etc.

 
COWBOY JACK CLEMENT Dualtone 1187 Guess Things Happen That Way ● CD $15.98 $9.98
12 tracks, 32 min., highly recommended
He hired on at Sun Records back in the glory days and produced tracks by Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis (including Whole Lotta Shakin'). Since then he's produced Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, Louis Armstrong, and U2 (on the "Rattle & Hum" CD), to name a diverse few. And his songwriting credits are at least as impressive. This album is his second solo release--his first came about 25 years ago. This one opens with the Rolling Stones' composition No Expectations, previously covered by Johnny Cash, whose influence is all over this disc. But mainly Clement sings from his own pen, including Ballad Of A Teenage Queen (a #14 charter for Cash, who lends his voice and guitar), and the titular track (a #11 hit for Cash who again lends vocal assistance). Credit his sense of humor for Drinking Carrot Juice ("it will clean your goozle out"), though Leavin' Is The Lovin' Thing To Do is more typical. And political country fans will appreciate Every Place I've Ever Been, co-written by Zell Miller! It may be a long wait for the next one. (JC)

 
EDDIE COLE & THE THREE PEPPERS Collectables 5331 That's Right! ● CD $11.98 $7.98
CD reissue of Krazy Kat 831. The first nine tracks feature Nat Cole's older brother, the supercool smooth swing vocalist/pianist Eddie Cole, with his rhythm jive unit known variously as His Gang and the Solid Senders. Eddie's vocal style is reminiscent of early Charles Brown and Nat Cole, supported with occasional tasty tenor sax and guitar fills, the latter supplied by Jimmy White. The rest consists of 5 cuts by the pitifully underecorded Three Peppers, who are composed of Roy Branker (piano & tenor lead), Bob Bell (guitar and 2nd tenor),and Walter Williams (bass & baritone vocal). This excellent jive-swing trio sing in the 3 Clefs and 3 Flames vein. One other side by them appeared on the now out of print Clanka Lanka collection. Rare pics and excellent sleeve notes by Dave Penny. (OLN)
 
PEE WEE CRAYTON Purple Pyramid CLP 960 The Essential Recordings ● CD $11.98 $7.98
10 tracks, highly recommended
Though there's very little information on this disc this is actually Pee Wee's Blue Spectrum album recorded for and with Johnny Otis in 1974. Pee Wee is in fine form with powerful vocals and tough stinging guitar. He redoes some of his old favorites like Texas Hop/ Blues After Hours/ Louella Brown and The Telephone Is Ringing (retitled here as My Baby's On The Line) as well as more recent compositions like Don't Forget To Close The Door and Blues In The Ghetto. He also does a fine rockin' version of Little Richard's Lucille and a soulful rendition of the blues ballad Need Your Love So Bad. Pee Wee is given fine accompaniment by members of Otis's band of the time include excellent piano by Otis himself. A most worthwhile release. (FS)
 
REV. J. M. GATES Document DOCD 5483 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 8 : 1930-1934 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
24 tracks, 74 min., recommended
The 8-song 1930 OKeh session that begins this volume was his last for that label and marked a 4-year recording hiatus for Gates -- and most other gospel and blues acts -- thanks to the Great Depression. (His These Hard Times Are Tight Like That and Pray For Better TImes To Come take the Depression for their subject.) The intriguingly titled Kinky Hair Is No Disgrace takes the position that a "black face and kinky hair" are nothing to be ashamed of because God looks inwardly, and yet Gates agrees with his congregation that kinky hair is "bad," a sad comment, it would seem, on the effect of racist attitudes. In '34 he began his Bluebird career with a return to singing and some familiar subjects, including another in his Xmas series, Will You Have Christmas Dinner In Jail? and Don't Hide From Your Furniture Man, another homage to A. W. Nix's Pay Your Honest Debts. Other titles of interest include Hell Ain't Half Full, No Bread Line In Heaven,Born To Die, and a pair of laudatory sermons about the recently-elected FDR. (JC)

 
ROSCO GORDON Varese Vintage 63852 I'm Gonna Shake It! The Sun Recordings ● CD $16.98 $7.98
22 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended
Rosco Gordon's Sun recordings remain classic and timeless regardless of how much time passes. Jumping blues, boogie, and ballads are generously sprinkled throughout the set as Gordon's piano fronts small, yet powerful bands with plenty of bootin' sax and potent drums. From the stomping grooves of Decorate The Counter and Just Love Me Baby to the hilarious and painfully slow Weeping Blues or Tired Of Living, Rosco was in great form when recording for Sam Phillips. Bill Dahl hands in strong liner notes and offers insight into Rosco's drunken rooster, Butch, but session details are sadly absent. Incredible music. (CR)
ROSCO GORDON: Bop With Me Baby/ Cheese And Crackers/ Decorate The Counter/ I Don‘t Like It/ I Found A New Love/ I Wade Through Muddy Water/ If You Don‘t Love Me Baby/ I‘m Gonna Shake It/ Just Love Me Baby/ Let‘s Get High/ Love For You Baby/ Love With Me Baby/ New Orleans, La/ Nineteen Years/ Real Pretty Mama/ Sally Jo/ Shoobie Oobie/ T-model Boogie/ That‘s What You Do To/ The Chicken (dance With You)/ Tired Of Living/ Weeping Blues

 
JESSIE HILL Collectables 5164 Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Golden Classics ● CD $11.98 $9.98
16 tracks, recommended
Let me tell ya 'bout Ooh Poo Pah Doo and Scoop Scoobie Doobie and Popcorn Pop Pop. Great New Orleans R&B by the exuberent Mr. Hill, recorded for Minit 1960-62, with backing by Hills House Rockers with Eddie Lang & The Lastie brothers and Allen Toussaint on the ivories. The 16 tunes include the previously unissued Candy/ Why Holler/ Get In Touch and 2 never issued takes of the Hill-Prof. Longhair Oogsey Moo. All tunes written by Hill except for the final Toussaint written single, Can't Get Enough (Of That Ooh Poo Pah Doo) & The Pot's On Strike (GM)

 
LONG JOHN HUNTER Alligator 4861 Ride With Me ● CD $15.98 $9.98
10 tracks, 51 min., recommended Reissue of 1993 Spindletop album. If you've heard the handful of singles he recorded for the tiny Yucca label in the early 1960's, reissued some year ago on a Double Trouble LP, you know how talented this Texas singer/guitarist is. And at 62, he hasn't lost his edge, turning in this fine set of originals that includes El Paso Rock/ West Texas Homecoming, just in case anyone should doubt where his heart is. On the latter cut Hunter is joined by T. D. Bell and his guitar; throughout, saxophonists Mark Kazanoff and Red Rails give the backing band distinction and heat. Pianist Erbie Bowser is no slouch either. Solid. (JC)
 
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT Fuel 2000 61495 D.C. Blues - The Library Of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2 ● CD $19.98 $14.98
Two CDs, 37 tracks, highly recommended
The second volume is not quite as strong as the first - there is a higher proportion of songs John had not recorded elsewhere and it seems that he was not as familiar with some of the songs here and he occasionally stumbles over lyrics or guitar parts. Nevertheless there are some fine performances here and John's singing and playing are almost always a delight. Includes Monday Morning Blues/ Salty Dog/ Waiting For You/ Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord/ I'll Fly Away/ I'm Satisfied/ Four O'Clock Blues/ Alabama Bound/ Frankie No. 2/ You Got To Get Ready, etc. (FS)

 
JERRY LEE LEWIS Varese Vintage 66384 Rockin' The Blues ● CD $16.98 $7.98
25 Sun sides from the Killer concentrating on his less familiar sides including obscure singles, tracks originally unissued, alternate takes, etc. - some tracks have never appeared before on a U.S. release. There's a heavy emphais on bleus and R&B songs - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/ Sixty Minute Man/ All Night Long/ Rockin' With Red/ Cool, Cool Ways/ Sick & Tired/ C.C. Rider/ My Girl Josephine/ Teenage Letter, etc.

 
LITTLE SONNY Black Top 1113 New Orleans R & B Gems ● CD $15.98 $9.98
11 tracks, 35 mins, recommended
Now out of print. Previously available on Black Magic as an import. Johnny "Little Sonny" Jones is a fine New Orleans singer who had a handful of singles on Specialty and Imperial in the 50s but never made much of an impact. These sides were cut in 1975 with a group that included top New Orleans musicians like Dave "Fat Man" Williams/ piano, Dave Lastie & Clarence Ford/ saxes, Justin Adams/ guitar and others and the result is very pleasing. Jones is a solid singer and his material includes originals, songs written by Williams and some Southern blues favorites like I'm Loaded and Further Up The Road. Williams also takes a couple of appealing vocals. (FS)

 
LEWIS LYMON/ THE KODAKS Collectables 5049 Lewis Lymon & The Teen Chords Meet The Kodaks ● CD $11.98 $9.98
21 tracks, 51 min., recommended
Both of these vocal groups have previously and more thoroughly been covered by separate Relic issues, but, if you prefer a lighter dose of each, this disc may suit your needs. Lewis Lymon (Frankie's brother) and the Teenchords get 13 tracks here including I'm So Happy, Lydia, Please Tell the Angels, Your Last Chance, Dance Girl and two versions of I'm Not Too Young to Fall in Love. The Kodaks get the remaining 8 tracks, performing Teenager's Dream, Oh Gee Oh Gosh, Runaround Baby, Guardian Angel, and Make Believe World. Sound quality is solid; there are nice photos of each group on the cover, and Mark Marymont's notes are worth reading. (DH)
THE KODAKS: Dance Dance Dance (Pearl &the Deltars)/ Guardian Angel/ Kingless Castle/ Little Boy and Girl/ Little Boy and Girl (alternate take)/ Make Believe World/ My Baby and Me/ Oh Gee Oh Gosh/ Oh Gee Oh Gosh (alternate take)/ Runaround Baby/ Teenager's Dream/ Teenager's Dream (Pearl &the Deltars)/ LEWIS LYMON & THE TEEN CHORDS: Dance Girl/ Falling In Love/ Honey Honey/ I Found Out Why/ I'm Not Too Young To Fall In Love/ I'm Not Too Young To Fall In Love (outtake)/ I'm So Happy/ Lydia/ Please Tell the Angels/ Tell Me Love/ Them There Eyes/ Too Young/ Your Last Chance/ Your Last Chance (outtake)

 
JERRY MCCAIN Varese Vintage 6022 Good Stuff ● CD $15.98 $7.98
16 tracks, 49 mins, recommended
Collection of recordings made between 1960 and 1984 by this Alabama singer and brilliant harmonica player drawing on recordings made for Jerry's long time producer Gary Sizemore and issued on various singles and LPs. It opens with his classic Rex sides from 1960 of the much covered She's Tough and one of the all time great blues harmonica instrumentals Steady. From the same session but not released until 1977 were the almost as good What About You and Rough Stuff. After that it's a bit of a mixed bag with fine blues and harmonica playing interspersed with silly novelty songs (including the controversial Welfare Cadillac Blues) and not always succesful attempts at soul. The disc ends with the rock 'n roll novelty Pussycat A-Go-Go by The Shindigs, who were actually Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs - a dumb song rescued by a fine harp solo from Jerry. (FS)

 
CHARLIE & JOE MCCOY Blues Documents BDCD 6020 The McCoy Brothers, Vol 2 1936-44 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
The brothers McCoy recorded extensively with The Harlem Hamfats during the mid-to-late 30's, and though none of those sides are here, the 4 by The Palooka Washboard Band are essentially the same lineup. Most of these 24 sides swing gently, as Charlie and Joe prove themselves to be two of the more versatile pre-war blues musicians. The excellent If You Take Me Back, by Big Joe And His Washboard Band, features some fine harmonica from Robert Nighthawk, as do 3 more. Washboard Sam shows up for the 1942 sessions when 6 sides were cut, including It Ain't No Lie/ Sleeping By Myself. And the last 2 songs from '44 feature Little Brother Montgomery on piano. More fun than volume 1, and sound quality is usually pretty good. (JC)
JOE MCCOY: Bessie Lee Blues/ Come Over And See Me/ Got To Go Blues/ I Love You Baby/ I'll Get You Off My Mind/ I'm Alright Now/ I'm Through With You/ If You Take Me Back/ It Ain't No Lie/ Let's Try It Again/ Myself/ Oh Red's/ Sleeping By/ Twin Brother/ We Can't Agree/ What Will I Do?/ When You Said Goodbye/ Your Money Can't Buy Me/ PALOOKA WASHBOARD BAND: Back Door/ Save Me Some/ We Gonna Move/ You Done Tore Your Pants With Me/ PAPA CHARLIE'S BOYS: Gypsy Woman Blues/ You Can't Play Me Cheap/ TAMPA KID: Baby Please Don't Go/ Keep On Trying

 
BIG JAY MCNEELY Collectables 5133 Swingin' - Golden Classics ● CD $12.98 $9.98
Previously issued on Jay's own Big J label. 16 fine tracks recorded for the Los Angeles Swingin' label 1957-61 - lots of hard-driving music including the uneditied version of the hit There Is Something On Your Mind with Little Sonny Warner on vocals, lots of honkin' instrumental & even a rockabilly track with a white singer - 6 tracks previously unreleased.

 
BUDDY MOSS Document DOCD 5124 Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 2 - 1933-34 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
22 tracks, 63 mins, essential
The first 5 tracks continue the feel of volume 1 featuring Moss with second guitarist Curley Weaver recorded in September, 1933. The rest of the disc features 17 songs recorded in late July and early August, 1934 and features Moss alone with his guitar. These are my favorite Moss recordings - as good as the accompanied sides are there is something really magical about these solo performances. Moss's vocals are more intense and introspective and his guitar playing is truly beautiful and imaginative full of dazzling, but not flashy, runs. The mood is often somber as in When The Hearse Roll Me From My Door/ Insane Blues or Jinx Man Blues but there are also more upbeat ragtimey pieces like his version of the East Coast standard Tricks Ain't Walking No More and Shake It All Night Long. A few tracks are from pretty worn 78s but, on the whole, the sound is excellent and the music is superb. (FS)
BUDDY MOSS: B & O Blues No. 2/ Broke Down Engine No. 2 (take 1)/ Broke Down Engine No. 2 (take 2)/ Dough Rolling Papa/ Evil Hearted Woman/ Insane Blues/ Jinx Man Blues/ Love Me, Baby, Love Me/ Misery Man Blues/ New Lovin' Blues/ Oh Lordy Mama/ Shake It All Night Long/ Sleepless Night/ Some Lonesome Day (14065-1)/ Some Lonesome Day (14065-2)/ Some Lonesome Day (15552)/ Someday Baby/ Stinging Bull Nettle/ Too Dog Gone Jealous/ Tricks Ain't Walking No More/ Unkind Woman/ When The Hearse Roll Me From My Door

 
TOMMY RIDGELY Collectables 5182 The Herald Recordings ● CD $11.98 $9.98
17 tracks, highly recommended
Tommy Ridgely was certainly a heavy talent on the New Orleans scene, but he never acheived the reputation he deserved, or even had much of a hit besides the voodoo novelty Double Eyed Whammy. These 17 tracks, cut for Herald Records in the late 50's, were just part of a long saga of label-hopping. Fortunately for us fans, there is plenty of first class rockin' here, especially the uptempo romps When I Meet My Girl/ Baby Do Little/ Ding Dong School/ Wont'cha Gone. Alone But Not Lonely is a great slice of loping N.O. rock, and just one of the many unreleased cuts. Same story with the heart-pumping instrumental Real Gone Jam. Get it! (MB)
 
BLIND JOE TAGGART Document DOCD 5153 Complete Chronological Recordings, Vol. 1 (1926-28) ● CD $15.98 $10.98
24 tracks, 70 min., recommended
Josh White said Taggart was the 2nd meanest man he'd ever met and not even blind...Cataracts. At any rate, Blind Joe Taggart was apparently the first "guitar evangelist" (read: religious country blues guitarist) to put his act on shellac. His early Vocalion sides are generally excellent, especially Keep On The Firing Line, but his Paramount efforts are paramount. Some of them, anyway. The notes call Goin' To Rest Where Jesus Is/ Been Listening All The Day "Two of the most intriguing recordings in the history of American folk music." Intriguing claim, that. Some secular sides recorded under pseudonyms have been included, though Blind Percy may or may not be the real (Blind) McCoy. (JC)
BLIND JOE AMOS: C &O Blues/ BLIND PERCY & HIS BLIND BAND: Coal River Blues/ Fourteenth Street Blues/ BLIND JOE TAGGART: Been Listening All The Day/ Everybody's Got To Be Tried/ God's Gonna Separate The Wheat From The Tares/ Goin' To Rest Where Jesus Is/ I Will Not Be Removed/ I Wish My Mother Was On That Train (-52)/ I Wish My Mother Was On That Train (-53)/ I'll Be Satisfied (-48)/ I'll Be Satisfied (-49)/ I've Crossed The Separation Line/ Just Beyond Jordan/ Keep On The Firing Line/ Lord Don't Drive Me Away/ Mother's Love/ Religion Is Something Within You/ Scandalous And A Shame/ Take Your Burden To The Lord (-50)/ Take Your Burden To The Lord (-51)/ The Half Ain't Never Been Told/ The Storm Is Passing Over/ There's A Hand Writing On The Wall

 
BIG JOE TURNER Purple Pyramid 964 The Essential Recordings ● CD $10.98 $6.98
12 tracks recorded by the great blues shouter for Johnny Otis's Blues Spectrum label in the early 70s. Big Joe is accompanied by a small group with occasional horns and the brilliant Shuggie Otis on guitar on a selection of his old favorites - Shake, Rattle & Roll/ Roll 'Em Hawk/ Cherry Red/ Honey Hush/ TV Mama/ Squeeze Me, Baby and others. Nothing new but some fine performances.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard 1011 The R&B Years - 1954 ● CD $24.98 $19.98
Another great collection featuring 100 blues, R&B and doo-wop titles issued in 1954 including hits and lesser known sides. About 25% of the tracks are duplicated on Indigo 2565. Generally excellent sound and set comes with 8-page fold out booklet with notes by Roy Bainton.
JOHNNY ACE: Never Let Me Go/ FAYE ADAMS: It Hurts Me To My Heart/ LAVERN BAKER: Tweedle Dee/ DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: Jump Children/ JIMMY BINKLEY: Wine, Wine, Wine/ OTIS BLACKWELL: Oh! What A Babe!/ TINY BRADSHAW: Overflow/ CHARLES BROWN: I Want To Fool Around With You/ CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN: Midnight Hour/ Okie Dokie Stomp/ NAPPY BROWN: That Man/ ROY BROWN: Black Diamond/ Bootleggin' Baby/ RUTH BROWN: Love Contest/ Mambo Baby/ Oh What A Dream/ RAY CHARLES: Don't You Know/ It Should've Been Me/ THE CHARMS: Hearts Of Stone/ THE CHORDS: Sh-boom (life Could Be A Dream)/ THE CLOVERS: I've Got My Eyes On You/ Little Mama/ Lovey Dovey/ Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash/ SUGAR BOY CRAWFORD: Jock-a-mo/ PEE WEE CRAYTON: Do Unto Others/ You Know Yeah/ EARL CURRY: One Whole Year Baby/ LARRY DALE: You Better Heed My Warning/ MARGIE DAY: Take Out Your False Teeth Baby/ VARETTA DILLARD: Send Me Some Money/ FATS DOMINO: Something's Wrong/ You Done Me Wrong/ THE DOMINOES: My Baby's 3-d/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Rub A Little Boogie/ Shim Sham Shimmy/ THE EAGLES: Trying To Get To You/ WILLIE EGANS: It's A Shame/ BILLY EMERSON: The Woodchuck/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Cry Some More/ THE FLAIRS: Love Me Girl/ JOHNNY FULLER: Hard Times/ LOWELL FULSON: Reconsider Baby/ MIKE GORDON: Why Don't You Do Right?/ You Got To Give/ BIG JOHN GREER: Bottle It Up And Go/ TINY GRIMES: Juicy Fruit/ GUITAR SLIM: Later For You Baby/ The Story Of My Life/ The Things That I Used To Do/ ARTHUR GUNTER: Baby Let's Play House/ SHIRLEY GUNTER: Oop Shoop/ WYNONIE HARRIS: Keep-a-'talkin/ JOE HOUSTON: All Night Long/ ELMORE JAMES: Make My Dreams Come True/ BUDDY JOHNSON: I'm Just Your Fool/ A Pretty Girl (a Cadillac And Some Money)/ LITTLE JOHNNIE JONES: Hoy Hoy/ B.B. KING: Bye! Bye! Baby/ Everything I Do Is Wrong/ You Upset Me Baby/ EARL KING: A Mother's Love/ J.B. LENORE: Eisenhower Blues/ SMILEY LEWIS: Blue Monday/ Down The Road/ LITTLE MILTON: Beggin' My Baby/ WILLIE MABON: Poison Ivy/ Would You Baby/ PERCY MAYFIELD: I Need Love So Bad/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: Blues Blasters Boogie/ CLYDE MCPHATER & THE DRIFTERS: Honey Love/ CLYDE MCPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS: Such A Night/ THE MEDALLIONS: Buick '59/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Call Before You Go/ THE MIDNIGHTERS: Annie Had A Baby/ Sexy Ways/ AMOS MILBURN: Baby You Thrill Me/ Good, Good Whiskey/ Milk And Water/ THE MOONGLOWS: Sincerely/ THE PENGUINS: Earth Angel (will You Be Mine)/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Tipitina/ RED PRYSOCK: Jump Red Jump/ LULA REED: Watch Dog/ LITTLE RICHARD WITH THE TEMPO TOPPERS: Rice, Red Beans And Turnip Greens/ TOMMY RIDGLEY: Jam Up/ THE ROBINS: Riot In Cell Block No.9/ THE ROYALS: Work With Me Annie/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: I Smell A Rat/ THE TRENIERS: Rock A Beatin' Boogie/ JOE TURNER: Shake Rattle And Roll/ Tv Mama/ Well, All Right/ T-BONE WALKER: Love Is Just A Gamble/ Pony Tail/ DINAH WASHINGTON: Big Long Slidin' Thing/ YOUNG JOHN WATSON: Space Guitar/ CHUCK WILLIS: I Feel So Bad/ You're Still My Baby/ JIMMY WITHERSPOON: I Can Make It With You (big Daddy)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 5051 Harlem Holiday Vol. 1 - New York Rhythm & Blues ● CD $11.98 $9.98
The vocal group material on this collection (the first of seven) is made up entirely of singles issued in 1957 on the Holiday label. Choice cuts include 2 beautiful ballads by The Bop Chords, (My Darling To You & I Really Love Her So, the toe tappin' In My Thunderbird, a collector's classic by The Thunderbirds, plus such memorable perfs as Lorraine by The Harmonaires, United by The Love Notes, I Want To Know by The Ladders and Jimmy (Handy Man) Jones with The Pretenders doing Tonight. Fine and rare material from this important New York doo-wop label. (OLN)
THE BOP CHORDS: Baby/ Castle In The Sky, A/ I Really Love Her So/ My Darling To You/ So Why/ When I Woke Up This Morning/ THE HARMONAIRES: Come Back/ Lorraine/ THE LADDERS: Counting The Stars/ I Want To Know/ THE LOVE NOTES: Don't Go/ If I Could Make You Mine/ Tonight/ United/ THE PRETENDERS: I Love You So/ Tonight/ THE THUNDERBIRDS: In My Thunderbird/ Mary

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collectables 5460 Spotlite On Gone Records, Vol. 1 ● CD $13.98 $9.98
14 tracks, 33 min., recommended
This first volume in the two from Collectables that will review the output of New York's Gone Records is a winner. The featured artists to some extent are the Dubs with four cuts here: Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely/ Such Lovin'/ Beside My Love, and Chapel of Dreams. Numbers by other contributors include the delightful and previously unreleased Bad News by the Carouseles (sic), Angel Face by the Neons, Spanish Lace by the Four Seasons, How Was I to Know by the Uniques, and Stay As You Are by the Channels. Fine sound and decent graphics but no notes (DH)
THE CAROUSELES: Bad News (previously Unreleased)/ Never Let Him Go/ THE CHANNELS: Stay As You Are/ THE DELTAS: Lamplight/ THE DUBS: Beside My Love/ Chapel Of Dreams/ Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely/ Such Lovin'/ THE ENCHANTMENTS: I Love You (sherry)/ THE FOUR SEASONS: Spanish Lace/ THE NEONS: Angel Face/ NICKY & THE NOBELS: School Bells/ THE UNIQUES: How Was I To Know/ I'm Confessin'

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document 1015 Vocal Blues & Jazz, Vol. 3 : 1921-28 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
The complete recorded works or remaining titles of Juanita Stinette Chapelle, Georgia Harvey, Eddie Hunter, Marjorie Royce, Gertrude Dwyer, Lillie Delk Christian, Nancy walker and others.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5337 Piano Blues, Vol 5 : 1929-1936 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
The complete recordings in chronological order of Bill Pearson, George Allison & Willie White with Henry Brown, Andy Chatmon, George Ramsey, Sophisticated Jimmy La Rue and others.
GEORGE ALLISON & WILLIE WHITE: How I Feel My Love/ I'll Be Mean To You Blues/ ANDY CHATMAN: Hard Times On Me Blues/ Shakin' The Jelly/ CARRIE EDWARDS: Dirty Mistreater/ Fattening Frogs For Snakes/ Gettin' Lots Of Lovin'/ Hard Time Blues/ SOPHISTICATED JIMMY LA RUE: Money Truckin' Blues/ Sweet Violets/ Two Old Maids In A Folding Bed/ BILL PEARSON: Detroit Blues/ Good Stuff/ GEORGE RAMSEY: Blacksnake Wiggle/ Bumble Bee No.2/ I'm Talking 'Bout You No.2/ No Job Blues/ Oh What A Fool Blues/ Perfect Mess Blues/ Sittin' On Top Of The World/ Times Done Got Hard/ GUY SMITH: Sad Story Blues/ Southland Blues/ MONROE WALKER: Black Heart Blues/ High Powered Mama

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5340 Black Vocal Groups, Vol 1 : 1924-1930 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
25 tracks, 70 min., recommended
Document's investigation of the black vocal group tradition opens with this compilation of the recorded works of four different ensembles. Two rather formal sounding tracks by the Original Valentin Choral Club Quintet from 1924 open the program: Sing On and Give Me That Old Time Religion. Then the polished Sunset Four sings 13 old time numbers recorded between 1924 and 1925, including Do You Call That Religion, the engaging Barnum's Steam Calliope, Walk in Jerusalum Just Like John, and Wade in the Water. Our third performer, backed by the Sunset Four, is Grace Outlaw, whose formal soprano lends a vaudeville touch to Plantation Days and I've Got a Home in that Rock. The final six selections, from 1930, are by the Bessemer Melody Boys of Jefferson County, Alabama. Their more modern sounding selections include Sleep My Mother, In My Father's House, and When I Get Home. Notes by Smithsonian scholar Kip Lornell. (DH)
THE BESSEMER MELODY BOYS: Didn't They Crucify My Lord/ In My Father's House/ Motherless Children/ Sleep, My Mother/ Sun Didn't Shine/ When I Get Home/ THE ORIGINAL VALENTIN CHORAL CLUB QUINTETTE: Give Me That Old Time Religion/ Sing On/ GRACE OUTLAW: I've Got A Home In That Rock/ In Some Lonesome Graveyard (take 3)/ Plantation Days - Part I (with The Sunset Four)/ Plantation Days - Part Ii (with The Sunset Four)/ THE SUNSET FOUR: Barnum's Steam Calliope/ Didn't He Ramble?/ Do You Call That Religion?/ Good News Chariots Coming/ Hand Me Down The Silver Trumpet (take 1)/ Jerusalem Morn/ Oh Lord What A Morning (take 1)/ Oh Lord What A Morning (take 2)/ Wade In The Water/ Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John/ When I Came Out Of The Wilderness/ You Must Come In At The Door/ You Must Have That True Religion

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5596 Black & White Piano, Vol. 1 : 1923-1931 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
25 tracks featuring both African-American and Caucasian performers on a selection which includes jazz, blues and ragtime. The majority of the tracks here are piano solos with fine performances from Henry Jentes, Pete Wendling, Clarence M. Jones, Ezra Howlett Shelton, Seger Ellis and Sidney Williams. George Tremer accompanies himself on piano, harmonica and kazoo and also sings on Some Of These Days. The Jacksonville Harmony Trio do two songs accompanied by pianist Sugar Underwood. The bluesiest cuts here are two fine cuts by Lovin Sam Theard accompanied by the superb blues pianist John Oscar.
CLARENCE M. JONES: Hula Lou/ Maybe (she'll Write Me, She'll 'phone Me)/ Modulation (stepping On The Keys)/ The Rosary/ Trot Along/ SEGER ELLIS: Ash Can Blues/ Poppin' 'em Out/ Prairie Blues/ Prairie Blues/ Sentimental Blues/ Sentimental Blues/ Shivery Stomp/ St. Louis Blues/ You'll Want Me Back Someday/ THE JACKSONVILLE HARMONY TRIO: Jacksonville Blues/ Them Piano Blues/ HARRY JENTES: Blooey Blues/ EZRA HOWLETT SHELTON: Dearest Darling/ LOVIN' SAM THEARD: I'm Crazy 'bout My Bozo/ That New Kinda Stuff/ GEORGE H. TREMER: Some Of These Days/ PETE WENDLING: Papa Blues/ SIDNEY WILLIAMS: Mississippi Shivers/ Rag Doll/ St. Louis Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Document DOCD 5643 Rare Country Blues, Vol. 4 : 1929-1953 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Most of the artists here sound a bit too urbane to be considered "country blues" but the best cuts here are superb examples of country blues. The best cuts open and close this CD. It begins with four cuts from 1929 by a St. Louis singer and guitarist with the delightful name of Papa Egg Shell (real name Lawrence Casey). He was a superb singer and a flowing lyrical guitarist. His two part I'm Going Up The Country is based on Jim Jackson's blues hit Kansas City Blues with original lyrics. The disc ends with two lovely tracks from1953 by singer/ guitarist Robert Lee Westmoreland - an enigmatic performer with two fine sides recorded for the obscure Trepur label. Troy Ferguson appears to be a piano and guitar player - his piano blues College Blues is fine, the two guitar based blues are relatively undistinguished hokum numbers. Pere Dickson and Archie Lewis are pretty dull performers. This disc also features the only recordings under his own name by fine singer and guitarist Willie B. James who is best known for his frequent appearance as an accompanying musician on recordings Bumble Bee Slim, Lee Green, Curtis Jones, Monkey Joe, Red Nelson and others. There are 10 tracks by singer/ piano player Frank Tannehill recorded between 1937 and 1941 - most with guitar and drum accompaniment. Tannehill is a fairly pedestrian performer though his performances are not without interest and certainly worth a listen. All in all, a decent album which is elevated to highly recommended status by the performances of Papa Egg Shell and Robert Lee Westmoreland. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Leader 2044 Music From The Coleman Country - Revisited ● CD $22.98 $15.98
Reissue of classic 1972 album of traditional Irish music with newly added comments between tracks by Seamus Tansey.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rooster Blues 2641 And This Is Maxwell Street ● CD $25.98 $17.98
2 CDs - 30 tracks, 124 mins, highly recommended + bonus interview disc
Fabulous collection of recordings made live on Chicago's famed Maxwell Street in 1964 during the shooting of the documentary film "And This Is Free" (available on video as Shanachie 1403 - $18.98). This set features all the music featured in the movie plus a whole lot more taken from the original master tapes that only turned up a few years ago. The music is a panorama of some of the outstanding musicians who boosted their incomes by playing for patrons of this open air market every Sunday. Highlight of the set are ten songs by the magnificent Robert Nighthawk. Accompanied by guitar and drums he performs exciting versions of some of his most famous songs like Take It Easy Baby/ Anna Lee and Sweet Black Angel as well as covers of Dr. Clayton's Cheating & Lying Blues, Joe Turner's Honey Hush and a tantalizingly brief fragment of That's Alright. Many of these were reissued on Rounder from an unauthorized later generation tape and the sound here is superior. Nighthawk also features as an accompanist to Johnny Young, Big John Wrencher and Carey Bell who all turn in superb performances as does the obscure guitarist Little Arthur who does a bluesy blend of Gen Ammons' Red Top and Charlie Parker's Ornithology In an older style there's the fine singer and guitarist Arvella Gray doing Corrina Corrina and John Henry and an unknown singer and harmonica player does a fine Long Gone John. Finally we have some gospel from James Brewer and his group including his wife Fannie and Carrie Robinson - the group's version of I'll Fly Away is particularly exciting. From time to time we get to hear the sounds of the market, some of the hucksters selling their wares and interaction between the musicians and the audience.  There is also a bonus disc with 40 minutes worth of interviews with some of the musicians. A truly important release. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rounder 6030 Conjunto! Texas-Mexican Border Music, Vol. 3 ● CD $15.98 $9.98
16 tracks, highly recommended
Third volume in Rounder's excellent four-volume series collecting recent Conjunto records licensed from small labels such as Freddie, Del Bravo, Joey and House of Falcon. Like the first two volumes, it's hard to stand still when listening to this folk music which is intended for dancing. Conjunto utilizes accordian, bajo sexto (a 12-string Mexican guitar), bass and drums. Featured artists include Los Tremendos Gavilanes, Los Dos Gilbertos, Tony de la Rosa and Valerio Longoria, in addition to the better known Flaco Jimenez, Santiago Jimenez and Steve Jordan. (RS)
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Sequel NEMCD 924 Memories Are Still Made Of Hits ● CD $13.98 $10.98
Out of print 1997 CD. A collection of 26 U.S. chart hits from the 60s and early 70s. At the time this was originally issued many tracks were making their first appearance on CD and a number were reissued in stereo for the first time.
THE BELMONTS: Come On Little Angel/ Tell Me Why/ MAXINE BROWN: All In My Mind/ CANDY & THE KISSES: The 81/ THE CASINOS: Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye/ JIMMY CHARLES: A Million To One/ THE CHIMES: I'm In The Mood For Love/ Once In A While/ PETULA CLARK: American Boys/ THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: I Knew It All The Time/ THE CLASSICS: 'Til Then/ CLIMAX: Precious And Few/ KING CURTIS: Soul Twist/ THE JIVE FIVE: My True Story/ What Time Is It?/ THE LARKS: It's Unbelievable/ CURTIS LEE: Pretty Little Angel Eyes/ Under The Moon Of Love/ BOBBY LEWIS: One Track Mind/ Tossin' And Turnin'/ THE MONTANAS: You've Gotta Be Loved/ ROBERT PARKER: Barefootin'/ JAMES RAY: If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/ Itty Bitty Pieces/ THE SHELLS: Baby Oh Baby/ AL WILSON: Show And Tell