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NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
 Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop - Part 1
 

  

 

COMPACT DISCS
 
FAYE ADAMS Herald 416 30 Greatest Hits ● CD $17.98
20 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of 30 sides by this fine and expressive gospel inflected singer best remembered for her classic Shake A Hand which is included here along with 29 other great sides. This disc features most of her Herald sides recorded between 1953 and 1956 along with three of earlier sides which were issued as by the Joe Morris Orchestra including the amusing duet with Joe on That's What Makes My Baby Fat ad it also includes her 1957 hit Keeper Of My Heart recorded in New Orleans with the Dave Bartholomew Band. Excellent sound but no notes. (FS)
FAYE ADAMS: Ain't Gonna Tell/ Angels Tell Me/ Anything For a Friend/ Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere/ Crazy Mixed Up World/ Cry Your Crazy Heart/ Don't Forget to Smile/ Everyday/ Happiness To My Soul/ Hurts Me To My Heart/ I Owe My Heart To You/ I'll Be True/ I'm Going To Leave You/ I've Gotta Leave You/ It Hurts To Be In Love/ Keeper of My Heart/ Midnight/ My Greatest Desire/ Say a Prayer/ Shake a Hand/ Somebody Somewhere/ Step Up and Rescue Me/ Sweet Talk/ Tag Along/ Takin' You Back/ That's What Makes My Baby Fat/ The Hammer (Keeps a Knockin')/ Welcome Home/ You Ain't Been True To Me/ Your Love

 
RUBY ANDREWS Grapevine 3014 Just Loving You ● CD $19.98
28 tracks, 77 min., essential
If you were thinking of opening your own soul music label to reissue the sadly overlooked and criminally ignored great soul singers of the past the right way, think again. Grapevine is already there. Ruby Andrews recorded for Ric Williams' Zodiac Records, and this release gathers most of those sides (1967-73) and includes booklet notes from Chicago soul pundit Robert Pruter (author of "Chicago Soul", the definitive work on the subject). Andrews' earliest hits, such as Casanova (You're Playing Days Are Over), showcase her sweeter side, vocally. But after working with The Brothers of Soul and recording out of Detroit, Andrews vocal style became a deep-soul shout with power to spare -- check You Made A Believer (Out Of Me). Standouts include Help Yourself (Lover), the LP-only track Since I Found Out, The Love I Need, Uh! Uh! Boy, That's A No No, Tit For Tat, You Can Run (But You Can't Hide), and the "northern" soul dance-floor packer Just Loving You, and everything else. (JC)

 
HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS Ace CDCHD 779 Dancin' & Twistin' ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 64 min, highly recommended
A fine collection of Hank's best dance tunes recorded for King/Federal 55-69, starting off with the biggie - the original version of The Twist. After the Twist, there's 4 dance tunes from the mid-50s when still just The Midnighters including Henry's Got Flat Feet, another of the "Annie" songs. Then there's the post-twist by Hank & Midnighters ('59-62) & Hank solo ('63) which has some of my fave tunes including Let's Go Let's Go Let's Go/ Finger Poppin' Time, a bunch of follow ups - Good Twistin' Tonight/ Do You Know How To Twist/ Let's Go Again (Where We Went Last Night)/ (I'm Going Back To )The House On The Hill, even a follow up to James Brown's popcorn tunes - Butter Your Popcorn, & a bunch of tunes for dances you never even HEARD of - The Coffee Grind/ The Float/ The Hoochi Coochi Coo/ Poppin' The Whip, etc. Great liner notes by Hank. (GM)
HANK BALLARD: (i'm Going Back To) The House On The Hill/ Butter Your Popcorn/ Dance Till It Hurtcha/ Do You Know How To Twist?/ E Basta Cosi/ Finger Poppin' Time/ Funky Soul Train/ Good Twistin' Tonight/ Henry's Got Flat Feet/ It's Twistin' Time/ Keep On Dancing/ Let's Go Again (where We Went Last Night)/ Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go/ Poppin' The Whip/ Rock And Roll Wedding/ Rock Granny Roll/ Sloop And Slide/ That Low Down Move/ The Coffee Grind/ The Continental Walk/ The Float/ The Hoochi Coochi Coo/ The Switch-a-roo/ The Twist

 
HOMER BANKS Stateside 875 222-2 Hooked By Love - The Best Of Homer Banks ● CD $11.98
20 tracks, 54 min., essential
Banks is best known for having penned many a hit at Stax Records back in the glory days, including Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One, a hit for Johnnie Taylor; I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, a hit for Sam & Dave (and later Elvis Costello); I'll Be The Other Woman, a hit for Soul Children; and many others. As a singer Banks cut one 45 for Isaac Porter & David Hayes' short-lived Genie label (Lady Of Stone b/w Sweetie Pie) and then a handful of sides for Minit during the 1960s. Most of his output from that period is collected here, including 10 previously unreleased cuts. His finest moments include A Lot Of Love, which he co-wrote, and the Porter-Hayes pieces Hooked By Love, 60 Minutes Of Your Love, and Do You Know What. The deep soul ballad Foolish Hearts Break First (another co-written by Banks) is haltingly good. The rest of Banks' catalog is out of print, so this is the only game in town (and a good game at that), other than hunting for vinyl. (JC)

 
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)

 
DAVE BARTHOLOMEW Collectables 2883 The King Sides ● CD $15.98
23 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
If you're not collecting the comprehensive chronological series on Classics this is a great way to get the complete DeLuxe and King recordings of trumpeter, bandleader, arranger and producer Dave Bartholomew including two previously unissued alternate takes that are not on Classics. Bartholomew is best remembered for sides he did with Fats Domino on Imperial, but between 1949 and 1952 he cut for De Luxe and King under his own name. Although little more than an average vocalist, Dave could blow breath-taking solos. Many star instrumentalists passed through Dave's band: Frank Fields (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), Todd Rhodes (piano), Herb Hardesty (tenor), and Ernest McLean (guitar), among many others. Includes Stardust/ Gumbo Blues/ Country Boy/ In The Alley/ Twins/ I'll Never Be The Same ad others including the two part Lawdy Lawdy Lord with a vocal by Tommy Ridgley and the original recording of My Ding-A-Ling. Sound quality is fine and their informative notes by Victor Pearlin but no discographical info. (FS)

 
EDDIE BO Night Train 7025 New Orleans Solo Piano ● CD $15.98
10 tracks, 52 min., highly recommended
The first six tracks were recorded at the Boiler Room, New Orleans, June 1995, and the remaining four at MAI studios, New York, in April 1993. For those who are familiar only with Bo's outstanding funk work, these self-penned, solo instrumental piano blues will reveal another side of the man. Born Edwin Bocage, Bo has been recording and doing session work since the mid-1950s. Still hitless after all these years, Bo's best-known song is perhaps Check Mr. Popeye, included on the Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes 1977 LP This Time It's For Real. Bo's style at the ivories here reflects both blues and jazz influences, as one might expect from a long-time resident of the Crescent City. Songs such as Havin' Fun In New Orleans and Boogie At The Boiler Room highlight the fact that even into his mid-sixties Bo's command of the keys was impressive. A solid and satisfying outing from an influential if under-appreciated performer. (JC)

 
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)

 
EUGENE CHURCH Ace CDCHD 1067 The Very Best Of Eugene Church ● CD $18.98
26 tracks, 69 min, essential
Best known for having penned & recorded the immortal Pretty Girls Everywhere (liner notes mention covers by everyone from Gene Vincent to Magic Slim to The Ventures!) this is the first ever collection totally devoted to Church. Starting out as half of The Cliques (the classic Girl Of My Dreams) with his buddy Jesse Belvin, this set covers his early career with both sides of all his singles for Modern (The Cliques -'56), Specialty '56-57, again with a usually uncredited Belvin, the hit years with Class '58-60, again often with Belvin, a one-off for Rendezvous in '60, then five singles for King '60-61. Besides lots of great cuts (The Struttin' Kind/ I'm Your Taboo Man), there's also a never before issued alternate take of his hit Miami, an extended version with studio chat of Geneva as well as a great booklet full of pics, record labels & detailed history. (GM)

 
THE CLOVERS Rev-Ola 146 Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash - Their Greatest Hits ● CD $15.98
28 tracks, 72 min., highly recommended
Between 1951 and 1956 The Clovers had 20 singles hit Billboard's R&B chart, 19 made it to the Top 10, three to number 1, making them more commercially successful than even The Drifters during the same period. And except for Love, Love, Love, it's all here and more, making this excellent overview of one of the most influential black vocal groups of the early doo wop days hard to pass up. Songs include the great ballad Here Goes A Fool, the jumping The Feeling Is So Good, Hey Doll Baby, Fool Fool Fool, One Mint Julep, Nip Sip, Down In The Alley, I've Got My Eyes On You and plenty more. (JC)

 
ANN COLE Blue City 812 In The Chapel - 30 Greatest Hits ● CD $17.98
30 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
Former gospel vocalist Ann Cole was a superb singer who had a few modest hits in the late 50s/early 60s and might have gone on to greater fame had she not been in a car accident in the early 60s which resulted in her being confined to a wheel chair. This compilation features almost her entire recorded output cut in New York between 1954 and 1962. The recordings are a mixture of driving uptempo numbers and bluesy ballads, usually with fine bands. Among the highlights here are her version of Got My Mojo Working which Muddy Waters learned from her, Easy Easy Baby (later recorded by Magic Sam), the soulful ballad Are You Satisfied which was her biggest hit, the soul scorcher Have Fun from 1962 and its flip Don't Stop The Wedding - an answer to Etta James's big hit, the upbeat gospel flavored Each Day with hot guitar from Mickey Baker and others. It also includes a live version of Easy, Easy Baby from an Alan Freed. Sound quality is generally excellent though total lack of documentation is disappointing. (FS)

 
COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES Jin 9037 By Request ● CD $15.98
20 tracks, 53 min., essential
Louisiana swamp-pop at its finest, Cookie (Huey Thierry) and the Cupcakes recorded their big hit Mathilda (included here) for George Khoury's Lyric label (later distributed on Judd and Chess) in 1959 and spent much of the next decade cutting stunning swamp-pop originals like Belinda/ I Cried/ Trouble In My Life/ I've Been So Lonely, and equally wonderful R&B covers, including Chuck Willis' Betty And Dupree/ Charged With Cheating and Ivory Joe Hunter's I Almost Lost My Mind. Cookie shares vocal duties with Shelton Dunaway on (Just One Kiss/ Honey Hush) and Lil' Alfred (Walking Down The Isle/ Even Though). Get it if you don't got it. (JC)

 
THE CORONETS/ THE PELICANS Krypton 6003 And Now Ladies & Gentlemen .. The Cornets Meet The Peli ● CD $18.98
22 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended
The complete recordings of two fine vocal groups recording in the mid 50s. The Coronets from Cleveland had a big R&B hit in 1953 with the soulful ballad Nadine which is included here along with 13 other tracks - mostly ballads along with the occasional rockers - It Would Be Heavenly/ Should I/ I Love You More/ Hush/ Footsteps/ Don't Deprive Me, etc. The Pelicans were a West Coast group and their material is most bluesy rockers with solid backup including some particularly fine guitar work. Includes Chimes/ Miss lucy/ Drunk Drunk Drunk/ Down In Mexico (not The Coasters songs)/I Won't Be Back and others. (FS)

 
FATS DOMINO Ace CDCHD 597 The Early Imperial Singles, 1950-1952 ● CD $18.98
30 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Before becoming a pop star in the mid 50s Antoine "Fats" Domino had been one of the leading lights on the New Orleans blues and R&B scene since the late 40s. With his pounding, rolling piano work and his delightful Creole drawl he made music that was immediately appealing. His recordings, produced by the multi talented Dave Bartholomew featured some of the best musicians in a city full of great musicians - Herb Hardesty, Red Tyler, Ernest McLean, Frank Fields, Wendell Ducoge and others. This disc presents both sides of his first 14 singles plus two bonus cuts from the same period that first appeared on LP. Domino had a hand in writing almost every song here and there is just one classic after another including the rolling The Fat Man which was a less provocative reworking of the NOLA favorite Junker's Blues, the searing Every Night About This Time, the storming She's My Baby and a whole lot more. Sound is exemplary and the booklet includes extensive notes by Stuart Coleman who is completing a biography about Fats. Only thing missing is a discography. If you can afford it you should get the Bear Family box with all of Fats's Imperial recordings - otherwise this is a perfect introduction to his early years. (FS)
FATS DOMINO: Boogie Woogie Baby/ Brand New Baby/ Careless Love/ Cheatin'/ Detroit City Blues/ Don't Lie To Me/ Dreaming/ Every Night About This Time/ Goin' Home/ Hey! La Bas Boogie/ Hide Away Blues/ How Long/ I'll Be Gone/ Korea Blues/ Little Bee/ No No Baby/ Nobody Loves Me/ Poor Poor Me/ Reeling And Rockin'/ Right From Wrong/ Rockin' Chair/ SheÕs My Baby/ Sometimes I Wonder/ The Fat Man/ Tired Of Crying/ Trust In Me/ WhatÕs The Matter Baby/ You Know I Miss You

 
DR. JOHN Eagle 20078 Live At Montreux, 1995 ● CD $13.98
11 tracks, 77 min., highly recommended
Backed by some musically versatile sons of New Orleans (including the superb Alvin 'Red' Tyler on tenor sax), the good Doctor runs through an eclectic set of Crescent City evergreens (Iko Iko), rock and roll (Earl King's Come on (Let the Good Times Roll), which finds Mr. Rebennack playing guitar!), pop standards (Irving Berlin's Blue Skies), blues (Charles Brown's Tell Me You'll Wait For Me), his signature song (Right Place, Wrong Time), and more. As usual, Rebennack offers up better than average performances, and the sound quality is remarkably good, but as is often the case of late Dr. John takes no chances. Nothing is being pushed, not the proverbial envelope, not his luck. The result is a solidly enjoyable album that delivers what it promises, and isn't likely to win any new fans or lose any old ones. (JC)

 
THE DU DROPPERS Acrobat ACRCD 214 Boot 'Em Up ● CD $10.98
23 tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended
Great 23 track collection of this superb New York based group that excelled in rocking up tempo numbers. It includes everything they recorded between 1952 and 1954 including several titles originally unissued. Formed in 1952 by music/gospel veterans already in their 40's, the Du Droppers began their recording days under their new name for Bobby Robinson's Red Robin label, but switched to RCA in 1953 where they remained until the group folded in 1955. This set opens with their first four sides for Red Robin including their answer to The Dominoes Sixty Minute Man, their great Can't Do Sixty No More (the poor guy can only manager 30 minutes!) which they follow with the great blues ballad Chain Me Baby which shows that weren't only great at up tempo numbers. Lots of other great sides here like I Wanna Know/ Get Lost/ I Found Out/ Ten Past Midnight/ Don't Pass Me By/ Speed KingI Only Had A Little / How Much Longer and more. They are accompanied by top New York session musicians like Mickey Baker, Ben Webster, Sam "The Man" taylor, Bud Johnson and others. Sound is excellent and 8 page booklet has informative notes by Bob Fisher and full discographical info. (FS)
THE DU-DROPPERS: Bam Balam/ Boot 'em Up/ Can't Do Sixty No More/ Chain Me Baby/ Come On And Love Me Baby/ Dead Broke/ Don't Pass Me By/ Drink Up/ Get Lost/ Go Back/ Honey Bunch/ How Much Longer/ I Found Out/ I Only Had A Little/ I Only Had A Little (fast Version)/ I Wanna Know/ If You Just Don't Leave/ Laughing Blues/ Let Nature Take Its Course/ Little Girl Little Girl (you'd Better Stop Talking In Your Sleep)/ My Thrill Girl/ Speed King/ Ten Past Midnight

 
THE FLAIRS Ace CDCHD 1023 The Ultimate Flairs Featuring Richard Berry ● CD $18.98
29 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended
A great collection of rockers and ballads from this superb Los Angeles group whose initial line up featured the triple threat of Richard Berry, Cornell Gunter and Young Jessie! Includes tracks issued as by The Hunters, The Whips (the jury is still out as to whether this is actually the Flairs but the two songsher are great), The Five Hearts (only Richard Berry from the Flairs is on these), The Chimes, Rams and Young Jessie. Superb sound and informative notes from Gordon Skadberg. (FS)

 
THE HARPTONES Relic 7021 Sunday Kind Of Love ● CD $13.98
Willie Winfield and Central Harlem's Harptones never enjoyed instant million copy sales of their records when they were issued during the 50's, yet their fame and legendary reputation are spread far and wide. Sunday Kind Of Love/ My Memories Of You (both included) are standards today in every hallway harmonist's songbook, and their style set a trend in five-part harmony. Willie's clear and impassioned voice fronted wavering harmonies on Raoul Cita's expert musical arrangements. Charts include Since I Fell For You/ I Almost Lost My Mind/ Loving A Girl Like You/ Why Should I Love You. Exhaustive sleeve notes by Don Fileti plus rare pics and trade journal clips. Twenty cuts, including live tape from a 1955 concert; duplicates Relic LP's 5001 and 5003. If you like The Five Keys you'll like The Harptones. (OLN)
THE HARPTONES: Forever Mine/ High Flying Baby/ I Almost Lost My Mind/ I Depended On You/ I'll Never Tell/ It Wasn't Just For Laughs/ Loving A Girl Like You/ Mambo Boogie/ Mambo Boogie/ My Memories Of You/ Oobidee.. Oobdee.. Oo/ Ou Wee Baby/ Since I Fell For You/ Sunday Kind Of Love/ What Is Your Decision

 
SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS Acadia 8116 At Home With ● CD $16.98
25 tracks, 68 minutes, essential
This masterful re-issue takes Screamin' Jay Hawkins' most famous album and adds 13 tracks of greatest hits and alternate takes to make for the most essential Screamin Jay compilation that I have seen in a long time. "At Home With" was his breakthrough album from 1958; as fans will know, it is a mix of wild R&B and songs out of the great American soundtrack showcasing Hawkins' rich powerful baritone voice. Truly a record that owes as much to the Brill building as it does to the Apollo theatre, featuring the already famous I Put A Spell on You (originally released as a single in 1956), the equally insane and pretty damn racist Hong Kong, and the fantastic Yellow Coat for Hawkins' originals and tunes like I Love Paris (Cole Porter), Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Ol Man River, Deep Purple and my favorite You Made Me Love You among others sung in varying degrees of insanity, or occasionally sung totally straight. Of the 13 bonus tracks you get other essential original recordings of Little Demon the original and equally sensational flipside to Spell, Alligator Wine (Lieber/ Stoller)plus Frenzy/ There's Something Wrong With You/ Person To Person/ You Ain't Foolin' Me/ Darling Please Forgive Me/ Voodoo and the forgivable sequel You Put The Spell on Me. All of those tracks from Okeh records singles from 1956 - 1958 except for the last two which were released on RCA in 1974. At this point if you are still reading this review and haven't raced over to buy the CD, here is the piece for which there is no resistance. you get fantastic alternate takes of Little Demon, I Put A Spell On You, Theres Something Wrong With You and Alligator Wine WoW! Informative liner notes and beautiful packaging. why are you still reading this? Hurry, we might sell out!!! (JM)

 
HERMAN HITSON Soul-Tay-Shus 6352 You Are Too Much For The Human Heart ● CD $15.98
21 tracks, 65 min., essential
Deep soul fans rejoice, or at least cheer up a bit. Atlanta-based soul master Hermon (sometimes Herman) Hitson spent his entire career toiling in relative obscurity, releasing the occasional 45 on Royal, Lisa, Minit, Atco, Hitsong, and Sweet Rose. A powerful singer in the James Brown-Wilson Pickett style (with some Percy Sledge and O.V. Wright thrown in) and a fine songwriter and guitarist, Hitson racks his soul on such undeniably intense songs as You Are Too Much For The Human Heart and You Can't Keep A Good Man Down, two of several apparently inspired by Hitson's now ex-wife. (When Hitson sings "How many times must my heart be broken," it isn't just idle speculation.) This CD compiles "rare and unreleased" songs committed to posterity between 1961-76, including both sides of the rare Sweet Rose 25, copies of which currently fetch four figures on the soul vinyl market. And as is infrequently the case, the unreleased sides (seven total) are generally on a par with the released stuff. Sometimes, as in the case of Please, they're better. Sometimes, as in the case of Love Slipped Through My Fingers, the instruments seem out of tune (although the vocal is strong). One of the best soul releases in recent memory. (JC)

 
THE HURRICANES Dipper 202 "Priceless" Recordings ● CD $17.98
28 tracks, 68 min., essential
Another of the great and largely unheralded vocal groups of the 50's finally gets the digital compilation that it so richly deserves. Beginning its recording life as the Toppers of Baby Let Me Bang Your Box fame, this Henry Austin-led entourage laid down its best and its smoothest sides as the Hurricanes. Their numbers under that name include Poor Little Dancing Girl, Maybe It's All for the Best, Yours, Raining in My Heart, Dear Mother, and Fallen Angel. Also included are numbers that lead singer Austin is featured on that were released either as by Henry Alston, such as the delightful Once in a Beautiful Lifetime, and as by the Memos, such as I'm Going Home. All in all, not a disc to miss if you're a fan of the r&b vocal group sound. Sound quality is solid, as are the notes, and there's a great color photo of the group gracing the cover of the liner notes booklet. For what more could one ask? (DH)

 
ETTA JAMES Hip-O 08127-02 Gold ● CD $19.98
2 CDs, 36 tracks, 116 mins, highly recommended
There have certainly been a lot of Etta James collections that have come out over the years, but this is a particularly nice one. Of the collections that are currently available, "The Essential Etta James" that came out about 14 years ago can compete with this one. That CD has more tracks, but this CD has better tracks, starting off with a few numbers from her early period under the wing of Johnny Otis, including her big hit Dance With Me Henry (I hate calling it The Wallflower). After that it goes through the best of her Argo/ Cadet/ Chess greats spanning 1960 - 1974: All I Could Do Is Cry/ At Last/ Stop The Wedding/ Tell Mama/ Pushover/ I'd Rather Go Blind, so many great tracks! Then rounded out with a handful of tracks from the last 30 years. Some of those are great, some not so. I love her doing Elmore James' The Sky Is Crying, but I can really do without the Eagles cover. So basically you get 97% essential listening and about 3% to skip though. Nice pleasing looking with fine notes and lots of pictures of the cutest Blues singer ever. (JM)

 
THE JIVE FIVE Empire Musicwerks 450 805-2 Collector's Gold Series ● CD $12.98
20 tracks, 50 tracks, highly recommended
The Jive Five were truly a major league doo wop group proven by their all-time classic My True Story but also, as a listen to this will attest, in their many other beautiful and artful tunes featuring all their recordings for the Beltone label in 1961 and 1962. Lead singer Eugene Pitt's soulful voice, backed by the deep, rich bass of Norman Johnson and the soaring gospel flavored harmonies of the rest of the group is sure to send a chill down your spine on songs like Begging You Please and Never Never . And if you want to knock your sacroiliac out of wack roll up the rug for their dance tunes, especially Hully Gully Callin' Time where Johnson tells you to "do the Frank Sinatra" and "do the Floyd Patterson." Newly remastered from original master tapes this disc includes a rare stereo version of their classic hit My True Story. Notes by former Relic Records head honcho Donn Fileti. (FS)

 
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN Collectables 2822 The Very Best Of Little Willie John ● CD $15.98
25 tracks, 66 min, essential
Possibly the definitive John collection, which includes 11 tunes in stereo, many for the 1st time on CD. Programmed by Victor Pearlin, who also did the brief notes, & remastered by Little Walter Devenne, this set has all his R&B hits, many of them you probably known for their covers, includes Fever (Peggy Lee, Elvis), Talk To Me, Talk To Me (Sunny & The Sunglows), I Need Your Love So Bad (Fleetwood Mac), All Around The World (done by Little Milton as Grits Ain't Groceries). Even The Beatles covered Willie, with their version of Leave My Kitten Alone not appearing until the Anthology series, & James Brown did an entire LP of John covers! The originals are all here, & with great sound. (GM)
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: (i've Got) Spring Fever/ A Cottage For Sale/ All Around The World/ Big Blue Diamonds/ Do Something For Me/ Fever/ Flamingo/ Heartbreak (it's Hurtin' Me)/ Home At Last/ I'm Sticking With You Baby/ Leave My Kitten Alone/ Let Nobody Love You/ Let Them Talk/ Letter From My Darling/ Need Your Love So Bad/ Person To Person/ Sleep/ Suffering With The Blues/ Take My Love/ Talk To Me, Talk To Me/ Tell It Like It Is/ Walk Slow/ Will The Sun Shine Tomorrow/ You Got To Get Up Early In The Morning/ You're A Sweetheart

 
BUDDY JOHNSON & HIS ORCHESTRA Ace CDCHD 623 Walk 'Em ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 74 min., highly recommended
Woodrow Wilson (Buddy) Johnson (1915-1977) will always be remembered for his songs & arrangements, especially on titles like Since I Fell For You (1st covered by Paul Gayten), Please, Mr. Johnson, and Fine Brown Fame (covered by Nellie Lutcher) - all included on this new compilation of his first (and best) recordings. As a pianist & band leader, he was an important link between the swing era and early R&B. If the term Big Band Blues belongs to anyone, it belongs to Buddy Johnson. His sister Ella (b. 1923) is an early pioneer and influence on R&B divas like LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown and Etta James. She's represented here by 12 tracks, including Since I Fell For You ('45) and That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch ('44, Top 5 R&B hit) (covered by both Wynonie Harris and Muddy Waters). Of the three instrumentals, Boogie Woogie's Mother-In-Law ('41) should prove interesting to all you Elmore James fans, because it is this track where the Hawaiian Boogie slide guitar riff comes from, played here on steel guitar along with ex-Louis Jordan sideman Kenneth Hollon (1909-1974) on tenor sax. Shufflin' And Rollin' ('52) and Shake'em Up ('49) both feature the main tenor sax star of the band, Purvis Henson. As for the singers (other than Buddy himself), we have Arthur Prysock's They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool ('44, Top 5 R&B hit) and two by their alto saxophonist, Cuban-born Harold Geezil Minerve (1922-1992). The mastering is excellent, with a few taken from near-mint 78s. (EL)
HAROLD "GEEZIL" MINERVE: Root Man Blues Harold/ Talking About Another Man's Wife/ BUDDY JOHNSON: Be Careful (if You Can't Be Good)/ Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?/ Fine Brown Frame/ Southern Echoes/ Walk 'em/ ELLA JOHNSON: Baby You're Always On My Mind/ I Don't Know What's Troublin' Your Mind/ No More Love/ Please, Mr Johnson/ Satisfy My Soul/ Since I Fell For You/ Stormy Weather/ That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch/ Til My Baby Comes Back/ When My Man Comes Home/ You'll Get Them Blues/ BUDDY JOHNSON & ENSEMBLE: Boogie Woogie's Mother-in-law/ Shufflin' And Rollin' (instrumental)/ You Gotta Walk That Chalk Line/ ELLA JOHNSON & THE BEE JAYS: I'm Gonna Jump In The River/ ARTHUR PRYSOCK: Shake 'em Up (instrumental)/ They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool

 
LOUIS JORDAN Rev-Ola CRBAND 2 The Aladdin, "X" & Vik Recordings ● CD $15.98
28 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended
This exceptional CD collects Louis Jordon's first post Decca recording done between 1953 - 1955 for Vik, "X", and Aladdin. Jordan and crew are as excellent as ever on these cuts, if a bit nostalgic for the 1940s. Despite the quality of this material, it didn't make much of an impact on the charts of the day and seemed to show somewhat of a decline in Jordan's popularity. There's no good reason for this, though; there are a lot of fine tracks on this like Dag Gum Your Hide Boy Fat Back and Corn Liquor, the not so politically correct Gal You Need a Whoopin and the much covered Rock 'N' Roll Call. Extensive liner notes by--guess who--Dave Penny. (JM)

 
MEMPHIS HORNS DBK Works 516 Memphis Horns ● CD $15.98
11 tracks, 30 min., highly recommended
Andrew Love (tenor, alto & baritone saxes & flute) and Wayne Jackson (trumpet, flugelhorn & trombone)--the constants in an otherwise changing aggregation--made names for themselves at Stax playing on records by Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and Otis Redding, to name a select few. Later they added their sound to Willie Mitchell's Hi Records releases, including most of Al Green's best stuff. As session musicians no one could match their sound and consequently they've worked on thousands of soul records. On this album, originally released in 1970 an Atlantic's Cotillion label, they work on their own. They cover familiar territory, including I Can't Turn You Loose, Soul Man, Sad Song, and Cry Like A Baby, as well as some originals. Jackson speculates that Atlantic allowed them to make their own album as "almost a 'thank you, guys' record." To be sure, it didn't sell well, but as instrumental soul goes, it's pretty fine work. (JC)

 
THE METERS Sundazed 11081 Kickback ● CD $16.98
14 tracks, highly recommended
A whole CD of unreleased material of the fonky Meters in their prime! This has material from their Reprise years of '75 & '76, when the quartet (Art Neville/ keys, Leo Nocentelli/ gtr, George Porter/ b & Ziggy Modeliste) were joined by brother Cyrille Neville on vocals & an added percussion punch on congas. These are from the sessions that made the classics "Fire On The Bayou" & "Trick Bag". Includes alternate takes & extended versions of such greats as Honkey Tonk Woman (learned while opening for The Stones tour) & Hang 'Em High (do they actually out-funk Booker T?) along with never before heard material including a 9 minute jam on Neil Young's Down By The River, an exceptional Big Chief, even a cover of the Isley's cover of Love The One You're With! (GM)

 
JOE MORRIS ORCHESTRA Acrobat 4008 Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere ● CD $12.98
26 tracks, highly recommended
One of the first stars of Atlantic Records with hot sax instrumentals & having huge hits with his vocalists, including Laurie Tate with the title tune, which was Atlantic's 1st ever #1 R&B hit! Starting as a full fledged Bebop band with the big Texas tenor sax of Johnny Griffin (their 1st session, for Manor in '46, is here), the trumpeter/leader recorded without a contract for Atlantic in '47, with jazz-based tunes as Jump With Me/ Wow/ Weasel Walk/ Boogie Woogie March. With Griffin gone & Little Laurie Tate & Billy Mitchell on vocals the band moved into straight R&B & also to Decca, then back to Atlantic. Includes Can't Stop My Cryin'/ Midnight Grinder, etc. Classics recently issued the first volume of their comprehensive chronological reissue of Morris's recordings (Classics 5057) so there 18 tracks duplicated among the two discs. This one is probably the one to go with if you don't need everything. (GM)
JOE MORRIS & HIS ORCHESTRA: Anytime,anyplace,anywhere/ Bald Headed Woman/ Beans And Cornbread/ Boogie Woogie March/ Bottle Top/ Broken Hearted Blues/ Can't Stop My Crying/ Chuck-a-boogie/ Fly Mister Fly/ Ghost Train/ I Hope Your Satisfied/ Joe's Boogie/ Jump With Me/ Jump,everybody,jump/ Lowdown Baby/ Lowe Groovin/ Mad Moon/ Midnight Grinder/ Out Of The Night/ Pack Up All Your Bags/ Portia's Boogie/ The Applejack/ The Spider/ Weasle Walk/ Wilma's Idea/ Wow

 
ART NEVILLE Specialty 7023 His Specialty Recordings 1956-58 ● CD $15.98
This package offers a comprehensive glimpse at the first Neville Bro' to hit wax. Art's mid-50's efforts were pretty much in the Little Richard vein of New Orleans rock (without the savagery), and have been collected previously on Ace 188 (Mardi Gras Rock'N'Roll) and Specialty 2165 (That Old Time Rock'N'Roll). This compilation adds 3 unissued demos (of limited interest) to such classics as Oooh-Whee Baby/ Zing Zing/ Cha Dooky-Doo/ That Old Time Rock'N'Roll/ Belle Amie and the first U.S. appearance of Art's duet with Larry Williams on Rockin' Pneumonia. 20 cuts. (MB)
 
WARDELL QUEZERQUE Funky Delicacies 2CD 038 Sixty Smokin' Soul Senders ● CD $23.98
2 CDs, 60 tracks, 2 hours, 38 min., highly recommended
After Allen Toussaint, Wardell Quezerque tops the list of great New Orleans soul producers during the 1960's (and beyond). These sixty Quezerque-produced and/or -arranged soul sides offer diversity (funk, doo-wop, girl group, ballads, up-tempo) and rarity (see the Jades Lucky Fellow b/w And Now), and obscurity (George Woods, Lydia Marcelle). The songs come from a variety of labels, including Nola, Atco, Mode, Hot Line, Axe, A.B.S., Shagg, Whurley Burley, and others. And while connoisseurs of rare soul will probably not be put off by the fact that this CD was made from vinyl sources (with the limitations inherent therein), they may be excused from wondering why the compilers couldn't find a better copy of a 45 or two. Specifically, Guitar Ray's Ball & Chain is a challenge to enjoy, thanks to a recurring collection of clicks and surface noise. And Denny Fox's It's You For Me sounds as if someone was randomly twisting the volume knob during recording--perhaps a result of a severely warped piece of wax. Difficult to explain their inclusion, given the circumstances. Still, that leaves 58 songs worth hearing, including such rewarding offerings as The Bates Sisters' So Broken Hearted, who sound like they walked out of a Tamla session in Detroit; The Medallions' You Are Irresistable, a nice slice of late doo-wop; Vickie Labat's When You're In Love and Got To Keep Hanging On; Earl King's Poor Sam; C.L. Blast's I'm In A Daze, and more . Other artists represented include June Gardner, Al Reed, Curley Moore, Marie Boubarere, Klickly Robinson, Raymond Parker, Senator Jones, Edward Jones, Yvonne Wise, Eddie Bo, Billy Tircuit, Sammy Ridgley, The Fabulettes, Elliot Small, Jerry Foucha, Warren Lee, and others. A nice retrospective of Mr. Q's 1960s material and well worth picking up. (JC)

 
THE ROBINS Titanic TRC 6007 Rockin' ● CD $17.98
26 tracks, 70 min., highly recommended
A generous look at some of the earliest tracks laid down by this important early West Coast vocal group. Most are from the very early 50's, and many feature the fine bass lead of Bobby Nunn. Program highlights include You Sure Look Good to Me, Around About Midnight, Our Romance is Gone, There's Rain in My Eyes, I'm Through, Gonna Have a Merry Christmas, That's What the Good Book Says, Found Me a Sugar Daddy, Don't Like the Way You're Doing, and When Gabriel Blows his Horn with Maggie Hathaway. Splendid bluesy music, offered here with humble graphics, a none-too-focused cover photo, and solid sound quality. Not one to miss. (DH)
 
THE ROOMMATES Morval 68924 Also Starring Kathy Jean - Complete Original Recordings ● CD $18.98
23 sides by this white New York vocal group recorded in the early 60s plus 9 tracks where they back up vocalist Cathy Jean.
THE ROOMMATES: A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening/ Answer Me, My Love/ Band of Gold/ Believe Me/ Canadian Sunset/ Come Go With Me/ Gee/ Glory of Love/ I Only Want You/ I Want A Little Girl/ Just For Tonight/ Make Me Smile Again/ Making Believe/ My Foolish Heart/ My Heart/ My Heart Belongs To Only You/ My Kisses For Your Thoughts/ O Baby Love/ One Love/ One Summer Night/ Please Don't Cheat On Me/ Please Love Me Forever/ Song of the Dreamer/ Sugar Cake/ Sunday Kind of Love/ The Nearness of You/ The Only Girl For Me/ There Goes My Heart/ To The Aisle/ Turn Me Loose/ Yes My Love

 
SAM & DAVE Collectables 7758 Soul Men ● CD $12.98
11 tracks, highly recommended
A straight reissue of Stax 275 originally released in 1967, this album contains the duo's biggest hit Soul Man--#1 R&B, #2 Pop--as well as 10 other slices of sonorous soul. Among the best offerings here are the moving ballads Just Keep Holding On/ I've Seen What Loneliness Can Do, which rivals the pair's better known When Something Is Wrong With My Baby for pure emotion. Other knockouts include the horn-laden The Good Runs The Bad Way/ Don't Knock It, written by producers Issac Hayes and David Porter, and the Steve Cropper composition Broke Down Piece Of Man. The lyric of the oxymoronic Rich Kind Of Poverty - yes, it's a love song - sounds a wee forced, and I'm With You is filler, both of which would mean less if the album didn't clock in at under 30 minutes. Is it worth it? No question. (JC)

 
THE SHOWMEN Black Tulip 00240 It Will Stand ● CD $18.98
26 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
The Showmen are best known for their classic rock 'n' roll anthem It Will Stand, their only hit. Listening to this collection of recordings made between 1961 and '67 it comes as a surprise that they didn't have greater success as they were exceptional. Their music has the feel of The Drifters of the period but without the overly lush arrangements. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia the group featured the distinctive and incredibly soulful lead vocals of Norman Johnson (who later went on to front Chairmen Of the Board) and great harmonies from the rest of the group. Most of their earlier sides were recorded in New Orleans so they had backing from some of the best R&B musicians in the business. Soul harmony at its finest on songs like the title song 39-21-40 Shape/ This Misery/ Country Fool/ For You, My Darling/ I Love You, Can't You See?/ I'm Coming Home/ The Wrong Girl and others. Good sound but, unfortunately, no notes. (FS)
THE SHOWMEN: 39-21-40 Shape/ Country Girl/ Fate Planned It This Way/ For You, My Darling/ For You, My Darling (demo)/ I Love You, Can't You See/ I'll Go On Loving You/ I'm Coming Home/ In Paradise/ It Will Stand/ It Will Stand (outtake)/ Let Her Fell It In Your Kiss/ Our Love Will Grow/ Please Try And Understand/ Skinny Mcginny/ Strange Girl/ Swiss Fish/ Take It, Baby/ The Honey House/ The Owl Sees You/ The Owl Sees You (demo)/ The Wrong Girl/ This Misery/ True Fine Mama/ Valley Of Love/ You're My Everything