NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop - Part 2
| THE TAMS |
Half Moon 032 |
Hey Girl Don't Bother Me |
● CD $11.98 |
22 tracks, 52 mins, highly recommended
An underrated
up-tempo '60s soul group, The Tams (so-called because of the Tam O'Shanters they wore on stage!) scored their first hit with Untie Me,
recorded at Rick Hall's FAME Studios and released on the Arlen label. But
they spent their most productive years at ABC-Paramount. And while they
had access to some first-rate songs (e.g., Joe South's Shelter),
it's lead singer Joseph Pope's smokey lead vocals that set The Tams apart.
Songs include What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am), Untie Me,
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy, Laugh It Off, You Lied To
Your Daddy, Hey Girl Don't Bother Me, and many others. (JC)
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| JOE TEX |
Varese Vintage 66101 |
25 All Time Greatest Hits |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks,73 min, essential
A wonderful collection of
Joe's 65-72 Dial hits, with the added addition of his '77 comeback single
for Epic, Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman). Joe
Arlington Jr. was the original rapper, testifying & preaching on such hits
as Hold On To What You Got/ One Monkey Don't Stop No Show/ A Sweet
Woman Like You & I Believe I'm Gonna Make It. By '68 he was
into a more novelty vein, 1st with SYSLJFM (The Letter Song) &
finally his smash Skinny Legs & All & his follow-up (my fave)
Men Are Getting Scarce. All these are here, along with The Love You
Save (May Be Your Own)/ Papa Was Too, the incredible I Gotcha,
tons more, all written by Joe except Bump, which was written for
him by his long-time producer Buddy Killen, who started the Dial label
(distributed by Atlantic) just for Tex. (GM)
|
| IKE TURNER |
Funky Delicacies 045 |
His Woman, Her Man - The Ike Turner
Diaries |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 52 mins, highly recommended
Unlike a lot of
other similar CDs, this one is actually chock full of rare and previously
unreleased tracks. This features songs that have been tucked away in the
vaults for decades, songs that showcase the genius of Ike Turner as a
musician and studio wizard. Pulled from a time when Ike was on the cutting
edge of technology and his Bolic Sound studio was one of the hottest in
the country. On this you get a slowed down monster version of Proud
Mary, a stunning take on Alice Cooper's Only Woman Bleed and
plenty of funky, funky originals. A lot of these cuts could have easily
smashed up the R&B charts of the day, but were shuffled away, not fitting
the rock ideal that they were going for at the time. Tina is of course in
majestic voice throughout. I'm assuming it is just billed as Ike for legal
reasons. Excellent liner notes by Kevin L. Gains. (JM)
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| THE UPSETTERS |
La Cienega 702 |
The Upsetters |
● CD $16.98 |
27 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
Fabulous collection
of R&B featuring Little Richard's hot backup band the Upsetters recorded
between 1954 and 1961. Richard plays piano on several cuts and takes the
vocal lead on two great Fats Domino covers Every Night About This Time
& I'm In Love Again. The band also backs such fine artists as Lee
Diamond (actually band member Wilbur Smith), Pretty Boy (actually Don
Covay), Christine Kittrell, Lester Robinson, Dee Clark (doing his best to
sound like Little Richard), Chico Booth, Leonardo Carbo and Larry
Birdsong. There are also eight smoking instrumental tracks featuring hot
sax and guitar. Not to be confused with the great reggae band The
Upsetters. (FS)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 346 |
Laurie's Vocal Groups - The Sixties Sound |
● CD $18.98 |
An amazing 34 cuts totaling over 76 minutes, all
chronicling white vocal groups who recorded between 1961-65 for the
independant Laurie label in N.Y. Most of the songs here are obscure, many
showing the influence of the then popular Four Seasons. The only real hit
here is Denise by Randy & The Rainbows. Other featured artists
include The Tokens, The Bob Knight Four, and The Five Discs. Earlier
Laurie compilations on Ace have focused on more successful artists;
nonetheless, this collection should be of interest to fans of pre-Beatles
white rock and roll. (DH)
THE BON-AIRES: Bye Bye/ Jeannie Baby/ BERNADETTE
CARROLL: Nicky/ LENNY COLEMAN & EBBTIDES: 4 seasons/ THE CONCORDES: Away/
THE CRITERIONS: You Just You/ JIMMY CURTISS & THE REGENTS: Let's Dance
Close/ THE DEL SATINS: Does My Love Stand A Chance/ THE DEMILLES: Cry And
Be On My Way/ Donna Lee/ DINO AND THE DIPLOMATS: My Dream/ THE FIVE DISCS:
Rock And Roll Revival/ THE FOUR EPICS: Dance Joanne/ I Love You Diane/ THE
FOUR GRADUATES: Candy Queen/ Lovely Way To Spend An Evening/ THE HARPS:
Marie/ THE ILLUSIONS: In The Beginning/ THE KARILLIONS: Love Boat/ THE BOB
KNIGHT FOUR: Tomorrow We'll Be Married/ VINNIE MONTE: Walk Down The Aisle/
THE OVATIONS: Whole Wide World/ RANDY & THE RAINBOWS: Denise/ Don't Worry,
I'm Gonna Make It/ Happy Teenager/ Little Star/ Sharin'/ Why Do Kids Grow
Up/ THE RAY-VONS: Judy/ THE TEARDROPS: Champaign Lady/ THE TOKENS: I'll
Always Love You/ Please Write/ BILLY VERA & THE CONTRASTS: My Heart Cries
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 735 |
Buck Ram's Doo Wop |
● CD $18.98 |
26 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended
Samuel "Buck" Ram,
also known as Ande Rand and Lynn Paul, was born on November 21, 1907,
Chicago, IL., and died on January 1, 1991, Las Vegas, NV. As a songwriter
and producer, he will forever be connected with Tony Williams and The
Platters, and with this new CD, we have his productions on groups like The
Chesterfields (4), The Flairs/Flares/Peppers (6), The Colts (9), The
Jewels (2), and single artists Shirley Gunter (1) and Linda Hayes (4).
Collectors should note that 6 of the tracks are unissued. The talented
Colts should be familar to collectors as their Mambo/Vita sides contain
important recordings like Adorable ('55, covered by The Drifters),
Honey Bun ('56, with a very recognizable Al Sears tenor sax break),
and the Alan Freed-Buck Ram song Sweet Sixteen ('56, with a
distinctive Ruben Grundy lead). The Aaron Collins-Willie Davis groups (The
Flairs/Flares/Peppers) are derived from the Antler (I just love that
name!), Ensign and Felsted labels, the highlights being I'd Climb The
Hills And Mountains (The Flairs '57, with a Kenneth Byley lead), and
One More Chance (The Peppers '61, with a Willie Davis lead). As for
Linda Hayes, collectors will remember her Yes! I Know (an answer
record to Willie Mabon's I Don't Know), and will not be
disappointed with these recordings with former Count Basie/Johnny Otis
sideman, saxophonist Earle Warren, and his orchestra, especially effective
on the jump track You Ain't Movin' Me. (EL)
THE CHESTERFIELDS: A Dream Is But A Dream/ If I Saw You
Crying/ Trouble/ You Walked Away/ THE COLTS: Adorable/ Guiding Angel/ Hey
You, Shoo Bee Ooh Bee (Hey Pretty Baby)/ Hey You, Shoo Bee Ooh Bee (Hey
Pretty Baby)/ Honey Bun/ Lips Red As Wine/ Never, No More/ Sweet Sixteen/
The Sheik Of Araby/ THE FLAIRS: I'd Climb The Hills And Mountains/ Swing
Pretty Mama/ THE FLARES: Loving You/ SHIRLEY GUNTER & THE FLAIRS: Headin'
Home/ LINDA HAYES & GROUP: Hubba Hubba/ I Had A Dream/ Take The Hand Of A
Fool/ You Ain't Movin' Me/ THE JEWELS: Pearlie Mae/ The Wind/ THE PEPPERS:
A Place In My Heart/ All I Ask Of You/ One More Chance
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 759 |
Group Harmony & Jump: Dig Masters, Vol. 6 |
● CD $18.98 |
26 track collection drawn from Johnny Otis's Dig label
including many previously unissued titles.
TONY ALLEN: I Found An Angel/ I'm Dreamin'/ I'm Still
Your Fool/ Star of Love/ THE CLICK-CLACKS: A Teardrop Falls/ Baby I'm In
The Mood For Love/ THE DING DONGS: Ding Dong (Saw Wood Mountain)/ LITTLE
JULIAN HERRERA: Here In My Arms/ Lonely Lonely Nights/ Symbol of Heaven/
HAROLD LEWIS: The Drums In My Heart/ ABE MOORE: Way Down In My Heart/
PRENTICE MORELAND: My Mother's Eyes/ THE PHANTOMS: Crazy Little Beat/ My
Delores/ My Sister Mildred/ Well Done/ THE SENDERS: Eagle Eyed Willie/ I'm
Just A Lonely Fellow/ Uh Oh Treat Me Right/ JIMMY STEPHENS:
Congratulations/ HENRY STROGIN & THE CROWNS: Why Did You Go Away/ SUGAR
PIE & PEE WEE: Don't Ever Leave Me/ THE TEENETTES: I'm In Love/ THE VIDELS:
Don't Cry/ Oh! Baby
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Aladdin 231 |
Aladdin 33 Magic Lamps |
● CD $18.98 |
33 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Hot collection of
white and black rock 'n' roll, recorded in the late 50s and early 60s,
from the vaults of Aladdin and its subsidiary Lamp label. Aladdin was
mostly known as a blues, R&B and gospel label so this set features some
great blues and R&B artists at their most rockin'. Among the artists
featured are Bob Ehret, Tony Allen (his super hot Holy Smoke Baby),
John & Jackie (featuring some of the most orgasmic yells on record from
Jackie), Jimmy Wright, Jeanette Baker, The Brown Brothers (very Everly
like), Phil Sloan (who later had some success as P.F. Sloan), The
Starlighters, Amos Milburn (his all time classic Chicken Shack Boogie),
Marvin & Johnny, Charles Sims (the bizarre Take A Bath), Little
Wilbur, Rolling Crew, The Jivers, The Lollypoppers, Ray & Bop and others,
Excellent sound and booklet has brief notes on all the artists plus some
artist and label photos. (FS).
TONY ALLEN: Holy Smoke Baby/ JEANETTE BAKER: Crazy With
You/ BIP & BOP: Ding Ding Dong/ THE BROWN BROTHERS: Am I To Be The One/ No
More/ BUDDY CYPRESS: I'm In Love With You/ THE DOZIER BOYS: Hey Jack/
AGGIE DUKES: John John/ BOB EHRET: Stop The Clock Rock/ FATSO & FLARIE:
Rock & Roll Drive Inn/ GREAT GATES: Jump Jump Jump/ THE JIVERS: Little
Mama/ JOHN & JACKIE: Little Girl/ The Raging Sea/ JOE LIGGINS: Go Ahead/
LITTLE WILBUR: For The Lady/ P B Baby/ THE LOLLYPOPPERS: A Bottle Of Pop/
MARVIN & JOHNNY: Smack Smack/ AMOS MILBURN: Chicken Shack Boogie/ Everyday
Of The Week/ POPS MINOR: I Want You For My Own/ RAY & BOP: Air Travel/
ROLLING CREW: Cryin Emma/ CHARLES SIMS: Take A Bath/ PHIL SLOAN: Little
Girl In The Cabin/ THE SPENCE SISTERS: Doo Bob Sha Bam/ THE STARLIGHTERS:
RockinToo Much/ SUGAR PIE & PEE WEE: 1, 2, Let's Rock/ BIG T TYLER: King
Kong/ Sadie Green/ RAY WILLIAMS: I Do I Do/ JIMMY WRIGHT: Make Here Mine
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1056 |
Rarest Of The Rare - The Girl Groups, Vol.
1 |
● CD $17.98 |
Excellent collection of female group doo-wop from the late
50s/ early 60s. As far as I can tell, all these tracks are making their
first appearance on CD. Includes the
previously unissued Tell Me by an unknown artist.
DOTTIE DOOLEY: I'll Always Have My Memories Of You/ THE
DORELLES: Good Luck To The Lucky Girl/ THE ESKERETTES: Love Is A Many
Splendored Thing/ THE FABULOUS CHIMES: Faithful To Me/ THE FASHIONETTES: I
Got Love/ THE GAYTONES: Once He Loved Me/ Strange As It Seems/ THE HILL
SISTERS: Oh My Love Sweet Love/ THE HONEY BEES: Love Love I Can't Get Over
It/ THE JOBBETTES: What You Gonna Do/ THE KENTS: Your Graduation/ LITTLE
RITA: Dear Love/ THE ORIENTALS: A Letter To Melvin/ THE PEPPERMINTS: My
First Love/ ROBERTA: I'll Try/ THE ROCHELLES: Please Hear My Plea/ THE
SYDELLS: You Are The One/ THE TANGERINES: The Answer Is Always You/ THE
TEARDROPS: Wait For Me/ THE TRUELEERS: Waiting For You/ THE ULTIMATES: Why
I Love/ UNKNOWN: Tell Me (previously Unreleased)/ THE VELVETTES: I Like To
Know/ RUBY YATES AND THE SWINGIN RODS: Your Turn/ YVONNE & THE VIOLETS:
Show Me The Way
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Documents 223007 |
Rhythm & Blues |
● CD $24.98 |
This very low priced 10 CD set with 200 tracks seems to be
an abbreviated version of the now out of print two 15 CD sets "Rhythm &
Blues Goes Rock 'n' Roll." A great collection of mostly up tempo blues,
R&B and occasional doo-wop from the 40s and early 50s mixing familiar
names like Jimmie Liggins, Little Walter Wynonie Harris, Tarheel Slim, Big
Bill Broonzy, Big Maybelle, Lula Reed, Buddy Johnson, Lighnin' Hopkins and
more with obscure artists like Pearl Reaves, Sheri Washington, Pork Chops,
Nat Cool Cat, hank Moore, Jimmy Crawford, Sandra Grimes and others. Most
tracks are available on other collections though a few are not available
anywhere else. Sound quality is adequate though some tracks exhibit
excessive digital noise reduction artifacts. Still, at this price, a few
drawbacks are worth putting up with for a consistently entertaining
collection and it's a good chance to get acquainted with artists you may
not be familiar with.
THE 4 GATHORS: Wine O Wine/ JESSE ALLEN: Love Me Baby/
EDDIE ALSTON: I Just Can't Help It/ ELTON ANDERSON: I Love You/ JIMMY
ANTHONY: Before Day In The Morning/ THE ARABIANS: Dog Wild/ LIL ARMSTRONG:
Joogie Boogie/ BABY CURTIS: I Wanna/ LEE BARNES: Blues For What I Never
Had/ PAUL BASCOMB: Mumbles Blues/ THE BEES: Tough Enough/ BIG MAYBELLE:
Rockhouse/ BOBBY & RON: You're Mine/ JUKE BOY BONNER: Running Shoes/ EDDIE
BOYD: Kilroy Won't Be Back/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Little City Woman/ B.B.
BROWN: I Weep/ BUSTER BROWN: Sugar Babe/ HONEY BROWN: Rockin' & Jumpin'/
BROWN & BROOKS: Sleeping In An Ocean Of Tears/ MILT BUCKNER: Red Red Wine/
EDDIE BURNS: Hard Hearted Woman/ THE CARDINALS: Choo Choo/ WYNONA CARR:
Touch & Go/ RICKY CHARLES: Hi Yo Silver/ CHARLIE & RAY: Oh Gee Oh Wee/ LEE
CHRISTY: My Heart Goes Diddley Bum/ CHARLES CLARK: Hidden Charms/ EDDIE
CLEARWATER: A Real Good Time/ JIMMY CRAWFORD: Till My Baby Comes Back/
ARTHUR CRUDUP: That's Alright Mama/ MARY DELOATCH: Straighten Him Out/
VARETTA DILLARD: Them Their Eyes/ FLOYD DIXON: Ooh Little Girl/ Wine Wine
Wine/ JOHNNY DUKE: Oh Oh Mojo/ J.D. EDWARDS: Hobo/ ESTHER & WILLIE: Turn
The Lights Down Low/ THE FAMOUS RENEGADES: Invasion/ H-BOMB FERGUSON: Rock
H-bomb Rock/ FINNEY MO: Shake That Thing/ T.J. FOWLER: Tell Me What's The
Matter/ JOHNNY FULLER: No More/ LOWELL FULSON: Baby Won't You Jump With
Me/ Cold Hearted Woman/ Juke Box Shuffle/ G A S: Seven To Eleven/ DOC
GADDY: Evil Man Blues/ GARLAND: Hello Miss Sims/ BILLY GARNER: Little
Schoolgirl/ BILLY GAYLES: Do Right Baby/ GENE & EUNICE: I Gotta Go Home/
BABS GONZALES: House Rent Party/ She's Just Right For Me/ THE GOOD GUYS:
Whoa Whoa/ CARRIE GRANT: Mish Mash/ RUDY GREENE: Wild Life/ JOHN GREER:
Honey Why/ TONY GRIMES: Hey Now/ SANDRA GRIMMS: Hallelujah Rock & Roll/
BIG BOY GROVES: I Got A New Car/ GUITAR CRUSHER: I Got To Know/ FREDDIE
HALL: She's An Upsetter/ LARRY HANNA: Good Lovin/ HARMONICA FATS: My Baby
Didn't Come Home/ ERLINE HARRIS: Long Tall Papa/ PEPPERMINT HARRIS: The
Blues Pick On Me/ WYNONIE HARRIS: I Want My Fanny Brown/ Teardrops From My
Eyes/ BILL HEYMAN: I Want My Baby/ HOMESICK JAMES: Set A Date/ EDDIE HOPE:
A Fool No More/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: I'm Wild About You/ Movin' Out/ HOWLIN'
WOLF: Down In The Bottom/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: I Like It/ BETTY JAMES: I'm A
Little Mixed Up/ BOBO JENKINS: Tell Me Who/ DUKE JENKINS: The Duke Walks/
GEORGE JENKINS: Shufflin' Boogie/ GUS JENKINS: Slow Down/ LITTLE WILLIE
JOHN: Leave My Kitten Alone/ BUDDY JOHNSON: Walk The Chalk Line/ LEMMY
JOHNSON: Eatin' & Sleepin' Blues/ HARMON JONES: Pack Your Clothes/ OLIVER
JONES: What I Say/ LOUIS JORDAN: Choo Choo Ch' Boogie/ JUMPIN' JAY: Come
On Home/ THE KID: Booted/ PAUL KIMBLE: That Big Fat Mama/ JEWEL KING: 3 X
7 = 21/ WILLIE KING: Big Leg Woman/ KING PERRY: Come Back Baby/
Everything's Gonna Be Alright Tonight/ SONNY KNIGHT: But Officer/ ANNIE
LAURIE: My Rough & Ready Man/ JOHN LEE: Rhythm Rockin' Boogie/ MARTY
LEWIS: Satisfied With My Lovin'/ JIMMY LIGGINS: I Ain't Drunk/ Talking
That Talk/ FRANK LINKENBERG: Ball Of Fire/ LITTLE ESTHER: It Ain't What
You Say/ LITTLE WALTER: Roller Coaster/ LONESOME SUNDOWN: Mojo Man/ BOBBY
LONG: Jersey City/ LORD TENNISON: The Dance/ LOUISIANA RED: Ride On Red/
BUDDY LUCAS: Night Train/ CHERRI LYNN: You're Money Ain't No Long Enough/
HERMAN MANZY: I'm Your Rockin' Man/ TEAM MATES: Crazy Baby/ CARL MATTHEWS:
Big Man/ JOE MCCOY: Hey Loretta/ Too Much Going On/ JIMMY MCCRACKLIN: I
Wanna Make Love To You/ She Felt Too Good/ BROWNIE MCGHEE: Anna Mae/ STICK
MCGHEE: One Monkey Don't Stop The Show/ WALLY MERCER: Rock Around/ MERCY
BABY: Pleadin'/ AMOS MILBURN: Let Me Go Home Whiskey/ THE MILLIONAIRES:
Arkansas Jane/ ROY MILTON: Milton's Boogie/ BILLY MIRANDA: Go Ahead/ MISS
BAKER: You'd Better Find/ MISTER RUFFIN: Bring It On Back/ WILLIE
MITCHELL: Lizzie Lou/ MODEL T. SLIM: Shake Your Boogie/ HANK MOORE: Knock
Kneed Rooster/ TOMMY MOORE: Your Car Machine/ WOO WOO MOORE: Something's
Wrong/ JOE MORRIS: Beans & Corn Bread/ MR. BO: I'm Leaving This Town/ MR.
GOOGLE: Oh What A Fool/ MR. RAIN: Who Dat/ MR. SAD HEAD: Sad Head Blues/
SAM MYERS: You Don't Have To Go/ NAT COOL CAT: Come By Here/ JIMMIE
NELSON: Great Big Hunk Of Man/ THE NITERIDERS: Looking For My Baby/ ELMO
NIXON: Forgive Me Baby/ JOHNNY OTIS: Court Room Blues/ Goomp Blues/ PAPA
LIGHTFOOT: Jumpin' With Jarvis/ LOUIS PAYNE: That's Allright With Me/ PORK
CHOPS: Everything Is Cool/ KING PORTER: Chitlin' Ball/ JIMMY PRESTON: Oh
Babe/ PRINCE CH.: Come On Home/ PEARL REAVES: You Can't Stay Here/ LULA
REED: Sick & Tired/ KING RHYTHM: Killer Diller/ EDDIE RIFF: My Baby's Gone
Away/ THE ROCKETS: Big Leg Mama/ BUDDY ROGERS: Mad At You/ THE ROYALS: All
Night Long/ JOAN SHAW: You Drive Me Crazy/ CHARLES SHEFFIELD: It's Your
Voodoo Working/ Shoo Shoo Chicken/ THE SILHOUETTES: Miss Thing/ FRANKIE
LEE SIMS: She Likes To Boogie Real Slow/ PIANO SLIM: Lot Of Shakin' Lot Of
Jivin'/ L.J. SMITH: If It's Too Late/ SONNY & JAYCEE: You Keep On Doggin'
Me/ STOMP GORDON: The Grind/ JESSE STONE: Runaway/ THE SULTANS: You Got Me
Goin'/ TARHEEL SLIM: Number Nine Train/ LEON TARVER: Somebody Help Me/
DANNY TAYLOR: You Look Bad/ JOE TEX: You Upset My Home/ BLANCHIE THOMAS:
You Ain't So Such A Much/ JESSE THOMAS: It's You I'm Thinking Of/ KID
THOMAS: Wolf Pack/ RUFUS THOMAS: Decorate The Counter/ Easy Livin' Plan/
BIG MAMA THORNTON: You Did Me Wrong/ THE THRILLS: I Ain't Got The Money/
JOE TURNER: Long Down Dog/ Mad Blues/ My Gal's A Jockey/ Rocket Boogie 88/
Sally Zu Zazz/ Wine-o-baby/ EDDIE VINSON: Gonna Send You Back/ CHARLES
WALKER: You Know It Ain't Right/ WALKIN' WILLIE: Bow Little Willie/
WASHBOARD SAM: Never Never/ SHERI WASHINGTON: Ain't Talkin' To You Baby/
MOJO WATSON: Look A There/ WEBSTER & CONROY: Baby Baby/ JUNIOR WELLS:
Little By Little/ BOB WILLIAMS: Talk To Me/ CHARLES WILLIAMS: So Worried/
EARL WILLIAMS: Let's Make Love Tonight/ L.C. WILLIAMS: Shout Baby Shout/
ARTIE WILSON: Tarzan/ HOP WILSON: Chicken Stuff/ BILLY WRIGHT: Man's Brand
Boogie/ JOHNNY WRIGHT: Look At That Chick
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Drum 001 |
From The Vaults Of Drum And Elgin
Recording Company |
● CD $18.98 |
26 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
Excellent
collection of sides from the late 50s and early 60s recorded by Chance
Drum for his Drum, Elgin and other labels. Most of the tracks are high
class doo wop including several tracks by the excellent Five Chesnuts
featuring lead by former Five Satins vocalist Bill Baker. This group also
is featured here backing Marvin Baskerville, Vicki Lee and Rodney Gallant.
There's also fine vocal group sounds from Anne Watts, Jimmy Mack and Betty
Watts accompanied by The Watts - Mack's I Believe I Love You is a
beautiful performance that is on the cusp between doo-wop and soul. There
are also a couple of fine rockabilly tracks featuring The Cool Notes - one
with vocals by Paul kepler and one with Peter Concillo. There are also a
couple of fine rock 'n' roll ballads by Ralph Miranda & The Deltoros
including a fine strpped down cover of Elvis's Don't Leave Me Know.
There are also a couple of girl group sides from The Baby Dolls which are
the weakest here. Sound quality is excellent and there are brief notes on
the label and artists. (FS)
THE BABY DOLLS: Boyfriend/ Is This The End/ BILL BAKER &
CHESTNUTS: Chit Chat/ Wonderful Girl/ BILL BAKER & THE CHESTNUTS: Tell Me
Little Darling/ Won't You Tell Me My Heart/ MARVIN BASKERVILLE & THE FIVE
CHESTNUTS: Chapel In The Moonlight/ PETER CONCILLO & THE COOL NOTES:
Pete's Blues/ THE FIVE CHESTNUTS: Billy (aka My Kind Of Baby)/ Chi Chi/
I'm So Glad/ Love Is True/ RODNEY GALLANT: My Life With You/ S'cuse Me
Baby/ PAUL KEPLER & COOL NOTES: Betty Lou/ VICKI LEE: Crying My Heart Out/
With All My Heart/ JIMMY MACK & THE WATTS: I Believe I Love You/ True Love
Girl/ RALPH MIRANDA & DELTORO'S: Don't Leave Me Now/ RALPH MIRANDA & THE
DELTORO'S: The Flame/ THE SILVERTONES: Hey Good Looking/ THE WALCOES:
Moonlight Rock/ Tell Me Why/ ANNE WATTS & THE WATTS: Let It Be/ BETTY
WATTS & WATTS: Do Me A Favor
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Dynamite DGS 301 |
Dynamite 1940s Group Sounds, Vol. 1 |
● CD $17.98 |
First in a new series presenting the vocal group harmony
sounds which pre-dated and led to the doo wop sound of the 50s. The
material draws on jazz, blues, pop music and gospel and the 22 tracks here
cover the period 1940 through 1949. Among the artists are The Four Tunes,
Beavers, Deep River Boys, The James Quintet, The Delta Rhythm Boys,
Charioteers, Smoothies, W. Harris & The Harlemaires, Shadows, Ravens, etc.
Excellent sounds but no notes.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Funky Delicacies 011 |
Funky Funky New Orleans |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 50 min., highly recommended
A collection of
high octane, superfunk recorded in the land of Mardi Gras between
1969-1975, which will forever be known as the golden age of extreme funkifacation. If Eddie Bo doesn't get your blood and muscle moving, check
your big toe for a white tag. Songs such as Louisiana Homegrown's
Chiller are literally too funky for words, while others, including
Chuck Cornish's Ali; Funky Thing (about the boxer) and Sonny Jones'
Lighten Up, find the occasional vocal poking through the bass
thump. The best track might just be If It's Good To Ya, It's Good For
Ya (an Eddie Bo classic), in all its previously-unreleased
extended-mix greatness. Louisiana Homegrown's two cuts are previously
unreleased as well, as are The Scram Band's Don't Change Nothin'
and I've Got Reasons. And while Jimmy Hicks' answer song I'm Mr.
Big Stuff rides in a similar groove as the original Jean Knight
classic, it doesn't touch it for attitude. Send more Eddie Bo. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Funky Delicacies 014 |
Funky Funky Houston |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 51 min., highly recommended
Specifically, the
funkiness here all comes from the tiny Houston label, Ovide Records, owned
and operated by KCOH-AM disc jockey Skipper Lee Frazier. In his spare
time, Frazier managed Archie Bell, whose single Tighten Up went #1
nationally on Atlantic Records, but it was issued on Ovide first. This
album collects rare material from the Ovide vaults cut between 1967-72,
including three previously unissued tracks. And while a little uneven, the
performances are generally quite strong, especially Crackerjack by
Americans of '72, Please Heart Don't Break by the TSU Toronados
(who acted as house band for Frazier), and Get Your Point Over by
Sebastian Williams. A worthy addition to the funk library. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Funky Delicacies 018 |
Funky Funky New Orleans 2 |
● CD $15.98 |
18 tracks, 67 min., highly recommended
Even better than
volume one, with more songs and greater diversity of style, FFNO2 features
small combos such as Leroy Clofer & Company, whose Mr. Big Man
sounds as if it were recorded in a Buick, as well as groups like the Dome
City Rock Orchestra--their Quiet Village (Parts 1 & 2) sound like
the forgotten theme song to "Shaft Goes To Studio 54". Count Ernie
(Vincent) and the Top Notes' Things Are Better and Gary Brown and
Soul Machine 2's Get Down Parts I & II among the finest funk
examples. Eddie Bo is represented by the James Brown-like Sissy Walk
and by Inell Young's The Next Ball Game, which Bo arranged. Trick
Bag turns out a pair of excellent sides with their horn-soaked
instrumental Dull Knifin' and Tennessee Waltz, featuring the
vocal assurance of Luther Kent. Other highlights include Git-It by
Sam & The Soul Machine, the slightly didactic Thief by Enticers,
and Richard Caiton's Take A Hold Brother & Sister, featuring a
vocal that is an appeal for togetherness and some cool bass work. This
release might just make your CD player sweat. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Funky Delicacies 073 |
Funky Funky New York |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks, 53 min., highly recommended
These may be New
York acts, but a lot of them brought some of the south with them when they
came east. And I'm not sure the New York funk sound is as distinct an
animal as the booklet noter claims, but the city of origin isn't
necessarily the most relevant organizing principal when it comes to great
funk song collections. At any rate, some of the best cuts here (Impeach
The President and Roy C's Theme by Roy C & The Honeydrippers,
and Communication Is Where It's At by Billy The Baron And His
Smokin' Challengers) are also the most sampled songs by recent performers,
including Biz Markie, Spoonie Gee, A Tribe Called Quest, and many others.
Although Takin' Inventory by Family Portrait is at least as cool.
Same goes for Chick A BoomHave You Had
Any Lately (instrumental) by The
Pearl Mixed Company (Pearl Woods).The big funky apple. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
J&S 7006265 |
Jump And Shout |
● CD $17.98 |
A collection of rocking R&B from the 60s - mostly from
tiny obscure labels and most of it making its first appearance on CD.
Includes sides by Jesse James, Eddie Kirk (aka Eddie Kirkland), Skip
Manning, Louis Johnson, Louis "Blue Boy" Jones, T.B. & The Germs, Baby
Jean, Joe Johnson, Sherman Evans, Ramona Parks, Willie White, Ty Terrell,
Carrie Grant & The Grandeurs, O.V. Wright and others.
BABY JEAN: If You Wanna/ LARRY BIRDSONG: Little School
Girl/ LARRY BRIGHT: Way Down Home/ SHERMAN EVANS WITH CHRIS ORTIZ & THE
FLAMES: The Craze/ CARRIE GRANT & THE GRANDEURS: Mish Mash/ GEORGE HUGHLEY
& THE CAMA ROCKERS: What Did I Do/ THE IDEALS: Go Get A Wig/ JIM JACKSON:
Some Love With Soul/ JESSE JAMES: I'm All Right/ JOE JOHNSON: Rattlesnake,
Baby, Rattlesnake/ LOUIS JOHNSON: Please Look Out/ LOUIS "BLUES BOY"
JONES: Someway, Somewhere/ EDDIE KIRK: The Grunt/ RUBY LEE: I'm Gonna Put
a Watch On You/ CARL LESTER & THE SHOWSTOPPERS: When You See Me Hurt/ SKIP
MANNING: Ham & Eggs/ AMOS MILBURN, JR: Gloria/ RAMONA PARKS: Soul Mate/
HENRY STROGIN: Misery/ T.B. & THE GERMS: Jump & Shout Pt 1/ TY TYRELL: The
Scratch Pt. 2/ The Scratch Pt.1/ DANNY WARE: The Zombie Stomp/ BILLY
WATKINS: I'm Tired/ WILLIE WHITE: 99 Beef Steaks
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 226 |
A Soldier's Sad Story |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, highly recommended
Powerful and moving
collection of soul songs recorded between 1966 and 1973 showing the
anticipation, action and aftermath of the years of the Vietnam war, as
seen through the eyes of Black America. The mood ranges from resignation
and patriotism in the earlier sides to anger and opposition as the war
raged on and the casualties increased and the realizaton came upon many
African-Americans that they were being asked to fight and die for country
that had oppressed and abused them for hundreds of years. The recordings
are arranged chronologically starting with The Monitors 1966 recording of
Greeting (This Is Uncle Sam) and ending with Swamp Dogg's chilling
1973 rendition of John Prine's Sam Stone. Other artists featured
include William Bell, Big Amos, Joe Tex, Jimmy Holiday, Zerben R. Hicks &
The Dynamics, Tiny Watkins, Gloria Edwards, The O'Jays, Edwin Starr, Carla
Whitney, Bill Withers (the powerful I Can't Write Left Handed),
Curtis Mayfield and others. The 16 page booklet includes essays by Tony
Rounce and James Maycock discussing the music and the situation of
African-Americans in the conflict. (FS)
RICHARD BARBARY: When Johnny Comes Marching Home/
WILLIAM BELL: Marching Off To War/ BIG AMOS: Going To Vietnam/ BRILLIANT
CORNERS: Three Lonely Guys/ JAMES CARR: Let's Face Facts/ SWAMP DOGG: Sam
Stone/ GLORIA EDWARDS: Something You Couldn't Write About/ EDDY G. GILES:
While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)/ ZERBEN R. HICKS AND THE DYNAMICS:
Lights Out/ JIMMY HOLIDAY: I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home/ JOHNNY
AND JON: Christmas In Vietnam/ EMANUEL LASKY: A Letter From Vietnam/
CURTIS MAYFIELD: Back To The World/ MEL AND TIM: Mail Call Time/ THE
MONITORS: Greetings This Is Uncle Sam/ THE O'JAYS: There's Someone
(Waiting Back Home)/ FREDA PAYNE: Bring The Boys Home/ THE PLAYERS: He'll
Be Back/ EDWIN STARR: Stop The War Now/ JOE TEX: I Believe I'm Gonna Make
It/ TINY WATKINS: A Soldier's Sad Story/ THE WHISPERS: P.O.W-M.I.A/ MIKE
WILLIAMS: Lonely Soldier/ BILL WITHERS: I Can't Write Left Handed
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Lost Soul 1007 |
Lost Soul Oldies, Vol. 7 |
● CD $17.98 |
15 cuts, 43 minutes, highly recommended
15 More soul
harmony ballads you almost certainly don't have (I didn't!). Favorites:
Tony Owens' Confessin' a Feelin, the original version of this song,
the Earls, Inc. 'parent' songs, What Would Your Daddy Say?/Does Your
Mother Know?, as well as Bill Robinson and the Quails' Lay Your
Head on My Shoulder, E.J. and the Echoes' Put a Smile on Your Face,
the Epics' Everytime I Cry, the New Yorkers' Lonely, and 8
others. (JS)
ARNOLD ALBURY & THE CASUALS: My Baby Don't Understand/
TYRONE ASHLEY: Let Me Be Your Man/ BIG JIM'S BORDER CROSSING: You're Good
For Me Girl/ THE CHANCELLORS: Sad Avenue/ E.J. & THE ECHOES: Put A Smile
On Your Face/ EARLS INC.: Does Your Mother Know/ What Would Your Daddy
Say/ THE EPICS: Everytime I Cry/ THE IDEALS: You Hurt Me/ THE NEW YORKERS:
Lonely/ NUE SPECTRUM: Just A Little Love/ TONY OWENS: Confessin' A
Feelin'/ BILL ROBINSON & THE QUAILS: Lay Your Head On My Shoulder/
UNIVERSAL MINDS: I Betcha/ YOUR HEART ENERGY: Better Not Live Outside
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Lost Soul 1011 |
Lost Soul Oldies, Vol. 11 |
● CD $17.98 |
17 tracks, 53 mins, highly recommended
You'd think that
after ten collections, these compilations would start to weaken but you'd
be wrong. Amazing what you can do with great taste and an even greater
vinyl collection. Two cuts that stood out for me were the Highlighters'
Have a Little Faith and Babylove's Do it for Me --both deep
soul leads with sweet soul harmonies. But don't overlook the Implements'
I Wish it Were Me, the Enchanted Five's Your Love Comes Slower
than Never (my favorite title) and Porgy and the Monarch's Magic
Maker, Music Maker (later recut by the Jive Five with Arlene Smith and
the Chantels). (JS)
THE AMBASSADORS: I Love You/ BABYLOVE: Do It For Me/ THE
CLASSICS: Looking For A Love/ THE CREATIONS: Peek-A-Boo/ THE ENCHANTED
FIVE: You're Love Comes Slower Than Never/ THE EPICS: The Girl I Lost/ THE
FIVE SMOOTH STONES: I Will Never Love Another/ DON HART & FYVE: I Can Make
It/ THE HIGHLIGHTERS: Have A Little Faith/ THE IMPLEMENTS: I Wish It Were
Me/ GEORGE JACKSON: Kiss Me/ NATURAL EXPERIENCE: Hide And Seek/ PORGY &
THE MONARCHS: Magic Music Makers/ THE QUOTATIONS: It Could Happen To You/
THE STRIDELLS: Power To Dream/ JAMES TAYLOR: Everything About You/ THE
YOUNG SIRS: There's Something The Matter With Your Heart
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Night Train 7139 |
Ike Turner - The Bad Man - The Ike Turner
Diaries |
● CD $15.98 |
A collection of mostly obscure sides recorded for Ike's
own labels (Innis, Prann, Sonja, etc). In addition to performances by Ike
and Ike & Tina it also includes sides by Robbie Montgomery, The Ikettes,
Fontella Bass, Vernon Guy, Bobby John and others.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Proper BOX 61 |
The Big Horn - The History Of The Honkin'
& Screamin' S |
● CD $24.98 |
4 discs, 106 tracks, essential
If you ever thought you
might like honking sax, RUSH & get this! No way this is ever going to be
topped! Subtitled “The History Of Honkin' & Screamin’ Saxophone”, anyone
who was anyone & recorded before '52 is here! All the big names - Illinois
Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Jack McVea, Paul Williams, Lee Allan, Big Jay
McNeely, Lockjaw Davis, Earl Bostic, Red Prysock. All the legendary names
- Lynn Hope, Hal "Cornbread" Singer, Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson, Tom
Archia, Plas Johnson. Even some little-known greats - James Von Streeter,
Fats Noel, even a duo from Tiny Davis's all-girl band, Birdie Davis &
Margaret Blackstrom. With bands led by Count Basie, Lionel Hampton,
Wynonie Harris, Tiny Grimes, Bullmoose Jackson, Dave Bartholomew, etc.
With a hefty pic & fact-filled 68 page booklet! (GM)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
R And B 1301 |
The R And B Records Story |
● CD $18.98 |
Fine selection of 22 sides issued on the Los Angeles based
R And B label in 1954 and '55. A mix of doo-wop (The Jewels, Earl Curry &
The Blenders, Rudy Jackson & The Mel O Aires), instrumental R&B (Oscar
Saldana, The Rockin' Brothers, Chuck Higgins), blues (Ray Agee) and gospel
(The Stars Of Bethel).
RAY AGEE: I Need You/ Without A Friend/ EARL CURRY AND
BLENDERS: Dream/ EARL CURRY AND THE BLENDERS: I Want To Be With You/ Late
Rising Moon/ EARL CURRY AND BLENDERS: Try and Get Me/ CHUCK HIGGINS: Chop
Chop/ Rock/ RUDY JACKSON & THE MEL-O-AIRES: Enfold Me/ I'm Crying/ THE
JEWELS: A Fool In Paradise/ Hearts of Stone/ Living From Day To Day/ Oh
Yes I Know/ Rosalie/ Runnin'/ THE ROCKIN' BROTHERS: Behind the Sun/ Rock
It/ OSCAR SALDANA: Bop Hop/ Mambo Hop/ THE STARS OF BETHEL: He Walks With
Me/ There Is a Fountain
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Relic 7061 |
Doo-Wop Dedications To The 1950s Girls |
● CD $13.98 |
25 tracks, 62 min., recommended
A concept disc with a
great nostalgic cover from Donn Fileti and Eddie Gries of Relic. All of
the cuts here are doo-wop ditties whose titles are girls' names. Featured
numbers, mostly obscure, include Sandy by the Colonaires,
Lorraine by the Harmonaires, Cora Lee by the Hemlocks,
Aurelia by the Pelicans, Linda by the Empires, Gloria by
the Five Thrills, and Dear Lorraine by the Starlites. The music
delightful; the sound is great. The brief notes offer full discographical
information. And the cover art features a couple of great photo booth
shots of a cute 50s chick trying to look cool as she takes a drag on her
cigarette. Great fun. (DH)
THE THREE FRIENDS: Blanche/ THE FOUR BELAIRES: Rosa/ THE
FIVE THRILLS: Gloria/ THE AUTUMNS: Maureen/ THE CENTURIES: Betty/ THE
CHARTS: My Diane/ THE CHESTNUTS: Mary, Hear Those Love Bells/ THE
COLONAIRES: Sandy/ THE DON JUANS: Delores/ THE EMPIRES: Linda/ THE
FEDERALS: Dear Lorraine/ THE FIVE SATINS: Rose Mary/ THE HARMONAIRES:
Lorraine/ THE HEMLOCKS: Cora Lee/ THE KENTS: My Juanita/ THE LEWIS LYMON &
TEENCHORDS: Lydia/ THE MELLO KINGS: Valerie/ THE PEACOCKS: Fontella/ THE
PELICANS: Aurelia/ THE RAINBOWS: Mary Lee/ THE SMART TONES: Ginny/ THE
SQUIRES: Sindy/ THE STARLITES: Joannie/ THE VERSATONES: Bila/ THE
YOUNGTONES: Patricia
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Relic 7077 |
The Golden Era Of Doowops - Jay-Dee
Records |
● CD $13.98 |
28 tracks, 72 min., highly recommended
The delightful
follow-up to Relic's earlier Jay-Dee issues of Lillian Leach and the
Mellows and the Crickets, this time a compilation of meticulously-produced
ballads and jumps from Joe Davis's Jay-Dee and Davis labels. Highlights
include Forever I Vow and Love is True by the Chestnuts,
Meaning of Love by the Goldentones, Don't Play Around with Love
by the Blenders, At Any Cost by the Pyramids, and Why Did You
Leave Me? by the Sparrows. Good music from start to finish, most of it
recorded between 1952 and 1956, though much of it has something of a late
40's feel, which should come as no surprise given the fact that Davis was
well into his fifties when he produced these sessions. And sound quality
and production values are, as usual, rock solid. I just wish Somebody's
Lyin' by the Millionaires had been included. Oh well.
(DH)
THE BLENDERS: Don't Play Around With Love/ THE
CHESTNUTS: Brother Ben/ Forever I Vow/ It's You I Love/ Love Is True/ THE
CONTINENTALS: Don't Do It Baby/ Tongue Twister/ THE DEEP RIVER BOYS:
Sleepy Little Cowboy/ THE DOVERS: Boy In My Life/ Devil You May Be/ Sweet
As A Flower/ The Sentence/ THE GOLDENTONES: Meaning Of Love/ Run Pretty
Baby/ THE PYRAMIDS: At Any Cost/ O.k. Baby/ Why Did You Go?/ THE
ROMANCERS: No Greater Love/ You'll Never Know/ THE SCALETONES: Dreaming
And Dreaming/ Everlasting Love/ THE SPARROWS: Come Back To Me/ Hey!/ I'll
Be Loving You/ I'm Gonna Do That Woman In/ Love Me Tender/ Tell Me Baby/
Why Did You Leave Me?
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Relic 7088 |
The Golden Era Of Doowops - The Groups Of
Rainbow Records |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks, 68 min., essential
Rainbow is one of those
near-legendary early labels, there at the birth of the r&b group sound in
the very early 50's, and earlier reissues of its material have, none too
surprisingly, been marred by starkly primitive sound quality. But this
time out Relic has put state-of-the-art technology to work in order to
clean things up, and the results are impressive. Here are the first
recordings of the Clovers (Yes Sir, That's My Baby) and Lee Andrew
and the Hearts (The Bells of St. Mary's, The Fairest) sounding as
sharp as they are ever likely to. Additional tracks include My True
Love by the Swans, You Came to Me by the Duvals (actually the
Five Crowns), Don't Be No Fool by the Love Notes, Drag It Home
Baby by the Jets, and Popcorn Willie by the Marquis. Great
music from the dawn of doo-wop. Solid liner notes and several rare group
photos.
(DH)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sounds Of Soul 2001 |
Lost Deep Soul Treasures, Vol. 5 |
● CD $16.98 |
More rarities from the 60s and 70s - 24 tracks including
Bobby Lee, Claude "Baby" Huey, Billy "Guitar" Davis, Billie Dearborn,
Jimmy Richards, The Superiors Band & Their Soul Singers, Helene Smith, The
Hesitations, Marcell Strong, Lou Pride, Billy Woods, Bob & Earl and
others. Among the highlights are the brilliant Finding Out For Myself
- a rare soul outing for West Coast bluesman Sonny Rhodes with an atypical
backing featuring two guitars and only occasional sax, the searingly
intense Friday's Child by Billie Dearborn and If I Could Only
See by Billy Woods - a secular reworking of the gospel song If I
Could Hear My Mother Pray Again.
BOB & EARL: Deep Down Inside/ BILLY "GUITAR" DAVIS: As I
Grow Old/ BILLIE DEARBORN: Friday's Child/ DYNAMIC ADAM: She's Gone/ THE
EXCITING CHANGES: Falling In Love Again/ THE HESITATIONS: That's Where
It's At/ NATE HOLMES: So Am I/ CLAUDE "BABY" HUEY: Just Won't Believe/ THE
INTERNATIONALS: Push Button Love/ THE ISONICS: He Needs Her/ BOBBY LEE:
I'm Just a Man/ MAJOR LANCE: I Have No One/ LOU PRIDE: We're Only Fooling
Ourselves/ SONNY RHODES: Finding Out For Myself/ JIMMY RICHARDS: My New
Found Joy/ JOHNNY SAYLES: Nothing But Hard Rocks/ HELENE SMITH: True Love
Don't Grow On Trees/ JOHNNY STEELE: Can't Go On/ RUDY STEWART: A Strong
Man's Tears Fall Dry/ MARCELL STRONG: Mumble In My Ear/ THE SUPERIORS BAND
& THEIR SOUL SINGERS: Amateur Lover/ REGGIE TAYLOR: Anna/ ANDRE WILLIAMS:
I Can't Stop Crying/ BILLY WOODS: If I Could Only See
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Still 1159 |
Love Blood Hound Rhythm |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 58 mins, recommended
Fine collection of rocking
blues, up tempo R&B and black rock 'n' roll recorded by mostly obscure
artists for obscure labels in the 50s and early 60s, most of them making
their first ever appearance on CD. Includes Tender Slim (the great
Don't Cut Out On Me and I'm Checkin' Up with Jimmy Spruill on
guitar), Big Bill Schaeffer (the silly I Hate, But I Like Popcorn
with hot guitar), Clarence Samuels, Mon-Vales, Bull Moose Jackson
(probably the biggest "name" with his fine and rare Watch My Signals
from 1957, Bo Tolliver & His Timers, Big Charles Green, Dorian Burton, Fox
Hall, The New Mason Dixons, K.C. Mojo Watson (with the ferocious title
song), Jeanette "Baby" Washington, Mattie Jackson & The Nighthawks and
others. Sound is generally excellent and the booklet has some mouth
watering label shots. (FS)
DORIAN BURTON: Flyin' Home To My Baby/ BIG CHARLES
GREEN: Rocking To The Moon To-night/ You Excite Me, Baby/ LARRY GREEN:
Blues Before News (inst.)/ Long Black Train/ FOX HALL: Do The Rock And
Roll/ My Baby Left Me/ LOST JOHN HUNTER: Cool Down Mama/ BULL MOOSE
JACKSON: Watch My Signals/ MATTIE JACKSON & THE NIGHTHAWKS: I Want To Do
It/ THE JOLLY JAX: Pony Shuffle/ HARMON "HUMP" JONES: Lookin' For My Baby/
THE MON-VALES: Cool Cat & His White Bucks/ THE NEW MASON DIXONS: Totaled/
CLAUDE ROBINSON: Cotton Pickin' Mama/ CLARENCE SAMUELS: We're Goin' To The
Hop/ BIG BILL SCHAEFFER: I Hate, But I Like Popcorn/ TENDER SLIM: Don't
Cut Out On Me/ I'm Checkin' Up/ BO TOLIVER & HIS TIMERS: Begging/ Farm
Dell Rock (inst)/ JEANETTE (BABY) WASHINGTON: Mone On/ Too Late/ K.C. MOJO
WATSON: Love Blood Hound/ BOB WILLIAMS: My Goose Is Cooked
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Still 1162 |
Screaming Black Rockin' Rhythm & Blues |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended
Another fine
collection of obscure up-tempo blues and rocking R&B from the 50s and 60s
- most of it making its first appearance on CD. The opening cut How
Wild Can A Woman Be by Harold "Thunderbird" Ward is probably the
weakest here and I feared the worst but it picks up after that with fine
sides by Robert McCoy & The FIve Sins, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (a fine
version of Barrett Strongs Money), Chris Kenner (three of his
rarest sides including the down home Don't Let her Pin That Charge On
Me with harmonica), Big Bob Dougherty, Elliot Shavers (the burning
instrumental Down Home Blues), Freddie Hall, Cledus Harrison, Rex
Garvin, Larry Emmett & The Sliders, Charlotte Cole, Lloyd Price, Baby
Little & The Hardbreakers (two unissued demos) and more. Good sound. (FS)
BABY LITTLE & THE HARDBREAKERS: Baby, Baby/ Neck Bones
Every Day/ CHARLOTTE COLE: Bless You Baby/ DAVE & BOB: Whoa Bessie/ BIG
BOB DOUGHERTY: Teenage Flip/ Why/ LARRY EMMETT & THE SLIDERS: West Coast
Blues/ REX GARVIN: Oh Yeah!/ CHUCK GREY & SANDY STANTON & THE PANICS: Push
The Panic Button/ Rock And Roll Is In My Soul/ FREDDIE HALL: Little Baby's
Rock/ CLEDUS HARRISON: Broke/ THE JAGUARS: Ginny Ginny/ CHRIS KENNER:
Don't Let Her Pin That Charge On Me/ Don't Make No Noise/ Grandma's House/
LA RENE LA RUE: I'm Glad/ SLICK LAWRENCE: Little Mama/ ROBERT MCCOY & HIS
FIVE SINS: Bye Bye Baby/ KEN MURRAY'S BLACKOUTS OF 1959: Backstage At The
Blackouts/ LLOYD PRICE: Right Kind Of Girl/ ELLIOT SHAVERS & HIS BLAZERS:
Down Home Blues/ HAROLD "THUNDERBIRD" WARD & THE JIMMY HILL COMBO: How
Wild Can A Woman Be/ ERNIE WILLIAMS: My Pretty Baby/ RICHARD "POPCORN"
WYLIE: Money
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Still 1167 |
Black Rock-Rhythm Meat |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, highly recommended
Another fine collection of
rocking blues and R&B and black rock 'n' roll with an incomprehensible
title! 25 sides, most of them making their first appearance on CD, and
three previously unissued. Includes Teddy Reynolds, Johnny Stewart, Jimmy
Fox, The Vibrators (two fine rocking instrumentals with hot guitar), Jimmy
Trotter (tough vocal and exciting guitar work), Terri Lee (superb female
vocalist), The Stacattos, The Bees (fine down home blues with excellent
harp), Jimmy Anthony & The Jap Curry Blazers (really!), Roosevelt Grier
(football star proves to be a fine blues singer on his version of the Lil
Green classic Why Don't You Do Right), Little Boyd & the Blues Bees
(more down home harmonica blues), The Classics, Bob Mosley (great piano
boogie), The Penguins and more. Excellent sound and four page booklet with
label shots. (FS)
JIMMY ANTHONY & THE JAP CURRY BLAZERS: Eternal Thing/
THE BEES: Oh Yes/ Terror (Inst.)/ GENE BURKS: Shirley Jean/ THE CLASSICS:
Elmo/ SONNY FISHBACK: Gee Baby/ You Ain't Goin'Nowhere/ JIMMY FOX: Huff N
Puff/ JOE GAINES & THE ORIGINAL HI-LITES: I Wanna Go Back Home/ ROOSEVELT
GRIER: Why Don't You Do Right/ JOY HAMILTON WITH THE GENE MASON SEXTET:
You Got My Nose Open Baby/ TERRI LEE: I'm No Good To You/ My-My-My/ LITTLE
BOYD & THE BLUES BEES: Don't Leave Me Baby/ Harmonica Rock(Inst.)/ BOB
MOSLEY: Bobbie's Boogie (Inst.)/ TEDDY REYNOLDS & JOHNNY SUCCESS: Rockin'
With You baby/ FAY SIMMONS: Hangin'Around/ THE STACATTO’S: Jimmy Jones/
JOHNNY STEWART: A Whole Lot Of Lovin´/ THE STEWART BROTHERS: Sleep On The
Porch/ JIMMY TROTTER: Hungry And Thirsty/ THE VIBRATORS: Mad Man
Shuffle(Inst.)/ Way Out (Inst.)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Varese 66674 |
East L.A. - Rockin' The Barrio |
● CD $11.98 |
18 tracks, 47 min., highly recommended
A few of these
songs charted nationally, but most were hits only in Los Angeles (charting
on Radio KRLA and KHJ Radio), where a particular combination of soul, doo
wop, and rock 'n' roll reigned supreme. The groups were Chicano or "mixed"
(with Anglos and Blacks), unlike just about every other group in America
at the time. This fine collection features the best of the Rampart, Linda,
Gordo, and Faro labels recorded between 1962-69 and produced by Eddie
Davis. Land Of 1000 Dances by Cannibal And The Headhunters is
easily the best known song here, but the less often remembered This Is
The Night by Larry Tamblyn and Take My Heart by The Romancers
and Strange World by The Majestics show that East L.A. in the 1960s
bubbled over with musical talent. The major labels didn't know what they
were missing until they missed it. Other standout moments include Evil
Ways by The Village Callers, Brown Baby by Willie G, Follow
The Music by Cannibal And The Headhunters with The King Curtis Band,
La La La La La by The Blendells, and more. (JC)
|
| GINO WASHINGTON |
Norton CED 268 |
Out Of This World |
● CD $14.98 |
15 tracks, highly recommended
One-of-a-kind garage-soul
fusion from Motor City legend Washington-- not the imposter who swiped
his act and earned a UK following with inferior retreads. This Gino was
backed by a white boy rock band, the Atlantics, who contribute some
totally cheesy but often thrilling sleazy guitar riffs and backbeats. (The
California equivalent would have been Brenton Wood backed by Count Five.)
Not that Gino himself is any less shameless; he shouts, croons, grunts,
groans, moans and does whatever else he imagines might get somebody to pay
attention. The songs are sometimes bizarre: Puppet on a String is a
suicide threat; Do the Frog a failed attempt to create a dance
craze. Others, including the Isleyesque title track, just recycle R&B
convention, although always with tremendous energy. But the best of these
tracks--the loopy Gino is a Coward, the dreamy Around the Town,
and I'm Coming Home, which is both a threat and a promise--have an
unquenchable energy. Whatever relationship this music has to Motown acts
like the Contours, its influence is ultimately felt more strongly in
Detroit's long line of grungy rock groups with demented R&B ambitions (the
MC5, the Stooges, early Ted Nugent). Not for the faint of heart. (DM)
|
|
ANDRE WILLIAMS & THE OUT OF SIGHTERS |
Soul-Tay-Shus 6361 |
Red Beans & Biscuits - Rare & Unreleased
Recordings |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks, 55 min., highly recommended
Too often "rare and
unreleased" is a euphemism for "bad." But for Andre Williams (who had his
first hit with Bacon Fat in 1957 and began producing records in the
1960s), it means rare and unreleased. He takes writing and production
credits on these 16 tracks, half of which are previously unissued.
Nineteen-year-old Jo Ann Garrett's Can You Deal With That if
first-rate funk with an attitude, just as The Profiles' If I Didn't
Love You is as fine a slice of mid-tempo soul as you're likely to hear
any time soon. And the many Andre Williams instrumentals start a fire and
keep it burning. Wish everybody's lesser achievements sounded this good.
| |
