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NEWSLETTER #146
Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
 Johnny Adams -> The Marvelows + DVDS
 
 

 
 

NEW DVDS
 
OTIS REDDING Stax 7031 Dreams To Remember - The Legacy Of Otis Redding ● DVD $14.98
Due next week. First full-length DVD devoted to possibly the greatest soul singer of all time - Otis Redding. It features 16 complete performances filmed throughout America and Europe including Pain In My Heart/ Just One More Day/ I've Been Loving You Too Long/ My Girl/ Any Ole Way/ Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)/ Shake/ Try A Little Tenderness and more. In addition there are 40 minutes of interviews filmed for this DVD with founder of Stax, Jim Stewart, Steve Cropper, Wayne Jackson and Otis's wife and daughter Zelma and Karla. There are also unpublished photos from the estate of Otis.

 
VARIOUS Stax 7032 Respect Yourself - The Stax Record Story ● DVD $19.98
As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the birth of probably THE greatest soul label is a 113 minute documentary chronicling the Stax story from its birth in Memphis in 1957 through its various upheavals. It includes a rare interview with Stax founder and co-owner Jim Stewart as well as interviews with Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Jesse Jackson, Wayne Jackson and others. The documentary is peppered with rare and previously unreleased live footage of Otis Redding, Booker T. & The MGs, Isaac Hayes, Sam & dave, William Bell and others and includes a narration by Samuel L. Jackson. As a bonus there is footage from the rehearsals for the 2007 Stax reunion with performances by William Bell, Eddie Floyd & Booker T. & The MGs.

   

NEW COMPACT DISCS
 
JOHNNY ADAMS Shout 36 Chasing Rainbows - New Orleans Soul, 1969-1981 ● CD $18.98
Two CD set with 32 tracks by this superb New Orleans soul singer produced by famed New Orleans record producer Senator Jones between 1969 and 1981 and released on a variety of labels - Chelsea, Ariola, Hep Me and SSS. Includes After All The Good Is Gone/ She's Only A Baby Herself/ The Image Of Me/ It's Been So Long/ It Onl;y Rains On Me/ Put It Off Till Tomorrow/ Give Me A Chance/ Nothing Takes The Place Of You/ Your Love Is All I Need/ White Christmas/ Born To Love You, etc. Compiled and annotated by British soul authority Clive Richardson.
 
LAVERN BAKER Rhino (UK) 79995-5 The Platinum Collection ● CD $10.98
20 Tracks, 53 mins, recommended
Another entry in the Rhino/Atlantic Platinum Collection series (that also brought us the Mar-Keys and Don Covay compilations) that commemorates the 60th anniversary of Atlantic Records, this collection of the best tracks by the label's first diva star from the 50's rock `n roll era is essentially a re-issue of Atlantic's own "Soul On Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker" from 1991. Since the label has kept the first version in print, this matters only if one already has Soul On Fire; if not, then this is an equally worthy Baker compilation as it contains all the big guns-- Soul On Fire/ Tweedle Dee/ Jim Dandy/ I Cried a Tear, and Bop-Ting-a-Ling--as well as lesser known worthies Jim Dandy Got Married and Tomorrow Night, all crisply remastered. The liner notes are skimpy, but if all one cares about is the music then you can't do any better than this. (FS)

 
BARBARA & THE BROWNS Kent CDKEND 278 Can't Find Happiness ● CD $18.98
Superb soul recorded in Memphis by Barbara Brown and her sisters between 1966 and 1974 for the Xl label - some of which were leased to other companies. This CD includes all the issued sides plus alternate songs and alternate takes

 
WILLIAM BELL Stax 30297 The Very Best Of William Bell ● CD $11.98
20 Tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
A prominent player in the Stax/Volt saga, William Bell is best remembered as the writer or co-writer of two oft-covered R&B/Blues classics: You Don't Miss Your Water and Born Under a Bad Sign. But Bell was a consummate singer in his own right and cut some amazing singles for Stax in the 60's. This "Best Of" is an improvement on a previous Best Of issued by Stax in 1988; it includes all of Bell's hits with Stax -- Everybody Loves a Winner/ I Forgot To Be Your Lover, and his hits with Judy Clay, Private Number and My Baby Specializes, to name a few--as well as You Don't Miss Your Water which is missing from the earlier set. Add in crystal clear re-mastered sound and well written liner notes, and this is another winner from Stax Records' re-issue program. (GMC)
WILLIAM BELL: All For The Love Of A Woman/ Any Other Way/ Born Under A Bad Sign/ Eloise (hang On In There)/ Every Man Oughta Have A Woman/ Everybody Loves A Winner/ Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday/ Gettin' What You Want (losin' What You Got)/ Happy/ I Forgot To Be Your Lover/ I've Got To Go On Without You/ Lovin' On Borrowed Time/ My Baby Specializes/ My Whole World Is Falling Down/ Never Like This Before/ Private Number/ Save Us/ Share What You Got (but Keep What You Need)/ Tribute To A King/ You Don't Miss Your Water

 
BOOKER T. & THE MGS Stax 30293 The Very Best Of Booker T. & The MGs ● CD $11.98
20 Tracks, 67 mins, highly recommended
Somewhere between sessions as a backing group for nearly every Stax recording, these four brilliant musicians found the time to produce 11 albums and 23 singles on their own, racking up a few hits in the process. This is quite possibly the definitive collection from the famed Memphis Giants, digitally re-mastered (of course), sounding cleaner than ever, with the possible exception of Booker-Loo, which may well have been transferred from a 45 RPM single, perhaps it was the only source recording available. Time Is Tight and Melting Pot are the lengthier versions that appeared on their respective original albums, rather than the better-known singles. Witness the mastery of Booker T. Jones on Hammond Organ (who is also impressive in the piano department), guitarist Steve Cropper, bassists Lewis Steinberg (tracks 1-4) and Donald "Duck" Dunn (tracks 5-20), and drummer Al Jackson, Jr. (BC)
BOOKER T. & THE MGS: Booker-loo/ Boot-leg/ Chinese Checkers/ Green Onions/ Groovin'/ Hang 'em High/ Heads Or Tails/ Hip Hug-her/ Melting Pot/ Mo' Onions/ Mrs. Robinson/ My Sweet Potato/ Over Easy/ Slim Jenkins' Place/ Something/ Soul Clap '69/ Soul Dressing/ Soul-limbo/ Sunday Sermon/ Time Is Tight

 
JAMES BROWN Hip-O Select 08510-02 The Singles - The Singles, 1960-1963 ● CD $29.98
2 CDs, 40 tracks, 1 hour 50 min., essential
This second volume of James Brown's singles (in chronological order) follows Brown as Sid Nathan moved him from Federal to King Records. Attempting to maximize his own income, Nathan had JB cutting versions of songs he owned the copyrights to, including pieces by Billy Ward (The Bells, Roy Brown (Love Don't Love Nobody), Ivory Joe Hunter (Waiting In Vain), Cowboy Copas (Signed, Sealed, And Delivered), and others. The trade off for fattening Nathan's wallet was that Brown was allowed to record his own, generally wilder songs and make his way ever closer to the superstardom to come. This fine release comes with notes on every track and a discography with record numbers and session details. What's not to like? As with all Hip-O Select releases, this one is a limited edition (though not numbered). (JC)

 
JAMES BROWN Hip-O Select 08804-02 The Singles - Volume 3, 1964-1965 ● CD $29.98
2 CDs, 36 tracks, 92 mins, highly recommended
No one will dispute the title bestowed upon James Brown - he truly earned the right to be called the Godfather of Soul. 1964-65 was one of his most prolific periods, with many big hits (Soul Food/ I Got You (I Feel Good)/ Papa's Got A Brand New Bag) and some not so big, but quite a few relatively unknown gems from "B" sides. Detailed, track-by-track liner notes are a big plus, but one caveat, though - some of these "live" tracks were actually studio versions, with crowd noises overdubbed (not Mr. Brown's idea!). For a complete singles package though, you can't go wrong with this series. (BC)

 
RUTH BROWN Classics 5181 The Chronological Ruth Brown, 1954-1956 ● CD $14.98
The third volume chronicling Ruth's career features 23 songs recoorded between May, 1954 and September, 1956 and includes lots of her hits including Oh What A Dream/ Mambo Baby/ I Can See Everybody's Baby/ As Long As I'm Moving/ It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)/ I Want To Do More/ Sweet Baby Of Mine and Lucky Lips as well as her hit duet with Clyde McPhatter on Love Has Joined Us Together.
 
BILLY BUTLER Kent CDKEND 280 The Right Tracks - The Complete OKeh Recordings 1963-66 ● CD $18.98
29 tracks, 71 min., essential
While brother Jerry burned up the charts at Vee Jay, the younger Billy pounded away at Okeh under the watchful eyes of Curtis Mayfield, Carl Davis, and Gerald Sims. And what did it get him? A couple of hits and some of the finest soul music of the time. His OKeh sessions routinely turned out first flight songs, usually written by Butler himself, who also played guitar--as if having an incredible voice wasn't enough. Previously available only as a bootleg, Butler's Okeh output is all here and comes (with one exception) from the original master tapes. Also included are a heap of previously unissued songs, although some of them are backing tracks (i.e., no vocals). For super fans, a true stereo version of Boston Monkey has been included, since Butler's one LP on Okeh contained a reprocessed stereo version, thus slightly disappointing the 11 people fortunate enough to own that rare slice of vinyl. But the extras, as nice as they are, seem irrelevant compared to having the collected Okeh sides of such a great artist available in excellent sound and with a booklet full of session notes for good measure. A criminally underrated and arresting musician. (JC)
 
JERRY BUTLER Collector's Choice 750 The Ice Man Cometh/ Ice On Ice ● CD $17.98
22 tracks, 62 min., essential
When Mercury (Polygram) put out the admittedly wonderful 2-CD set Iceman: The Mercury Years back in 1992, several tracks on the "Ice" album were omitted, making Jerry Butler fans everywhere weep openly and run for the comfort of their record players. Having both 1969 LPs, Butler's best, on one CD is a smart move from a label that has a generally incomprehensible reissue policy. After his stint at Vee Jay, Butler left Chicago for the City of Brotherly Love and joined forces with Misters Gamble and Huff. The hits came fast and furious, including Hey Western Union Man, Moody Woman, Are You Happy, Never Give You Up, Lost, Only The Strong Survive, What's The Use Of Breaking Up?, Don't Let Love hang You Up, and Got To See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home), all of which are included here! Booklet includes informative notes and original album cover art. Not to be missed. (JC)

 
JERRY BUTLER Shout Factory 31063 The Best Of The Vee-Jay Years ● CD $13.98
18 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended
Known as "The Iceman", Jerry Butler is one of the best singers the 60's ever produced; right up there with Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and David Ruffin. Before he hit his stride in the late 60's under the guidance of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff while signed to Mercury, he had a no-less notable career on Vee-Jay Records in the late 50's/early 60's, both as the first lead singer of the Impressions and as a solo artist. Once again Shout Factory has done themselves proud with this collection of those years; included are all of Butler's early hits and signature songs - For Your Precious Love/ He Will Break Your Heart/ Make it Easy On Yourself, and his great duet with Betty Everett Let it Be Me. The great packaging and excellent sound quality that we've come to expect from Shout Factory are present and accounted for. Just one listen to Butler's version of Moon River is guaranteed to send chills down your spine. (GMC)

 
THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS Collector's Choice 830 People Get Ready ● CD $12.98
12 tracks, 43 mins, recommended
Originally released in 1966, this is the first record that the Brothers would do for the Vault record label. This is pre-psychedelic Chambers Brothers, steeped in the blues with some wicked harmonica playing. Recorded live before what sounds like a relatively small, but enthusiastic audiences at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles and The Unicorn in Boston. The band pump out two fine sets of Blues and Soul, including covers of The Impressions People Get Ready and Barrett Strong's Money, as well as songs by Jimmy Reed, Hank Ballard, The Isley Brothers, Johnnie Taylor and Lowell Fulson. (JM)

 
THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS Collector's Choice 833 Feeling The Blues ● CD $12.98
8 tracks, 34 mins, recommended
When the Chambers Brothers hit big with their psychedelic soul sounds in the late 1960's a lot of labels that the band had recorded for earlier in the decade went through their vaults and issued any and all recordings that could be found. Almost as if a joke, this record was originally released on Vault records in 1969. If you are looking for that fierce sound found on their hit records, it's not here yet, but there is still a lot of good music to check out. Lots of blues, gospel and folk covers I Got A Woman/ House Of The Rising Sun/ Just a Closer Walk With Thee and even a Chambers' original Don't Loose Your Cool. Mostly done with a bluesy approach, hence the title of the record. The Brothers are cool on these cuts, just not as super cool as they would be very soon. So this is not just for the completist only, but not one that everyone should run out and get. (JM)

 
THE CHANNELS Relic 7002 Greatest Hits Featuring Earl Lewis ● CD $13.98
16 tracks, highly recommended
Available again after being out of print for a while. Reissue of Relic LP 5086. Central Harlem's Earl Lewis & The Channels never enjoyed a nationally acclaimed hit record but were most certainly deserved of one. The outfit's appearance at The Apollo Theatre led to an enormous following on the East Coast group scene. During the zenith of their long career (1956-59), the quintet recorded these 16 fine jumps and ballads for Whirlin' Disc, Gone, Fury and Fire Records. Their best sides The Closer You Are (1956), All Alone (1958), and the gorgeous My Love Will Never Die, are all included here in peerless fidelity with info-laden sleeve notes by the incomparable Donn Fileti. (OLN)
THE CHANNELS: All Alone/ Altar Of Love/ Bye Bye Baby/ Flames In My Heart/ I Really Love You/ My Heart Is Sad/ My Love Will Never Die/ My Lovin' Baby/ Now You Know/ Stars In The Sky/ Stay As You Are/ That's My Desire/ The Closer You Are/ The Girl Next Door/ The Gleam In Your Eye/ What Do You Do

 
THE CLOVERS Rhino (UK) 79995-6 The Platinum Collection ● CD $10.98
The Clovers of Washington D.C. began performing as a trio in 1946 and signed with Atlantic in late 1950. The original lineup included John "Buddy" Bailey (lead), Matt McQuater (tenor), Harold Lucus (bari), Harold Winley (bass), and Bill Harris (guitar). Between 1951 and 1956 the group chalked up fourteen charted singles on Atlantic, all but one on the Top Ten. 12 of these successes are included in this fine 22-cut collection. Classics like One Mint Julep/ Good Lovin'/ Crawlin'/ Lovey Dovey/ I've Got My Eyes On You/ Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash/ Devil Or Angel/ Down In The Alley/ Blue Velvet and Love Bug abound.
 
THE COASTERS Varese 66844 Down Home ● CD $13.98
12 tracks, recommended
After The Coasters were dropped by Atco in 1966 they joined the Date label where they were reunited with their original producers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Over the next five years they recorded a number of singles and tracks for an LP that was issued on King which, unfortunately, failed to achieve any chart success. Although the recordings lacked the magic of their 50s sides there were some fine songs - many of them written by Leiber & Stoller including the great Down Home Girl, originally recorded by Alvin Robinson, D.W.Washburn which ended up becoming a hit for The Monkees and some fine and original covers of songs like Love Potion Number Nine and Mustang Sally. The group still featured the distinctive leads of Billy Guy and Carl Gardner along with Earl Carroll who had replaced the vitriolic Cornell Gunter in 1961. An entertaining collection with notes by Coasters discographer Claus Rohnisch (be sure to check out his web site http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/). (FS)
 
KING CURTIS Rhino (UK) 79994-5 The Platinum Collection ● CD $10.98
22 Tracks, 74 mins, highly recommended
The undisputed King of R&B Sax is immortalized in this collection, including seven tracks recorded live at the legendary Fillmore West. Curtis' versatility as an interpreter of melody is exceptional, as shown in the range of material presented here - he is equally at ease with a slow ballad, smokin' R&B, cool funk, there's even a horn-drenched version of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love! The liner notes are a bit shy of information, but that's what the Internet is for. (BC)

 
THE DELLS Shout Factory 31064 Best Of The Vee-Jay Years ● CD $13.98
17 tracks, 47 mins, recommended
One of the longest surviving vocal groups in history--along with the Four Tops, the O'Jays, and the Isley Brothers--the Dells have been making beautiful music together since the 50's. This volume of Shout Factory's Best Of the Vee-Jay Years series covers the Dells' singles for that label from 1955 t0 1965. While they only had two hits during those years-- the original version of Oh What a Nite" in 1956 and Stay in My Corner in 1965--the songs here are some of the finest example of doo-wop ever recorded; just try the likes of Tell the World/ I Wanna Go Home/ Pain in My Heart, and Time Makes You Change on for size. And the fact that these great tracks weren't hits in their time is criminal indeed, but Shout Factory deserves a lot of credit for rescuing them from obscurity. The sound quality could be a tad better, but perhaps it couldn't be helped; no matter, if you dig doo-wop don't miss this collection. (GMC)

 
BO DIDDLEY Hip-O Select 09231-02 I'm A Man - The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 ● CD $29.98
Wow! Due mid-November. Limited edition two CD set with 48 tracks featuring every master recorded for Chess by this great and influential performer between 1955 and 1958. It includes eight never before released alternate takes and songs including two alternate takes of Bo Diddley plus the ballad Our Love Will Never Go and his version of Love Is Strange that are not listed in any discographies!

 
NELLA DODDS Kent CDKEND 282 This Is A Girls Life - The Complete Wand Recordings ● CD $18.98
Nella Dodds was one of many R&B vocalists from the 60's who had her shot at glory, missed the boat, and all we're left with is a handful of recordings. Her six singles recorded for Wand-including the original version of Come See About Me (hit covered by the Supremes) and Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers - are included here, along with three previously unissued tracks.
 
FATS DOMINO Bear Family BCD 16825 Fats Rocks ● CD $22.98
33 tracks, 73 mins, essential
Thirty-three all-time classics from the "Fat Man" with outstanding sound quality and presented in loving fashion from the good folks at Bear Family. In depth notes from Rick Coleman, who wrote the definitive biography of Domino "Blue Monday" which came out last year. Fats was rockin' and rolling before they even had a name for it and fits perfectly in the "Rocks" series. Sure, he's not a wild man like so many in the series, but how much different would R&R be if he wasn't around to influence everybody. Recordings on this were done between 1950 and 1961 and although most have found their way to CD before, I can't think of a collection out that has so many greats all on one CD. Ain't It A Shame/ The Fat Man/ Bo Weevil/ My Blue Heaven/ Blueberry Hill/ Blue Monday/ I'm Walkin' and many more hits are all here as well as some fantastic lesser known cuts like Country Boy/ Shu Rah/ My Girl Josephine and Poor Me. There's just so much good stuff here and it sounds so fresh still today some 50+ years after it was made. Long live the Fat Man! (JM)

 
PATTI DREW Stateside 391 819-2 Workin' On A Groovy Thing - The Best Of ● CD $17.98
24 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
Best known (if at all) for cutting the first version of Neil Sedaka's Workin' On a Groovy Thing (that was later a bigger hit for the 5th Dimension), Patti Drew was a talented R&B singer that should have been more successful than she was. This compilation of her singles and album tracks--recorded for Capitol Records in the mid-to-late 60's--does a magnificent job of showcasing a voice that was similar to Judy Clay's, but more versatile; witness the way Drew moves from belting out up tempo numbers like Can't Shake it Loose and a sultry cover of Fever (that gives Peggy Lee a run for her money) to the pleading balladry of My Lover's Prayer and Where is Daddy, while remaining wholly convincing. When one listens to her assay Otis Redding's Hard To Handle, the Rascals' A Guy Like You, and the Grass Roots' Midnight Confessions, it's easy to temporarily forget the originals. In addition to her solo hits, "The Best Of" also features three singles she recorded with her first group, the Drew-vels as bonus tracks, including the first version of Patti's debut single, Tell Him. All thrilling stuff and worthy of investigation by anyone who can appreciate a great singer, no matter how obscure. Sporting informative liner notes and excellent sound quality, "The Best Of" does right by Miss Patti Drew and her legacy. (GMC)

 
THE DRIFTERS 7T'S GLAM 32 The Drifters Now/ Love Games ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, 78 mins, good
This is the Drifters after they left Atlantic and at pretty much the tail end of any chart action in America. This does represent a period where the Drifters were seeing some substantial success over-seas, but the reasons for that aren't obvious from what we have here. There are a lot of good tracks between the 2 albums, but a lot of the magic is gone. The band for most of these recordings is Johnny Moore, Bill Fredericks, Grant Kitchings and Butch Leake and while all of them are in great voice, the material is lacking. Lots of covers that range in likeability, from the sublime You've Got Your Troubles originally by the Fortunes, to the ridiculous Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Fans of the band will want this for completeness sake at least and the hardcore soul fans will probably dig a few tracks. (JM)

 
THE DRIFTERS Collector's Choice 818 I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing ● CD $12.98
The Drifters' final album recorded with the group's 1960's incarnation-featuring Johnny Moore on lead vocals-has been released on CD for the first time. The cream of the Brill Building contributes material to the project (originally released in 1965), including Barry/Greenwich (title track), Goffin/King (At the Club), Pomus/Shuman (Spanish Lace), Mann/Weil (Come On Over To My Place), and Bert Berns (I Don't Want To Go On Without You). A final hurrah for a legendary and influential vocal group.
 
THE ECHELONS Clifton 3058 Streetlight Serenade ● CD $16.98
30 tracks recorded between 1987 and 1995 by young white acapella group from New Jersey. Most of the songs are covers of doo-wop sides from the 50s and early 60s - some familiar and some more obscure. Includes Streetlite Serenade/ I Really Love You/ A Teenager In Love/ I'm Fallin' In Love/ It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday/ Little Star/ Play Those OLdies Mr. D.J./ Life Is But A Dream/ Sunday KInd Of Love/ Zoom, etc.
 
THE EMBERS Ripete 2346 Vintage Embers ● CD $18.98
28 tracks recorded between 1962 and 1969 by white R&B and soul group from North Carolina who were major artists on the Carolina Beach Music scene as well as achieving a following on the British Northern Soul scene. Mostly covers of R&B and soul favorites along with a few originals - I'm So Lonely/ Everybody Loves A Lover/ First Time/ reach Out For Me/ It Ain't Necesarry/ Hey Baby/ Call Me/ Wish You Didn't Have To Go/ Hurt So Bad/ Watch Out Girl, etc. Includes tracks recorded for an unreleased album. Includes booklet with notes on the group's career.

 
THE FALCONS Relic 7003 You're So Fine ● CD $13.98
Available again after being out of print for a while. 16 exciting sides by this powerful Detroit group featuring the incredible vocals of Joe Stubbs (his brother is Levi Stubbs of The 4 Tops) & soon to-be-soul-star Eddie Floyd of Knock On Wood fame. Contains their Flick, Lupine & Mercury recordings from 1956 to '59 - the great title track + You're Mine/ Baby That's It/ You're In Love/ I Wonder, etc. Previously issued as Relic LP 8005.
THE FALCONS: (when) You're In Love/ Anytime, Anyplace,/ Anywhere/ Baby That's It/ Girl Of My Dreams/ Goddess Of Angels/ I Wonder/ I'll Never Find Another Girl Like You/ Juke Hop/ Just For Your Love/ Let It Be Me/ No Time For Fun/ Please Don't Leave Me Dear/ Sent Up/ Whose Little Girl Are You/ You're Mine/ You're So Fine

 
THE FIVE KEYS Rev-Ola CRBAND 22 Rocking And Crying The Blues, 1951-1957 ● CD $15.98
Superb collection of 30 tracks by one of the greatest doo-wop groups recorded for Aladdin and Capitol. Whether on a bluesy soulful ballad or hard driving rocker the group always sounded great. This collection includes Rocking And Crying The Blues/ Love My Loving (with some nifty steel guitar)/ Too Late Baby/ Why Oh Why/ Serve Another Round/ How Long/ I'll Follow You/ That's Right/ It's A Groove/ I Dreamt I dwelt In Heaven/ The Verdict, etc.
 
ARETHA FRANKLIN Atlantic 72188 Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of T ● CD $19.98
2 CDs, 35 tracks, 2 hours 19 min., essential/highly recommended
Demos and outtakes from Franklin's early post-Columbia years (1966-73) at Atlantic, where Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, Quincy Jones, and Franklin herself, produced her records in a style that more nearly fitted with her unmatched abilities and roof-raising vocal tendencies. In short, she quickly developed into the greatest female soul singer of all time. Not surprising then that these tracks, the stuff that didn't make the cut, shine like nickel. If The Letter, an outtake from the Aretha Arrives session, doesn't impress you, your autopsy may soon follow. In truth, you could drop the needle (metaphorically, of course) anywhere and land on genius. Except for five cuts, everything here is previously unreleased, making this essential for fans of the Queen. Unissued gems include a duet with Ray Charles on Duke Ellington's Ain't But The One, an incredible demo of Van McCoy's Sweet Bitter Love, a cover of Leonard Cohen's signature song Suzanne, the rollicking Hollard-Dozier-Holland-penned You Keep Me Hangin' On, the churchy My Cup Runneth Over, I Need A Strong Man (The To-To Song), Heavenly Father, This Is, Bobby Womack's I'm In Love, and much more. Not the ideal place to start if one is unfamiliar with Aretha Franklin's work, but sure to impress regardless. (JC)

 
AL GREEN Blue Note 93556 I Can't Stop ● CD $17.98
Superb album recorded in 2007 with Willie MItchell finding Al still in top form.
 
BIG JOHN GREER Rev-Ola CRBAND 17 I'm The Fat Man ● CD $15.98
30 tracks, 77 mins, essential
Another great collection of jump blues and R&B from Rev-Ola, this time featuring heavyweight singer and sax player Big JOhn Greer recorded between 1949 and 1955. His earlier sides follows the pattern of the blues shouters like Roy Brown and Wynonie Harris. Over several 1949/50 sessions Greer belts out some great rockin' songs like his hot cover of Stick McGhee's Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee plus Long Tall Gal/ I'm The Fat Man and others along with some storming instrumentals like Rockin' With Big John and Big John's A Blowin. The later sessions find Big John mostly just exercising his mighty lungs with the sax chores handed over to the awesome Sam "The Man" Taylor. The sessions really start to heat up when Mickey "Guitar" Baker joins the fray in '53 and includes his wild version of the old blues standard Bottle It Up And Go, his answer to Chuck Berry Come Back Maybelline, the appropriately titled Play Me Some Loud Music, Lucky Lucky Me and others. This CD also includes his only hit, the great, much covered, blues ballad Got You On My Mind. On three tracks John is joined by the great vocal group The Du Droppers and the great instrumental Blam features sensational guitar by Baker and exclamations from The Four Students. You'd better have a fire extinguisher ready 'cos by the time this disc is finished your CD player will be smoking! (FS)

 
LIONEL HAMPTON Pacific 626 Oh Rock ● CD $17.98
The great jazz vibist and bandleader with a selection of 26 R&B flavored sides from the late 40s including sides with vocals by Jimmy Scott and Dinah Washington. Includes Oh Rock!/ Well Oh Well/ Drinkin' Wine Spo-De-O-Dee/ Hey! Ba Ba Re-Bop/ Oh Babe/ Central Ave. Breakdown/ I wish I Knew/ Gladysee Bounce/ Sampson's Boogie/ What's Happening Baby, etc.

 
WYNONIE HARRIS Rev-Ola CRBAND 19 Rock, Mr Blues - The King & Atco Recordings, 1949-1956 ● CD $15.98
30 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of sides from this great Omaha born blues shouter that were released in the 50s including all his hits from 1950 to 1952 - Sittin' On It All The Time/ I Like My Baby's Pudding Good Morning Judge/ Oh Babe/ Bloodshot Eyes and his last R&B hit from 1952 Lovin' Machine. The hits may have dried up by '52 but Wynonie continued to cut exciting recordings like his version of Brownie McGhee's Christina with it's loping New Orleans feel, the hard driving Quiet Whiskey, the automotive tribute Fishtail Blues and others. The latter sides don't have quite the ferocity of the early sides but are very worthwhile. Although most of these tracks have been reissued before there are a number of tracks not readily available including his obscure Atco coupling from 1956. Throughout Wynonie is accompanied by the cream of session musicians like Sonny Thompson, "Buddy" Tate, Jimmy Shirley, Big John Greer, Bill Graham, Todd Rhodes, "Count" Hastings, Mickey Baker, Rufus Gore and others. (FS)
WYNONIE HARRIS: Bloodshot Eyes/ Christina/ Confessin' The Blues/ Deacon Don't Like It/ Destination Love/ Down Boy Down/ Drinking Blues/ Fishtail Blues/ Git With The Grits/ Good Morning Judge/ I Don't Know Where To Go/ I Get A Thrill/ I Like My Baby's Pudding/ Just Like Two Drops Of Water/ Keep A Talkin'/ Keep On Churnin' (Till The Butter Comes)/ Love Untrue/ Lovin' Machine/ Mama Your Daughter Done Lied On Me/ Man's Best Friend/ Mr Blues Is Coming To Town/ Mr Dollar/ My Playful Baby's Gone/ Please Louise/ Quiet Whiskey/ Rock Mr Blues/ Sittin' On It All The Time/ Tell A Whale Of A Tale/ Triflin' Woman/ Wasn't That Good

 
LUTHER INGRAM Kent CDKEND 279 Pity For The Lonely - The Ko Ko Singles, Vol. 1 ● CD $18.98
19 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
For those who only remember Luther Ingram by his seductive 1972 Top 5 pop hit (No. 1 R&B) (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right, this collection will come as a big surprise. What began as an overdue compilation of the first ten singles of his solo career, became a loving tribute when Ingram passed away in March 2007. He was a gritty vocalist in the style of Otis Redding during this time, and could sell a song to beat the band. Covering a five year period, from 1966 to 1971, "Pity For the Lonely" boasts crisp re-mastered sound, informative track-by-track liner notes, and nice packaging to provide a fitting homage to a fallen soul warrior who shouldn't be forgotten. (GMC)

 
WALTER JACKSON Kent CDKEND 273 Speak Her Name - The OKeh Recordings, Vol. 3 ● CD $18.98
20 tracks, 60 min., very highly recommended
Jackson possessed one of the most powerful voices in Chicago, as a listen to just about any song here will verify. The variety of material here would no doubt be daunting to anyone else. And just when is seems certain that nothing could be more soulful than his version of the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil song Not You (unmemorably recorded earlier by Bobby Rydell), After You There Is Nothing raises the bar. It, along with the classic It's An Uphill Climb To The Bottom, A Corner In The Sun, and the titular Speak Her Name all found their way to respectable heights on the R&B charts, three making the top 40. And yet between the 10 original album tracks and the 10 "bonus" songs, there is no loss of quality. Even the two previously unreleased cuts (Forget The Girl and the Randy Newman-penned Just One Smile) feature stunning vocal performances from Jackson, who commits himself fully every time out. (JC)

 
THE JAYNETTS Cat King Cole 1005 Sally And The Rest ● CD $17.98
The Jaynetts' claim to fame was Sally Go Round the Roses, but apparently they were much more than that because here's a collection of their legacy. Sally is here, along with other tracks recorded as the Jaynetts; also included are singles cut under other names (the Poppies, the Clickettes, the Patty Cakes, the Z-Debs, and the Endeavors). Although sound quality is not always to greatest this is certainly the most comprehensive collection of this group - I Wanted To Be Free/ Is It My Imagination/ Be My Boyfriend/ One Track Mind/ I Wanna Know, etc - 29 tracks in all.
 
MARV JOHNSON Black Tulip 2638692 You've Got What It Takes ● CD $17.98
30 track collection of this fine pop/ R&B singer with his distinctive high voice and catchy songs. Includes his obscure first recordings from 1958 (My Baby-O/ Once Upon A Time) as well as all his hits recorded between 1959 and 1963 along with non-hit singles and LP sides. Includes the big hit title song plus Happy Days/ Come To Me/ I'm Coming Home/ How Can We Tell Him/ I Need You/ Magic Mirror/ River Of Tears/ What A Need, etc.
 
BILLY JONES Black & Tan 030 My Hometown ● CD $15.98
10 tracks, 45 min., recommended
The booklet notes describe Billy Jones as a guitar wielding revolutionary, with one eye on making the world better and the other on furthering the tradition of "great black music." And yet all but two of the songs on "My Hometown" take love for their subject, the most traditional blues topic ever. And his take on "love" is traditional too, i.e., he can't live without her, he's on his knees begging for her to come back home, yadda yadda. The title cut paints a picture of a ghetto and Crystal is predictably about methamphetamine. Still, Jones is a gifted and soulful singer, his guitar work lyrical and succinct. No histrionics or aural pyrotechnics for their own sakes, just good guitar in service of the song. Recorded in The Netherlands. (JC)
 
THELMA JONES Kent CDKEND 277 Second Chance ● CD $18.98
22 tracks, 74 min., highly recommended
Jones recorded for Barry Records in 1967-68 and saw some modest commercial success her first time out with Never Leave Me, which rose to #49 on Billboard's R&B charts. Her 10 Barry sides, longer overdue for reissuing, prove Jones to be a solid soul singer who could turn good material into great performances. Mr. Fix-It, which has become a "Northern soul" fave, is a killer and more than usually frank for a singer who started in the church and described herself as "sanctified and holy." Her original version of The House That Jack Built deserves praise, despite the fact that Aretha Frankin's hit version wipes the floor with it. (But then, if every female soul singer's work is compared to Aretha's 1960s Atlantic sides, few will survive.) To round out the release, Kent has added Jones' Columbia LP (long unavailable except for a 2005 Japanese reissue), which includes the excellent Salty Tears, deservedly popular though absent from the charts. The Columbia sides, respectable if unspectacular, find Jones with a deeper, fuller voice (she