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NIGHT TRAIN, FUNKY DELICACIES & SOUL-TAY-SHUS LABELS

The Barons -> Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers

COMPACT DISCS
THE BARONS
JOE BARRY
THE BASIN STRET BOYS
JESSE BELVIN
JAMES BLACK
EDDIE BO
JAMES BOOKER
RAY CHARLES
COUSIN JOE
DR. SOUCHON
THE FABULOUS PEPS
THE FABULOUS TRENIERS
WILLY FEASTER & THE MIGHTY MAGNIFICENTS

LOWELL FULSON
LLOYD GLENN
Z.Z. HILL
HERMAN HITSON
JOE HUNTER
BOBBY JAY
LENNY LACOUR
JOE LIGGINS
THE MARVELS
MASTERS OF SOUL
CONNIE MCGILL & THE VISIONS
JAY MCSHANN
BOBBY MITCHELL & THE TOPPERS

 

 

COMPACT DISCS

 

THE BARONS Funky Delicacies 0005 Society Don't Let Us Down ● CD $14.98
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)

 
JOE BARRY Night Train 7140 Been Down That Muddy Road ● CD $14.98
15 recent recordings by this fine and veteran Louisiana swamp pop singer. Joe was very sick at the time of these recordings and his voice sounds weak though he still has that warm Louisiana drawl. Mostly new songs by Joe plus two versions of Sting's Every Breath I Take - one in French.

 
THE BASIN STRET BOYS Night Train 7028 Satchelmouth Baby ● CD $14.98
18 tracks, recommended
The Basin Street Boys were a late 40's vocal group in the same vein as the Ink Spots and The Five Red Caps. The group was formed in LA by singer/ guitarist Ormand Wilson and had some good success in 1946 with the song I Sold My Heart To The Junkman recorded for Exclusive with accompaniment by Eddie Beale's Quartet. The 18 tunes featured here were all done for Leon Rene's Exclusive label and show the boys to be very talented in a variety of styles from slow crooning to gently rocking. They recorded some of the hippest jive numbers too like Voot Nay On The Vot Nay/ I Need A Knife, A Fork, And A Spoon and the title Satchel Mouth Baby. You'll also dig tenor sax great Lucky Thompson, and alumnus of the Counta Basie Band, who appears on many of these. Other cuts include Nothing Ever Happens To Me/ Exactly Like You/ Near To You/ Josephine/ Summertime Gal, etc. (AE/ FS)

 
JESSE BELVIN Night Train 7097 So Fine - The Shorty Rogers & Swing Time Demos ● CD $14.98
Amazing collection of 29 previously unissued demos from 1954 and 1954 by this legendary and influential vocalist. All original songs with Jesse accompanied only by his own piano playing including some cuts with vocal group The Chargers.
JESSE BELVIN: Black Stockings/ Black Stockings/ Confessing/ Counterfeiter/ Country Boy/ Dandelion/ Dear Heart/ Deep In My Heart/ Dollar And A Quarter/ Don't Worry About That Girl/ Father Time/ Here In My Heart/ I Love Her So/ I Need Your Love/ It's Mighty Funny/ Old McDonald/ Rock 'N' Roll Cowboy/ Shotgun Wedding/ So Fine/ Taboo Man-Takes 1 & 2/ Tarzan/ The Time Is Coming Close To Christmas/ This Heart Of Mine/ Trudy My Love/ What Have You Done To My Heart/ Where's My Girl/ Who Baby Who/ Wondering/ You're So Divine

 
JAMES BLACK Night Train 7105 (I Need) Altitude ● CD $14.98
A collection of New Orleans jazz and funk recorded in the 70s and early 80s featuring drummer James Black with various groups. Includes vocals by Mary Jane Hooper, Eddie Bo, James Black and Sister Mary.

 
EDDIE BO Night Train 7025 New Orleans Solo Piano ● CD $14.98
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)

 
JAMES BOOKER Night Train 2006 A Taste Of Honey, Live In New Orleans 1977 ● CD $17.98
Night Train's second double CD of live recordings by this idiosyncratic genius of New Orleans features 30 sides recorded in 1977. It will mostly appeal to hard core Bookerphiles since most of the songs are available in better versions elsewhere and in some cases there are three versions of the same song on this collection. Sound quality is variable ranging from very good to pretty bad - though none of it unlistenable. That being said the true fan will appreciate the different approaches he takes to the songs including a fascinating 10 minute version of Classified complete with a crazed lengthy rap and his dazzling piano work accompanying Cyril Neville on St. James Infirmary. Also includes Let Them Talk/ Sunny Side Of The Street (three versions)/ Life (two versions)/ Junco Partner (three versions)/ Papa Was A Rascal (two versions) and more - even a version of George Harrison's Something.

 
RAY CHARLES Night Train 2001 The Complete Swing Time And Down Beat Recordings ● CD $17.98
Two Cds, 45 tracks, very highly recommended
This two CD set with 45 tracks is the most comprehensive collection of Ray's pre-Atlantic recordings - mostly recorded for Swing Time and Down Beat between 1948 and 1951. An attractive and detailed portrait of a major artist discovering his musical identity, moving from his early attempts to walk in the footsteps of Nat King Cole to the beginnings of genuine Ray Charles soul. Titles include Confession Blues/ Let's Have A Ball/ Don't Put All Your Dreams In One Basket/ She's On The Ball/ I'll Do Anything But Work/ All To Myself/ The Snow Is Falling/ Back Home. Newly remastered, in most cases, from original Swing Time masters. A compilation of major importance to fans of blues, R&B, and jazz alike. (DH/ FS)

 
RAY CHARLES Night Train 7154 Unreleased ● CD $14.98
19 track collection of previously unissued alternate takes from Ray's Swingtime sessions.
RAY CHARLES: A Sentimental Blues (take 1)/ A Sentimental Blues (take 3)/ Ain't That Fine (false Start)/ Ain't That Fine (take 1)/ All To Myself Alone (extended Version)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (incomplete Take)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (take 1)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 4)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 5)/ Honey Honey (false Start)/ Honey Honey (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 3)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 1)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 2)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (false Start)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (incomplete Take)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 1)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 4)

 
COUSIN JOE Night Train 7159 I Never Harmed An Onion ● CD $14.98
22 tracks, 66 mins, very highly recommended
A superb collection of sides by New Orleans legend Cousin Joe Pleasants - a fine singer and piano player who started his recording career in the 1940s. The first 11 tracks are from a previously unissued 1989 session recorded just a few months before his death and although he wasn't able to play piano (he is accompanied by pianist Amasa Miller) his voice was strong and, as always, his songs are very fine ranging from a unique take on the saga of Stagger Lee to the whimsical title song to a version of Willie Nelson's country ballad Touch Me (here credited to Joe!) to the sensitive Let Your Light Shine. Although Miller isn't really a blues pianist her playing complements Joe's singing beautifully. The rest of the CD reissues Joe's 1986 Great Southern LP featuring a 1985 sessions with Joe accompanying himself with his distinctive New Orleans style piano. Joe's singing is stronger here and, again the songs are brilliant including a superb and original song about the sinking of the Titanic What A Tragedy, the whimsical Hard Work, his take on traditional blues like Brown Skinned Woman/ Little Low Mama/ Big Fat Mama and more. Cousin Joe was a substantial and underrated talent. I fondly remember seeing Joe when he toured England in 1964 - he was unknown to most of the audience but within a few minutes had the audience in the palm of his hand with his wit and superb musicianship. This CD is a real delight. (FS)

 
DR. SOUCHON Night Train 7080 Recalls Early New Orleans MInstrel Days ● CD $14.98
15 tracks, 38 minutes, very good
Edmond Souchon, New Orleans surgeon, guitarist & raconteur spends a delightful time with us, with brief reminiscence of old New Orleans times & tunes. I've got no idea when this was recorded, but Doc is in his 60s during these recordings, & his reminiscences go back to the Teens! Most stuff is with just Doc on vocals & guitar, but a few, incl the languid Sweet Baby Doll (Doc sings the lyrics to this King Oliver tune that was only recorded as an instrumental) have backing with piano & clarinet. also Mariuch, She Make Da Hoochie Ma Cooch/ Ella Speed Blues/ Nobody Knows You When you're Down & Out., etc. (GM)

 
THE FABULOUS PEPS Soul-Tay-Shus 6348 Detroit, Michigan - Original D-Town Recordings ● CD $14.98
18 tracks, 46 min., almost recommended
Their live show was supposed to kill, but their original D-Town recordings, waxed between 1965-68, don't have that kind of power. Detroit Michigan, their most popular song, is essentially a novelty number, and not a particularly novel one. Much of the rest sounds a little amateurish, and not always in a good way. Some of the songs are not clumsy exactly, but they lack subtlety. The Fabulous Peps--a name seemingly chosen to ward off success--are as much about rock as they are soul, which can be interesting but isn't. Not that they don't have their moments. I Can't Get It Right must have been a great single. And This Love I Have For You is charming, as is Thinking About You. But too often, as with I'll Never Be The Same Again, their arrangements are awkward and step all over themselves. I Love You, for example, is full of good musical ideas, but instead of complementing each other, they fight for attention. (JC)
THE FABULOUS PEPS: Detroit, Michigan/ Gypsy Woman/ I Can't Get Right/ I Love You/ I'll Never Be the Same Again/ I've Been Trying/ Love of My Life/ My Love Looks Good on You/ She's Going to Leave You/ So Fine (B)/ Speak Your Peace/ That's the Way Love Is/ Thinkin' About You/ This I Pray/ This Love I Have for You/ Why Are You Blowing My Mind/ With These Eyes/ You Never Had it So Good

 
THE FABULOUS TRENIERS Night Train 7120 The Hoss Allen Sessions ● CD $14.98
A vital link between the swing era and rock n roll, the Treniers used humor in a freewheeling show that contained vaudeville elements such as tap dance, football formations, sight gags, stunts, and wild, acrobatic leaps choreographed to the groups music. After Hours and By The Sea are the only LPs that The Treniers recorded for the legendry DJ Hoss Allen in 1963 and '64. Bringing the pair of rare LPs together, this CD makes these albums available for the first time since they where originally released four decades ago.

 
WILLY FEASTER & THE MIGHTY MAGNIFICENTS Funky Delicacies 0075 On The Dirt Road - Rare & Unreleased NY Funk & Soul ● CD $14.98
19 tracks, 62 mins, recommended Willie Feaster & the Mighty Magnificents (also known as Willie and the Magnificent Six) were the house band at Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum Records (the precursor to pioneering Hip Hop label Sugarhill) that made singles and albums that stand on their own merits. His music long prized by collectors, this compilation brings together both tracks cut by Willie's gang as backing musicians (for the Esquires and Johnny Acey) and at their own sessions; and just for the heck of it, some unreleased sides are also included to make things interesting. The Magnificents were adept at many styles of music: everything from doo wop to Memphis Soul to Kool & the Gang-style Funk. Highlights include: Funky jams Whatcha Want Us to Do and It's No Big Deal (with Ernie Isley-inspired guitar solo!), and Feaster's band version of vocal group ballad Forevermore (also featured with Acey on vocals). The liner notes tell the band's story well, but the sound quality does vary from track to track, so sensitive listeners should beware. Otherwise this is a solid look at a forgotten bunch of stellar musicians. (GMC)

 
LOWELL FULSON Night Train 7001 Back Home Blues ● CD $14.98
14 tracks, highly recommended
Bay area blues guitar legend Lowell Fulson cut his first sides in 1946 for the late Bob Geddins' Big Town label out of Oakland. When Geddins' company fell on hard times (and it often did), Lowell switched to Swing-Time which not only recorded him, but reissued many Big Time masters. Some fine straight ahead blues was recorded at this time (circa 1946-49). Leadbitter and Slaven indicate that Lowell cut in many different formats during this period - some had him with simple trio backings, others with his brother Martin, the Lloyd Glenn unit, Que Martin Orch., and Jay McShann Orch. to name but a few. The fourteen sides presented here probably feature some of the above. Great down home blues including I Love My Baby, the previously unissued alternates of Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home/ Sinners Prayer/ Back Home Blues, plus ten other gems. Highly recommended. (OLN)
LOWELL FULSON: Back Home Blues/ Cold Hearted Mama/ Don't Be So Evil/ Fulson Boogie (instrumental)/ I Love My Baby/ Let's Live Right/ Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home (alternate take)/ My Baby Can't Be Found/ Rock This House/ Sinner's Prayer (alternate take)/ The Day Is Passing On (instrumental - unissued)/ Trying To Find My Baby/ Upstairs/ Want To See My Baby

 
LOWELL FULSON Night Train 7011 Sinner's Prayer ● CD $14.98
20 tracks, 55 mins, recommended
Born in Oklahoma in 1921, Lowell Fulson may be a notch short of contemporaries like Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf in the minds of some critics, but as this second Fulson disc from Night Train suggests, even in his earliest recordings he was a force to be reckoned with. The impressive program here offers both the issued and an alternate version of the title track which has become a blues standard. Also includes Why Can't You Cry For Me/ Day Is Slowly Passing On/ Black Widows Spider Blues/ You're Going To Miss Me When I'm Gone/ My Baby Can't Be Found and Back Home Blues. Fine sound quality, cover graphics like the first Fulson disc in this series and solid notes by Richie Benway. (DH)
LOWELL FULSON: Back Home Blues/ Black Widow Spider Blues/ Day Is Passing On (instrumental)/ Day Is Slowly Passing On/ Fulson's Blues/ Fulson's Guitar Boogie (previously unissued)/ Good Times Back Home (instrumental)/ I Love My Baby/ Low Society (instrumental)/ Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home (previously unreleased alternate take)/ Mean Woman Blues/ Miss Kathy Lee/ My Baby Can't Be Found/ Sinner's Prayer (alternate take)/ Sinner's Prayer (original version)/ Trying To Find My Baby/ Upstairs/ Want to See My Baby/ Why Can't You Cry for Me/ You're Going to Miss Me When I'm Gone

 
LOWELL FULSON Night Train 7110 Mean Old Lonesome Blues ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended
The fourth collection on Night Train of Lowell's fine recordings cut for Jack Lauderdale's Swingtime label between 1947 and 1951. The material here is terrifically varied featuring Lowell on both acoustic and electric guitar in a variety of settings ranging from acoustic country blues to hard R&B with a big band. Whatever the setting, Lowell sounds perfectly comfortable with great soulful vocals and fine economical guitar work. Accompanying musicians include the likes of pianist Lloyd Glenn, alto saxist Earl Brown, bassist Billy Hadnott, rhythm guitarist "Tiny" Webb and others. There are several unissued tracks on this collection including the absolutely brilliant Is Your Friend Really Your Friend?. Other beauties here include Guitar Shuffle/ My Daily Prayer (a minor key burner in the same vein as his classic Sinner's Prayer)/ I Had A Little Woman/ Wee Hours Of The Morning/ Thinking Blues/ Ain't Nobody's Business/ The Day Is Slowly Passing On/ Rainy Day Blues, etc. Good sound and informative liner notes by Jim Dawson though absence of discographical data or even release numbers is unfortunate. (FS)
LOWELL FULSON: 9:30 Shuffle (inst.)/ Ain't Nobody's Business/ Baby Won't You Jump With Me/ Bad Luck and Trouble/ Best Wishes/ Blues With A Feeling/ Blues and Misery/ Good-Bye, Good-Bye/ Guitar Shuffle (inst.)/ I Had A Little Woman (previously unreleased)/ I've Got A Mind To Ramble/ Is Your Friend Really Your Friend? (previously unreleases)/ It's Hard To Believe/ Jam That Boogie/ Just A Poor Boy/ Let Me Love You Baby/ Mama Bring Your Clothes back Home/ My Daily Prayer/ Rainy Day Blues/ Ride Until the Sun Goes Down/ Rocking After Midnight (different master take)/ Tears At Sunrise/ The Day Is Slowly Passing On (alt. take)/ Thinking Blues/ Wee Hours of the Morning

 
LLOYD GLENN Night Train 7002 Honky Tonk Train ● CD $14.98
Early in 1950 the late piano wizard Lloyd Glenn was hired by Jack Lauderdale, owner of the auburn and silver Swing-Time label, as A&R chief for his emerging blues talent (namely Lowell Fulson). Jack also issued twelve blues & boogie Swing-Time singles by Lloyd, plus tunes from a session Lloyd had done earlier with the Edgar Hayes Stardusters on Exclusive in 1949. Add to this the session work Lloyd performed behind vocalists Jesse Thomas and Joe Pullum. Glenn's rhythmic piano boogies and blues riffs did much to shape the up and coming West Coast brand of R&B during its formative years. Timeless classics feature Old Time Shuffle/ Blues Hangover/ Yancey Special/ After Hours. Includes some piano accompaniments. Fifteen cuts - four previously unreleased. (OLN)

 
Z.Z. HILL Night Train 7016 Turn Back The Hands Of Time ● CD $14.98
These 14 rare recordings from the late 60s and early 70s from legendary soul/blues singer Z.Z. Hill include previously unreleased material, including the hit Dont Make Me Pay for His Mistakes plus Ain't Too Proud To Beg/ My Girl/ Nine Pound Steel/ Sweet Woman, etc.

 
HERMAN HITSON Soul-Tay-Shus 6352 You Are Too Much For The Human Heart ● CD $14.98
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)

 
JOE HUNTER Soul-Tay-Shus 6355 The Hawk ● CD $14.98
A collection of 18 tracks of Detroit R&B featuring or produced by Joe Hunter who later went on to become leader of the MOtown session band now known as The Funk Brothers. Includes sides by J.J. Barnes, The Del_Phi's (later to become Martha Reeves & The Vandellas), The Magnificent Seven, The Checkers, Renaldo Jackson and others. Includes several previously unreleased demos and has 8 page fold-out booklet with extensive notes by Kevin Goins.

 
BOBBY JAY Night Train 7087 Nobody's Child ● CD $14.98
18 tracks by this obscure, but fine singer, originally from Laurel, Mississippi recorded for a range of labels between 1958 and 1975. His material includes straight ahead rock 'n' roll, swamp pop (his swamp version of Red Sails In The Sunset on Excello was a minor hit), rhythm & blues (a hot reworking of the Sanford Clark hit The Fol), blue eyed soul and pop.

 
LENNY LACOUR Night Train 7160 Walkin' The Bullfrog ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 69 min., recommended
Lacour got his big break in 1956 by winning a song writing contest sponsored by Orange Crush soda. His Rock N' Roll Romance sold well and led to a string of early rock and roll singles charitably characterized as off beat. His Jungle Rock is the stuff of Dr. Demento radio shows. After imitating Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, the Big Bopper and others (and often with decent results), Lacour shifted gears: he tried his hand at swamp pop, ran his own label, worked with Chess Records, released a song about Frank SInatra and another about Dennis Rodman and another about a gorilla, cut some disco-flavored records, and still tours. HIs career is a patchwork of weirdness, a series of attempts to market himself to a mainstream music industry that had no idea what to make of him. Along the way he cut some pretty good songs, including Maharishi, It Stopped Raining In My Heart, Walkin' The Bullfrog, and others. The folks at Night Train have managed to issue badly designed graphics and poorly edited notes in an annoying long fold-out, but it's no deal breaker, just a shame. (JC)

 
JOE LIGGINS Night Train 7031 The Honeydripper ● CD $14.98
A collection of Joe's 40s recordings including his #1 R&B hit The Honeydripper.
JOE LIGGINS: Blow My Jackson/ Breaking My Heart/ Down Home Blues/ Drippers Boogie Part 1/ Drippers Boogie Part 2/ Gal With A Whole Lotta Loot/ Got A Right To Cry/ I Cover The Waterfront/ I Know My Love Is True/ Loosiana/ Miss Betty's Blues/ Spooks Holiday/ Sugar Lump/ Tanya/ Ten Toes/ The Blues/ The Honeydripper/ Walkin'/ What's The Reason You Don't Love Me

 
THE MARVELS Night Train 7137 Don't Pony With Tony - Do The UT With The Marvels ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 56 min, recommended
Subtitled (as if the title isn't long enough already) "Rare & Unreleased New Orleans & Atlanta Frat-Rock 1961-65", this set showcases an unheralded band that featured two different leaders with two different sounds. The original band was an Atlanta-area frat band (piano & sax) led by Harry - the original singles, on ABC-Paramount were as by Harry "M" & The Marvels & included the huge regional hit The UT, a dance out of University of Tennessee which was as big down south as the Twis was in the rest of the country. They were refused an appearance on Bandstand because payola-king Dick Clark wouldn't let them on the show unless they gave him a piece of the publishing! Harry went into the army, but the band continued with a friend of the drummer now leading. Cliff Thomas was leader of the Sun group Cliff Thomas Trio with his brother Ed, & now they made connections with Ace Records in New Orleans & ended up being Huey "Piano" Smith's band on The Popeye as well as doing a string of dance oriented singles (Crazy 'Bout The U-T/ Don't Pony With Tony/ Charleston In The USA). Excellent liner notes which continue the two leaders' stories after The Marvels (Cliff & brother Ed discovered & wrote for The Tams, wrote Peggy Scott & JoJo Benson's hits, Harry played keyboards on the Billy Joe Royal hits & wrote Spooky!) (GM)

 
MASTERS OF SOUL Soul-Tay-Shus 6351 Right On! ● CD $14.98
21 tracks, 67 min, highly recommended
This compilation draws its fire from the group's sessions at Ovide Records (1968-71), Duke/Peacock Records (1972-74), and E-Groove Records (1977-78), Houston labels all. Stylistically, the fellows' early infatuation with doo-wop plays around the edges of several songs, and on their biggest (only) hit Please Wait For Me it ain't just the edges, a fact driven home by the "accappella rehersal version" offered at the end of the album. But just as often, the Masters turn their collective attention to funk and psychedelic funk. Their Star Child would sound right at home next to The Temptations psychedelic soul efforts of the late 1960s and early 1970s. In fact, the Masters can sound a bit derivative at times, but not often enough to become annoying. Several of the finer moments here belong to ballads, including a remake of the Flamingos The Vow, In A Little While, and the Drifters-esque, Andre Williams-produced I Can See It In Your Eyes. And if the horns sound exceptionally cool, it may be because they belong to the TSU Toronados horn section. Too much good stuff here to walk away. (JC)

 
CONNIE MCGILL & THE VISIONS Night Train 7133 He Created You For Me ● CD $14.98
17 tracks, 44 mins, good
Connie McGill and the Visions were a fairly obscure, but somewhat prolific New York outfit. The cuts on this, compiled mostly from rare singles and unreleased tracks, range from Doo Wop, a little Gospel and a lot good old Northern Soul. Solid liner notes detail the story of a band that had some successes, but never quite enough to quit their day jobs. Mostly for soul completists, but there are a few gems on this. (JM)

 
JAY MCSHANN Night Train 7021 Piano Playhouse ● CD $14.98
21 track collection featuring all of McShann's Supreme and Swingtime recordings cut between 1947 and 1950 including three previously unissued alternate takes and some accompaniments to Jimmy Witherspoon and an unknown but fine female singer.
JAY MCSHANN: 12 O'Clock Whistle/ Ain't Nobody's Business/ Black Train Blues/ Buttermilk/ Drunk, Broke and Hungry/ Geronimo/ Hard Workin' Man's Blues/ Hot Biscuits/ How Long/ McShann's Bounce (Pt. 1)/ McShann's Bounce (Pt. 2)/ McShann's Bounce (Pt. 2)/ Mellow Dog/ Mr. Hootie/ Mr. Hootie (Unknown Alternate Take)/ No Name Boogie/ Sloppy Drunk/ Slow Drag Blues/ Soft Winds/ Someone To Watch Over Me/ Thinking About My Baby/ You Turned Your Back On Me

 
BOBBY MITCHELL & THE TOPPERS Night Train 7079 I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday ● CD $14.98
18 tracks, 41 min., recommended
he straight reissue of the identically titled Mr. R&B LP 101 from 1979 with the addition of two bonus tracks, I Love to Hold You and Just Say You Love Me. Remaining numbers include the title cut, I'm Crying, Rack 'em Back, The Wedding Bells Are Ringing, One Friday Morning, Sister Lucy, Try Rock and Roll, Walking in Circles, and Well I Done Got Over It. Great New Orleans rhythm and blues from veteran performers, including Lee Allen on sax and Dave Bartholomew on trumpet, all recorded between 1953 and 1963. Production values are solid, and the liner notes very nearly match those from the original LP. (DH)
BOBBY MITCHELL: 4-11=44/ 64 Hours/ Baby's Gone/ I Don't Want to Be a Wheel No More/ I Love to Hold You/ I Try So Hard/ I'm Crying/ I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday/ I've Crossed My Fingers/ Just Say You Love Me/ Meant For Me/ One Friday Morning/ Rack 'Em Back/ Sister Lucy/ The Wedding Bells Are Ringing/ Try Rock and Roll/ Walking in Circles/ Well, I Done Got Over It

 
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