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by mail P.O. Box 837, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA
The first-ever CD release featuring the recordings of
Lillian Briggs, who was discovered by Allan Freed, and was very popular
at the dawn of the 50's rock era with a string of exciting singles
though only struck paydirt with her version of the title tune - a Jon
Hendricks composition. She was called "The High Priestess of Rock and
Roll" though her repertoire encompassed jive, bop, blues, rockabilly,
ballads and swing. To top it all off, she could also play a mean
trombone! In addition to her big hit this 33 track set includes It
Could've Been Me/ The Only Way To Live/ The Gypsy Goofed/ Mean Words/
She Sells Seashells/ Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, etc.
Excellent collection of Western Swing mostly recorded
for Columbia and King by Grand Ole OPry artist Paul Howard between 1946
and 1950. Though Howard was not a great singer he had a hot band with
twin electric guitars, steel, fiddle and bass. PAUL HOWARD: You Left A Red Cross On My Heart/ You'll
Be Sorry When I'm Gone/ Oklahoma City/ We're Not Speaking Anymore/
Someday When It's Too Late/ Love Bug Tennessee/ Somebody Else's Trouble/
Honest As The Day Is Long/ Lazy Morning/ The Fiddler With The Patch On
His Pants/ Drinking All My Troubles Away/ Rootie Tootie/ There's No Room
In My Heart For The Blues/ You're Never Satisfied/ Those Foolish Lies/
Cotton Picker's Special (Instr.)/ Torn Between True Love And Desire/
Twelve O'Clock Waltz/ The Boogie's Fine Tonight/ Rock Candy Heart/ You
Couldn't See The Trees For The Forest/ I'm Sending My Heart For Repairs
First solo album from the leader and chief creative
force behind Oysterband. 12 songs - half of them traditional and half
original. He is joined by fellow Oysterband members Ian Kearey and Alan
Prosser along with other British folk musicians Seth Lakeman, Benji
Kirkpatrick, Sophie Walsh and others. Songs include Let Me Fall/
Polly On The Shore/ Litten Tree/ Searching For Lambs/ Boy In The Window/
Newlyn Town, etc.
Ken Emerson and Bob Armstrong (the latter formerly with
the Cheap Suit Serenaders) bothe sing and play guitar, ukulele and steel
guitar on an eclectic mixture of jazz infused island music. They perform
traditional Hawaiian tunes and Tin Pan Alley favorites in a blend of new
and old musical stylings. On a few cuts they are joined by David
Paquette on piano and/or Elaine Hoffman on vocals.
An excellent selection of vocal and instrumental tracks
from ex-Bob Will steel guitarist. Many of the tracks here are from early
50s radio transcriptions and there's a lot of fine steel from Leon as
well as fine fiddle work and on a couple tracks a saxophone. LEO MCAULIFFE: Please Don't Leave Me/ Keith's Waltz
(Instr.)/ My Life's Been A Pleasure/ Coon Creek Shuffle (Instr.)/
Oklahoma In The Morning/ Run Away Fiddle (Instr.)/ I Want To Be Somebody
For You/ Roseland Melody (Instr.)/ Don't Take The Long Way Home/
Roadside Rag (Instr.)/ I'm Going Back To Birmingham/ Bandera Waltz
(Instr.) / Heart Attacks/ Orange Blossom Special (Instr.)/ Tie Your
Apron Strings Around My Heart/ Kaiser's New Tune (Instr.)/ Bitter Tears/
Walking The Floor Over You (Instr.)/ Night Life/ Foggy River (Instr.)/
That's What I Should Have Said/ Who's That/ When My Blue Moon Turns To
Gold Again (Instr.)/ Looking Glass/ Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain
(Instr.)/ Ain't Gonna Hurt No More/ Detour (Instr.)/ Slippin' Around
(Instr.)
Talented and individualistic musician whose recordings
spanned an amazingly diverse range: western-swing, novelty songs and
even a couple of rock 'n' roll songs - this CD provides an excellent
cross section of his output with an emphasis on his his western swing
material. HANK PENNY: Say Mister! Have You Met Rosie's Sister?/
I'm Wasting My Time/ Here Today And Gone Tomorrow/ I'm Not Surprised/
Open The Door Richard/ One Heart, One Love, One Life/ You Better Save It
For A Rainy Day/ Ridin' On The Old Ferris Wheel/ I'm Gonna Have My
Picture Took/ A Bad Penny Aways Returns/ You Played On My Piano/ Makin'
Love Tennessee Style/ Sweet Mama Put Him In Low/ If I Can't Wear The
Pants/ I Want To Live A Little/ I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind/ When
They Ask About You/ A Letter From Home/ Southern Fried Chicken/ Rock Of
Gibralter/ Texas Never Would Have Made It Without Old Tennessee/ A Night
At The Copa/ Fool's Lament
Two CDs, 44 tracks, highly recommended
The Ray-Vacs were
formed in the late 40s in Newark, NJ when the old guard of vocal groups
was making way for younger groups like the Ravens and Orioles. Unlike
many other groups all the members of the groups were fine
instrumentalists (bass, piano, sax & drums) and although revered by
doo-wop fans their style did involve harmonies but rather concentrated
on the smooth tenor lead of Lester Harris who left in 1951 to be
replaced the equally fine Herb Milner. Many of their tracks feature fine
sax solos from member Leoparte "Chink" Kinney. In addition to all 36
tracks by the Ray-O-Vacs recorded between 1949 and 1957 it also features
the 12 solo tracks recorded by Lester Harris in 1951 and '52.
Accompanied by a solid R&B combo he does mostly uptempo renditions of
pop standards and newer songs. Superb sound and informative notes from
Bob Fisher. (FS) LES HARRIS: 96 LBS/ Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life/
Amapola/ And The Bull Walked Around, Olay/ L'amour, Toujours, L'amore/
Margie/ Nobody Else But You/ Whatever You Do, Don't/ FLAP MCQUEEN & THE
RAY O VACS FEATURING HERB: I Still Love You/ FLAP MCQUEEN & THE
RAY-O-VACS FEATURING HERB: All About Daddy/ THE RAY-O-VACS: A Kiss In
The Dark/ Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)/ Charmaine/ Darling/ Goodnight My
Love/ Got Two Arms (Waiting For Me)/ Hands Across The Table/ Happy Am I/
I Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool/ I Still Love You, Baby/ I'll Always Be In
Love With You/ I'm The Baby/ If You Ever Should Leave Me/ Let's/
Lonesome Lover/ My Baby's Gone/ Once Upon A Time/ Outside Of Paradise/
Ridin' High/ Sentimental Me/ She's A Real Lovin' Baby/ Someday/ Start
Lovin' Me/ Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddles/ What Can I Say (After I
Say I'm Sorry)/ What's Mine Is Mine/ When The Swallows Come Back To
Capistrano/ Why Did You Break My Heart/ You Can Depend On Me/ You Gotta
Love Me Baby Too/ You Know/ Crying All Alone/ Party Time/ Wine O
25 track collection of doo-wop, R&B and pop featuring
the high tenor (sometimes falsetto) of Billy Storm recorded between 1956
and 1962. In addition to solo recordings under his own name it includes
him with the doo wop groups The Chavelles. Valiants and The Esquires. It
includes several sides recorded for Atlantic in 1960 produced by Phil
Spector.
24 tracks, very highly recommended
Joe Ruffino's Ric and
Ron labels were the first significant independent labels to be based in
New Orleans and took advantage of the great wealth of musical talent in
the Crescent City. Between 1958 and 1965 they produced about 100 singles
- quite a few that have become all time favorites. Recordings were made
at the famed Cosimo Matassa studio featuring the top sidemen in the city
accompanying a slew of great vocalists. This first volume covers the
years 1958 through 1960 and including such timeless classics as Go To
The Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair, Don't Mess With My Man
by Irma Thomas, Carnival Time by Al Johnson and, of course, the
title song by Joe Jones. There are also fine lesser known titles from
Johnny Adams, Eddie Bo, Mercy Baby, Edgar Blanchard and others. It also
includes a previously unissued solo demo of Tipitina which is
pretty ragged but fun as well as a demo of Johnny Adams' I Won't Cry
that was previously on a Rounder set. All tracks have been remastered
from original master tapes and sound fabulous and there is a 16 page
illustrated boklet with notes on all the artists. (FS) JOHNNY ADAMS: Come On/ I Won't Cry/ I Won't Cry
(Demo)/ EDGAR BLANCHARD: Let's Get It/ EDDIE BO: Tlel It Like It Is/ You
Got Your Mojo Working/ LENNY CAPELLO & THE DOTS: Tootles/ MARTHA CARTER:
Nobody Knows (How I Feel About You)/ THE GONDOLIERS: You Call Everybody
Darling/ AL JOHNSON: Carnival Time/ You Done Me Wrong/ JOE JONES: I Love
You Still/ You Talk Too Much/ CHRIS KENNER: Rocket To The Moon/ EDDIE
LANG: Easy Rockin'/ She's Mine, All Mine/ MERCY BABY: Don't Lie To Me/
ROBERT PARKER: All Nite Long Parts 1 & 2/ PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Cuttin'
Out (Hey No Baby)/ Go To The Mardi Gras/ Tipitina (Demo)/ TOMMY RIDGLEY:
Let's Try And Talk It Over/ IRMA THOMAS: Don't Mess With My Man/ I May
Be Wrong
Sweet Soul Music - 26 Scorching Classics
From 1971
● CD $19.98
Bear Family has now issued the final five albums in
their acclaimed series documenting the history of Soul Music. These
cover the years from 1970 when funk started to become ascendant to 1975
when disco was getting its start. Each volume includes a selection of
the best and biggest songs of the year along with important titles that
never made the charts. All tracks are remastered from original master
tapes newly remastered for best possible songs and each CD comes with a
76 page booklet with track by track notes by Bill Dahla and loads of
photos and memorabilia.
This volume has 26 soul gems from 1971 including
Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner, Soul Power, Parts 1 & 2
by James Brown with The JBs, Want Ads by Honey Cone, Mr. Big
Stuff by Jean Knight as well as tracks by Jackie Moore, Bill Coday,
The Temptations, Beginning Of The End, Cornelius Brothers & Sister Ruth
and more. 8TH DAY: She's Not Just Another Woman/ BEGINNING OF
THE END: Funky Nassau, Part 1/ JAMES BROWN WITH JB’S: Soul Power Parts 1
& 2/ THE CHI-LITES: Have You Seen Her/ BILL CODAY: Get Your Lie
Straight/ CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE: Treat Her Like A Lady/ THE
DETROIT EMERALDS: Do Me Right/ THE DRAMATICS: Watcha See/ ARETHA
FRANKLIN: Rock Steady/ AL GREEN: Let’s Stay Together/ HONEY CONE: Want
Ads/ JEAN KNIGHT: Mr. Big Stuff/ DENISE LASALLE: Trapped By A Thing
Called Love/ JACKIE MOORE: Precious, Precious/ THE PERSUADERS: Thin Line
Between Love & Hate/ WILSON PICKETT: Don’t Let the Green Grass Foul You/
SLY & FAMILY STONE: Family Affair/ THE STAPLE SINGERS: Respect Yourself/
JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Jody’s Got Your Girl And Gone/ THE TEMPTATIONS: Just my
Imagination/ IKE & TINA TURNER: Proud Mary/ UNDISPUTED TRUTH: Smiling
Faces Sometimes/ DEE DEE WARWICK: Suspicious Minds/ BILL WITHERS: Ain’t
No Sunshine/ BETTY WRIGHT: Clean Up Woman/ O.V. WRIGHT: A Nickel And A
Nail
Sweet Soul Music - 25 Scorching Classics
From 1972
● CD $19.98
25 tracks including I Gotcha by Joe Tex, Back
Stabbers by The O'Jays, Get On The Good Foot, Part 1 by James
Brown, Me and Mrs Jones by Billy Paul plus tracks by Soul
Children, Denise LaSalle, The Staple Singers, Luther Ingram, The Chi
Lites and more. JAMES BROWN: Get On The Good Foot, Part 1/ THE CHI
LITES: Oh Girl/ OTIS CLAY: Trying To Live My Life Without You/ LYN
COLLINGS: Think (About It)/ CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE: Too Late
To Turn Back Now/ THE DRAMATICS: In The Rain/ AL GREEN: I’m Still In
Love With You/ LUTHER INGRAM: (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To
Be Right/ THE JB’S: Gimme Some More/ DENISE LASALLE: Now Run And Tell
That/ LAURA LEE: Rip Off/ MAIN INGREDIENT: Everybody Plays The Fool/ MEL
AND TIM: Starting All Over Again/ HAROLD MELVIN & BLUENOTES: If You
Don’t Know Me By Now/ THE O’JAYS: Back Stabbers/ BILLY PAUL: Me & Mrs.
Jones/ BILLY PRESTON: Outa Space/ JOE SIMON: Power Of Love/ SOUL
CHILDREN: Hearsay/ THE STAPLE SINGERS: I’ll Take You There/ THE
STYLISTICS: Betcha By Golly, Wow/ JOE TEX: I Gotcha/ BILL WITHERS: Use
Me/ BOBBY WOMACK: Woman’s Gotta Have It/ BETTY WRIGHT: Baby Sitter
Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics
From 1973
● CD $19.98
23 tracks including Pillow Talk by Sylvia, I
Can't Stand The Rain by Ann Peebles, Doing It To Death by
Fred Wesley & The JBs, Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye plus sides
from The Spinners, O'Jays, Barry White, First Choice, The Pointer
Sisters and more. DON COVAY: I Was Checkin’ Out She Was Checkin’ In/
CYMANDE: Message/ FIRST CHOICE: Armed And Extremely Dangerous/ THE FOUR
TOPS: Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got)/ MARVIN GAYE: Let's Get It On/
THE INDEPENDENTS: Leaving Me/ MILLIE JACKSON: Hurts So Good/ SYL
JOHNSON: Back For A Taste Of Your Love/ EDDIE KENDRICKS: Keep On
Truckin’, Part 1/ GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS: I’ve Got To Use My Imagination/
THE MANHATTANS: There’s No Me Without You/ HAROLD MELVIN & BLUE NOTES:
The Love I Lost/ NEW BIRTH: I Can Understand/ THE O’JAYS: Love Train/
ANN PEEBLES: I Can't Stand The Rain/ THE POINTER SISTERS: Yes We Can
Can/ THE SPINNERS: Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?/ SYLVIA: Pillow
Talk/ JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Cheaper To Keep Her/ TIMMY THOMAS: Why Can’t We
Live Together/ TOWER OF POWER: What Is Hip?/ FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S:
Doing It To Death/ BARRY WHITE: I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More,
Baby
Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics
From 1974
● CD $19.98
This one has 23 tracks including Boogie Down by
Eddie Kendricks, Lookin' For A Love by Bobby Womack, You Make
Me Feel Brand New by The Sylistics, As Long As He Takes Care Of
Home by Candi Staton plus tracks by Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown,
George McRae, Yvonne Fair, Latimore and more. B.T. EXPRESS: Do It/ BOBBY BLAND: I Wouldn’t Treat A
Dog/ BLUE MAGIC: Sideshow/ JOHNNY BRISTOL: Hang On In There Baby/ JAMES
BROWN: Payback, Part 1/ SHIRLEY BROWN: Woman To Woman/ CARL CARLTON:
Everlasting Love/ HUES CORPORATION: Rock The Boat/ WILLIAM DEVAUGHN: Be
Thankful For What You Got/ EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Mighty Mighty/ YVONNE
FAIR: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On/ THE JACKSON 5: Dancing Machine/
EDDIE KENDRICKS: Boogie Down/ RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN: You Got The Love/ KOOL
& THE GANG: Hollywood Swinging/ LATIMORE: Let’s Straighten It Out/
GEORGE MCCRAE: Rock Your Baby/ THE OHIO PLAYERS: Fire/ CANDI STATON: As
Long As He Takes Care Of Home/ THE STYLISTICS: You Make Me Feel Brand
New/ THREE DEGREES: When Will I See You Again/ THE TYMES: You Litte
Trustmaker/ BOBBY WOMACK: Lookin‘ for a Love
Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics
From 1975
● CD $19.98
Includes Supernatural Things, Part 1 by Ben E.
King, Give The People What They Want by The O'Jays, Lady
Marmalade by Labelles, Fight The Power by The Isley Brothers
plus sides by The Blackbyrds, Barbara Mason, The Commodores, The Pointer
Sisters and more. It ends with Boogie Fever by The Sylvers - a
preview of the coming disco craze. THE BLACKBYRDS: Walking in Rhythm/ RUFUS & CHAKA CHAN:
Sweet Thing/ NATALIE COLE: This Will Be/ THE COMMODORES: Slippery When
Wet/ TYRONE DAVIS: Turning Point/ EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Shining Star/ AL
GREEN: Full Of Fire/ MAJOR HARRIS: Love Won’t Let Me Wait/ THE ISLEY
BROTHERS: Fight The Power/ MILLIE JACKSON: Loving Arms/ BEN E. KING:
Supernatural Thing, Part 1/ LABELLE: Lady Marmalade/ LATIMORE: Keep The
Home Fires Burning/ BARBARA MASON: Shackin’ Up/ VAN MCCOY & SOUL CITY
SYMPHONY: The Hustle/ GWEN MCCRAE: Rockin’ Chair/ THE MIRACLES: Love
Machine, Part 1/ THE OHIO PLAYERS: Love Rollercoaster/ THE O’JAYS: Give
The People What They Want/ PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Do It Anyway You Wanna/ THE
POINTER SISTERS: How Long I Betcha’ Got A Chick On The Side/ THE
SYLVERS: Boogie Fever/ THE TAVARES: It Only Takes A Minute/ THE TRAMMPS:
Hold Back The Night
Longing For The Past - The 78 rpm Era In
Southeast Asia
● CD $64.98
Another amazing production from Dust-To-Digital. The
first in depth survey of 78 rpm recordings from Southeast Asia featuring
four CDS with a total of 90 tracks of music recorded between 1905 and
1966. It includes vocal and instrumental performances from Vietnam,
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
including and vocal and instrumental performances featuring a wide array
of unique traditional South East Asian instruments as well as more
familiar western instruments - dan bau (one string gourd fiddle),
guitar, dannguyet (two string moon shaped lute), violin, khloy (vertical
bamboo flute), dan day (three string lute), drum, kehen (Laotian
predessor of the harmonica), dan nhi (two string fiddle) and many more
as well as instrumental ensembles. Puting all this music, which may be
unfamiliar to Western ears, is a magnificent 272 page hard cover book
discussing the history of recording in the region, the individual music
of each country and a track by track discussion of every performance.
The book has over 250 vintage photographs, some wonderful ful color
label shots and record sleeves.
Following on from Eddie's 1003 this is another superb
collection of jump blues from Houston, Texas in the 1950s. 24 rare
tracks - most previously unreissued on LP or CD. It includes Long John
Hunter's first recording She Used Be My Woman from 1953 with some
smokin' hot guitar! Other artists include Conney's Combo, Robert
Ketchum, Clarence Samuels, Bill Heyman, Willie Johnson, Dug Finnell
(really fine vocalist), Hubert Robinson, Will Rowland and others.
Excellent sound and four page booklet with informative notes. LEO BAXTER & ORCH.: No Longer Wanted/ No Nights
Without You/ NELSON CARSON & BAND: Lost/ CONNEY'S COMBO (VCL. BABE
JOHNSON): Shout It Out/ Ugly Mae/ DUG FINNELL & HIS ALL STARS: Love And
Satisfaction/ Sugar Man/ BILL HEYMAN: I'm Doin' Good Now/ You'll Cry
Some Too/ Please Don't Leave Me/ Repenting/ BILL JOHNSON & HIS ORCH.:
Bill's Boogie/ Worried Blues/ WILLIE JOHNSON, HIS PIANO & ORCH.: Boogie
In Blues/ ROBERT KETCHUM: She's Gone From Me/ Stockade/ JIMMIE LEE'S
BAND (VCL. MACK EDMONSON): Bobby Sox Bop/ Club Raven/ LONG JOHN & ORCH.:
She Used To Be My Woman/ HUBERT ROBERSON & ORCH.: H.R. Jumps/ WILL
ROWLAND & HIS BAND: Don't Lose Your Mind/ Reefer Blues/ CLARENCE
SAMUELS: Hey Joe!/ Somebody Gotta' Go
The third volume in this great series charting the
development of soul from its roots in blues, R&B and gospel features 55
tracks on two CDs featuring recordings from the mid 50s from Ray
Charles, Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Aladdins, Robert Anderson, The Five
Ropyales, The Davis Sisters, The Original Gospel Harmonettes and many
more. Comes with detailed 32 page booklet. THE 5 ROYALES: Mine Forevermore/ THE ALADDINS: Help
Me/ GENE ALLISON: You're My Baby/ ROBERT ANDERSON: Sweeter As The Days
Go By/ JESSE BELVIN: Dear Heart/ BIG MAYBELLE: Ocean Of Tears/ Pitiful/
BOBBY BLUE BLAND: Farther Up The Road/ It's My Life, Baby/ JAMES BROWN:
Please, Please, Please/ NAPPY BROWN: I Cried Like A Baby/ It's Really
You/ SOLOMON BURKE: I'm All Alone/ THE CARAVANS: The Angels Keep
Watching/ WYNONA CARR: Should I Ever Love Again?/ RAY CHARLES: Ain't
That Love/ Drown In My Own Tears/ Hallelujah I Love Her So/ I've Got A
Woman/ Lonely Avenue/ ANN COLE: Easy Easy Baby/ THE DAVIS SISTERS: He's
My King/ Twelve Gates To The City/ THE DIABLOS: The Way You Dog Me
Around/ THE DRIFTERS: Honey Bee/ I Should Have Done Right/ THE FIVE
BLIND BOYS: Save A Seat For Me/ THE FIVE ROYALES: Come On And Save Me/
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Never Grow Old/ While the Blood Runs Warm/ EARL GAINES:
It's Love Baby/ THE GARDENIAS: Flaming Love/ BILLY GAYLES: Let's Call It
A Day/ THE GUM DROPS: Natural Born Lover/ THE HIGHWAY Q.C.S: There's
Something On My Mind/ LINDA HOPKINS: I Can't/ LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Fever/
Need Your Love So Bad/ B.B. KING: Ten Long Years/ EARL KING: Those
Lonely, Lonely Nights/ MARIE KNIGHT: I Put My Trust In Thee/ LITTLE JOE
AND THE THRILLERS: This I Know/ LITTLE RICHARD: Directly From My Heart/
THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL HARMONETTES NINETY NINE: Ninty Nine And A Half/ THE
ORIGINAL GOSPEL HARMONETTES: That's Enough/ JIMMY SCOTT: Don't Cry Baby/
THE SENSATIONAL NIGHTINGALES: To The End/ THE SHEIKS: So Fine/ THE
SILVER QUINTETTE: Sinner's Crossroads/ THE SOUL STIRRERS: The Last Mile
Of The Way/ Touch The Hem Of His Garment/ Wonderful/ THE STAPLE SINGERS:
Uncloudy Day/ BILLY STEWART: Billy's Blues, Part 2/ THE SWAN
SILVERTONES: Jesus Brought Me/ CLARA WARD: Come On
Two CDs, 56 tracks, very highly recommended
Another
fabulous collection of blues, R&B and gospel - all sowing the seeds of
what was to become known as soul music. This one features recordings
from 1957 and '58 and includes familiar artists like Bobby "Blue" Bland,
The Soul Stirrers, Hank Ballard, The Famous Ward Singers, Ray Charles,
Sam Cooke, The Swan Silvertones and others along with less well known but
outstanding artists, Evelyn Freeman, The Ramblers, The Gospel
Chordettes, Briant Holland, The Mighty Gospel Giants and others. Superb
sound and the 32 page full color booklet explains the relevance of each
track chosen to the story. (FS) THE 5 ROYALES: Tell The Truth/ Think/ GENE ALLISON:
Everything Will Be Alright/ You Can Make It If You Try/ HANK BALLARD:
I'll Be Home Some Day/ EVANGELIST BALLINGER: So Glad/ BOBBY "BLUE"
BLAND: I Smell Trouble/ You Got Me/ BOBBY “BLUE™ BLAND: Teach Me How To
Love You/ ALEX BRADFORD: What Folks Say About Me/ JAMES BROWN: Hold My
Baby's Hand/ Try Me/ NAPPY BROWN: The Right Time/ RUTH BROWN: Why Me/
HAROLD BURRAGE: Satisfied/ JERRY BUTLER: For Your Precious Love/ THE
CARAVANS: The Lord Will Provide/ RAY CHARLES: (Night Time Is) The Right
Time/ Talkin' 'bout You/ That's Enough/ Yes Indeed/ THE COASTERS: Young
Blood/ SAM COOKE: I'll Come Running Back To You/ THE DELLS: What You Say
Baby/ THE DIXIE NIGHTINGALES: I've Been Lifted/ BILL DOGGETT: Hold It/
THE DRIFTERS: Drip Drop/ THE DRINKARD SINGERS: That's Enough/ DONNIE
ELBERT: What Can I Do/ BETTY EVERETT: I'll Weep No More/ THE FAMOUS WARD
SINGERS: I'm So Glad/ MARY ANN FISHER: What Kind Of Man Are You/ EVELYN
FREEMAN: Didn't It Rain/ THE GOSPEL CHORDETTES: I Can't Believe It/ THE
GOSPEL CLEFS: Steal Away To Jesus/ THE HIGHTOWER BROTHERS: Come By Here/
BRIAN HOLLAND: Shock/ HOWLIN' WOLF: Sitting On Top Of The World/ LITTLE
WILLIE JOHN: Love, Life And Money/ Talk To Me/ Uh Uh Baby/ EARL CONNELLY
KING: Every Whicha Kinda Way/ LITTLE MILTON: That Will Never Do/ CLYDE
MCPHATTER: Without Love/ MIGHTY GOSPEL GIANTS: Jesus Will Meet Me/
WILLIE MITCHELL: Tell It to Me Baby/ LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER: I’m Holding
On/ THE RAMBLERS: Don't You Know/ CLEOPHUS ROBINSON: I Can See So Much/
THE SOUL STIRRERS: Be With Me Jesus/ Were You There?/ THE SUNSET
TRAVELERS: Sit Down And Rest Awhile/ SWAN'S SILVERTONES: Oh Mary Dont
You Weep/ MARION WILLIAMS: Packin' Up/ JACKIE WILSON: Come Back To Me/
Lonely Teardrops
Excellent collection of deep soul showing the massive
influence of Otis Redding. It includes artists doing Otis's songs like
Ernie Johnson with Dreams To Remember, James Phelps with
Lover's Prayer and Harvey Scales with Try A Little Tenderness
as well artists whose performances are very much in the Otis style like
Johnny Tipp, Third Guitar, Jimmy Holiday and others. It also includes
the gospel group The Violionaires with God Has Been Good using
the tune from Otis's Good To Me. WALTER BOULIGNY: I’ll Go My Way (Soul)/ ARTHUR CONLEY:
You Don’t Have To See Me/ THE DEL-VONS: Gone Forever/ DONNIE ELBERT:
Good To Me/ THE EXOTICS: Let’s Try To Build A Love Affair/ WILLIE
CHARLES GRAY: Here I Go Again/ ALLEN GREEN: Laughing At Me/ JIMMY
HOLIDAY: Spread Your Love/ WILLIE JAMES: Down On My Knees/ ERNIE
JOHNSON: Dreams To Remember/ OSCAR MACK: Don’t Be Afraid Of Love/ RUDY
MOCKABEE: Think About It/ JAMES PHELPS: My Lover’s Prayer/ HARVEY
SCALES: Try A Little Tenderness/ THIRD GUITAR: Don’t Take Your Love From
Me/ JOHNNY TIPP: Till I Met You/ THE UPSETTERS: Always In The Wrong
Place At The Wrong Time/ THE VIOLINAIRES: God Has Been Good/ TIMMY
WILLIS: Neveruary/ EARL WRIGHT: Them Love Blues/ BILLY YOUNG: Have Pity
On Me
Fine 24 track collection of early Atlantic recordings
(1947-1949) of jump blues and R&B - most appearing on CD the first time.
It includes sides by The Tiny Grimes Quintet, Manhattan Paul withe The
THree Riffs, Jimmy Earle & His Earls, Frank "Floorshow" Culley & His
Band (with hot boogie piano from Harry "Van" Walls), The Three Riffs
(jivey vocal group), Melrose Colbert with Clifton Small Orch, and
others. MELROSE COLBERT WITH CLIFTON SMALLS ORCH.: Blues In
The Dark/ Heart And Soul/ EARL COLEMAN WITH LINTON GARNER'S ALL-STARS:
Don't Bring Your Troubles To Me/ I Hadn't Anyone Till You/ FRANK
"FLOORSHOW" CULLEY & HIS BAND: Central Avenue Breakdown/ Rumboogie Jive/
FRANK "FLOORSHOW" CULLEY & HIS ORCH. FEATURING ARLENE "LIT: Little Miss
Blues/ JIMMY EARLE & HIS EARLS OF RHYTHM: Big Red Blues/ My Love Is
True/ JIMMY EARLE & THE JAZZ KINGS: Climbing Up To Heaven Blues/ THE
FOUR SHARPS: Don't Ask Me Why/ TINY GRIMES QUINTET: Blue Harlem/ Boogie
Woogie Barbecue/ BOB HOWARD & HIS RHYTHM: Button Up Your Overcoat/
Mo'lasses/ JIMMY "BABY-FACE" LEWIS & HIS BAND: I'm So Good To You
(Pretty Baby)/ Mailman Blues/ MANHATTAN PAUL WITH THE THREE RIFFS: Hard
Ridin' Mama/ I Wish I Didn't Love You So/ JOE MEDLIN & HIS ORCH. FEAT.
TAB SMITH, ALTO: What More Can A Poor Fellow Do/ JOE MEDLIN & THREE
RIFFS: My Last Goodbye/ THE THREE RIFFS WITH OSCAR PETTIFORD TRIO: I'll
Be There/ Pluto - You Dog!/ BILLY WILLIAMS & HIS BAND: Shout 'N' Rock
Three CDs, 75 tracks, highly recommended
Art Rupe's
Specialty label was among the most significant independent labels to
emerge in the late 40s with an incredible catalog of blues, R&B, doo-wop
and gospel as well as being the home to one of the greatest of the early
rock 'n' roll artists - Little Richard. This collection is a survey of
the label's recordings between 1954 and 1960 though gospel is given
short shrift with only one track from Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers.
Little Richard is featured on several along with a slew of great artists
like Larry Williams, Lloyd Price, Sonny Knight, Roddy Jackson, Jesse
Belvin, Guitar Slim, Don & Dewey, Earl King, Big Boy Myles, Benn Zeppa &
The Zephyrs, The Pentagons and many more. (FS) TONY ALLEN & THE CHAMPS: I/ ANGEL FACE: I Know/ JESSE
BELVIN: Gone/ Love, Love of My Life/ One Little Blessing/ EDGAR
BLANCHARD: Mr. Bumps/ Stepping High/ WYNONA CARR: Jump Jack, Jump!/
Should I Ever Love Again?/ Someday, Somewhere, Somehow/ Touch And Go/
CLIFTON CHENIER: Ay Tete Fee/ Boppin' The Rock/ Think It Over/ THE
CHIMES: Tears On My Pillow/ SAM COOKE: Forever/ I Need You Now/ That's
All I Need to Know/ DON & DEWEY: Farmer John/ Jungle Hop/ Just A Little
Lovin'/ The Letter/ THE DUKES: Oh Kay/ Ooh Bop She Bop/ DAVID FORD & THE
EBBTIDES: My Confession/ The Sound Of Your Voice/ VERNON GREEN & THE
PHANTOMS: Sweet Breeze/ GUITAR SLIM: I Got Sumpin' For You/ Stand By Me/
Twenty-Five Lies/ RENE HALL: Flippin'/ HARPER BRINSON BAND: Harper's
Return/ Harpers Express/ CHUCK HIGGINS: Broke/ Dye Ooh Mambo/ THE
HOLIDAYS: Irene/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: Everybody's Blues/ RODDY JACKSON: I've
Got My Sights On Someone New/ NEAL JOHNSON: True to You Baby/ ERNEST
KADOR: Do Baby Do/ Eternity/ EARL KING: No One But Me/ SONNY KNIGHT: My
Baby Don't Want Me/ LLOYD LAMBERT: King Cotton/ VICKY LEE: Goin' Back
Home To Mama/ JOE LIGGINS & THE HONEYDRIPPERS: Do You Love Me Pretty
Baby?/ Whiskey, Women & Loaded Dice/ LITTLE RICHARD: Keep A Knockin'/
Long Tall Sally/ Ready Teddy/ Send Me Some Lovin'/ Tutti Frutti/ BOBBY
MANDOLPH: Malinda/ MARVIN & JOHNNY: Ding Dong Baby/ Flip/ Mamo Mamo/
PERCY MAYFIELD: Baby, You're Rich/ Diggin' The Moonglow/ You Were Lyin
To Me/ ROY MILTON: What Can I Do?/ ROY MONTRELL: That Mellow Saxophone/
BIG BOY MYLES: Who's Been Fooling You/ ART NEVILLE: Arabian Love Call/
Oooh-Wee Baby/ THE PENTAGONS: It's Spring Again/ LLOYD PRICE: Baby
Please Come Home/ Forgive Me, Clawdy/ Oo Ee Baby/ THE TWILIGHTERS: It's
True/ JOHNNY TWO-VOICE: Superman/ LARRY WILLIAMS: Dizzy Miss Lizzy/ Just
Because/ Little School Girl/ You Bug Me Baby/ BENN ZEPPA & THE ZEPHYRS:
Baby I Need You
Three CD set with 75 tracks. Dot was one of the more
successful independents from the mid 50s to early 60s. Founded in 1950 by
Randy Woods in Gallatin, Tennessee in 1950 it released a varied
selection of authentic hillbilly, blues, R&B and gospel before moving to
Hollywood in 1955 where the label focused on more pop oriented material.
This collection features recordings from the Hollywood period
(1955-1962) when their biggest star was Pat Boone who had a lot of
success with his ultra white versions of black rock 'n' roll and is
featured here on three cuts. Other popular pop and teen pop artists
featured here include Tab Hunter, Gale Storm, Billy Vaughn & His Orch.,
The Hilltoppers and others. The label also put out some fine rock 'n'
roll, R&B and doowop titles - often licensed from smaller labels and
this set includes fine sides by Leroy Van Dyke, Arthur Alexander, Jack
B. Nimble & The Quicks (the original version of Nut Rocker,
subsequently a hit for B. Bumble & The Stingers), Mac Wiseman, Milt
Rogers & His Orch (fine guitar led rockin' instrumental), The
Paramounts, The Del Vikings (their all time classics Whispering
Bells and Come Go With Me), Sanford Clark, The Shields, Jan & Arnie
(with Jan Berry, later of Jan & Dean), Robin Luke and others including
the totally off the wall Nervous Norvus. ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Anna/ Where Have You Been (All My
Life)/ You Better Move On/ JIMMY ANDERSON: I Wanna Boogie/ PAT BOONE:
Johnny Will/ Moody River/ Speedy Gonzales/ TOMMY BOYCE: The Gypsy Song/
DORSEY BURNETTE: A Country Boy In The Army/ Rainin' In My Heart/ The
Feminine Touch/ SAM BUTERA: Ton Of Bricks/ THE CENTENNIALS: The Wayward
Wind/ THE CHARMAINES: Where Is The Boy Tonight/ SANFORD CLARK: A Cheat/
The Fool/ THE COMMODORES: Riding On A Train/ JOEY COSTA: Love Me Do/
JACKIE DEE: Trouble/ THE DEL-VIKINGS: Come Go With Me/ I Hear Bells
(Wedding Bells)/ Whispering Bells/ DON & HIS ROSES: Leave Those Cats
Alone/ THE DYNELS: Boy Friend/ THE FONTANE SISTERS: Eddie My Love/ Rock
Love/ BONNIE GUITAR: Dark Moon/ THE HILLTOPPERS: Do The Bop/ Only You
(And You Alone)/ JOHNNY HORTON: Plaid And Calico/ TAB HUNTER:
Ninety-Nine Ways/ Young Love/ JAN & ARNIE: Gas Money/ CAROL JARVIS: Sock
Hop/ KAY CEE JONES: Johnny, Johnny, Johnny/ SID KING & THE FIVE STRINGS:
Hello There Rockin' Chair/ ROBERT KNIGHT: Dance Only With Me/ Free Me/
SONNY KNIGHT: Confidential/ WALLY LEWIS: White Bobby Socks/ MAX K.
LIPSCOMB: Girl Next Door/ DICK LORY: Ballroom Baby/ RONNIE LOVE: Chills
& Fever/ JIM LOWE: Maybellene/ The Green Door/ ROBIN LUKE: Strollin'
Blues/ Susie Darlin'/ JOHNNY MADDOX: Flip Flop And Bop/ TONY MARTIN:
Don't Worry/ WINK MARTINDALE: Deck Of Cards/ NED MILLER: From A Jack To
A King/ JERRY NEAL: Scratchin'/ NERVOUS NORVUS: Ape Call/ JACK ’B
NIMBLE' & THE QUICKS: Nut Rocker/ THE PARAMOUNTS: When You Dance/ Why Do
You Have To Go/ JIMMY RINGO: I Like This Kind Of Music/ FLOYD ROBINSON:
Art Of Making Love/ MILT ROGERS & HIS ORCHESTRA: Let's Go Trippin'/ THE
SCARLETS: Stampede/ THE SHIELDS: You Cheated/ DODIE STEVENS: I Fall To
Pieces/ Pink Shoelaces/ Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight/ GALE STORM: A Teenage
Prayer/ I Hear You Knocking/ NIKI SULLIVAN: It's All Over/ ROY TANN: Hot
Rod Queen/ NICK TODD: At The Hop/ BILLY JOE TUCKER: Boogie Woogie Bill/
MAMIE VAN DOREN: Nobody But You/ LEROY VAN DYKE: The Auctioneer/ BILLY
VAUGHN & HIS ORCHESTRA: Wheels/ RED WILLIAMS: Walkin'/ MAC WISEMAN: Step
It Up And Go
Two CDs, 50 tracks, recommended
The Crest label was
formed in Hollywood in 1955 and lasted for seven years turning out a
variety of music including hot rock 'n' roll, country, teen pop, MOR pop
and even a bit of R&B. The label had it's biggest hit with the catchy
country style ballad You're The Reason by Bobby Edwards - a song
that has had many covers since. Tommy Dee's maudlin Three Stars -
a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper. Both are
included here. Crest also is notable for having issued Eddie Cochran's
first solo single Skinny Jim in late 1956 though he had
previously worked extensively as a session guitarist. He is heard here
on his own sides as well as accompanying Bo Davis on two cuts. It also
gave a start to Glen Campbell who had also worked extensively as a
session guitarist - he is featured singing on a couple of pop flavored
titles as well as doing the hot guitar instrumental Buzz Saw
credited to The Gee Cees. Other artists include Jay Chevalier, Dick
Bills (Glen Campbell's uncle with Glen on guitar), Jack Lewis, Boogaloo
& His Gallant Crew (including the original of Cops & Robbers
later reworked by Bo Diddley), Tony Casanova, Troy Talton, Prince
Partridge (Fine R&B vocalist) and othes. (FS) PHIL BAUGH: Bumble Twist/ DICK BILLS: Rockin' And
A-Rollin'/ BOOGALOO AND HIS GALLANT CREW: Cops & Robbers/ BOOGALOO AND
THE GALLANT CREW: Talk About A Party/ JIMMY BOWEN: Somebody to Love/
GLEN CAMPBELL: Miracle Of Love/ Turn Around And Look At Me/ BOBBY &
TERRY CARAWAY: Ballin' Keen/ DON CARSON: Three Carburettors/ TONY
CASANOVA: The Grave/ Yea! Yea! Come Another Day/ JAY CHEVALIER: Check
Out Time/ THE CHROMATICS: Wild Man Wild!/ THE CLASSICS: Let Me Dream/
EDDIE COCHRAN: Half Loved/ Skinny Jim/ MARTY COOPER: Can't Walk Em Off/
BO DAVIS: Drowning All My Sorrows/ Let's Coast A while/ TOMMY DEE: Three
Stars/ BOB DENTON: Pretty Little Devil/ JOHNNY DONN: What Happened Last
Night/ THE EBB TONES: That's All/ BOBBY EDWARDS: You're The Reason/ FOUR
YOUNG MEN: Don't Be Bashful Little Girl/ Just For Tonight/ You Been
Torturing Me/ FRANK & ERNIE: Spotlight/ FREDDI & AL: Snaggle Tooth/
FREDDY & AL: Love Bug On The Loose/ THE GEE CEES: Buzz Saw/ BOBBY
GRABEAU & THE TEENETTES: Back To School, Back To You/ GLEN HARRISON:
Lovin' Lorene/ TOMMY LAW: Cool Juice/ JACK LEWIS: I.O.U./ BUDDY LOWE:
Ummm Kiss Me Goodnight/ PRINCE PATRIDGE: Get Back/ PRINCE PATRIDGE:
Don't Talk Back To Me/ TOM REEVES: Primitive Love/ HANK SANDERS: Been
Gone A Long Time/ THE SCHOOLBELLES: Don't Believe Him/ ROSCOE SCULLEY:
How Come My Dog Don't Bark/ BILL SKIDMORE III: Date Bait/ NORM SKYLAR:
Rock 'N' Roll Blues/ VERN STOVALL: Long Black Limousine/ TOM TALL: High
school love/ Stack-A-Records/ TROY TALTON: Marilyn/ SMOKI WHITFIELD:
Function At The Junction/ TOM WILSON: Can You Bop?
The third collection of previously unissued alternate
takes and unissued titles features 24 tracks featuring some of the
hottest dance bands of the 20s and early 30s. Includes sides by Waring's
Pennsylvanians, Roger Wolfe Kahn & His Orch., Ted Weems & His Orch.,
Slim Lamar & His Southerners, Ben's Bad Boys, The Memphis Stompers, Bert
Lown & His Orch., Gus Arnheim & His Cocoanut Grove Orch., Paul Whiteman
& Orch. and more. Sound quality is superb and there are informative
notes and full discographical details.
24 tracks, highly recommended
The fourth volume of rare
black gospel and my favorite so far as this volume features recordings
from the late 40s and early 50s and features tremendous obscure gospel
quartets. It includes several topical songs including Korea (Fighting
In A Foreign Land) by The Gospel Pilgrims, Atlantic's Tragic
Monday by the magnificent Echoes Of Zion and I'm So Grateful To
The N.A.A.C.P. by The Gospel PIlgrims. The great preacher Elder Beck
engages in a great dialogue with "Winehead Willie" on Winehead Willie
Put That Bottle Down. Other artisys include The National
Harmonizers, The Royal Kings with Myrtle Miller, The Silver Leaf
Quartet, Detroit Harmonettes (fantastic female quartet), The Parker
Brothers Quartet Of Norfolk Va., Golden Gate Quartet (rare and excellent
side from 1949), Willie Webb Singers and others. Superb sound and
booklet has discographical data. (FS) ELDER BECK: Wine Head Willie Put That Bottle Down/
MARY JOHNSON DAVIS GOSPEL SINGERS: I'm Going To Wait On The Lord/
DETROIT HARMONETTES: I Gave Up Everything/ I Need Thee/ ECHOES OF ZION:
Atlanta's Tragic Monday/ Evening Sun/ EVANGELIST SISTERS (MYRTLE MILLER
& ELLA: Sometimes/ FLYING CLOUDS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN: If I Get Inside
The Gate/ GOLDEN GATE QUARTETTE: Be Ready When My Jesus Comes/ Didn't It
Rain/ GOSPEL CONSOLATORS: How Do Earthly Men Know/ One More River/
GOSPEL PILGRIMS: I'm So Grateful To The N.A.A.C.P./ Korea (Fightin' In A
Foreign Land)/ THE NATIONAL HARMONIZERS: Death Comes Knocking/ Is Your
All On The Altar?/ PARKER BROS. QUARTET OF NORFOLK, VA.: I Can't Help
From Cryin' Sometimes/ The Separating Line/ ROYAL KINGS WITH MYRTLE
MILLER: I Cried Holy/ SILVER LEAF QUARTET: Just A Little Talk With
Jesus/ SOUTHERN STARS: Don't Give Up/ Surely God Is Able/ SISTER ESSIE
MAE THOMAS & THE GOSPEL PILGRIMS: The Storm Is Passing Over/ WILLIE WEBB
SINGERS: Climbing High Mountain
Another splendid collection of deep soul rarities
featuring 20 tracks including sides by The Cravens, Dee Dee Warwick,
Freddi Waters, Billy Lamont, Don Covay, Lea Roberts, J.B. & The Vikings
and others.
25 tracks, very highly recommended
This is the second
Gospel Friend collection devoted to the great and influential Clara Ward
and her group The Ward Singers (the first volume - Gospel Friend 1502
[$17.98] is still available). In addition to Clara herself the group
featured her sister Willa (who died in 2012 - hence the album title) and
often featuring the lead of soprano Marion Williams who was later to
become a gospel superstar in her own right. The tracks are drawn from
the period 1949 through 1958 including When I Get Home/ Farther On Up
The Road/ Great Is The Lord/ Talk About Rain/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/
Good News/ Come Ye Disconsolate/ Prayer Changes Things and more.
Sound is superb and there are detailed notes from Robert Sacre. (FS)
Three CDs, 71 tracks, highly recommended Thought not
terribly well known today, bandleader Sam Wooding was an important
figure in jazz history having a major role in introducing jazz to Europe
and Russia.A contemporaray of Duke Ellington his earliest recordings
were made in New York in 1922 - mostly accompanying blues singers
Lucille Hegamin and Alberta. In 1925 he was offered a chance to take his
band to Europe and over the next few years travelled throughout Europe
and Russia and made recordings in Paris, Berlin and Barcelona. These
incredibly rare recordings along with the 1922 ones are now all gathered
together on this three CD set beautifully remastered and with a detailed
60 page booklet by leading European jazz authrity Rainer Lots with
priceless rare photos and label shots. (FS)